MACGYVER RETURNS IN "FUGITIVE GAUNTLET"

Image Comics publishes first new MacGyver story in 20 years

He can save the day with nothing more than a paperclip and a chocolate bar, but how will he fare with ink and staples? Yes, MacGyver is back —in a fast-paced comic book mini-series co-written by his creator, Lee David Zlotoff and published by Image Comics. The first MacGyver story since the television show ended in 1992 kicks off on October 10 with the first issue of MACGYVER: FUGITIVE GAUNTLET.

The series, co-written by Tony Lee (Doctor Who, Hope Falls) and drawn by Will Sliney (Farscape), with covers by Andie Tong (Superman, TRON),  picks up Mac's story as he gets tangled in a web of industrial espionage and murder. On the run across the globe, Mac has to escape his pursuers—which won't be easy with a million-dollar bounty on his head!

"I've been a fan of the TV show since I was a kid, and whenever I was asked what my dream project would be at conventions, only one name ever came up," said Tony Lee. Some discussions and a meeting with his manager later, Lee was Skyping with MacGyver creator Zlotoff.

The more he thought about the medium of comics, the more the idea appealed to him, Zlotoff explained. "In the last decade or so, the graphic novel and comics arena has simply exploded in terms of both the kinds of stories that are being told and the range of artistic styles now being explored. So as I considered the constant call from fans around the world to bring MacGyver back, it struck me that the simplicity and directness of comics might be the perfect place to start.”

The result? A five-issue mini-series that ups the ante for the eponymous hero, taking him to far-off places and embroiling him in trouble that only MacGyver could escape.

"The biggest issue the TV show had was budget, and comics don't have that problem," said Tony Lee. "We have MacGyver traveling to African jungles, Cairo, even Moscow in a globe-trotting adventure that—short of a big budget feature film—could never have been done before in such scale and scope."

In addition to a story full of thrills and twists, MACGYVER will contain the history of the television show's creation in the issues' backmatter, written by MACGYVER creator Lee David Zlotoff.

MACGYVER: FUGITIVE GAUNTLET #1 (AUG120462) will be in stores on October 10 and is available for pre-order now. Co-writer Tony Lee talked to Comic Book Resources about the mini-series in an interview posted in July. A review PDF of the first issue is available—please email Jennifer de Guzman at jenniferdeguzman@imagecomics.com to request one.
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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

Hero Initiative Partners with The Walking Dead for First-Ever Image Comics "100 Project”
Including original covers drawn by Charlie Adlard and (yes) The Walking Dead creator/writer Robert Kirkman

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 14, 2012) – The Hero Initiative, the charity dedicated to helping comic creators in medical and financial need, has drawn great acclaim for its "100 Projects” in recent years, in which 100 artists draw an original cover on a special anniversary issue.
Now, after running projects with Marvel Comics, DC and Archie, Hero Initiative proudly announces that its latest and greatest "100 Project” will feature the best-selling comic of 2012—The Walking Dead #100. This marks the first time Hero has partnered in such a way with Image Comics and Skybound.
Artists including The Walking Dead illustrator, Charlie Adlard, will contribute original covers, as will other top talents such as Dan Brereton, Ian Churchill, Kevin Eastman, Joe Jusko, Dale Keown and Whilce Portacio. And yes, even The Walking Dead creator/writer and Image Comics partner Robert Kirkman will contribute. (He can draw a little!)
"The Walking Dead would have never become the success it's become without the trailblazers who put in the hard work to make this industry live on into the future,” said Kirkman. "Doing things like this for The Hero Initiative, which helps creators who have fallen on hard times, is a way for Charlie Adlard and I to give back to the community that has provided us with countless hours of entertainment and also a pretty cushy living. Simply put, it's the right thing to do.”
"They say charity begins at home. Well, I can't think of one closer to that than the Hero Initiative,” said Adlard. "It's great to be able to give back to the creators who inspired me.”
A public viewing of all 100 covers will be scheduled for winter of 2012-13, along with auctions of all the original covers. A book collecting all the art will be available in 2013.
Art attached: Charlie Adlard, Mark dos Santos, Todd Nauck covers




About The Hero Initiative
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday's creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.
Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $500,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354. For more information, please visit us at www.heroinitiative.org.

About Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago and he formed his own imprint there, Skybound, in 2010. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and in April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a  potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. www.Skybound.com is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles.

