Friday, December 09, 2011

t’s a Crisis on multiple levels, under one roof.

The Action Lab Entertainment Signature Series presents Space-Time Condominium: Season One from creator/artist Dave Dwonch; adapting the first season of the failed Canadian sitcom!

It’s 1985 and the Multiverse is in Crisis. Luckily for Griffin Griffins, a mysterious man known only as The Gatekeeper is gathering Griffins from parallel Earths to live under one roof. But can Griffin survive living with four versions of himself?

This digest-sized, 80 page full color trade paperback is Signed, Numbered and Limited to 500 copies. It’s available for pre-order at your local comic book retailer (Order Code DEC110770) or online comic retailer, and has a February release date.

The Action Lab Signature Series is dedicated to showcasing the very best up-and-coming talent, and offers an ever expanding library of genre spanning titles that are guaranteed to thrill independent and mainstream fans alike.

For more information about Action Lab Entertainment and its line of books, go to http://www.actionlabcomics.com

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!
Top Cow and ComicsPRO Celebrate Artifacts With a Nationwide Event

Berkeley, CA – 9 December 2011 –- Top Cow Productions and ComicsPRO are teaming up to celebrate the end of the entire Top Cow Universe as we know it with a nationwide event! Many of Top Cow's best creators and some of North America's finest comic retailers will be bringing in the new year and new universe in style. In addition to hosting a variety of signings, all ComicsPRO member retailers will also have access to two limited edition variant covers for ARTIFACTS #13 and WITCHBLADE #151 to commemorate the event!

ARTIFACTS #13 concludes the Top Cow Universe's biggest event to date with sweeping changes to the status quo of some of Top Cow's biggest franchises including THE DARKNESS and WITCHBLADE. Written by Top Cow architect Ron Marz with art by legendary artist Dale Keown, ARTIFACTS #13 arrives in stores on January 4th, 2012, kicking off the new year in a big way! The very same week, fans will be introduced to the new direction and creative team in WITCHBLADE #151 by Tim Seeley and Diego Bernard.

"This is truly the most ambitious change to the Top Cow Universe we've ever attempted," commented Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik, "And a great opportunity for new readers to try out these titles. We've had a long, successful relationship with ComicsPRO and wanted to involve their forward-thinking retailers in some way. This nationwide event will allow us to interact with the biggest group of fans and we want to be there first hand to see their reactions!"

The following creators will be appearing and signing on January 4th, 2012: 

Ron Marz (ARTIFACTS, WITCHBLADE)

Main Street Comics

157 Dolson Ave
Middletown, NY 10940

Phone: 845-342-0458

Tim Seeley (WITCHBLADE)

DCBS

10202 Coldwater Road Suite C
Ft. Wayne, IN 46825

Phone: 260-489-1787

Jeremy Haun (ARTIFACTS)

Fantasy Shop Florissant

8232 N Lindbergh Blvd
Florissant, MO 63031

314-831-5211

Fantasy Shop South County

10560 Baptist Church Road
St. Louis, MO 63128

314-842-8228

Phil Hester (THE DARKNESS)

Krypton Comics

2819 S. 125th Ave Suite 261
Omaha, NE 68144

Phone: 402-391-4131

Dave Marquez (MAGDALENA)

Austin Books

5002 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78751

Phone: 512-454-4197

Filip Sablik and Troy Peteri (ARTIFACTS, WITCHBLADE)

Collector's Paradise
319 S. Arroyo Prkwy Unit 4
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: 626-577-6696

And on January 11th, 2012:
Nelson Blake II (MAGDALENA)

Manhattan Comics and More!

10-12 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010

Phone: 212-460-5322

For more information about Top Cow's titles, the "End of the World" party and a list of all the retailers participating in the ARTIFACTS #13 and WITCHBLADE #151 ComicsPro "End of the World" Variant Covers, visit topcow.com.

ABOUT TOP COW PRODUCTIONS INC. 
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise,WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008.WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. A second game is slated for release from 2K Games in the Fall of 2011. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games. 

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.
NATURE'S NEW NORMAL
Image Comics Introduces Rebel Blood, a Zombie Story Like No Other

Berkeley, CA – 9 December 2011 – "Save yourself. Stay in the woods. Pray it hasn't reached the wolves… and keep your gun loaded." All he knows about what has happened to the world as he knew it has been left in an ominous message. And it's clear that everything has... changed.

