Friday, January 25, 2013

STAR WARS #1 SELLS OUT . . . AGAIN!
THIRD PRINTING SET TO ARRIVE AT RETAIL ON FEBRUARY 27!
JANUARY 25, MILWAUKIE, OR—The critically acclaimed and highly anticipated Star Wars #1, written by Brian Wood, has officially sold out of its second printing before the release of issue #2!

This all-new Star Wars series is set in the time period of the original trilogy, directly following the events of Episode IV: A New Hope, and features the franchise’s best-loved characters, as told by Brian Wood (X-Men, DMZ, Conan the Barbarian, The Massive), with art from Carlos D’Anda (Batman: Arkham City). This is Star Wars as you remember it . . . and as you have never seen it before! Dark Horse is taking you back to those heady, adventure-filled days following the destruction of the Death Star—when the Empire ruled, the Rebels were on the run, and the galaxy was a dangerous place where anything might happen!

Praise for Star Wars #1:

“With the focus on our beloved characters rather than just space battles (although there will be some of those), not to mention art by Carlos D’Anda and a cover by Alex Ross, this is the most excited I’ve been for a new Star Wars title in any medium in years.”—Wired/Geek Mom

Brian Wood and Carlos D’Anda truly have the making of a classic on their hands. If you ever wondered if Star Wars could ever recapture that childlike glee of those earliest of memories, wonder no more. Star Wars is back and it’s never been better.”—Newsarama

“As a progeny of the first trilogy and someone who still refers to Episode IV as Star Wars, this book is exactly what I didn’t realize I’ve been missing so very, very badly.”—Comic Book Resources

It all just feels like Star Wars, and for a franchise that has been around for over 30 years, D’Anda somehow finds a way to inject new life into it.”—Complex
If you’ve become jaded about the direction of Star Wars in the last couple of decades, this book might be just the thing you need to remember what appealed to you in the first place.”—IGN

Retailers: Star Wars #1 can be ordered with the code DEC128188 D and is also featured in today’s edition of Diamond Daily.

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire SlayerAliens, ConanEmily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of licensed comics material.
ONI PRESS ANNOUNCES 2013 CONVENTION SCHEDULE

Convention season is upon us once again, and Oni Press has settled on its season line-up.  Eager fans and devout readers can expect to find the independent publisherbest known for the popular Scott Pilgrim series and the Western fantasy The Sixth Gunat the following shows this year:

Emerald City Comic-Con - Seattle, WA (March 1-3)
Stumptown - Portland, OR (April 27-28)
Pax East - Boston, MA (March 22-24)
MoCCA - New York, NY (April 6-7)
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - Los Angeles, CA (April 20-21)
TCAF - Toronto, ON (May 11-12)
Phoenix Comic-Con - Phoenix, AZ (May 23-26)
Book Expo America - New York, NY (May 30-June 1)
Heroes Con - Charlotte, NC (June 7-9)
San Diego Comic Con - San Diego, CA (July 18-21)
Gen Con - Indianapolis, IN (August 15-18)
Small Press Expo - North Bethesda, MD (September 14-15)
PAX Prime - Seattle, WA (TBD)
New York Comic-Con - New York, (October 10-13)

With the release of the first two installments of the Scott Pilgrim hardcover collector’s edition this past year (and volume 3 coming out this spring) hardcore fans and newcomers alike will definitely want to check out Oni Press’s exhibitor booth at these events. Other draws will include this past fall’s The Sixth Gun Volume 4 trade collection as well as upcoming titles: Last Call Volume 2, Penny Arcade Volume 9, Double Fine Action Comics Volumes 1 & 2, The Secret History of D.B. Cooper hardcover collection, and kids’ hits Courtney Crumrin Volume 3 hardcover color edition, Mermin Volume 1, and Sketch Monsters Volume 2.  

Check out the full library at www.onipress.com and be sure to pick up a title or two at the Oni Press booth this season!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Coming in March from NBM:

Following the success of The Broadcast, writer Eric Hobbs and artist Noel Tuazon have teamed up again for:



FAMILY TIES
An Alaskan Crime Drama  
By Eric Hobbs & Noel Tuazon

Hoping to secure a future for his children, an aging Alaskan crime boss looks to retire and divide his empire amongst his three heirs. But when his idealistic son refuses the inheritance, the old man disowns him. This turns out to be a fatal mistake when he sees his cold-blooded daughters use their new-found power and influence against him. Inspired by the classic play King Lear, it's The Godfather meets Shakespearean tragedy in this epic tale of betrayal and loss. 

