Nichelle Nichols Joins PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that actress Nichelle Nichols will be attending Comicon 2013.

“We are so happy, and relieved (laughs) to finally have Nichelle Nichols come to Phoenix Comicon. She is the last of the living original Star Trek cast members to attend our show and we could not be more excited,” says Convention Director Matt Sorberg.

Nichelle Nichols is an actress, singer and voice artist most famous for her tole of communications officer Lieutenant Uhura aboard the USS Enterprise in the popular Star Trek television series (1966 to 1969), as well as the succeeding motion pictures. Her Star Trek character was groundbreaking at the time and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. personally praised her work n the show. There were six subsequent Star Trek movies that Nichols played Uhura, now promoted to Commander that were released from 1979 to 1991

After her time on the Star Trek movies, Nichols has appeared is many other movies including Snow Dogs in 2002 and Lady Magdalene's in 2006. For her musical career, she has released two albums, Down to Earth and Out of This World, which is themed around Star Trek and space exploration. Nichols has twice been nominated for the Sarah Siddons Award as best actress..

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.

Mike Choi, Joe Corroney, Peter David, Greg Horn, Mike McKone, Jim Valentino and Matt Wagner Join PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that comic book artists Mike Choi, Joe Corroney, Peter David, Greg Horn, Mike McKone, Jim Valentino and Matt Wagner will be attending Comicon 2013.

“We love comic books and artists, so our philosophy is the 'more the merrier' for this year's Comicon,” says Marketing Director Jillian Squires.

Mike Choi is best known for his work on books such as Witchblade (2003 to 2006), X-23 (2007) and X-Force (2008 to 2010). Most recently, Choi provided the cover to Green Lantern vol. 5 #5 in 2012.

Joe Corroney is an illustrator who is best known for providing Lucasfilm Ltd. With official Star Wars artwork for related books, games, trading cards and magazines since 1996. He has also developed his creator owned comic book series, Death Avenger. Currently, he is creating new Star Wars artwork for Lucasfilm and Star Wars Insider.

Peter David is best known for his comic book work for an award-winning, 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk. He is also known for his runs on Aquaman Young Justice, Supergirl and Fallen Angel. David has earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and 2011 GLAAD Media Award.

Greg Horn is best known for his work as a cover artist for Marvel Comics and various other publications.  In addition to comic book covers, his art has been featured in posters for Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics. His latest projects include covers for the on-going Ms Marvel series from Marvel Comics, Jenna Jameson's Shadow Hunter from Virgin Comics, as well as a series of pieces promoting Marvel's 2008 "event" Secret Invasion.

Mike McKone first published works included DC Comics' Justice League of America and Justice League International, as well as The Punisher War Zone for Marvel Comics. He is best well known for his work on Marvel's Exiles. This led to his work on DC's Teen Titans and Marvel's Fantastic Four.  Most recently, McKone has done work for Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man in 2011.

Jim Valentino began working for Marvel Comics on their superhero titles and his most notable work, at the time was as writer/artist for the series Guardians of the Galaxy. In 1992, he left Marvel to co-found Image Comics. Of the titles he created at Image, the super-hero series ShadowHawk is the most notable. In 1999, Valentino became publisher of Image Comics until 2003. Most recently, he created Silverline books an all-ages imprint for original graphic novels in 2008.

Matt Wagner is best known as the creator of the series Mage and Grendel. He has also worked on comics featuring The Demon and Batman in addition to the titles Sandman Mystery Theatre and the DC Comics limited series, Trinity. His most recent product is Madame Xanadu.

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.

 Kevin Hearne, Tom Leveen, Joseph Nassise, Yvonne Navarro, Weston Ochse, Janette Rallison/C. J. Hill and Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell Join PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that authors Kevin Hearne, Tom Leveen, Joseph Nassise, Yvonne Navarro, Weston Ochse, Janette Rallison/C. J. Hill and Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell will be attending Comicon 2013.

“We are so happy to have such an amazing group of authors joining us at this year's Phoenix Comicon,” says Marketing Director Jillian Squires.

Kevin Hearne is best known as the author of The Druid Chronicles, which are set in present day Tempe, Arizona, right down the road from Phoenix Comicon. The fifth book in the series, Trapped was released in November 2012. The sixth and seventh books in the series, Hunted and Shattered are both scheduled to be released in 2013. Currently, Hearne is working on a Stars Wars Universe novel.

