Thursday, October 29, 2009

SUPER REAL GRAPHIC NOVEL RESOLICITED / NEW ISSUE AVAILABLE NOW!:

As you may know, the entire Super Real series, the previously published 5 issues, and the new unpublished climax of our first story arc, were being collected and released in a graphic novel via comic shops, originally scheduled for this past July. The book was later rescheduled to September, but production ran long, with the planned 48 pages of new material turning into more like 80 pages (in addition to retouching the existing material, and having the b&w special pages colored), so it had to be resolicited with Diamond Distribution and comic book shops.



The new schedule for the graphic novel is this January, with the book being relisted in the new November issue of the Diamond Previews catalog, out today (see the comics and graphic novels section, page 260). The new listing has the graphic novel now at 256 pages (over 30 extra pages), for the same $18.99 price - Diamond order code NOV09 0909



If you’re looking to pick up the graphic novel, please be sure and check with your retailer, and let folks know about it one more time.



The previously announced Super Real Cast Change special issue has been split into two books, now Super Real issues 6 and 7 (adopting the overall numbering of the series, including the 3 regular series issues, and 2 special issues).

Issue 6, now 56 pages and full color for the same price as the previously announced $6.99 48 page b&w special, is available now, direct from SRG.com in both print or digital (PDF): http://superrealgraphics.com/page3.html

or in comic shops via Haven Distribution.

With a 32 page issue 7 finale to follow in December.



So, while the new material and graphic novel may be delayed, those looking to pick up the ongoing story in the original comic book format, can get the mammoth-sized new issue now, with the graphic novel, which collects everything, following just a couple months later.



Plenty more info on everything can be found at the website and blog:

http://superrealgraphics.com/page2.html

http://superrealgraphics.com/blog.html



_____

DEAD@17 AFTERBIRTH PINUP:



Fans of Josh Howard’s signature series, Dead@17, keep your eyes peeled for the new Image Comics TPB collection of his first series there, Dead@17 Afterbirth, out this December, as it will feature a pinup by myself.

You can take a peek here:

http://www.superrealgraphics.com/2009/10/artwork-dead17-afterbirth-tpb-pinup.html



The book can be ordered now via comic shops.



_____

FOLLOW ME/TSL (my blog) ON TWITTER:



http://twitter.com/TSLblog



_____

PULP GIRLS :



In case you missed it, I debuted one of my new projects at San Diego Comic-Con this year, Pulp Girls – a collection of grindhouse cinema and pulp hero inspired shorts, all with female-centric leads, from cutting edge creators.



I still have copies of the massive 2009 convention preview book available…

Be sure and check it all out at the Pulp Girls site if you haven’t: http://pulpgirls.com/

Very cool stuff!!



There’s more to come from Pulp Girls, so stay tuned!

_____



As always, I’m available for commission work (just email me for rates and info), and still have copies of my 2009 sketchbook available (see the Super Real store page: http://superrealgraphics.com/page3.html).



I’ve also got some exciting freelance news, with some art being featured in a major 2010 item for a popular, and very cool property!!! I’ll spill on that as soon as I can (soon).



But for now, it’s rolling out the resolicit for Super Real, and getting all of that good stuff out there, then on to my many new projects…



I’m also looking to do more sketch card work in ’10, so put in a good word for me with any art directors out there you all might know ;)





Thanks for your support,

Jason



SuperRealGraphics.com

superrealgraphics.com/blog.html

jasinmartin.deviantart.com/

PulpGirls.com/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Barack Obama: The Comic Book Biography


Groundbreaking, fact-based graphic novel
includes acclaimed Presidential Material comics

In stores today



San Diego, CA (October 28, 2009) – In stores today, IDW Publishing is proud to offer Barack Obama: The Comic Book Biography, the only graphic novel telling the life story of our country's 44th president, from infancy through the first 100 days of his historic administration. Barack Obama: The Comic Book Biography features the smash hit Presidential Material: Barack Obama, which started a craze of Obama comic books when it launched in October of 2008. The new hardcover graphic novel also includes the follow-up series chronicling the heated presidential campaign through the inauguration, and goes on to detail the first 100 days of the Obama administration.



"Barack Obama proved change can happen," said IDW editor Scott Dunbier. "Now young people can discover how this man rose from humble beginnings to become the President of the United States. It's a compelling story and we're proud it has gotten so much positive attention."



In July of 2008, IDW announced the first comic book series about the historic 2008 presidential campaign. Presidential Material was a smash hit with both fans and critics, featuring the life stories of both then-Senator Obama and Senator John McCain. Demand for the Obama book was so strong that it went through five printings. As Geoff Boucher in The Los Angeles Times said: "I'm happy to report that the stories and art inside were far more compelling than I anticipated and that these short-form biographies... deliver savvy and nimble life stories for both candidates and mostly succeed in stripping away overt partisan spin, be it home-team puffery or us-versus-them venom. The books, while short (or maybe because they are short), are fairly ideal introductions to each candidate, especially for teen readers."



