Friday, February 12, 2010

BBC AMERICA today announced the acquisition of two new U.S. premiere seasons of the BBC AMERICA co-production, Being Human. The show’s highly anticipated second season will premiere in late summer with the third season following shortly.



· Being Human (S1, 6 x 60 and S2, 6 x 60) is a Touchpaper Television and BBC AMERICA co-production for the BBC and is distributed by RDF Rights, part of the RDF Media Group.



Being Human premiered on the channel in July 2009 and quickly won over fans, with a sold out crowd at last year’s San Diego Comic Con. The Los Angeles Times said it “has not only avoided any sci-fi Three’s Company comparisons but wound up with a compelling, self-aware and funny story line. Buffy fans – come out of the Twilight and sink your teeth into this import” with The New York Times noting that “all three characters are highly appealing, but the charm of the show lies in the delicate balance of engrossing drama and disarming humor; the series is not campy or self-conscious, it’s witty in an offhand, understated way.”

Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner return as George, Annie and Mitchell, the three twenty-somethings trying to live as normally as possible despite being a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. After the death of vampire leader Herrick at the end of season one, the supernatural friends are hoping they can now get on with their lives, but an even greater danger is lurking, within the very human world of which they want to be a part.

Werewolf George is coming to terms with the fact that he has Herrick's blood on his hands, and a girlfriend who knows his horrific secret. Meanwhile, turning down the door of death has implications for ghost Annie, but her confidence is at a peak and she’s determined to stand up and be counted in the real world. And, with Herrick gone, Mitchell must appease the vampire world - can he find a way to lead by example?

The entire first season of Being Human is currently available on iTunes and Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

CAST AND PRODUCTION CREDITS



George Russell Tovey

Annie Lenora Crichlow

Mitchell Aidan Turner



Writer Toby Whithouse

Producer Matthew Bouch

Directors Toby Haynes

Alex Pillai

Colin Teague



Executive Producer Rob Pursey (Touchpaper)
GESTALTAPALOOZA

Celebrating five years of publishing and promoting Australian comics and graphic novels to an international audience.

Gestalt Publishing was founded by Wolfgang Bylsma and Skye Ogden in a pub in Applecross, Western Australia in February 2005. Five years later, and despite Ogden having relocated to Japan, they’re returning to that pub to celebrate their fifth birthday and unveil plans for the next five years.

Those five years have seen the landscape change for comic publishing, with many independent publishing companies closing their doors. The international distribution Gestalt sought and received was also threatened by the global economic downturn, which nearly excluded their Flinch anthology (featuring original work from World Fantasy Award-winner Shaun Tan) from the US and Canadian market.

“We started the company with a commitment to being here for the long game, and we're staying true to that,” said Managing Director Wolfgang Bylsma.

“We’re in a stronger position now than ever before. Our publications list has grown substantially in the last 12 months, and we’re set to publish at least four more original graphic novels in 2010, including the creepily beautiful Changing Ways, written and illustrated by Justin Randall.”

To mark the fifth birthday, Gestalt are flying the creative team behind the recently published Rombies book into Perth, Western Australia.

Tom Taylor is a Melbourne-based playwright who writes Star Wars: Invasion (for another publisher) alongside Gestalt titles Rombies, The Example, two stories in Flinch, and the upcoming Brief Cases.

Skye Ogden is a Tokyo-based writer/illustrator responsible for Vowels, ‘The Daemon Street Ghost-Trap’ in Flinch and, of course, Rombies.

The event will see both Taylor & Ogden discussing their ongoing vision for the book (and it’s continuing story) and signing books. There will is also be live music from Gestalt’s own Anton McKay and the immensely talented Tracey Read.

Where:
Clancy’s Canning Bridge
903 Canning Highway,Applecross
Western Australia

When:
Thursday, 18 February 2010 from 7pm

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Volume 8 - Destroyer (Star Wars : Knights of the Old Republic)DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES ALL-NEW

STAR WARS™ SERIES, KNIGHT ERRANT!



AS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC DRAWS TO A CLOSE,

WRITER JOHN JACKSON MILLER MOVES TO AN UNCHARTED CORNER OF THE GALAXY!