About Image Comics
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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HIT MANGA SERIES LOVELESS RETURNS AFTER FOUR YEARS WITH VIZ MEDIA’S RELEASE OF NEW VOLUMES OF THE POETIC SAGA OF SPELL BATTLES AND SECRET NAMES

Intense Psychological Masterpiece Resumes In Volume 9 Release;

VIZ Media Also To Publish Earlier LOVELESS Volumes In New

2-In-1 Manga Omnibus Editions

San Francisco, CA, September 13, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, thrills readers as it reboots the English-language publication of LOVELESS, the hit fantasy manga (graphic novel) series from creator Yun Kouga. Volume 9 is available now and is rated ‘T’ for Teens, with an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN / £6.99 UK.

VIZ Media has also announced plans to publish the earlier volumes of LOVELESS as new 2-in-1 omnibus editions beginning in October. These releases will feature updated translations, new lettering, retouched sound effects, and a fresh cover design. Volume 1 debuts on October 9^th and includes 6 full-color pages, as well as 50 pages of bonus comics and insightful artist commentary from Yun Kouga previously not published in North America. MSRP for the 2-in-1 editions will be $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN / £9.99 UK.

In LOVELESS, Ritsuka Aoyagi is alone in the world – never fitting in at school and alienated from his own past by a fragmented memory. When his beloved older brother Seimei is brutally murdered, Ritsuka is heartbroken but determined to find answers. His only lead is Soubi, a mysterious, handsome college student who offers him an intimate link to his brother’s other life: a dark and vibrant world of spell battles and secret names.

“Fans have eagerly anticipated the release of new LOVELESS volumes ever since VIZ Media first announced that it had rescued the publishing license last year,” says Hope Donovan, Editor. “This is the first new release in years of one of the best-selling manga series, and we’re excited to continue the story for existing fans, and captivate new readers who now have a chance to dive into the rich world of LOVELESS from the beginning!”

Manga creator Yun Kouga began her career as a doujinshi (or self-published) author and debuted in 1986 with the original manga, Metal Heart, which was later serialized in Comic VAL magazine. Kouga is the creator of the popular series, LOVELESS as well as Earthian, and has worked on several notable manga and anime projects, including the character designs for Gundam 00. Two of Kouga’s works, CROWN OF LOVE (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and GESTALT (rated ‘T’ for Teens), are published in North America by VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat imprint.

For more information on LOVELESS, or manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE HOLLYWOOD FX WORLD
The Monster Make-Up Manual Book 2 Available Via Kickstarter

(Los Angeles, CA- September 13, 2012)  Horror make up Industry legend, Mike Spatola gave the world a rare opportunity to peek behind the FX Hollywood curtain when he put out The Monstrous Make-Up Manual Book 1. The first book was a hands on, photo rich manual that covered everything from simple paint and powder make up to latex appliances is now being followed by a sequel..... The Monstrous Make-Up Manual Book 2. This manual lets readers take the next steps with more on paint and powder makeups, through 3D out of the kit techniques, and goes all the way through to advanced prosthetics and Oscar winning technology.  The new book is available via kickstarter at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikespatola/the-monstrous-make-up-manual-book-2.
Spatola's work spans three decades and includes work on films including: Terminator 2, Tales From The Crypt and Iron Man 3 and his first book is the most well reviewed book on how to do monster make up there is. Opportunities to purchase both books are included in the kickstarter campaign.
"Everyone from hobbyists to award winning artists has been asking me when book 2 was coming out," explained Spatola. "Not putting out another book was simply not an option. Book 1 lays the ground work where Book 2 takes the reader to new levels of scope and technique. In addition, the first book was a complete solo project, where all techniques were presented by me, book 2 will also include several guest artists that are specialists in their fields- makeup artists, sculptors, mold makers and animatronics designers to contribute beyond what I could offer on my own."
Check out the numerous testimonials about Book 1 http://hauntingconsultant.com/hauntingconsultant/testimonials.htmlLike us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MonstrousmakeupmanualWant to learn more about The Monstrous Make Up Manual visit http://hauntingconsultant.comDonate to Mike's kickstarter at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikespatola/the-monstrous-make-up-manual-book-2.
About Mike Spatola:
Aliens and monsters are a reoccurring theme in Mike Spatola's career.   A 30 year veteran FX makeup artist, with multiple nominations for Best Makeup EMMY AWARDS and Cable ACE Awards. Mike's worked on films including Terminator 2, Tales From The Crypt, and the upcoming Iron Man 3.

