VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES NEW HOLIDAY DIGITAL GIFTING OPTIONS FOR NEON ALLEY ANIME CHANNEL

VIZ Media makes it easy to give the gift of anime this holiday season with a range of affordable digital gifting options for the company’s new Neon Alley 24/7 anime platform.

Treat your favorite fan to a variety of the latest anime series, films and other cool content with the gift of a 1-, 3-, 6- or 12-month membership to Neon Alley. Go to NeonAlley.com and click on the “Gifts: Buy/Redeem" link on the home page in the top right corner under the login bar. The gifting options will become a permanent feature of Neon Alley and will be available throughout the year. The gifting option also allows fans who do not have a traditional credit card to purchase gift subscriptions for themselves without worrying about monthly recurring billing. 

Neon Alley Digital Gift Options:

1 Month – $6.99

3 Months – $20.97

6 Months – $41.94

12 Months – $83.88

  

Gift recipients and users need to have a PlayStation^®3 (PS3™) game system and be connected to the PlayStation^®Network to be able to redeem the gift and access Neon Alley. 

Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s new 24-hour, subscription-based anime channel featuring the world’s best titles (dubbed in English and uncut) and presented in HD (when available) for a low monthly subscription rate of $6.99. Neon Alley is the first platform designed to be studio agnostic, offering a diverse array of titles from many leading anime producers and distributors. Neon Alley’s schedule includes a dynamic mix of action, adventure, sci-fi, supernatural, fantasy, and horror anime, including weekly exclusive episodes of BLUE EXORCIST, INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, and TIGER & BUNNY, as well as blockbuster favorites DEATH NOTE, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, ONE PIECE, VAMPIRE KNIGHT and more. 

For more information about Neon Alley and to sign-up, please visit www.neonalley.com.

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‘RED BULL CRASHED ICE KINECT’ BRINGS THE HEAT TO XBOX LIVE ARCADE

RED BULL ACTION ICE CROSS DOWNHILL SPORT HITS HOMES

FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH ACTIVE ARCADE GAMING

Santa Monica, Calif. – November 30, 2012 – Red Bull Media House today announced the launch of the  Xbox LIVE Arcade title, ‘Red Bull Crashed Ice Kinect’, co-published with Microsoft Studios. Available now and priced at 400 Microsoft Points, this fast-paced, active motion-based game brings the thrill, spectacle and speed of the global sporting series, Red Bull Crashed Ice, the Official Ice Cross Downhill World Championship, to heat up at-home for no-helmet-required holiday fun.

In ‘Red Bull Crashed Ice Kinect,’ players join the worldwide winter sports activity and skate through urban-cityscapes-turned-obstacle-courses, bringing 40 mile per hour arcade-style fun to their living rooms.  Supporting single player or two-player modes, out of the starting gate players must build speed by swinging their arms like an ice cross downhill champion.  As the pace picks up, competitors will lean into curves, duck, dodge and jump over obstacles, and earn extra points by pulling off awesome tricks as they race past cheering fans to the finish.

Mirroring previous competitive circuits of the actual real-life Red Bull Crashed Ice, players compete on a worldwide selection of courses in the winter sports capitols of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Valkenburg, Netherlands, Åre, Sweden, Munich, Germany, and even Quebec City, Montreal – which serves as the location of the actual sporting series for the 2012/2013 season. Through Xbox LIVE Arcade, players can fight for the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship title by battling it out with other players worldwide in a race to rule the leaderboards.

Since its inception in Stockholm, Sweden in 2001, Red Bull Crashed Ice has stormed the winter extreme sports scene. Over the past 11 years of this ice cross downhill circuit, there have been more than 1 million spectators attending 24 races in 10 countries, and also watched by millions of cheering fans on television and the web worldwide.

‘Red Bull Crashed Ice Kinect’ for Xbox LIVE Arcade is developed by Bongfish – the team behind the hit snowboarding title, ‘Stoked’. Priced at 400 Microsoft Points, the game is available now for download, and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

‘Red Bull Crashed Ice Kinect’ moving and still images from the sport, game trailer and screenshots from the game are downloadable for editorial use from www.redbullcontentpool.com. 