Tom Leveen is best known for his young adult novel Party (2010). His second novel, Zero was released  in April 2012.

Joseph Nassise is an author of more than twenty novels. His debut novel, Riverwatch in 2003 was nominated for both the Bram Stoker Award and the International Horror Guild Award. He has also authored the internationally bestselling series Templar Chronicles, Jeremiah Hunt Chronicle and Great Undead War. His latest works released in 2012 are By the Blood of Heroes, King of the Dead and On Her Majesty's Behalf.

Yvonne Navarro is best known for her titles Final Impact, The Willow Files, Vol. 2 and That's Not My Name. Final Impact won the 1997 Chicago Women in Publishing Award for Excellence in Adult Fiction. The Willow Files, Vol. 2 won the 2002 Bram Stoker Award in the category of Works for Young Readers. That's Not My Name was the First Place Winner of the National Federation of Press Women's 2001 Communications Contest in the Fiction Novel Category.

Weston Ochse is best known for his first novel, ScareCrow Gods, in 2005. For ScareCrow Gods, he won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. His co-written collection of short stories titled Appalachian Galapagos, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize for Short Fiction. In 2008, Ochse's novella Redemption Roadshow was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Long Fiction.

Janette Rallison, who recently started using the pen name, C. J. Hill. Rallison focuses primarily on romantic comedies and her notable works include Just One Wish (2009), My Double Life (2010) and My Unfair Godmother (2011). Rallison took on the Hill pen name after her writing shift towards being a young adult author. Hill's first book and overall Rallison's latest work is, Slayers.

Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell is best known for her works The Shard Axe, Legacy of Wolves and Skein of Shadows. The Shard Axe was a 2012 Scribe Award Nominee. Most recently, Rockwell was a nominee for the Dwarf Stars Award for the Graveside Spell. 

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.

Honky Tonk Man and Gary Harper Join PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that Honky Tonk Man and Gary Harper will be attending Comicon 2013.

“We are proud to welcome both Honky Tonk Man and Harper to this year's Comicon event. They are sure to provide some great entertainment,” says Marketing Director Jillian Squires.

Honky Tonk Man (born Roy Wayne Farris) is best known as being a professional wrestler for World Championship Wresting (WCW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF)--now WWE. While wrestling for WWF, he held the WWF Intercontinental Championship for a record 64 weeks. Most recently, the Honky Tonk Man has worked independent wrestling show all over the world since 2000.

Gary Harper is a historian and all around armory and weapons expert. He has consulted and contributed to popular movies Rambo III (1988), Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World (2003) and The Last Samurai (2003). Most recently, Harper has contributed to Deadliest Warrior (2009 to 2011) as a master armorer.

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.

Gini Koch, Jeff Mariotte, Aprilynne Pike, Janni Lee Simner and Jordan Summers Join PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that authors Gini Koch, Jeff Mariotte, Aprilynne Pike, Janni Lee Simner and Jordan Summers will be attending Comicon 2013.

“We are so pleased to have such a great and diverse group of authors coming to this year's Comicon,” says Convention Director Matt Sorberg.

Gini Koch is a science fiction writer based here in Phoenix, Arizona. She is best known for the Alien Series (informally known as the "Katherine 'Kitty' Katt" series." Her work Touched By an Alien was named one of the Top 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels of 2010 by Booklist.

Jeff Mariotte is an author who creates his own original work while is also well known for writing novels and comic books based on licensed properties. He is the author of the series Witch Season and has written many Charmed and Angel books based on the television shows. Most recently, Mariotte has authored books based on the CSI television series, with CSI: The Burning Season released in 2011.

Aprilynne Pike is an internationally best-selling author best known for her debut novel Wings (2009). The novel debuted on the New York Times best-seller list and reached the #1 spot on the Children's Best Seller list. Her second novel Spells also debuted on the New York Times best-seller list. Her most recent novel, Destined debuted on the USA Today Bestseller list in 2012.

Janni Lee Simner writes primarily for young adults and is best known for her 2010 Fiction novel Bones of Faerie. She has won the Judy Goddard/Libraries, Ltd. Arizona Young Adult Author Award. Her most recent work is the Fiction short story, Welcome to Bordertown anthology in 2011.

Jordan Summers currently has twenty-six published books to her credit and is best known for her Dead World trilogy. She was a finalist in the Daphne Du Maurier contest in 2002 and won the Harlequin Blaze Published Author contest in 2005. Her most recent work, The Dark King was released in November 2012.

