STAR WARS #1 3RD PRINTING SELLS OUT!

FOURTH PRINTING SET TO ARRIVE AT RETAIL ON APRIL 17!

MARCH 15, MILWAUKIE, OR—The critically acclaimed Star Wars #1, written by Brian Wood, has officially sold out of its third printing coinciding with the release of issue #3!

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:

"Star Wars" #2 is the issue where Brian Wood and Carlos D'anda demonstrate they don't just know how to handle these characters, they know how to take them new places…This book has character moments as often as it has intricate interplay with the established universe. There are plenty of reasons to stick with this book whether you're a longtime or casual fan. Everyone is welcome." - Comic Book Resources

“In a time where there much fanfare surrounding the a new trilogy of Star Wars films, Dark Horse has seemingly captured magic in a bottle. This is series is about as close to quality of the original trilogy that Dark Horse has ever delivered and fans of the franchise would be crazy not to be reading this.” – Read Comic Books

"Han Solo and Chewbacca also make an appearance, and that's where artist Carlos D'Anda shines. His framing of their short but brief chase scene was done with an excellent sense of speed and scope to give it that huge cinematic feel…The Force is strong with this one." -IGN 

Retailers: Star Wars #1 can be ordered with the code FEB138161 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 Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily 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.

NOWHERE MEN GOES VIRAL

Fourth issue sells out, gets second printing

NOWHERE MEN #4 by Eric Stephenson and Nate Bellegarde has sold out the same day as it was in stores, March 13, even after a stellar increase in initial sales of 34% over issue #3. The new printing will be in stores on April 10 and can be pre-ordered now (Diamond Comics code: FEB138044).

A tale of the fallout when four geniuses — the founders of the tremendously influential and powerful research and development company World Corp — clash and part ways, NOWHERE MEN explores the potential of science and technology, and the human cost of science without limits. The narrative transitions between the volatile partnership of the "Fab Four of Science" in World Corp's early days and the present-day fruits of their work — a team of researchers quarantined in space as a virus coursing through their veins begins to manifest in unimagined changes.

The series continues to receive overwhelmingly positive reviews with the release of the fourth issue:

"Nowhere Men respects the intelligence of the readers, and it's taking us to places that feel brand new. There's nothing not to dig about that. Catch it now while it's still ramping up."

-CraveOnline

"Nowhere Men's a trip fo' sho', but as we've established it's a lot more than just some next-level sickness. In fact, the perfidious mystery behind the mutating virus and WorldCorp's involvement is creepier than the virus itself. Between corporate madmen and a transmogrifying infection, you're better off with the virus."

-Page and Panel

"This book. Wow. What a masterpiece. That's not a word I throw around lightly, either. Image Comics' "Nowhere Men” is without a doubt the most incredibly designed ongoing comic book out today. Eric Stephenson, Nate Bellegarde, Jordie Bellaire and Fonografiks are producing a brilliantly cohesive package, and the fourth issue is dynamite."
-GeekSmash

"There is nothing on the stands like Nowhere Men.... With every detail from Eric Stephenson and Nate Bellgarde, along with Jordie Bellaire and fonografiks, this world of super science is all the more realized."

-Silver Snail

""Nowhere Men” just keeps getting better and better, and if the spirit and energy on show here are any indication, there are some seriously fun issues ahead.... Comics are the new rock 'n' roll."

-Multiversity Comics

NOWHERE MEN #5 will be in stores on April 24.

###

FRANK BEDDOR AND NATHAN FILLION TEAM FOR CHARITY BOOK GIVEAWAY

Representatives for author Frank Beddor announced that he will be partnering with actor Nathan Fillion's charity Kids Need to Read for a new initiative. For every book sold by author Beddor at the upcoming Phoenix Comicon (May 23-26), or ordered through his new Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/149372651/hatter-m-zen-of-wonder), he will be donating one to the charity's book drive.

"Frank has been a fixture at Phoenix Comicon since its early years and has been at the intersection of realizing success and using that success to the benefit of others for even longer," says Matt Solberg, Convention Director of Phoenix Comicon.  "Getting kids to read will be successful through these efforts."

