DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES STUART MOORE AND BRUCE ZICK’S MANDALA 

Read the first chapter of an all-new original graphic novel on Digital.DarkHorse.com today!

NEW YORK, NY, OCTOBER 9—New York Comic Con is still a full day away from opening its doors to the public, but we’re keeping the announcements coming! Today, Dark Horse premieres Mandala, an upcoming OGN written by Stuart Moore (Web of Spider-Man, Conan: The Mask of Acheron), with art by Bruce Zick (Thor)!

The earth—here and now. Humankind is secretly enslaved by a global mind-control cage called the GRID. Mike Morningstar and his spiritual spec-ops unit, known as “The Thirteen,” must alter time and take down the GRID before it’s too late. As fiction meets reality, the Thirteen need your help if they are to succeed in awakening humanity and changing the future. Are you awake? 

“Mandala is probably the biggest-scale epic I’ve ever worked on: a saga of original sin and possible redemption that spans millennia and crosses the timelines,” said writer Stuart Moore. “At its core, it’s the story of Michael Morningstar, a guy who—like many of us—has to find his way in a world he doesn’t quite understand. The characters’ alliances shift constantly, along with the timelines.”

Artist Bruce Zick continued, “It’s been a total blast working on a project that brings together the diversity of world mythologies and stirs it all up into a cosmic, sociopolitical, crazy gumbo gestalt that just might make the reader ask themselves if they are truly awake.”

To read the first chapter of Mandala for only $2.99, visit Digital.DarkHorse.com—and make sure to stop by booth #1175 this weekend, where Stuart and Bruce will be signing throughout the show!

Q&A Sessions With Stan Lee, Henry Winkler, Evening Parties, Meet-And-Greets, Costume Contests Highlight Programming At Wizard World Nashville Comic Con

James Marsters, WWE® Superstar Daniel Bryan®, Bruce Campbell, Billy Dee Wiliams Q&A's, Comics Creator Sessions, Film Festival, 'Kids Day' Among Full Three Days Of Panels And Events

NEW YORK and NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 9, 2013 – Question-and-answer sessions with top celebrities like Stan Lee, Henry Winkler and Eliza Dushku, evening parties, meet-and-greets, adult and kids costume contests, movies and an array of comics and pop culture themed panels comprise the robust featured programming schedule at the inaugural Wizard World Nashville Comic Con, October 18-20 at the Music City Center.  Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission.

Some of the highlights of the schedule include:

• Interactive Q&A sessions with Lee, Winkler, Dushku, James Marsters, Bruce Campbell, WWE® Superstar Daniel Bryan®, Billy Dee Williams, Jason David Frank and others
• Dual panels featuring Boondock Saints stars Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco
• Informative discussions with noted comics creators Michael Golden, Danny Fingeroth and others
• Evening parties on Friday (“Wizard World Nashville Kick Off Party”) and Saturday (“Official Wizard World Nashville Comic Con After Party)
• Costume contests for adults (Saturday) and kids (Sunday)
• Wizard World Comic Con Film Festival, featuring the winning shorts and music videos in the inaugural competition
• Screening of the cult classic film Army of Darkness, hosted by Campbell
• Superman-themed panels with author Larry Tye (Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero) and Dean Cain, Neal Adams and Fingeroth
• Video gaming tournaments
• Meet-and-greets with Lee, Frank, Kevin Sorbo, and a yoga class led by Sara Underwood (paid events)
• Kids Day (Sunday), with an array of kids and family activities designed just for the younger set

Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms at the Music City Center.  VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.

A full list of Wizard World Nashville Comic Con programming is below; further details on each at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-nashville.html (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change):

Friday, Oct. 18
4:00 – 4:45pm Super Secrets With Larry Tye (Room 202)
4:30 – 5:15pm Stan Lee Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room 203)
5:00 – 5:45pm Words Create Worlds (Room 202)
6:00 – 6:45pm Breaking Into And Staying In Comics (Room 202)
6:00 – 6:45pm Bruce Campbell Versus The Audience (Room 207)
7:00 – 7:45pm Costumes + Playing = Cosplay! So What Does That Actually Mean? (Room 202)
6:45 – 8:30pm Army Of Darkness Screening (Room 207)
8:00pm –close Wizard World Nashville Kick Off Party: This Is Nashville 2013! (The Mercy Lounge, 1 Cannery Row, Nashville)