IDW followed Presidential Material with a two part series that covered the Democratic National Convention, Obama's historic victory in November, the Inauguration, and then the newly-elected president's first 100 days in office. Barack Obama: The Comic Book Biography collects all three stories, written by Jeff Mariotte with art by Tom Morgan. Award-winning artist J. Scott Campbell provides the cover.



Barack Obama: The Comic Book Biography (80 pages, $14.99) will be available in stores on October 28th. Diamond order code NOV09 0841; ISBN 978-1-60010-530-2.



About IDW
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: Hasbro's The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; the BBC's Doctor Who; and television's #1 prime time series CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.

IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.
The Comics Journal's Cup Runneth Over

OCTOBER 28, SEATTLE, WA – The Comics Journal is about to take two major steps forward in its evolution. First, after 33 years and several incarnations, TCJ is answering the peoples’ prayers and upping the Web content on tcj.com. Next, the print publication will be consolidated around two expanded semi-annual editions, each customized to fit its content.

The new, full-service tcj.com will deliver everything readers love — in-depth interviews, smart columns, sharp criticism, real journalism — on a daily basis. And not only will readers get the traditional Comics Journal content faster, but they will also be able to access features beyond the reach of print magazines: videos, slide shows, audio files, original-art galleries and an army of both new and established Journal-caliber bloggers filtering the comics world through their unique perspectives. In short, it is the dawning of a Comics Journal that knows no bounds.

Focusing on what print does best, the Comics Journal magazine will be more beautiful than ever, an elegant combination of interviews, articles, and objet d'art. Uniquely sized and formatted, evocatively visual and tactile, each issue will be an event. Readers will get their first look at the direction The Comics Journal will be moving in with issue #300.

Coming in November 2009: issue 300 of The Comics Journal and a comprehensive new website!
For Immediate Release
FANTAGRAPHICS & EDITOR GREG SADOWSKI PARTNER ON SEVEN
NEW BOOK COLLECTIONS OF CLASSIC COMIC BOOK MATERIAL

Seattle, WA, Oct. 21, 2009 ---- Fantagraphics Books is proud to announce that it has struck a deal with comics historian and editor Greg Sadowski to produce seven new collections of classic comic book material for the Seattle publisher. Sadowski is a Harvey and Eisner Award-nominated editor who has previously overseen the publication of the acclaimed collections SUPERMEN: THE FIRST WAVE OF COMIC BOOK HEROES 1936-1941, as well as B. KRIGSTEIN and B. KRIGSTEIN COMICS. He is a former staff editor and designer for Fantagraphics Books and currently works freelance from his home on San Juan Island in Washington State’s Puget Sound.

"Greg has written one of the landmark cartoonist biographies (and only the first half yet!) with B. Krigstein, and the collections of comics from the '40s and '50s that he's edited for us — B. Krigstein Comics and Supermen!, to date— have been meticulously assembled, with an eye toward selection, flow, and accompanying historical text. We're pleased that he's got such an ambitious agenda ahead,” says Fantagraphics Publisher Gary Groth, who acquired the books.

The books will be released one per season, beginning with FOUR COLOR FEAR: FORGOTTEN HORROR COMICS OF THE 1950s in June 2010 and produced in collaboration with comics historian John Benson (SQUA TRONT). The second book, due in Fall 2010, will be a collection of legendary artist Alex Toth’s work for Standard Comics in the 1950s. The remaining five books will be release in subsequent seasons, with exact schedules to be announced. The full list of books follows below.

FOUR COLOR FEAR: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s
RELEASE DATE: June 2010
This full-color 304-page edition collects the finest horror comics of the pre-code era (1950-54). EC is the company that most fans associate with horror, but to the average reader there remain unseen a tremendous volume of genuinely disturbing, compulsive, and imaginative stories from publishers such as Ajax-Farrell, Atlas, Charlton, Fawcett, Quality, Standard and many more. Four Color Fear collects the best, and includes 40 full-sized covers. Featured are comic book legends such as Jack Cole, Steve Ditko, George Evans, Frank Frazetta, Alex Toth, Al Williamson, Basil Wolverton, Wally Wood, L.B.Cole, Matt Fox and many others. “In these types of compilations, I try to provide a service to the reader who has neither the time, inclination, nor bank account to purchase and sift through hundreds of golden age comic books to glean off that precious 10% - the most distinctive and worthwhile examples from a particular genre,” says Sadowski.