"We are so pleased to have Frank contribute in this way," said Denise Gary, Executive Director for Kids Need to Read. "His books are extremely imaginative and so well-received by the children we serve. This book drive is a terrific gift to Kids Need to Read!"

"This was a no-brainer," said Beddor, author of the New York Times Best Selling young adult series the Looking Glass Wars. "Getting books into the hands of kids is something every author needs to take part in. And Kids Need to Read is one of the best ways to do that." Nathan Fillion, the charity's founder, and star of ABC hit series "Castle", expressed excitement about Beddor's involvement, but no surprise.

"Yes, I am excited. But, you're right, I wasn't surprised," said the actor. "I've known Frank for several years now. And he's a great guy. And a great supporter of our organization."

Beddor first learned of the charity through its co-founder the young adult novelist P.J. Haarsma. The two were partnering on the web game The Rings of Orbis (www.ringsoforbis.com), based on Haarsma's young adult series The Softwire, when Haarsma explained the organization to Beddor.

"It seemed so simple, so logical. I was surprised no one had done it before," said Beddor. "And I immediately told P.J. I'd do anything I could to help."

"Frank has been a vocal advocate of Kids Need to Read since he first learned of it," said Haarsma, echoing Beddor's claims. "But I'm hugely excited that he's made us a part of his upcoming Con appearance, book release, and Kickstarter campaign. We considered this both a big help and a great honor."

Kids Need to Read has a simple mission. They provide books to underfunded schools, libraries and literacy programs with a special emphasis on those organizations serving disadvantaged children. They achieve these aims through auctions, events, and donations from publishers, authors, private individuals and other organizations.

According to the organization's website, to date they "have provided over 42,000 books to 153 schools, libraries, and literacy programs in 41 states, as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico". And they've "also facilitated the donation of three thousand books to the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library".

Kids Need to Read was founded in 2008. It is a nonprofit organization. It achieved 501 (3) (c) status on May 22, 2008. Donations to the organization are tax deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. They are also classified as a 509(a)(2) public charity. The foundation's Employer Identification Number is 26-2755631.

Frank Beddor's route to best sellerdom has been circuitous. But circuitous routes are nothing new to this former World Champion freestyle skier, a sport from which he retired in 1983 to pursue a career in show business. First as a stunt man, then an actor and finally a producer. He is probably best known for producing the hit Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller vehicle THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.

This success gave Beddor the chance to indulge his passion for writing. He spent several years writing the Looking Glass Wars trilogy, a unique take on Alice in Wonderland. It became a hit in both the UK and US, spending 21 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List. It has also inspired the Eisner nominated graphic novel series Hatter M based on the series' bladewielding analog for the Mad Hatter.

There have been three Hatter M original graphic novels published to date: Far from Wonder, Mad with Wonder, and Nature of Wonder.

A fourth volume Zen of Wonder will be released this May with a fifth and final volume Love of Wonder due out next year. These volumes end the current Hatter storyline.

The publication of the fourth volume will be aided in part by a Kickstarter, the popular online site which facilitates crowd sourced funding for a variety of products and projects.

But Beddor hasn't given up on his career as a film producer. He's currently in preproduction on THE JULIET for Sony Pictures and New Regency, a near future science fiction tale based on the classic story "Fondly Fahrenheit" by Alfred Bester. Rupert Sanders (SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN) has signed on to direct. And Brian Koppelman and David Levien (OCEAN'S THIRTEEN) have been hired to rewrite the previous script penned by Henry Bean. Beddor will be partnering on the project with producers Chuck Roven and Alex Gartner of Atlas Entertainment.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON

KIDS NEED TO READ:

http://www.kidsneedtoread.org/

DARK HORSE TO COLLECT SAM HUMPHRIES AND DALTON ROSE’S SACRIFICE!

THE SELF-PUBLISHED JUGGERNAUT OF 2012 AND 2013 ARRIVES IN A DELUXE HARDCOVER!

MARCH 13, MILWAUKIE, OR–Dark Horse is proud to announce plans to collect Sacrifice, the critically acclaimed self-published comic book epic by Sam Humphries and Dalton Rose, into a deluxe hardcover edition this fall.