Image Comics and Shadowline are pleased to announce REBEL BLOOD, a new four-part miniseries coming in March with art and concept by Riley Rossmo (GREEN WAKE, COWBOY NINJA VIKING, PROOF) and script by newcomer Alex Link. This gruesome new 21st century zombie outbreak story pays tribute to horror comics' post-war heyday of titles such as The Vault of Horror, The Haunt of Fear, and Tales From the Crypt, while presenting a concept to rival the best of The Twilight Zone!

"I sketch and paint all the time while I'm working on different projects," explained Rossmo. "The concept for REBEL BLOOD is something that just began as some sketches, but quickly took on a life of it's own, to mutate. REBEL BLOOD is what happens when I just run wild with a concept and let it happen."

"I'm really excited about this project," said Shadowline Publisher, Jim Valentino. "I'm not a big zombie fan, but this one got me because it was so different than all the others out there. And, I swear, the ending knocked me off my chair. I think it will surprise everyone."

REBEL BLOOD #1 introduces Forest Ranger Chuck Neville, who, after a strange, unexpected silence, receives a final radio message that a plague is sweeping the country. He learns that the disease has turned every living creature into zombies, all at once rendering the entire animal kingdom unpredictable, violent, and willing to tear apart their neighbors with their bare teeth. 

He races home to rescue his family, coming face-to-face with unbelievable horrors along his way and fighting to stay alive. However, when he reaches home, he may find the most horrible part of it all waiting for him...

REBEL BLOOD #1, a 32-page full-color horror comic book for $3.50, will be on sale in stores on March 28 and available for order in the January issue of Previews. A preview of REBEL BLOOD #1 will be featured in the back of both HAUNT #20 (AUG110523), a 32-page full-color horror comic book for $2.99 that goes on sale December 28, 2011, and SPAWN #215 (NOV110468), a 32-page full-color horror comic book for $2.99 that goes on sale January 11, 2012.

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.

ComiXology Announces Retailer Digital Storefronts a Resounding Success


Answering Digital Storefront Critics


"This is a great program and getting better all the time"


December 8th, 2011 – New York, NY- ComiXology is proud to announce their historic Retailer Digital Storefront program, enabling comic shop retailers to prosper from the sale of Digital Comics, is a resounding success. To thank the over 100 Digital Storefronts that participated in this historic digital/brick & mortar partnership, comiXology, along with their Digital Storefront implementation partner ICv2, has now made two months of Retailer Digital Storefront payments one month earlier and at a dramatically lower threshold than promised.
"The retailers who participated in this program really are the unsung heroes here," said David Steinberger, cofounder and CEO of comiXology. “Not only did we have a compressed time frame to implement the Retailer Digital Storefront program, but we were not allowed the luxury to beta test in the way we would have liked. But through thick and thin these stores stood by us and we really wanted to go out of our way to thank them for their support. We're cooking with gas now and we couldn't have done it without them."
In direct response to feedback from retailers across the nation, soon comiXology will be rolling out a new Terms of Service (T.O.S.) agreement for the Digital Storefront program with language that is in better alignment with comiXology’s commitment to servicing brick and mortar retailers. ComiXology expects to see an uptick in new Digital Storefronts when the new T.O.S. is released.
In addition, the last several weeks have seen comiXology quietly make a series of improvements to Retailer Digital Storefronts, including:

  • Improved retailer branding
  • Improved retailer side reporting
  • Expanded customer information for retailers
  • Streamlined set-up
“This is a great program and getting better all the time," said John Roberts, co-founder and CTO of comiXology. “We received a ton of harsh criticism out of the gate, but that happens any time people try to make big changes in business. Bridging the digital divide for comic shop retailers has always been at the heart of who comiXology is as a company. People don’t remember that we started the company in 2007 offering our ‘Pull List’ service for retailers. Comic shops are a hugely important part of our business and will continue to be a huge part of comiXology in the future.” “ComiXology was the only company that could roll out a program for comic retailers to earn money from digital sales during this huge surge of new interest in comics,” said Milton Griepp, CEO of ICv2, which is assisting comiXology with its retailer programs. “Although the fast launch wasn’t easy, it was great to be part of something that can revolutionize the way comic stores serve their customers. This program is in its infancy and there are huge opportunities for everyone as it grows.”
Announced in January and implemented in advance of the launch of DC's The New 52 this past August, the Digital Storefront program enables retailers to sell digital comics with a simple integration into their existing site while tapping into comiXology’s vibrant digital marketplace. Comic book fans are now able to purchase digital comics online from their local comic store’s digital storefront with a portion of each purchase going directly to the retailer.
ComiXology heard many success stories and positive comments from participating retailers across the nation:
“The Retailer Digital Storefront has performed beyond my wildest expectations! We here at Comics Conspiracy went out of our way to really promote the digital storefront outside our regular customer base and it paid off tremendously. I can see this becoming a steady part of my revenue stream in the future." – Ryan Higgins, Comic Conspiracy in Sunnyvale, CA.
"We've spent more than 30 years showing our in-store and mail order customers that we're their best source for comics of all ages and types. With that in mind, it only made sense for us to partner with comiXology, offering our customers access to digital comics via our online storefronts at both our MyComicShop Website, our Web store, and on the Website for Lone Star Comics, our brick and mortar stores in Texas.” – Chris Powell, Lone Star Comics and MyComicShop.com in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
"My customers and I are loving the new comiXology Digital Storefronts — what a great team-up! It's pretty much effortless to set up, runs like a charm, and gives us analog retailers the power to provide our customers with all the preferred funnybook formats of their choosing. That is a beautiful thing. And hey... don't feel guilty about loving comics on your iPad. Feel great you can shop for those comics at a place like the Isotope!" – James Sime, Isotope in San Francisco, CA.
“Several of our older and long time customers had decided that digital comics were for them. Some had space issues but still wanted to follow their favorite characters. With Digital Storefront I was able to keep long-time customers and help solve their storage issue. I'm surprised at the number of customers local and far flung that like buying digital while supporting their favorite local comic shop.” – Keith Colvin, Keith’s Comics in Dallas, TX.
“At Challengers, we're in the business of selling comics. ComiXology helps us do just that. Our comiXology customers use it to supplement their established comic-buying habits, meaning they buy digital comics in addition to print comics, not in place of. We don't understand the retailers who are 'afraid' of digital sales. Who's afraid of making more money?” – Patrick Brower, Challengers Comics + Conversation in Chicago, IL.
“Samurai Comics was very excited to be among the first stores to go live with the comiXology Digital Storefront. The Digital Storefront has been a great added value for our customers. We viewed having another revenue stream of comic books sales that we have no money locked up in inventory costs as a tremendous opportunity. Rather than have our customer go elsewhere if they want to purchase a digital version of a comic, we would rather have them purchase a copy through us where we get a percentage of the sale. This also enables us to reach out to these customers to offer them incentives to visit one of our stores.” – Michael Banks, Samurai Comics in Phoenix, AZ.
All digital purchases are compatible with the Comics by comiXology platform, providing fans the ability to enjoy their comics on their mobile devices (iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire) and on the Web at their retailer’s websites by way of cross-platform synchronization.
ComiXology’s Retailer Digital Storefronts have brought together participating publishers DC Comics, Image, Dynamite, BOOM! Studios, and many others, along with retailers that sell their comics in print, and their fans in the digital space — strengthening the relationships that have so successfully made comics a major force in world culture.
To request more information about the Digital Storefront program, retailers can e-mail retailers@comixology.com
Participating Stores:

4 Color Fantasies
A Comic Shop
Action Games & Comics
AJ's Comics
Alter Ego Comics & Books
Alternate Worlds
Anime 101
Atlantis Games & Comics
B & M Amusement
B&D Comic Shop
BaT Comics & Games
Beyond Comics
Big Bang Toys-Comics-Games
Black Cat Comics
Blue Cape Comics
Blue Moon Comics
BlueMoon Comics
Books Comics & Things
Brave New World
Bulletproof Comics
Challengers Comics + Conversation
Charlie's Comic Books
Chautauqua Comics
Chicago Comics
Chimera's Comics
Coast City Comics
Collector's Pair of Dice
Comic Book Jones
Collector's Paradise Comics & Gallery
Comic Book College
Comic Book Ink
Comic Book University
Comic Break
Comic Cellar Cards, Comics & Games
Comic Crusaders
Comic Evolution
Comic Heaven
Comic Kings
Comic Quest
Comic Relief
Comic Store West
Comic Toast
Comicopolis
Comics America
Comics Conspiracy
Comics Dungeon
Comix Connection York
Cosmic Cat
Cyborg One
Discount Comic Book Service
DNA Comics
Docking Bay 94 Comics and Games
Dreamland Comics
Enchanted Grounds
Escape Velocity
Estrella Mountain Comics
Evil Squirrel Comics
Excalibur Comics, Cards & Games
Fanfare
Fantasium Comics & Games
Fantom Comics
First Aid Comics
Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet NYC
Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming
Funnybooks Comics & Stuff
Galactic Comics & Games
Galaxy Comics
Golden Apple Comics
Good Guy Comics
Gotham Comixs
Grasshoppers Comics
Ground Zero Comics
Gryphon Games and Comics
Heroes Landing
Heroes Your Mom Threw Out Comic Shop
House of Secrets
I Want More Comics
Impulse Creations
Isotope
Jester's Playhouse
Jim Hanley's Universe
Joe's Comics and Video Games
Just Another Comics & Kollectibles Store
Kaboom
Keith's Comics
Kessler Komics
Kool Comics
Legacy Comics
Lightspeed Hobbies
Lone Star Comics
Mac's Comics & Collectibles
Manhattan Comics and More
Mavericks Cards & Comics
Mayhem Collectibles
Media Underground Comics
Meltdown
Metro City Comics
Metropolis Comics
Mission: Comics & Art
New World Manga Comics Cards & Games
NewCastle Comics & Games
One Stop Comics
Paradox Comics-N-Cards
Paragon Comics
Phantom of the Attic
Pittsburgh Comics
Planet Chaos
Poe Poz
Pop Culture Comix
Pop Culture Paradise
Pyramid Comics and Cards
Quest Comic Shop
Forbidden Planet International
Richie's Comic Cabana
Richmond Comix
Rogue Comics
Rooks Comics and Games
Russo's Books
Samurai Comics
Saturday Morning Comics!
SLG Art Boutiki & Gallery
Speeding Bullet Comics
Star Comics
Teahouse Comics
The Comic Book Shop
The Comic Book Store
The Comic Emporium
The Comic Vault
The Dark Side
The Geekery
The Hobby Shop
The Pop Culture Company
The Realm Games & Comics
The Vault Comics and Games
Third Coast Comics
Traders of Babylon
Treasure Island Comics
Vault of Midnight
Wayne's Cards & Comics
Westfield Comics
Yottaquest
Zaldiva Comics
Zanadu Comics
  About comiXology
Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Archaia Entertainment, BOOM! Studios, DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Image Comics and Marvel Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which host over 16,000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in digital comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace.
VELVET EDITION LAUNCHES ON PLAYSTATION IN EUROPE
 Playstation3 players bedded on red velvet

Karlsruhe, December 9th 2011– TopWare Interactive today announced the European release of Two Worlds II “Velvet Edition”, also known as the Game of the Year Edition, on the Playstation3.

Embossed metal corners resembling antiquated brass anchor the signature red velvet game box, which also boasts an engraved Two Worlds II logo, making this release a fantastic addition to any game collector’s library.
In addition to the inclusion of the core Two Worlds II game and the expansion Pirates of the Flying Fortress, the Velvet Edition contains a metal decorative pirate pin modeled after reputation badges from the game, two exclusive multiplayer maps, soundtrack, bonus artwork and a highly detailed world map.

For more information please visit: www.twoworlds2.com
Have you ever wondered what type of lives monsters lead? 

Are they the drooling, menacing misfits and villains of the world, or are they something else?

Could it be that monsters… are just like us? 

It’s very possible, and only one book will dare to tell you the truth: Monsters Are Just Like Us, A Signature Series book by Super Ugly.

Part storybook, part art book, artist extraordinaire Super Ugly debunks everything you’ve learned about the things that go bump in the night. It turns out that monsters have to contend with everyday mundane tasks, too.

From picking up dog poop to watering the lawn, monsters truly are just like us!

This oversized, 44 page full color book is Signed, Numbered and Limited to 500 copies. It's available for pre-order at your local comic book retailer (Order Code DEC110769) or online comic retailer, and has a February release date.

The Action Lab Signature Series is dedicated to showcasing the very best up-and-coming talent, and offers an ever expanding library of genre spanning titles that are guaranteed to thrill independent and mainstream fans alike.