Saturday, October 19
11:00 – 11:45am No Budget Filmmaking 101 (Room 201)
11:00 – 11:45am Country Music And Comics (Room 202)
11:00am – 11:45pm Jason David Frank Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room 203)
11:00 – 11:45am Vampire Lore And Other Urban Myths And Legends W/Dr. Rebecca Housel (Room 205)
11:00 – 11:45am Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary Fan Panel (Room 207)
11:00 – 11:45am VIPs Of Self-Publishing (Room 201)
12:00 – 1:00pm Classic Animation (Room 202)
12:00 – 12:45pm Project Urban Legend (Room 205)
12:00 – 12:45pm One-On-One With Eliza Dushku (Room 207)
12:00 – 1:15pm How To Write Comics With Danny Fingeroth (Room 208)
1:00 – 1:45pm Cosplay And Fanfilms (Room 201)
1:00 – 2:00pm Breaking Into Comics With UcreateComics (Room 202)
1:00 – 1:45pm Civil Rights In Comics (Room 205)
1:00 – 1:45pm One-On-One With James Marsters (Room 207)
1:30 – 2:15pm The Art Of Cartoon Animation & Production With Animator/Director Tom Cook (Room 208)
2:00 – 5:00pm The Wizard World Film Festival (Room 201)
2:00 – 2:45pm Stepping Up Your Trek Costumes (Room 202)
2:00 – 2:45pm Crossing The Line (Room 205)
2:00 – 2:45pm One-On-One With Stan Lee (Room 207)
2:30-3:45pm Voice Acting With Jason Marsden (Room 208)
3:00 – 3:45pm Super Power Beat Down (Room 202)
3:00 – 3:45pm Film Making In The Digital Age (Room 205)
3:00 – 3:45pm 75th Anniversary Of Superman (Room 207)
4:00 – 4:45pm American Splendor: Harvey Pekar’s Legacy (Room 202)
4:00 – 4:45pm One-On-One With Jason David Frank: Power Ranger (Room 205)
4:00 – 4:45pm One-On-One With Billy Dee Williams (Room 207)
4:00 – 4:45pm Inking Tools, Textures, Techniques And Working With A Brush (Room 208)
5:00 – 5:45pm Acting, Roles And Imagination With 8-Bit Players (Room 201)
5:00 – 5:45pm Heroine Addict (Room 202)
5:00 – 5:45pm Dead Fans Walking (Room 205)
5:00 – 5:45pm Batman And Psychology (Room 207)
5:00 – 5:45pm Clay Model Sculpture And Mold-Making (Room 208)
6:00 –6:45pm Kevin Sorbo Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room 201)
6:00-6:45pm Comic Geeks (Room 202)
6:00-6:45pm The Real World Implications Of A Zombie Apocalypse (Room 205)
6:30 – 8:30pm Wizard World Adult Costume Contest (Room 207)
7:00 –7:45pm Bobby Cannon Screening With Kevin Sorbo – Paid Event (Room 201)
7:00 – 8:00pm Sara Underwood Yoga Class – Paid Event (Room 204)
8:30pm – 3:00am Official Wizard World Nashville Comic Con After Party (Coyote Ugly, 154 2nd Ave N. Nashville

Sunday, October 20
10:30am -11:15am 501st And Rebel Legion Costuming (Room 205)
11:00am – 11:45am Jason David Frank Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room 203)
11:30am –12:15pm Time Traveling: Adventures In A Delorean Time Machine (Room 201)
11:30am – 12:15pm Will Eisner’s “contract With God” At 35 (Room 202)
11:30am – 12:15pm One-On-Two With The Boondock Saints (Room 205)
11:30 – 12:15pm Drawn To Disney (Room 208)
12:30 – 3:30pm The Wizard World Film Festival (Room 201)
12:30 – 1:15pm Breaking Into Comics With Ucreatecomics (Room 202)
12:30 – 1:15pm WWE® Superstar Daniel Bryan® (Room 205)
12:30 – 1:15pm Storytelling With Michael Golden (Room 208)
1:30 – 2:15pm Supervillains And Psychology (Room 202)
1:30 – 2:15pm One-On-One With Henry Winkler (Room 205)
1:30 – 2:15pm U Cre-8 Comics Presents: Character Crafters (Room 208)
2:00 – 3:00pm The Green Power Ranger Power Hour (Room 207)
2:30 – 3:15pm Wizard World Kids Costume Contest (Room 202)
2:30 – 3:15pm One-On-One With Ray Park (Room 205)
2:30 – 3:15pm Research For Your Book (Room 208)

Note that seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first served basis. We do not clear panel rooms unless you are seated in a section that is marked with a sign at the end of the row reading: “Row Will Be Cleared At The End Of Each Panel.”

Wizard World Comic Con events 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.  Wizard World Nashville Comic Con show hours are Friday, Oct. 18, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Nashville Comic Con is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event.  Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed –  will roam the convention floor, often stopping by the Cosplay Stage, the ideal place to see and be seen.

For more on the 2013 Wizard World Nashville Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-nashville.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) 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.