Frank Forte announces Goon Cartoons as a You Tube partner channel for original animated content
Sept. 13, 2012 (Los Angeles) Frank Forte announces the launch of You Tube partner channel Goon Cartoons original animation channel.  “I’m really excited to be part of the You Tube partner channel family,” says Frank Forte, “we’ve got some really funny cartoon shorts that we’ve been working on and we can’t wait to show the world.”

The Goon Cartoons channel will be home for such cartoons as The Cletus and Floyd Show, The Struggle, Chestaclese, Billy Boy: The Sick Little Fat Kid, as well as a launching point for a number of comedy shorts, new characters, experimental gag films and more.  Goon Cartoons will launch a new cartoon every Monday and subscribers to the channel will get notified before anyone else.

“We’ll be using traditional 2D on paper, Flash, After Effects, stop motion, claymation, cut paper, Super 8 and anything else we can get our hands on,” explains Forte, “we want to experiment with every medium.”

Some of the creators Goon Cartoons will be working with are Jim Smith (Ren and Stimpy, the Ripping Friends, Monsters Vs. Aliens), Gene McGuckin (Ren and Stimpy: Adult Party Cartoon, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, the Mr. Men Show), and Elizabeth J. Musgrave (Farmhouse, Hell Comes To Hollywood).

“It’s great to get back to ol’ fashioned slap-stick comedy,” says animator Gene McGuckin,”making cartoons do things that people can’t do in real life (instead of trying to copy it).”

“We’re really fired up to be working with such amazing talent”, says Frank Forte, “as well as other animators, designers and storyboard artists from the Los Angeles animation community and all over the world.”

The Goon Cartoons channel can be seen at:http://www.youtube.com/gooncartoons
Goon Cartoons twitter feed:http://www.twitter.com/gooncartoons

ABOUT GOON CARTOONS
Goon Cartoons is a You Tube partner channel for original cartoons, short films, and experimental animation.

ABOUT FRANK FORTE: Frank Forte is an accomplished designer, storyboard artist and comic book artist. He has worked in animation for feature films, TV and gaming. Frank's credits include: Bob's Burgers, Despicable Me 2, Allen Gregory, The Super Hero Squad Show, Hero 108, Marvel Heroes 4D, Lego Hero Factory, Lego Bionicle:The Legend Reborn, HI HI PUFFY AMI YUMI, The Mr. Men Show, Bionicle: The Legend Reborn (DVD-2009), Lego Clutch Powers 4D ride at Legoland and Lego Atlantis. He co-created The Cletus and Floyd Show with Gene McGuckin, a tribute to animation directors Tex Avery, Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones. Robert S. Rhine and Frank Forte created the pilot episode of Sickcom the Animated Series which was sold to Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival Of Animation. Frank is also the publisher at Asylum Press, an indy graphic novel and comic book publisher. Since its inception in 1999, Frank has written, illustrated and published such comics as, Zombie Terrors, The Vampire Verses, Warlash, Fearless Dawn, Billy Boy, and The Cletus and Floyd Show.###

NEW PEOPLE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE

JAPAN FOUNDATION COMBINE COMEDY AND A USEFUL LOOK AT JAPANESE CULTURE FOR

THE RELEASE OF HAPPY FAMILY PLAN

As part of J Cinema Project by the Japan Foundation, Sydney, Film Comedy About A Japanese Family Trying To Win A Quirky Game Show Comes With A Useful Language Resource Disc That Teaches Handy Expressions And Offers Insights Into Japanese Culture And Customs

San Francisco, CA – September 12, 2012 – NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution of Japanese films and media, partners with The Japan Foundation, Sydney to invite audiences to enjoy Japanese cinema on a whole new level with the North American release of Happy Family Plan on DVD on September 17^th.