6×9, 208pp., B&W trade pb. with flaps, $14.99, ISBN 9781561637294 

see previews!


NEW FROM EUROTICA:

The Diary of Molly Fredrickson
Peanut Butter vol. 7 

by Cornnell Clarke  

The Party continues at the Beta Alpha Delta fraternity. Things have gotten even wilder than Molly could’ve ever imagined. Take, for one, the punishment of Jeanne Williams. Forthat, Molly and Sean travel to the fraternity’s basement to witness first hand what Ron has in store for his rebellious girlfriend. On the way there, they encounter a nun with something extra, the dominatrix Miss Claire and also find out what happened to the would be rapists from Vol. 6! You see, revenge in the world of Peanut Butter is a dish best served… Wet! 
8 ½ x 11, 48pp, full color trade pb., $11.99, ISBN 9781561637287


SIZZLE #57 
Zanier’s over-the-top ‘Banana Games’ continue along with a whopping helping of the next ‘Peanut Butter’ and more police sexual capers in ‘District 69’ and “It Could Happen to You.’ 
Quarterly magazine, full color, $6.99

EISNER AWARD-WINNING TEAM RAISES THE STAKES IN LOST VEGAS
With new Image Comics miniseries by Jim McCann and Janet Lee reunite and go all in!
"With LOST VEGAS, Jim McCann and Janet K. Lee go from Dapper Men to a scruffy outer-space gambler in a series with roulette wheels and aliens a-plenty that's part Star Wars, part Ocean's Eleven and all intergalactically awesome. Just go ahead and beam me up now."– Brian Truitt, USA Today
Here aboard the luxury space station Lost Vegas, only the highest rollers in the galaxy are allowed.  No bet is too high, and no game off-limits. But be careful — while you could win a fortune if you go all in, a much darker fate awaits if you get too far in debt here, and in casinos and back-room gambling halls in every planet around. Once you're over your head, you lose the last thing available: your freedom, something a con-man gambler Roland learned the hard way.
In LOST VEGAS, a new four-issue Image Comics miniseries by acclaimed creative team Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Return of the Dapper Men), Roland, now enslaved to the casino, has a plan to steal back his freedom. In just 24 hours, he must pull off the heist of the millennium.
"The system of "working off debt" is rigged in the houses' favor, like most things," writer McCann explained in an interview at PreviewsWorld. "It'll never happen. For him, there's only one option: ...cheat the system, get enough money to get a ship, and escape the cruiser with a new life."
Roland's caper and sense of adventure puts him in a category of dashing scoundrels that includes Han Solo, Danny Ocean, and Eddie Felson. And like any proper leading man, he has a strong-willed foil, the beautiful Kaylex, whose role on the luxury cruiser is a mystery to guests and workers on the Lost Vegas alike, one that can help or hinder Roland and his tight band of trusted allies.
Artist Janet Lee says of the book, "Artistically, Lost Vegas is the alien love child of The Hustler and The Wizard of Oz. It's filled with alien opulence, every type of creature I can imagine, fabulous costumes, scoundrels, thieves, and hard-hitting grit — you know, exactly like the real Las Vegas.”
With colorful aliens, splendidly-attired elites, and astounding attractions, all set in the gorgeous backdrop of the most luxurious pleasure-ship this side of the Titanic, LOST VEGAS is a feast for the eyes from the Eisner Award-winning team.
The first, 32-page issue of the full color miniseries will be in stores on March 6 and is available for pre-order now from the January issue of Previews. LOST VEGAS #1 features a wraparound "A" cover by series artist Janet Lee (JAN130473), a "B" cover by Dan McDaid (JERSEY GODS) (JAN130474), and a 1:10 incentive cover by Francesco Francavilla (Black Beetle) (JAN130475).
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.

LOOKS CAN KILL IN A DANGEROUSLY SEXY TELEVISION SERIES 
FROM THE PRODUCERS OF "NCIS", "CASTLE" AND "NECESSARY ROUGHNESS"

FEMME FATALES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
 January 29, 2013

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Looks can kill in season one of FEMME FATALES, the hit Cinemax® anthology series about powerful, sexy and dangerous women inspired by and styled in the tradition of pulp stories, film noir and graphic novels.  This January, SEASON ONE finally arrives on DVD along with over two hours of never-before-seen bonus materials,  courtesy of Entertainment One.

