TECH JACKET

RETURNS AS A NEW ONGOING SERIES ON THE HEELS OF THE DIGITAL MINISERIES’ SUCCESS

Joe Keatinge and Khary Randolph announce new Tech Jacket at Emerald City Comic Convention

Skybound/Image Comics announced Friday at their Emerald City Comic Convention panel that TECH JACKET will return as an all new ongoing series.   After the tremendous sales of the TECH JACKET DIGITAL miniseries that debuted at Image Expo, Joe Keatinge (SHUTTER, GLORY) and Khary Randolph (Deadpool, Justice League Beyond)  team up once again to launch Zack Thompson a.k.a. Tech Jacket into an ongoing print series with a July 2014 release.   “After the success of the miniseries, Skybound was excited to get more Tech Jacket out there and with Khary on board, I’m on board,” said Keatinge. “Whether or not people read the past series, the DIGITAL miniseries, or none of it, they’re in for what’s going to be the biggest scale science-fiction series I’ve worked on yet. Extremely excited to do so with Khary, Robert Kirkman, and company!”   “This project is a dream come true for me,” added Randolph. “Working with Joe, Robert Kirkman, and the rest of the Skybound family has been a blast and I’m sure the fans will see how much fun we are having on this series. If you like action, adventure and excitement then you will love TECH JACKET."   In celebration of launching the new series, Image Comics will be offering an exclusive discount on Comixology. Get issues of TECH JACKET and associated Skybound series INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE, GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE, SCIENCE DOG, THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN, and more for only $0.99, with collections up to 50% off. Sale ends at 11 p.m. EST on 3/30.

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, fantasy, 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.

ABOUT SKYBOUND

Skybound is the home of Robert Kirkman's creator-owned work including his Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, Thief of Thieves, and Clone as well as Ghosted, Witch Doctor and Invincible Universe. Since its inception, Skybound has created television shows, merchandise and a wide spectrum of platforms, games (The Walking Dead: Assault iOS app), and entertainment events (The Walking Dead Escape). Skybound's successes include the comic behind the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. Skybound/Kirkman frequently top the hardcover and paperback bestseller lists. Your destinations for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles are www.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com

Craving More of The Walking Dead?
Read The Comics That Started It All!

Sink Your Teeth Into ComiXology’s The Walking Dead Sale All Weekend Long From March 28th Through March 31st

Celebrate the season 4 finale of The Walking Dead TV show by getting
121 issues, 19 volumes & a 100-issue bundle of The Walking Dead comic series on deep discount

The first 121 issues are on sale for 99 cents each with Volumes 1-19 on sale starting at $4.99!

Special “web-only” The Walking Dead 100-Issue Bundle 62% off at $74.99

March 28th, 2014 – New York, NY – To celebrate the The Walking Dead Season 4 finale get a greater taste of the worldwide phenomena by reading how it all began in this weekend long The Walking Dead sale on comiXology – the revolutionary cloud-based digital comics platform available across the iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web at www.comixology.com.
Watched the show, but never read the comic? Here’s your chance with the first 121 issues of The Walking Dead comic on sale for 99 cents each, as well as collected editions Volume 1 through Volume 19 on sale starting at $4.99!
But the biggest deal ever on The Walking Dead is comiXology’s “web-only” 100-issue bundle for only $74.99! That’s seventy-five cents apiece! The bundle and sale are available only from Friday, March 28th until midnight EST Monday March 31st.
“This sale is an amazing way to celebrate the Season 4 finale of The Walking Dead,” said Robert Kirkman, creator and writer of The Walking Dead and Writer/Executive Producer of The Walking Dead AMC television show. “The Walking Dead comic series stands as my original vision, so I’m very excited to offer fans the chance to read from the start or catch up to the latest release on sale via comiXology’s great platform and reading experience!”
“The Walking Dead TV show season finale is here, but there are many more storylines to explore in the books,” said comiXology co-founder & CEO David Steinberger. “The moment credits role on Season 4, we know hungry fans will want to know what might happen next and with this sale they’ve got over 100 issues and 19 volumes to choose from!”
Based on one of the most successful and popular comic books of all time, written and created by Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead captures the ongoing human drama following a zombie apocalypse. The series follows a group of survivors, led by sheriff Rick Grimes, in search of a safe and secure home. However, instead of the zombies, it is the living who remain that truly become the walking dead.
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 grossing iPad apps in 2011, 2012 and 2013. 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, with offices in Los Angeles and Paris. For more information, visit www.comixology.com.
About Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty-one years ago. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur and Thief of Thieves. In 2010, Kirkman formed his own Image imprint, Skybound, which publishes his own work and Clone, Ghosted, Invincible Universe and Witch Doctor. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and 2012. In April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. Your destinations for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles are www.Skybound.com  and www.TheWalkingDead.com
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.
About Skybound
Skybound is the home of Robert Kirkman's creator-owned work including his Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, Thief of Thieves, and Clone as well as Ghosted, Witch Doctor and Invincible Universe. Since its inception, Skybound has created television shows, merchandise and a wide spectrum of platforms, games (The Walking Dead: Assault iOS app), and entertainment events (The Walking Dead Escape). Skybound's successes include the comic behind the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. Skybound/Kirkman frequently top the hardcover and paperback bestseller lists. Your destinations for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles are www.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES RELEASES WONDER MOMO: TYPHOON BOOSTER ONTO NVIDIA SHIELD