FEBRUARY 11, MILWAUKIE, OR—Coming off the heels of penning the breakout hit Mass Effect: Redemption and the gripping finale of Knights of the Old Republic, writer John Jackson Miller introduces us to Kerra Holt, a young Jedi who’s about to realize that her role in the galaxy is far more important, and vastly different, than she could have ever imagined.

Set one thousand years before Episode I, in a time referred to as the “Dark Age of the Republic,” this story takes place in an era when the Sith were legion and the Republic was strained to the breaking point, leaving large swaths of the galaxy with no one to turn to. This pivotal time in the history of Star Wars has been largely unexplored, until now.

Additionally, for the first time ever, the writer of this new comics series will also be authoring a novel for Del Rey Books, set in the same era and involving the same cast of characters in an all-new adventure. It’s going to be a unique event for Star Wars, and one that will give fans a whole new perspective on the galaxy.

“There’s such wonderful chaos going on in the galaxy in this period,” said writer John Jackson Miller. “More than a generation before Darth Bane introduced the Rule of Two, Sith Lords are colliding not just with the Republic, but with each other. Kerra’s going to find that good intentions just may not be enough in a galaxy gone mad! This is a wide-open area to explore, and I’m thrilled that Dark Horse and Del Rey have given me this opportunity to do so.”

“With John writing both the comics and the novel, Knight Errant will be a Star Wars story on a scale we've never undertaken before," said comic-series editor Dave Marshall. “This will be a first-of-its-kind opportunity to introduce the Expanded Universe of the Dark Horse comics to the fans of the Del Rey novels and vice versa!”

With more news in the coming months, look for Star Wars: Knight Errant to arrive on shelves later this fall!



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. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and Serenity. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as one of the world's leading publishers of licensed comics material.



Star Wars and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd.

All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
BOOM! STUDIOS
ADDS
LANCE KREITER
AS
VP OF LICENSING AND MERCHANDISING

A drummer joins the band at BOOM!


February 10, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios proudly announces the appointment of Lance Kreiter as VP of Licensing and Merchandising, where he will be in charge of BOOM!'s already growing international licensing presence and spearhead a new wave of merchandise based on BOOM!'s expansive library of properties.

"Lance is the best in the business, known globally for his commitment to the comic medium and his stellar acumen at setting up deals in territories worldwide," said CEO Ross Richie. "Coupling a fresh outlook with a head brimming with exciting new ideas, BOOM! is lucky to add one of comic's great business minds to an already aggressive team. There is no stopping us now!"

“I couldn’t be more excited in joining the team at BOOM! Studios," said BOOM! Studios' new VP of Licensing and Merchandising Lance Kreiter. "From a distance, I’ve been watching BOOM!'s profile rise for years as a growing part of the domestic comics equation. I’ve continued to hear nothing but strong rumblings from the international community of comic publishers consistently noting that BOOM! is going in the right direction. My hope is to turn these rumblings into earthquakes that will hopefully leave fans and revelers in our wake!”

Prior to BOOM! Studios, Lance Kreiter spent 10 years at Dark Horse Comics, where he most recently held the title of Director of Global Licensing. At Dark Horse, Kreiter started as a Sales Account Representative and quickly moved his way up to International Licensing Manager before being promoted to Director of International Licensing. Kreiter's appointment to Director of Global Licensing came when Dark Horse launched the Dark Horse Licensing Group.

As International Licensing Manager, Kreiter helped grow business in all international markets after the late '90s downturn and then, as Director of International Licensing, Kreiter rode the return of the industry as the book market advanced domestically and overseas. In his capacity as Director of Global Licensing, Kreiter grew the licensing group as a “service” as well as pushed Dark Horse's creative further out into the mainstream consciousness through various product licensing deals and branding collaborations. At the same time, Kreiter oversaw all aspects of the international and foreign language business in conjunction with the International Licensing Manager.

More notoriously, as an accomplished musician and drummer who has sold songs to TV shows such as BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, GHOST WHISPERER, TRU CALLING and MIRACLES, Kreiter was one of the minds behind the band THE TIGER & THE SCORPION. Compromised of Dark Horse employees who are also musicians, THE TIGER & THE SCORPION play only two nights a year during the Frankfurt Book Fair — and in the last four years, their gigs have become the must-attend event during the noted international fair.

Kreiter comes to BOOM! after a year that has seen BOOM! jump to the top of the charts, with retailers voting BOOM! as Diamond’s Best Publisher (Under 4%) for that same year.

