Friday, May 30, 2014

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES
PHOENIX COMICON 2014 SCHEDULE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | MILWAUKIE, OR - Join Dark Horse Comics for our first visit to Phoenix Comicon! We’ll be at booth #535—handing out giveaways and offering free signings with comics creators! Come check out our comics, books, and products for sale—including an exclusive Phoenix Comicon comic!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Certain restrictions may apply. All events are subject to change.
Thursday, June 5 
Star Wars: Rebel Heist #1 Phoenix Comicon Exclusive Adam Hughes Cover Variant goes on sale!
Price: $5.00
Total quantity available for sale at the show: 1,000
Limit: 10 copies per person, per day
Note: Most copies will be released for sale on Thursday, but a set quantity will be set aside for sale on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings.

SIGNINGS
Below are featured comics and the writers and/or artists who will be signing them. Free comics, prints, or posters will be available at each signing while supplies last. Comics will also be available for sale, availability pending.

Friday, June 6
11:00 a.m.            ELFQUEST Richard Pini (writer) and Wendy Pini (writer/artist)

12:00 p.m.            CRIMINAL MACABRE Christopher Mitten (artist)

1:00 p.m.            MASS EFFECT: FOUNDATION, X Tony Parker (artist)

STAR WARS: REBEL HEIST, STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI, GHOST Dan Parsons (artist)

2:00 p.m.            BAD BLOOD, WITCHFINDER, B.P.R.D. Tyler Crook (artist)
           
GRINDHOUSE Alex de Campi (writer)

3:00 p.m.            BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Amber Benson (writer/actress)

4:00 p.m.            THE FIFTH BEATLE Vivek J. Tiwary (writer)

5:30 p.m.            CONAN THE AVENGER, BRAIN BOY, THE COMPLETE SILENCERS, ACTION PHILOSOPHERS!
                        Fred Van Lente (writer)

6:00 p.m.            THE STRAIN Mike Huddleston (artist)

Saturday, June 7
11:00 a.m.            ALIENS: FIRE AND STONE Chris Roberson (writer)
*Free print! Aliens: Fire and Stone #1 on sale September 2014.

12:00 p.m.            GRINDHOUSE Alex de Campi (writer)

1:00 p.m.            THE STRAIN Mike Huddleston (artist)

2:00 p.m.            NEXUS Mike Baron (writer)

3:00 p.m.            CONAN THE AVENGER, BRAIN BOY, THE COMPLETE SILENCERS, ACTION PHILOSOPHERS!
                        Fred Van Lente (writer)

4:30 p.m.            THE FIFTH BEATLE Vivek J. Tiwary (writer)

6:00 p.m.            BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Christopher Golden (writer) and Amber Benson (writer/actress)

Sunday, June 8 
11:00 a.m.            GRINDHOUSE Alex de Campi (writer)

12:00 p.m.            BAD BLOOD, WITCHFINDER, B.P.R.D. Tyler Crook (artist)

1:00 p.m.            BALTIMORE Christopher Golden (writer)

2:00 p.m.            BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Amber Benson (writer/actress)

PANELS

Friday, June 6
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.                         Spotlight Panel: Fred Van Lente (North 128b)

Fred Van Lente has done it all. With work ranging from semieducational funnies to superhero reboots, he is widely regarded as one of the most unique voices in modern comics. Did we mention zombies? He’s done that too. Now, join us for a look back at his storied career so far, as well as a glimpse into what’s next for comics’ rising star, with announcements and more! 

Saturday, June 7
12:00–1:00 p.m.            ElfQuest: The Final Quest (North 129a)

For the last 35 years, Wendy and Richard Pini have delighted fans with one of alternative comics’ most rich and storied worlds. Now, in partnership with Dark Horse, the Wolfriders embark on the “Final Quest,” to fulfill a destiny over three decades in the making!


3:00–4:00 p.m. Drawing on Your Nightmares: Modern Horror in Comics!
 (North 129b) 

One of the cornerstones of the Dark Horse publishing line since the early years has been an original take on the horror genre. Now, join us for a look at what’s to come in this year’s lineup with a cast of writers and artists who are poised to thrill you and chill you. Christopher Golden (Baltimore), Chris Roberson (Aliens), Alex de Campi (Grindhouse), Tyler Crook (Witchfinder), Mike Huddleston (The Strain), and Christopher Mitten (Criminal Macabre) are joined by Dark Horse’s own Aub Driver for a discussion on “bringing scary back.”

