Friday, May 09, 2014

'EVIL EMPIRE' #2 GETS AN ENCORE,
GOES TO SECOND PRINTING


Evil Empire #2 Cover 2nd Print
EVIL EMPIRE #2 2nd Print Cover by Andre De Freitas
 
May 9,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios is thrilled to announce that EVIL EMPIRE #2, the hit series from Say Anything lead singer Max Bemis (POLARITY) and artist Ransom Getty (Guarding the Globe) that follows the making of a corrupt, immoral society, has sold out at the distributor level. The publisher has rushed to a second printing.
Comic book fans should bear in mind that first printings of EVIL EMPIRE #2 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!
“EVIL EMPIRE #2 reaching a second print is a special benchmark for a series that is garnering a ton of critical acclaim for us,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Max has created a charged and powerful story that asks the hard questions about morality and its place in politics. He gives us a view of how a society could crumble and how a true evil empire rises. What’s even more exciting? The story is barely getting started.”
In EVIL EMPIRE #2, the sands are shifting in America’s public consciousness. One action has torn the country apart in a debate over the meaning of right and wrong, and Reese is not about to stand by as the American people support the rantings of a mad man. But how far will people go to take a stand for what they believe in?
Praise for EVIL EMPIRE #2
“Max proved with POLARITY that he was an excellent writer…and he has hit it out of the park again with EVIL EMPIRE.” - TMStash
“...a Fight Club for the 21st Century—an insightful punk rock record distilled into comic book form…” - Big Comic Page
“The questions asked by EMPIRE are thought-provoking, interesting and leave me wanting more.” - Adventures In Poor Taste
EVIL EMPIRE #2 second print ships with a new cover by Andre De Freitas and carries a retail price of $3.99 with a Diamond Code of MAR148325. It is anticipated to be in stores on May 28.

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.
EARLY ARTWORK FROM
RISE OF THE MAGI RELEASED

A first look at electrifying interior art by Marc Silvestri

The world as we know it is at risk because the world we don’t see—the one that makes ours possible—is on the brink of destruction. From Top Cow Productions and featuring writing and interior art by Image Comics founder and partner Marc Silvestri (THE DARKNESS, WITCHBLADE, CYBER FORCE) alongside art by Sumeyye Kesgin, comes a new ongoing fantasy adventure series.

“The unfamiliar, the uncomfortable, and the things that scare us are what make us grow as people,” said Silvestri. “It’s safe then to say that in Rise of the Magi, Asa [series protagonist] and a cast of characters both strange and familiar, will be doing a lot of growing.”

The Magi are awake and they are legion, and only seven magicians, sorcerers, thieves, and killers can stop them. But as Asa will soon find out that there truly is no honor among thieves.

The adventure begins in RISE OF THE MAGI #1 this June. Cover A with art by Marc Silvestri can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code MAR140483. Cover B with art by Stjepan Sejic can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code MAR140484. Cover C with art by Sumeyye Kesgin can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code MAR140485. Cover D (retail incentive) with art by Marc Silvestri will be available to pre-order with Diamond Code MAR140486.