Since 2009, BOOM! Studios has solidified its position as a Top 10 Direct Market publisher - clocking in near 2 percent market share this January - with an aggressive publishing plan that includes original series, licensed comics and an all-ages line.

Early in 2009, Editor-in-Chief Mark Waid lead the way, launching his blockbuster hit IRREDEEMABLE and its follow-ups, THE UNKNOWN and INCORRUPTIBLE. Following these launches, BOOM! has had some of the most successful launches of their original titles ever with the release of Mark Sable’s UNTHINKABLE and J. Barton Mitchell’s POE.

Last March saw the launch of the BOOM Kids! imprint with the premiere of a Disney/Pixar line of comics, including THE INCREDIBLES, THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK, and THE WORLD OF CARS, with Disney's THE MUPPETS, DONALD DUCK, UNCLE SCROOGE and WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES adding to the kids roster later in year.

This past fall, BOOM! Studios dramatically increased their licensed comics line with debuts of the ongoing series 28 DAYS LATER and DIE HARD, part of a wide ranging licensing deal with 20th Century Fox, and the debut of DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, part of their licensing agreement with the Philip K. Dick Estate, Electric Shepherd.

Also in 2009, BOOM! Studios announced mass market distribution deals with Simon & Schuster and HarperCollinsCanada, with Simon & Schuster distributing BOOM! Studios and BOOM! Kids line of graphic novels in the United States and HarperCollinsCanada distributing in Canada.

The addition of Simon & Schuster and HarperCollinsCanada follows on heels of BOOM!’s newsstand distribution deal through Kable Distribution Services, Inc., best known amongst comic book fans for distributing Archie Comics throughout North America in the United States and Canada.

In early 2010, BOOM! Studios expanded the diversity of their line-up with the announcement of a "lit comix" imprint, BOOM! Town, whose first products will be done in association with Denis Kitchen and TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN creator Shannon Wheeler.

This past December, BOOM! Studios placed 6th among all comic book publishers in the direct market, coming behind long-established independent publishers Dark Horse Comics, IDW, and Image Comic.

About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents, including Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, The Henson Company's FARSCAPE, and the original Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE. BOOM! recently launched its youth imprint, BOOM Kids!, with Pixar's THE INCREDIBLES, CARS, and TOY STORY, as well as Disney's THE MUPPETS, DONALD DUCK, UNCLE SCROOGE and WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES. This year, BOOM! Studios celebrates its fifth anniversary.
10 February 2010
For Immediate Release

30 DAYS OF NIGHT ALUMNI INVITES US TO THE NOT-SO-SLEEPY TOWN OF GREY OAKS

Justin Randall invites us into the beautifully disturbing town of Grey Oaks with the solicitation of Changing Ways in the February edition of Diamond Comics Previews catalogue.

Changing Ways conveys the intimacy and heartache of a family struggling to survive in a world that’s falling apart. Randall was focused on delivering a story that people could relate to from the outset.

“I wanted to create a story that, despite the cataclysmic events going on in the outside world, you could really just focus on the intimate moments of a small family,” he said.

Synopsis:
David Barrot, a retired Corrections Officer, moved to Grey Oaks after the tragic death of his son, Cale.

With wife Lucy and daughter Jessie, the Barrot family bought a farm on the outskirts of town and began their new life, putting aside all the dark events of their past.

Unfortunately for them, the dark just won’t leave David alone.

The first sightings started months ago, igniting rumours of disease and infection. Newspapers reported unusual lesions appearing on livestock and stories of strange side effects spread quickly. Perhaps it was inevitable that the people of Grey Oaks would be next.

These are their Changing Ways.

Justin Randall is a Lecturer in Digital Illustration for Curtin University in Western Australia, and an internationally published graphic novelist and commercial artist. He has worked on franchises such as 30 Days of Night and Silent Hill and produced artwork for video games, book covers and journals.

Changing Ways is distributed by Diamond Comics in the USA and One Stop Entertainment in Australia.

###
MASS EFFECT: REDEMPTION #2 SELLS OUT!



WITH THE LAUNCH OF MASS EFFECT: REDEMPTION ON iTUNES, AND THE CONTINUED POPULARITY OF THE GAME, MASS EFFECT #2 SELLS OUT WITHIN A WEEK!