3:00–4:00 p.m.            The Fifth Beatle (West 211)

The Fifth Beatle is a graphic novel about the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, written by Vivek Tiwary. Vivek talks about the graphic novel (a 2014 Eisner Award nominee) and the upcoming movie based upon it.

Sunday, June 8 
12:00–1:00 p.m.            30 Years and Counting: Comics Classics in the Modern Age (ElfQuest: 1978; Nexus: 1981, Groo: 1982) (North 128b)

In the late 1970s and early ’80s, some of the most inventive and inspired alternative comics found a place on shelves. ElfQuest offered a unique vision of black and white fantasy, while Nexus gave readers a version of the superhero idea more rooted in science fiction than capes and cowls. Meanwhile, Groo the Wanderer took a humorous take on the sword and sorcery genre, popularized by the likes of Conan the Barbarian in the previous decade. Over 30 years later, we pay tribute to some of comics’ longest-running ongoing collaborations for a discussion with the creators themselves! Join Richard and Wendy Pini (ElfQuest), Mike Baron (Nexus), and Mark Evanier (Groo) as they share the secrets to the success of a few of comics’ most revered story lines!
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BOOM! STUDIOS RISES AGAIN TO EXHIBIT AT PHOENIX COMICON

BEE AND PUPPYCAT #1 Phoenix Comicon Exclusive Cover by Anissa Espinosa
BEE AND PUPPYCAT #1 Phoenix Comicon Exclusive Cover by Anissa Espinosa

CLIVE BARKER'S NIGHTBREED #1 Phoenix Comicon Exclusive Cover by Tony Harris
CLIVE BARKER'S NIGHTBREED #1 Phoenix Comicon Exclusive Cover by Tony Harris
 
May 30,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - Award-winning comic book publisher BOOM! Studios announced today it will exhibit at Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, during the weekend of June 5-8.
 
BOOM! can be found at booth number 559 and will host the following creators all weekend:
 
  • Marc Andreyko (NIGHTBREED)
  • Michael Moreci (CURSE, ROBOCOP)
  • Chris Miskiewicz (THOMAS ALSOP)
  • Shaun Manning (INTERESTING DRUG)
  • Ian McGinty (ADVENTURE TIME: CANDY CAPERS, BRAVEST WARRIORS)
  • Zack Sterling (ADVENTURE TIME OGNs v1, 2 & 3)
  • Missy Pena (BRAVEST WARRIORS, AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL)
  • Aubrey Aiese (ADVENTURE TIME, LUMBERJANES)
  • Hannah Nance Partlow (ADVENTURE TIME: CANDY CAPERS (NOTE: Saturday only)
 
In addition, the BOOM! Studios booth will host the following creators on Friday and Saturday:
 
  • Eric M. Esquivel (LOKI: RAGNAROK & ROLL, ADVENTURE TIME, BRAVEST WARRIORS)
  • Christopher Golden (SONS OF ANARCHY) (NOTE: Friday only, 3-4pm)
     
Phoenix Comicon exclusive variant covers of CLIVE BARKER’S NIGHTBREED #1 illustrated by Tony Harris (Ex Machina, Iron Man) and BEE AND PUPPYCAT #1 illustrated by Anissa Espinosa (BRAVEST WARRIORS) will be available for purchase at the booth while supplies last.
 
For tickets and more information on Phoenix Comicon, visit phoenixcomicon.com.
 
