VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES PROMOTION FOR

FIRST-TIME VIZ MANGA APP USERS

Through November 20^th, Download The Free Application for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android Smart Phones and Tablets, And Kindle Fire And Get A Free Volume 1 Manga

VIZ Media gives manga fans a great incentive to try out the top mobile application for reading manga with the launch of a special VIZ Manga App promotion. Fans that download the free app for the first time for their Apple iPad^®, iPhone^® or iPod^® touch, Android smart phone or tablet, or the recently debuted Kindle Fire will be able to choose a free volume 1 of their choice from a list of over 50 different titles! This limited time only promotion runs through November 20^th.

The VIZ Manga digital platform allows for complete interoperability to read manga from your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and supported Android smart phones and tablets (including the Kindle Fire), with VIZManga.com for desktop and laptop computers. With one account, registered users are able to view their purchases across more devices than ever. The platform features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, with over 1,000 volumes across 100 different series available, including blockbusters like NARUTO, BLEACH, BARAGE and BLUE EXORICIST and the digital anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA. with New series and volumes added every Tuesday, and readers can explore all series with free Chapter 1 previews of every title.

Volume 1’s included in the promotion are:

BAKUMAN｡

BLACK BIRD

BLEACH

BLUE EXORCIST

DRAGON BALL

JIU JIU

NARUTO

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION

ONE PIECE

RISTORANTE PARADISO

VAMPIRE KNIGHT

…and more!

The free VIZ Manga App is available through the iTunes Store, Google Play Store, and Amazon Appstore, and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application starting at $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com and www.viz.com/apps.

Download the free Apple iPad app at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/viz-manga-for-ipad/id391613351?mt=8; the app for iPhone and iPod touch is available from: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/viz-manga-for-iphone-ipod/id421486286?mt=8

The free VIZ Manga App for Android devices may be downloaded at the Google Play Store at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vizmanga.android

The free Kindle App is available from the Amazon Appstore at: http://www.amazon.com/Viz-Media-Manga/dp/B008XOYHAE/

Ape Entertainment's Temple Run Comic App Dashes onto App Store
SAN DIEGO, CA – November 8, 2012 – Ape Entertainment, in partnership with Imangi Studios and Dimension Brand Group (DBG), announced today that the Temple Run Comic App is now available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Based on the self-titled smash-hit game, the Temple Run Comic App is $.99, which includes the first issue and, for a limited time, the second issue at no additional cost. Both action-packed issues are chocked full of adventure, suspense, and ancient mystery.
What are the temples? What are the secrets of the golden idols? What exactly are the demon monkey creatures? All these secrets and more are revealed as the Temple Run world comes to life. Fans begin the adventure with Guy Dangerous as he and a band of adventurers go in search of a lost Incan city and the treasure it holds. But when Guy comes face to face with a mysterious golden idol, they may get more than they bargained for.     
Issue No. 2 begins after Guy Dangerous and a group of explorers discovers a lost Incan city and, hidden deep inside, a mysterious golden idol while searching for a missing archeologist. The moment Guy touches the idol, they are transported to an ancient temple in a mysterious land … and they’re not alone. Now Guy and his fellow adventurers must race to escape the deadly traps and hordes of ravenous demon monkeys they encounter at every turn. Can Guy and his friends survive long enough to get home? Or better yet, will they survive at all?  
A full-color comic book series is available in print as well at local comic shops.
“We had an exciting opportunity to expand the Temple Run universe with the new comic app, and couldn’t wait to share it with our fans,” said Keith Shepherd, co-found of Imangi Studios. “We are looking forward to adding even more depth to the story with Guy Dangerous and his many adventures to come.”
Created by Imangi Studios, Temple Run® is the most exhilarating running game on the App Store. Players test their reflexes as they race down ancient temple walls and along sheer cliffs. They swipe to turn, jump and slide to avoid obstacles, collect coins to buy power ups, and run as far as they can through an ever more challenging terrain.
For more information, please visit www.ape-entertainment.com or www.imangistudios.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 such as LITTLE GREEN MEN, SCOUTS, and HERO WITHIN.  Ape is also the North American publisher for licensed properties THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, KUNG FU PANDA, RICHIE RICH, CASPER, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, POCKET GOD, and CUT THE ROPE. Visit Ape Entertainment online at http://www.ApeComics.com.
About Imangi Studios
Imangi Studios was founded by husband and wife team Keith Shepherd and NataliaLuckyanova in 2008. With the addition of artist Kiril Tchangov in 2009, the three person studio developed mega-hit Temple Run, which currently boasts over 125 million downloads since its release in August 2011. They also released the game Temple Run: Brave in partnership with Disney/Pixar, the perfect adaptation of the original game and the Disney/Pixar movie Brave. It quickly achieved worldwide success, hitting No. 1 in 49 countries and remaining in the top 2 of all paid apps for the first month of release. Based in Raleigh, NC, the self-funded, fully independent studio previously developed Harbor Master, geoSpark, Hippo High Dive and Max Adventure for IOS. Temple Run launched in the Android Marketplace in 2012. www.imangistudios.com
About Dimensional Branding Group, LLC:
The San Francisco Bay Area based brand extension agency focuses on brand licensing, business development and promotion services with a unique emphasis on the interactive and digital channels. DBG specializes in developing toys, games, iconic brands and digital trademarks into entertainment placement and new extension markets. Its clients include PlayStation, (including game titles such as God of War, Ratchet and Clank, and Little Big Planet), Jenga, Skee-Ball, Chronicle Books, Miniclip and its company owned titles, Worst-Case Scenario, Bob's Space Racers, Fight My Monster & Temple Run. www.dimensionalbranding.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 4th Annual #30Characters Challenge is Underway!