FEBRUARY 9TH, MILWAUKIE, OR­ and EDMONTON, AB–Following up on last week’s news of the explosive first issue of Mass Effect: Redemption disappearing out of stores across the country, Dark Horse and EA announce that the series’ second issue will be reprinted as well.

Mass Effect: Redemption tells the exciting back-story that led up to the events of Mass Effect 2, the recently released video game developed by the award-winning creative team at BioWare. The game’s lead writer Mac Walters takes up the pen to give fans exclusive insight into the events that unfolded between the conclusion of the original Mass Effect, and the beginning of Mass Effect 2. Scripted by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, The Invincible Iron Man) and drawn by Omar Francia (Star Wars Legacy), this four-part series explores the exotic and dangerous future Milky Way of Mass Effect, revealing previously unseen locations, aliens, and enemies of this rich science fiction landscape.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, stunning space exploration and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience. Mass Effect 2 was released on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe and has been rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB and ‘18+’ by PEGI (please visit www.esrb.org and www.pegi.eu for more information on ratings). For more news from the development team, please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect2 or visit the game’s official website at http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

“We knew we had something special on our hands with Mass Effect” said Dark Horse Director of Public Relations, Jeremy Atkins. “Even still, watching this series sell out issue by issue is exciting, indeed!”

For those who have yet to read the explosive first issue, it is also currently available for download on iTunes for just 99 cents.

Mass Effect: Redemption is the fifth title to arrive in Dark Horse’s ever-growing stable of comics available on the iPhone platform. Other titles available now include Gerard Way’s smash hit Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, Terminator: Death Valley, and multiple titles the critically acclaimed line of Star Wars comics.



For more information, please visit http://www.darkhorse.com/Features/Mobile.



About Dark Horse Comics



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. The company is known for the progressive and creator friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as The Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, Serenity and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as one of the world's leading publisher of licensed comics material.



About BioWare



BioWare develops computer, console, handheld, mobile and online video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's best-selling titles, including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™ and Neverwinter Nights™ series, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™ and Sonic™ Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (for the Nintendo DS™). Original BioWare-created intellectual properties include Jade Empire™ and the 2007 Game of the Year, Mass Effect™. With studios in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montréal (Québec), and Austin (Texas), BioWare is hard at work on the epic fantasy roleplaying game, Dragon Age™: Origins, Mass Effect 2™, the epic sequel to Mass Effect, and the story-driven massively multiplayer game, Star Wars®: The Old Republic™, as well as several unannounced projects. In 2008, BioWare was acquired by the world's leading electronic entertainment publisher, Electronic Arts. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com



*BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.



About Electronic Arts



Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS Freestyle™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

*BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. . All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Star Wars Sneak Peek of Toy Fair 2010



STAR WARS™ Maintains Top Spot as the
#1 Licensed Toy and #1 Boys Toy Property in the U.S. for Annual 2009



It was a competitive year for boys properties, but Star Wars once again grabbed the top slot, demonstrating its enormous staying power even after 33 years. With 2009 year-end figures placing Star Wars 40% ahead of any other toy license, the Power of the Force continues to thrive. This weekend’s International Toy Fair will provide a sneak peek at some of the exciting upcoming products from “a galaxy far, far away…”



HASBRO

The Force remains strong at Hasbro, Inc. which continues to bring all the action, battles and fantasy of STAR WARS to life with a full array of toys and games. In 2010, STAR WARS fans celebrate the launch of the third season of the highly-rated STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS animated series with toys that replicate the battles between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. This year, Hasbro also commemorates the 30th anniversary of fan-favorite Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back with toys, special packaging and promotions that recreate the excitement fans experienced when the film stormed into theaters “a long time ago.”



