Friday, June 04, 2010

CHEW ON SOMETHING SWEET
CHEW #11 features exclusive sneak peek of Kody Chamberlain's SWEETS

Berkeley, CA - 2 June 2010 - Fans who pick up a copy of John Layman and Rob Guillory's CHEW #11 on June 9, 2010, are in for a treat: an exclusive sneak peek of Kody Chamberlain's SWEETS! A Lousisiana native, Chamberlain makes his writing debut with this five-issue miniseries.

"I've been a fan of CHEW from the very beginning," says Chamberlain. "So, when John and Rob offered up some valuable real estate inside their comic, I decided to give them more than just a preview -- I gave them an exclusive! I hope CHEW readers enjoy the peek at four unseen pages of SWEETS."

In SWEETS, a spree killer terrorizes New Orleans days before Hurricane Katrina makes landfall. Detective Curt Delatte just buried his only daughter, and he's in no condition to work. But when the bodies pile up, he masks his grief and joins the hunt through the bowels of the Big Easy. It won't be long until his city -- and his evidence -- gets washed away.

CHEW #11 (MAR100423), a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99, features a four-page exclusive preview of SWEETS #1 and will be in stores on June 9, 2010. SWEETS #1 (of 5) (MAY100427), a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores on July 14, 2010.

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

SHOCK VALUE
Image Comics reprints first issue of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? after sellout

Berkeley, CA - 2 June 2010 - Less than a week after its initial release, entertainment impresario Rob Zombie's WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? #1 has sold out at the distribution level.

Image Comics is releasing a second printing of the first issue of Zombie's sordid study of the rise and fall of a minor celebrity, illustrated by Donny Hadiwidjaja and Val Staples, and it will be in stores on June 30, 2010, the same day as the second issue hits.

"What can I say?" asks Zombie. "It's awesome to hear that Baron Von Shock flew off the shelves. I love this book and I'm glad to hear that everyone else does, too."

In WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK?, Rob Zombie returns to comics with a dark dramedy that outlines the fantastic rise and spiraling decent of celebrity. Being in the right place at the right time isn't always a good thing, as Baron Von Shock finds out first hand. His sudden rise to fame as a television horror host meets with unexpected results. Baron Von Shock delivers a roller coaster ride of emotion that Rob Zombie can deliver.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? #1 Second Printing (MAR108131), a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.99, will be on sale June 30, 2010, the same day as WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? #2 (APR100476).

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

BOOM! STUDIOS
@ HEROESCON '10
BOOM! STUDIOS BOOTHS # 514, 516 & 613
BOOM KIDS! BOOTHS # 413, 513 & 515

SIGNING TOGETHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME!
EISNER AWARD-NOMINATED
IRREDEEMABLE'S
MARK WAID & PETER KRAUSE




GET YOUR OWN "GET-A-SKETCH" COVER
EXCLUSIVE FOR HEROESCON!

BOOM! STUDIOS GUESTS ALSO INCLUDE:
THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK's Amy Mebberson
TOY STORY's Travis Hill
CARS' Allen Gladfelter




DO ANDROID DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?: DUST TO DUST's
Chris Roberson
28 DAYS LATER's Michael Alan Nelson & Declan Shalvey
FARSCAPE's Keith R.A. DeCandido & Will Sliney
MR. STUFFINS & SAVAGE BROTHERS' Johanna Stokes

ALSO ATTENDING:
Eisner Award-Nominated
THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK's Roger Langridge



SCHEDULED SIGNINGS & PANELS



BOOM! Studios Booths #514, 516 & 613
BOOM Kids Booths #414, 513 & 515


Friday, June 4, 2010
All Day Signings – Keith R.A. DeCandido, Michael Alan Nelson, Will Sliney, Declan Shalvey, Johana Stokes, Travis Hill, Allen Gladfelter & Amy Mebberson
11:30am – 12:30pm – Mark Waid Signing at BOOM! Booths
2:00 – 3:00pm – Chris Roberson signing at BOOM! Tables
3:00pm – The New Horror Comics Panel with Michael Alan Nelson
- ROOM 208AB
5:00 – 6:00pm – Mark Waid & Peter Krause Signing at BOOM! Booths



Saturday, June 5, 2010
All Day Signings – Keith R.A. DeCandido, Michael Alan Nelson, Will Sliney, Declan Shalvey, Johana Stokes, Travis Hill, Allen Gladfelter & Amy Mebberson
11:30am – 12:30pm – Mark Waid & Peter Krause Signing at BOOM! Booths
2:00 – 3:00pm – Chris Roberson signing at BOOM! Tables
4:00 – 5:00pm – Mark Waid & Peter Krause Signing at BOOM! Booths