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.
Saint Cole by Noah Van Sciver
Fantagraphics Welcomes Sophomore Graphic Novel From Noah Van Sciver
MAY 30, 2014, SEATTLE, WA — Fantagraphics has acquired the international rights to Saint Cole, the second graphic novel from critically acclaimed cartoonist Noah Van Sciver, coming in March of 2015. Serialized as a webcomic starting in 2013, this book highlights Van Sciver's ability to create dark portraits of contemporary twentysomething manhood.
Saint Cole depicts four days in the life of a twenty-eight-year-old suburbanite named Joe, who works at a pizzeria to support his girlfriend, Nicole, and their infant child. When Nicole invites her troubled mother to move into their two-bedroom apartment until she lands on her feet again, Joe reacts by retreating into alcohol: he wants out, and he’s angry. He’s in a position to act rashly — and he does. This sophomore graphic novel from Noah Van Sciver may seem like a left turn from his wildly successful debut — a graphic biography of Abraham Lincoln entitled The Hypo — yet upon closer reflection, it shares the cartoonist's preoccupation with pathos and the human condition.
"Basically from the beginning of my 'comics career' people have told me that my work was very Fantagraphics. That's a high compliment!" explains cartoonist Noah Van Sciver. "I was ecstatic when they became the publisher of my first book, and now I'm even happier to be working with them on my second graphic novel. It's a perfect fit."
"Noah Van Sciver is an aesthetic moving target," says Fantagraphics president Gary Groth. "Saint Cole couldn’t be more different from The Hypo — an intimate story that reflects the despair and nihilism of modernity."
The Hypo was lauded as MTV's "Best Graphic Novel of 2012," one of Library Journal's "Best Graphic Novels of 2012," #3 on Boing Boing's "Best Damn Comics of the Year" survey, #4 on Publishers Weekly's "2012 Graphic Novel Critics' Poll," one of the Ten Essential Graphic Novel Biographies by The A.V. Club, and was featured in newspapers across the country and online.
Noah Van Sciver was born in 1984 and raised in New Jersey. He first came to comic readers’ attention with his comic book series Blammo, which earned him an Ignatz Award nomination in 2010. He currently lives in Denver, CO.
SAINT COLE
By Noah Van Sciver
March 2015 • $19.99
Flexibound • 978-1-60699-817-5
112 pages • Black & White • 7.5" x 9.25"
Saint Cole pg. 2


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“The APP” Illuminates Production in New York for Early June Start Date
 
Electrifying New Film Merges Sci Fi, Thrillers and Classic Horror with Genre Savvy Cast
 
(New York, NY—May  30, 2014) Rumpus Room Productions begins lensing on “The App,” the Isak Borg (“The Factory”)  & Golan Ramras (“Snuff”) cutting edge script in New York starting June 2, 2014.
 
Starring Sean Faris (“Pretty Little Liars”), Sarah Roemer (“Disturbia”), Frank Deal (“The Bourne Legacy”), James Saito (“Life Of Pi”), and Leslie Marshall (news personality and regular on “The O’Reilly Factor,”  & “America Live”), “The App” will be directed by Dena Hysell (“The Paladins”) & Isak Borg and produced by Rumpus Room Productions, with thrilling special effects by genre master Brian Spears (“We Are What We Are”).
 
“The App,” gives audiences fascinating utopic scientific advancement intertwined with a brilliant mind’s decent into madness. It’s Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell Tale Heart” for a digital age.
 
“With all the scientific advancements coming through in rapid succession, we found the idea of showing the both sides intriguing. There’s the glossy success and the other side of the coin where human frailty lurks – drawing us as viewers more deeply in,” states Co-Director, Dena Hysell.
 
“The App” script was inspired by the massive use of new technologies which intersect with psychopharmacology for therapeutic purposes. 
 
About Rumpus Room Productions
Founded in 2012, Rumpus Room Productions is a boutique production company specializing in quality independent films and television. Since their inception they created a number of captivating genre crossing projects, including the recent feature film “The Factory” starring Azura SkyeBill Sage, and John Hennigan.
SOUTHERN BASTARDS
BETTER THAN A HOME-COOKED MEAL
The second issue of the southern crime series has sold out instantly, slated for a second printing
The second issue of the hit Image Comics southern crime series SOUTHERN BASTARDS, written by Jason Aaron (Scalped, Wolverine & The X-Men, Thor: God of Thunder) and drawn by Jason Latour (​Loose Ends, Wolverine & The X-Men, Django Unchained), has sold out instantly at the distributor level.