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.
Wuvable Oaf
Fantagraphics Feels the Wuv with Ed Luce
SEATTLE, WA—MAY 9, 2014. Fantagraphics Books is proud to announce the acquisition of Ed Luce’s indie comic sensation Wuvable Oaf, to be released March 2015. Like Sex and the City but with adorable, ex-wrestler hairy gay men (or bears), Wuvable Oaf is Luce’s debut graphic novel. This book fills a romance comics hole by portraying a likeable gay male character that is both fully realized and relatable. Mostly playful, but sometimes serious, Wuvable Oaf captures the levity of loneliness. Luce delivers a rom-com that would leave Zack Galifianakis and Zooey Deschanel feuding over who got to play Oaf in a hypothetical movie adaptation.
Oaf is a large, hirsute, scary-looking ex-wrestler who lives in San Francisco with his adorable kitties, and listens to a lot of Morrissey. The book follows Oaf’s search for love in the big city, especially his pursuit of Eiffel, the lead singer of the black metal/queercore/progressive disco grindcore band Ejaculoid. Luce weaves friends, associates, enemies, ex-lovers, and the pasts of both men into the story of their courtship. Like Scott Pilgrim, Love and Rockets, and Archie, Wuvable Oaf explores the joys and pains of romantic conquests, set against the backdrop of the San Francisco scene. After decades of comics about boy-loves-girl, Luce finally gives readers of all orientations some insight into man-loves-man. Oaf’s silly, sweet, and sometimes sexy stories will win over everyone’s heart.
“The first indie comics I ever bought were published by Fantagraphics, including Love and Rockets, Eightball and Usagi Yojimbo,” explains cartoonist Ed Luce. “Much of Wuvable Oaf's DNA was directly influenced by Fantagraphics publications. In putting this collection together, it's like they’ve stepped forward to claim paternity. I couldn't be more excited to find myself in the company of such wonderful work.”
Fantagraphics associate publisher Eric Reynolds says he’s "eager to take Ed Luce’s infectious voice and inviting visual style to a bigger stage, because I believe he’s only scratched the surface of his potential audience for the Oaf, who is one of the most singular characters to emerge from the corners of ‘alternative comics’ in several years.”
Ed Luce (pronounced “loose,” like the opposite of tight) has made a huge splash in the comics scene with his self-published comic book series. Since 2008 he’s been traveling to conventions and comics festivals all over the U.S. Wuvable Oaf has garnered a huge following of fans both in the comics world and in the queer art world. Luce lives in San Francisco with his partner and collaborator, Mark, and their kitty, Luna. He can regularly be found either under a pile of drawing paper or at a local comics festival.
WUVABLE OAF
By Ed Luce
March 2015 • $29.99
Hardcover • ISBN 978-1-60699-816-8
264 pages, black & white with 16 pages color
Wuvable Oaf
Ed Luce
Wuvable Oaf


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PIVOT’S ‘TAKEPART LIVE’ SHAKES UP NIGHTLY NEWS PROGRAMMING WITH AN UNFILTERED APPROACH FROM GEN Y AND FOR GEN Y STARTING MAY 12th

Hosts Meghan McCain, Jacob Soboroff, and Eddie Huang Along with Celebrity Guests and Experts Tackle Issues of the Day and Invite the Audience to Take Part and Take Action

Los Angeles, May 9, 2014 – Pivot’s nightly topical news series, TakePart Live, hosted by Meghan McCain, Jacob Soboroff and Eddie Huang, is set to premiere its new season in primetime on May 12th.  With a fresh take on the nightly news format, brand-new set design, and an eclectic guest list, the show airs at a new time 10pm ET/9 PM CT.  The announcement was made today by Pivot’s Belisa Balaban, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Craig Parks, Senior Vice President, Live Programming.

TakePart Live is an interactive news show, where Gen Y audiences get informed and get involved in the world around them. Meghan, Jacob and Eddie offer very different perspectives to issues making headlines around the world, trending online, culled from social media and pop culture at large.  What happens over the hour-long program is a freewheeling, intelligent conversation among personalities who may not agree on the issues but are willing to entertain an alternative point of view, unlike nearly all issue-oriented cable television. The new season, produced by Embassy Row (Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, AMC’s Talking Bad and The Talking Dead), airs live Monday through Thursdays, with a special highlights show on Fridays.

“The show goes beyond talking points and screaming matches to understand the issues, why they matter, and what you can do about them,“ said Craig Parks. “TakePart Live is the opposite of a traditional primetime news program presenting the often nuanced sides of an argument through intelligent, unfiltered conversations with hosts and guests you just won't see anywhere else.”

In addition to topical news coverage, the hosts will provide their unique perspectives through signature segments including: Meghan’s "No Offense," where she takes to task the hypocritical actions of celebrities, politicians and other newsmakers; Jacob will dive into stories concerning civil rights and how they can be eroded without us even knowing it; and Eddie will examine what it means to be a conscious consumer. The conversation continues online at TakePart.com with videos, in-depth coverage about issues and opportunity to take action through the Take Action Platform (TAP). TakePart Live will also explore wide-ranging topics on air and online including the death penalty, immigration, religion in government, women’s rights, food insecurity, the minimum wage, and the treatment and lives of America’s Veterans. 

