GENERATION LAST

Joe Keatinge and Andre Szmanowicz Drag Superheroes Into the 21st Century

Berkeley, CA – 6 January 2011 –  The future is now as Eisner and Harvey award-winnerJoe Keatinge and ELEPHANTMEN's Andre Szymanowicz debut the last generation of superheroes in the new ongoing series HELL YEAH.

Twenty years ago, the world was rocked by the emergence of real-life superheroes. Sports and entertainment industries collapsed overnight as people run across the planet and punch through walls changed the word forever. A new global culture formed around these bigger-than-life beings and now the generation raised in its wake must fight to find a place in this brave new world! By pairing the energy and excitement of the original Image superheroes with modern, innovative storytelling, Keatinge and Szymanowicz have crafted a modern superhero epic that could only begin on Image's 20th anniversary.

"HELL YEAH exists because Image Comics exists," explained Keatinge. "I read superhero comics my whole life, but when Image Comics debuted, it made me realize all the rules and restrictions I saw in other superhero comics didn't have to exist. Anything could happen. You could kill lead characters in first issues. Obliterate long-standing villains in a page turn. They could be in different tone than what's normally presented by the diversity shown in anything from YOUNGBLOOD to CASUAL HEROES. They didn't have to be noble, they didn't have to maintain the same status quo. It was turned into a genre where the term 'impossible' didn't exist. Due to all this my imagination went into over drive and after twenty years of percolating in my brain, HELL YEAH was born."

"I've been having a ball drawing HELL YEAH and watching how these characters develop, and at the same time its just a great blend of mainstream and indie comics coming together," added Szymanowicz. "On one hand they are just like how I was at this age: aimless, going to rock shows and trying to find someone to date. Then there's the side of it where they are in this superhero world and can sorta kick somebody's ass (or get their own handed to them) from time to time."

HELL YEAH begins with Ben Day, a college student who finds out versions of himself are being murdered throughout the Multiverse. He must determine where his life diverged from his other selves and just why these crimes have taken the interest of even the world's greatest super-celebrities. Keatinge and Szmanowicz build a sweeping world with a massive cast of characters, a world that threatens to destroy Ben's very existence.

"Nothing excites me more than raw, undiluted creativity, and HELL YEAH delivers that in spades," said Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Joe and Andre are dragging superheroes kicking, screaming and spitting blood into a brave new world where the impossible is possible, nothing is sacred and no one is safe. HELL YEAH, indeed."

HELL YEAH #1 (JAN120501), an 32-page full-color superhero comic book with no ads for $2.99, will be on sale in stores and digital platforms on March 7 and is available for order in the January issue of Previews. A preview of the first issue of HELL YEAH will be featured at the end of John Layman and Rob Guillory's CHEW #23 on January 18th.

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.

1222 STUDIOS ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLISHING VENTURE, KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN FOR FIRST COMIC BOOK

JANUARY 6, LOS ANGELES, CA – 1222 Studios is proud to announce the first title in a new comic book publishing initiative along with a Kickstarter campaign to fund the first four issue mini-series (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1222studios/believer).  The brainchild of Flickcast.com editor-in-chief Chris Ullrich and PopCultureZoo.com editor-in-chief Joseph Dilworth Jr., this new publishing venture will kick off with Believer, the story of Jack Hollenbeck, disgraced Los Angeles police detective turned tabloid reporter and occasional private investigator who is hired by a mysterious woman and her aging father to locate an ancient object of incredible value . . . and incredible power. 

Also in the works is Wednesday, an original science-fiction saga that follows the last Human Being in the galaxy as he tries to find out what happened to the rest of humanity.  Two additional titles are also in production and you will hear more about them in the coming weeks.

On the artwork side, Ullrich and Dilworth have teamed up with Kris Carter on Believer.  A few pages from the first issue are available to look at on the Kickstarter page with more to come.  The artist for Wednesday will be announced soon.

“I’m really excited to kick off our new publishing venture with Believer. It’s a story I’ve been waiting to tell for a long time and I can’t think of a better time, place and person to work with on it,” said Ullrich.