Saturday, June 6, 2010
All Day Signings – Keith R.A. DeCandido, Michael Alan Nelson, Will Sliney, Declan Shalvey, Johana Stokes, Travis Hill, Allen Gladfelter & Amy Mebberson
11:00am – 12:00pm – Mark Waid & Peter Krause Signing at BOOM! Booths
12:00 – 1:00pm – Family Friendly Comics Panel with Mark Waid
& Roger Langridge - ROOM 208AB
2:00 – 3:00pm – Mark Waid & Peter Krause Signing at BOOM! Booths
4:00 – 5:00pm – Chris Roberson signing at BOOM! Tables



The 2010 BOOM! Studios' LIGHT THE FUSE convention tour continues at HEROESCON 2010. Here are the full tour dates:


BOOM! STUDIOS

LIGHT THE FUSE TOUR 2010

Keep an eye out for us, we might be coming to a town near you!



June 25-28 - ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition - Washington DC
July 21-25 - Comic-Con International - San Diego, California
August 27-29 - Fan Expo Canada - Toronto,Canada
August 28-29 - Baltimore Comic-Con - Baltimore, MD
October 6-10 - Frankfurt Book Fair - Frankfurt, Germany
October 8-10 - New York Comic Con - New York, New York
October 29-31 - Long Beach Comic Con - L.A., California



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.
EAGLES INITIATIVE ATTRACTS EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FROM TOP NAME CREATORS

HAVING recently announced the Eagles Initiative, Barry Renshaw and Cassandra Conroy are delighted to announce that the initial line-up of judges for their global talent search includes a wide range of major names from across the world and from all quarters of the comics industry.



Those writers and artists already committed to the project are: Gabriel Bá, Peter Bagge, Riccardo Burchielli, Mike Carey, Howard Chaykin, Chris Claremont, Becky Cloonan, Alex De Campi, Mike Deodato Jr, Steve Epting, Dave Gibbons, Geoff Johns, Fabio Moon, Terry Moore, Denny O’Neil, Guiseppe Palumbo, Trina Robbins, Gilbert Shelton, Gail Simone, Jeff Smith, Bryan Talbot, Roy Thomas, Jim Valentino, Ethan Van Sciver, Mark Waid and Brian Wood. In addition other aspects of the industry are represented by Ellen Abramowitz, Scott Allie, Karen Berger, Dan Berry, Tom Brevoort, Steve Brezzo, Olivier Cadic, David Campbell, Shane Chebsey, Scott Dunbier, Jay Eales, Alex Fitch, Paul Gravett, Milton Griepp, Nick Landau, Selina Locke, Jim McLauchlin, Bob Shreck, Diana Schutz, Matt Smith, Eric Stephenson, Vicky Stonebridge, Kev F Sutherland and Sean Michael Wilson.



“The name echoes the noble name of one of the great British comics papers... and the awards seek to honour new talent and good work,” stated Roy Thomas, declaring his support for the project. “So what's not to like? I'm honoured to be aboard!”



For his part, Tom Brevoort said, “It’s a chance to give a leg up to the next generation of talent, and possibly pave the way in some small manner for great works yet to come.”



Full details of all participants are attached.



The Initiative is an offshoot of the long-running Eagle Awards to which their founder Mike Conroy is serving as a consultant and publicist. Discussing the initial reaction to the project, he said, “I’m elated that so many of comicdom’s top professionals have got behind what Barry and my daughter are trying to achieve.



“They’ve already got writers, artists, editors, academics, convention organisers and UK small press publishers on board but want to expand the panel beyond America and Great Britain,” he continued. “Before judging commences next year, I know they plan to add European, African and Asian judges, including many who have worked outside the US/UK establishment so that the entries can be evaluated from a truly worldwide perspective.



“Sequential art is an international language. It’s only fitting that we should try to incorporate as many points of view as possible. The Initiative is ultimately a showcase for the entrant’s storytelling abilities and not every country approaches narrative in the same way,” he concluded.



For further details on the Initiative, a full list of judges and complete submission guidelines, go to http://www.eaglesinitiative.com/. For press enquiries, contact director Barry Renshaw: editor@enginecomics.co.uk. For further details on the Eagle Awards, contact Cassandra Conroy: eagleawards@gmail.com.



ABOUT THE EAGLES INITIATIVE:
Launched in May 2010, the Eagles Initiative provides a unique platform from which the next generation of writers and artists can promote their storytelling ability in an increasingly competitive market. The brainchild of Barry Renshaw, the Initiative is an unprecedented global talent search, entrants will be asked to submit an original self-contained illustrated story. The winner will be awarded a £1,000 cash prize; the runner up will win £500 with the third place submission being given £250. All three stories are to be included in the Initiative Anthology, which will be released as a print publication and in multiple languages across the digital media.



ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry's longest established awards. Unique in that they reflect the people's choice, they are awarded by fans who vote for their favourite in each category of the awards. They are named after the fondly remembered 1950's British comic anthology Eagle, and were originated by two British fans, Mike Conroy and Richard Burton. The awards proved to be successful, with American publishers such as Marvel Comics announcing their victories with pride. They have relaunched in 2010 with a new look, a new mandate and a new vision for the future.

ABOUT BARRY RENSHAW:
Barry Renshaw has been an active creator in the UK independent comics industry for over a decade, as publisher of his own Engine Comics imprint, the award winning Redeye Magazine, and the popular How to Self Publish - A Rough Guide, as well as running or appearing at various workshops, seminars and panels over the years. He was asked to join the Eagle Awards committee in 2009 to help reinvent the brand, and saw an opportunity for the Awards to play a more progressive and proactive role in the comics industry. The Initiative is the first part of that expanded role.



ABOUT CASSANDRA CONROY:

Cassandra Conroy has been a regular presence on the UK convention scene for several years. In 2008, her father Mike Conroy handed over the running of the Eagle Awards to Cassandra, who has worked on Eaglemoss’s Classic Marvel Figurine Collection and DC Comics Super Hero Collection.



ABOUT MIKE CONROY:

Formerly editor of Comics International, Europe's trade paper, veteran comics journalist and historian Mike Conroy is the founder of the Eagle Awards. Established in 1976, they are one of the comics industry’s earliest established and most coveted international prizes. Sought after to talk about comics and movies on TV and radio, Mike has written extensively on those subjects for various publishers and magazines. He is the author of 500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes its sequel 500 Comic Book Villains and War Stories: A Graphic History as well as a major contributor to Comix: The Underground Revolution. His former position on CI followed his 10-year reign as the magazine's news editor. For over 12 years, his monthly Frame to Frame – the comics industry’s longest-running column discussing the interaction between movies and comics – had been a feature in CI, which he had been associated with since the magazine's very beginnings in 1991. Contact him at: demigod@btconnect.com.
DUSTIN LANCE BLACK TO HELM 3 STORY FOR WARNER BROS.

DIRECTOR WILL ADAPT MATT KINDT’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DARK HORSE GRAPHIC NOVEL

JUNE 2, HOLLYWOOD, CA—Warner Bros. Pictures has announced today that the Academy Award–winning writer Dustin Lance Black will both write and direct the movie adaptation of Matt Kindt’s groundbreaking graphic novel, 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man.

3 Story is a modern fable that explores the life of a giant man, Craig Pressgang, whose strange medical condition causes continuous growth. Told by the three women who knew him best, 3 Story follows Craig’s amazing journey from birth to his eventual three-story height.

Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson will produce the film, with Keith Goldberg as executive producer. Dark Horse Entertainment is currently developing R.I.P.D. at Universal, with Ryan Reynolds attached to star. Dark Horse is also developing The Umbrella Academy, The Secret, and Criminal Macabre at Universal, and Damn Nation at Paramount.

“Both Lance and Matt are very special talents,” said Richardson. “We couldn’t be happier about bringing them together on this unique project.”

Dark Horse Entertainment is represented by Endeavor and Gotham Group, with legal representation by attorney Keith Fleer.
(Atlanta, June 2) -- Production begins today in Atlanta for AMC's adaptation of the Robert Kirkman comic The Walking Dead. The six-episode first season -- written, produced and directed by three-time Academy Award-nominee Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) and executive produced by Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens, Armageddon, The Incredible Hulk) -- follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, traveling in search of a safe and secure home after a zombie apocalypse.


To whet your appetite for this tale of the living and the undead, AMC is pleased to present this exclusive first look photo of "The Walkers" -- the series' titular flesh-eating creatures.
CAPULLO'S DEBUT SENDS HAUNT BACK TO PRESS
Image Comics to reprint HAUNT #7 after same-day sellout

Berkeley, CA - 2 June 2010 - GREG CAPULLO was warmly welcomed as the full-time penciler on HAUNT during a same-day distributor-level sellout of HAUNT #7! Image Comics is rushing a second printing of this first issue of an all-new story arc, written by ROBERT KIRKMAN and inked by series co-creator TODD McFARLANE.

Due to his unique ability to bond with his brother Kurt's ghost, priest Daniel Kilgore joins forces with an undercover agency. In the second story arc of HAUNT, Daniel Kilgore is now firmly entrenched in his brother's life of espionage and intrigue... but is he ready for it? Just as Daniel begins to get his life in order, it appears it might suddenly end.

HAUNT #7 Second Printing (APR108137), a 32-page full-color comic book, will be available June 16, 2010. Retailers still have time to increase orders of HAUNT #8 (MAR100380) and HAUNT #9 (APR100460).