Audiences can tune into an eclectic mix of celebrities, cultural personalities, experts, and social media power players with particular expertise on the night’s issues or who represent the interests of Pivot’s audience. Premiere week guests include: Drake Bell (actor, musician, television personality), Candace Cameron-Bure (Dancing with the Stars, Full House), Chris ‘Drama’ Pfaff (entrepreneur and owner of Young & Reckless), Hannah & Mamrie Hart (YouTube sensations), Tony Award winning actor, Dan Fogler (Spelling Bee), Hasan Minhaj (comedian, Stand Up Planet), King Bach (Vine sensation) and more.  Future guests include: Alexis Ohanian (co-founder of Reddit), comedian, Margaret Cho, YouTube sensations Bart Baker and iJustine, Sana Amanat (editor of Marvel Entertainment and creator of the new Ms. Marvel character) and journalist/filmmaker, Jose Antonio Vargas (founder of Define American), to name a few.

The TakePart Live studio in Los Angeles, designed by Jeff Hall of the award-winning design firm JHD Group, provides an industrial, post modern and eclectic backdrop for the show including an original mural created by acclaimed street artist Justin Bua.

About Pivot
Pivot (Pivot.tv) is a television network from Participant Media serving passionate Millennials (18-34) with a diverse slate of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content and, through its website
TakePart.com, connects audiences to a wealth of content and customizable actions. Pivot is available nationally via major cable providers and offers subcribers a live and on-demand streaming option via its interactive, downloadable Pivot app. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision.

About Participant Media
Participant (
ParticipantMedia.com) is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant's more than 45 films include GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC., WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’, THE HELP, CONTAGION and LINCOLN. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network TakePart.com and Pivot, its new television network for Millennials, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.

About Embassy Row
Embassy Row is a New York City-based television and digital production company dedicated to developing and acquiring original formats for television networks and online distribution in the U.S. and abroad. The company specializes in the genres of talk, games, competition, comedy, factual, food and sports and are pioneers in the areas of brand and social media integration.  Recent credits include:  Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” Oxygen’s “The Glee Project” and AMC’s “The Talking Dead.” Embassy Row is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television.

RELIVE CLASSIC GOTHAM CITY as WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT Releases
THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN
ON DVD June 3, 2014

34 Action-Packed Classic Shorts on a Two-Disc Set

BURBANK, CA (May 7, 2014) – One of America’s original crime fighting heroes is back to defend Gotham City as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases The Adventures of Batman. This animated television series was produced by Lou Schiemer’s Filmation Studios and features DC Comics favorites Batman, Robin, Mr. Freeze, Joker, Catwoman, Riddler and Penguin. DC Comics fans won’t want to miss these classic action-packed shorts, available for the first time on DVD on June 3, 2014, for $19.97 SRP.

The Adventures of Batman is an American animated television series produced by Lou Schiemer's Filmation Studios, which first broadcast as part of The Batman/Superman Hour in 1968.  Each of the 34 shorts features over-the-top characters and catchy dramatic music cues, giving this version of Batman a realistic look and feel—by cartoon standards of the day. The film’s colors are vibrant, exciting and truly exemplify the character of these original films.

The Adventures of Batman is a must-have set for DC Comic fans young and old.” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing and Partner Brands. “The Adventures of Batman is a classic that will excite this new generation of fans with its non-stop action and comedic relief.”


Disc 1
1.       “How Many Herring in a Wheelbarrow?”/ “A Bird Out of Hand”
2.       “The Cool, Cruel Mr. Freeze”/ “The Joke's on Robin”
3.       “Bubi, Bubi, Who’s Got the Ruby?” / “Opera Buffa”
4.       “The Nine Lives of Batman”/ “In Again, Out Again Penguin”
5.       “The Big Birthday Caper”/ “Long John Joker”
6.       “The Crime Computer”/ “1001 Faces of the Riddler”
7.       “Partners in Peril”/ “Two Penguins Too Many”
8.       “Hizzoner the Joker” / “The Underworld, Underground Caper”
9.       “Will the Real Robin Please Stand Up” / “Freeze’s Frozen Vikings”

Disc 2
1.       “Simon the Pieman”/ “The Great Scarecrow Scare”
2.       “My Crime is Your Crime”/ “Beware of Living Dolls”
3.       “From Catwoman with Love” / “He Who Wipes the Ice, Goes to the Cooler”
4.       “A Game of Cat and Mouse”/ “A Mad, Mad Tea Party”
5.       “A Perfidious Pieman Is Simon”/ “Perilous Playthings”
6.       “The Fiendishly Frigid Fraud” / “The Cool Cruel Christmas Caper”
7.       “The Jigsaw Jeopardy”/ “Enter the Judge”
8.       “It Takes Two to Make a Team” / “Wrath of the Riddler”

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WB Ultra.