Hundreds of Creators Aim to Create Thousands of New Characters This Month!

November 9, 2012 -- Newburyport, MA -- The 30 Characters Challenge, an annual online challenge to create 30 characters in just 30 days, one for every day in the month of November, is underway.  Now in its fourth year, the online challenge sponsored by ComixTribe has once again brought together a huge contingent of artists and writers interested in creating something new.

"Here in New England, the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder, but I always look forward to November...because it's 30 Characters time!" said challenge originator Tyler James.  "It's awesome to see how big this event has become.  It's great to see so many new faces from all around the globe participating, and also to welcome back many returning challengers."

To date, more than 1,150 creators have participated in the #30Characters Challenge, and more than 125 have successfully completed it...with many hoping to add their names to that list this year.

Here's a look at some of the characters created already in this year's challenge:

Chupacandelabra by DC Stuelpner

Shabby Sheik by Krishna Sadasivam

Mortimer MouseRat by Nathan Seabolt

Tiff Taff by Jon Morris

Buzz Ellerby: Stuntanimal by Jared Lewis

View all these brand new characters and more at 30characters.com.  The 30 Characters Challenge will run until November 30.

 

About ComixTribe

ComixTribe is a publisher of creator-owned comics, including SCAM, The Red Ten, EPIC, Tears of the Dragon, The Standard,  and Runners.  In addition to being a publishing imprint, ComixTribe is also an online community, with the mission statement: Creators helping creators make better comics. ComixTribe also sponsors the annual 30 Characters Challenge, an online art event where participants challenge themselves to create 30 brand new characters in just 30 days, one for every day of November. Visit ComixTribe.com or email publisher Tyler James (tyler.james@comixtribe.com) to learn more.

INVINCIBLE GETS THE G-MAN TREATMENT

Chris Giarrusso provides variant cover for #98

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Image Comics, many titles published in 2012 have featured special variant covers by G-MAN creator Chris Giarrusso. INVINCIBLE #98 is the latest addition to a list that includes BLOODSTRIKE #32, CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL "Spawn" cover, CHEW #29, CYBER FORCE #1, ELEPHANTMEN #44, MORNING GLORIES #23, SAVAGE DRAGON #183, THE WALKING DEAD #103, WITCHBLADE #161, and YOUNGBLOOD #71.

In every variant cover, Giarrusso reproduces the first issue cover of each series in the charming, cartoony style of his all-ages superhero comic G-MAN. His cover for INVINCIBLE #98, picturing a newly super-powered (and superhero-suited) Mark Grayson, recalls a more innocent time for Invincible, while, in the story within, the world is unprepared for Dinosaurus to unleash his master plan.

Published by Robert Kirkman's Image imprint SKYBOUND, INVINCIBLE #98 written by Kirkman with art by Ryan Ottley and John Rauch, is the first part of the three-issue story arc "The Death of Everyone." As Mark regains his powers, the fate of humanity is in his hands — and what happens from here on out will change everything for INVINCIBLE, culminating in an astonishing conclusion with the milestone issue INVINCIBLE #100.