New side-scrolling beat 'em up game from ShiftyLook project, developed by WayForward, takes advantage of NVIDIA Tegra 4 mobile processor to deliver hardcore console-gaming action

TOKYO, JAPAN – March 27, 2014 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., a subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7832), announced today the release of WONDER MOMO: TYPHOON BOOSTER, a brand-new side-scrolling beat 'em up game developed by platformer genre leader WayForward. The game releases onto NVIDIA SHIELD and soon the Mad Catz M.O.J.O., devices powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 4 mobile processor, and builds off of the popular 200-page webcomic released by NAMCO BANDAI Games' ShiftyLook project with UDON Entertainment. Players can follow the adventures of Momoko, schoolgirl bikini idol turned powersuit hero, as she fights to save Earth from the evil forces of the Waru across five action-packed stages in Tokyo and beyond this world. As featured in TegraZone – NVIDIA’s free app that showcases the best games optimized for the Tegra processor – WONDER MOMO: TYPHOON BOOSTER retails for US$14.99 and is debuting initially on SHIELD and soon the Mad Catz M.O.J.O. For the latest information, visit wondermomo.jp.

or download now at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.namcobandaigames.wondermomo

“Making it to this day where we would be able to release a new Wonder Momo game is something we had wanted to do ever since we launched the Wonder Momo webcomic in April 2012 with UDON Entertainment,” said Rob Pereyda, producer of WONDER MOMO: TYPHOON BOOSTER at NAMCO BANDAI Games. “We wanted to bring Wonder Momo to consumers all around the world with console quality and console power, but without console lock-in, and we found that with NVIDIA's Tegra technology. Now releasing onto the NVIDIA SHIELD and soon the Mad Catz M.O.J.O., Wonder Momo can be experienced around the world on these high-end devices, taking advantage of graphics nobody thought possible on Android before.”

“Wonder Momo is packed with action, but at its heart, Wonder Momo is a story about the power of friendship and empowering women, and nothing says power like the Tegra 4 mobile processor from NVIDIA,” said James Montagna, director of WONDER MOMO: TYPHOON BOOSTER at WayForward.

Developed with the Unity game engine, WONDER MOMO: TYPHOON BOOSTER is available now on NVIDIA SHIELD and soon on the Mad Catz M.O.J.O. The game is coming to additional Tegra 4-powered devices in the future. A PC version of WONDER MOMO: TYPHOON BOOSTER is currently in development, but no release date has been set.

The Android version of the game features a special enhanced transformation sequence that won't be seen on the later PC version, as well as access to 26 Wonder Momo comic strips that tell her origin story.