About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games.  Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.

BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. (s14)

Thursday, May 08, 2014

SAKAI’S USAGI YOJIMBO RETURNS WITH NEW SERIES  
PLUS NEW SOFTCOVER AND LIMITED HARDCOVER OMNIBUS EDITIONS!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  MILWAUKIE, OR—With more than two hundred issues and counting, Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo is among comics’ most monumental achievements. In celebration of thirty years of the marvelous samurai rabbit saga, Usagi Yojimbo is set to return in an all-new six-issue miniseries, Usagi Yojimbo: Senso, followed by the debut of the Usagi Yojimbo Saga collection!

Twenty years in his future, Miyamoto Usagi fights as a general for Lord Noriyuki, against the treacherous Lord Hikiji. In the fury of the final battle, a metal rocket crashes to earth—and inside is an enemy that neither side could have ever imagined! Witness the final fates of your favorite Usagi characters, in this all-new samurai epic with a startling science fiction twist!

Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1 is on sale in comic shops everywhere August 6! 

To celebrate the rabbit ronin’s thirtieth anniversary, Dark Horse proudly presents Miyamoto Usagi’s epic trek along the warrior’s path in a new series of deluxe compilations: The Usagi Yojimbo Saga.

In the first volume, Usagi protects a village from a band of assassins, reluctantly engages in a duel for blood money, hunts a gangster who has stolen his swords, and more.

Collecting Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 2 #1–#16 and Vol. 3 #1–#6, and featuring over six hundred pages of samurai action and adventure, The Usagi Yojimbo Saga is the ultimate introduction to Sakai’s enduring samurai masterpiece!

The Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 1 will be available in both limited hardcover and softcover omnibus editions in comic shops on October 15!

Praise for Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo:

“One of the most original, innovative, well-executed comicbooks anywhere to be found.” —Stan Lee

“Stan Sakai has successfully brought to American comics a collection of Japanese fables well told in the American style. Usagi Yojimbo is an enduring work. Bravo.”
—Will Eisner

Humbly presented but a paragon of its art.” —Booklist

Usagi Yojimbo is a genuine pleasure for readers of all ages.”—Publishers Weekly


About Dark Horse
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.
SHOUT!FACTORYHiResRGBMK_Animation_Logo
For Immediate release

From Eisner Award Nominees Jason Aaron and Artist Ron Garney

MARVEL KNIGHTS ANIMATION PRESENTS
WOLVERINE WEAPON X: TOMORROW DIES TODAY

UNLEASHED ON HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHELVES FOR THE FIRST TIME
OWN IT ON DVD MAY 13, 2014 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

This spring, Marvel fans will have the chance to witness the epically brutal battle between one of Marvel’s greatest heroes Wolverine and the ruthless cyborg villain Deathlok the Demolisher.  Eisner Award nominees Jason Aaron (Thor: God of Thunder, Wolverine) and artist Ron Garney (Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man) team up to deliver the exciting comic book action adventure WOLVERINE WEAPON X: TOMORROW DIES TODAY. This adrenaline pumping story captures Wolverine’s life as it becomes more complicated when cybernetic robots from the future embark on a Super Hero killing spree, and the only person who can help, is a young waitress who insists that she knows him - or at least, the person he will become.  On May 13, 2014, Marvel Knights Animation’s WOLVERINE WEAPON X: TOMORROW DIES TODAY DVD debuts for the first time on home entertainment shelves from Shout! Factory. 

This highly anticipated Marvel Knights Animation feature boasts unparalleled storytelling combined with rich visual animation and an exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus feature that provides an intimate look at the development and production process of this amazing story. This deluxe DVD is collected in a unique comic book style packaging that bridges the comic book to DVD concept.

Marvel Knights Animation remains true to the heritage of panel-by-panel graphic storytelling, boasting groundbreaking illustrations, sensational soundscapes, and of course, the explosiveness of the mighty Marvel universe. Behind every image and every word lies the genius of Marvel’s celebrated creators.