INVINCIBLE #98 (SEP120507) — and its Chris Giarrusso variant cover (SEP128210) — is available now for pre-order will be in comic book stores on December 5.





###
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.

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.

FINALLY, PROOF OF THE INFAMOUS LOST SILENT HITCHCOCK FILM!

Alfred Hitchcock's Personal Collection
Of 59 Photographs Are The Long Desired Proof
That The Mountain Eagle Existed

The Photographs Will Be Up For Auction
From Profiles In History


 

LOS ANGELES- NOV 8, 2012- Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce that a collection of 59 film stills that belonged to Alfred Hitchcock and the only existing evidence of The Mountain Eagle, one of his last silent films, will be on the auction block at "Drama, Action, Romance- The Hollywood Auction." The auction will take place December 15 & 16 in Los Angeles.

This previously unknown, extraordinary collection of (59) special oversize photos are for two of Alfred Hitchcock's most important silent films, The Mountain Eagle (1926) and The Manxman (1929), two of the most searched for lost films in history. These are not regular theatrical distribution publicity stills, which would be rare enough for such essential early works of this master filmmaker; they were custom-printed in oversize formats, of extremely high quality and exclusively for Hitchcock's personal archives at the time of each film's release in the 1920's.

Though a handful of original-release materials exists for The Manxman (Hitchcock's final silent film), virtually nothing has ever surfaced for The Mountain Eagle, not even the film itself, which is one of the most sought-after lost films in history, declared by a reviewer at the time as being "far superior to The Lodger" (Hitchcock's most famous silent film). The discovery of these film stills will have a tremendous impact on the study and appreciation of Alfred Hitchcock films. This is a unique opportunity to possess a very rare Hollywood treasure. Each set of stills is expected to fetch in excess of $10,000.



ABOUT PROFILES IN HISTORY
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the world's largest auctioneer & dealer of original Hollywood Memorabilia, historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts. Born into a family of antiques dealers in Rhode Island, Joseph "Joe" Maddalena learned early on how to turn his passion of collecting historical autographs into a career. Upon graduation from Pepperdine, Joe pursued his passion to become a full-time dealer of historical documents, and opened his first office in 1985. Profiles in History has held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia and own virtually every Guinness Book record for prices of original screen-used memorabilia.  Highlights from their previous auctions include the "Cowardly Lion" costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); Steve McQueen's "Michael Delaney" racing suit from Le Mans  ($960,000); From the history-making Debbie Reynolds Auction in June 2011, Profiles in History sold the Marilyn Monroe "Subway" Dress from The Seven Year Itch for $5.52M and the Audrey Hepburn Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady for $4.44M. In February 2012, Profiles in History arranged the sale of a pair of Judy Garland screen-used Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz  to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. In addition, Joe Maddalena is the star of Hollywood Treasure, which just ended its second season on Syfy.  Hollywood Treasure takes viewers into the fascinating world of showbiz and pop culture memorabilia. For more information visit www.profilesinhistory.com

GREAT PACIFIC #1 ALREADY SOLD OUT

Second printing in stores same day as first

Although it won't be in stores until November 14, GREAT PACIFIC #1 has already sold out at the distributor level, leading Image Comics to immediately go back to press on the issue. The second printing (SEP128309) will be in stores as the same day GREAT PACIFIC #2, December 5.

An early debut with a limited New York Comic Con exclusive of GREAT PACIFIC #1 raised the profile of the comics series, which tells the story of a rich young man who decides to make the Great Pacific Garbage Patch his own domain. Joe Harris (Ghost Projekt, The Fury of Firestorm) writes and Martín Morazzo draws and colors the series.

GREAT PACIFIC #1 also has a coveted Phantom Variant cover, which is available only in twenty select comic book stores.
Today, an interview with Joe Harris about GREAT PACIFIC ran on Comic Book Resource's Robot6 blog.
###

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.