Also from NAMCO BANDAI Games is a five-episode Wonder Momo anime mini-series streaming for free worldwide at Crunchyroll. The anime stars Yuka Fujiwara, Misaki Komatsu, and Halko Momoi, who all reprise their roles in the game. A Wonder Momo trade paperback comic book will be released by UDON Entertainment this spring, and Wonder Momo apparel is currently available at WeLoveFine.com.

NBM Heads To MoCCA Arts Festival on April 6th & 7th

ALL STAR by Jesse Lonergan and Ted Rall's SILK ROAD TO RUIN 2nd Ed. To Premiere

NBM is once again heading to the MoCCA Arts Festival and we are happy to have both Jesse Lonergan, who will be appearing to promote the debut of his new book, the coming of age story All Star and Ted Rall who will be signing copies of the new edition of his book, SILK ROAD TO RUIN: Why Central Asia Is The Next Middle East.


About All Star

Set at the end of the school year in 1998 when Mark McGwire is racing Sammy Sosa to break the home run record, Bill Clinton is being questioned about a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky, and Semisonic's 'Closing Time' is on top of the charts, Carl Carter is leading the Elizabeth Monarchs of rural Vermont to the state championship in his senior year.

A full scholarship to the University of Maine is waiting for him, and everyone says he has a shot at the pros.

He?s so good he can do whatever he wants.

Until he makes one very arrogant mistake.

About SILK ROAD TO RUIN: Why Central Asia Is The Next Middle East - 2nd Ed.

Part graphic novel travelog, part tongue-in-cheek travel guide, here are the adventures of caustic cartoonist Rall in the wild and wooly central Asian countries, a powder keg sitting on tomorrow?s oil...

Combining articles with comic chapters relating his experiences retracing the old legendary Silk Road starting with the sublime history of China and ending in the absurdity of the petty dictatorships of the ?The ?Stans? where Rall had the temerity -or was it blustery stupidity?- to go back, including once with a group of listeners to his radio show, on a dare.

It?s exotic adventure, satire and a fun way to find out more about a part of the world that looms in importance with its immense reserves of oil...

Both Jesse and Ted will be appearing at the NBM Booth throughout the weekend.  Follow @nbmpub on Twitter for appearance times.  So come on by, meet some cool folks and celebrate comics!

NBM Publishing

Tables B6, B7

Project: Rooftop Partners With

Wrestling Promotion CHIKARA for

"Re-Create A Wrestler" Design Contest!

The avant garde of professional wrestling partners with the premiere
superhero fashion site to invite artists to redesign four wrestlers!

Project: Rooftop is proud to announce a new contest that bridges the gap between superheroes and professional wrestling: to redesign four of the wrestlers from the American wrestling organization CHIKARA. This unique contest, done in partnership with CHIKARA, will be hosted at BleedingCool.com. Artists are invited to redesign the wrestling characters Hallowicked, Icarus, Equinox and the Shard, part of a large cast of characters that perform under the CHIKARA banner. Artists are encouraged to submit their own rendition of any or all of these four CHIKARA characters to be spotlighted on BleedingCool.com and to be reviewed by a slate of all-star judges from comics and wrestling.

"The flavor of wrestling we make at CHIKARA is akin to a comic book come to life; we draw constant, regular inspiration from the medium and our love of comics permeates even the smallest details of our universe," says CHIKARA's founder, Mike Quackenbush. "There are so many points of intersection between these worlds, and costuming is a fascinating point from which to explore that."

Quackenbush will lead a slate of judges to include comics writer and editor (and alum of Marvel & WWE) Aubrey Sitterson, former Marvel & DC editor Ruben Diaz, comics writer Vito Delsante and comics journalist and P:R co-founder Chris Arrant.

"The connection between the superhero genre and pro-wrestling runs deep on both sides of the fence, and I'm excited for this unique opportunity with CHIKARA," Arrant says. "It'll be interesting to see how artists take their design skills and translate it to these wrestling super-heroes and super-villains who perform live."

