Friday, November 05, 2010

BRING THE ALL-NEW RADICAL FACEBOOK PAGE INTO YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK



November 5, 2010, Los Angeles – Are you ready to bring Radical into your social network? Radical Publishing is proud to announce the launch of a redesigned Facebook page featuring dynamic new ways to experience fan-favorite titles from the Radical Library. Redesigned from the ground up, the new Radical Facebook hub encompasses all the books in Radical’s ever-expanding library, giving fans the opportunity to delve deeper into the worlds of the critically acclaimed Radical books like Shrapnel, Hotwire, Abattoir, Time Bomb and Ryder on the Storm – and now for the first time, fans can get into the stories of the Radical Universe like never before!



Radical’s new Facebook page gets fans to the heart of what drives the story: the characters. From the main page, fans can access all-new Facebook character profiles to actually interact with the leading men and ladies of the Radical Universe. Learn about their past. See what makes them tick. They may even be a little like you! Users can friend Shrapnel’s futuristic military leader Sam Vijaya; dig deep into the half-demon brain of Ryder on the Storm’s Richard Ryder; post a snarky comment on Alice Hotwire’s wall and get live feed updates from many other iconic faces in Radical’s critically acclaimed library.


“We give fans as much content as possible with every book we release, and Radical is proud to extend that philosophy to our new Facebook page,” said Radical President and Publisher Barry Levine. “Over 10,000 fans have shown their support by liking us on Facebook and this is our opportunity to give something back to them. Not only does the new page feature a current catalog of our most popular titles with breaking news, fans now have the ability to both friend and interact with the all-stars of the Radical Universe. Whether it’s posting on the wall of your favorite character or getting some insight into the world of your favorite Radical book, it’s a great time to be a Radical fan.”



In addition to the new features, the Radical Facebook page will continue to post the latest and up-to-date news on all Radical titles including articles, interviews and special contests for all followers. Currently, fans can explore the worlds and friend the characters of Shrapnel, Hotwire, Abattoir, Time Bomb and Ryder on the Storm with many more to come. For the latest updates, check out Radical’s new Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/RadicalPublishing and come get lost in the Radical Universe.



About Radical Publishing

In a world of publishing where the market is always hungry for the next fresh property, one new publisher is looking to shake things up and is delivering exciting creative products with a bold new business approach. Aptly named, Radical Publishing is leveraging on its experienced leadership, dynamic crew and unique business infrastructure to create that vital connection throughout the media space.

Founded by Barry Levine and Jesse Berger, Radical Publishing is a manufacturer of the next generation of premium comic book products, with a focus on high-concept stories and artwork by marquee and newly discovered talent. In addition, the quality of the work ensures a longer shelf life for each property as a collective library of high concepts. For more information, visit www.radicalpublishing.com, www.facebook.com/radicalpublishing, www.twitter.com/radicalcomics, www.myspace.com/radicalpublishing.
ADVENTURES INTO MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE
Electro-punk band Mindless Self Indulgence sign new book at two events on the West Coast

Berkeley, CA - 5 November 2010 - Internationally acclaimed electro-punk band Mindless Self Indulgence has toured the world. Now, they share their thrilling true tales about life on the road in ADVENTURES INTO MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE, a one-shot illustrated by Jess Fink and released by Image Comics.

To celebrate their first-ever comic book, Mindless Self Indulgence will be in California for a pair of exclusive signings:

MELTDOWN COMICS
Thursday, November 11, 2010
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
7522 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.851.7223
www.meltcomics.com

MISSION COMICS AND ART
Friday, November 12, 2010
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
3520 20th Street, Suite B
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-695-1545
www.missioncomicsandart.com

To find out more about the signings and RSVP, please visit the Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158505137521191

ADVENTURES INTO MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE: True tales of horror and insanity that will chill you right to the bone! From Mindless Self Indulgence come true never-before-told stories from the road. THRILL as rowdy fans throw junk at the band! SHIVER as band members are hauled off to jail! WATCH in awe as venues are trashed! Real stories, written and experienced by the band, with art by Jess Fink.

Don't miss your chance to meet the members of Mindless Self Indulgence when they sign copies of their new Image Comics release ADVENTURES INTO MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE on November 11, 2010, at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles and on November 12, 2010, at Mission Comics and Art in San Francisco.

About Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence is an American band formed in New York in 1997 by Jimmy Urine, who is joined by fellow musicians Steve Righ?, Lyn-z, and Kitty, along with manager/co-producer, James Galus. Their music incorporates punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, hip-hop, and industrial. They have released four albums, two EPs, one live album, one live DVD, and several Billboard chart topping singles and videos that have garnered over five million views. Their most recent album entered the Billboard top 30 and produced three #1 singles in the United States. The band maintains a fiercely devout fanbase and has opened for many well-known acts, such as Linkin Park, System of a Down, Korn, Sum 41, My Chemical Romance, and Rammstein. Notable bands who have opened for them include My Chemical Romance, The Dresden Dolls, Rasputina, Shiney Toy Guns, The Birthday Massacre, Tub Ring, Dir en grey, and Velvet Code. In January 2009 the band headlined the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Drink tour (UK), supported by Dir en grey, Bring Me The Horizon, Black Tide, and In Case of Fire.

About Image Comics
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 five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound 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.

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Thursday, November 04, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Telltale's Poker Night at the Inventory Raises the Stakes with Six Exclusive Team Fortress 2 Items!
Five items unlockable in game, plus all pre-order customers get the Poker Visor for the Heavy

SAN RAFAEL, CA -- Nov 3 2010 -- Telltale Game's Pilot Program title, Poker Night at The Inventory, is showing new cards as it prepares for release later this month by revealing the details of exclusive Team Fortress 2 items players can win in the game. Poker Night at The Inventory brings together Team Fortress 2's Heavy, Penny Arcade's Tycho, Homestar Runner's Strong Bad and Max from the Sam & Max series in a raucous smack-talking game of poker unlike any card game you've ever played.

Poker Night at the Inventory includes special rounds periodically where characters will buy in with un-lockable Team Fortress 2 items. If the player wins the round, the item becomes theirs to use in TF2.

Featured items:

* "The Iron Curtain" weapon, for use by the Heavy in TF2

* Max's Lugermorph handgun for use by the Scout and the Engineer in TF2; and Max's Freelance Police badge wearable by any player in TF2

* Wrist watch from Penny Arcade's Tycho for the Spy in TF2

* Styling "Dangeresque" sunglasses anted in by Strong Bad, wearable by Demoman in TF2

As an added bonus, all fans who pre-order Poker Night at The Inventory from Telltale Games or through Steam will receive a poker visor for the Heavy.

Poker Night at The Inventory will be available for PC and Mac in November for $4.95 and is now available for pre-order at Steam and www.telltalegames.com/pokernight.

About Telltale, Inc.

Telltale is a leading independent digital publisher of cinematic adventures playable on every major gaming platform. Telltale is also the pioneer of episodic delivery of content developing games as series and successfully releasing on a schedule to create a longer consumer engagement for each release. Founded in 2004 by LucasArts veterans with decades of experience, Telltale has quickly become an industry leader, establishing the model for successful episodic game creation and digital publishing. Telltale has sold more than 5 million episodes since 2005. Telltale's reputation for quality has been established across more than 25 published releases that have cumulatively earned an average Metacritic score above 80%. Telltale's titles have won numerous awards including, "Adventure Game of the Year" accolades from publications such as IGN, PC Gamer, GameSpy, and Adventure Gamers, and have been recognized by mainstream outlets ranging from USA Today, to The New York Times to Vari ety. Telltale currently develops and publishes episodic series on PlayStation (R)3, PC, Mac, Wii TM, Xbox 360 TM and iPad.

About Penny Arcade

Equal parts online comic and commentary, Penny Arcade (www.penny-arcade.com) keeps its finger on the pulse of the gaming industry, prompting conversation and controversy alike from community members to industry experts. What started as a hobby in 1998 for Jerry "Tycho" Holkins and Mike "Gabe" Krahulik has grown into an online phenomenon serving over 70 million page views a month to millions of readers worldwide. In addition to the comic strip and PAX (www.paxsite.com), Penny Arcade has expanded its reach to include a growing line of merchandise, a video game and management of Child's Play (www.childsplaycharity.org), a gamer-driven charity for children that spans the globe.

About Homestar Runner

Homestar Runner was conceived in 1996 by Mike Chapman and friend Craig Zobel as an idea for a weird kids' book they would only make a few photocopies of for friends. In 2000, Mike and brother Matt dusted off the idea and launched HomestarRunner.com, featuring the Flash-animated exploits of the characters. Since 2002, they have updated with new cartoons almost every week including the popular feature 'Strong Bad Email' in which fans get their emails answered by the cartoon's charming antagonist, Strong Bad. Mike and Matt write and animate the cartoons with Matt and Missy Palmer providing voices for the characters. The site has been featured and mentioned in the New York Times, Wired Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Time, The Wall Street Journal, and, most importantly, two songs from the site were featured in the Guitar Hero series.