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.

Michael Rooker and Chandler Riggs Join PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that actors Michael Rooker and Chandler Riggs will be attending Comicon 2013.

“We are so happy to have Rooker and Riggs here with us at this year's Comicon. You never know when they'll be a zombie swarm that needs to be taken care of!,” says Marketing Director Jillian Squires.

Michael Rooker is best known for his current role of the one-handed zombie killer Merle Dixon on the hit AMC television series The Walking Dead. Rooker is also well known for his role of Henry in the 1986 movie Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. For this role, Rooker was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead and won the Fantasporto Award and Golden Space Needle Award, both for Best Actor. In addition to being a regular cast member of The Walking Dead, recently you could hear Rooker's voice as the character Sheriff E.Z. Ponder for the FX animated comedy Archer in 2012.

Chandler Riggs is best known for his role as Carl Grimes on the hit AMC television series The Walking Dead. A regular cast member since Season 1, Riggs was nominated for his performance as a Lead Actor in The Walking Dead at the 33rd Young Artist Awards in 2012. Riggs has also appeared in the 2009 film Get Low as Tom. In addition to being a regular cast member of The Walking Dead, Riggs will appear in the upcoming film Mercy in 2013.

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.

FREE FIRST ISSUES OF STORM DOGS AND COMEBACK

Image Comics miniseries debut issues are free digitally

The holidays have come early, thanks to free digital #1s of two critically acclaimed Image Comics miniseries. The debut issues of two Image Comics science fiction miniseries, STORM DOGS and COMEBACK, are now free at comiXology and on the Image Comics digital site and app. The two issues have sold out in print at the distributor level.

"The free digital firsts are a great way for people who may have missed the print issues to get started reading a new series," said Image Comics PR and Marketing Director, Jennifer de Guzman. "Storm Dogs and Comeback have excellent receptions and reviews, and we don't want people to have to delay reading them. New fans can either follow up at their local comics shop or continue buying the series digitally — whichever they prefer."

STORM DOGS by David Hine (THE DARKNESS, THE BULLETPROOF COFFIN) and Doug Braithwaite (Journey into Mystery) has been hailed for its sophisticated depiction of an alien world, futuristic technology, and taut procedural mystery story. In a four-star review, Comic Book Resources called it "a worthwhile addition to Image's growing line-up of science fiction titles with elaborate worlds and great looking artwork."

STORM DOGS #2 was in stores on December 5 and continued the roll of positive reviews. Issue #3 will be in stores on January 16, 2013.

COMEBACK is a stylish time-travel thriller by Ed Brisson and Michael Walsh, published under Image Comics' Shadowline imprint. Multiversity calls it "a high-concept thriller that takes its time, gradually drawing you into the story as it establishes the characters and the overall atmosphere" in an interview that gives it 8.9 out of 10.

COMEBACK has also continued its great reception with the release of its second issue on December 19.

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.

Beta Testing the Apocalypse
by Tom Kaczynski

136-page two-color 6.5" x 9.25" softcover • $19.99
ISBN: 978-1-60699-541-9
In-store date: January 18, 2013 (subject to change)

Tom Kaczynski takes abstract ideas — capitalism, communism, or utopianism — and makes them tangible. He depicts and meditates on the immense political and technological structures and spaces we inhabit that subtly affect and define the limits of who we are and the freedom we as Americans presume to enjoy. Society and the individual, in perpetual tension. Once you’ve read Kaczynski’s comics, it should come as no surprise to learn that he studied architecture before embarking on a career as a cartoonist.

Beta Testing includes approximately 10 short stories, most notably "The New," a brand new story created expressly for this book. It’s Kaczynski’s longest story to date. "The New" is set in an unnamed third-world megalopolis. It could be Dhaka, Lagos or Mumbai. The city creaks under the pressure of explosive growth. Whole districts are built in a week. The story follows an internationally renowned starchitect as he struggles to impose his vision on the metropolis. A vision threatened by the massive dispossessed slum-proletariat inhabiting the slums and favelas on the edges of the city. From the fetid ferment of garbage dumps and shanties emerges a new feral architecture.