CHIKARA will be providing prize packages for the top 3 scoring entries for each of the four wrestling characters, including tickets to live events, CHIKARA t-shirts and DVDs, as well as a grand prize for the top entry for each character - the winner will be hired (and paid) to provide illustrated work in an upcoming CHIKARA comic collection. Aubrey Sitterson, who has edited comics for Marvel as well as The Walking Dead, has also offered to do an online portfolio review for the highest-scoring entries for each wrestling character.

Artists may submit multiple designs for each of the four wrestling characters, but they will be judged on a one-by-one basis. Reference photos for these four wrestlers available here. Send your submission as a .jpg, .,png or .gif with your full name as the file name. Send your submission as an attachment to recreateawrestler@gmail.com with the subject line being "Re-Create A Wrestler," and make sure to include your name and website in the body of the e-mail. Deadline is Monday, May 2 at 5pm Eastern.

'DAY MEN SELLS OUT THIRD ISSUE IN A ROW, BOOM! STUDIOS RUSHES TO A SECOND PRINTING

DAY MEN #3 2nd Print Cover by Brian Stelfreeze


 

March 26,  2014 (Los Angeles, CA) BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce that DAY MEN #3, the critically acclaimed vampire noir series from writers Matt Gagnon (FREELANCERS) and Michael Alan Nelson (SUPERGIRL, HEXED) and featuring Brian Stelfreeze’s (WEDNESDAY COMICS) first sequential storytelling work since 2005, has sold out at the distributor level. This follows the trend of the first two issues selling out, and the publisher has rushed to a second printing for issue #3.

Comic book fans should bear in mind that first printings of DAY MEN #3 may still be found at the local comic shop nearest you. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

“Selling out of the first three issues of DAY MEN in a row almost feels surreal,” said DAY MEN co-writer and BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “On behalf of Michael, Brian, and myself, we can’t thank retailers and fans enough for supporting our book. This has been such an amazing experience, and there's a lot more to come!"

For thousands of years, the world has been controlled by the “50 Families”—a secret network of vampire covens engaged in a timeless struggle for power. But when the sun rises, the vampires are forced to employ the services of a human who acts as their daytime fixer and protector. Trained for centuries to be the mortal soldiers of their vampire employers, the Day Men go forth at sunrise, alone into the world, to do the bidding of their sleeping benefactors.

In issue #3, war continues to rage throughout the vampire underground, as David’s role for the Virgo family comes into question. But will Azalea, the mysterious matriarch, cast David out in search of a more proper wartime Day Man?

Praise for DAY MEN #3:

“With Draculas and Lestats in the world, it’s refreshing to get a new viewpoint on the vampire mythos. Day Men delivers on that promise and this particular issue delivers on itself.” - Geeked Out Nation

“If you’re into a rich, alternate vampire story, Matt Gagnon & Michael Alan Nelson serve up a meaty one you can really sink your teeth into!” - Word of the Nerd

DAY MEN #3 second print ships with a new cover by Brian Stelfreeze and carries a retail price of $3.99. It is anticipated to be in stores on 4/23.

 

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, and many other great titles. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox's vast catalog of films.

VIZ MEDIA’S STUDIO GHIBLI IMPRINT RELEASES THE ART OF THE WIND RISES

New Hardcover Release Presents The Captivating Artwork And Evolution Of Famed Director Hayao Miyazaki’s Acclaimed Film That Celebrates The Wonder Of Flight

San Francisco, CA, March 27, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, invites animation fans to savor the stunning artwork of The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki’s widely acclaimed fictional biopic of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of Japan’s Zero fighter plane, with the release of THE ART OF THE WIND RISES on April 8^th. The brand new hardcover edition from the Studio Ghibli imprint will carry an MSRP of $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN.

The Wind Rises is Miyazaki’s cinematic love letter to the power of flight and the imagination, an examination of the rise of Japan’s military might in the years leading up to the Second World War, and a call for worldwide peace and harmony in the face of destruction. The film has won numerous awards including Best Animated Film from The National Board of Review and The New York Film Critics Circle as well as Best Animated Feature from The Toronto Film Critics Association and The San Francisco Film Critics Circle, among others. THE ART OF THE WIND RISES captures the art of the film, from conception to production, and features in-depth interviews with the filmmakers.