“I’m very pleased to find a creative brother in Chris and have been really wowed by Kris’ finished pages for Believer,” added Dilworth.  “The stories we have coming your way are a lot of fun and we think readers will really enjoy them.”

Chris Ullrich and Joe Dilworth are available for interviews.  Digital review copies of the first issue of Believer will be sent out a week or so prior to publication.  Thank you for your interest and please let us know about any questions or requests.

ABOUT CHRIS ULLRICH

Chris began his professional career while still in college and worked in the entertainment industry as a writer, production manager and producer. During that time, he also became a member of the Director’s Guild of America and gained extensive experience producing feature films, series television, music videos, commercials and more.  In the last ten years Chris has spent the majority of his time writing. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of The Flickcast and has written for other sites including The Unofficial Apple Weblog, Comic Mix, Comic Book Resources, Cinematical, Download Squad and LAist. In addition, he is also currently writing several comic book projects, including Believer, various screenplays and a sci-fi novel.

He’s also very fond of bios written in the third person, which make him sound far more important than he actually is. For more about Chris, check out his Blog and follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

ABOUT JOE DILWORTH

Joseph Dilworth Jr. has been writing since he could hold a pencil (back then it was one of those big, fat red pencils, the Faber-Castell GOLIATH. Remember those? Now that was a pencil!).  He has been editor-in-chief of Pop Culture Zoo for four years, a fiction writer for two decades and a comic book reader his whole life.  Joe is a regular voice on The Comics Archive podcast and has appeared on TV Times Three and BJ Shea’s Geek Nation.  He likes quiet evenings by the Kindle Fire and long walks through his imagination. 

See what Joe is currently up to via Twitter and Facebook.

ABOUT 1222 STUDIOS

1222 Studios was founded in 2009 by Chris Ullrich and Matt Raub with the express goal of creating new and exciting content such as comic books, web series, TV programs and feature films. It is currently in production on the podcast and website The Flickcast and has several other projects in various stages of development.

For more on 1222 Studios, visit the website or Facebook page.

NEW PEOPLE ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATES GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER RELEASE WITH SPECIAL THEATRICAL FILM SCREENINGS AT S.F. JAPANESE POP CULTURE THEATRE

Exciting Concluding Chapter Of Kinetic Japanese Sci-Fi Film Epic Based On Popular Manga Series Released On DVD/Blu-ray; NEW PEOPLE In San Francisco To Screen GANTZ I and GANTZ II On January 14^th

San Francisco, CA, January 4, 2012– NEW PEOPLE Entertainment celebrates the recently announced release of GANTZ II: Perfect Answer on DVD/Blu-ray with a special series of screenings of the entire GANTZ film saga on Saturday, January 14^th at the S.F. Film Society | NEW PEOPLE Cinema located in San Francisco’s Japantown. Tickets are $10. Additional ticket and film info is available at: www.newpeopleworld.com/films.

GANTZ (Dubbed) 1:00pm

GANTZ II: Perfect Answer (Dubbed) 4:00pm

GANTZ II: Perfect Answer (Subtitled) 7:00pm

All those attending the screenings of GANTZ II: Perfect Answer will receive a free full-color GANTZ poster. A special ticket bundle is also available for $25 (DVD) or $30 (Blu-ray) that includes a movie pass, poster, and either the DVD or Blu-ray release.

How will we face the end? The GANTZ saga meets its ultimate conclusion in GANTZ II: Perfect Answer, which offers an intensely gripping story-line yet to be known to even readers of the original manga series. Determined to resurrect his friends who have died on previous missions, Kei and other members trapped in the world of GANTZ aim to score the 100 points needed to break through and regain their freedom. But with the emergence of a mysterious man investigating the Gantz members, Gantz begins to act up and the next target shocks the members. Some fight for love, some for justice but what will each member sacrifice?