"...Tom Kaczynski has an eclectic drawing style and a vivid imagination, both of which he applies to stories with a strong, thematically consistent point of view.... It’s not important what happens to the people in Kaczynski’s comics; what’s important is how they process a world that’s crumbling and becoming harder to navigate by the day." – Noel Murray, The A.V. Club

ABOUT THE CARTOONIST: Tom Kaczynski learned to read English by looking at American capitalist comics in communist Poland. He moved to the U.S. in 1987. His comics have appeared in Best American Non-Required Reading, MOME, and many other publications throughout the years, and were nominated for an Ignatz Award in 2011. Kaczynski is the founder of the independent publishing house, Uncivilized Books. He currently lives and works in Minneapolis with his partner Nikki, two black cats, and a golden retriever.

FOR IMMIEDATE RELEASE

VANCOUVER (Nov 27, 2012) - Arcana Comics and Simmons Comics Group are proud to announce that Simmons Comics Anthology Vol 1 is coming in February, 2013! It is available for pre-order NOW through your favorite comic shops and online retailers (Diamond Code: DEC12 0812 / ISBN: 978-1-77135-066-2)

Simmons Comics Group made a triumphant return to insane crowds at San Diego Comic Con 2012 with people clamoring to get a copy of the SDCC Exclusive Simmons Comics Anthology. Well, for those who couldn't make it to the convention or missed out due to crowds, here's your chance to catch up!

Leading up to San Diego Comic Con, Gene Simmons explained his plans for ZipperTM, DominatrixTM, and Gene Simmons House of HorrorsTM, "We intend on using the finest artists and writers in the comic book medium," and added, "This is just the beginning... As a lifelong fan boy, I've been madly in love with the medium ever since I was in my early teens and have continued to ravenously devour comics through the decades. Along the way, I created our three comics - ZipperTM, DominatrixTM and Gene Simmons House of HorrorsTM."

Simmons Comics Anthology Volume 1 features the first chapter of ZipperTM, DominatrixTM, and Gene Simmons House of HorrorsTM, PLUS the first chapter of the all new crossover event, Zipper Versus Dominatrix: The Slave Trade, written by Erik Hendrix (The Evil Tree, The Book, Deadly Harvest) with art from Yannis Roumboulias (Deadly Harvest). Gene describes "ZipperTM is an alien among us. DominatrixTM deals pleasure and pain, CIA meet T & A. Gene Simmons House of HorrorsTM consists of stories by some of the best talents in comics today."

Simmons Comics Anthology will be released quarterly through 2013 with Volume 2 coming in May 2013, Volume 3 in August 2013, and Volume 4 in November 2014. 

TITLE: Simmons Comics Anthology Vol. 1
CREATED BY: Gene Simmons
EDITED BY: Erik Hendrix
COVER BY: Yannis Roumboulias
ISBN: 978-1-77135-066-2
DIAMOND CODE: DEC12 0812
PRICE: $19.95
DESCRIPTION: Arcana Comics and Simmons Comics Group are proud to present this special anthology, featuring the first chapters of Zipper, Dominatrix, and Gene Simmons House of Horrors, as well as the first chapter of the first ever crossover between Zipper and Dominatrix, The Slave Trade.

ABOUT ARCANA STUDIOS

Arcana Studios, Inc. Arcana owns one of the world's largest libraries of graphic novels and comics, with over 200 original intellectual properties, 300 graphic novels, thousands of comic issues and an ever-growing character list. Arcana has begun to adapt this library into live action feature films, animated features and episodic television series. Taking a transmedia approach to brand building and the development of intellectual properties, Arcana publishes graphic novels for North America in print, and now digitally as well. Arcana has been published and distributed in dozens different countries and translated into just as many languages across the globe.

ABOUT GENE SIMMONS

Rock legend, TV star, multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, writer, lecturer, and guest of financial and news programs, Gene Simmons is one of the world’s most recognized personalities.  With millions of fans on Twitter and Facebook and speaking five languages including, English, Hebrew, Hungarian, German, some Japanese and intending to learn Mandarin, Gene Simmons is the personification of today’s globally connected citizen and the ideal spokesperson for Ortsbo.

Simmons co-founded the legendary KISS over 38 years ago.  The band has sold over 100 million CDs and DVDs worldwide, and continues to sell out stadiums and arenas around the world, breaking box-office records set by Elvis and the Beatles, and boasting over 3,000 licensed / merchandise items.

In addition to performing, Mr. Simmons has his own record company, Simmons / Universal Music, a joint venture between Universal Music and Belinda Stronach.  He also discovered, signed, and produced the demo for Van Halen, and has managed the music career of Liza Minnelli, among others.