BOBA FETT HELMET



Show off your bounty hunting skills like Boba Fett, the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy, with the STAR WARS BOBA FETT HELMET. Impressively designed and styled, the STAR WARS BOBA FETT HELMET allows children to pretend to be their favorite bounty hunter. (Approximate Retail Price: $34.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: August 1, 2010)



GENERAL GRIEVOUS LIGHTSABER



JEDI warriors have long recognized the prowess of GENERAL GRIEVOUS as a highly skilled, elusive and often multiple-LIGHTSABER-wielding adversary. Now, kids can engage in LIGHTSABER battles just like this powerful cyborg with the new STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS GENERAL GRIEVOUS LIGHTSABER. Battle with the power of GENERAL GRIEVOUS by spinning the two LIGHTSABERS simultaneously in one hand, take out the spinner and connect the two LIGHTSABERS for double-bladed LIGHTSABER action, or use the two separately to ward off an opponent. (Approximate Retail Price: $34.99; Ages: 6 & up; Available: August 1, 2010)



LEGO



The first licensed property for the LEGO Group in 1999, LEGO Star Wars continues to be one of the company’s best-selling lines, appealing to both children new to the story and to adult collectors who have followed Star Wars for years. January kicks off with a mix of modern classics and new Clone Wars sets. Included in the assortment are: Rebel Trooper and Snow Trooper Army Packs, Freeco Speeder™, Trifighter Droid™, Tie Defender™, and the ARC-170 Starfighter™. August proves to be even bigger with six new sets: Plo Koon’s Starfighter, Hoth Wampa Set, General Grievous Starfighter, Palpatine’s Shuttle, Slave I and Clone Turbo Tank (Pictured above).



The next chapter in the award-winning LEGO® Star Wars videogame franchise, LEGO® Star Wars III: The Clone Wars will combine the best elements of all previous LEGO® games while adding brand new gameplay to make it the most action-packed LEGO® videogame to date. The game will feature characters from both seasons of the hugely popular animated television series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as some fan-favorite characters from the beloved theatrical Star Wars Saga. The game will ship on the Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Xbox 360®videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows in the Fall of 2010.
GET CAUGHT UP!
THE ANCHOR
VOL. 1 JUST $9.99
ISSUE #5 PRICED AT 3.99!
BOTH SHIP ON THE SAME DAY!

$14 Bucks Gets You Caught Up!
NO EXCUSE TO MISS OUT ON
THE SUPERNATURAL SENSATION!




February 9th, 2010 - Los Angeles – This Wednesday, BOOM! Studios makes sure you have no excuse to miss out on the knuckle busting epic THE ANCHOR! Get caught up on the first arc with THE ANCHOR Volume 1 TPB, collecting the first four critically acclaimed issues, for only $9.99 and start the new arc with issue #5 both shipping on the same day!

That means you can get caught up on the whole series for just $14 bucks!

“If you've seen it in stores and were curious, now is the time to jump in headlong into THE ANCHOR,” said BOOM! Studios Director of Marketing Chip Mosher. “The response for THE ANCHOR has been so positive we're making it easier for even more people to get into this hard hitting action epic. At $14 there's no reason not to get caught up with THE ANCHOR!"

Since its debut critics from numerous outlets have poured in with praise for the smash-hit series THE ANCHOR:


“…tight, vibrant and kinetic…. I have to admit, I’m a bit envious of Matt Gagnon, who is acting as editor on this one. He gets to see where the story is going well before the rest of us… Pick it up, it’s on stands now.” — Examiner

“… a top-notch story and what might be the most bad-ass first four pages of a comic book this year.” — UVU Review

“A powerful… issue from Hester and Churilla that hits as hard as the title character.” — Project Fanboy
“… story is strong and plots forward at a great pace…Issue Grade: A-” — The Pullbox
“…I was pretty impressed - I loved the fight scenes… One to watch… THE ANCHOR could quickly find a home in the hearts of those who hanker for Dr Strange and Hellboy type thrills.” — Comic Book Review
“… filled with vibrant action and thought-provoking metaphysical exploration, this first issue successfully lays the groundwork for what looks to be a very intriguing, fun-filled series.” — SF Site
“Don't you just love when a new comic you've been looking forward to finally come out...and exceeds all your high hopes?" – Project Fanboy
"This is a great read, quick to get through, yet immense in it's imagery. BOOM! Studios has been putting out some quality work, which, for being such a young company, is awesome. I've begun to look forward more to what they're putting out next than what larger companies are doing with their established characters. Keep it coming!"– Comics Bulletin
"If you're looking for something new I highly recommend you check out THE ANCHOR..." – Cammy's Comic Corner
“...quite effective...” – Eye On Comics


THE ANCHOR Volume 1 TPB price at $9.99 features cover art and interior art by Brian Churilla, and carries a Diamond Order Code of DEC090728 with ISBN: 1608860043 and ISBN13: 978-1608860043.