For more information about Action Lab Entertainment, go to http://www.actionlabcomics.com

Thursday, December 08, 2011

CHILLER ANNOUNCES REMAINS: ROAD TO RENO SPECIAL WEBISODE PREQUEL TO FIRST ORIGINAL MOVIE STEVE NILES’ REMAINS
Online-Only Webisode To Premiere on Chillertv.com Friday, December 9

‘Steve Niles’ Remains’ Premieres Friday, December 16 @ 10pm on Chiller

 
[Remains Cover]New York, NY – December 8, 2011 - A week before the premiere of its first original movie, Steve Niles’ Remains, Chiller will whet viewers’ appetites for zombies with the debut of a special online-only prequel, Remains: Road to Reno.  This eleven-minute webisode, produced exclusively for Chillertv.com, will debut online Friday, December 9 and will give viewers a glimpse at the origins of Remains’ post-apocalyptic zombie invasion.

At the outset of the film (premiering Friday, Dec 16 @ 10pm on Chiller), a radioactive blast transforms every tourist and local in Reno, Nevada into mindless, ravenous zombies. But before the action begins in Reno, somewhere just outside the city a lone mechanic (Morgan West) is learning first-hand what’s required to survive the undead.

With Remains: Road to Reno, Chiller’s official prequel to Steve Niles’s Remains, viewers can head back before the blast to watch as the virus descends upon an isolated gas station. Imagined by writer Steve Niles, this exclusive online event reveals the origins of Remains characters - both alive and undead - and pits zombie against zombie on the blood-soaked road to Reno.  Remains: Road to Reno is written by John Doolan and directed by Colin Theys (who wrote and directed, respectively, the film).

The Remains graphic novel by Steve Niles is available where books and comics are sold.

About Remains
Based on the IDW Publishing graphic novel written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and illustrated by Kieron Dwyer, Remains is set in a chilling post-apocalyptic Reno, Nevada, and follows the survivors of a bizarre accident that reduced most of the world’s population to zombies. The group takes refuge in a vacant casino and fights a losing battle against the undead, who grow steadily stronger, smarter and more aggressive by the minute.  The movie stars Grant Bowler (True Blood, Ugly Betty), Lance Reddick (Fringe, Lost, The Wire), Miko Hughes (Pet Sematary) and Tawny Cypress (Rescue Me, Heroes). Remains is written by John Doolan and directed by Colin Theys; Andrew Gernhard and Zach O'Brien will serve as producers for Synthetic Cinema International. Steve Niles and IDW CEO and Publisher Ted Adams will serve as executive producers.  Remains premieres Friday, December 16 @ 10pm.

Chiller is the only cable channel devoted to delivering viewers round-the-clock scares.  Chiller’s eclectic slate of adrenaline-fueled, soul-stirring entertainment includes original specials (including the successful Chiller 13 franchise), a broad offering of films, including feature-length premieres every Friday, international programming (Afterlife, Apparitions), documentary and reality shows (Fear Factor), anthology series (Masters of Horror) and some of the most thought-provoking and suspenseful series ever on television (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, Outer Limits).  Chiller is currently available in over 40 million homes.  To learn more, visit: www.chillertv.com.  Chiller.  Scary Good.


About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s DOCTOR WHO; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coasts Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, and Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio.

IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, while Michael Bay‘sPlatinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.
Holy breaking news, BatFans!
The original Batman is coming to the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo April 27-29, 2012!
(Calgary, AB) Keep your eyes to the sky this spring and you might catch a glimpse of the original Caped Crusader soaring his way to Calgary's BMO centre.

Over half a decade of work in the world of arts and entertainment has made Adam West a beloved house hold name for multiple generations. Some of his film and television titles – apart from Batman, include, Drop Dead Gorgeous, An American Vampire Story, The Young Philadelphians, The Last Precinct, and The Clinic.

In addition to his long roster of titles is West's kooky and hilarious portrayal of himself as Mayor Adam West in the politically incorrect comedy Family Guy. The role brought his name to yet another generation of pop culture enthusiasts and has only served to solidify him as one of Hollywood's top personalities

"Having an icon like Adam West at our convention demonstrates how incredibly diverse the Calgary Expo is,” states Event Director Kandrix Foong. “Parents who grew up watching Batman can bring their kids to meet this living legend, just like fans of Family Guy will be excited to meet the man behind his eccentric self-portrayal.”