Synopsis:

The future is controlled by a malevolent mega-corporation known as Roxxon — which keeps its tight grip on society through the use of cyborgs, the Deathloks, whose sole purpose is to seek out current and future vigilantes — and neutralize them with extreme prejudice. Now, in order to prevent Roxxon's rise and the eventual slaughter of the world's heroes, Wolverine must join forces with a mysterious woman possessing unexplained knowledge of the coming dystopia. He won't give up until the Deathloks are stopped, but what hope is there to prevent a future that has already come to pass?

Special Bonus Content:
Brand-New Exclusive DVD Featurette that takes viewers into the creation of the Marvel Knights Animation title, Wolverine Weapon X: Tomorrow Dies Today.


About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.  For more information visit marvel.com.

About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD and Blu-Ray™ offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials in lavish packages crammed with extras.  Shout’s audio division boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, Broadway cast albums, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations.  In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast digital distribution network which delivers video and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America.  Shout! Factory also owns and operates Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, HighTone Records and Video Time Machine. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention.  Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com
#              #              #
Pre-order Marvel Knights Animation’s WOLVERINE WEAPON X: TOMORROW DIES TODAY DVD at :
Walmart.com

what IF YOUR FUTURE WAS THE PAST?
© 2014 Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved.
STARZ TO PREMIERE “OUTLANDER”
sATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH AT 9PM ET/PT 
 
Starz Releases “Outlander” Key Art
 
Beverly Hills, Calif. –May 8, 2014Starz announced today that its highly anticipated new original series “Outlander,” adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) will debut Saturday, August 9th at 9pm ET/PT. The sixteen-episode first season is currently shooting on location in Scotland. For more information, go to the official Outlander Facebook Page and follow @Outlander_Starz on Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation with #Outlander and #STARZ. 

Starz also released the official image of the key art with the tagline, “What if your future was the past?” The poster depicts Claire (Caitriona Balfe), a married British combat nurse from 1945 who mysteriously falls back in time to 1743 Scotland, where she is torn between her husband Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a Scottish warrior who comes to her rescue. The image represents Claire's physical and emotional journey. At the start of the series, she is a woman who has been transported into the past, but she's reaching back and trying to stay connected to the life and husband that are now beyond her reach. Starz collaborated with The Refinery and photographer Frank Ockenfels 3 to create the key art which was shot on location in the Scottish highlands.
The “Outlander” series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history, and adventure in one epic tale. It follows Claire Randall as she navigates the hidden dangers of 18th century Scotland, an unknown world where her freedom and very life are at risk. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Diana Gabaldon’s seven-book series has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and has graced the New York Times best-seller list six times. The eighth installment of the “Outlander” series titled “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood” will be released June 10th, 2014.

The first two episodes of the series are written by Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore and directed by John Dahl (“Dexter,” “Breaking Bad,” “Justified”). “Outlander” is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining & Supply Company and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television.

In addition to Caitriona Balfe (Claire), Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser) and Tobias Menzies (Frank Randall/Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall), the cast if “Outlander” also includes Graham McTavish (Dougal MacKenzie), Gary Lewis (Colum MacKenzie), Lotte Verbeek (Geillis Duncan), Duncan Lacroix (Murtagh FitzGibbons Fraser).

Starz retains all domestic multiplatform pay TV rights to the original series.




About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.

Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies.  As of March 31, 2014, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.3 million subscribers, including 21.9 million at STARZ, and 34.4 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S.  STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX®, air over 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television.  Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties.  Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.

About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com), a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, is one of the television industry’s leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, around the world and for a multitude of platforms.  In addition to one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) boasts a current program slate that includes top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT has 18 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 15 countries outside the U.S. and also maintains offices in 32 countries. SPT’s worldwide television networks portfolio includes 124 channel feeds available in 159 countries, reaching more than 800 million households worldwide.  SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE’s premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns production company Embassy Row and is a part owner of cable channel Game Show Network (GSN), 3D channel 3net, premier horror/thriller website and VOD service FEARnet and national U.S media sales company ITN Networks, Inc.  SPT advertiser sales is one of the premier national advertising sales companies and handles the commercial inventory in SPT’s syndicated series as well as in U.S. digital businesses including FEARnet, DrOz.com and PlayStation. 
VIZ MEDIA OFFERS SPRING MANGA EXCITEMENT WITH A NEW DIGITAL UPDATE

Full-Color Graphic Novel ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, Digital First Debut Of FOOD WARS! Vol. 2, The Return Of FATE/STAY NIGHT And FUTURE DIARY, Plus More!