November 8, 2012


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New autobiography of Lou Scheimer, co-founder of Filmation Studios, debuts
(RALEIGH, NC) Today, TwoMorrows Publishing releases LOU SCHEIMER: CREATING THE FILMATION GENERATION, the new autobiography of the co-founder of the renowned Filmation animation studio. Hailed as one of the fathers of Saturday morning television, Scheimer devoted over 25 years to providing animated excitement for TV and film. Always at the forefront, Filmation created the first DC Comics cartoons with Superman, Batman, and Aquaman, ruled the song charts with The Archies, kept Trekkie hope alive with the Emmy-winning Star Trek: The Animated Series, taught morals with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, and swung into high adventure with Tarzan, The Lone Ranger, and Zorro. 
Forays into live-action included Shazam! and The Secrets of Isis, plus ground-breaking special effects work on Jason of Star Command and others. And in the 1980s, Filmation single-handedly caused the syndication explosion with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and its successors. Now, with best-selling co-author Andy Mangels, Lou Scheimer tells his entire story, including how his father decked Adolf Hitler, memories of the comic books of the Golden Age, schooling with Andy Warhol, and what it meant to lead the last all-American animation company through nearly thirty years of innovation and fun. Profusely illustrated with photos, model sheets, storyboards, presentation art, looks at rare and unproduced series, and more — plus hundreds of tales about Filmation’s past, and rare Filmation-related art by Bruce Timm, Adam Hughes, Alex Ross, Phil Jimenez, Frank Cho, Gene Ha, and Mike McKone — this book shows the Filmation Generation the story behind the stories.
288-page Trade Paperback with COLOR, by Lou Scheimer with Andy Mangels

Print Edition: $29.95 cover price
Digital Edition: $9.95, available only at www.twomorrows.com

ISBN10: 1-60549-044-X

ISBN13: 978-1-60549-044-1
Diamond Comic Distributors Order Code: JUL121245

Ordering link:

http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=662

In anticipation of this book's release, TwoMorrows Publishing is letting readers download a FREE PDF PREVIEW at this link:

http://www.twomorrows.com/media/ScheimerPreview.pdf

ABOUT THE CO-AUTHOR: Andy Mangels is the USA Today best-selling author and co-author of over twenty fiction and nonfiction books — including Star Trek, Roswell, and Star Wars novels — and is an award-winning comic book anthology editor. He has also contributed to international magazines and newspapers, and has scripted, directed, and produced over forty DVD documentaries and Special Features projects.

LOU SCHEIMER: CREATING THE FILMATION GENERATION is in stores now.

Since 1994, TwoMorrows Publishing has been bringing a new day to comics fandom, through its award-winning line of magazines and books.

VIZ MEDIA PREMIERES BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING AT THE

2012 ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

First Installment Of New Anime Film Trilogy About A Young Medieval Mercenary Debuts At One Of The Midwest’s Largest Film Festivals And Will Compete For Multiple Audience Choice Awards

VIZ Media is proud to announce a theatrical premiere of its highly anticipated new anime feature film, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING, at the 2012 Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), taking place November 8^th-18^th in St. Louis, MO. BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I is scheduled to screen on Tuesday, November 13^th at 9:30pm at the Hi-Pointe Theatre, located at 1005 McCausland Ave. Advance tickets are $12 each and are available online through Brown Paper Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com.

Now in its 21^st year, the annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival is one of the largest international film festivals in the Midwest. All-Access Passes (good for two admissions to every SLIFF program) are available for $350, by phone only, though Cinema St. Louis, (314) 289-4153. More information on the St. Louis International Film Festival is available at http://cinemastlouis.org/sliff-2012.

During the Festival, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING will also compete for Audience Choice Awards for Best Film and Best International Film.

Combining a foreboding medieval European-inspired setting with fantasy and exquisitely detailed swordsmanship, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING follows lone mercenary, Guts, as he travels a land where a hundred-year-old war is taking place. His ferocity and ability to kill enemies attracts the attention of Griffith, leader of the mercenary group “The Band of the Hawk,” and Guts is recruited to the unit. Thanks to their continued victories on the battlefield, the bond between Guts and Griffith deepens, but despite all their success, Guts begins to question his reasons for fighting for Griffith’s dream. Unknown to Guts, this unyielding dream is about to bestow a horrible fate on them both.

BERSERK: THE Golden Age Arc film trilogy was produced in Japan by Studio 4ºC and is based on the bestselling medieval dark fantasy manga (graphic novel) series created by Kentaro Miura.

BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING is currently featured on Neon Alley, VIZ Media’s new 24/7-hour anime channel featuring the world’s best titles (dubbed in English and uncut). For a limited time only, the subscription-based service is offering a one-week free trial, available for fans who sign up at NeonAlley.com.