Happy Family Plan has been released as the first title of “J Cinema Project,” a unique educational campaign to provide enhanced resources to learn about Japanese language and culture through film. The Happy Family Plan release contains the feature film as well as Japanese language resource kit as bonus-disc produced by The Japan Foundation, Sydney. The Japan Foundation, Sydney has teamed with NEW PEOPLE Entertainment to make the film available in U.S. For more details, visit www.HappyFamilyPlan.com

The Happy Family Plan release follows the comedic exploits of a family trying to win big on a quirky Japanese game show and also includes a special bonus language disc that can be used as a handy resource for learning about Japanese culture and language. Happy Family Plan will carry an MSRP of $29.99. DVD is now available at NEW PEOPLE the Store (http://store.newpeopleworld.com/HFP01.html), Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00948K4BY), and other retail outlets.

Director Tsutomu Abe’s hilarious comedy follows a dysfunctional Japanese family that is selected to compete on a popular game show called the Happy Family Plan. The prize is an irresistible 3 million Yen but the challenge that looms ahead is next to impossible. A clumsy tone-deaf father named Fujio is expected to learn and play the song “Home Sweet Home” on the piano, live on national TV, in just 7 days. With the family in complete disarray, the pressure to succeed is overwhelming. In times of economic uncertainty, Fujio completing this insurmountable task is the family’s only hope! Will he succeed?

The Happy Family Plan DVD release also includes an easy-to-use Japanese language resource disc. Presented in a fun Japanese game show style, two lively hosts take viewers on a basic walk through Japanese culture and offer handy expressions, phrases and useful vocabulary, and explain key cultural customs. The educational aspects continue with expert commentary from two social academics that discuss various issues faced by modern Japanese society such as fatherhood and family, work, relationships and school culture.

Audiences and educators are encouraged to also visit www.HappyFamilyPlan.com for easy access to a variety of fun games and puzzles based on scenes from the film, interactive quizzes, downloadable worksheets, suitable for classroom and general use, and several other useful materials for Japanese language and cultural learning.

“We are excited about partnering with NEW PEOPLE to release Happy Family Plan in the U.S.,” says Masafumi Konomi, Executive Producer of the J Cinema Project from the Japan Foundation, Sydney, “This is a unique and long term project to educate people who are willing to learn Japanese through enjoying the film but of course this film is a great entertainment to general audience as well.”

About The Japan Foundation:

The Japan Foundation is an independent administrative institution whose purpose is to promote international cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and overseas countries. The Japan Foundation provides a wide range of programs relating to the exchange of persons, support for Japanese Studies and Japanese-language instruction, exchanges in the arts, and assistance for media-related projects such as publications, translations, and film or video productions. The Japan Foundation is headquartered in Tokyo with 22 offices overseas in 21 countries. More information is available at: www.jflalc.org.

About NEW PEOPLE, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. (www.newpeopleworld.com) offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment (www.newpeopleent.com), a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, GANTZ, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, and THE TASTE OF TEA.

Magnolia/Phase 4 Team For ‘Sushi Girl’ Release

Los Angeles, CA – August 1, 2012 – The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Home Entertainment and Phase 4 Films announced today they have jointly acquired North American rights to the Mark Hamill film SUSHI GIRL. The revenge thriller had its international premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21st 2012, to be followed by a theatrical release in the U.S. and cable VOD by Phase 4 Films in late 2012, with Blu-ray™, DVD and digital VOD release by Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet Releasing label in early 2013. Phase 4 Films will also distribute the film theatrically and on home video in Canada.

The hotly anticipated genre-bending thriller by director Kern Saxton (co-writer of the film along with Destin Pfaff) is produced by Assembly Line, a team including Neal Fischer, Pfaff, Saxton and Suren M. Seron, in association with Level Up Productions.

Mark Hamill (Star Wars Franchise) and Tony Todd (Candyman) lead a cast of cult heroes including Noah Hathaway (The NeverEnding Story), James Duval (Donnie Darko), Andy Mackenzie (MacGruber), David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight) and Cortney Palm (Superbad). Sushi Girl also includes feature appearances by Michael Biehn (Aliens), Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill Vol. 1), Jeff Fahey (Grindhouse) and Danny Trejo (Machete).

The film centers on the compelling character of a man called “Fish,” just released after six years in jail after successfully not ratting on those involved in the robbery that sent him to prison. The night he is released, the men he protected with silence celebrate his freedom with a congratulatory dinner. The meal is a lavish array of sushi, served off the naked body of a beautiful young woman. The sushi girl seems catatonic, trained to ignore everything in the room, even if things become dangerous. Sure enough, the unwieldy thieves can’t help but open old wounds in an attempt to find their missing loot, with violent results.