Outside of his music business endeavors, Mr. Simmons expanded his artistic explorations in the areas of TV and film.  On A&E, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, which he and the family just wrapped up their eighth and final season, making it the longest running celebrity reality show of all time. He has also completed two seasons of his other show, Gene Simmons’ Rock School, for VH-1.  In addition he created the show Mr. Romance for Oxygen, as well as his own cartoon, My Dad the Rock Star, for Nickelodeon’s NickToons.

As an actor, Simmons has co-starred in several motion pictures, among them Runaway (TriStar), Wanted: Dead or Alive (New World), and Extract (Miramax).  He also served as co-producer of New Line Films’ Detroit Rock City.

Mr. Simmons is a Co-Founding Partner in CoolSpringsLife.com, a venture that provides estate planning for high net worth individuals exceeding $20 Million.

Other entrepreneurial accomplishments include his own book imprint, Simmons / Phoenix books, which published his NY Times Best Seller, SEX MONEY KISS, the LA Times Best Seller, LADIES OF THE NIGHT and the upcoming new book, GENE SIMMONS ART OF WAR and Mr. Simmons tours internationally on the lecture circuit.

Mixed Martial Arts Comic JOE PALOOKA is 
In Stores Now!

 

San Diego, CA (December 19, 2012) – The wait for mixed martial arts and comic book fans is over, as the brand-new full-length, full-color MMA comic JOE PALOOKA debuts online via comiXology and in comic book stores across the U.S.A. today, December 19^th, 2012. Creator Joe Antonacci promises UFC fans that they will see two familiar faces staring back at them when they look at the back cover of issue #1.
 
In yet another sign of the massive mainstream popularity of MMA and the UFC, IDW, one of the largest publishers of comics in America, whose top-selling comic book titles include G.I. Joe, Transformers, True Blood, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Godzilla, and the award-winning 30 Days of Night is the force bringing the MMA comic Joe Palooka to fans everywhere.

“I can’t believe we have the book online and in stores everywhere. After sponsoring top fighters like Johnny Hendricks, Jimmy Hettes, Brendan Schaub, and Dan Miller over the past two years, which made MMA fans aware that the book was coming, this represents a huge moment for me,” stated JOE PALOOKA creator Joe Antonacci. “To sign on with a tremendous publisher like IDW, which gave us the opportunity to bring Joe Palooka to comic book and MMA fans worldwide is a tremendous opportunity. We plan to expand our relationship with them by having UFC fighters appear in the comic book as well.”

“Team Palooka is bringing a ton of fire and energy to this book and we think it’ll really strike a chord with comic fans and MMA fans alike,” said IDW’s Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall

The Joe Palooka comic series tells the story of Joe Palooka, an MMA fighter who travels the world desperately trying to clear his name while fighting to earn a spot in the legendary “Legion of Combat,” fight series that features team matches between fighters representing countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Brazil, Russia, Japan, China, and other nations.

Antonacci added, “I'd also like to thank all of those who helped make today possible, including our advertisers, JACO and Authentic Sports Management, Azad Watches, Pete Morgan and Peerless Boilers, Dragon Door Kettle Bells, and KettlebellKing.com. Of course, Ted Adams, Chris Ryall, and Greg Goldstein from IDW, as well as Ed Catto and Heidi McDonald for their guidance, and my Team Palooka crew: writer Mike Bullock, artist Fernando Peniche, letterer Josh Aitken, and colorist Bob Pedroza.”

“And the comic book has realistic MMA action throughout thanks to our MMA technical consultant, Phil Ross,” concluded Antonacci.