Wizard World 2013 Schedule
October 18-20 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con
November 22-24 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con

Wizard World 2014 Schedule
January 24-26 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
February 7-9 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
March 7-9 – Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con
March 28-30 – Wizard World Louisville Comic Con
April 4-6 – Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con
May 2-4 – Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con
May 30-June 1 – Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con
June 19-22 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 1-3 – Wizard World San Antonio Comic Con
August 21-24 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 12-14 – Wizard World Richmond Comic Con
September 26-28 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con
October 11-12 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con
October 31-November 2 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
November 7-9 – Wizard World Tulsa Comic Con

The Crow Comic Book Resurrected Next Year! A New Avenger Rises In Ruthless New Series By Novelist Frank Bill   San Diego, CA (October 09, 2013) – The spirits of vengeance are coming back with brutal force in The Crow: Pestilence, a new miniseries coming from IDW in early 2014. This series marks the comic-book debut of prose author Frank Bill, who first debuted on the scene with the acclaimed and brutally poetic short-story collection, Crimes in Southern Indiana. Bill followed that book with his even more raw debut novel, Donnybrook. On Pestilence, Bill, a longtime Crow fan, will be joined by artist Drew Moss (The Colonized), with Crow creator and vocal Bill fan James O’Barr supplying covers for the series. Debuting in the spring of 2014, The Crow: Pestilence transplants the spirit of vengeance to the southwest, introducing a brand-new cast of characters and exploring the grim underbelly of greed and betrayal in the deadly town of Juarez, Mexico. “I’ve never seen lead characters take more brutally inventive abuse than the kind Frank Bill heaped on his characters in Crimes and Donnybrook. I’m excited to see Frank bring such a strong voice and visceral storytelling ability to comics, especially on something as well-suited to his skills as The Crow,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief. “It was great to find out that James O’Barr was equally intrigued by Frank’s work, comparing him to Jim Thompson and other literary greats.” “I've always been a big fan of James O'Barr's The Crow and his artwork,” said Frank Bill, “so when I was offered the opportunity to write my own version, I was blown away. I wanted to place my best foot forward, I knew I had some big shoes to fill.” About Frank Bill’s debut novel, musician Ray Wylie Hubbard said “Frank Bill’s Donnybrook is Poe shooting heroin, Steinbeck freebasing cocaine, and Hemingway really drunk. It’s so great, I felt I had been throat-punched, kicked in the cojones, and was going to spit blood.” All of which applies to the story being told in The Crow: Pestilence as well, only here, the visuals are brought to teeth-rattling life by Drew Moss. Created by James O’Barr in 1989, The Crow flew to success in comics and on film. After a number of successful books and films spiraling out of the original graphic novel, The Crow landed at IDW in 2012 and has since appeared in three unique miniseries, two by O’Barr himself: Skinning The Wolves and Curare. Edward R. Pressman, producer of the 1994 smash hit film The Crow, together with Relativity and Dimension Films, is currently in production on a reinvention of the original film, which explores its own unique storyline separate from the comic book. F. Javier Gutierrez (Before the Fall) will direct from a screenplay by Cliff Dorfman with Luke Evans (Fast and Furious 6) starring as ‘Eric Draven’. Pressman licensed the comic book rights to IDW. The deal was brokered by Dan Kletzky of Entertainment Licensing Associates. The Crow: Pestilence is out in next spring, digitally and in print!

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, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, and the multiple award-winning Artist's Edition imprint. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood's Lore; and Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2013:

Comixology Kicks Off New York Comic Con With New Guided View Native Titles For The Ultimate Digital Comics Reading Experience

World’s leading digital comics platform celebrates 200 million-download milestone with exclusive new Guided View-authored content, Android Holo app update, collections debut from DC Entertainment, new publisher relationships and an amazing ‘The Walking Dead’ sale

Giveaways, signings and other fan fun galore at the comiXology Javits Center booth

October 9^th, 2013 – New York, NY. – ComiXology – the revolutionary cloud-based digital comics platform available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web – kicks off New York Comic Con 2013 on a huge roll.  The company, which recently surpassed 200 million downloads worldwide, today released a noteworthy slate of Guided View Native-authored comics.  Each makes reading digital comics an immersive adventure with every swipe of the finger, or click of a mouse.
Other developments announced this week include a refreshed comiXology app optimized for Android’s latest update; the debut of collections and graphic novels from DC Entertainment; deals with major international publishers, bringing some of the best manga content to French-speaking comiXology fans; an amazing The Walking Dead promotion on the entire series’ digital comics catalog; and a full slate of giveaways, author signings and other fan fun at the comiXology booth (#1928) at New York City’s Javits Center.
The 200 million-download milestone comes less than a year after comiXology hit the 100 million mark, as the pace of new fans discovering the joy of digital comics and the comiXology reading experience gathers steam.  Earlier this year, comiXology became the only app to make iTunes’ list of top 10-grossing iPad apps for two consecutive years. January saw the opening of comiXology Europe, which is spearheading international language content acquisition across the continent.
Highlights of an action-packed New York Comic Con week include:  

• New Guided View Native Content & Aggregation– Guided View Native enables comic creators to literally immerse fans in their work through a proprietary, made-for-digital, panel-by-panel process powered by comiXology's Guided View technology.  Fans can download a noteworthy new slate of Guided View Native titles debuting today including Iron Man: Fatal Frontier Infinite Comic #1 (Marvel), Batman '66 #15 (DC Comics), Grimm: Portland, Wu (Dynamite), Motorcycle Samurai #1 (Top Shelf), Bo Plushy Gangsta #1 (Action Lab), Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land #1 (Action Lab), Molly Danger: Digital #2 (Action Lab), Vamplets: The Nightmare Nursery #2 (Action Lab) with many more and Valiant 8-bit Adventure: Unity! (Valiant) coming soon. Also as of today, comiXology has aggregated the 35+ titles authored in Guided View Native into the comiXology quick links available on all platforms, so finding them is easier than ever.