SETTING THE STANDARD: Alex Toth at Standard Comics 1952-54
RELEASE DATE: Fall 2010
“It's hard to overstate the influence of Alex Toth on the art of comic books,” says Sadowski. “Toth was from that first generation who grew up reading comic books, and he came to the medium armed with enough discipline, talent, and sheer love and respect for the medium to create a technique free of condescension, artifice, or shortcuts. His work at Standard first established him as the ‘comic book artist's artist.’” Learning his craft at Eastern and DC, Alex Toth arrived at Standard Comics in late 1951 with a fully formed, graphically impeccable technique perfectly suited to the comic book medium – honest, uncompromising, and free of condescension and artifice. Includes a biographical sketch and an essay on Toth’s approach to comic book storytelling, based heavily on his interviews and written correspondence.

THE ROAD TO PLASTIC MAN: The Golden Age Comics of Jack Cole 1937-41
RELEASE DATE: t.b.a.
“From his earliest days in comics, Jack Cole was one intense artist / writer. It just took him a few years to fully incorporate humor into his work, so this book tracks his artistic evolution leading up to Plastic Man,” says Sadowski. Jack Cole’s irreverent yet artistically first-rate approach to comic book art was a refreshing departure for a young industry that tended to take itself a bit too seriously. His work influenced many of his contemporaries, most notably Will Eisner, whose Spirit gradually assumed Cole’s intoxicating mixture of fun and high drama. The book begins with early “big foot” work for Centaur’s Funny Pages, then gives way to raucous adventure and crime stories before honing in on the nefarious Claw, the boy inventor Dickie Dean, and proto-superheroes the Comet, Daredevil, and Silver Streak.

AWAY FROM HOME: EC Artists at Other Companies
RELEASE DATE: t.b.a.
The key ingredient in what made EC the most celebrated comic book company of all time was its remarkable stable of artists: Reed Crandall, Jack Davis, George Evans, Will Elder, Al Feldstein, Jack Kamen, Bernard Krigstein, Harvey Kurtzman, Graham Ingels, Joe Orlando, John Severin, Basil Wolverton, Wallace Wood, and Al Williamson, as well as that of part-timers Frank Frazetta, Roy G. Krenkel, Alex Toth, and Angelo Torres. “This book collects the best non-EC art by the EC stable of artists, in other words, the cream of the 1950s crop. A lot of these guys were pals and they often collaborated, so there will be a healthy sampling of these fraternal efforts,” says Sadowski.

CREEPING DEATH FROM NEPTUNE: Basil Wolverton’s Sci-Fi and Horror Comics 1938-55
RELEASE DATE: t.b.a.
“Many of Wolverton's comics have been reprinted in a number of formats, but for years I've been waiting for a full-color compilation of his serious golden age work. Finally I decided to do it myself. Like the Cole book, this one is a no-brainer,” says Sadowski. Given the media coverage of his recent retrospective at New York’s Barbara Gladstone Gallery, it’s high time for a full-color anthology of Basil Wolverton’s serious comic book work. This edition covers all bases, from his early features, Space Patrol and Meteor Martin, into Spacehawk (“Lone Wolf of the Void”), and ending with the skewed master’s gloriously repugnant horror comics.

THE COMIC BOOK FRANKENSTEIN: The Monster According to Dick Briefer
RELEASE DATE: t.b.a.
“Dick Briefer had been involved in comic books since its earliest days. He was one of the first to work at Will Eisner and Jerry Iger's comic book studio in the mid-1930s. Like Eisner, Cole, and Wolverton, Briefer was responsible for the complete package: writing, layouts, pencils and inks, and often the lettering. He did his best work on FRANKENSTEIN, and this compilation should restore his status as one of the form's major pioneers,” says Sadowski. Briefer’s Frankenstein made its debut in 1940 in Prize Comics. He continually ramped up the monster’s humorous aspect, which in turn increased its popularity, and Frankenstein was rewarded with its own title in 1945. Then, with the horror craze in full swing in 1951, Briefer responded by reverting the character back to its frightening origins. This book will travel through Briefer’s complete Frankenstein series and shed light on one of comic books’ most gifted creators.
PRESS RELEASE - RICK REMENDER'S COMPLETE STRANGE GIRL GETS COLLECTED THIS JANUARY!
Rick Remender's complete post-apocalyptic epic, STRANGE GIRL, is collected in a limited edition slipcase this January!

27 October 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - Before PUNISHER and DOCTOR VOODOO, Rick Remender made his name writing the post-apocalyptic series STRANGE GIRL, which will be collected in its entirety this January as a limited edition slipcase collection.