For more information on the BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy, please visit the official Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BerserkFilm.

For more information on Neon Alley and to register for updates, please visit NeonAlley.com.

Geekenheim Opens Doors At NYCCChic Geek Boutique Geekenheim's launch is a success 

(November 7, 2012- New York, New York) Geek art gallery, Geekenheim officially launched at this years New York Comic Con. A mixture of comic book fandom and high end design, Geekenheim strives to offer accessible gallery level art to geeks of all genres. From heroes you know to the subjects that you love, Geekenheim covers everything from anime to sci fi and beyond. Their New York Comic Con success was ensured with beautifully rendered body paint costumes on fashion models at the show. Photos of the costumes can be found at http://www.geekenheim.com/2012/10/nycc-2012/. Video footage of the body paint sessions can be found at http://www.geekenheim.com/2012/10/701/
Founder James Kenna explains their origin. “I wanted something nice for my living room and looked everywhere. Modern art is great but I wanted a mix of modern and fun. I wanted art with a hint of geek nostalgia. Couldn't find it anywhere, so I created it! Our quality is above and beyond the standard print. Each piece is hand selected.  We select the best of the best so the end consumer doesn't have to!”
The production process at Geekenheim completes the level of quality in their prints. Soy inks and a full gallery wrap opposed to the typical museum wrap. Each print is wrapped on thick 1.5″ wood frame, with protective, satin finish coating.
Visit www.geekenheim.com for more information.
Check out our blog at http://www.geekenheim.com/2012/10/nycc-2012/Friend us on Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/geekenheim?fref=ts
About Geekenheim:
Geekenheim is the online marketplace for the geek. Discover art and design products, connect with artists, and share your inspirations. If you are a geek artist, we would like to showcase and sell your artwork! Its your opportunity to reach a global audience without losing your creative rights.  

MGM and Paramount Pictures to bring Radical Studios’ Hercules: The Thracian Wars to the big screen.

November 7, 2012, Los Angeles, CA – Radical Studios is excited to announce that its best-selling original graphic novel Hercules: The Thracian Wars will be adapted as a motion picture to be co-produced by MGM Studios and Paramount Pictures.

Hercules is an original graphic novel written by Steve Moore for Radical Studios. It is an action-filled story based on the popular Ancient Greek mythology of Hercules. The film stars Dwayne Johnson and is directed by Brett Ratner. Hercules will be produced by Radical President Barry Levine, Beau Flynn and Brett Ratner. Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, and Radical EVP Jesse Berger will executive produce. The screenplay was adapted by Ryan Condal with script revisions by Evan Spiliotopoulos. Production is scheduled to start in early 2013.

Hercules is the second Radical Studios project set to reach the big screen following the recent wrap of production on Oblivion. Oblivion is an original concept conceived by TRON: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski and developed by Radical Studios. The film stars Tom Cruise, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Melissa Leo. Oblivion is being produced by Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Joseph Kosinski, Duncan Henderson and Barry Levine, with executive producers David Morrison, Jesse Berger and Justin Springer. Oblivion is being distributed by Universal Pictures and is set for an April 12, 2013 IMAX release and April 19, 2013 worldwide release.

Please visit http://radicalstudios.com/ to learn more about Hercules: The Thracian Wars. The graphic novel is available for purchase on the site as well as digitally through iTunes and Amazon.

Radical Studios will continue to release news and updates surrounding both Hercules and Oblivion. Stay informed by liking Radical’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/RadicalPublishing, following Radical’s YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/RadicalPublishing, and following @radicalstudios on Twitter.

THIS AMERICAN LIFE RELEASES LIVE SHOW VIDEO“THE INVISIBLE MADE VISIBLE” DIRECTLY TO FANS

IRA GLASS, DAVID SEDARIS, TIG NOTARO, MIKE BIRBIGLIA & DAVID RAKOFFSTAR IN VIDEO EPISODE OF THE HIT PUBLIC RADIO SHOW

Photo by: Adrianne Mathiowetz 

November 6, 2012. 

Radio you can watch – that’s the idea.

On November 15th, 2012, the public radio show This American Life will release a video of a two-hour episode entitled “The Invisible Made Visible.” Fans can download or stream the video for $5 at live.thisamericanlife.org, with proceeds going directly to the show. It will also be released on DVD, exclusively via the show’s web store.