GANTZ and GANTZ II: Perfect Answer are based on a popular manga series created by Hiroya Oku. The ongoing 31-volume sci-fi action epic has sold more than 16 million copies in Japan and is published in North America by Dark Horse Comics. The live-action films star leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City).

Kazunari Ninomiya, best known in America for his role in Clint Eastwood’s 2006 blockbuster, Letters from Iwo Jima, is both an actor and a singer. He is also world-renowned as a member of the Japanese boy band “Arashi,” which topped Japan’s music charts in 2009 with the three best-selling singles.

Kenichi Matsuyama is currently one of the most sought-after actors in Japanese film and he has won several awards including Japanese Academy Awards Best New Actor (2007) and Most Popular Actor (2009). Matsuyama is widely recognized for his part as L in Death Note (2006), Death Note II: the Last Name (2006) and Death Note: L, change the WorLd (2008) and also for his portrayal of Johannes Krauser II in the outlandish rock and roll comedy, Detroit Metal City (2009).

For more information on GANTZ and other NEW PEOPLE Entertainment films, please visit: www.newpeopleent.com.

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Harry Potter star will be Slytherin into town for the Calgary Expo!

(Calgary, AB) Tom Felton, best known as the devious Draco Malfoy in all eight Harry Potter films will be making an appearance at the Calgary Expo April 27-29. Other roles to his credit include Dodge Landon in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Louis Leonowens in Anna and the King opposite Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster and Peagreen Clock in The Borrowers.

As an accomplished musician, Tom has recorded an album available on iTunes and Amazon.com entitled In Good Hands.

“The Harry Potter books and subsequent films have been pillars of pop culture for well over a decade,” states Event Director Kandrix Foong. “Given our involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s World Wish Day this year, having Tom Felton at our show will be great for children who have grown up watching him play Draco, and for adults who have also come to love the Harry Potter series.”

Family will be a big focus for The Calgary Expo 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 a children’s costume contest and programming developed specifically for families and children.

The Calgary Expois 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, Twilight’s Peter Facinelli, Star Wars’ Billy Dee Williams, Neville Longbottom actor Matthew Lewis, Owly artist Andy Runton, and Jo Chen, famous cover artist for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8.  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), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Adam West (original Batman and Family Guy) and voice actor Tara Strong (My Little Pony: Friendship is magic and The Powerpuff Girls), Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Scream 4), Adam Baldwin (Serenity, Firefly, Full Metal Jacket), John Noble (Fringe and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), Jasika Nicole (Fringe), and Dave Prowse (Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange).

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo will be held April 27 – 29, 2012 at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
For more information and tickets, visit our website at www.calgaryexpo.com 

WITCHBLADE'S NEW START

Witchblade Moves to Chicago and Invites New Fans To Join Her

Berkeley, CA – 4 January 2011 – The New Year brings a slew of fresh starts and Witchblade bearer, Sara Pezzini, is no exception. Pezzini will start 2012 in Chicago with a new job and brand new life, thanks to the fresh ongoing creative team of Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name).

Sara Pezzini has always been a born and bred New York City detective, in addition to wielding the ancient Artifacts, the Witchblade. That all changes with WITCHBLADE #151, the first issue by Seeley and Bernard, which finds Pezzini living outside of the Big Apple for the first time in the series history and working as a private detective. The mystery of how and why Sara is in Chicago, as well as what else has changed about her situation, will drive the story and reader interest for the coming year. This issue kicks off the 5-part story arc, entitled “Unbalanced Pieces,” in which Sara must find a way to balance her new role in the Windy City.

"WITCHBLADE is a dream project or me: A great character, an epic art and editorial team, and an important legacy in the history of comic books!" said Seeley. "Top Cow is giving me an awesome opportunity to reintroduce Sara Pezzini to new fans, old readers, and to a whole new setting!"