"STRANGE GIRL is easily one of my most personal works and I've long hoped for a complete collection," Remender said. "Even more important to me is seeing illustrators Eric Nguyen, Jerome OpeƱa, Nick Stakal and Peter Bergting getting their beautiful work collected in such an edition. STRANGE GIRL was an important book for all of us and I'm happy to have readers get their first chance to experience the entire story in one collection."

STRANGE GIRL begins ten years after the Rapture, when a beautiful occultist and her pet demon embark on a road trip to the last open gateway to heaven, in hopes of befriending God and escaping hell on earth. A bare-knuckle, action-driven series, peppered with social commentary and dark humor, STRANGE GIRL is a story about the bewildering nature of religion, what would happen if the dark future predicted by many came true, and what a good person would endure for not having faith in advance of it.

The STRANGE GIRL LIMITED EDITION SLIPCASE COLLECTION contains all four volumes of the critically acclaimed series in an exclusive new slipcase along with a Strange Girl print by legendary illustrator Michael Kaluta, all signed by series creator Rick Remender and limited to 1000 editions.

Big Fan and Ratatouille star Patton Oswalt commented, “STRANGE GIRL is exactly that. Strange, plus she’s a girl. But it’s so much more. Redemption, demons, magic spells, hopelessness, friendship and belly-shirts. Rick Remender takes a loving, nostalgic look at the coming apocalypse.”

STRANGE GIRL LIMITED EDITION SLIPCASE COLLECTION, a four-volume signed slipcase strictly limited to 1000 editions for $49.99, will be in-stores January 13th, 2010.


Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
RADICAL PUBLISHING

Solicitation copy

JANUARY 2010 shipping





1.)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



ALADDIN: LEGACY OF THE LOST #1 (1 of 3)

Writer IAN EDGINTON

Series Illustrators PATRICK REILLY and STJEPAN SEJIC

64 pages, FC, $4.99



From the mystical city of Shambhalla to the ends of the Earth comes a tale of magic, mystery and the motivations of power. It is the world of Ala ad-Din, better known as ALADDIN.

Thief, gambler, liar and cheat, Aladdin’s reckless soul falls under the eye of the sorcerer Maugrah, who has spent his life scouring the sands for the Dreaming Jewel. This lost relic of shattering power will enable Maugrah to steal the magic of the Djinn of the Lamp and reshape the world in his own malicious design. But to do so, he requires a mystical ability carried within Aladdin's blood...power that not even Aladdin himself knows about. An epic adventure that twists the classic saga into dark, unexplored territories with multi-Eisner nominated writer Ian Edginton!



Featuring covers from Marko Djurdjevic (Dark Reign: The List – Avengers), Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies) and a limited edition 1:10 incentive cover from Clayton Crain (X-Force)



Aladdin #1 Cover A – Marko Djurdjevic Diamond Code: NOV090903

Aladdin #1 Cover B – Arthur Suydam Diamond Code: NOV090904

Aladdin #1 Incentive cover (1:10) Clayton Crain





2.)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



LEGENDS: THE ENCHANTED ISSUE #0

Creator and Writer NICK PERCIVAL

Illustrator NICK PERCIVAL

24 pages, FC, $1



Following the same standard for our debut miniseries Hercules: The Thracian Wars and Caliber: First Canon of Justice, Radical Publishing presents a special $1 introductory issue for the upcoming hardcover graphic novel by award-winning illustrator Nick Percival (Dead of Night).



You think you know them… Think again!



Violently ripped from the pages of folklore emerge the Enchanted, supernatural immortals living in a dark, steampunk, creature-infested world where nature, technology and foul magic are in constant conflict. When the twisted, burnt remains of the half-wooden, half-mechanical warrior, Pinocchio are discovered, wolf-hunter Red Hood and giant-killer Jack realize the fragile rules of their existence have been shattered. With the help of the other Enchanted (the mercenary Goldilocks and psychic exterminators Hansel and Gretel), Jack and Red team up on an adventure to stop whatever, or whoever, is destroying their powers and murdering their kind.



The last time Radical debuted their $1 books, they quickly sold out and had to go to a second printing. Don’t miss out again on this limited, one-time-only event!



Legends #0 Cover A – Nick Percival Diamond Code: NOV090906





3.)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Offered Again



HERCULES: THE THRACIAN WARS (Trade Paperback)

Writer STEVE MOORE

Artist ADMIRA WIJAYA

Colors by SUNNY GHO and SIXTH CREATION



ISBN: 0-9802335-9-3

ISBN-13: 978-0-9802335-9-9

Price: $14.95 (C: $17.99)

Page Count: 156

Format: TPB, Full Color

Diamond Code: NOV090907



Collecting the five-issue miniseries in a new deluxe trade paperback format that has Ain’t it Cool News calling it, “One of the most strongly written versions of the character ever to hit comics.” This paperback edition includes an in-depth interview with writer Steve Moore as well as character renderings and a gallery of artwork from Jim Steranko, Arthur Suydam, John Bolton, Clint Langley, Stjepan Sejic, Clint Langley, Greg Broadmore of Weta Workshop and more. Soon to be a major motion picture produced by Spyglass Entertainment and Peter Berg’s production company Film 44.