Cocreated by writer Sam Humphries (Uncanny X-Force, The Ultimates, Our Love Is Real) and artist Dalton Rose (Phabula, Theremin), Sacrifice is the story of Hector, a young Joy Division fan and epileptic, who is thrust through time and space on a psychedelic journey to the heart of the Aztec Empire. How can a dude from San Diego survive in one of the most bloodthirsty civilizations in human history?

Dark Horse is pleased to collect Sacrifice in a beautiful, permanent hardcover edition, reproducing the complete series and including additional artwork by Bryan Lee O’Malley, Cliff Chiang, Emma Ríos, Paul Azaceta, and Lacey Micallef. The Dark Horse hardcover of Sacrifice will be the first edition of Sacrifice in wide release, available in comic book shops, bookstores, and Amazon on September 3, 2013.

“We could not be more pleased that Sacrifice has found a new home at Dark Horse,” said Sam Humphries. “Their track record for gorgeous print editions is unparalleled, and their respect for comics is unquestioned. How cool is it that a whole new audience will be able to discover Sacrifice with a Dark Horse logo on the front?”

“Sam and Dalton created a phenomenon with Sacrifice, but this is how the story was always meant to be a read—a nice thick hardcover read dense with Aztec blood, time travel, post-punk psychedelia, seizures, and a totally relatable hero who just might have to participate in some human sacrifices,” says Dark Horse Editor in Chief Scott Allie.

Sacrifice was originally self-published as a six-issue limited series and distributed to sixty comic book stores across the US and Canada. Despite tight press runs and limited distribution, Sacrifice took the comic book world by storm, with multiple sellouts, fervent reader demand, and critical acclaim from USA Today, G4, Ain’t It Cool News, ComicsAlliance, Comic Book Resources, and Bleeding Cool.

Sam Humphries’s relationship with Dark Horse goes back long before he broke into the creative side of comics. Humphries, along with Dark Horse editor in chief Scott Allie and PR director Jeremy Atkins, resurrected the company’s flagship title, Dark Horse Presents, for the social media giant MySpace. Since then, Humphries has made a name for himself as a writer, working on books for Marvel and BOOM! Studios, thanks in part to his successful self-published works. The relationship continues as Dark Horse collects Humphries’s strongest original work yet!

Look for the beautiful hardcover edition of Sacrifice in comic shops everywhere on September 3, or preorder your copy on Amazon today!

“Rest assured, it’s cool . . . If you’re even slightly interested, you should pick it up.”—Ain’t It Cool News

“There’s so much to like about this . . . Strong story, compelling art . . . Really great stuff.”—Blair Butler, G4

“Sacrifice moves in directions that make me unsure of what will happen next, or how it will possibly end. There’s only one thing I know for certain: I want to find out.”—Greg McElhatton, Comic Book Resources

“Sacrifice sees Humphries take a chance on self-publishing a more ambitious and personal narrative . . . Rose combines the illustrative chutzpah of a creator like Geof Darrow with the dainty, horrific line work of Guy Davis and just a smidgen of Charles Burns’ surreal terror.”—ComicsAlliance

“It’s the ecstasy generation plunged into Aztec society, one young man taking a psychedelic trip to the past. A very messy, ugly, and brutal past.”—Rich Johnston, Bleeding Cool

“Aztecs vs. Joy Division fans . . . You haven’t even thought of such a thing. Humphries and Rose have. Listen.”—Kieron Gillen, writer of Phonogram, Uncanny X-Men, and Thor

****

RARO VIDEO PACTS FOR EXCLUSIVE U.S. DISTRIBUTION WITH KINO LORBER 

 

Acclaimed Italian Home Video Label Teams
With Leading Independent Art House Distributor

 

Upcoming Releases Include Director Fernando Di Leo’s Shoot First Die Later,
As Well As the Second Volume of Di Leo’s Crime Collection Anthology

 

 

NEW YORK (March 13, 2013) – Raro Video U.S., the American branch of Italy’s most influential home video company, is pleased to announce that it has agreed to an exclusive, multi-year distribution deal with Kino Lorber, a leader in distributing independent art house films in the U.S.