THE ANCHOR #5 priced at 3.99 and features two covers in a 50/50 split with cover art by Brian Churilla, and Robbie Rodriguez, and carries a Diamond Order Code: DEC090727.

About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents, including Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, The Henson Company's FARSCAPE, and the original Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE. BOOM! recently launched its youth imprint, BOOM Kids!, with Pixar's THE INCREDIBLES, CARS, and TOY STORY, as well as Disney's THE MUPPETS. This year, BOOM! Studios celebrates its fifth anniversary.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMIC STORES GET COSPLAY FEVER!

February 10, 2010 - Ablaze Media is pleased to announce the release of Cosplay Fever on April 20th 2010. This 256 page full color book, by Rob Dunlop and Peter Lumby, is listed in the February issue of Previews (order code FEB10 0644), and can be pre-ordered now from comic stores across North America and the UK.

Cosplay Fever is a celebration of an extraordinary art-form, with over 300 photographs of inventive and talented cosplayers. Cosplay (meaning "costume role-play") has been a significant subculture in Japan for decades, but it is now growing in popularity all over the world. Cosplayers dress up in the costumes of their favorite characters from manga, anime, movies, video games and other popular media, then step into the shoes of those characters as they adopt their attributes and personality traits.

There is incredible diversity on display in Cosplay Fever. Some of the costumes are bought or commissioned. Others are painstakingly constructed over months or even years. There are expertly-crafted works of art, made from materials such as metal, latex, and synthetic leather. And there are less permanent creations, made from old cardboard boxes and duct tape.

The costumes are elaborate and eye-catching, or simple yet ingenious, or beautiful and evocative, or horrifying, or delightful, or goofy and amusing. While every costume is wonderfully unique, each one reflects the creative spirit of the individual cosplayer. It is this creative spirit which has inspired the development of Cosplay Fever.

Cosplay Fever is more than a collection of photographs. Everyone featured in the book has been asked about the creation of their costumes, the challenges they faced, what they like about the character, and why they cosplay in the first place. Their responses are sometimes informative, other times poignant, often hilarious, but always revealing.

Cosplay Fever is a 256 page full color, soft cover book. It is on sale April 20th 2010 and is available to pre-order now from book stores (ISBN 978-0-9543008-3-8) and comic stores (order code FEB10 0644) with a list price of $19.95. Visit www.cosplayfever.com for page samples. All inquiries to cosplayfever (at) gmail.com.

"The guys behind this wonderful project are true fans of the art-form and have captured many beautiful photographs for all to enjoy." - Sonia Leong, manga artist and cosplayer

ABOUT ABLAZE MEDIA: Ablaze Media is an independent book publisher, founded by comic book creators Peter Lumby and Rob Dunlop in 2002. Their Tozzer and Peckerwood books are available to order from book and comic shops in the UK and USA, and their weekly web comic can be found at www.drunkduck.com/Tozzer/. Having seen the growth of cosplay at comic and anime conventions in recent years, Rob and Pete decided that these amazing creations should be shared with the world. Hence, Cosplay Fever was born.

###

Monday, February 08, 2010

Pantheon Arrives in April
First comic series by award-winning actor Michael Chiklis debuts at WonderCon





San Diego, CA (February 8, 2009) – IDW Publishing and award-winning actor and WonderCon special guest Michael Chiklis are pleased to announce that the comic book series, Pantheon, will launch in April at WonderCon, one of the country’s leading comics and pop culture conventions, held April 2nd through the 4th. Created by Chiklis, Anny Simon Beck, and acclaimed comics writer, Marc Andreyko, Pantheon is a dark and stylized story of ancient Greek gods returning to a ravaged, chaotic near-future Earth, where they battle for the fate of mankind.

“As a kid, Greek Gods were very real to me, so the chance to bring my childhood heroes and villains to life in the modern world is irresistible,” said Chiklis, a third generation Greek-American. “Besides, I couldn’t say no to Zeus. . . no one in the family would ever talk to me again.”

The five-issue series pits Zeus’s fellow gods against the Titans in an epic battle of good versus evil, and father versus son. Breaking the golden rule of Greek mythology – to never reveal themselves – the gods Zeus, Aphrodite, Pandora, Cronus, Prometheus and Jason return to their timeless battles, as Armageddon nears.