“The Wind Rises is an epic story set during an important era in Japan’s history, and we very excited to complement Miyazaki’s landmark film with the release of this wonderfully illustrated new hardcover art book,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “THE ART OF WIND RISES captures the evolution of the designs and characters that brought this captivating story to life. Join us to celebrate the work of one of the world’s most visionary animation directors with this new release from our Studio Ghibli imprint.”

THE ART OF THE WIND RISES is the newest title in VIZ Media’s acclaimed collection of full-color, hardcover Art Books based on Studio Ghibli films. Fans can also enjoy THE ART OF SPIRITED AWAY, THE ART OF HOWL’s MOVING CASTLE, THE ART OF MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, THE ART OF NAUSICAÄ, THE ART OF PORCO ROSSO and more. VIZ Media also publishes two notable biographical memoirs of Hayao Miyazaki that feature an insightful collection of essays, interviews, memoirs, and illustrations from legendary animation director – STARTING POINT: 1979-1996, which charts Miyazaki’s early days, and TURNING POINT: 1997-2008, which examines the critical stage in the director’s career when his animated films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo began to garner a significant international audience.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. His first feature, The Castle of Cagliostro, was released in 1979. His film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga (published domestically by VIZ Media, Rated ‘T’), was released in 1984. In 1985 Miyazaki cofounded Studio Ghibli, through which he directed the box-office smashes Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), which won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival and the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) received the Osella Award for technical achievement at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival. In 2005 VIFF awarded Miyazaki the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement. His other acclaimed films include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo. Miyazaki's essays, interviews, and memoirs have been collected in Starting Point: 1979-1996 and Turning Point: 1997-2008. His final film, The Wind Rises, was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award®. 

For more information on Hayao Miyazaki titles published by 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.

###

Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises)
Copyright © 2013 Nibariki - GNDHDDTK
All rights reserved.
© 2013 Studio Ghibli

POPULAR BAND STARS APP GETS THE ULTIMATE GLEE UPDATE AUSTRALIA, Brisbane –  27th March, 2014 - Halfbrick and Fox Digital Entertainment are proud to announce a new partnership in mobile gaming, with Halfbrick’s smash-hit music management game, Band Stars, getting the ultimate Glee update! Players can now take their favorite characters from the hit TV series on a musical mission to form the world’s hottest band with the biggest songs! Since its initial release in December 2013, Band Stars has been downloaded over 1 million times worldwide, with over 25 million songs recorded by its dedicated players. The game features a bright and colorful art style, bursting from the screen with musical energy. Players must recruit band members, practice instruments, manage the writing and recording process then release each song to move up the local, national and international song charts. The skills of each band member increase with hard work and creativity, which leads to legions of fans, a studio decked out with the latest gear and goodies, and of course fame and fortune! The cast of Glee is joining the action across two in-game updates. The first Glee pack includes host Will Schuester, director of the club. He presents new in-game challenges, unlockable Glee-themed instruments and the William McKinley High School recording  studio! Additional content available for in-game purchase features six iconic characters including Rachel Berry and Quinn Fabray, 18 new character challenges, a new A Cappella musical style and Believin’ lyrics. “Halfbrick is committed to working with the best brands in entertainment and creating content that lives up to fan expectations,” said Phil Larsen, Chief Marketing Officer at Halfbrick. “Glee is a phenomenon, and we couldn’t be happier to partner with Fox Digital Entertainment for the ultimate Glee-themed mobile music mash-up!” “We are thrilled to collaborate with Halfbrick, as we've been big fans of their games for quite some time.” added Matt McMahon, Vice President, Mobile, Fox Digital Entertainment. "When we saw and played Band Stars, we knew the game was a perfect fit for Glee — fun, creative and a new way to interact with your favorite characters from the show.” All new players who download Band Stars will find the Glee content already available. Band Stars is available for free from the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch or at appstore.com/bandstars Trailer: youtu.be/zIEf8Mn6SQw App Store link: appstore.com/bandstars Official website: bandstars.com

About Halfbrick Halfbrick is a professional game development studio based in Brisbane, Australia. Founded in 2001, it has developed many popular games across mobile and digital platforms including Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride and Colossatron. For further information, please visit halfbrick.com and follow on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook!

