IMAGE COMICS IN A STORE NEAR YOU ON FCBD
The Best of Creator-Owned Comics Celebrates Free Comic Book Day This Saturday

BERKELEY, CA – 5 May 2011 – Every year on the first Saturday in May, publishers and local comic shops join forces in an event like no other: Free Comic Book Day! In an effort to introduce comic books to new readers and give established fans incentive to try something new or different, they are given free comics!

Image Comics is well known for introducing new titles in a variety of styles and genres to readers, so it's only natural that the publisher has been reaching out to new readers by participating in FCBD since it began in 2002. With two new Image Comics FCBD titles at comic book shops across the country and an impressively extensive list of our best creators participating at signings, this year is no exception!

Of all the free comics available on FCBD, kids young and old won't want to miss the SUPER DINOSAUR ORIGIN SPECIAL, the first new series published under Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint. This colorful all ages story is about a young boy genius and his best friend, a genetically-modified Tyrannosaurus Rex. For more information about Kirkman and artist Jason Howard's SUPER DINOSAUR series and a link to download a preview of SUPER DINOSAUR #1 through comiXology's Image Comics app, visit www.superdinosaur.com.

Our other free comic this year is wholly different from the light-hearted all ages title. DARKNESS II: CONFESSION is a prequel to the upcoming 2K game, Darkness II, which is based on Top Cow Productions' long-running THE DARKNESS series. With art by both Michael Broussard and Romano Molenaar, this comic will give readers a glimpse into the tortured life of Jackie, the Darkness bearer. For more information about The Darkness II video game, visit www.embracethedarkness.com. For more information about THE DARKNESS, as well as many more Top Cow Productions comics, visit www.topcow.com.

Image Comics would also like to help spread the word about all the events that retailers have scheduled with our talented writers and artists on FCBD. We have compiled a list so that you might locate and visit all the comic shops in your area that are hosting your favorite comic creators.