The half-hour program from creators Mark A. Altman ("Castle", "Necessary Roughness") and Steve Kriozere ("NCIS", "Castle") features stories inspired by such noir classics as Double Indemnity and Pulp Fiction and classic thriller TV series like The Twilight Zone.   In each stand-alone episode, women find extraordinary ways of coping with their problems, channeling their survival instincts and bringing out their inner guile.  Every episode is introduced by a mysterious and enigmatic host Lilith, played by Tanit Phoenix (Death Race 2, Lost Boys 3), and features different casts and storylines, some of which are intertwined as part of the series overall mythology.

Episodes include "Behind Locked Doors (Part 1&2)" in which Hollywood starlet Lacey Rivers (Kit Wileese) finds herself in the big house and is forced to use her acting skills to survive;  a gorgeous, hard-working nurse discovers her inner strength during a hostage situation in "Bad Medicine"; "Til' Death Do Us Part", finds Rachel (Jordan Madley) waking up to a dead male stripper six hours before her wedding and "Speed Date", which crosses After Hours and La Femme Nikita in an entertaining mashup featuring Isaiah Mustafa (The Old Spice Guy,Horrible Bosses) and Reggie Hayes (TV's "Girlfriends").  Other stars stopping in after hours include legendary Oscar-nominated director Paul Mazursky, Adam Goldberg (Saving Private Ryan, "Entourage"), Richard Kind (Argo, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Robert Lasardo("Nip/Tuck," Death Race), Charlie O'Connell ("Crossing Jordan"), Dean Haglund ("The X-Files," "The Lone Gunmen") and many more!

BONUS PROGRAMMING

·         Audio Commentary Tracks for every episode with the Stars and Creators
·         Never-Before-Seen Deleted and Alternate Scenes
·         Featurette: Creating Femme Fatales
·         Shooting Femme Fatales: The Making of Season One
·         Making Love: Anatomy of a Sex Scene
·         San Diego Comic Con 2011 Panel
·         "The White Flower" B&W Director's Cut w/ audio commentary
·         Blooper Reel
·         Isolated Music Tracks
·         Photo Gallery & More...
EXPLOSIVE 23RD INSTALLMENT OF THE JAMES BOND FRANCHISE

SKYFALL

The Highest-Grossing Bond Film of All-Time Comes Home In February

007’S Latest Mission Available on Digital HD February 5

Blu-ray and DVD To Follow Beginning February 12

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 24, 2013) – Box-office smash, SKYFALL, will soon be available to own in high-definition, it was announced today by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. SKYFALL will release on Digital HD February 5th across all digital stores including Amazon, CinemaNow, iTunes, PlayStation, VUDU and Xbox Live. The SKYFALL Blu-ray and DVD will follow on February 12th in North America and February 18th in the United Kingdom with additional international markets to follow through March.

Directed by Oscar® winner Sam Mendes and starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, SKYFALL’s high definition home entertainment release follows the phenomenal theatrical success of the 23rd installment of the longest-running franchise in film history. Taking in more than $1 billion (USD), the British secret-service agent dominated the worldwide box-office and has become the highest grossing film ever in the United Kingdom – Bond’s home country.

Accolades continued with the recent announcement of eight BAFTA® [British Academy of Film and Television Arts] nominations including Outstanding British Film; Supporting Actor, Javier Bardem; and Supporting Actress, Judi Dench. Adele’s “Skyfall” was recognized with a Golden Globe® award and an Academy Award® nomination for Original Song, one of the film’s five Oscar® nominations.

The theatrical debut of SKYFALL capped a year-long celebration of James Bond’s golden anniversary. Honoring 50 years since 007 first appeared on-screen, the global campaign was highlighted with the release of BOND 50, a collectible box-set featuring all 22 James Bond films on Blu-ray Disc for the first time in one complete offering. The box-set includes a placeholder for SKYFALL so consumers can complete their 50th anniversary collection.

In SKYFALL Bond’s loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested as her past returns to haunt her. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. 007 takes to the shadows – aided only by field agent, Eve (Naomie Harris) – following a trail to the mysterious Silva (Javier Bardem), whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves.

With the Blu-ray, go behind-the-scenes of Bond’s latest mission with more than three hours of in-depth special features. Shooting Bond brings adrenaline-hungry fans closer to the heart-stopping action and 007’s world of worthy villains, glamorous women, exotic locations and the coolest gadgets.