From the pen of Steve Moore (Dr. Who, Jonni Future) comes a tale of Hercules in his darkest hour. When the Thracian King summons the Greek hero and his six battle-worn companions to mold the Thracian army into a bloodthirsty, ruthless killing machine, the Son of Zeus rushes to answer the call of war and gold. But within the nation of Thrace lies an epic tale of murder, deception and sacrifice that shows how far from grace he’s fallen – and what he must accomplish for redemption.
THE GLOOMERS RELEASE FIRST HALLOWEEN EPISODE

The Gloomers, a new animated cartoon series debuting at Comic Con this year, released its first Halloween episode today. www.facebook.com/thegloomers

The Halloween episode stars famed horror director and Evil Dead II writer Scott Spiegel, who plays himself in the cartoon.

The Gloomers series is the brainchild of Charles Mechem, who was CEO of Taft Broadcasting, which owned Hanna Barbera for over 20 years. The Gloomers includes Neal Barbera, son of Joe Barbera, as a writer. Neal Barbera wrote a number of classic Hanna Barbera scripts, including Yogi Bear and Scooby Doo and many others.

No matter how bad your day is, The Gloomers day is always worse.

Follow The Gloomers:

www.facebook.com/thegloomers
www.youtube.com/thegloomers
www.twitter.com/thegloomers

BACKGROUND AND BACKSTORY:

THE GLOOMERS is an animated series that follows the trials and tribulations of the hysterically funny heirs to misfortune, the Gloomer family. Crashing the classic Hanna-Barbera animation of the Jetsons and Flintstones with a post-modern comedy slant, the show is both a reflection and an antidote to our modern day “gloomy” outlook. We all have bad days, sometimes even the kind of day that plunges your entire life into chaos. Now, imagine if every day was like that...

Enter The Gloomers.

From generation to generation the Gloomers have endured the worst bad-luck streak in recorded history. The torch of tribulation is carried proudly by the patriarch, Dooman Gloomer, a hapless inventor who, despite his consistent failings, still holds out hope for that one elusive moment that will break the chain and let the sun shine in. Sadly, that day never, ever comes.

Dooman’s best friend, Moses, a 262 year old parrot that has been in the Gloomer family for generations, knows this all to well and amuses himself by reminding poor Dooman every chance he gets.

Dooman’s wife, Lotta, stands by his side through all the explosions, fires, electrocutions and falls that happen with common frequency.

Their detached son Junior has inherited the Gloomer luck, but since he has retreated to the basement in his helmet, he does not yet realize the magnitude of his potential misery. His only friend is a Marcel Marceau-like spider named Cunape.

Somehow, the curse passed over little sister Notta who, oblivious to the doom and despair that surrounds her, floats effortlessly through life on a cloud of hope that always avoids the dark rain cloud that follows the rest of the Gloomer clan, which also includes a clinically depressed dog, Lugubrious, and a robotic cat named Despair.
Aimed at the kid in all of us who wishes they could simply laugh away bad luck; aimed at anyone who ever felt that they were not very different from Charlie Brown or Wile E. Coyote.

The Gloomers reminds us that no matter how bad your day was, chances are The Gloomers was worse. Kids, teens and adults will be attracted to the show’s bizarre sense of comedy and unfortunate circumstances, but it is the universality of the characters and the Gloomers unconditional love for each other that will secure the series a fiercely loyal following.
RADICAL’S FVZA #1 SELLS OUT PRIOR TO RELEASE





October 27, 2009, Los Angeles – Radical Publishing is proud to announce that the first printing of FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency #1, from writer David Hine (Spider-Man: Noir, Battle for the Cowl: Arkham Asylum) and illustrator Roy Allan Martinez (Son of M), has sold out at the distributor level prior to its release in the direct market.



Shipping with two covers, one by John Bolton and the other by Clint Langley, fans looking forward to purchase FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency #1 are encouraged to contact their local comic store and reserve their copy prior to release. Visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you. FVZA is the most recent Radical title to implement the initiative of “Bigger Books! Bigger Value!” with 64 pages for a $4.99 price point. Radical is still reviewing whether to offer a second printing based on incoming reorders.