WITCHBLADE #151 is the first issue in Top Cow’s REBIRTH, an initiative spinning out of the end of the ARTIFACTS event, which concludes in ARTIFACTS #13. REBIRTH will provide ground-level entry points for each of Top Cow’s Universe titles - WITCHBLADE, THE DARKNESS, and ARTIFACTS - and ushers in a bold new age of story-telling to coincide with Top Cow’s 20th Anniversary. In addition to containing the full first story by Seeley and Bernard, the issue will include a five page bridging sequence by Ron Marz (MAGDALENA) and John Tyler Christopher (ARTIFACTS) and an ongoing prose story backup feature by Seeley. 

WITCHBLADE #151 is a 32-page full-color comic with no ads for $2.99, and will be available in comic stores and digitally today. This issue ships with two wraparound covers by regular cover artist Christopher. For more information, please visit www.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.

RESET YOUR MIND!

NEW DARK HORSE ORIGINALS TITLE FROM PETER BAGGE!

January 4, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Comics is pleased to announce a brand-new project from multiple Harvey and Eagle Award winner Peter Bagge (Apocalypse Nerd): Reset!

If you could relive major events in your life, would you take a stab at making things better—and would your best attempts only make things worse? Or would you use your second chance to put your most twisted, perverted fantasies in motion? These are questions washed-up actor and comedian Guy Krause asks himself after he signs up to be the main research subject for a virtual-reality experiment.

“I originally envisioned Reset mostly taking place in the virtual fantasy world of protagonist Guy Krause’s imagination, but soon discovered that the events occurring simultaneously in his real life were far more interesting, and so I wound up focusing more on that instead. I guess truth is stranger than fiction—and that’s why I’m generally not a fantasy writer!” says Peter Bagge.

In addition, fellow Dark Horse Originals creator Matt Kindt (3 Story) will be drawing the exclusive variant cover for issue #1.

Reset #1 is on sale April 18, 2012!

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists.  In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, Will Eisner, and best-selling prose author Janet Evanovich, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and the Occultist. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan the Barbarian, Mass Effect, Serenity, and Domo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the United States and is recognized as both an innovator in the cause of creator rights and the comics industry’s leading publisher of licensed material.

STUDIO 407 APPOINTS
IVAN SALAZAR
AS
PR & MARKETING MANAGER

January 4, 2011 – Los Angeles – Innovative comic publisher Studio 407 proudly announced today the addition of Ivan Salazar as the company’s new PR & Marketing Manager. Salazar is joining Studio 407 as they gear up to unleash a bevy of new comic book and graphic novel releases in the coming year.

“We’re extremely thrilled to bring Ivan aboard to lend his marketing talents in a time where Studio 407 is looking to make some waves in the comic book industry,” said Managing Director Alex Leung of Studio 407. “We’ll be relying on his tenacity and ingenuity to really put our brand out there and make sure that our books get the huge marketing push they deserve!”

Most Recently the Marketing Manager at BOOM! Studios, Salazar was an integral part of the company’s power house marketing department, helping create and implement campaigns that captured the imagination of comic fans everywhere. Salazar was essential in the success of the “Stan’s Back” campaign which created tremendous buzz & speculation online, culminating in an internationally covered press conference with Stan Lee himself at Comic Con International 2010. The “Stan’s Back” campaign saw BOOM! debuting their highest selling #1 issue in the history of the company.

Additionally, Salazar also helped spearhead BOOM!'s Digital Initiative – helping to expand the publisher’s presence across top digital vendors such as comiXology, iVerse, Graphicly, Panelfly and mydigitalcomics.com. Salazar designed the branding on BOOM! Studios Comics App in conjunction with comiXology. At BOOM!, he most recently designed and managed a number of BOOM! Studios web comics including the RISE OF THE PLANE OF THE APES free online comic that tied into 20th Century Fox’s major motion picture release this past Fall.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 01.04.2012

PLAY BALL HITS A HOME RUN AT ONI PRESS

This April, Oni Press is ready to take to the field with their latest original graphic novel, Play Ball. From the acclaimed writing team of Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir (The Avalon Chronicles, Amazing Agent Luna) and drawn by newcomer Jackie Lewis, Play Ball is an inspiring coming-of-age sports story that will appeal to dreamers of all ages.