• Android Holo – Comics fans with Android devices including Amazon's Kindle Fire now have even more reasons to love comiXology with today’s release the Android Holo update for the comiXology app. The app takes full advantage of Android’s latest operating system to further enhance the user experience, supporting two much-requested features: comiXology’s High Definition (HD) file format, and Fit-to-Width reading, which optimizes the reading experience relative to device screen size and orientation.

• DC Entertainment collections & graphic novels – On Tuesday, comiXology and DC Entertainment made DC’s extensive line-up of graphic novels and collected editions available for download on comiXology. This expansion in distribution brings bestselling DC Comics and Vertigo titles, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Sandman, Y the Last Man and an assortment of DC Comics – The New 52 collections, among many others, to comiXology fans worldwide.

• The Walking Dead – Earlier this week, comiXology launched a weeklong sale on the entire The Walking Dead comic series, celebrating The Walking Dead’s 10th anniversary and the premiere of Season 4 of the AMC series. Through midnight EST on October 14, fans can purchase the first 114 issues of The Walking Dead comic on sale for $.99 each.  Volumes 1 through 18 are also available at a reduced price, along with a web-only bundle of The Walking Dead issues 1-114 for only $99. The sale makes for a great time for new fans to jump onboard and catch up – and just in time for the start of Season 4 premiere of The Walking Dead on Sunday, October 13th.  Capping off the zombie fun is today’s release of the highly anticipated The Walking Dead issue #115, marking the start of more frequent, bi-weekly releases.

• New International Content – Earlier today, comiXology announced agreements with two major publishers. A new relationship with Viz Media Europe and its French subsidiary, Kazé, will bring Kaze’s extensive library of French language manga content to fans in French-speaking European countries across comiXology’s mobile apps and website.  A second, multiyear exclusive deal with Avatar Press, publisher of Garth Ennis’ groundbreaking horror series Crossed, covers English Language single issues.

• Fan Celebration at Comic Con – ComiXology will say thank you to fans visiting its booth (#1928) at New York’s Javits center, with a full slate of signings and exclusive giveaways, including limited edition art cards signed and numbered by creators and free comics galore.  Events include a sketch card signing with Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infunari supporting their indie self-publishing hit The Bunker, IDW Publishing’s My Little Pony signings with Katie Cook and Sara Richard, a G.I JOE signing with the legendary Larry Hama, Image Comics bestsellers East of West’s Nick Dragotta and Lazuras’s Greg Rucka and Michael Lark and Doug Braithwaite signing for Valiant’s Unity. A full schedule can be found here.

“It took us three years to hit 100 million comic book and graphic novel downloads and then only one more year to hit 200 million,” said comiXology CEO and co-founder David Steinberger. “It’s great to celebrate this milestone by showcasing today how comiXology keeps on moving the industry forward – whether with new content and our Guided View Native comics, or our continued product updates for Android, new publishers, a massive The Walking Dead sale, and all these great events at our booth. We’ve had a great year in 2013 and it’s not over yet.”

About comiXology
ComiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel industry by delivering a cloud-based digital comics platform that makes discovering, buying, and reading comics more fun than ever before. ComiXology’s Guided View™ reading technology transforms the comic book medium into an immersive and cinematic experience, helping comiXology become one of iTunes top 10 grossing iPad apps in both 2011 and 2012. Offering the broadest library of comic book content from the top 75 publishers, and including independent creators as well, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has become a comic book fan.  A privately held company, comiXology is based in New York City.  For more information visit www.comixology.com.

Comixology Announces Manga Digital Distribution Agreement With
Viz Media Europe Group