To download and purchase ‘Red Bull Crashed Ice Kinect,’ please visit XBOX Live.  If you would like to receive free game codes, contact Dana@oneprstudio.com. For more information on the features of the game, please visit www.redbullcrashedice.com/game. Follow @RedBullGaming or @PlayXBLA on Twitter for the latest updates with hashtag #crashedice and #kinect.

 

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About Red Bull Crashed Ice – Ice Cross Downhill World Championship

Take some of the best and toughest ice-hockey players in the world, place them in a sizzling atmosphere with stunning surroundings, and build a downhill race track with tons of steel and a huge cooling system with thousands of square meters / feet of frozen water, and a Red Bull Crashed Ice “arena” is made. Since the first ever race in 2001, Red Bull Crashed Ice has become the most breathtaking winter sports events in the world. Ice Cross Downhill aces hurtle down courses up to 500 meters / 1600 feet in length in groups of four, shoulder to shoulder, as skaters fight it out for victory. The whole race is held on a steep downhill track dotted with chicanes, jumps and rollers. Pushing, sliding, sprinting and wrangling are all on the menu as the athletes race down the course, but the rules are, in fact, very simple: first to the bottom wins.

About Xbox LIVE Arcade

Xbox LIVE Arcade is a marketplace where users around the world can download the latest Kinect and controller games on Xbox LIVE right to their Xbox 360 console and re-download them from the cloud. Fitness, Dance, Sports, Action, Arcade and more are all available on Xbox LIVE Arcade. For more information visit www.xbox.com.

About Red Bull Media House

Red Bull Media House is a global media company that creates compelling sports, culture and lifestyle programming and distributes it across multiple platforms.  From film to television, print to digital and games, Red Bull Media House content is optimized for any device or platform.  For more information visit www.redbullmediahouse.com.

About Bongfish
Bongfish is an independently owned game development studio, specializing in a high tech approach to game development. To learn more about Bongfish Games, please visit www.bongfish.com.

NOWHERE MEN PLAYS TO SELL-OUT CROWD

First issue gets 2nd printing

If science is the new rock 'n' roll (and it is), then NOWHERE MEN #1 has done its part to usher in the new cool by selling out at the distribution level the same day as its release, November 28. The issue will receive a second printing, to be in stores on January 9.

The premiere of the new sci-fi pop-art mash-up by Image Publisher Eric Stephenson, artist Nate Bellegarde, and colorist Jordie Bellaire, NOWHERE MEN was already being roundly praised on the day of its release. iFanboy called it "a complete experience that's unlike anything else on the stands," and it was the Pick of the Week at Multiversity Comics. IGN said, "Nowhere Men is going somewhere, and it seems to be a trip worth taking. At Crave Online, a review proclaimed that "Stephenson's concept is rock solid, and it forms an instant connection with the reader" and Mediocrity is the New Genius said, "Stephenson has given us just enough story here to make us crave more." Read Comic Books gives the issue a perfect "10," saying "Image seems to have another winner on its hands."

A riveting story of scientific hubris, stand-out art, and slick pop-art design by Fonografiks makes NOWHERE MEN #1 the complete package—and the all-new cover of issue #1's second printing is just as striking as the original cover. NOWHERE MEN #2 , which carries the tantalizing—if foreboding—tagline "There are fates worse than death," will be in stores on December 19

NOWHERE MEN is also available digitally on the Image Comics app.

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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.

CHEW #30 GETS DEVOURED

Issue sold out, to be reprinted in January collection

CHEW #30, which closes out the "Space Cakes" story arc, sold out at the distributor level on the same day of its release, November 28. Fans of the series, by John Layman and Rob Guillory, should rush to their local comic book stores to pick up issue #30, which will be reprinted only in CHEW VOLUME SIX: SPACE CAKES, the trade paperback out on December 19, and volume three of the CHEW: THE OMNIVORE EDITION, out in March.