Dashiell Brody is a teenaged girl who has grown up loving America's national pastime, baseball. Dashiell has recently moved with her mother and sister to a new town, and that means a new school and new opportunities. Rather than get stuck playing on the girl's softball team, Dashiell wants to play for the school's championship baseball team—only the boys aren't quite ready for this speedy shortstop. When Dashiell tries out for the main team, there is resistance, but she sticks to her guns and earns a chance to prove herself on the field.

“Having someone stand in your way when there is something you really want is a universal experience,” explained Weir. “It happens to all of us. For girls, there can be the added obstacle that someone might want to stop you just because you weren't born a boy. Team sports is one place where this can still be quite common. Every kid wants to play on a team, and every kid wants to be on the best team—and that should be regardless of gender.”

“The sports genre is one of the best places to tell classic underdog stories,” DeFilippis added. “The fun thing about Play Ball is that we're turning that on its head a little bit. Dashiell is considered the underdog, but she's actually the best player on the team. She just needs a chance to prove it. Put her on the field, and, boy, watch out.”

While DeFilippis and Weir are veterans in the comics and television industry--they've previously written for HBO, Disney Channel, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics, as well as a several creator-owned books for Oni Press—Play Ball's artist, Jackie Lewis, is new to the industry. She is a graduate of the prestigious comics program at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

“Up until recently, many considered comics to be an all-boy's club,” said editor Jill Beaton, “but Jackie is part of a burgeoning generation of female cartoonists that is changing all that. It only made sense that we would have a woman join us for Play Ball. She brings a special passion to the project, and her wonderful artwork really makes the action on the diamond come alive.”

In addition to drama on the field, Play Ball features plenty of drama off of it, as well. “Dashiell has to contend with many different challenges,” DeFilippis continued, “it's not just about batting averages. She has to deal with her father living far away, which is particularly hard for her since he's the one who taught her about baseball. Dashiell has to get along with her sister, who ends up dating one of the guys on the team. She also has to make new friends at her new school, which isn't always going to be easy. When you rock the boat, you risk knocking others overboard.”

“It was important to us that the book is not about the games,” Weir concluded. “We wanted to show what it's like to have a driving passion and how you balance that with all aspects of growing up and getting along. It's all about team work, in uniform and out of it.”

Play Ball is a 144-page, black-and-white graphic novel, 6” x 9” hardcover, coming in April 2012. The book retails for $19.99.

FATALE KICKS OFF 2012 WITH A HIT

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' New Horror Noir Comic Sells Out Immediately

Berkeley, CA – 4 January 2011 -- Today best-selling writer Ed Brubaker and his frequent collaborator and artist, Sean Phillips, debuted Image Comics' first new hit title for the year 2012, FATALE. This much-anticipated new series has already sold out at distribution level, despite a generous overprinting. A second printing is now underway and will arrive back on shelves next month, appearing alongside the second issue.

"The overwhelming positive response to FATALE from retailers and fans has been a bit shocking, but a great way to start the new year," said Brubaker. "Keep it up, and we'll keep putting out the best book we can."

"2012 is the year of the creator, and we couldn't imagine a more suitable way of kicking off our 20th anniversary than with this brilliant new series," said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Ed and Sean are two of comics' absolute best, and FATALE is their best work yet."

FATALE tells the story of a reporter in 2012 who stumbles on a secret that leads him down the darkest path imaginable… to a seductive woman who’s been on the run since 1935, a mobster who may be an immortal demon monster, and the stories of all the doomed men who’ve been caught in their decades-long struggle. FATALE blends noir and horror to tell a riveting epic unlike anything readers have ever seen before.

FATALE #1 ("Beauty" Cover A: NOV110354, "Beast" Cover B: NOV110355), a 32-page full-color noir horror comic book for $3.50, is on sale now until supplies run out. A second printing of FATALE #1 (NOV118137) is available to order now, and will go on sale February 1, alongside FATALE #2 (DEC110551).