Family will be a big focus for The Calgary Expo in 2012 with kids 12 and under getting in free of charge. The convention will also be celebrating The Make-A-Wish Foundation's World Wish Day on April 29 which will feature children's performers, a costume contest and programming developed specifically for families and children.
The Calgary Expo is a non-profit organization that showcases the incredible talent of comic creators, artists, actors, voice actors, musicians, writers and pop culture icons from all over the world. Founded in 2006, the convention has grown rapidly having hosted guests from every genre including William Shatner, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, voice actor Vic Mignogna and Bruce Timm an Emmy award winning Batman illustrator. The 2011 convention saw 30,000 attendees and is the 2nd largest convention of its kind in all of Canada.
Guests for the 2012 Calgary Expo currently include Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), Amanda Tapping (Stargate: SG-1, Sanctuary), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, 24) and James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo will be held April 27 – 29, 2012 at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Advance tickets are now on sale at http://calgaryexpo.eventbrite.com/
For more information, visit our website at www.calgaryexpo.com
People love Pygmies! Pocket God Comic Hits 500k Downloads, Celebrates with Free Download
Series Based on Popular iPhone App Introduces Issues No. 11
SAN FRANCISCO - December 8, 2011 – The lives of the Pygmies of the Pocket God universe may be full of danger and vengeful gods, but people love them! Ape Entertainment and Bolt Creative are proud to announce that the digital comic book series based on Pocket God, one of the best-selling iPhone apps of all-time, has surpassed over 500,000 downloads to-date. To celebrate, the series’ creators have partnered with Free App A Day (FAAD) to offer the first issue of the digital comic for free for a limited time.
In addition, the full-color digital comic series has today introduced issue No. 11, which is available for immediate download on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad via iVerse Media, a digital distribution partner of Ape Entertainment. The new issue features 20 pages of all new content starring the pygmies of Pocket God on their adventures to understand their world and to just stay alive as long as possible. Fans can follow Ooga, Booga, Klik, Klak, Nooby & Dooby as they get eaten by piranhas, hit by meteors, menaced by Sharks-with-Frickin-Lasers, and face even more horrible dangers.
What makes Pocket God such a breakout hit is its attention to original characters and stories that play off the sadistic, episodic-based app that allows users to control the lives of a group of energetic pygmy islanders,” said Brent E. Erwin, Ape Co-Publisher. “We’re extremely pleased to see how well fans of Pocket God and fans of comic books have taken to the series.”
Created by Dave Castelnuovo and Allan Dye, founders of Bolt Creative, Pocket God has consistently maintained a spot in the “Top 25” games in the iTunes App Store for two and a half years running. With total sales of 7 million downloads since release, the success of Pocket God comes from a combination of endearing characters, unique art style and an incredibly fanatical community of followers.
“We have always had fun developing Pocket God and its many updates, but creating the personalities behind the pygmies and the stories behind them has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of our work,” said Dave Castelnuovo, founder and CEO of Bolt Creative. “The way the Pocket God community has embraced the comic series has been incredible to see and we look forward to continuing to create more quality Pocket God content.”

Pocket God No. 11 - Part two of the ‘A QUEST CALLED TRIBE’ story arc:
  • Sun, the mysterious new female pygmy, has convinced the tribe to help her on her quest to find the rest of her missing tribe mates (more pygmies?!) and save them from the maleficent Newbie. Will this be the issue that gives us even more new pygmy characters? Who are the bubble breathing people? And where has Nooby disappeared to? The action and mystery continue to pile up. 

With the addition of app enhancements included in the digital downloads of the comics to assist consumers in locating their nearest comic book retailer, Ape hopes that Pocket God will inspire new readers to discover the exciting world of comics through their local comic book shops.
For more information, please visit http://www.ApeComics.com or www.boltcreative.com.
About Bolt Creative
Bolt Creative is a San Francisco-based developer creating original iPhone applications and games, including 2009’s blockbuster iPhone game Pocket God. Bolt Creative’s goal is to create games that are not only fun to play, but fun to develop and make them laugh. For more information please visit www.boltcreative.com.
About Ape Entertainment
Founded in 2003, Ape Entertainment is the brainchild of lifelong comic book devotees David Hedgecock, and Brent E. Erwin.  Ape Entertainment is the comic book home to innovative new titles as LITTLE GREEN MEN, SCOUTS, and HEROIC.  Ape is also the North American publisher for licensed properties SHREK, THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, KUNG FU PANDA, RICHIE RICH, CASPER, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, and CUT THE ROPE.
Visit Ape Entertainment online at http://www.ApeComics.com.