Blu-ray Special Features:
        Shooting Bond
                Intro
                Opening Sequence
                The Title Sequence
                007
                Q
                DB5
                Women
                Villains
                Action
                Locations
                Music
                End Sequence
                M
                The Future
        Skyfall Premiere
        Commentaries
                Director Sam Mendes
                Producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli; Production Designer Dennis Gassner
        Theatrical Trailer

DVD Special Features:
        Shooting Bond
                The Title Sequence
                DB5
                Women
                Locations

# # #

ABOUT EON PRODUCTIONS
EON Productions Limited and Danjaq LLC are wholly owned and controlled by the Broccoli/Wilson family. Danjaq is the US based company that co-owns, with MGM, the copyright in the existing James Bond films and controls the right to produce future James Bond films as well as all worldwide merchandising.   EON Productions, an affiliate of Danjaq, is the UK based production company which makes the James Bond films.   The 007 franchise is the longest running in film history with twenty-three films produced since 1962.  Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli succeeded Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and have produced some of the most successful Bond films ever including CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE and SKYFALL.

ABOUT METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS INC.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and distribution of film and television content globally.  The company owns one of the world's deepest libraries of premium film and television content.  In addition, MGM has investments in domestic and international television channels, including MGM-branded channels. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film, a News Corporation company. Representing over 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions as well as all third party distribution partners on DVD, Blu-ray™, Digital Copy, Digital HD™, and VOD (video-on-demand). Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation.  SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; worldwide television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

ARCHAIA, ISHINOMORI PRODUCTION INC., & COMIXOLOGY
TEAM UP TO DELIVER THE FIRST ‘TRULY DIGITAL’ VARIANT
COMIC BOOK COVER WITH ‘CYBORG 009: CHAPTER 000’


‘Cyborg 009: Chapter 000’ special cover and comic created in honor of legendary manga creator
Shotaro Ishinomori’s 75th birthday
New York, NY (Jan. 23, 2013) – Award-winning graphic novel publisher Archaia Entertainment has teamed up with Ishinomori Production Inc. and comiXology—the revolutionary digital comics platform boasting iTunes’ #3 top grossing iPad app of 2012—to deliver the first “truly digital” variant comic book cover! Created specifically for comiXology’s Guided View reading technology, the cover to Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 celebrates the 75th birthday of legendary manga creator Shotaro Ishinomori, known the world over for creating Go Rangers (the precursor to Power Rangers), Cyborg 009, Kamen Rider (a.k.a. Masked Rider), Kikaider, and Skull Man.
“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the innovative work of manga legend Shotaro Ishinomori than debuting the groundbreaking ‘truly digital’ variant of Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 by Archaia,” said co-founder of comiXology John D. Roberts. “We knew that comiXology’s Guided View would play a big role in the evolution of comics storytelling but this ‘truly digital’ variant is an exciting leap into a whole new direction. Here’s to the first of many!”
“After changing the way people think about printed books the past few years, one of our missions at Archaia for 2013 is to change the way people think about digital storytelling,” said Archaia Editor-in-Chief Stephen Christy. “What we’ve produced with comiXology for Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 is almost a digital ‘flip book’ cover for the 21st century, with Marcus To and Ian Herring brilliantly bringing to life a fight between Cyborg 009 and an unnamed agent of series villain, The Black Ghost. I can’t wait for comics fans around the world to see what Marcus and Ian have created.”
Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 previews Archaia’s full-length hardcover graphic novel, featuring a contemporary take on Ishinomori’s classic Cyborg 009 characters. It will debut at Comic-Con International in San Diego this July. Written by F.J. DeSanto (The Spirit, Insurgent) and Bradley Cramp (Gattaca), illustrated by Marcus To (Huntress, Red Robin), and colored by Eisner Award Nominee Ian Herring (Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand), Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 is available today exclusively across comiXology’s entire digital comics platform including the iPhoneiPadAndroidKindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web
Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 features the first 17 pages of the forthcoming Cyborg 009 graphic novel from Archaia, as well as the first 61 pages of the original Cyborg 009 Volume 1 manga, which, along with other works by Ishinomori, are also available for purchase on comiXology.
Conceptualized and brought to life by Marcus To, Ian Herring, Eisner Award-nominated designer Jon Adams, Eisner Award-winning editor Stephen Christy, and comiXology co-founder John D. Roberts, the Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 cover is available exclusively through the comiXology digital comics platform.
The original Cyborg 009 manga has sold over 250,000,000 copies worldwide. A new animated movie adaptation produced by Production I.G was released this past October in Japan.
About Archaia Entertainment, LLC
Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 75 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, Return of the Dapper Men, Rust Bolivar, Gunnerkrigg Court, Old City Blues, Awakening, The Killer, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels such as The Dark Crystal, The Story Teller, and Fraggle Rock. Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year by Ain’t it Cool News, Comic Related, and Graphic Policy, which honored the publisher two years in a row. Archaia was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations and two Awards for Best Graphic Album and Best Anthology. In 2012, Archaia was honored with six Harvey Award nominations, two Harvey Awards, six Eisner nominations and three Eisner Awards, and both Gold and Silver awards from ForeWord Reviews. In addition to publications, Archaia has successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media. For more information, visit the Archaia website at www.archaia.com.
About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. With the development of the comiXology digital comics platform - with buy-once, read-anywhere availability across across iPhoneiPadAndroidKindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web— comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics anywhere they happen to be! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, comiXology is one of the leading drivers of the iPad economy. Providing the most digital comics on the most devices, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has been turned into a comic book fan.
About Ishinomori Production Inc.
Founded by the late Shotaro Ishinomori in the 1970s, Ishinomori Production Inc. continues to bring the properties of the legendary manga creator to the world via film, television, animation, publishing and other media. Born in 1938, Ishinomori made his debut in 1954 with “Second Class Angel” while still a student in high school. Ishinomori would go on to create classic manga titles such as CYBORG 009, GORANGER, KIKAIDER, and SKULLMAN as well as hundreds of others. He was a prominent figure in the Manga industry for decades, working in varying genres and using his chosen medium to spread a universal message of positivity throughout the world. Ishinomori’s creations have been produced in over 105 different movies and television series. His most successful creation, KAMEN RIDER (a.k.a. MASKED RIDER), was launched simultaneously as a manga and television series in 1971, making it one of the world’s first transmedia properties. Over the course of 42 years, more than a thousand episodes of KAMEN RIDER and 39 feature films have been produced. It is now the number one boys merchandise seller in Japan, having exceeded $325 Million U.S. in annual wholesales. Shotaro Ishinomori is also registered in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s largest number of comics published by a single author (770 titles and 128,000 pages of material), for his vast library of titles that cover a multitude of genres, including super heroes, sci-fi, drama, history, comedy, romance and countless others. Ishinomori Production Inc. is headquartered in Tokyo.
MAX Makes Exclusive Digital Debut on ComiXology