ABOUT ED BRUBAKER

Ed Brubaker is one of the most acclaimed writers in comics, having won six Best Writer awards, between the Eisners, the Harveys, and most recently, the 2011 Scream Award. With Sean Phillips, he has created Sleeper, Incognito, and Criminal, all of which have been optioned for film. His epic run on Captain America for Marvel has been one of the best-selling comics of the 21st century, with his "Death of Captain America" storyline garnering international headlines. 

ABOUT SEAN PHILLIPS

Drawing comics professionally since the age of fifteen, Eisner Award winning Sean Phillips has worked for all the major publishers. Since drawing Sleeper, Hellblazer, Batman, X-Men, Marvel Zombies, and Stephen King's The Dark Tower, Sean has concentrated on creator-owned books including Criminal, Incognito and Seven Psychopaths. As well as FATALE, he's currently also drawing another album for French publishers Delcourt. 

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.

It’s a story of Good vs. Evil, wrapped within one mans soul.

Taking place in the city of Lower Triton, the city’s greatest hero, Virtue, its nastiest villain, Malice, and a run-of-the-mill guy named Jeff have something extremely important in common.  They’re all the same guy — and none of them knows it…until now! 
 
It’s only when Jeff stumbles upon Malice’s diabolical plan to murder Virtue, he has to step in way over his head, to try to save himself — all three of himself — from himself!

Collecting the first volume of the Fracture series from Action Lab Entertainment, writer Shawn Gabborin and artists Chad Cicconi & Dave Dwonch take you into ones meta-human journey of imagining yourself as someone completely different, only to find out that it’s real and on multiple levels of insanity, comedy and abject chaos.

Featured as a “Staff Pick” in January’s Diamond Previews, Fracture puts a much needed spin on the superhero comic. It’s currently available for pre-order with an order code of JAN120783 with a low suggested retail price of $9.99.

Fracture. One man. Three identities. Endless destinies.

Danny Fingeroth Reveals Secrets of “The Stan Lee Universe”

 Comics writer and pop culture chronicler Danny Fingeroth will reveal the secret origin of his new book The Stan Lee Universe at a Jan. 7 meeting of Çartoonists Northwest.

Lee, of course, is the man who created much of the marvel in the early Marvel Comics. The Stan Lee Universe is a compendium of Lee-rarities, including many unseen items from Stan’s archives housed at the University of Wyoming.

In addition to talking about how the book was created, Fingeroth will speak about his own extensive career—which includes stints as a writer and editor at Marvel (as well as other comic book companies.)

Fingeroth has also done creative development for TV; taught numerous comics writing classes; edited Write Now! (a magazine about the craft of comics writing); and written pop culture books such as Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero. He’s currently Sr VP of Education at New York’s Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA).

The meeting is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, at Artist & Craftsman Supply in Seattle’s University District, 4350 8th Ave N.E. Open to the public. Suggested donation of $4 for nonmembers.

Cartoonists Northwest is an association of professional and amateur cartoonists who meet monthly to network, collaborate, and promote community among local artists.

 

Established in 1981, CNW is one of Seattle’s longest-standing organizations and boasts membership of such artists as: Lynn Johnston (“For Better or For Worse”), David Horsey (Seattle PI), John Lustig (Disney and “Last Kiss”), Brian Basset (“Adam @ Home” and “Red and Rover”), Donna Barr (“The Desert Peach” and “Stinz”) and many many more. http://www.cartoonistsnorthwest.com/about-cnw/

ARCANA COMICS' - Happy Holidays and Winter Sale!

 

VANCOUVER (Jan 3, 2012) - All of us at Arcana Comics would like to wish you a Happy New Year! To celebrate, we are offering 25% off of all purchases from the Arcana Store from now through the end of January! Just head over to Arcana.com/store.php, add some books to your cart, and use code "ARCANAWINTER" (case sensitive) at checkout for 25% off!

 

Over the last week, we have added a TON of books to the store, so please head over and check it out. You'll be amazed at the selection and the deals!

 

We're 175 Graphic Novels and 227 Characters strong and growing every month!