Based on the popular website FVZA.org, created by Richard S. Dargan, FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency chronicles a world where a deadly disease, representing a new threat of global terrorism, transforms innocent victims into Zombies and a long dormant government task force is called into action: The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency. Throughout history, from the Civil War to World War II, the FVZA protected humanity from the blood-sucking and flesh-eating hordes -- until a cure was discovered that sent the undead to their graves. When a new incurable strain of the virus ravages a small town in America, Agent Landra Pecos must call upon her lethal skills to eradicate the threat. But as Landra delves deeper into her investigation of the undead menace, she uncovers shocking secrets that will forever change her family, her world and her life.



“We’re thrilled at the response to FVZA and the continued support of the fans and retailers,” said Radical President and Publisher Barry Levine. “David’s work is absolutely top-notch and we couldn’t be happier with the story he has crafted. With FVZA, we continue to bring the level of quality that fans find synonymous with the Radical brand.”



Fans who may be unable to find a copy at their local comic store will also have a chance to win a free copy of FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency #1 by entering the “Are You Infected?” contest sponsored by Radical and EerieTube.com. Three winners will take home a copy of the sold-out issue along with other amazing prizes by submitting a photo of themselves as the infected undead by October 31st. More details can be found at www.EerieTube.com/contest.html.



About Radical Publishing

Radical Publishing is founded by Barry Levine (producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir, Oblivion and executive producer for the in-development Rex Mundi movie for Warner Bros., written by Jim Uhls and starring Johnny Depp) and entrepreneur Jesse Berger (executive producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir and Oblivion).

For their quality and excellence in 2008, retailers voted Radical Publishing the Gem Award for “Best New Publisher of the Year” from Diamond Comic Distributors. Radical brings the best writing, storytelling and fully painted cover and interior art to the global comic book market, from prominent international talents such as Yoshitaka Amano, John Bolton, Luis Royo, Jim Steranko, Steve Pugh, Warren Ellis, Arthur Suydam, Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Flint Dille, Marko Djurdjevic, Ian Edginton, David Hine, Rick Remender, Joseph Kosinski, Nick Percival, Steve Moore, Sam Sarkar, Stjepan Sejic, Dave Wilkins, Tomm Coker, Clayton Crain, Bill Sienkiewicz, Nick Sagan, Clint Langley, Nick Simmons, Patrick Reilly, Weta Workshop, Zombie Studios and many more.

Radical Publishing currently has production deals with Spyglass Entertainment, Peter Berg’s Film 44 and Radical Pictures for Hercules; Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil and Radical Pictures for Caliber; and New Regency, Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions and Radical Pictures for Freedom Formula.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Friends-

Issue 45 of Comics Waiting Room is now live and we have 5 great things for you to read, including the debut of a new CWR columnist!

In-Action Figures! Vince Moore says that superhero comics have become so talk heavy that they’re little more than an emo mess, and he lays the blame at the feet of popular writers such as Bendis and Brubaker.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/vince44.html

The Perils of Loaning ‘Em Out! Marc Mason recently had a graphic novel returned to him twelve years after he loaned it out and ponders whether or not he’ll ever do it again.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/mason45.html

The Real Meaning of Halloween? According to Avril Brown, it’s finding a way to get maximum fun out of running around in public in your underwear.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/avril41.html

No More Haunted Houses! Elliott Serrano will never set foot in a haunted house ever again. Not even to get laid. This is the story of why he lost his Man-Card.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/ccw36.html

And Introducing: Go Axe Alice! Marissa Meli joins CWR, and in her first column, she offers up last-minute costume suggestions for the geek set.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/axe1.html

Enjoy the reading!

Marc Mason
Editor-in-Chief
Comics Waiting Room
IDW Announces Archie Collections
Highly anticipated, first-ever classic reprints starting in May 2010




San Diego, CA (October 26, 2009) - Get ready for a summer of fun! Starting in May 2010, IDW Publishing will begin its extraordinary series of important Archie collections, offering fans an incredible range of must-have hard covers and trade paperbacks. Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo Volume One kicks things off in May by gathering the very best of this seminal Archie artist in one book, followed by Archie: The Classic Newspaper Comics, Volume One, a hardcover collection of strips from the 1940's, in June. In July, true Archie fans will be delighted by a trade paperback of Archie: Pureheart the Powerful.




"Archie is one of the most influential comics on popular culture and we are really looking forward to starting our collections by offering these new books to fans," said Greg Goldstein, IDW's chief operating officer. "Each book offers a new and different way for fans to enjoy or even rediscover this classic comic, with many more to come."




Coming of age in post-World War II America, Archie captured the hearts of generations of children and adults. Archie and his friends remain hugely popular today, appealing to comic fans new and old with a blend of timeless stories and classic Americana style.