CHEW #30 is a milestone issue, the halfway point in a planned 60-issue run of the popular dramedy about a family with a very special relationship with food. (It is in development as a television series with Showtime.) Comic Book Resources, noting the series' layered storytelling, says of the issue in a four-star review: "You'll read it once for the roller coaster ride, and then immediately read it a second time in a different light, knowing the impact the issue's outcome places on the earlier events."

The second half of the series begins with CHEW #31 — and a funeral. It will be in stores on January 23. Readers should get their pre-orders in now to be sure they get a copy of what is sure to be another fast-selling issue.

CHEW is also available digitally on comiXology, Graphic.ly, and ComicsPlus.

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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.

BOOM! STUDIOS RELAUNCHES
HELLRAISER 
WITH NEW ONGOING "THE DARK WATCH"

November 29, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA – This February, BOOM! Studios will relaunch the HELLRAISER franchise with HELLRAISER: THE DARK WATCH, an all-new ongoing monthly series. The relaunch of this incredibly popular series will be co-written by creator Clive Barker and Brandon Seifert (WITCH DOCTOR, HELLRAISER: THE ROAD BELOW) and illustrated by newcomer Tom Garcia (HELLRAISER).

NEW ONGOING SERIES! THE NEW ERA OF HELLRAISER BEGINS! As promised, Clive Barker did not only return to the Hellraiser universe, he re-imagined it! Nothing is as simple as it seems – the old ways have been destroyed and a dangerous new world lies in its wake. Where are Elliott Spencer and Kirsty Cotton? Who will rule and who will serve? Rising star Brandon Seifert joins forces with the legendary Clive Barker, with art by Tom Garcia, to begin this amazing new chapter in the history of one of horror’s greatest franchises.

"I grew up with Hellraiser and Clive's novels — so it's a huge, surreal honor to be collaborating with him on The Dark Watch! Under Clive's direction, the Hellraiser ongoing series has gone in some radically different directions over the last two years. I'm really excited for what's next — and even more excited that I get to be involved!," said Brandon Seifert.

HELLRAISER: THE DARK WATCH #1 ships in February with main covers by Tim Bradstreet  (28 DAYS LATER, STAR TREK) and Nick Percival (HELLRAISER, 2000 AD) as well as incentive covers by Frazer Irving (HIGHER EARTH, BATMAN INCORPORATED) and Bradstreet. The first issue is a 32 page, full color issue that retails for $3.99 and is available for order under Diamond Code DEC120913.

About BOOM! Studios

Founded by Ross Richie, 2009 and 2010's "Best Publisher" BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of bestselling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic books and graphic novels with the industry's top talent, including Mark Waid's IRREDEEMABLE, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning’s HYPERNATURALS, new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker, PLANET OF THE APES, and Sam Humphreys’ HIGHER EARTH. BOOM!'s all ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz' PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network's ADVENTURE TIME, and 20th Century Fox’ ICE AGE. BOOM!'s lit comix-focused imprint, BOOM! Town, recently won the Eisner Award for its first book, Shannon Wheeler's I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER, and just released SPACE DUCKS, the first comic book from indie musician legend Daniel Johnston.

 

STARZ REVEALS

“SPARTACUS: WAR OF THE DAMNED” KEY ART!

FINAL SEASON OF GLOBAL SMASH HIT TO PREMIERE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25TH AT 9PM ET/PT

Beverly Hills, CA. – November 28, 2012 – - STARZ has released the final key art for “Spartacus: War of the Damned,” which is scheduled to premiere on Friday, January 25^th at 9pm ET/PT.  This is the final season for the international hit, which was recently nominated for a People’s Choice Award and selected as one of TV Guide’s Fan Favorites.

“Spartacus: War of the Damned” features a stunning cast headed by Liam McIntyre (The Pacific, “Neighbours”) as the title character.  Joining McIntyre are Manu Bennett (Lantana, “Xena: Warrior Princess”) starring as the iconic Crixus, Dustin Clare (“McLeod’s Daughters”, “Satisfaction”) as the skilled Gannicus, and Dan Feuerriegel (“McLeod’s Daughters,” Winners & Losers”) as the loyal Agron. A now fierce Naevia is played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Colombiana, “CSI”) and wild Saxa is Ellen Hollman (Skateland). Joining the cast this year are Simon Merrells as Marcus Crassus and Todd Lasance as the legendary Julius Caesar.