About Sam & Max

Sam & Max is based on the indie comics by Steve Purcell. Sam is a six-foot dog in a baggy suit sporting a trombone-sized .44 hand-cannon. Max is three feet of pure unleashed id with a saw blade grin and the impulsive nature of the average piranha. Together they patrol the sticky streets of a fantastical New York City, righting wrongs, pummeling perps, and ridding the urban landscape of the shifty legions of "self-propelled gutter trash" that litter their streets. Sam & Max is Telltale's longest running episodic game series to date.

About Mann Co.

Mann Co. is a global weapons manufacturer that makes square, unsafe products for men and gets in fights. Founded in Australia and based in America, Mann Co. CEO Saxton Hale prides himself on his hands-on customer relations: "If you have a problem with any Mann Co. product, you can take it up with me!"
NY Art Book Fair

New York, NY - November 3rd, 2010 - Friday, November 5, through Sunday, November 7, MBP joins the world's best art book publishers for the NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1 in Queens, New York. With booths manned by over 200 small and international presses, the fair showcases the finest art and illustrated books from around the globe-and is your first chance to see MBP's holiday releases, including Past Objects, Becoming, The Open Daybook, and Everything that Can Happen in a Day. MBP will also be launching its Special Edition Subscription Program, which gives subscribers up to 35 percent off the special editions. Swing by the MBP table, located at GG05 on the third floor of the fair, and say hello-and knock out a couple of holiday gift buys early: all MBP trade books will be sold at reduced rates for the entire fair.
About Mark Batty Publisher

Mark Batty Publisher (http://www.markbattypublisher.com) is an independent publisher dedicated to making distinctive books on the visual art of communicating, showcasing the visual power and innovation of contemporary culture in all of its varied poses. Today, the visual comes at us from more places than ever, and its dissemination is faster and more advanced every year. Books from Mark Batty Publisher capture this acceleration on the pages of every book. Affordable, well designed, thoughtfully created, and produced to last, MBP books are artful products that readers want to hold onto forever.
SPIKE TV IS IN SEARCH OF THE WORLD’S MOST LETHAL COMBATANT IN NEW REALITY SERIES

“Most Lethal” To Feature 12 of the World’s Best Special Forces Operatives in an

Array of Combat Challenges

New York, New York – November 3, 2010 - Spike TV delves into the secretive community of special ops in “Most Lethal,” a new one-hour non-scripted series in which real-life warriors from the top tiers of special operation forces faceoff in a grueling competition to determine who is the fiercest. The series will examine the shrouded world of these military mercenaries by challenging 12 of the most dangerous in the world to compete for the title of “Most Lethal.”

Using advanced technology to analyze the weaponry, training operations, and tactics, the series will be an authentic look at this covert world rarely explored on television. The 10-episode series, produced by GRB Entertainment, will premiere on Spike in the summer 2011.

“We are bringing together twelve of the best-trained combatants in the world for the most intense reality series on television,” said Sharon Levy, Spike TV’s executive vice president of original series. “The show will arm the viewer with information on training techniques and history of the special ops that viewers can’t find anywhere else.”

The competitors on “Most Lethal,” ranging from non-active elite members of the Navy Seals to Green Berets, will have to withstand physical tests and demonstrate skills that go far beyond anything seen before in a competition show. “It’s not enough for them to be fit and strong and great with weapons,” said GRB CEO Gary R. Benz. “We’re going to test every combat skill and tactical response in the book. Then, we’re going to throw away the book and find out what they learned on the battlefield.”

The series will be filmed at state-of-the-art military facilities around the U.S. under the supervision of local evaluators and a handpicked team of top tier combat operators. The challenges are modeled on real world combat scenarios that will test everything from urban combat to evasion, from search-and-destroy to reconnaissance, and will include threat evaluation and threat elimination. Each location includes special terrain along with a unique set of combat challenges that the contestants must overcome.

Unlike existing military-based television shows, “Most Lethal” will deal with all facets of combat including the split second decisions that are critical to success and survival. Casting will begin in the coming weeks. A host will be announced at a later date.

“Most Lethal” was created by Tim Prokop, GRB's vice president of development, who will also produce and direct the series. GRB's international division will market both the foreign sales of the series as well as the format rights. Sharon Levy is Spike TV’s executive vice president of original series and Tim Duffy is vice president of original programming for Spike TV.