About Six Foot Kid

Six Foot Kid is a new game developer based in Adelaide, South Australia. Halfbrick is an investor in the new team, which originally formed as a game development arm of The People’s Republic of Animation, and professional video and animation studio. Band Stars is their debut game.

About Fox Digital Entertainment

Fox Digital Entertainment (FDE) is the Twentieth Century Fox division dedicated to fostering new and innovative mobile content and apps in emerging distribution channels. FDE develops and produces original videos, apps, and games based on new concepts and extensions of existing Fox brands. The group has produced a number of award-winning products, among them GLEE™ KARAOKE, ANGRY BIRDS™ RIO, ICE AGE VILLAGE™, THE SIMPSONS™ TAPPED OUT and many more.

UTOPIATES: THE VOICE OF AEON FLUX IS BACK!
Actress Denise Poirier & cyberpunk legend John Shirley join forces with AudioComics
for a full-cast audio adaptation of Josh Finney's UTOPIATES.

AudioComics is excited to announce the launch of its new Kickstarter to help fund UTOPIATES, its latest full-cast audio
production. Based on the award-winning graphic novel by Josh Finney (Titanium Rain, Star Trek: Enterprise) and Kat Rocha

(Giant-Sized Batman #1), the production will star Denise Poirier, the voice and soul of MTV's Æon Flux. Poirier will voice the
Prophet, a shadowy figure who deals in the most illicit of bio-engineered drugs in a futuristic Los Angeles. "I'm so thrilled about
this," says Poirier. "I can already see how I'm going to be able to slip into her skin."
According to author Josh Finney, "It's Denise's character who ties the narrative together. She's a force of nature. When the
Prophet enters the scene, people's lives change forever."

A merging of the words utopia and opiate, UTOPIATES follows the lives of four individuals whose paths intersect by way of
the drug. The drug's appeal is that it allows uers to inject the memories, dreams, and most importantly, the personalities, of
others. Every user has his own reasons for seeking this chemical escape, but all learn the high price of “soul swapping.”

The UTOPIATES will be a full-cast production, voiced by veteran actors, with state-of-the-art sound effects and an original
score by BBC soundtrack composer, Jonathan Sharp. Also featured will be choice songs from bands Bio-Tek, New Mind and
Slingshot Venus. Helming the project is Audie Award-winning director Bill Dufris.
"Our aim is to bring the art form of radio drama into the 21st Century," says Dufris. "Just like our prior success with Titanium
Rain, this will not be another classic radio play of old. Utopiates will have the same immersive depth, effects and intensity
we've come to expect from a high-budget film."

If AudioComics meets all its Kickstarter goals, UTOPIATES will be a two-disc set. The first disc will be an adaptation of Finney
& Rocha's graphic novel. The second will offer three new stories set in the UTOPIATES universe; one scripted by Finney, one
by an author to be announced, and the third by sci-fi legend John Shirley. Screenwriter of the The Crow, starring the late
Brandon Lee, and one of the godfathers of cyberpunk, elements of Shirley's novels have found their way into properties such
as Dark Angel, Max Headroom, and most notably, The Matrix Trilogy.


About utopiAtes: An unflinching portrayal of human behavior at its most extreme. In the near future, science is able to distill
human personalities into a drug called Utopiates that allows users to swap personalities with the "mental imprints" of others.
The 120-page Utopiates graphic novel follows the interconnected lives of three individuals. Each is a user for his own reasons,
but all learn that the cost of soul swapping is extremely high.

About AudioComiCs: Under the guidance of producers Lance Roger Axt, William Dufris, and Elaine Lee, AudioComics provides
superior audio entertainment with professional full-cast audio productions from the world of graphic novels, speculative lit,
and related media. Past productions include Jamal Igle's Molly Danger, Thomas Jane's Bad Planet, Starstruck by Elaine Lee
and Michael Kaluta, and Josh Finney's Titanium Rain, which was nominated for two Audie Awards from the Audiobook
Publishers Association, received the Silver Mark Time Award, and AudioFile Magazine's Earphones Award.