The season opens and Gaius Claudius Glaber is dead. Many months have passed since his defeat, and the rebel army, led by Spartacus and his generals Crixus, Gannicus and Agron continue to amass victories over Rome. With the rebel numbers swelling to thousands of freed slaves, and Spartacus more determined than ever to bring down the entire Roman Republic, the horde become a force that challenges even the mighty armies of Rome. Together, the rebels engage in one bloody skirmish after another and prepare for the inevitable: a full out war.

With a production style completely unique to television, the franchise has amassed both critical and popular acclaim to become not only the most successful on the network, but one of the highest rated programs in all of cable television. More than six million viewers have seen each episode of the series, which has amassed more than 2.5 million Facebook fans.

Airing in more than 150 countries, the series has been translated into more than 15 languages and is considered an unqualified smash everywhere it runs, which includes: Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and more.  The enormous international success has led to global licensing for a variety of rights, including: authentic prop replicas, publishing, soundtracks, motion comic books, trading cards, and a few more major deals soon to be announced. Here in the US and abroad, the DVDs continue to be one of the most popular titles sold at all major retailers, appearing in the Top 10 of all TV titles sold.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES FUN NEW SERIES OF UGLYDOLL ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVELS

Award-Winning Brand Of Distinctive Plush Toy Characters Comes To Life In A New VIZ Kids Series Set To Launch Next Summer

San Francisco, CA, November 27, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, has announced a publishing deal with Pretty Ugly™, LLC, the official licensors of the popular Uglydoll^® brand, to develop a brand new series of original graphic novels based on the bestselling plush character toys. The Uglydoll series is scheduled to launch Summer of 2013 under the VIZ Kids imprint, and will carry a rating of ‘A’ for All Ages.

VIZ Media’s UGLYDOLL graphic novel series will transport readers to a diverse universe where “ugly” just means unique and different, and celebrating who you are inside and out is the new beautiful. Join Wage™, Babo™, OX™, Ice-Bat™ and their Uglydoll pals as they express themselves through laughs, tears, love and adventure!

“Uglydoll is an iconic pop culture brand that has helped to question and redefine the very definitions of ugly and cute,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director. “Each Uglydoll is unique, and possesses its own distinctive characteristics and personalities that everyone can relate to. These adorable and highly original characters will come to life in a series of fun, and funny, adventures and are sure to find their way into the hearts of readers everywhere.”

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim created the first Uglydoll hand-sewn plush toy in 2001. Since the inception of the first character, Wage™, who David drew on a love letter to Sun-Min, Uglydoll has evolved into an entire universe of characters, stories, and products for all ages. Proven sales and retail are evidenced by the brand constantly winning Best Toy Awards by TIA, Learning Express, Fat Brain Toys, TD Monthly, Oppenheim, Funfare, Parent’s Choice, iparenting, Creative Child among others. UGLYDOLL has achieved status as an ‘evergreen’ property and is merchandised among the biggest brands in the toy market.

For more information on Uglydoll, please visit www.uglydolls.com

For more information on VIZ Kids graphic novels and manga, please visit VIZKids.com.

About UGLYDOLL^® & Pretty Ugly, LLC

The Uglydoll brand was launched in 2002 by Pretty Ugly, LLC with offices in Los Angeles and Edison, NJ. The brand is distinguished by David & Sun-Min’s unique aesthetic and voice defining ‘ugly’ as distinctive, different, and good. The award-winning Uglydoll characters appear in a variety of toys, books, apparel, and other licensed products that are available in thousands of stores, worldwide. In its first ten years, Pretty Ugly has produced and sold millions of Uglydoll items. For more information, please visit www.uglydolls.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 digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA 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.

BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING DEBUTS ON DVD AND BLU-RAY FROM

VIZ MEDIA

Gritty Medieval Action Epic Delivers A Tale Of Reluctant Heroes Inspired By The Smash Hit Manga Graphic Novel Series

San Francisco, CA, November 27, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, brings the arms and armor action of one of this year’s most anticipated anime releases to home video as it releases BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING on DVD and Blu-ray today.

BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING is rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences and will carry a DVD MSRP of $19.98 U.S. / $24.98 CAN and a Blu-ray MSRP of $24.98 U.S. / $27.50 CAN. The film features both dubbed English dialogue and original Japanese subtitle dialogue options. Bonus features include a production art gallery.

The lone mercenary Guts 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.

“The foreboding medieval action epic that first thrilled North American audiences as an acclaimed graphic novel series delivers a whole new level of excitement with its debut as an anime feature film,” says Brian Ige, Vice President, Animation. “BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING also features a stellar cast of voice actors including Marc Diraison in the role of Guts, Kevin T. Collins as Griffith, and Carolyn Keranen as Casca, the only female member of the Band of the Hawk. With its engrossing plot, multi-faceted characters, and highly detailed kinetic battle sequences, which are phenomenally well-staged and animated, this film is a definite must-see for anime fans everywhere.”

The BERSERK manga series, by Kentaro Miura, debuted in Japan in 1989 and quickly drew a devoted following, going on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide. The series, still ongoing in Japan, has been published in North America by Dark Horse Comics and the UK, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Latin America. The BERSERK manga has also inspired a popular anime television series and has spawned a variety of related video games, collectable figures and toys, and music soundtracks, as well as the current BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy.

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

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 digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA 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.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES FUN NEW SERIES OF UGLYDOLL ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVELS

Award-Winning Brand Of Distinctive Plush Toy Characters Comes To Life In A New VIZ Kids Series Set To Launch Next Summer

San Francisco, CA, November 27, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, has announced a publishing deal with Pretty Ugly™, LLC, the official licensors of the popular Uglydoll^® brand, to develop a brand new series of original graphic novels based on the bestselling plush character toys. The Uglydoll series is scheduled to launch Summer of 2013 under the VIZ Kids imprint, and will carry a rating of ‘A’ for All Ages.

VIZ Media’s UGLYDOLL graphic novel series will transport readers to a diverse universe where “ugly” just means unique and different, and celebrating who you are inside and out is the new beautiful. Join Wage™, Babo™, OX™, Ice-Bat™ and their Uglydoll pals as they express themselves through laughs, tears, love and adventure!

“Uglydoll is an iconic pop culture brand that has helped to question and redefine the very definitions of ugly and cute,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director. “Each Uglydoll is unique, and possesses its own distinctive characteristics and personalities that everyone can relate to. These adorable and highly original characters will come to life in a series of fun, and funny, adventures and are sure to find their way into the hearts of readers everywhere.”

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim created the first Uglydoll hand-sewn plush toy in 2001. Since the inception of the first character, Wage™, who David drew on a love letter to Sun-Min, Uglydoll has evolved into an entire universe of characters, stories, and products for all ages. Proven sales and retail are evidenced by the brand constantly winning Best Toy Awards by TIA, Learning Express, Fat Brain Toys, TD Monthly, Oppenheim, Funfare, Parent’s Choice, iparenting, Creative Child among others. UGLYDOLL has achieved status as an ‘evergreen’ property and is merchandised among the biggest brands in the toy market.

For more information on Uglydoll, please visit www.uglydolls.com

For more information on VIZ Kids graphic novels and manga, please visit VIZKids.com.

About UGLYDOLL^® & Pretty Ugly, LLC

The Uglydoll brand was launched in 2002 by Pretty Ugly, LLC with offices in Los Angeles and Edison, NJ. The brand is distinguished by David & Sun-Min’s unique aesthetic and voice defining ‘ugly’ as distinctive, different, and good. The award-winning Uglydoll characters appear in a variety of toys, books, apparel, and other licensed products that are available in thousands of stores, worldwide. In its first ten years, Pretty Ugly has produced and sold millions of Uglydoll items. For more information, please visit www.uglydolls.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 digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA 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.