 

 

ABOUT ARCANA STUDIOS

Arcana Studios, Inc. is a transmedia company that has aggressively pursued establishing brands through engaging storytelling and compelling art. With a strong foothold in the print publishing world, Arcana continues to be a premier content provider. Arcana owns one of the world’s largest libraries of graphic novels and comics, and has adapted this library into live action feature films, stereoscopic 3D animated features, episodic television series and toys.

Arcana Studios, Inc. remains independent of major entertainment studio affiliation. Arcana Studios is currently in production of the stereoscopic 3D animated feature, The Clockwork Girl. Arcana is also partnered with Gale Ann Hurd (“Terminator”, “Aliens”) on Gearhead, Alexandra Milchan (Sylvestor Stallone’s “Head Shot”) on Blade of Kumori, Hans Rodinoff and Hollywood Media Bridge (“Lost Boys: The Tribe”) on Raise Kane, Scott Milam (“Mother’s Day”) on Gauze, Ben Magid (“Hack/Slash”) on Trout, Jar Productions (“Hidden Howie”) on Philosopher Rex, Terry Dougas (“The Invention of Lying”) on The Tower, Doc Wyatt (“Napoleon Dynamite”) on 100 Girls, JC Spink (“The Hangover”) on Continuum, Adrian Askarieh (“The Hitman”) on Amnesia and also is producing a three slate at Codeblack/Universal for Light’s Out, Ant and Blam!

GET ADRENALIZED AT MELTDOWN COMICS

On January 11th, starting at 6:00 P.M., Meltdown Comics will present an autograph signing with Jeff Cahn for the release of RED SPIKE VOL1 TP, produced by Benaroya Publishing and published by Image Comics.

RED SPIKE VOL1 TP, which collects issues #1-5 of the sold out miniseries, involves soldiers Matt Cutler and Greg Dane, the first to survive the Project Red Spike program. They have been proven on the field to be everything that was wanting in the program. Unfortunately, an upgrade to Greg’s implant goes array and now it’s up to Matt to chase down his friend before he hurts himself, the city and the tax payers who funded their creation. But as the friends begin their very public battle in heart of Washington D.C., twisted and sinister secrets begin to emerge from within the Red Spike program. Can both soldiers survive or are their deaths a necessary measure to secure the program’s secrecy?

The RED SPIKE autograph event will take place in Los Angeles at Meltdown Comics on January 11th from 6-8 P.M. at 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 . For more information, please call (323) 851-7223.

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About Meltdown Comics

At 9000 square feet, Meltdown is the largest pop culture emporium west of the Rockies .It’s ever-shifting stock holds new discoveries for even the most discerning reader and if you are new to the game the dimmest ember of obsession shall be fanned into a great bonfire here.Meltdown’s proprietors have seized every opportunity to upgrade service within the store resulting in unparalleled relationships with vendor and consumer alike.This means that as a customer of Meltdown, you have access to a worldwide network of purveyors of pop and if you don’t see what you want in front of you Meltdown can procure it almost instantaneously.

www.meltcomics.com

About Jeff Cahn

After graduating from Pomona College, Jeff Cahn returned to his hometown of New Orleans, where he interned on the set of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button for Digital Domain’s Oscar winning visual effects team. Once the shoot wrapped, he returned to Los Angeles and now works at Benaroya Pictures and Publishing as a story developer and writer of both screen and comics.

About Benaroya Publishing

Founded by Michael Benaroya in 2009, Benaroya Publishing is a comic book and graphic novel production company dedicated to thrilling and compelling storytelling. A subsidiary of Benaroya Pictures, Benaroya Publishing is based in Los Angeles and launches their debut titles this Spring under the Image Comics label. With David Elliott (FALL OUT TOY WORKS and co-founder of RADICAL PUBLISHING) at the helm as in-house Editor-in-Chief, Benaroya Publishing promises to bring fresh new ideas, and uniquely told stories to the comics literary world. For more information, visit www.benaroyapublishing.com.