Tribes Returns To Print In Style

Acclaimed Graphic Novel Receives A Deluxe Hardcover!

 

San Diego, CA (March 27, 2014) – Rediscover the post-apocalyptic world of Tribes this May when an all-new deluxe edition hardcover packed with artwork and bonus material lands on book shelves everywhere.

Since providing stunning illustrations to the story written by Michael Geszel and Peter Spinetta, artist Inaki Miranda has become a breakout artist at Vertigo, where his work on Coffin Hill has earned him further accolades and recognition. One look at Tribes and it's no mystery why.

Imagined by Geszel and Spinetta, in this sci-fi epic a deadly virus constricts the human lifespan to only twenty-one years, leaving the world in shambles, and a future where teenage youth lead the last of humanity. Can an old tale lead to a new hope and chance at survival for those that remain?

Capitalizing on the deep mythology of the book and Miranda's artistic talents, Tribes: The Dog Years Special Edition features a "found relic" design that looks as if Sundog of the Sky Shadow tribe fashioned it himself.

This deluxe edition collects the original tale in its entirety plus brand new development pages from Miranda. From extremely detailed penciled pages, to concept designs and pin-ups, the meticulous work of a modern master is on full-display in this hardcover deluxe edition.

“Two years after finishing my work on the book, the world of Tribes still lives in my head. That's how strong this creation is and how powerful the characters are,” said Miranda. Geszel continued, “I'm thrilled with the new edition, especially the chance to show Inaki's stellar pencil work in full pages and publish some marvelous concept designs of new characters.”

Celebrated creator Paul Pope says “Tribes is like Mad Max by way of Disney. Inaki draws with a widescreen vision that jumps off the page." See it for yourself when the new edition hits stores in May.

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS TURNING POINT: 1997-2008,

A NEW MEMOIR FOR LEGENDARY FILMMAKER

HAYAO MIYAZAKI

Collection Of Essays And Interviews Spotlights Critical Stage Of Career And Complements A New Paperback Edition Of

STARTING POINT: 1979-1996

San Francisco, CA, March 26, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the release of TURNING POINT: 1997-2008, an insightful collection of essays, interviews, memoirs, and illustrations from legendary animation director Hayao Miyazaki. The new title covers the critical stage in the legendary director’s career when his animated films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo began to garner a significant international audience. TURNING POINT: 1997-2008 will debut as a hardcover edition on April 8^th and will carry an MSRP of $29.99 U.S. / $34.99 CAN.

TURNING POINT: 1997-2008 is the companion second volume to the earlier Miyazaki chronicle, STARTING POINT: 1979-1996, which was originally published by VIZ Media in 2009. This volume examined the first part of Miyazaki’s career, during which he rose from humble beginnings to create the seminal animated features  Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, Castle In The Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Porco Rosso, as well as his launch of Studio Ghibli. A fitting introduction is offered by John Lasseter, the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney. VIZ Media will release STARTING POINT: 1979-1996 in a new paperback edition on April 8^th under the Studio Ghibli Library imprint with an MSRP of $16.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN.

TURNING POINT: 1997-2008 follows Hayao Miyazaki as his grand vision continued to mature, cinema-lovers worldwide discovered and embraced his creations, and prominent film critics such as Roger Ebert delivered tremendous acclaim for the director’s films. In his legendary career, these crucial years represent the turning point. In the mid-1990s, Miyazaki moved from success to success as his work found a fervent audience outside of Japan. His animated films of the era, including Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo, were internationally lauded, and Miyazaki won an Academy Award^® in 2003 for his film, Spirited Away, which was a commercial and critical hit.

“These two memoirs focused on Hayao Miyazaki are extremely insightful and give tribute to the power of animation as an art form,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “Both STARTING POINT and TURNING POINT offer collections of essays, interviews, and memoirs that go back to the roots of Miyazaki's childhood, the founding of Studio Ghibli and continues with essays and discussions focusing on some of his most popular films, including Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away. A captivating must-read for any anime aficionado or fan of the entrepreneurial spirit, these new books are wonderful tributes to a true visionary’s unending dedication and skill as a master storyteller.”