THE CURSE OF THE FEMME FATALE REVEALED

Four standalone "Flashback" issues by Brubaker and Phillips

Josephine, heroine of Ed Brubaker's and Sean Phillips Image Comics series FATALE, has carried the curse for decades — able to enthrall men but chased by an ancient evil, she is seemingly destined to cause the ruination of anyone who loves her. The haunting series was originally planned as a mini-series, but Brubaker and Phillips have found that curse of the femme fatale is inexhaustible. Thanks to strong sales, a wealth of stories yet to be told, and a certain mesmerizing quality, FATALE is now an ongoing series.

"Fatale was originally envisioned as a novel in three parts," said Brubaker in an interview with Comics Alliance, "but I kept having ideas for side-plots and tangents or single issues, and it started to feel more like it was meant to be a more sprawling story. So I just decided to let it go until it's finished."

To launch the new format, Brubaker and Phillips are taking readers back in time with four standalone issues of FATALE. Jo may feel alone in her curse, but these stories will let readers in on her past and show that other women have shared her fate.

The first of the FATALE Flashback issues, December's FATALE #11, will reveal Jo's early years as a femme fatale. As the story follows her on the run in 1930s California, some of her elusive secrets will come to light.

In January, FATALE #12 will take readers all the way back to Medieval Europe, when a woman possessing the powers of the femme fatale curse faces doom not only from demonic forces but also from the scourge of witch-burnings.

February brings the femme fatale to the Wild West with FATALE #13, when a man — or a woman — could blaze a trail with a loaded pistol and a steady hand.

FATALE #14 in March is a World War II horror adventure, when Jo crosses paths with crazed Nazi cultists behind enemy lines.

Each issue of FATALE contains extra articles and art not collected in the trade paperbacks, including essays by renowned pop culture scholar Jess Nevins (The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana), whose writing also appeared in Brubaker's and Phillips' Criminal.

FATALE, written by Brubaker, drawn by Phillips, and with colors by Dave Stewart, was introduced in January 2012,  the first new series in an iconic year for Image Comics. Its first five issues have been collected into a trade paperback, FATALE: DEATH CHASES ME, which Publishers Weekly called an "addictive page-turner" in a starred review. The French edition of DEATH CHASES ME has just been announced as one of the nominees for the prestigious Angoulême Award, in the Polar (Mystery) category. Its second trade paperback, THE DEVIL'S BUSINESS, is available for pre-order now and will be in stores on December 19.

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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.

'Star Trek,' 'Star Wars,' 'Ghostbusters,' 'Doctor Who' Fan Communities Among Those Set To Add Fun To Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con

Cosplayers, Conventions Lead Organizations At New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Friday Through Sunday

NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, November 27, 2012 – Fan communities representing the most fervent followers of blockbuster franchises like “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” “Ghostbusters” and “Doctor Who” are among the groups that attendees will see roaming the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con floor, Friday through Sunday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  Cosplayers from these groups love to interact with fans, adding another level of fun and in many cases raising money for charity.

Some organizations that fans will enjoy meeting include:

• Adventure League of GEARS, a family-friendly Steampunk Performance Group based out of New Orleans, and a fan and homage group to the League of S.T.E.A.M which uses its talents and skills to help raise money for charities, and volunteer for charitable events.
• 501st Legion/Bast Alpha Garrison, the Louisiana chapter of the 501st Legion, featuring the "bad guys" from the Star Wars Universe. The 501st Legion has over 4000 members from all 50 states and 22 countries around the world.
• Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat, the official fan club for Anne Rice's “Vampire Lestat,” the Vampire Chronicles and the annual New Orleans Vampire Ball.
• Barony of Axemoor, the local chapter of the SCA, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-Century Europe.
• BayouCon, held in the heart of Southwest Louisiana, is Lake Charles’ original fan produced convention. BayouCon V will take place the last weekend of June 2013.
• Cast Aways Open Theatre Troupe, whose costumed volunteers perform at fairs, festivals, conventions, and charity events. They appear in parades and in films. New Orleans Comic Con attendees are welcomed to come and visit the Royal Court of Cast Aways and participate in the Quest for the King of the Realm.
• CoastCon, Mississippi's oldest and largest science fiction, fantasy and gaming convention. It is the main sponsored event of CoastCon, Inc., a non-profit literary organization run by a 10-member volunteer board who give their time during the year to develop events and gatherings to promote reading, education, fellowship, and of course science fiction, fantasy and gaming.
• CONtraflow, a fan convention held in the Greater New Orleans area.  It focuses on science fiction, fantasy, comics, and related literary genres in any form, including but not limited to writing, visual arts, dramatic arts, and interactive fiction.
• CyPhaCon, Southwest Louisiana’s premier, family-friendly Anime, Gaming & Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention venue. With nearly 700 attendees in its second year, it includes expanded board and video game tourneys, anime panels, costuming & cosplay displays, Musical guests, fan produced panels and much more.
• Fans for Christ, for all believers in Christ who are also fans of comics, anime, fantasy, sci-fi, gaming, computers, costuming and cosplay.
• The Garou Nation, a national organization of networked “Live Action Werewolf: The Apocalypse” role-playing games that share a universe in White Wolf's original “World of Darkness” game setting. Its goal is to enhance and expand different chronicles across the country as a shared network that shares those experiences with friends and fellow players throughout the country.
• Geek Girls with Guns, officially Geek Endowment Krewe, a non profit organization that schedules fundraising events for children with special needs.
• The Greater New Orleans Krewe of the Living Dead, to glorify all things Zombie and call upon fans of the genre to join and rejoice in the persistent and exponential rise in popularity of the Living-Dead in pop culture that has now grown into an international phenomena.
• HMS Death Claw, part of the Royal Manticoran Navy based on best seller books from David Weber. The Death Claw is the flagship of 6th Sphinx Fleet which comprises of 10 states and Manitoba, Canada.
• Krewe du Who, over 375 strong and consists of fans of the New Series, Classic Series and All things “Doctor Who!” The open group members are fans of “Torchwood,” the “Sarah Jane Adventures”, “Big Finish Audio Dramas” and all “Whoniverse” related spin off media.
• Krewe of P.U.E.W.C, a new fantasy, horror and anime themed New Orleans Mardi Gras parade organization for the most happily insane Harry Potter wizards, Lord of the Rings hobbits, Dungeon & Dragon warriors, SCA fighters, Sailor Moons, Astro Boys, were-beasties, faeries, and the like.
• Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus, a parade organization for the most revelrous of Star Wars Freaks, Trekkies, Whovians, Mega-Geeks, Circuit Benders, Cryptozooligists, UFO Conspiracy Theorists, and all the rest of Super Nerdom.
• Louisiana Ghostbusters, a fan-based “Ghostbusters” franchise. As costumers and fans of “Ghostbusters,” LG represents an open costuming policy with movie-accurate props and wardrobe representing all aspects of the “Ghostbusters” series of movies, cartoons, games, and novels. As a service organization, the group directs money to charities, participates in fundraisers for charities, attends fund-raising events, and performs charitable acts and community service.
• Louisiana Science Fiction and Costume Festival,  "The Unconventional Convention" April 20-22 at the Hampton Inn Port Allen, La.  It includes fan films, panels, workshops, live entertainment, and a costume ball.
• Mind's Eye Society, founded in 1992, an international fan organization dedicated to White Wolf's “World of Darkness” in all its incarnations. One of the world's largest gaming fan communities, with thousands of members all over the globe, The Mind's Eye Society not only offers global “World of Darkness” roleplaying chronicles but also supports charity fundraising, community service activities and social events organized by its members.
• Mississippi Ghostbusters, a fan based Ghostbuster franchise that promotes acts of charity with our open based costuming that represents all forms of the Ghostbusting community, attending all manner of events to raise money for a various number of charities.
• Mobicon, Mobile, Alabama's annual 3 day science fiction, fantasy, gaming, anime, paranormal, horror, and comic convention. Always on the third full weekend in May; MOBICON XVI will be May 17-19, 2013, at the Ashbury Hotel & Suites.
• New Orleans Public Library, the premier cultural institution that celebrates and preserves the collective memory and living history of New Orleans, Louisiana and the world. NOPL fosters the future aspirations and democratic dreams of all.
• One World by Night, an organization dedicated to creating links between White Wolf's Mind's Eye Theatre LARP games around the world. By combining the various stories of member Chronicles, OWbN hopes to enhance the enjoyment of its members by expanding local plots to the world, truly creating a World of Darkness. OWbN currently stretches to over 100 chronicles in the US, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand, and Israel.
• Red Stick Rebellion Star Wars Collectors Club, a Star Wars collectors group based in Baton Rouge, La.  Every month it has a different focus topic presented by individuals who have a great deal of knowledge in the area - plus they always have our regular general discussion, trading and lots of fun.
• Star Wars Museum, a nonprofit group of like-minded individuals working for a goal: To Build a Star Wars Themed Children’s Museum. Our Mission “To Inspire and Educate.
• Steampunk Americans, a group of Steampunk enthusiasts in New Orleans. NOLA is truly Victorian city where the ships still run on steam and the Absinthe flows like water. As one of the last bastions of the civilized world, this city still let citizens smoke tobacco in the taverns and openly drink in the glow of the gas streetlights.
• USS Corsair, which provides fans a way to meet each other, make friends, have fun, give back to their community, and show that the dream of Star Trek’s creator Gene Roddenberry can endure. In 2007, the club was awarded “Shakedown Mission of the Year” by its parent organization, Starfleet International and in 2010, it received the Regional Chapter of the Year Award.
• USS New Orleans, a Chapter with Starfleet: The International Star Trek Fan Association, currently located in the city of New Orleans and the outlying areas, founded in May 2010, five years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed its predecessor.
• Visual Art League, which wants to spread knowledge of the arts and encourage creativity throughout the community of the University of New Orleans, other neighboring colleges, and the city of New Orleans. The group also aspires to function as a real world platform for students to further develop their artistic endeavors and gain professional experience.

Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con features comics legend Stan Lee, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Eliza Dushku, Reservoir Dogs headliner Michael Madsen and WWE® Superstar CM Punk® at the top of a standout lineup of celebrities.  They will be joined by an All-Star collection of well-known artists and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions in the final event on Wizard World's 2012 calendar.

Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.  Admission is free for kids 10 and under, and Sunday, December 2, is “Kids Day,” an array of programming specially designed for children.

Event hours are Friday, Nov. 30, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more on the 2012 Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-neworleans.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

***** SAVE THE 2012-13 DATES *****
November 30 - December 2, 2012 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
February 22-24, 2013 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
May 30 - June 2, 2013 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 8-11, 2013 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 20-22, 2013 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
November 22-24, 2013 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con

A LOOKING GLASS TOUR FOR JONATHAN LUNA
Signings for new storybook in four cities

Jonathan Luna is embarking on a four-city signing tour for his brand-new children's book STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS, starting this week in Los Angeles!

A beautiful hardcover book with gold-stamped cover and full-color pages, STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS tells the story of a lovely forest maiden who becomes too aware of her own appearance. With the help of her woodland creature friends, she must reclaim her beauty from an evil sorceress and learn to rely on her qualities that are more than skin-deep.

Jonathan will be signing in Los Angeles, New York City; Fairfax, Virginia; and Annapolis, Maryland. Each signing will have LIMITED store-specific bookplates. Customers will receive a print of original art, different at each location, with purchase of the book. Each purchase also includes a raffle ticket to win the original art.

The full tour schedule:

Wed, Nov 28, 7pm: Meltdown Comics, Los Angeles, California

Wed, Dec 5, 6pm: Jim Hanley's Universe, New York, New York

Sat, Dec 15, 12pm: Laughing Ogre Comics, Fairfax, Virginia

Sat, Jan 5, 11am: Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, Maryland

Jonathan Luna, with his brother Joshua, is the co-creator of the critically acclaimed comic series GIRLS, ULTRA, and THE SWORD. STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS is his first solo storybook.

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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.