VIZ Media continues the push into spring as it announces its latest digital update, featuring the exclusive digital-first release of Vol. 2 of the hit culinary battle comedy, FOOD WARS!: SHOKUGEKI NO SOMA on May 20th, as well as the debut of an original, full-color, official graphic novel adaption of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, the sci-fi action novel that inspired the forthcoming summer blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.

Notable additions also include the release today of PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE, Vol. 2 along with the final volumes for PSYREN (Vol. 16), STROBE EDGE (Vol. 10) and OTOMEN (Vol. 18). May 20th will see the release of the final volumes for BOYS OVER FLOWERS (Vol. 36) and KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC (Vol. 28). The climactic conclusions for Osamu Tezuka’s masterpiece, PHOENIX (vol. 12), along with the finale of the soccer drama, WHISTLE! (Vol. 12), are scheduled for May 27th.

Readers are also invited to catch the digital launch of FATE/STAY NIGHT and FUTURE DIARY. Both series were previously released in North America, and will be available once again beginning May 20th in a digital exclusive at an MSRP of only $4.99 each (U.S. / CAN).

Readers can enjoy these and many other new May manga updates available on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets, These titles may also be purchased through the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and GooglePlay stores. These dynamic platforms offer fans the opportunity to explore and enjoy a massive catalog of new and classic manga titles that spans more than 2,000 volumes across nearly 200 different series.

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL Graphic Novel · Unrated · MSRP: $8.99 (U.S. / CAN) · Available Now!
Written by Haikasoru editor and noted sci-fi author, Nick Mamatas, featuring full-color artwork by popular comic book artist Lee Ferguson (Green Arrow, Miranda Mercury), the new graphic novel offers a single-volume retelling of the original ALL YOU NEED IS KILL light novel that inspired the Edge of Tomorrow movie starring Tom Cruise!

When the alien Mimics invade, soldier Keiji Kiriya is killed, on the battlefield. But he wakes up the previous morning as if nothing happened and must fight the battle again…and again… and again. Teamed up with the mysterious female fighter known as the Full Metal Bitch, Keiji must figure out how to stop the cycle—and what role his new and deadly ally plays in the fight to save Earth.


New Title Available Later in May

FOOD WARS!: SHOKUGEKI NO SOMA, Vol. 2 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) · Available May 20th!
Soma Yukihira’s old man runs a small family restaurant in the less savory end of town. Aiming to one day surpass his father’s culinary prowess, Soma hones his skills day in and day out until one day, out of the blue, his father decides to enroll Soma in a classy culinary school! Can Soma really cut it in a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate? And can he convince the beautiful, domineering heiress of the school that he belongs there at all?! Leaving home for the first time in his young life, Soma moves into the  Polaris Dormitory—a place run by an old crone and filled with crazy and eccentric students! Barely settled in, Soma quickly finds himself in one of Tohzuki’s legendary cooking duels—a shokugeki! Who will his very first opponent be?

FATE/STAY NIGHT · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · MSRP: $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) ·
Available May 20th!
The manga addition to the super-popular multimedia franchise has finally arrived! When he was little, high school student and amateur mechanic Shirou Emiya was adopted by a magus man.  Now he wants nothing more than to follow in his stepfather's footsteps and become a hero of justice.  Little does he know that a war is waging among the Magi and that he is about to become its focal point. Vol. 2 debuts on May 27th.

FUTURE DIARY · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) ·
Available May 27th!
Sakae Esuno's chilling manga masterpiece is a relentless adventure that will have readers questioning the boundaries of time and space - and wishing for the slightest glimmer of hope in a dark, desolate world that may look surprisingly familiar. Yukiteru is a lonely student whose only hobby is the daily diary he keeps on his cell phone.  But Yukiteru has a secret that nobody knows about...his cellphone can tell the future! Now, a vicious game of survival is about to begin among twelve future diary holders - with the winner crowned god of the new world! Sakae Esuno's chilling shonen masterpiece should not be missed!

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. Through the innovative VIZ Manga digital platform registered users are able to use one account to view their purchased manga across more devices than ever. New series and volumes are added every Tuesday. Fans can also find these titles and more for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

All manga volumes are available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the VIZ Manga application starting from $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and readers can also explore all titles with free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Download the free VIZ Manga App for Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.

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All You Need Is Kill © 2004 by Hiroshi Sakurazaka