October 9^th, 2013 – New York, NY – ComiXology, the leading cloud-based digital comics platform with over 40,000 comics and graphic novels available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web at comixology.com, today announced a manga digital distribution agreement with VIZ Media Europe and its French subsidiary, Kazé. Kazé’s extensive library of French language manga content will be available for readers to purchase in key French speaking European countries across comiXology’s mobile apps and website.
Additional manga content from VIZ Media Europe, a subsidiary of the leading Japanese based manga publishers Shūeisha and Shōgakukan, and its network of European licensors, will also become available on the comiXology platform as the partnership grows.
 “Through our partnership with Kazé and its parent company VIZ Media Europe, we are honored to expand the reach and enjoyment of these French language manga titles to European readers on comiXology,” said David Steinberger, co-founder and CEO of comiXology. “It has always been our mission to bring comics – in all forms, including manga – to everyone everywhere, and this agreement with such a great partner is a significant move towards that goal.”
“We are really excited to join comiXology’s platform,” said Hyoe Narita, VIZ Media Europe’s CEO. “Our joint philosophies around expanding the market for manga content worldwide, while honoring the integrity of the content on digital platforms is quite complementary. As a publisher, we want to be able to share our passion for manga with everyone, everywhere and give the opportunity to help readers discover, read and enjoy our titles digitally. ComiXology is one perfect partner to help us achieve this mission globally.”
This digital distribution agreement between comiXology and Kazé will see French language manga content from many top Japanese publishers including Shūeisha, Shōgakukan, Hakusensha, Kadokawa Shoten, Gentosha, Akita Shōten, Square Enix and Ichijinsha become available for purchase across comiXology’s multi-platform mobile apps and websites including on Apple iOS, Google Android, Amazon Kindle Fire and the Web with a dedicated right-to-left full-page manga reading experience.  
To celebrate, the following titles are available across French-speaking European countries today, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Monaco:

Vampire Hunter D, by Saiko Takaki and Hideyuki Kikuchi
Gate 7, by CLAMP
K-On!, by Kakifly
La Traversée du Temps, by Ranmaru Kotoku & Yasutaka Tsutsui
Le Fleuve Shinano, by Kazuo Kamimura & Hideo Okazaki
Summer Wars, by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Tensai Family Company, by Ninomiya Tomoko
Drug & Drop, by CLAMP
Les Mystérieuses Cités d’Or, by Thomas Bouveret
Flander’s Company, by Tod

Other popular titles including Blue Exorcist, Ikigami, Toriko, Beelzebub, Black Lagoon and Dengeki Daisy, will become available through the comiXology platform this fall.
About comiXology
ComiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel industry by delivering a cloud-based digital comics platform that makes discovering, buying, and reading comics more fun than ever before. ComiXology’s Guided View™ reading technology transforms the comic book medium into an immersive and cinematic experience, helping comiXology become one of iTunes top 10 grossing iPad apps in both 2011 and 2012. Offering the broadest library of comic book content from the top 75 publishers, and including independent creators as well, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has become a comic book fan.  A privately held company, comiXology is based in New York City.  For more information visit www.comixology.com.

About VIZ Media Europe
Headquartered in Paris, France, VIZ Media Europe (VME) specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga). Owned by three of Japanʼs largest creators, publishers and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co. Ltd., VME handles the comprehensive distribution, licensing and promotion of some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties for consumers of all ages. VME administers an integrated product line including graphic novels, consumer products, DVD and music. Current VME animated properties include: BEELZEBUB, BLACK LAGOON, BLUE EXORCIST, BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DEATH NOTE, HAMTARO, JEWELPET (France only), KILARI, KUROKO’S BASKET, MAGI, A PENGUIN'S TROUBLES, TENKAI KNIGHTS, TIGER & BUNNY, and ZOIDS GENESIS

About Kazé Manga
Founded in 2003, Asuka specialized at first in classical titles such as Black Jack from the father of manga Osamu Tezuka.  Asuka then started publishing Shojo’s manga. Bought in 2007 by Kazé, the French market leader in Japanese animation, the two labels developed a common strategy by publishing manga and DVD properties (Gunslinger Girl, Crossing Time). Both labels were purchased in 2009 by three of Japanʼs largest creators, publishers and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co. Ltd., and merged with their French subsidiary VIZ Media Europe. In 2010, Asuka became the name of the Boy's Love’s label, while Kazé Manga brand was created for all shojo, shonen and seinen titles in the catalog. With a catalog of over 150 titles, Kazé Manga is the sixth French manga publisher. Among the most emblematic titles in its catalog, readers can find Toriko, Beelzebub, Blue Exorcist, Beyblade, Ikigami, Dengeki Daisy, Happy Marriage, Hokuto no Ken, Chopperman and Rock Lee.
For more information, visit www.kaze-manga.fr

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2013:

Avatar Press And ComiXology Announce Exclusive Digital Distribution Agreement

Multi-Year Exclusive Agreement Covers English Language Single Issues

Launch Begins With 50 Issues Available Today With 20 “Too Extreme For Mobile” Available Web Only at comiXology.com