“Comic fans around the world have long requested the inclusion of the MAX imprint as part of comiXology’s immense catalog and now we have it!
– comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger
Janurary 23th, 2013 – New York, NY – Today comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform that recently surpassed 100 million downloads of comic books and graphic novels, and Marvel Entertainment, one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, announced the exclusive digital debut of the MAX imprint on comiXology.
“The MAX line is well known for having great content by some of the most regarded creators in the business” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “Comic fans around the world have long requested the inclusion of the MAX imprint as part of comiXology’s immense catalog and now we have it! Not to mention that these stories look fantastic in our Guided View reading technology.”
“The MAX imprint offers our mature, adult readers a chance to experience some of the most violent and explicit comics they’ve ever seen” said Ruwan Jayatilleke, Associate Publisher/SVP, Marvel Entertainment. “Some of the the top creators in the industry—such as Garth Ennis, Jason Aaron, David Lapham and more—have brought their unique visions to popular characters like Punisher and Wolverine as part of MAX.”
The MAX imprint offers adult fans of comics a place to experience more explicit content featuring some of their favorite characters. With single issues sold exclusively to retail comic shops across the world, the MAX line has long been a place where top comic creators can take storytelling to the extreme.
MAX is now exclusively available on the comiXology platform across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web.
Debut titles include:
Wolverine MAX 1-2
Fury MAX 1-7
PunisherMAX 1-11
PunisherMAX X-Mas Special


About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. With the development of the comiXology digital comics platform - with buy-once, read-anywhere availability across across iPhoneiPadAndroidKindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web— comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics anywhere they happen to be! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, comiXology is one of the leading drivers of the iPad economy. Providing the most digital comics on the most devices, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has been turned into a comic book fan.
About Marvel
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com

AWARD WINNING FILMS VANISHING WAVES AND CLIP  TO OPEN MARCH 15 AT CINEMA VILLAGE IN NEW YORK

** BOTH TITLES - HELMED BY YOUNG FEMALE DIRECTORS -
 WILL BE NEW U.S. DISTRIBUTOR ARTSPLOITATION FILMS’
FIRST THEATRICAL RELEASES**
 

Los Angeles, CA (January 23, 2013) – Artsploitation Films is pleased to announce a NY theatrical release date double-header for VANISHING WAVES and CLIP. Both films will debut at the Cinema Village in New York on March 15, 2013 with more cities to follow.