 

A boutique label for Europe’s finest films, Raro Video is best known for its carefully curated library of Italian cinema classics, including, Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Vanquished, Federico Fellini’s The Clowns, Alberto Lattuada’s The Overcoat and Luchino Visconti’s Conversation Piece, as well as works by Pier Paolo Pasolini, Roberto Rossellini, Tinto Brass, Lucio Fulci and Mario Bava. Kino Lorber has more than 30 years of experience in film distribution, including theatrical releases and the home entertainment market.

 

The arrangement combines the firms’ complementary strengths and will enhance Raro Video’s presence in America, says Raro Video President, Stefano Curti. “We could not ask for a better partner than Kino Lorber,” says Curti. “The company’s experience and expertise will certainly play an integral role in achieving our mission of helping fans of good cinema discover new talents and rediscover overlooked gems.”

 

Kino Lorber will handle the physical (DVD and Blu-ray) and digital distribution of Raro Video’s entire catalog, covering both new and previously released titles. The deal also includes opportunities to partner on select theatrical releases. Kino Lorber President, Richard Lorber says, “We are truly excited to be working with a prestigious company like Raro Video. Our teams share the same deep passion for stylistically bold films that ignore the boundaries between genres and focus instead on visionary filmmaking.”

 

The first title from this partnership will arrive on May 28 with the release of SHOOT FIRST DIE LATER on DVD and Blu-ray. The 1974 film is by the influential Italian director Fernando Di Leo, a master of bold, intricately plotted, ultra-violent stories and a precursor to such directors as Quentin Tarantino and John Woo.

 

Di Leo’s work will also be the subject of the second release from Raro Video and Kino Lorber. The FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION VOLUME 2 will be available on June 25 on DVD and Blu-ray. It includes three of De Leo’s films: Naked Violence, Kidnap Syndicate and Shoot First Die Later. This highly anticipated set follows the acclaimed first volume of the Di Leo anthology, which Raro Video released in 2011.

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.

See more

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

SUPERMAN, BATMAN, and WONDER WOMAN Come to the Library of American Comics The Classic Newspaper Adventures of DC’s Biggest Heroes Launch this July! San Diego, CA (March 14, 2013) – IDW’s Library of American Comics and DC Entertainment proudly announce the beginning of a new partnership to reprint some of the rarest DC Comics stories — the Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman newspaper strips.  “We’re thrilled to announce a comprehensive publishing program for these historic strips,” said Greg Goldstein, IDW President and COO. “The Library of American Comics is the premier home for archival newspaper strips and this new partnership with DC Entertainment further cements the imprint’s reputation as second to none.”   At the same time that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman became the world’s most famous and recognizable superheroes in comic books in the 1940s and beyond, they also starred in runs of newspaper comic strips, most of which have not been seen since they first appeared. The Man of Steel’s newspaper adventures ran for more than 25 years, from 1939 until 1966. Only about 10% of these strips have ever been reprinted. The complete comics will be released in three sub-sets, starting with The Silver Age, then The Atomic Age, and finally, The Golden Age. The black-and-white daily and color Sunday strips contained distinct storylines and will be released in separate, concurrent, series of deluxe hardcovers. The line kicks off this July with SUPERMAN: THE SILVER AGE NEWSPAPER DAILIES, VOL. 1: 1958-1961. Fans can look forward to nearly 800 strips featuring classic artwork by Curt Swan, Wayne Boring, and Stan Kaye. While most of the stories from the Atomic Age and Golden Age were original and completely different from the comic books, under Mort Weisinger’s editorship in the late 1950s Silver Age stories, Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel was brought in to script adaptations of then-current comic book tales. “It’s like discovering an entire alternate universe of famous Silver Age comic book stories,” said Dean Mullaney, LOAC Creative Director who’s editing and designing the series. “It’s better than an imaginary story—it’s Jerry Siegel doing a remake of his classic Superman’s Return to Krypton! …it’s Curt Swan, not Al Plastino, drawing The Menace of Metallo. Superman fans might want to consider these strips as taking place on a brand new world— Earth-N for Newspapers!” Covers for each book are being specially created by Pete Poplaski to evoke the look and style of the times; Volume One is an homage to Curt Swan’s art and Ira Schnapp’s lettering design. Tom DeHaven, author of the novel It’s Superman!, is writing the foreword, and the introductions are by Sidney Friedfertig. Additional details on the Sunday strip books as well as the Batman and Wonder Woman collections will follow, but eager fans should begin watching the skies in July! SUPERMAN: THE SILVER AGE NEWSPAPER DAILIES, VOL. 1: 1958-1961 (HC, B&W, $49.99, 288 pages, 11” x 8.5”) ISBN: 978-1-61377-666-7 About The Library of American Comics The Library of American Comics is the world's #1 publisher of classic newspaper comic strip collections, with 21 Eisner and Harvey Award nominations and four wins for best book of the year. Titles include Bloom County, Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Tarzan, Flash Gordon, Superman, Terry and the Pirates, L'il Abner, and more. LOAC has become "the gold standard for archival comic strip reprints.”