Working closely with Chiklis, Beck and Andreyko will be rising star artist, Stephen Molnar, while the Sharp Brothers provide striking covers for the series. Launching at WonderCon, IDW, Chiklis, and Andreyko will host a signing as well as a panel for Pantheon at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Stay tuned to IDWPublishing.com for exact times and locations.







Pantheon #1 (of 5; $3.99, 32 page color) will be available in stores in April. Diamond order code FEB10 0961.







Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.



About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renown 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.
IncorruptibleINCORRUPTIBLE #2
SELLS OUT!
GOES TO SECOND PRINTING




February 8, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios is proud to announce that INCORRUPTIBLE #2 has sold out, sending Mark Waid's superhero smash-hit into 2nd printing.

Fans should keep in mind, while Diamond Comic Distributors is completely sold out, first printings of INCORRUPTIBLE #2 may still be found at a direct market retailer near you.

Diamond Comic Distributors is making the second printing of INCORRUPTIBLE #2 available for retailers to order immediately and the second printing will be featured soon in an upcoming issue of Previews Plus.

The second printing of INCORRUPTIBLE #2 is also available to order immediately through BOOM!'s new relationship with Haven Distributors.

INCORRUPTIBLE #2 second print features a distressed variant art of the Dennis Calero A cover for issue two.

Since its debut critics from all over have given praise to sensational INCORRUPTIBLE:


"...entertaining..." –– IGN

"The journey ahead promises to be a bumpy one, filled with surprises, action, intrigue and struggle. All the signs point to it being worth the trip." –– Broken Frontier

"… I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of Incorruptible on several levels… This new series should be a fun and terrific companion to Irredeemable."
–– Comics Bulletin

"With Waid behind the writers wheel and a talented artist at the helm, I have hope INCORRUPTIBLE can step up to the high standards set by IRREDEEMABLE and become just as exciting as the series from which it was spawned." –– Comics Waiting Room



INCORRUPTIBLE #2 features the second installment of the exciting ongoing INCORRUPTIBLE adventure and is written by Mark Waid, with astounding interior art by Jean Diaz. The first printing shipped with two covers in a 50/50 split and a third cover that was offered as a 1 in 10 incentive.

Recently, BOOM! Studios announced that in addition to Diamond carrying BOOM!'s second prints, Haven Distributors will also be carrying all BOOM! second prints. Retailers needing more information on how to order from Haven Distributors can call 1-877-HAVEN-50 or sign up on their website here: http://www.havendistro.com/retailers.html

About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents, including Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, The Henson Company's FARSCAPE, and the original Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE. BOOM! recently launched its youth imprint, BOOM Kids!, with Pixar's THE INCREDIBLES, CARS, and TOY STORY, as well as Disney's THE MUPPETS. This year, BOOM! Studios celebrates its fifth anniversary.
Jamal Igle Set to Attend Phoenix Comicon



Jamal Igle, comic book artist, has announced he will be attending Phoenix Comicon. Igle is best known for his work as a DC Comics exclusive artist who contributes to the comic series Supergirl and comic series Firestorm.



In addition to creating amazing comic book imagery, Igle can be found editing, art directing, or storyboarding for DC Comics. He has also been known to travel the globe lending his artistic talents to international collaborations.



"Phoenix Comicon is attracting some amazing comic artist talent," said Programming Director Joe Boudrie. "Between Jim Steranko and Jamal Igle, I think we're going to put together some fantastic events for our comics fans."



Igle got his start in the comic book industry as an intern with DC Comics when he was in high school. Since that time, he has worked for Marvel Comics, Majestic Entertainment and Sony Animation before returning to DC Comics as an exclusive artist.



“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have such a talented and devoted artist to come to the convention," said Convention Director Matt Solberg. "Igle has so much to offer, and he's a fan-favorite."



Igle has recently been appointed the series artist for DC Comics series Nightwing. In addition to his work with DC Comics, the artist maintains a personal blog, “Omelets and Broken Eggs”, where he invites friends, family and fans to share in his everyday life.



More info can be found at Phoenix Comicon's website, http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.



Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture event of the southwest, presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its ninth year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees to its May 27-30, 2010 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency, downtown Phoenix.