VANISHING WAVES swept all the major awards – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress (Jurga Jutaite) – at 2012’s Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. It also won Best Film at the Rio Grind Film Festival in Vancouver where it was described by the festival director Rachel Fox as “the most acclaimed film – by a female filmmaker, or anyone period, of 2012.” VANISHING WAVES also played at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Palic European Film Festival, Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival and Sitges Film Festival.

VANISHING WAVES is a bold, visionary work of science fiction cinema that recalls the genre in its cerebral 1960s and ’70s golden age, just as it simultaneously forges new territory with its unique fusion of emotional melodrama and hallucinatory widescreen spectacle,VANISHING WAVES is one of the most accomplished and distinctive European films in recent memory. The second solo feature from Lithuanian director Kristina Buozyte, following her acclaimed 2008 debut The Collectress, the 2012 production VANISHING WAVES confirms Buozyte as a major young talent whose frequently breathtaking visual and technical gifts are thankfully also matched by her interest in complex characterizations, adventurous narratives, and challenging themes.
 
Her new film is a science fiction romance that is equally occupied by the erotic as well as the fantastic. Lukas (Marius Jampolskis) is assisting a scientific research team by functioning as a patient in a series of heavily monitored (and medicated) sensory deprivation experiments wherein he is attempting to make some form of contact with the subject, Aurora (Jurga Jutaite), a young woman who has been locked in a comatose state for some time. Doctors initially hope for just a vague reaffirmation of consciousness, but the experiment takes an unexpected twist when Lukas and Aurora actually develop a strong psychic link in their mutually altered forms of consciousness…and their link quickly evolves into a romantic, sexually charged relationship. As Lukas hides this data from his researchers, he and Aurora meet secretly and passionately in a series of surreal dreamscapes created by their collective minds, but their union is tragically doomed to collapse around them. Exploring the tantalizing possibilities of forming a true, all-encompassing bond with one’s lover, VANISHING WAVES is hypnotic, erotic, wholly engrossing, and wildly thought-provoking cinema that transcends any perceived limitations of the science fiction genre, becoming one of the year’s most provocative films in the process.
 
CLIP is a dynamic, disturbing portrait of contemporary Serbian youth. Jasna, played fearlessly by Isidora Simijonovic, is a pretty girl in her mid-teens. With a terminally ill father and dispirited mother at home, she is disillusioned by her unglamorous life in a dismal Belgrade suburb. Opposing everyone, including herself, she goes experimenting with sex, drugs and partying.
 
CLIP director Maja MiloÅ¡ was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1983 and graduated in Film Directing at the University of Arts in Belgrade in 2008. She directed 11 short films during her studies, including INTERVAL and SI TU TIMAZIN. Her first feature-length film CLIP had its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival last year. In CLIP, Jasna, a teenage Serbian girl, grapples with random sexual encounters and an uncertain future. With her father plagued by illness, Jasna is left with nothing to help her navigate her world other than her camera phone and a strong desire to capture clips of her life speeding by. Writer/Director Maja MiloÅ¡ makes her directorial debut in this searing portrait of modern Serbia. With her young and courageous cast, MiloÅ¡ crafts an uncensored, sexually frank and ferociously honest portrait of modern youth. As Jasna rushes to leave her adolescence behind, she takes on a life of aimless wandering that appears lonely and precarious, but somehow she maintains control of this wild ride. This stunning first film won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s International Film Festival of Rotterdam. It won Best Director honors for MiloÅ¡ at the Transylvania International Film Festival. It won the White Iris Award at the Brussels European Film Festival and the Kingfisher Award at the Ljubljana International Film Festival. It also played the Toronto International Film Festival, Montreal’s Festival du Noveau Cinema, The Chicago International Film Festival and AFI Fest in Los Angeles respectively. A close collaboration between MiloÅ¡ and her precocious ingénue, Isadora Simijonovic, CLIP is a raw, unflinching look at the perilous world of a rootless teenager in the line of Larry Clark’s KIDS, a film centered on the daily lives of a group of sexually active teenagers in the mid-90s New York City.
 