About IDW IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s DOCTOR WHO; Toho’s Godzilla; and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Warner Brothers and Barry Sonnenfeld are attached to adapt LORE into a feature film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, with Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film. About DC Entertainment DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (The Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.  In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Janet Hamlin Uncovers the Humanity Hidden Within
Guantanamo's Walls in Sketching Guantanamo


(not final cover art)

Sketching Guantanamo: Court Sketches of the Military Tribunals, 2006-2013
by Janet Hamlin

In the wake of 9-11, alleged terrorists were housed on a U.S. military base in Guantanamo, Cuba. While there, these terrorist suspects were confined in "indefinite detention," off the American mainland, unaccountable to the U.S. judicial system, nameless and faceless to the world. At the military trials of Guantanamo, which started in 2006, no photographs were permitted in the courtroom. Only one person was allowed to cover the trials, not with a camera but with her pencils and pastels. Janet Hamlin has been the only sketch artist covering the trials from 2006 to the present, granting the suspects humanity and dignity while allowing the world to see the process through an unapologetic lens.

Sketching Guantanamo is both a collection of her most potent and revealing sketches drawn during this period, as well a chronicle of her experience at Guantanamo.

Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth states, "Janet's courtroom sketches and commentary comprises a significant moral document, of interest to every citizen who cares about what the United States government is doing in his and her name. Sketching Guantanamo helps bring out of the shadows and into the light of public scrutiny these extra-judicial trials."

Before entering the viewing booth at the back of court, Hamlin is subjected to daily thorough searches, wanding, and metal detecting in three separate checkpoints. All a reader needs to do is open the book to be transported to the infamous base. Hamlin's drawings and accompanying text provide a rare insight into the military courts of Guantanamo; they've appeared on ABC News and Comedy Central's The Daily Show, and were recently featured in The Colbert Report's story on censorship of the trials. With nearly 150 drawings, the book will also include photographs of the surrounding facilities to enhance Hamlin's illustrations and commentary. It also includes a foreward by Robert F. Kennedy Johnson Award winner Carol Rosenberg, a member of a reporting team that won a 2001 Pulitzer Prize.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Janet Hamlin graduated with honors from Art Center College of Design and lives in New York. Her clients include Time Warner, Universal Studios, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, IBM, HarperCollins and Associated Press to name a few. 

176-page full-color 11" x 8.5" hardcover
Cover price: $28.99
ISBN: 978-1-60699-691-1
Published by Fantagraphics Books

In-store date: October 2013 (subject to change)