The dean of Archie artists, Dan DeCarlo spent nearly 50 years with the characters of Riverdale High, drawing every character at one time or another. Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo Volume One contains dozens of stories handpicked by DeCarlo connoisseurs, all shot from original art and recolored to match the flavor of the original publishing. The Best of Dan DeCarlo is the first in IDW's Archie "Best Of" series, which will grow to include collections for Bob Montana and Stan Goldberg, among others.




Archie: The Classic Newspaper Comics, Volume One will be published under IDW's Library of American Comics imprint and designed by Eisner Award-winner Dean Mullaney. Volume One reprints the earliest strips starting from 1946-48, many strips for the first time, and showcases the unheralded genius of Montana as he developed the lovable characters.




Archie: Pureheart the Powerful collects, at long last, the short-lived yet much-loved Archie superhero parody stories that first appeared during the "camp craze" of the mid 1960's. With the coming Archie Comics new Pureheart the Powerful, IDW's reprint collection is the perfect way for fans to rediscover the original characters.






Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume One will be available in stores in May 2010.



Archie: The Classic Newspaper Comics, Volume One will be available in stores in June 2010.



Archie: Pureheart the Powerful will be available in stores in July 2010.





About IDW
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: Hasbro's The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; the BBC's Doctor Who; and television's #1 prime time series CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.

IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.



About Archie Comics
The Archie Comics brand is one of the most successful and longest running comic book lines in the history of the industry. Archie Comics is the NUMBER ONE producer of English language humor comics in the world. Archie comics are published in dozens of different foreign languages and distributed all over the world. Archie Digital Comics launched in 2009 and within four months, Archie Comics' "FRESHMAN YEAR" #1 became the most downloaded comic in iTunes history. The characters of Archie Comics have found success on the Internet at www.archiecomics.com. Archie Comics will launch a new website in November to make sure it continues to use the most cutting edge technology to interact with its fans. In addition, Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie and their pals at Riverdale High are developing feature film, television, music, interactive media, direct-to-video and theatrical animation projects. The best is yet to come as Archie Comics are cooler than ever.
PRESS RELEASE - PROOF'S SEASON FINALE TO KICK OFF AN ALL-NEW BEGINNING IN 2010!
The first season of PROOF ends with an all-new beginning on the horizon!


26 October 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This January the first season of writer Alex Grecian and illustrator Riley Rossmo's ongoing cryptozoological thriller, PROOF, will come to an end as the two prepare an all-new season coming in 2010!


"While this season of PROOF is ending, the series is just beginning," Grecian said. "Not only do Riley and I have a couple of side projects such as his COWBOY NINJA VIKING, but PROOF takes a very big turn with issue #28. It's a natural place to take a short break. Rest assured we'll be back and when we start again nothing in PROOF will ever be the same."


In PROOF, Special Agent John 'Proof' Prufrock, also known as Bigfoot, works for The Lodge, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting 'monsters' from the threat of human beings. Since its release the series has received critical acclaim, with three volumes of collections in print and a fourth, PROOF VOL. 4: JULIA, to be available during the hiatus. Both Grecian and Rossmo will remain the regular creative team in the new season, due out in 2010.


Rossmo added, "Another reason is to give new readers a very easy jumping-on point. While we've certainly had a great response to the trades, we're making it even easier and more inexpensive than ever to jump on board. If you've never read PROOF before or only do so with the collections, the upcoming new season is your chance to become a regular reader."


PROOF #28, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in-stores January 27th, 2010.


Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
DARK HORSE UNVEILS THE NEXT WAVE

OF DOMO QEE COLLECTIBLE TOYS



DOMO QEES ARRIVE IN A SECOND MYSTERY-BOX ASSORTMENT AND IN ALL-NEW INDIVIDUAL BLISTER PACKS!



OCTOBER 26, MILWAUKIE, OR -- Japanese character Domo is taking the United States by storm. First appearing in the U.S. specialty marketplace as an import item, the fuzzy, sharp-toothed cartoon character has become quite visible as the star of a program of merchandise, food tie-ins, animation, apparel, and more.

Currently, Domo is the centerpiece of a chainwide promotion at 7-Eleven, with his own Slurpee flavor in collector cups. A component of this rollout is a group of four custom Domo Qee toys in unique packaging, including a Slurpee cup, and this assortment has flown off of shelves all over the country!

Hot on the heels of the first Domo Qee mystery-box series released this past summer, Dark Horse is proud to announce the arrival of the second mystery-box assortment. The first series, which offered sixteen different Domo designs, each in a small box that concealed the figure from the consumer until after purchase, was a sellout.