October 9^th, 2013 – New York, NY. –  Amidst the opening of New York Comic-Con 2013, news arrived that Avatar Press, publisher of Garth Ennis’ groundbreaking horror series Crossed, announced an exclusive digital distribution agreement with comiXology, the revolutionary cloud-based digital comics platform with more than 40,000 comics and graphic novels that have seen over 200 million downloads to date. The multi-year exclusive agreement covers Avatar Press’ English Language single-issue catalog.
To celebrate, Avatar Press and comiXology have made over 50 issues available today, thirty of which can be found platform-wide and twenty “too extreme for mobile” issues only available on the web at comiXology.com. All titles purchased from the web automatically sync to comiXology customers mobile devices whether iOS, Android, Kindle or Windows 8 platforms.
The Avatar Press titles available today across comiXology’s entire platform include Max Brooks’ Extinction Parade, Jonathan Hickman’s God Is Dead, Kieron Gillen’s Uber, and multiple titles from Warren Ellis including Black Summer, No Hero and Supergod.
At the same time, Avatar Press and comiXology are please to announce over 20 titles available web only that are just “too extreme for mobile” including Garth Ennis’ notorious Crossed and Crossed: Badlands,  Alan Moore’s recently banned Neonomicon, and David Lapham’s Ferals.
“It’s well known that publisher William Christensen – with his singular vision – developed Avatar Press as a place for great creators to tell no-holds-barred stories to a devoted base of fans,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “We’re excited to bring William’s unique publishing vision to the world through comiXology’s entire platform, and deliver Avatar’s more challenging content to a global audience of fans through comiXology.com.”
“It’s great to join forces with comiXology to bring Avatar’s editorial to an entirely new customer base – whether it’s those fans that haven’t been able to find our titles in print or those who simply haven’t been exposed to Avatar’s uncensored catalog,” said Avatar Press Publisher William Christensen. “We look forward to developing a relationship with the digital consumer who will now be able to discover, read, and enjoy Avatar Press titles in comiXology’s ground breaking Guided View.”
Avatar Press fans across the globe can experience these titles through the power of comiXology’s Guided View and in CMX-HD on compatible iOS and Android devices.
The complete launch list is:

Warren Ellis’ Black Summer 0 - 7
Garth Ennis’ Crossed 0 – 9
Garth Ennis’ Crossed: Badlands  1- 9
Max Brooks’ Extinction Parade  1-2
David Lapham’s Ferals 1-6
Jonathon Hickman’s God Is Dead 1
Alan Moore’s Neonomicon 1-4
Warren Ellis’ No Hero 0-7
Warren Ellis’ Supergod 1-5
Kieron Gillen’s Uber 0 - 5

With over 40,000 comics and graphic novels from more than 75 publishers, comiXology offers the widest selection of English language digital comics in the world. ComiXology’s immense catalog and unique Guided View reading experience is available across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web—making it the best digital platform for comic and graphic novel fans worldwide.
About Avatar Press
Avatar Press is a groundbreaking independent publishing company which produces a wide variety of cutting-edge comic books, graphic novels, and original web content. Their high-quality publications include the work of such industry luminaries as Garth Ennis (Crossed, Chronicles of Wormwood), Warren Ellis (Freakangels), Christos Gage (Absolution, Crossed), Kieron Gillen (Uber), David Lapham (Ferals, Caligula), Max Brooks (Extinction Parade) and Alan Moore (Neonomicon). They also produce a diverse range of licensed projects including the classic zombie epic Night of the Living Dead and George R.R. Martin’s Fevre Dream and Skin Trade. For more information about Avatar Press, their publications, and creators, please visit www.avatarpress.com.
About comiXology
ComiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel industry by delivering a cloud-based digital comics platform that makes discovering, buying, and reading comics more fun than ever before. ComiXology’s Guided View™ reading technology transforms the comic book medium into an immersive and cinematic experience, helping comiXology become one of iTunes top 10 grossing iPad apps in both 2011 and 2012. Offering the broadest library of comic book content from the top 75 publishers, and including independent creators as well, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has become a comic book fan.  A privately held company, comiXology is based in New York City.  For more information visit www.comixology.com.

BOOM! STUDIOS PUTS THE SPOOK IN ADVENTURE TIME:
SPOOKTACULAR JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN


 

      

  

Oct 9th,  2013 - Los Angeles, CA - KaBOOM! Studios, an imprint of BOOM! Studios, is proud to announce the newest installment of ADVENTURE TIME comic book fun, ADVENTURE TIME: 2013 SPOOOKTACULAR #1. Available just in time for Halloween, the ADVENTURE TIME: 2013 SPOOOKTACULAR #1, based on the top-rated Cartoon Network animated series of the same name, collects a grab bag of sweet and scary short stories in the spirit of the season.

 

The stand-alone issue is written and drawn by various creators and artists including Jen Bennett (ADVENTURE TIME: MARCELINE AND THE SCREAM QUEENS), Bryce Carlson (HIT), Ming Doyle (Mara), Jones Wiedle (Helvetica), Jay Hosler (Sandwalk Adventures), Jen Vaughn, and Kevin Church (The Line). ADVENTURE TIME 2013 SPOOKTACULAR ships with a main cover illustrated by Becky Dreistadt (Tiny Kitten Teeth) as well as retailer incentive variant covers by Ming Doyle and Jones Wiedle. And as an extra “treat” for fans, the special will include a yet-to-be-announced bonus story that you won't want to miss!