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. His first feature, The Castle of Cagliostro, was released in 1979. His film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga, was released in 1984. In 1985 Miyazaki cofounded Studio Ghibli, through which he directed the box-office smashes Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), which won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival and the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) received the Osella Award for technical achievement at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival. In 2005 VIFF awarded Miyazaki the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement. His other acclaimed films include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo. Miyazaki's essays, interviews, and memoirs have been collected in Starting Point: 1979-1996 and Turning Point: 1997-2008. His final film, The Wind Rises, was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award®. 

VIZ Media will also be releasing a stunning full-color hardcover edition, THE ART OF THE WIND RISES, based on Hayao Miyazaki’s latest and final feature film, on April 8^th

For more information on a variety of Hayao Miyazaki titles published by 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.

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© 1996 Nibariki

© 1996 Studio Ghibli

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, fantasy, 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.

THE POWER AND THE GLORY

A female superhero for a new age in a deluxe hardcover edition

Glory is a force of the supernatural — half Amazon, half demon, she wields fearsome power in the service of what she hopes is right. After her heroics in World War II, she became a symbol of hope and justice, inspiring old and young around the world. And then she disappeared.   The April hardcover graphic novel from Image Comics GLORY: The Complete Saga by Joe Keatinge (HELL YEAH, Morbius: The Living Vampire) and Ross Campbell (Wet Moon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) tells the complete story of a young woman’s quest to find Glory and bring her back into a world that needs her. But what Riley doesn’t anticipate is that the global conspiracy that has kept Glory hidden for decades could make Glory’s re-emergence more dangerous than anything else the world has known.   Widely praised for being grounded in relationships even as the conflict stretches far beyond the realm of earthly reality and for Campbell’s revolutionary character design, GLORY presented a new and wholly fresh vision of the female superhero for the 21st century.   Created in 1995 by one of the Image Comics founders, Rob Liefeld, GLORY received a contemporary reimagining in 2012 with a new comic book series that ran for twelve issues. Those issues are now being collected into GLORY: The Complete Saga, a 352-page hardcover tome due in comic book stores on April 23 and bookstores on May 6. The deluxe oversized edition includes never-before-seen sketches, scripts, commentary, interviews, and a stunning wraparound cover with art by Campbell.   A necessity in any forward-looking superhero fan’s collection, GLORY: The Complete Saga is available for pre-order now.   GLORY: The Complete Saga by Joe Keatinge and Ross Campbell ISBN 978-1-60706-960-7 352 pages, full color, hardbound $34.99 Collects GLORY #23-34 In comic book stores April 23, bookstores May 6 Available for pre-order now Retailers and reviewers may request a PDF galley from Jennifer de Guzman, Director of Trade Book Sales — jenniferdeguzman@imagecomics.com   Praise for GLORY:   “Keatinge and Campbell beautifully craft a compelling reintroduction to the character of Glory, seen through the eyes of Riley Barnes. When Riley finds Glory hiding and healing from injuries… she soon discovers that she may be destined not to save Glory, but to save the world from the uncontrollable anger of a woman created to be a weapon to end a war by beings far more powerful than anything on Earth by destroying both sides. Campbell's art is stunning, creating a female hero who is physically intimidating in a way never seen in superhero comics and creating worlds both familiar and fantastically bizarre, and characters ranging from friendly old French bartenders to armies of individually distinct demon-like creatures from another world. Keatinge's story gives instant depth to its complex characters and excels at slowly presenting a more and more complex narrative spanning thousands of years and several worlds and cultures.” –Publishers Weekly   “Some of the most innovative and ballsy work comics has seen for a long time. This is a re-launch, people.” –Kelly Thompson, Comic Book Resources   “What [Keatinge and Campbell] do in this book, and more importantly the way they do it, feels like something bold and new and different…. It feels like what’s next.” –Chris Sims, Comics Alliance

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, fantasy, 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.