ComiXology Signs on as ICv2 Conference Co-Sponsor

For ICv2 Conference on Comics & Digital II

At New York Comic Con

ComiXology has signed on as Co-Sponsor of the ICv2 Conference on Comics and Digital II, ICv2 announced today.  The ICv2 Conference on Comics and Digital II will be held in association with New York Comic Con on Wednesday afternoon, October 10th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.

ICv2 CEO Milton Griepp praised the development.  "It's great that comiXology, which is playing such an important role in supporting the whole comics and graphic novel ecosystem, is also supporting this critical Conference on the future of the comics audience, art form, and business," he said.  "We're very pleased to welcome comiXology as a new Co-Sponsor of the event."

The pace of change in the world of comics and graphic novels is accelerating, with digital, changes at retail, changes in the audience, and changes in the very nature of the medium all moving faster than ever before.  The ICv2 Conference will present both a snapshot of the medium as it exists today as well as a look ahead with the best minds in the business.

"The ICv2 Conferences have built a reputation as the place where cutting-edge discussions of the direction of the business and art form take place," said comiXology's VP Marketing, PR & Business Development, Chip Mosher.  "We're happy to be a Co-Sponsor of this event."

In a sign of the times, comiXology, the leading digital comics company, takes on the Co-Sponsor role for the Conference held in previous years by a printer.

For more information on the ICv2 Conference on Comics & Digital II, click here.

ICv2

ICv2 is the #1 industry source on the business of geek culture, including comics and graphic novels, manga and anime, movie/TV products, and hobby games daily on its Website, ICv2.com, and in its magazine, Internal Correspondence.  For the people on the front lines of the geek culture business, staying ahead of the trends isn't something that can be left to chance--it's a basic necessity for being successful.  That's why ICv2 is the #1 source of news and information for the buyers, gatekeepers, and tastemakers on the front lines.  ICv2 is where trend-watching has become a science.

comiXology

Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology--in just five short years--has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world.  From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books.  With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform--available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web--comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button!  Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon's Kindle Fire.  Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.

Katamari Webcomic Rolls Into ShiftyLook

Buttersafe's webcomic duo extraordinaire Alex Culang and Raynato
Castro to pen and illustrate brand-new whimsical adventures of the
Prince and his friends!



TOKYO, JAPAN – September 12, 2012 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., a
subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7832), announced today
the addition of a new webcomic based on the iconic Katamari series to
its ShiftyLook media platform. The new webcomic, simply titled
Katamari, will be written and drawn by Alex Culang and Raynato Castro
of Buttersafe and will updated Mondays and Wednesdays starting
September 17, 2012. Katamari and many other hit webcomics like Wonder
Momo can be read free on http://shiftylook.com.



“Katamari holds a very special place in the lore of NAMCO BANDAI,”
said Rob Pereyda, Producer & Editor-in-Chief of ShiftyLook. “As such,
it was important to find a creative team who could truly capture the
unique nature of the series that has touched the hearts of so many
around the world. We believe that Buttersafe's Alex Culang and Raynato
Castro are just the folks to undertake such a project.”




Character designs of the new Katamari by Buttersafe's Alex Culang and
Raynato Castro

©NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.



To celebrate the launch of Katamari, ShiftyLook will be hosting Alex
Culang and Raynato Castro at the ShiftyLook Freeplay Arcade during New
York Comic-Con, October 11-14, 2012. The duo will be debuting an
exclusive Katamari t-shirt at the ShiftyLook Freeplay Arcade store in
addition to participating in many events including the ShiftyLook Meet
& Greet, a Katamari panel, an autograph session, an exclusive poster
giveaway, and much more.



Alex and Raynato join other ShiftyLook creators and New York Comic-Con
guests at the ShfityLook Freeplay Arcade including: Rob Paulsen
(Animaniacs, Bravoman), Christopher Hastings (The Adventures of Dr.
McNinja), Anthony Clark (Nedroid), Cardboard Cutout Ryan North
(Dinosaur Comics), Team Wonder Momo's Jim Zub, Erik Ko and Omar Dogan
and Team Bravoman's Matt Moylan and Dax Gordine. A full schedule of
events at the ShiftyLook Freeplay Arcade during New York Comic-Con
2012 is available and updated regularly at http://shiftylook.com.






Exclusive Katamari t-shirt designed by Buttersafe

©NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.