 

WHY WE LOVE IT: The surreal, post-apocalyptic world of Ooo is already a little bit spooky, which makes it perfect for a collection of funnily scary stories.

 

WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT: This time of year, everyone loves a good scare! Why not get in the spirit with all of your favorite characters from Cartoon Network’s top-rated comedy series?

 

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: The Spooktacular is a collection of short stories following some of our favorite friends in ADVENTURE TIME. Enjoy Marceline’s attempt at being a “good girl”, how Fionna and Cake get through their latest adventure and other stories! It’s going to be a great time!

 

The over-sized ADVENTURE TIME: 2013 SPOOOKTACULAR #1 arrives in comic shops on October 30th with a cover price of $4.99 under Diamond order code AUG131116.

 

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

 

Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is the home of Mike Carey’s SUICIDE RISK, Clive Barker’s NEXT TESTAMENT and HELLRAISER, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos’ FAIRY QUEST, PLANET OF THE APES, Max Bemis’ POLARITY and Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 GUNS was recently released as a feature film from Universal Pictures starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network’s ADVENTURE TIME and REGULAR SHOW, Mike Kunkel’s HEROBEAR AND THE KID, and Roger Langridge’s Eisner Award-winning SNARKED. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of MOUSE GUARD, COW BOY, GUNNERKRIGG COURT, RUST, SPERA, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, and other many great titles

GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime RELEASES EST EM’S PASSIONATE ART ROMANCE TABLEAU NUMÉRO 20

A Mysterious Drawing Ignites A Provocative Love Affair In This Collection Of Manga Short Stories From One Of The Most Critically Esteemed Creators Of The Yaoi Genre.

San Francisco, CA, October 8, 2013 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), unites passion and art for its latest North American release – TABLEAU NUMÉRO 20. The new single-volume edition from creator est em is available today, is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and carries a print MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN. A digital version is also available at an MSRP of USD $5.99 and offers fans two methods of digital access to the volume on www.SuBLimeManga.com – a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer, and via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

Ten years ago, while still a student, Maurice stumbled across an illustration in an artist's sketchbook that instantly captivated him – a drawing of a beautiful youth with sad, gentle eyes, an expression that spoke of love and forgiveness. Now settled into a successful career as an art restoration expert, Maurice is shocked by the sudden appearance of a young man who looks exactly like the one in the drawing. Who, in fact, insists that he is the one in the drawing... A collection of short stories by the incomparable est em.

“est em is a luminary in the world of yaoi manga, and her work is lauded internationally for its distinctive art, intriguing storytelling, and use of exotic foreign locales,” says Jennifer LeBlanc, Editor, SuBLime. “TABLEAU NUMÉRO 20 is a wonderful introduction to the work of est em, and readers will savor her classically trained art style and multi-textured characters that often display tremendous maturity and depth. We look forward to North American yaoi fans discovering this provocative new release from SuBLime!”

est em is the creator of over a dozen manga, several of which have been published internationally. Her previous English-language releases include Age Called Blue, Red Blinds the Foolish, and Seduce Me After the Show. Born in Tokyo on April 2nd, she is an Aries with an A blood type. Readers can find out more about est em at her website, http://est-em.blogspot.com/, or follow her on Twitter, @est_em.  

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.

About SuBLime

SuBLime is a global yaoi/boys’ love manga publisher, and is a partnership between VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate). This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at www.SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.

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© 2009 Esutoemu/LibrePublishing

IDW Hits NYCC! Publisher To Host 5 Must-See Panels At This Year’s Sold-Out Convention   San Diego, CA (October 8, 2013) –New York Comic-Con will be the east coast’s largest gathering of comic fans, creators and publishers alike! IDW will be joining the list of big names at this fan-favorite convention with a number of panels that will be the talk of the show! In addition to these stellar panels Taran Killam and Marc Andreyko will be selling NYCC exclusive variants with cover art by the legendary Bill Willingham of the debut issue of their new series The Illegitimates, a full month before they go on sale! Find them at Kevin Sharpe’s table in artist’s alley, #U15! Now, check out the list, and join IDW’s all-star creators at these four-star events! IDW: The Most Explosive Panel of 2013! Saturday, October 12 -- 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Room 1A10 Join IDW's Dirk Wood, Chris Ryall, and Scott Dunbier, along with acclaimed creator DARWYN COOKE and another surprise legendary guest, as they set off an explosion of exciting new projects for 2014 and beyond. Includes three announcements that are sure to set the Con on fire! This panel will be a true one-of-a-kind experience that has to be seen to be believed! IDW Presents: Taran Killam’s Illegitimates Sunday, October 13 -- 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM, Room 1A14 Fresh off his "night job" the evening before, SNL actor/comedian Taran Killam is appearing alongside co-writer Marc Andreyko and IDW's Dirk Wood and Chris Ryall, to discuss his exciting new comic-book series, The Illegitimates! Come get the lowdown on the new series, the new SNL season, and plenty o' laughs at this special panel delivered Live from New York! YOE! Books Presents: Fiends, Ghouls & Haunted Horror! Saturday, October 12 -- 4:15 - 5:15 PM, Room 1A06 Join the award-winning comics historian Craig Yoe for a lively discussion and Q&A session about the pre-code classic comics that gave you night terrors! And make sure and swing by Craig Yoe’s booth at the show, #588! IDW Publishing: Creator Visions Sunday, October 12 -- 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM, Room 1A10 Join IDW's VP of Marketing, Dirk Wood, and a virtual cavalcade of today's most exciting creators. Featuring rising stars from David Wohl's Darby Pop imprint, the creative team from the hit digital "America's Army" comics, and much more, come down and witness Wood and company pulling back the curtain on IDW's most exciting new projects for 2014! WILL.I.AM's Wizards & Robots Friday, October 11 -- 1:45 - 2:45 PM, Room 1A23 Musician and visionary creative Will.i.am is launching a special project with IDW, Wizards and Robots. Will is making his first-ever comic-con appearance to discuss the comic, chat about futurism, and how he just might change the comic-book world through this unique project. Be sure to catch all of the amazing IDW panels filled with surprise guests to hear the biggest news of the year first!