Terrifying New Monsters Rise in… GODZILLA: RULERS OF EARTH!   San Diego, CA (March 13, 2013) – Following Duane Swierczynski and Simon Gane’s run on Godzilla, the fan-favorite creative team of writer Chris Mowry and artist Matt Frank have returned with a new ongoing series kicking off this June, GODZILLA®: RULERS OF EARTH! In the wake of humanity’s war on Godzilla, a host of new monsters will rise up, determined to stake claim on mankind’s greatest asset… the Earth itself! “While we had a lot of fun with the Godzilla®: Legends series, they were just single issues,” said series writer Chris Mowry. “What we’re doing with this series is giving readers that same focus on monsters that Legends had, while telling stories set in IDW’s established Godzilla universe. Readers can look forward to the return of some of our human cast and the introduction of a number of new ones, but the monster roster is larger than it has ever been, using nearly all of Toho’s film creations to give readers battles never before seen. Many of these monsters having never appeared in the comic book/manga medium, so who better to change that but monster artist extraordinaire, Matt Frank?” "Whether it be Moguera, Biollante, or Gorosaurus, every Toho fanatic has their own favorite monster,” said series Editor Bobby Curnow. “Now it's time to see these kaiju in action, and RULERS OF EARTH won't fail to deliver the goods. It's been a blast to watch Chris and Matt bring their passion to the page." In RULERS OF EARTH, the entire world is opened up to the flying, stomping, smashing terror that can only come from the gnashing fangs, slashing claws, and otherworldly powers of destruction that these giant monsters wield. What will Godzilla do when he’s suddenly not the only giant lizard in our small pond? The only way to find out is to pick up the gargantuan thrills of GODZILLA®: RULERS OF EARTH when issue #1 crushes comic shops everywhere this June! Not only will RULERS OF EARTH be sporting covers by series artist Matt Frank, but Godzilla fanatics will also be able to find smashing covers by Bob Eggleton and comics legend Arthur Adams! GODZILLA®: RULERS OF EARTH #1 (FC, 32 pages, $3.99). In stores 6/19/13

About IDW IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s DOCTOR WHO; Toho’s Godzilla; and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Warner Brothers and Barry Sonnenfeld are attached to adapt LORE into a feature film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, with Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film. About TOHO CO., LTD. Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Tokyo, Toho Company, Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of twenty-eight Godzilla motion pictures, based upon a character the company unleashed on the world back in 1954, and masterpiece films directed by Akira Kurosawa. Toho has been the number one distributor of motion pictures in Japan (both domestic and foreign) for eight consecutive years since 2003.  The company is also, throughout Japan, the leading producer of theatrical works and one of the largest owners of office buildings and theaters.

"PROGENY" SHAPES THE FUTURE OF TOP COW

Four-issue crossover encompasses ARTIFACTS, WITCHBLADE, and THE DARKNESS

The events of Top Cow's vanguard titles have been building to the climactic confrontation in a universe-changing four-issue crossover event: "Progeny." Jackie Estacado, wielder of the ancient power The Darkness, has remade the world according to his own wishes. His daughter with Witchblade bearer Sara Pezzini, Hope, sacrificed as a baby to save the universe from obliteration, is, in his new world, on the verge of adolescence, and Jackie's high school girlfriend who had died tragically, Jenny, is her mother — and alive.

Now, the hero of the series ARTIFACTS, Tom Judge, has unraveled the truth of what happened to the world. Ron Marz, Stjepan Sejic, and Marco Turini (ARTIFACTS), Tim Seeley and Diego Bernard (WITCHBLADE), and David Hine and Jeremy Haun (THE DARKNESS) unite to form an interlocking story as Judge gathers together his fellow Artifact bearers for a final clash with Estacado.

"My issue [WITCHBLADE #164] is about Sara facing Jackie for the first time since she became aware that something was 'wrong' in the universe," Seeley said in an interview with Comic Book Resources. "Sara has to deal with what she did to save the universe, and she may not be sure the sacrifice was worth it."

In another interview with CBR, Marz commented on the odds the heroes of Top Cow's titles face in their confrontation with the powerful Estacado: "He's got a bit of an overwhelming advantage, but, you know, if the heroes have an overwhelming advantage, that's not a very good story." Marz continued, "That's really the question: how are they actually going to defeat Jackie and by the time we get to the fourth part of this it's hopefully an answer that nobody really sees coming."

"Progeny" begins in ARTIFACTS #25, continues in WITCHBLADE #164 and THE DARKNESS #111, and will come to a dramatic conclusion in ARTIFACTS #26.

TRAVEL CHANNEL READIES FOR SPRING AND DEBUTS

TWO NEW ORIGINAL SERIES “RED, WHITE & NEW” WITH STEVE WATSON

ON MONDAY, APRIL 29 AT 10:00 P.M. ET/PT AND

“DIG WARS” ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 AT 10:00 P.M. ET/PT

PREMIERES SOPHOMORE SEASONS OF “TOY HUNTER”

ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 AT 9:00 P.M. ET/PT AND

“AIRPORT 24/7: MIAMI” ON TUESDAY, APRIL 30 AT 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

CHEVY CHASE, MD (March 12, 2013) – This spring, Travel Channel debuts two original series – “Red, White & New,” featuring host Steve Watson as he travels across the nation looking for American inventions with originality and imagination, and “Dig Wars,” a competition show following three teams of relic hunters as they crisscross the country to uncover America’s buried history.  In addition, “Airport 24/7: Miami” is back with another all-access pass to one of the most dynamic airports in America and “Toy Hunter” returns to transport viewers across the country on the great American toy hunt. The announcement was made today by Andy Singer, GM, Travel Channel.