New installments of Katamari will be available for free every Monday
and Wednesday at 5:00AM Pacific starting on September 17, 2012 at
http://shiftylook.com.



For additional updates and exclusive information, follow ShiftyLook on
Twitter (@ShiftyLook) and Facebook (fb.com/ShiftyLook).

GLOBAL YAOI PUBLISHER SuBLime DEBUTS

HIS FAVORITE

IN PRINT AND DIGITAL MANGA EDITIONS

Boy Meets Boy In A Charming Story That Shows How Love Transcends A Person’s Outward Appearance And Blooms Between A Most Unlikely Couple

San Francisco, CA, September 12, 2012 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publisher, invites fans and readers to savor the delightful story and dynamic artwork of Suzuki Tanaka’s latest hit series, HIS FAVORITE. This new title is the latest to join SuBLime’s growing yaoi library and is the first one to be rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens. Volume 1 is available now!

HAS FAVORITE Volume 1, carries a print MSRP of $12.99. The digital version is available simultaneously at an MSRP of USD $5.99 and offers fans digital access to two versions of each manga volume on SuBLimeManga.com – a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer, and via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

HIS FAVORITE Vol. 1, by Suzuki Tanaka · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN · Available Now!

Yoshida is short, scrawny and generally unattractive. To make matters worse, all the girls in his class hate him because Sato, the hottest guy in school, always uses hanging out with him as an excuse to turn them down. Is Yoshida just a convenient excuse or is there something more? Could this odd couple even make things work?!

“HIS FAVORITE is a charming story that wonderfully balances a light-hearted comedy with a deeper romantic melodrama. We look forward to yaoi fans all over the world discovering this latest release from SuBLime,” says Jennifer LeBlanc, Editor, SuBLime. “This series shows how true love can transcend someone’s outward appearance and how the content of one’s character and the desires of the heart are what really matter!”

Creator Suzuki Tanaka has garnered plenty of attention and critical acclaim for her manga works. After taking first place in the 2009 boys’ love watch list book, Kono BL ga Yabai! 2009, her series HIS FAVORITE exploded in popularity and led to the reprint of her earlier work, Menkui.

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.

About SuBLime

SuBLime is a global yaoi manga publisher, and is a partnership between VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate). This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.

GUARDING THE GLOBE #1 SELLS OUT

Team superhero series is set in INVINCIBLE Universe

The first issue GUARDING THE GLOBE Volume 2, released on September 5, has sold out. The issue, published by Image Comics/Skybound, will be returning to stores with a second printing (AUG128044) on October 3.

Written by Phil Hester (THE DARKNESS) and drawn by Todd Nauck (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Young Justice) GUARDING THE GLOBE Vol. 2 is a spin-off of Robert Kirkman's perennial favorite INVINCIBLE and a continuation of the mini-series published in 2010 and 2011.

Critics have reacted positively to the launch of the series, in which superheroes both familiar and new must team up to protect the Earth in Invincible's absence.

"Hester shows no problem in striking that familiar Invincible tone. Though there's a fair amount of violence on hand, there's also a slightly goofy, playful quality to the conflicts that prevents the character drama from overwhelming the series."

    - IGN

"If Invincible is the best superhero comic in the universe, then Guarding the Globe will soon be in the running for "best team” book."

    - Mulltiversity Comics

"...a funny, intense, beautifully drawn comic that will have you hooked from page one."

    -Geekadelphia

GUARDING THE GLOBE Vol. 2 #2 will be in stores on the same day as the reprint of issue #1, October 3.

THIEF OF THIEVES #8 SELLS OUT

Issue is first of story arc co-written by James Asmus

Robert Kirkman's THIEF OF THIEVES continues its sell-out streak as issue #8, released on September 5, has sold out and will receive a second printing (AUG128045). The issue was the first in a new story arc written by James Asmus. The second printing will be in stores on October 3, the same day as THIEF OF THIEVES #9.

Every issue of the Image Comics/Skybound crime drama series, drawn by Shawn Martinbrough, and written with its unique "writers room" method of storytelling has sold out thus far. It has been optioned by AMC (The Walking Dead) and is in development as a television series.

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ABOUT ROBERT KIRKMAN
Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago and he formed his own imprint there, Skybound, in 2010.  Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and in April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a  potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. www.Skybound.com is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles.

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.