IDW Announces T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS! The Enduring Classic Finds a New Home! San Diego, CA (December 19, 2012) – IDW Publishing announced to a full house at this year’s New York Comic Con that they’ve acquired the rights to publish the exploits of the legendary band of super-powered heroes, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS!   First published in 1965, the fan-favorite team has seen their exploits published by Tower, JC, Deluxe, and DC Comics and been written and drawn by a virtual who’s-who of comic industry titans. The diverse cast of Agents have seen their share of adventures over the years—including DC’s well-received run most recently—but IDW is excited at the opportunity to put their stamp on the legendary team. “I'm thrilled that IDW will be bringing its extraordinary talents and craft to producing everything from beautiful omnibus volumes to bold and cutting-edge new comic book titles based on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents,” said Michael Uslan, who initiated the project.  “With top quality, IDW will be presenting the works of comic book super-stars, including T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents creator, Wally Wood (Daredevil, MAD, EC horror and science fiction comics, All-Star Comics, Power Girl) along with the legendary Steve Ditko (Spider-Man, Dr. Strange); Gil Kane (Green Lantern, The Atom); Mike Sekowsky (Justice League); Reed Crandall (Blackhawk); Dave Cockrum (X-Men); George Perez (Wonder Woman, New Teen Titans); Murphy Anderson (Hawkman, The Spectre); Paul Gulacy (Master of Kung Fu); Jerry Ordway (Shazam, Justice Society); Ron Lim (Warlock, Silver Surfer), Keith Giffen (Legion of Super-Heroes, Lobo); Dan Adkins (Creepy, Dr. Strange), and many others.” “T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents always had a great premise in addition to the list of esteemed creators who worked on the comics—people whose day job was being government-employed superheroes,” said IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall, “That premise offers a resonant jumping-off point for some exciting new stories that will add to the great comics already left behind by both Tower and DC’s recent run.” “T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a classic, beloved property,” added Greg Goldstein, IDW's President and C.O.O.. “Its original stories featured some of the best superhero art of the silver age and it was well ahead of its time in many areas of storytelling. As an example, it was the first mainstream comic book to feature the ‘permanent’ death of a major character.” In addition to the rights to reprint classic T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics as well as create all-new series around the property, IDW also now controls the rights to fellow Tower Comics titles Undersea Agent and Fight the Enemy, too. “We are very excited that T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents has found a new home at IDW,” said David M. Matthews, Managing Director of Radiant Assets, owner of the property.  “Their history of high-quality publications coupled with top-notch creative teams perfectly compliments our desire to expand not only the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent franchise, but Undersea Agent and Fight the Enemy, as well.  We join them with great optimism about bringing this storied team’s past, present and future to a whole new generation of readers, who will join the longtime legion of fans already anxious for the continuation of the team’s legendary exploits.” Though specific plans have yet to be revealed, 2013 is looking to be a mighty year for the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents!

About IDW 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; Toho’s Godzilla; and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Warner Brothers and Barry Sonnenfeld are attached to adapt LORE into a feature film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, with Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.

Andrews McMeel Publishing & ComiXology
Announce Digital Distribution Deal

 

Perennial favorites like Dilbert, Doonesbury, Big Nate are now available today across
comiXology’s entire revolutionary digital comics platform!

December 19, 2012 – Kansas City, MO - New York, NY – Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP), the premier producer of cutting-edge comics and best-selling humor, cookbook, gift, and nonfiction books, has today announced a digital distribution agreement with comiXology – the revolutionary digital comics platform available across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web, that also boasts the consistently top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes app store. AMP and comiXology celebrate this announcement with a launch featuring a select group of perennial favorites, including office drone hero Dilbert, by Scott Adams, the incomparable and iconic Doonesbury, by Garry Trudeau, and colorful sixth-grade star Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce across comiXology’s entire platform. Additional AMP releases will be available in future months.
“We are thrilled to bring our cutting-edge, world-renowned comics and best-selling humor books to comiXology’s global audience,” said Kirsty Melville, Publisher and President, Book Division. “Andrews McMeel prides itself on publishing exceptional and innovative content, and making it available to consumers wherever and however they choose to read. This digital engagement with comiXology, through their innovative buying and reading experience, provides a perfect way for new audiences to discover our titles.”
“Andrews McMeel represents extraordinary talent that is outstanding in the industry, to which we’re happy to add our amazing reading experience and global reach to engender an even bigger fan base for Andrews McMeel,” said co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “We’ve become the dominant digital comics platform available today by creating a unique experience that we’re sure fans will love!”
Most recently comiXology was announced as iTunes’ #3 top grossing iPad app of 2012 and is the only app repeated in the top ten in both 2011 and 2012.
About Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing has a passion for publishing original talent, delighting consumers with innovative books and gifts that are worth sharing.

AMP fall highlights include: How To Tell If Your Cat is Plotting To Kill You, Pearls Freaks the #*%# Out, and I Can’t Remember if We’re Cheap or Smart by New York Times Best Selling authors Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal), Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine), and Scott Adams (Dilbert); Fire in My Belly by Top Chef finalist Kevin Gillespie; Canal House Cooks Every Day by Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer; monthly additions to the bestselling Pocket Posh ® Puzzles series, and the introduction of the AMP! Comics for Kids series.