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, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, and the multiple award-winning Artist's Edition imprint. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood's Lore; and Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE GLOBAL DIGITAL RELEASE OF NEW INTERACTIVE eBOOK EDITION OF PEPITA: TAKEHIKO INOUE MEETS GAUDÍ

Available In 51 Countries, Gorgeously Illustrated Enhanced Art Book Traces Master Manga Artist Takehiko Inoue’s Fascination With The Legendary Catalan Modernist Architect Antoni Gaudí

San Francisco, CA, October 8, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce the global release today of a stunning new interactive eBook version of PEPITA: TAKEHIKO INOUE MEETS GAUDÍ.

This insightful illustrated travel diary and art book—by the famed artist and manga (graphic novel) creator of SLAM DUNK, REAL, and VAGABOND—is comprised of prose, sketches, and color illustrations inspired by his encounter with the work of Catalan master architect Antoni Gaudí. The enhanced eBook will feature interactive video footage of Takehiko Inoue’s travels. PEPITA: TAKEHIKO INOUE MEETS GAUDÍ is available in English for $12.99 worldwide from the iBookstore and all 51 countries it serves.

PEPITA: TAKEHIKO INOUE MEETS GAUDÍ traces an inspiring journey by one of the world’s foremost manga artists to Spain, where he became captivated by the work of Antoni Gaudí (1852 - 1926), the famous Spanish architect and leader of Catalan Modernism. Takehiko Inoue had long been obsessed with the architecture of Antoni Gaudí, and PEPITA is a travel memoir about Inoue’s travels to the Catalan region of Spain, the people he meets, and the stunning architecture he experiences. At the core of the journey is the massive Gaudí-designed Sagrada Família, an iconic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Barcelona and a perennial news item as it remains under continual construction after more than a century of work. The new eBook edition incorporates video footage from Inoue’s trip as well as other enhanced content and interactive multimedia elements created by Live2D technology.

Creator Takehiko Inoue states, "My manga was created with the intent that it would be released on paper in a physical format. But with the digital edition of PEPITA: TAKEHIKO INOUE MEETS GAUDÍ, I felt it would show a new form of expression available only on a tablet."

“The enhanced PEPITA: TAKEHIKO INOUE MEETS GAUDÍ eBook edition is VIZ Media’s first foray into the world of interactive digital books and opens a new range of possibilities for future e-publishing ventures,” says VIZ Media's Vice President of Publishing, Leyla Aker. “Inoue’s hyper-realistic style shines in this gorgeous edition that is extremely well-suited to the digital medium. The new video footage adds another dimension to Inoue’s contemplation of Gaudi’s work and the architecture, nature, and religion of his beloved Catalonia.”

Takehiko Inoue is the creator of one of the most popular manga of all time, SLAM DUNK (rated ‘T’ for Teens), which has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and is published in North America by VIZ Media. He followed the success of that series with VAGABOND, a fictional account of the life of samurai Miyamoto Musashi, and REAL, a manga series about wheelchair basketball. VAGABOND (Rated ‘M’ for Mature) and REAL (Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) are both also available from VIZ Media. The print edition of PEPITA: TAKEHIKO INOUE MEETS GAUDÍ is available worldwide and was published in spring 2013 by VIZ Media, who also released Inoue’s SUMI (INK) and WATER collections in 2008.

Takehiko Inoue is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Media Arts Festival Award. In addition to his work on manga, Inoue has worked on several television commercials, created character designs for video games, and is the founder of a scholarship to foster Japanese basketball talent.

For more information on other Takehiko Inoue titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.viz.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 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.

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© I.T. Planning, Inc. © Nikkei Business Publications, Inc 2011

First published in Japan by Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. 

All rights reserved.