“From amazing stories taking place at the Miami International Airport to historic locations where soldiers once fought and forts were built, our new and returning series offer viewers fun and informative programming through Travel Channel's unique lens,” said Singer. 

NEW SERIES

“Red, White & New” (8x30)

Premiering with back-to-back episodes on Monday, April 29 at 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

New original series “Red, White & New” celebrates American ingenuity, innovation and the people who push the envelope to create new and exciting ways of doing things. These innovations include a compressed air-powered, high jumping, flipping take on the classic Pogo Stick, a wearable robotic exoskeleton straight out of Aliens that gives you super-human strength, and the Seabreacher – a personal watercraft that looks like a shark, and is able to go underwater as well as jump out of it!  Each episode features fascinating characters, fun gadgets and activities as well as a first hand, high-energy experience for host Steve Watson.

“Red, White & New” is produced by Powderhouse Productions for Travel Channel.  For Powderhouse Productions, the executive producers are Joel Olicker, Seanbaker Carter and Tug Yourgrau.  For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Dale Roy Robinson.

“Dig Wars” (6x30)

Premiering with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, June 12 at 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

“Dig Wars” follows three teams of America’s best relic hunters, competing head-to-head-to-head to find the most valuable artifacts at different historical locations across the country.  Once on site, the teams have from sun-up to sundown to apply all of their knowledge, resources and hustle to ensure a victory.  At the end of the hunt, the treasures will be evaluated by a local expert and a winner will be declared.

“Dig Wars” is produced by Sharp Entertainment for Travel Channel.  For Sharp Entertainment, the executive producer is Matt Sharp.  For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Sean McKnight.

RETURNING SERIES

“Toy Hunter” (13x30)

Premiering with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, April 10 at 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT

In the second season of “Toy Hunter,” acclaimed toy dealer and expert Jordan Hembrough continues to travel across America buying and selling great iconic toys.  As Hembrough’s reputation grows, his client list grows to include such celebrities as Gene Simmons of KISS and Danny Bonaduce from the Partridge Family – both to be featured this season.  In addition to being challenged with more demanding clients and missions, Hembrough provides more pop culture history to better illuminate the toys’ timelessness and value.  The scope of this toy hunter’s travels expands beyond basements and attics to include toy auctions, flea markets, and storage units.

“Toy Hunter” is produced by Sharp Entertainment for Travel Channel.  For Sharp Entertainment, the executive producer is Matt Sharp, co-executive producer is Ashley McFarlin Buie and vice president of production is Dan Adler.  For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Daniel A. Schwartz.

“Airport 24/7: Miami” (13x30)

Premiering with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, April 30 at 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT

“Airport 24/7: Miami” brings back the nine larger-than-life characters whose jobs it is to keep one of America's largest airports running around the clock.  The series grants an all-access pass inside the intense and dramatic world of Miami International Airport, considered a Category X airport, a prime target for a terrorist attack.  With nearly 40 million passengers a year, it's an airport the size of a small city.  Whether it’s intercepting drug smugglers, fighting terrorism, securing an Air Force One landing, handling medical emergencies or dealing with sting operations and aircraft malfunctions, “Airport 24/7: Miami” reveals what travelers typically don’t see.

“Airport 24/7: Miami” is produced by 2C Media for Travel Channel.  For 2C Media, the executive producers are Chris Sloan, Carla Kaufman Sloan and Shari Solomon Cedar.  For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Bill Howard.

TRAVEL CHANNEL (http://www.TravelChannel.com) is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their everyday destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it's around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD, Travel Channel is the world’s leading travel media brand, and is available in over 94 million U.S. cable homes.  Owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), Travel Channel has offices in Chevy Chase, MD, and New York, NY.  Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.