AMP is also the nation’s top calendar publisher, annually producing calendars based on many top-selling properties and selling more than 15 million calendars each year.
About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. With the development of the comiXology digital comics platform - with buy-once, read-anywhere availability across across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web— comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics anywhere they happen to be! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, comiXology is one of the leading drivers of the iPad economy. Providing the most digital comics on the most devices, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has been turned into a comic book fan.

Mark Waid’s Thrillbent
Joins ComiXology in a Digital Distribution Deal

 

Eisner Award-Winning creator Mark Waid digitally debuts his latest
ongoing super-hero saga INSUFFERABLE on comiXology

INSUFFERABLE on comiXology comes with bonus material &
displayed in stunning high-definition with CMX-HD

December 19, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA – New York, NY – Thrillbent, Mark Waid’s publishing imprint for new creator-owned digital comics, announced today a digital distribution agreement with comiXology – the revolutionary digital comics platform available across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web, recently announced as iTunes #3 top-grossing iPad app for all of 2012. To celebrate this new partnership, Thrillbent is digitally debuting Eisner Award-winning Mark Waid and Eisner-nominated Peter Krause’s exciting ongoing super-hero saga Insufferable platform wide, collecting the online comic in editions featuring new covers and brand-new bonus material. Also, comiXology fans reading on iPads with the Retina Display will get to experience these comics in stunning high-definition with CMX-HD. Insufferable follows an estranged father and son superhero team (Nocturnus and Galahad) forced grudgingly to reunite to tackle a dangerous new case.

“Mark Waid is one of the premier comic creators of our time and it’s an honor to feature Thrillbent across the entire comiXology platform,” says comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger, “Waid made waves when he announced his digital-only line of comics and it’s only natural for us to give the Thrillbent line the comiXology Guided View experience and global reach.” “When we launched Thrillbent.com, our goal was to get expertly crafted creator-owned comics in the hands of readers worldwide, and we see comiXology as the perfect avenue to help reach that goal,” said Thrillbent co-founder Mark Waid. “Thrillbent’s unique style of comics storytelling is a great fit to comiXology’s Guided View, and I know fans everywhere will be astonished by the digital comics evolution both companies are spearheading. You’ve never seen anything like what we can do together.”
Recently announced as iTunes’ #3 top grossing iPad app of 2012, comiXology has over 30,000 comics and graphic novels from more than over 75 of today’s hottest publishers, giving comiXology the widest selection of digital comics anywhere. ComiXology’s availability across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web makes it the best digital comics platform for current, newly interested and lapsed comic, current and graphic novel fans.
About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. With the development of the comiXology digital comics platform - with buy-once, read-anywhere availability across across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web— comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics anywhere they happen to be! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, comiXology is one of the leading drivers of the iPad economy. Providing the most digital comics on the most devices, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has been turned into a comic book fan.

Pocket God Comics Offers the Merry Fishmas One Shot Special Up to the Gods

San Francisco - December 19, 2012 - Ape Entertainment and Bolt Creative announced today that the Pocket God Comics “Ghost of Fishmas Past” One Shot is now available on the App Store  for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.  Visit https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-god-comics/id380752345 today to download.  The app has also been upgraded to no longer require the login feature in order to purchase comics in this app.

Hop on board for one wild ride!  We finally get a chance to see the world inside Nooby’s head.  And you KNOW that’s going to be a party!  …That boy ain’t right!  You may have noticed Nooby go storming off as Gem Cell Research came to a crashing conclusion.  Now we get to see where he went….and WHY.  It’s a Trippy Fishmas for sure!  Merry Fishmas everybody! 
 
And don't forget that the Pocket God Comic is updated frequently with all kinds of FREE extras such as The Pygmy Peril newsletter (which includes free Little Green Men comic short stories), and an EXCLUSIVE re-mastered version of the first Pocket God animated short!

Speaking of The Pygmy Peril… Issue #26 just released!!!  It’s still free and yet worth TWICE that!  It’s got all the standard goofy-goodness you love like the Letter From the Editor, email from our fans in Outhouse Input, art from fans in Pretty Pygtures, and of course Dev Corner where we get to hear from various people actually behind the Pocket God game app itself!
…I can’t believe we are just giving The Pygmy Peril away…We must be CRAZY!
 