“The Invisible Made Visible” was originally performed onstage and broadcast live into movie theaters in May, 2012, to over 70,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Australia. Now the rest of the show’s 1.8 million radio listeners and 750,000 podcast subscribers will have a chance to see it. The download is available worldwide.

Host Ira Glass personally curated the show. “The whole point,” he says “was to do stories that are far too visual to ever be on the radio.”

The result is a mix of animation, live dance from Monica Bill Barnes & Company, a short film by Mike Birbiglia starringFresh Air’s Terry Gross, a classic This American Life story (told by Glass) that’s primarily visual, about street photographer Vivian Meier, plus comic monologues by David Sedaris, Glynn Washington, and Ryan Knighton. ComedianTig Notaro tells a now-famous story about repeatedly running into 80’s pop star Taylor Dayne. Rock band OK Go provides music. It’s all performed in front of changing illustrated backgrounds.

Probably the most memorable moment in the episode comes during a story by longtime This American Life contributor David Rakoff. He talks about the abilities he’s lost during his fight with cancer, and then, gracefully, beautifully, does a solo dance onstage. It was the last story Rakoff ever wrote for the radio show. He died three months later, in August.

David Rakoff
Photo by: Adrianne Mathiowetz
 

A unique component of the show is a custom mobile app (for iPhone and Android) developed with OK Go, that allows the audience to play along with the band on digital hand bells, following animated cues. For the streaming version of the show, a web version of the app will automatically appear on screen.

OK Go
Photo by: Adrianne Mathiowetz

To distribute “The Invisible Made Visible,” This American Life has partnered with VHX, a platform for direct online video release used by comedians and independent filmmakers. The show costs $5 to download and stream, DRM-free. Fans who opt in to pay any amount above $5 will receive exclusive online access to a Q&A video with the cast and crew. The DVD costs $16 at the show’s web store, and includes the Q&A as a bonus feature.



Here's what audience members say about the show:

“That BLEW MY MIND -- really everything -- the art direction, the ways in which the various pieces spoke to each other, the balance of humor and profundity...I can't get over how great and moving and sheerly entertaining it all was.”
- Joel Lovell, editor, New York Times Magazine 
"I have never seen such a diverse range of artistic excellence in one sitting."
 - Jason Dyba, Nashville TN

"Reminded me why I have eyes!"
 - Matt Alan Alonzo Stark

"One of the best nights at the movies in a long time."
 - Stephanie Lee, Anchorage AK

"Delightful. Every act connects to the audience in the most wonderful ways."
 - Kira Pontiff, Saint Paul MN

"Best radio I've ever seen!"
 - Alice Nagano, Honolulu HI


This American Life is produced by WBEZ Chicago and distributed to 500 public radio stations by Public Radio International.

MONSTERS TAKE CONTROL
Monstrology Launches On Kickstarter 

(November 7, MOBILE, AL) The Monstrology Group is pleased to announce the launch of their Kickstarter campaign for their debut horror anthology at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/863242470/monstrology-an-anthology-of-monsters. Assembled by Scott O. Brown and Rachel Deering, Monstrology is an anthology of eight different comics by eight different creative teams. Each team was assigned its own monster and location. What resulted is a wide variety of artistic styles and storytelling methods yielding an exciting collection of very different stories each with its own unique voice. Full color and 112 pages, the anthology will be a must have for any horror fan.

Scott O. Brown explains what makes this project different, "Everyone loves monsters but the unique nature of this project is that the Monsters are the driving theme of every story. These aren't about twist endings--though we have some--nor is it about a good scare or gore--we have those, too. These stories mix and match monster in new milieus that bring out new, and interesting twists on the monsters and their victims.
Each story is listed below and a full description of each story can be found on the kickstarter project page.