"The response to this series has been completely overwhelming for all of us involved," said Aaron. "We're thrilled that all our favorite bastards are finding such great homes. And believe me, the bastards are just getting warmed up."
In SOUTHERN BASTARDS #2, it’s Friday night in Craw County, Alabama—a breeding ground for bastards and the setting for gritty, deep-fried crime—which means Coach Euless Boss is walking the sidelines like a god. And somebody is fixin’ to die.
Praise for SOUTHERN BASTARDS:
"Exactly the kind of pulp goodness I live for."
—Ed Brubaker (FATALE, Captain America)
"Can I just take a second to recommend Southern Bastards by the mighty Jason Aaron? Literally the best book I've read this month. Order!" —Mark Millar (STARLIGHT, JUPITER'S LEGACY, Kick-Ass)
"Southern Bastards by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour made me both terrified and homesick. Fantastic start, boys."
—Matt Fraction (SEX CRIMINALS, Hawkeye)
"Southern Bastards is perfection. There's this great, slow menace to it. Southern Bastards #1 is a perfect comic for you if you like to read... anything." —Scott Snyder (WYTCHES, Batman)
"You need Southern Bastards. Jason Aaron is back to southern-fried grit and Jason Latour is showing he’s one of the best cartoonists of our generation."
—Rick Remender (BLACK SCIENCE, Punisher)
“The gushing about Southern Bastards is completely on point. Jason Aaron nails it (as usual), but Jason Latour is the rocketship here.”
—Jonathan Hickman (EAST OF WEST, Avengers)
“This series both pokes fun at and honors their shared roots. Aaron's gritty noir storytelling blends perfectly with Latour's sharp artwork, creating the ideal setting for a mesmerizing, down home crime story.”
—Comic Book Resources
“A proper Southern Gothic hiding in the skin of a trash genre, Southern Bastards is a must-read.”
—ComicsAlliance
SOUTHERN BASTARDS #2 has completely sold out at the distributor level, but may still be available in comic stores. It is currently available digitally on the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com) and the official Image Comics iOS app, as well as on Comixology on the web (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.
Image Comics is pleased to announce that the second issue will be going back to print to meet customer demand. The second printing of SOUTHERN BASTARDS #2 (Diamond Code APR148350) will release on 6/25.
SOUTHERN BASTARDS #3 will release on 6/25 and can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code APR140600.
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.
VIZ MEDIA MARKS THE RETURN OF SMASH HIT ACTION/ADVENTURE MANGA HUNTER X HUNTER WITH SPECIAL PRINT AND DIGITAL PROMOTION

Long-Running Fantasy Adventure Returns With Brand New Chapters In WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP On June 2nd; Fans Can Dive Into The Entire Series With Special Promo Pricing

VIZ Media celebrates the return this summer of HUNTER X HUNTER with a special digital and print sale on all volumes of the hit action/adventure series. Brand new chapters of creator Yoshihiro Togashi's long-running manga (graphic novel) are set to debut in the Japanese edition of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on Monday, June 2nd and will also appear the same day in the North American digital counterpart published by VIZ Media and available at: http://shonenjump.viz.com.

For a limited time, from May 26th thru June 9th, HUNTER X HUNTER (rated ‘T+ for Teens) Volumes 1-32 on the VIZManga.com platform will be $2.00 off their regular MSRP ($6.99), making all volumes available for only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. The sale price will be available through VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga app for iOS and Android, and special pricing may be available through the digital partners storefronts for Nook, Kindle, GooglePlay, iBooks and Kobo.

In addition, manga fans can also catch print editions of HUNTER X HUNTER at 40% off their regular MSRP ($9.99 USD) when ordered through the Barnes & Noble web site at: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/manga/379003481.

In the HUNTER X HUNTER manga series, Hunters are a special breed, dedicated to tracking down treasures, magical beasts, and even other people. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Those who do pass gain access to restricted areas, amazing stores of information, and the right to call themselves Hunters.

VIZ Media publishes the long-running HUNTER X HUNTER manga series in-print and digitally and recently released the latest edition – Volume 32. Future dedicated print and digital volumes of the series will be published twice a year. VIZ Media is also the home media distributor of the HUNTER X HUNTER anime series on DVD.

HUNTER X HUNTER manga creator Yoshihiro Togashi's manga career began in 1986, at the age of 20, when he won the coveted Osamu Tezuka Award for new manga artists. He debuted in the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1989 with the romantic comedy Tende Shawaru Cupid. From 1990 to 1994 he wrote and drew the hit manga series, YU YU HAKUSHO (also published by VIZ Media, rated ‘T’ for Teens), which was followed by the dark comedy science-fiction series, Level E, and the adventure series, HUNTER X HUNTER. In 1999 he married the manga artist Naoko Takeuchi.