[Pocket God © 2012 BOLT Creative Inc. Pocket God, Pygmy Peril, and all related characters are © BOLT Creative Inc.    Little Green Men and related characters are © 2012 APE Entertainment LLC.]
Pricing and Availability:
The Pocket God Comics App is available for $.99 USD from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. For more information, please visit http://www.ApeComics.com or www.boltcreative.com.
About Bolt Creative
Bolt Creative is a San Francisco-based developer and publisher of original games, including the hit iOS phenomenon Pocket God, ranked by Apple as the #9 Top Paid App of All Time. Since its 2009 launch, Pocket God has mushroomed into a full franchise with the original game hitting multiple online and mobile platforms, Pocket God: Journey to Uranus bringing players and pygmies into outer space, and Pocket God: The Runs hitting iOS in the spring of 2012. The digital Pocket God Comics series has become one of the most successful digital comic series available and continuously outperforms megabrands. Fans can also purchase Pocket God merchandise such as figurines, apparel, and plush. Bolt Creative's goal is to develop games that crack them up and entertain players for countless hours. For more information, please visitwww.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 HERO OF ALEXANDRIA.  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.
About iVerse Media, LLC
iVerse Media(http://www.iversemedia.com)is a digital content distributor focused on the world of comics and popular culture. Founded in 2008, the company was one of the first to launch digital comics on Apple’s iOS platform. As of Oct 2011 over 5 Million products in the iOS App Store have been downloaded that are powered by iVerse, making the “iVerse Engine” one of the most popular and widely used platforms for reading digital comics in the world. The company is principally located in Waco, TX. For more information on iVerse Media, please visit: http://comicspl.us

Christos Gage, Scott Kolins, Aaron Lopresti and Don Rosa Join PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that comics Christos Gage, Scott Kolins, Aaron Lopresti and Don Rosa will be attending Comicon 2013.

“Seriously, who can ever get enough comics guests? I know that we certainly can't and that is why we are so excited for this year's Comicon,” says Convention Director Matt Sorberg.

Christos Gage is known for such works as Union Jack (2006), The Breed (2001), and the 2002 film Teenage Caveman. He has also wrote a number of fill-in issues for Thunderbolts (2009) and the tie-in book for the “Civil War” storyline, Civil War: House of M (2008).

Scott Kolins is an illustrator, writer and creator for multiple different superhero and science fictin comic books. Some of the characters he has created are Peek-a-Boo, Iron Maniac, Gear and Tar Pit.

Aaron Lopresti's first well known work was the title Sludge in 1993. He later worked on Marvel's X-Men and Captain Marvel (2004). He has also drawn for Wonder Woman (2008 to 2010) and drew covers for Adventure Comics and Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton.

Don Rosa is a comic book writer and illustrator known for his stories about Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck and other Disney characters. In 1995, he wn the Eisner Award for “Best Serialized Story” for his 12-chapter work “The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck.”

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.

James A. Owen, Cherie Priest, Adam Rex, Michael A. Stackpole and Sam Sykes Join PHXCC 2013

Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce that authors James A. Owen, Cherie Priest, Adam Rex, Michael A. Stackpole and Sam Sykes will be attending Comicon 2013.

“We are extremely happy to have such a fantastic group of authors at this year's Comicon,” says Marketing Director Jillian Squires.

James A. Owen is best known for his creator-owned comic book series Starchild (1993 to 2008). He is also the author of The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica novel series (2006 to present). Most recently, Owens released the sixth novel in the Geographica series, The Dragons of Winter, which was released in 2012.

Cherie Priest is a novelist and blogger best known for her 2009 novel, Boneshaker. Boneshaker was a 2010 Huge Award nominee and won the 2010 Locus Award and a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award.  In 2006, Priest won the Lulu Blooker Prize for Fiction for Four and Twenty Blackbirds, becoming the first every winner in that category.

Adam Rex is an illustrator and author of children's books is best known for the Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich (2006), which went on to become a New York Times best seller. In 2005, Rex received the Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist. Most recently, it was announced that Rex's 2007 illustrated novel, The True Meaning of Smekday is being adapted by Dreamworks Animation and planned for theatrical release in 2014.

Michael A. Stackpole is best known for his Star Wars and Battle Tech books, including the Warrior (1988 to 1989) and Blood of Kerensky (1989 to 1991) Trilogies. Included in her Star Wars books include five X-Wing books.

Sam Sykes is best known for the sprawling acclaimed Tome of the Undergates series.

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.