About Spike TV

Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at www.spike.com/press

About GRB ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrating its 25th successful year as a producer and distributor, GRB Entertainment received the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program for the hit A&E series, "Intervention." Other notable GRB shows include "Confessions: Animal Hoarding," "Aftermath with William Shatner," "Growing Up Gotti," "Next Action Star," "Cannonball Run: Race Across America," and "Live! The World’s Greatest Stunts." GRB’s programs are aired in primetime in more than 190 countries by the largest broadcasters in the world.
ALL NEW EPISODE OF AMC’S NEW ORIGINAL THRILLER

“THE WALKING DEAD
AIRS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7 AT 10PM ET/9C
FOLLOWING THE HIGHEST RATED CABLE SERIES PREMIERE IN NEARLY A DECADE



Encore episode airs weekly on Fridays at 10PM ET/9C

New York, NY – November 2010 –On the all-new episode of “The Walking Dead”, which received rave reviews from countless critics helming the series as “visually stunning…and daring in its artful use of silence” (TV Guide) and "...surprisingly scary and remarkably good" (The New York Times)," airing this Sunday “Guts” will feature Rick Grimes as he unknowingly causes a group of survivors to be trapped by walkers. The group dynamic devolves from accusations to violence, as Rick must confront an enemy far more dangerous than the undead. This episode will air Sunday, November 7th at 10 PM ET/9C (Encore airing Friday, November 12th at 10 PM ET/9C). For more information and artwork, log on to http://press.amctv.com



The six-episode series tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.



“The Walking Dead,” is based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman who serves as an executive producer alongside three-time Academy Award-nominee Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) who serves as writer, director and executive producer and executive producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens, Armageddon, The Incredible Hulk). “The Walking Dead” cast includes Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually) as Rick Grimes, Jon Bernthal (“The Pacific”) as Shane Walsh, Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break”) as Rick’s wife Lori, Laurie Holden (The Mist) as Andrea, Steven Yeun (“The Big Bang Theory”) as Glenn and Norman Reedus (The Boondock Saints) as Daryl Dixon.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Microcosm Publishing Announces Release of New York Travel Guide: The Zinester's Guide to New York



In the tradition of our DIY city guide The Zinester's Guide to Portland, we're proud to announce our brand-new New York City version! The Zinester's Guide to NYC is a top-to-bottom, on-the-cheap, warts-and-all exploration of the city that never sleeps. The book, compiled by Ayun Halliday, will be out on Nov 15.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Whether you're looking for scam-able coffee or a place to grab a Japanese breakfast, art supplies, volunteer opportunities, or a 4-story Korean bathhouse, the Zinester's Guide to New York has it all. Anecdotal and opinionated, the ZG2NYC has listings from over twenty New York-based zine publishers, toiling under the benevolent umbrella of Ayun Halliday (Chief Primatologist of The East Village Inky zine, author of No Touch Monkey!) “The best way to experience the city is to really participate in it," Halliday says. "Why watch the parade when you can march in it? People should know that they can guest bartend, play bike polo in Sara Roosevelt Park, create a public park in a parking space on National Park(ing) Day, and submit the 5-minute movies they shoot on the boardwalk to next year's Coney Island Film Festival.” Like our Portland guide, the pocket-size NYC book is divided into illustrated, user friendly sections (Bars! Pizza! Historic buildings! Veggie options! Open mics! Craft supplies! The keys to low-budget NYC romance!) that give up the goods for first-timers and native New Yorkers alike.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (November 1, 2010) – All-ages comics and graphic novels are still a rarity in publishing. As comics and graphic novels have skewed to an older and more mature readership, relatively few titles are currently being published that appeal to younger readers. And, of the currently available titles, very few feature girls as the story's protagonists. With this in mind, Von Allan, an Ottawa-based artist and graphic novelist, is pleased to announce that he has partnered with the world's largest distributor of comics and graphic novels, Diamond Comic Distributors, to present his all-ages fantasy graphic novel, “Stargazer,” to the direct market.

“Comics and graphic novels have appeared to skew toward older readers over the past twenty years or so,” said Allan. “While there's nothing really wrong with that, it's a shame there aren't more age-appropriate graphic novels for younger readers, especially when you consider the history of the medium. Characters like Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. all had a very diverse readership back in the 1930s and 1940s. Boys and girls embraced these characters in a way that rarely happens in today's publishing climate. I think that's a problem; when readers are not introduced to comics at a young age, it's much harder for them to embrace the medium as they grow older.”

“Comics and graphic novels are such a wonderful form of storytelling and I believe it's very important to reach out as much as possible to younger readers,” added Allan. “I think this situation is actually made worse by the lack of stories featuring girls as the main characters. While there are a strong female protagonists in young adult fiction, in comics this is far less prevalent. Part of the reason I wanted to create “Stargazer” is to challenge all of these norms. I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Diamond on the distribution of the book and thrilled to note that they've given the book their stamp of approval by 'spotlighting' it in the catalogue. It's very exciting."