“This was Dark Horse’s first attempt at a mystery-box type of release,” product development head David Scroggy remarked, “and we are gratified by the response. We didn’t want to repeat ourselves, so we came up with a whole slate of brand-new designs for series two. It is an extension for those who bought into the first series, and a jumping-on point for newer fans.”

Dark Horse’s association with Domo, who is the mascot of Japanese television network NHK, began with limited-edition flocked vinyl figures. A set of these in 8-inch size was released initially and sold out. A followup 5.5-inch series received a similar response. Next is a new release of limited editions in 4-inch size, hitting stores this November.

One of the notable aspects of Dark Horse’s licensed Domo figures is the introduction of color variants, known to designer-toy collectors as “colorways.” Since the Domo character is brown in the source material, the Japanese property owners required some persuasion before they agreed to these variations. Given the response from the marketplace, the faith in Dark Horse’s ability to gauge the pulse of the modern pop-culture consumer seems justified.

In assessing the next step, it seemed logical to go still smaller with the new figures, making them similar to the 2.5-inch Qee size. It was a short step from there to bringing the two programs together with a set of Qee-style Domo toys in a variety of flocked colorways, mounted on a new blister-card packaging solution for individual sale.

The next wave of Dark Horse’s Domo Qee program arrives in stores this coming March.

About Qee

Qee (pronounced “key”) is a collection of designer toys created by Hong Kong–based company Toy2R, which was founded by Raymond Choy in 1995. Qees are produced in limited numbers and are highly collectible. Many contemporary artists and designers from Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America have designed figures. Domo is the mascot of NHK television in Japan, and is breaking out worldwide as animation, toys, publishing, and apparel.

About Big Tent Entertainment LLC

Big Tent Entertainment, LLC (bigtent.tv), is an entertainment company specializing in the integrated development and management of media brands. Formed in 2002, the company manages a portfolio across both traditional and new media while focusing on brand strategy, community building, viral marketing, licensing, and retail merchandising. Big Tent currently serves as the worldwide (ex-Asia) marketing and licensing company for viral sensation Domo and the North American agency of record for a number of children’s properties, including Discovery Kids, the leader in real-world, educational content for children; the Wiggles, the world’s most popular preschool entertainers; and Miffy & Friends, one of the largest brands for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, with an all-new tween/teen program. Additionally, Big Tent serves as the U.S. licensing agent for the masters of freestyle motocross, the Crusty Demons, and the world’s most popular series about girls and horses, the Saddle Club. The company is also the worldwide management company for renowned art-licensing agency Alaska Momma.

About Dark Horse

Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and comics legend Will Eisner, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Aliens, Conan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and The Incredibles. Today Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as the world’s leading publisher of licensed comics material. Dark Horse Deluxe is an imprint of Dark Horse Comics, Inc.
VIPER'S THE MIDDLEMAN : THE COLLECTED SERIES INDISPENSABILITY HITS 2nd PRINTING

The series hailed by critics and fans, and named by the American Library Association as one of 2007's "Great Graphic Novels for Teens, " is going to a 2nd printing.

The Middleman might spend his days and nights fighting evil so you don't have to; training the unflappable and ever resourceful Wendy "Dub-Dub" Watson to be his eventual replacement; taking an occasional break for a frosty glass of cow-juice; all the time dealing with a smack-talking robot provided by OTS2K, but what happens when fans can't get enough of this clean-cut, square-jawed defender of all things right and just in the world?
Viper Comics steps into the fray, dons a trusty Eisenhower jacket and pushes out a second printing of Javier Grillo-Marxuach's and Les McClaine's The Middleman : The Collected Series Indispensability, that's what!

Available November 11, 2009, from your nearest comic book retailers, book retailers, or pre-order your copy from the Viper website ( http://www.vipercomics.com ) for the Ri-GOSH-DARN-DICULOUSLY cheap price of $19.95. Don't miss your chance to see where it all began, today.

Reviews:

"A Fun, fast-paced, and quick-witted comedy-adventure in the vein of Men in Black, Ghostbusters, and Hellboy."
- Ben Lathrop, The Library Journal

"If you're still resisting buying The Middleman, not only do I fear for your immortal soul, but I fear that you are not worthy to buy comics at all." - Greg Burgas, ComicBookResources.com

"With a dashing, retro, ass-kicking secret agent, a spunky fish-out-water hottie partner at his side and adversaries that include muck-encrusted monsters, mob monkeys and mexican maulers, we guarantee you'll love being stuck in the middle, man." - Jesse Thompson, Wizard Magazine

The Middleman : The Collected Series Indispensability
ISBN 10: 0980238544
ISBN 13: 9780980238549
Diamond DCD Item: MAY084177
Retail $19.95 / B&W/ 336 pages