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

MoCCA EDUCATION'S SUMMER SESSIONS BEGIN JUNE 19TH WITH COURSES IN WRITING AND ART FOR KIDS AND ADULTS, WITH MOTLEY, BERNSTEIN, AND FINGEROTH

NEW YORK (June 1, 2010) - The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA - is proud to announce three new offerings-including its first classes for kids- from its Education Department. Organized and headed by Senior Vice-President of Education, DANNY FINGEROTH, the sensational new classes will be:

For kids:

(1) COMIC ART FOR KIDS
with TOM MOTLEY

For adults:

(2) HOW TO WRITE ANIMATION
with ANNE D. BERNSTEIN

and

(3) HOW TO WRITE COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS
with DANNY FINGEROTH


Course details:

(1) COMIC ART FOR KIDS (AGES 8-12)
Parts 1 and 2
Instructor: TOM MOTLEY
6 sessions, SATURDAY MORNINGS June 19 & 26; July 10, 17, 24 & 31
10:00 - 11:30 am

PART 1 (3 sessions): INTRODUCTION TO COMICS DRAWING
[June 19 & 26; July 10]
PART 2 (3 sessions): INTRODUCTION TO COMICS STORYTELLING
[July 17, 24, & 31]

[The two parts can be taken separately, or together as a six-session class.]

$245 tuition | $225 for MoCCA members' kids [FOR ALL SIX SESSIONS]

$130 tuition | $120 for MoCCA members' kids [Part 1]

$130 tuition | $120 for MoCCA members' kids [Part 2]

Tuition for this class includes all art materials.


Anybody-including kids!-can make a comic book, and these classes will show you how! This course is presented in two parts of three weeks each. Students may enroll in either part or take the entire six-week course at a discount.

TOM MOTLEY teaches CARTOONING BASICS to grown ups at The School of Visual Arts. He has also been teaching his easy-to-learn drawing methods to children for over 20 years. Samples of his instructional handouts, comics, and illustrations can be seen on his website www.tmotley.com


(2) HOW TO WRITE ANIMATION
Instructor: ANNE D. BERNSTEIN
6 sessions, TUESDAYS June 22 & 29; July 13, 20, 27; August 3
6:30-9:00 pm
$385 tuition | $360 for MoCCA members

Although animation is unbound by reality or gravity, successful cartoon writing is grounded in classic storytelling skills, thoughtful character development, and clever dialogue. This class is an opportunity to explore the particular challenges and rewards of writing for animation. Just bring your imagination. [Note: while this course will focus on TV animation, shortform and feature length animation will be discussed, as well.]

ANNE D. BERNSTEIN is an animation writer and story editor whose credits include Daria, MTV Downtown, Private Eye Princess, Hey Monie!, Backyardigans, Tutenstein, Viva Pinata, Angelo Rules and Monster High. She served as Head Writer for MTV Animation Development for three years. Before that she was Senior Editor and Comic Book Editor at Nickelodeon Magazine.


HOW TO WRITE COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Instructor: DANNY FINGEROTH
6 sessions, WEDNESDAYS June 23 & 30; July 14, 21, 28; August 4
6:30-9:00 pm
$385 tuition | $360 for MoCCA members

DANNY FINGEROTH will lead a hands-on workshop in writing comics and graphic novels, suitable for novices as well as experienced writers. Combining lectures, assignments in class and at home, and roundtable critiquing, the class will cover writing for all kinds of comics, including autobiographical, historical, “indy” and superheroes.

DANNY FINGEROTH was the longtime group editor of Marvel's Spider-Man line and the writer of comics including Darkhawk and Deadly Foes of Spider-Man. He has taught comics writing at NYU, The New School, and Media Bistro. Danny created and edited Write Now magazine, the only how-to publication dedicated to comics writing and writers. He is the author of The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels and co-author (with artist Mike Manley) of How to Create Comics from Script to Print. He's also written the books Superman on the Couch and Disguised as Clark Kent. Danny serves on MoCCA's board of advisors and on the board of directors of the Institute for Comics Studies.

For more information and to register, call 212-254-3511 or go to www.moccany.org.

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to the preservation, study and display of all forms of comic and cartoon art. The museum promotes greater understanding and appreciation of the artistic, cultural and historical significance of comic and cartoon art through a variety of events, exhibitions, and educational programs. The museum is located at 594 Broadway (between Houston and Prince Streets) in New York City. MoCCA is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 12:00-5:00 pm. Suggested donation to the museum is $5 but free for MoCCA Members as well as for children 12 and under (when accompanied by a paying adult). For more information about the museum and MoCCA events, exhibitions and programs, visit the museum's Website (www.moccany.org).