Image Comics' Creators Store (hyperlinked to sites) City State Start time End time Additional Merchandise/Events/Sales
Jimmie Robinson (BOMB QUEEN) The Escapist Berkeley CA 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Bomb Queen comics available and FREE sketches!
Matt Hawkins (DARKNESS, Top Cow Productions President) Golden Apple Comics Los Angeles CA 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Signing copies of Top Cow's Free Comic Book Day offering - The Darkness II: Confession
Michael Broussard (DARKNESS) Earth-2 Comics Northridge CA 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Signing Top Cow FCBD offering The Darkness II: Confession, also Artifacts and The Darkness
Filip Sablik (LAST MORTAL, DARKNESS, Top Cow Productions Publisher) Brave New World Newhall CA 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Signing Top Cow FCBD offering The Darkness II: Confession. Last Mortal and Pilot Season: Asset, as well as sketches
Mark Sable (GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES) Collector's Paradise Pasadena Pasadena CA 11:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Free preview copies of GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES
Rick Basaldua (RISING STARS, PILOT SEASON) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Pasadena CA 11:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Signing The Dakness as well as sketches for attendees
Sheldon Mitchell (DARKNESS) Collector's Paradise Pasadena Pasadena CA 11:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Signing The Dakness as well as sketches for attendees
Derek McCulloch (PUG) The Escapist Berkeley CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Signed copies of Pug will be available.
Richard Starkings (ELEPHANTMEN) The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach CA 12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. IMAGE FIRSTS ELEPHANTMEN #1 available
Tomm Coker (UNDYING LOVE) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Canoga Park CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Signing and Sketching
Whilce Portacio (Image Comics founder, IMAGE UNITED, ARTIFACTS, SPAWN) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Canoga Park CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Artists will be on hand to do sketches for attendees, with proceeds benefiting the Hero Initiative.
Chris Moreno (SIDEKICK, OUTLAW TERRITORY, 24 SEVEN) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Canoga Park CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. "Sketches for HERO Initiative" fundraiser
Daniel Freedman (UNDYING LOVE) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Canoga Park CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Signing and Sketching
Joshua Hale Fialkov (CYBLADE, ALIBI, ECHOES) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Canoga Park CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. "Sketches for HERO Initiative" fundraiser
Kody Chamberlain (SWEETS) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Canoga Park CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. "Sketches for HERO Initiative" fundraiser
Tone Rodriguez (MAYHEM, SHADOWHAWK) Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery Canoga Park CA 12:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. "Sketches for HERO Initiative" fundraiser
Viktor Kalvachev (BLUE ESTATE) Fantastic Comics Berkeley CA 12:30 p.m.
Jason Howard (ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN, SUPER DINOSAUR) Golden Apple Comics Los Angeles CA 2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. FCBD - SUPER DINOSAUR: ORIGIN SPECIAL
Owen Wiseman (SAMURAI'S BLOOD) Meltdown Comics Los Angeles CA 2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Robert Kirkman (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, SUPER DINOSAUR) Golden Apple Comics Los Angeles CA 2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. FCBD - SUPER DINOSAUR: ORIGIN SPECIAL
Joshua Hale Fialkov (CYBLADE, ALIBI, ECHOES) Meltdown Comics Los Angeles CA 4:00 p.m.
Kody Chamberlain (SWEETS) Meltdown Comics Los Angeles CA 4:00 p.m.
Chris Houghton (REED GUNTHER) Meltdown Comics Los Angeles CA
Erik Larsen (SAVAGE DRAGON, SPIDERMAN) Fantastic Comics Berkeley CA
Jeff Cahn (RED SPIKE) Meltdown Comics Los Angeles CA
Scott Kowalchuk (INTREPIDS) Another Dimension Comics Calgary CANADA 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Selling prints and Original prints
Riley Rossmo (PROOF, GREEN WAKE, COWBOY NINJA VIKING) Another Dimension Comics Calgary CANADA 11:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Signing books and selling original art
Jim Zub (SKULLKICKERS) Toronto Comic Arts Festival Toronto CANADA 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Selling Skullkickers trades and convention-only sketchbooks
Greg Horn (THE ART OF GREG HORN) Yancy Street Comics Port Richey FL
Nathan Edmondson (THE LIGHT, WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?) Criminal Records Atlanta GA
Phil Hester (DARKNESS, FIREBREATHER) Daydreams Comics Iowa City IA 12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
Phil Hester (DARKNESS, FIREBREATHER) Cup O' Kryptonite (May 6th) Des Moines IA 9:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m. FCBD after dark Pre-Party!
Chris Burnham (OFFICER DOWNE) Dark Tower Comics Chicago IL
Jonathan Hickman (NIGHTLY NEWS, RED WING) Comic Vault Chicago IL
Alex Grecian (PROOF) Elite Comics Kansas City KS 11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Signing copies of Proof
Lee Leslie (SCREAMLAND) B Bop South Prairie Village KS
Frank Cho (50 GIRLS 50) Cards, Comics and Collectibles Reisterstown MD
Jeremy Haun (ARTIFACTS, DARKNESS) Hurley's Heroes Joplin MO 12:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.
Chris Giarrusso (G-MAN) Acme Comics Greensboro NC 1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. G-Man: Cape Crisis #2 Acme Comics variant edition | G-Man vs Acme Bat T-Shirt
Ron Marz (ARTIFACTS, SHINKU) Comic Depot Saratoga Springs NY 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Limited copies of FCBD Silver Scorpion (Liquid Comics)
Ron Marz (ARTIFACTS, SHINKU) Excellent Adventures Ballston Spa NY 2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Limited copies of FCBD Silver Scorpion (Liquid Comics)
Dirk Manning (NIGHTMARE WORLD) Packrat Comics Hilliard OH 10:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. 2-for-1 Sale: NIGHTMARE WORLD Vol 1 GN and NIGHTMARE WORLD Vol 2 GN
Steve Lieber (UNDERGROUND) Things From Another World Portland OR 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Anyone who buys a copy of Underground gets a free drawing in it!
David Hahn (ALL NIGHTER) Things From Another World Portland OR 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE, SEA BEAR & GRIZZLY SHARK) Nightflight Comics Salt Lake City UT 2:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. FREE sketches!
Mike Oeming (POWERS, MICE TEMPLAR) Comics Dungeon Seattle WA 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Nate Simpson (NONPLAYER) Arcane Comics Seattle WA 12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Selling posters and signing comics/posters
Micah Farritor (FEAR AGENT, STRANGE GIRL) Westfield Comics (East Side) Madison WI 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Artists will be on hand to do sketches for attendees, with proceeds benefiting the Hero Initiative.
Rachelle Rosenberg (colorist Tim Seeley’s HACK/SLASH, Jane Wiedlin’s LADY ROBOTIKA) Westfield Comics (East Side) Madison WI 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Artists will be on hand to do sketches for attendees, with proceeds benefiting the Hero Initiative.

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.