“Stargazer” is the story of Marni, a young girl dealing with the recent death of her grandmother. That death has left Marni emotionally devastated and struggling to cope. Granny Hitchins was a wonderfully curious woman, responsible for giving her granddaughter a rich sense of imagination and adventure, as well as an old and mysterious "Artifact." While not a replacement, the Artifact is nonetheless a treasured memento for Marni after her grandmother's death. With the love and support of her two best friends, Sophie and Elora, and the magic of the Artifact to comfort her, Marni is just beginning to cope with the loss of her beloved grandmother when her life takes an abrupt and strange turn. While the girls are examining the Artifact on a backyard camping trip, the object suddenly takes on a life of its own, transporting the three friends and their tent to a strange and distant world. After summoning their courage, Marni, Sophie and Elora venture out to explore their alien surroundings, where they find a surreal world containing a robot, a mysterious far-off tower, and an illusive yet terrifying monster. Scared, yet buoyed by the stories and songs that they've heard while growing up, the three girls gather their meagre supplies and head out into the wilderness, determined to find a way home. A magical tale with the most unlikeliest of heroes, “Stargazer” is an exploration of friendship, loss, and hope. By turns terrifying, poignant, and humorous, “Stargazer” is part fairytale, part science fiction, and part adventure story.

“Stargazer Volume One” has a Diamond order code of NOV101057, an ISBN of 978-0-9781237-2-7, a suggested retail price of $14.95 US/$15.95 CDN, and is 122 pages in length.

About Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.: Diamond Comic Distributors was established in 1982 to provide comic book specialty retailers with wholesale, non-returnable comic books and related merchandise. After more than 20 years of service, Diamond has emerged as the world's largest distributor of English-language comics, graphic novels, and related pop-culture merchandise, with a network of strategically-located Distribution Centers throughout the world.

About Von Allan: Von Allan was born red-headed and freckled in Arnprior, Ontario, just in time for Star Wars: A New Hope. The single child of two loving but troubled parents, Von split most of his childhood between their two homes. Additional information about the graphic novel can be found at http://stargazer.vonallan.com.
COMIC SHOP CRAWL of CHICAGO
November 2010

October 24, 2010, Chicago, IL – Four of Chicago’s most well-respected
comic book stores are teaming up for a month-long Comic Shop Crawl
event. Chicago Comics, Challengers Comics + Conversation, First Aid
Comics and Third Coast Comics have created a 4-store tour that
encourages their customers to visit each participating store in order
to fill up a Comic Shop Passport with destination stamps from each of
the shops. Once filled, the completed Passports are turned in and 4
winners will be drawn to win their share of over $1000.00 in comic
store merchandise and prizes. The drawing will take place at
comic-themed party held on Saturday December 4th in Bucktown at the
American Legion Hall. No purchase is necessary to participate in the
crawl, but each store is offering a discount to Passport holders if
they choose to shop on their visit. The December party is open to all
comic fans 21+, not just those participating in the crawl.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for years,” says Challengers
co-owner Patrick Brower, “But I just didn’t know how to pull it off.
Getting together with these guys made it all fall into place.” First
Aid owner James Nurss agrees, “Working together has been a real
pleasure and I look forward to growing this event each year, with so
many great stores in Chicago!”

“As far as any of us can recall, this is the first time something like
this has been done in the Chicago comic book community,” says owner of
Third Coast Comics, Terry Gant, “I mean, how many other events have
you seen where you’re actively encouraged to go a store’s competitors
by one of the stores? This is both experimental & needed for our
community and it's the sort of event we love planning.” Chicago
Comics general manager Eric Thornton sees more than just the social
aspects, "Chicago Comics is very excited to be involved in this event.
Your local comic shop is as vital to many people and neighborhoods as
your local bar, barber, bakery, or bodega. Each of these stores
represents small business and a brick and mortar entrepreneurial
spirit that is hard to find in our corporatized landscape today.
Supporting your local comic shop keeps a precious art-form alive and
vibrant and your neighborhood unique and fun."

What: COMIC SHOP CRAWL of CHICAGO
Why: Celebrate the diversity of Chicago’s comic book stores
Where: Challengers Comics + Conversation, 1845 N. Western Ave. 2R
Chicago, IL 60647
773.278.0155 / www.challengerscomics.com
Chicago Comics, 3244 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60657
773.528.1983 / www.ChicagoComics.com
Third Coast Comics, 6234 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 60660
847.863.7450 /www.ThirdCoastComics.com
First Aid Comics, 1459 E. 53rd St. (2nd Floor/Ring Buzzer) Chicago, IL 60615
773.75.COMIC / www.FirstAidComics.com
When: The entire month of November, 2010