Thursday, March 14, 2013

NBM Publishing Teams With comiXology to serialize upcoming graphic novel
PERSIA BLUES
Issue #1 debuts digitally today for 99 cents
Persia Blues, the upcoming graphic novel from NBM publishing and creators New York Times best-selling writer Dara Naraghi and artist Brent Bowman will debut as a four part series of single issues with issue #1 premiering today for just 99 cents, exclusively on comiXology, —the world’s largest digital comics platform with over 100 million downloads to date.  Subsequent issues will be released every two weeks and will retail for $1.99.

The first volume in a three volume series coming from NBM, Persia Blues was both the first title from the publisher that utilized a Kickstarter campaign and the first time they've serialized a pending title digitally before it reaches print. The e-comic books will be taken down upon publication of the book when a simultaneous e-book version of the GN will appear.

It tells of Minoo Shirazi, a rebellious young Iranian woman, struggling to define herself amidst the strict social conventions of an oppressive regime, and the differing wishes of an overbearing father, in betrween life in Iran and life in midwestern America. Minoo Shirazi is also a free-spirited adventurer in a fantasy world, a place where aspects of modern America and ancient Persia meld into a unique landscape. And yet, neither of these women are the true Minoo Shirazi.

At the intersection of guilt and freedom, family and self, ancient myths and modern enigmas, lies...Persia Blues.

"Persia Blues is a character-driven slice of life tale, combining fantastical elements with contemporary politics, while exploring the universal themes of tradition, family, guilt, and freedom," explains Naraghi, "As an Iranian-American writer, I've always been interested in exploring multicultural themes in my stories, and this series is my most ambitious and personal work to date. I believe strongly in the sequential art medium, and feel that diversity and fresh perspectives can only strengthen and expand the already amazing world of comics and graphic novels."

NBM Publisher Terry Nantier further explained the methodology to this release, "In today's book market we're really appealing to a broader potential reader base than ever before.  By offering our books serialized through comiXology there's an opportunity for a reader to try the first chapter for an extremely low price and then decide if they want to continue to follow the series digitally or purchase the physical book.  Digital is unquestionably the future, but physical books offer a richer opportunity for design and presentation which allows us to indulge and release a book worth owning physically." The book is being solicited for in Diamond’s Previews this month.


Available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, the Web and the comiXology retailer digital storefronts, Persia Blues #1 (of 4) is out today.

About the Author & Artist:

Dara Naraghi was born in Iran and educated in the United States. An Ohio State University alum, he works in the information technology field, but his passion is for the comics medium. His debut graphic novel, Lifelike, has garnered many positive reviews, from the likes of award-winning novelist Cory Doctorow, and cartoonist Sam Kieth. His other notable graphic novels include the Terminator Salvation official movie prequel, and Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland (both New York Times Bestsellers), as well as works for Image Comics, IDW Publishing, Dark Horse, and DC Comics. Dara is also a founding member of the comic book writers/artists collective known as PANEL, with whom he has produced 20 volumes of their comics anthology. Dara lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, daughter, and the world's sweetest hound dog. Visit him online at www.DaraNaraghi.com

Brent Bowman is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art And Design with a degree in Illustration. A lifelong comics fan, Brent has been drawing since he was old enough to pick up a pencil. His work has appeared in publications by Image Comics and Caliber Press, as well as the collectible card game Age of Empires. He's a contributing member of PANEL, a local comics collective that publishes two anthologies a year. Brent has been nominated for the small press SPACE prize in 2008, 2010 and 2011 for both his PANEL work and his own original self published comics. He lives in Columbus Ohio with his wife and two boys. Visit him online at https://sites.google.com/site/thebrentbowmanproject

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