VANISHING WAVES and CLIP open in New York on Friday, March 15 at:
Cinema Village
22 East 12th Street, New York, CA 10003
Box Office: (212) 924-3363
 
VANISHING WAVES
Director: Kristina BuožytÄ—
Running time: 124 minutes
Country: Lithuania, France, Belgium
Language: Lithuanian with English subtitles
Screenwriters: Kristina Buožytė & Bruno Samper
Cast: Marius Jampolskis, Jurga JutaitÄ—, Rudolfas Jansonas, Vytautas KaniuÅ¡onis, Brice Fournier, Philip Lenkowski, Martina JablonskytÄ—, Macej Marczewsky, Frédéric Anscombre, Frédéric Andrau, Darius MeÅ¡kauskas Creative Director: Bruno Samper Producer: Ieva Norviliene Cinematography: Feliksas Abrukauskas Editor: Suzanne Fenn Music: Peter von Poehl
 
CLIP
Director: Maja MiloÅ¡
Running time: 101 minutes
Country: Serbia
Language: Serbian with English subtitles
Screenwriter: Maja MiloÅ¡
Cast: Isidora Simijonovic, VukaÅ¡in Jasni, Sanja MikitiÅ¡in, Jovo Maksic, Monja Savic, Katarina PeÅ¡ic, Sonja Janicic, Jovana Stojiljkovic, Vladimir Gvojic, Nikola Dragutinovic Producer: Jelena Mitrovic Cinematography: Vladimir Simic Editors: Stevan Filipović Music: Ognjen Popić, Zoran Maksimović
 
Both VANISHING WAVES and CLIP are being distributed Theatrically, on DVD, VOD and Digitally by: Artsploitation Films
 
About Artsploitation Head Raymond Murray: Murray is the co-founder of TLA Entertainment Group and its president/CEO since its inception in 1981. Over the years, the company has operated art house cinemas and later, award-winning video stores in New York City and Philadelphia. Today, the company runs www.tlavideo.com, one of the country’s largest online DVD/VOD sales sites. Murray also founded and continues to be the Artistic Director of Philadelphia QFest and was Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Film Festival (2001-10). In 2000, Murray and partners launched TLA Releasing, a film distribution company that released films in North America. The company expanded its focus with the launch of the genre-focused Danger After Dark label in 2003. In 2004 it opened an office in London and expanded operations in the UK. Prominent releases include Suicide Club, Latter Days, Death of a Dynasty, Another Gay Movie, The Trip, Adam and Steve and Sleeper Cell.
 BOOM! STUDIOS
KICKS OFF 2013 CONVENTION TOUR WITH THE
AMAZING ARIZONA COMIC CON

 

January 23rd,  2013 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios is thrilled to make its inaugural appearance at the AMAZING ARIZONA COMIC CON taking place Friday, January 25th through Sunday, January 27. In addition to being the first stop on BOOM!’s ambitious 2013 convention tour, the publisher will bring two of its most dynamic writers to the show.

The Amazing Arizona Comic Con will take place at the Phoenix Convention Center located at 100 North 3rd Street  Phoenix, AZ 85004. On Friday the 25th, the shows hours are from 3pm-8pm, on Saturday the 26th, the hours are from 10am-7pm and on Sunday the 27th, the hours are from 10am-6pm.

BOOM! Studios is thrilled to host Michael Alan Nelson (28 DAYS LATER, HEXED, VALEN THE OUTCAST, ORHANS) and Eric Esquivel (FREELANCERS) at the BOOM!/KaBOOM! booth (booth # 309) all weekend long.  Make sure to stop by for your chance to pick up the hottest comics, trades and variant covers including hit brands like ADVENTURE TIME, PEANUTS, GARFIELD, BRAVEST WARRIORS, PLANET OF THE APES, HELLRAISER, and many, many more!

If you would like more information about the show, visit the official website: http://amazingarizonacomiccon.com .


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 Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning’s HYPERNATURALS, new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker, PLANET OF THE APES, and Sam Humphries’ 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. KaBOOM! recently won an Eisner Award for its first original series Roger Langridge's SNARKED. BOOM!'s lit comix-focused imprint, BOOM! Town, won an 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.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