Troll Behavior by Andrew Foley & G. Gerald Garcia
The Abomination Denomination by Scott O. Brown & Amin Amat
White Widow by Charles Webb & Andres Esparza
What Fools These Mortals Be by Joey Esposito, Erik Norris & JC Grande
Yolk by Erica J. Heflin & Elias Martins
Darkest Corners by Thacher E. Cleveland & Fernando Can
The View of Mumbichi Valley by Walt Mancing & Horacio Lalia
Children of Russia  by  Ryan Ferrier & Hugo Petrus
The cover art is by Steve Ellis, whose work has been seen at DC, Marvel, Wizards of the Coast, and more! 
Check out the Kickstarter site at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/863242470/monstrology-an-anthology-of-monsters for more information on the creative teams and their stories. The fundraiser runs until Saturday Nov 24, 10:45pm EST.
Anthology editor, Scott O. Brown, is an award-winning Man of Comics™ who has worked in the industry for over a decade as a writer, letterer, editor and publisher, his work appears in books by Marvel, DC, Kodansha, Harcourt, and many others.
Rachel Deering is a freelance writer, editor, and letterer for comics. She lives in Columbus, OH with her wife and tiny chihuahua.

Pop Culture Phenomenon “My Little Pony Friendship is Magic” Returns

with Special Two-Part EpisodeThis Saturday, Nov 10 at 10am ET

 

Followed by Series Premiere of

All-New Animated Series “Littlest Pet Shop” at 11am ET

 

                                                                                                      

The ponies are back!  The highly anticipated third season premiere of the pop culture phenomenon “My Little Pony Friendship is Magic” is this Saturday, November 10, 10am ET.

In the two-part season opener, “The Crystal Empire,” Twilight Sparkle and her friends travel to the magical Crystal Empire that has mysteriously reappeared after a 1,000 year-old curse caused it to vanish. Twilight Sparkle must find the Crystal Heart to restore the Empire to its full strength.

And following My Little Pony Friendship is Magic is the two-part premiere of the all-new animated series “Littlest Pet Shop” at 11am ET.  The series follows Blythe Baxter and her father as they move into a Big City apartment above the Littlest Pet Shop – an amazing day-camp for pets of all kinds including a doggie diva, dancing gecko and sweet, adorable panda.  Her real adventure begins when she discovers that she alone can miraculously understand and talk to all of the pets.  She joins them on fantastical adventures that include uproarious song-and-dance sequences featuring all-new original music.

       

Several actors featured on "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic" voice main characters on “Littlest Pet Shop.”  Ashleigh Ball who voices the central character Blythe on “Littlest Pet Shop” is also the voice of Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Tabitha St. German (Rarity) and Nicole Oliver (Princess Celestia) voice Pepper the skunk and Zoe Trent the diva dog, respectively on “Littlest Pet Shop.” Composer Daniel Ingram also performs double duty on both series.

THE MAN. THE GEEK. THE LEGEND.

New LUTHER STRODE mini-series launches in January

The Image Comics mini-series THE STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE ended in a baptism of blood as former geeky weakling Luther Strode discovered the depths of the powers he developed with "The Hercules Method" of strengthening — and with a promise of more mayhem.

The critically lauded mini-series catapulted creators Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore into the consciousness of comics readers. Now they're bringing their unlikely (anti-?)hero back with THE LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE, a mini-series set five years after STRANGE TALENT. The first issue will be in stores on December 5.

Luther has systematically been taking out bad guys, and those left have a plan to put an end to the seemingly invulnerable vigilante. The development means the violence in LEGEND is amped up even higher than the not-inconsiderable level of gore in STRANGE TALENT. In an interview at IGN, the creators expressed, however, that their wish isn't to glorify violence.

"While the hyper-violence and how we're desensitized to violence in comics was one of the points of the first one, we had to be careful not to, you know, desensitize people to the ridiculous violence," explained writer Jordan.

Moore, whose task it is to draw the hyper-violence (Felipe Sobreiro gives both LUTHER series their colors — with red dominating) supplied some details: "Within the first two issues there have already been about 12-15 dudes eviscerated in some ridiculous and fantastic fashion. And that's not including any off panel maiming! Manhole cover decapitation, exploding heads, hearts ripped out, body severing karate chops. I tell you, we've got it all. "

In a story at USA Today, the team revealed some of the demons haunting Luther, who has realized he has become everything The Librarian, his arch-nemesis in STRANGE TALENT, said he was: a killer who uses might as right. LEGEND, said Jordan, is a story of redemption — or the lack of it. Jordan and Moore also talked to and showed off some new LUTHER STRODE art at Multiversity Comics, Comic Book Resources and Newsarama.

THE LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE is a full-color, six-issue comics mini-series. Issue #1 (OCT120461) and #2 (NOV120564) are available for pre-order at comic book stores now.

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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.