3… 2… 1… ZERO!
Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett Re-launch SECTION ZERO as Web Comic

Lost civilizations! Alien beings! Strange creatures from beyond time and space! Tom Grummett and Karl Kesel’s creator-owned comic SECTION ZERO returns on January 2, 2012 at www.madgeniuscomics.com, once again Protecting Mankind From Everything That Doesn’t Exist!

SECTION ZERO was originally part of Image’s Gorilla Comics imprint back in 2000, alongside Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen’s Shockrockets, Mark Waid and Barry Kitson’s Empire, George Perez’s Crimson Plague, and Todd Dezago and Mike Wieringo’s Tellos. But personal problems— “My fault,” says Kesel, “I got divorced.”— forced SECTION ZERO to go on indefinite hiatus after only three issues.

“I never had more fun than when Tom and I were working on Section Zero,” Kesel states. Grummett agrees. “Section Zero had this energy and excitement, and a weird little garage-band kinda feel that just crackles off the page. I’d argue it’s the strongest stuff we ever did together.” Whenever either appeared at a con or store signing, they’d be asked “Are you ever going to finish Section Zero?” Both felt it was a matter of when, not if. “I always wanted to find some way to get back to Zero,” Kesel emphasizes, “but life kept getting in the way.”

And life often zigs when you think it will zag. “I remarried, and my wife and I decided to adopt a baby. Suddenly I became very aware of my legacy— of having something to leave behind for my kid— and for me that meant finding some way to do creator-owned comics again. The easiest way to do that nowadays is on the web.” Kesel launched www.madgeniuscomics.com on Halloween 2011 with “Johnny Zombie Christmas— a Heartwarming Tale of Yuletide Terror.” But he knew that story would end by Christmas. He wondered what to follow it up with, and instantly thought of Section Zero.

“There Is No Section Zero” was the comic’s original tag-line, and as far as Kesel is concerned “There is no Section Zero… without Karl and Tom.” Kesel contacted Grummett, who didn’t need to be asked twice. Kesel smiles, “We’ll be squeezing it in around our day jobs”— Kesel is currently inking Spider-Man Season One, and Grummett is penciling Avengers Academy— “but we will finally finish what we started.”

Kesel assures new readers “the web comic starts at the beginning. We launch with a 5-page Prologue on Monday, January 2nd, then we’ll post the first 3 issues of Section Zero, 3 pages every Thursday. Once that’s done, it’ll be all new material. And that gives us the time we need to make that new material!” Fans who have read the original comics will still want to check out the postings. “I’m tweaking the dialogue a bit here and there— partly to make it read better, partly because my idea of what the story’s about has changed slightly over the years. Plus, Richard Starkings at Comicraft— who is insane in the best possible way— insisted on ‘freshening” the lettering— so we’ve got a new font and new placements and the book has a slightly different look.”

Kesel points out: “if not for Richard, Tom and I may not be bringing back Section Zero right now. In my various moves I had lost track of the book’s original coloring and lettering files— which killed me, since Ben Dimagmaliw had done such an amazing job coloring it— but Saint Starkings dug through his archives and found copies of everything! Gotta say, Christmas came a little early for me when I heard that.”

What can readers expect in Section Zero? “Oh, prehistoric creatures that won’t stay extinct, albino alligators in the New York City sewers, the usual,” Kesel says. “I just wrote a pretty intense scene with a troll, and we’ve got something coming up set in the most chaotic, out-of-control place on earth— a kid’s daycare center! But the thing I’m most excited about is— well, when we started Section Zero I made a big deal that it took place in real time, that the characters aged. And I’m sticking to that. So after we post those first three issues there’ll be a solid black splash page with just the words ’12 Years Later…’ And I know it sounds strange, but that gap has only made our comic stronger and better. It made very clear to me what the story is really about.”

“Section Zero is about to step out into the unknown once again,” Grummett adds, “this time as a web comic. I’m expecting the same kind of steep learning curve I faced our first time out, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m also looking forward to playing with these characters again, and trying to field the curve-balls Karl will be pitching at me. We’ve thrown out the old maps… and we’re making new ones as we go.”