TOP COW GETS AMAZING IN ARIZONA

Image Comics imprint exhibiting at Phoenix convention

Top Cow, the imprint of Image Comics founded by WITCHBLADE creator Marc Silvestri, will be exhibiting Amazing Arizona Con in Phoenix on January 25 through 27 (booth #409). Matt Hawkins, Top Cow President and creator of the hit new series THINK TANK, will be representing the company, which will be selling two THINK TANK convention exclusives.
The first exclusive is a photo wraparound cover of THINK TANK: MILITARY DOSSIER #1, the behind-the-scenes look at the characters and technology from series by Hawkins and Rahsan Ekedal. The MILITARY DOSSIER #1 variant is limited to 250 copies.
The second THINK TANK convention exclusive is a lithograph by ARTIFACTS and RAVINE artist Stjepan Sejic depicting the series' hero, David Loren in his natural element of explosions and equations. The exclusive lithograph is limited to 25 copies.
In addition, Hawkins will also be appearing on three panels at Amazing Arizona Con:
Saturday, 11:00 a.m., Room 2
BREAKING INTO COMICS
Matt Hawkins from Top Cow Productions teams up with respected industry vet and long time editor Brian Augustyn giving tips for budding writers and artists on how not only to get your foot into the door, but staying IN the business.
Saturday, 2:00 p.m., Room 1
IMAGE COMICS
With John Layman, Richard Starkings, and Matt Hawkins - All talk about their personal experience in bringing their independent visions to life under the most diverse publisher in mainstream comics. From CHEW, to ELEPHANTMEN, to THINK TANK and CYBERFORCE. Here's your chance to find out the ins and outs of these projects and working with the Image Comics system.
Sunday, 2:00 p.m., Room 2
KICKSTARTER
Keys to launching a successful campaign Featuring Matt Hawkins of Top Cow/Cyberforce, and others. See what techniques worked for them, see what they would do different. What is difficult in the process, and rewards.

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.


Phoenix Comicon is proud to announce Steve Rude, Dave Beaty, Mike DeBalfo, Shannon Eric Denton, Eric M. Esquivel, Tony Parker, Alfred Trujillo, Andy Bohn, Ben Glendenning, Brian Augustyn, Daniel Bradford, and Denny Riccelli will be joining us for 2013.

“ We certainly are not holding out on Comic Book guests this year. We have a ton of fantastic and talented people on hand for 2013.”  Convention director Matt Solberg

Steve Rude is the co-creator of the groundbreaking Nexus comic series. Throughout his career he has won multiple awards including the Kirby award for best artist and many Eisner's for artistic achievement.

Comic artist, wirter and graphic designer Dave Beaty, who's worked with BOOM Studios, Marvel and DC among others. He has produced numerous award winning illustrations.

Mike Debalfo began his career by illustrating covers for Zenescope entertainment in 2009.  Debalfo continued drawing  overs for the companies most popular series including Grimm Fairy tales, Wounderland,and  Grimms Myths & legends. In 2012, he began working with Aspen Comics on Soulfire volume four.

Shannon Eric Denton is writer producer and artist who has worked with Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., NBC, Disney, Sony, Marvel Entertainment, Paramount, CBS,  DC Comics and many many more. Denton has also worked in the games industry on titles such as God of War  and Neo-Pets.

Comic book writer and journalist Eric M. Esquivel, has contributed to Boom! Studios, Bleeding Cool, Moonstone Books and many more.

Illustrator and storyteller Tony Parker, who works with Boom! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, DC, and most recently Aspen Comics. Other properties he's worked on include the HERO Initiative covers, Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40K, Elephantmen, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Conan, Godzilla, Starship Troopers, and a myriad of pen and paper role playing games.

Comic book artist Alfred Trujillo has worked professionally in the omics industry since 2010. Zenescope, Big Dog Ink, Chameleon and Moonstone were the beginning. In 2012, Alfred gave up life behind a corporate desk and began his own company 183 DEGREE STUDIO writing and drawing his first creator owned book PROJECT: SHADOWS.

Andy Bohn has been a local creator since Phoenix Comicon 2010. In that time he focuses on creating, writing, and illustrating his own comic story, Elvatron Chronicles. Andy has also worked on various books such as Unite and Take Over: Stories Inspired by Songs of The Smiths, Mark of the Pterren and more.

Artist and writer Ben Glendenning has created SuperWorld, R.I.F.T. And more recently Tin Star Tex. Glendenning also created the series Skulljammer.

Daniel Bradford is a comic artist and co-creator of Robot 13, KING!, and disappointing monsters.

Comic book editor, writer, and creator of The Comic Book Insider, Bryan Augustyn, known  as an editor for DC comics. He work on  many of the most popular series including Batman, Flash, Justice League of America, and Wonder Woman. He has also worked as a writer for many other publishers including Marvel, Dark Horse, and Wildstorm.

Denny Riccelli is the creator of popular webcomics including Get That Chicken, Lollygagging, and Cousin Harold

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture experience of the southwest. Comicon is presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its eleventh year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees to its May 23-26, 2013 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.
For more information, please go to http://www.phoenixcomicon.com.