Readers can enjoy HUNTER X HUNTER and scores of other acclaimed manga titles available on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, and Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets. 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.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is VIZ Media’s renowned weekly digital serial anthology that features the synchronized latest chapters of a variety of popular manga series debuting on the same day as the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump magazine counterpart. Subscribers can access issues via VIZManga.com, the VIZ Manga App, or with the Apple iPad Newsstand App. Exclusive 1 Year Memberships are available for only $25.99 and include 48 weekly digital issues as well as special premiums including 4 Yu-Gi-Oh! Collectable Trading Cards, rare one-shot manga releases, digital-only promotions, and access to additional subscriber-only content including creator interviews and insightful promo videos.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit shonenjump.viz.com.

For more information on HUNTER X HUNTER or VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.VIZ.com.

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HxH32_cover Comp

HUNTERxHUNTER © POT (Yoshihiro Togashi) 2012

Thursday, May 29, 2014

'DEAD LETTERS' TRADE PAPERBACK DEBUTING IN AUGUST AT INTRODUCTORY PRICE

Dead Letters Vol. 1 TP
DEAD LETTERS VOL. 1 TP Cover by Chris Visions
 
May 29,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - Who is Sam Whistler, and what is he doing “Here”? The answers (and even more questions) are coming, as BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce that the DEAD LETTERS trade paperback debuts this August at an introductory price of $9.99. This supernatural noir series from writer Christopher Sebela (Eisner-nominated High Crimes, Ghost) and newcomer artist Chris Visions has been critically-acclaimed, with the first issue rapidly selling out at the distributor level.
 
There has always been a place for crime stories at BOOM! Studios, and DEAD LETTERS is a wholly unique take on noir. When Sam Whistler wakes up in an unfamiliar motel room dressed in hospital scrubs and his arms wrapped in bandages, he doesn’t remember a single thing about who he is or how he got there. But the goons knocking down his door sure do, and suddenly Sam is thrust into the middle of a gang war in the bizarre landscape known only as “Here,” a hodgepodge of different places from different times where the normal rules—particularly those of life and death—don’t apply.
 
“Christopher Sebela and Chris Visions have poured everything they’ve got into this series, and it shows on every page,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Getting a noir series right is difficult enough on its own, but creating the world of ‘Here’ and adding this otherworldly element is just a phenomenal achievement. We’re incredibly proud of this series and happy to be collecting it in a volume that will allow readers to jump in at a great price.”
 
Praise for DEAD LETTERS:
 
“First issues are tough. Good first issues are murder, are rare, are wonderful, and should be shouted about from the rooftops. DEAD LETTERS #1 is a GREAT first issue. And the hook on its first page is only surpassed by the hook on its last page. BOOM! might just have the next PREACHER on its hands. Even better, they have the first DEAD LETTERS on their hands.” - Matt Fraction
 
“Christopher Sebela writes this thing to damn near perfection...The grit and darkness fills every panel, like the best mystery movie you've never seen.” - IGN
 
“Sebela's a writer who has become someone to watch for, and Visions' art makes me want a lot more from him too. All in all, a pleasant surprise.” - CBR
 
“More than anything else, Visions & Sebela have created a unique world that readers will want to return to and uncover more of.” - Multiversity
 
“DEAD LETTERS is fun, and it’s violent, and it’s addressing themes of what it means to be a human and what rewards there may be for good people in a secular world, and it’s doing it all in a visually gorgeous setting.” - Comic Bastards
 
“Sebela and Visions do not hold back. Just when you think you have an idea where everything is going, you get the rug pulled from beneath you.” - Comic Vine
 
“Chris Visions’ artwork is beautifully well done. It’s like being in a mix of a graffiti piece and an acrylic painting, and although it can feel cluttered sometimes, it fits this story perfectly, making [Here] a little reminiscent of a fallen utopia like in the worlds of Inception, Blade Runner, and the Fifth Element.“ - Eat Play Geek
 
DEAD LETTERS VOL. 1 TP will be available for purchase at the local comic shop nearest you this August and carries a retail price of $9.99. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!
 
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.
ARCHAIA TO MAKE SERGIO TOPPI'S
'THE COLLECTOR' FINALLY AVAILABLE
IN ENGLISH

The Collector HC
THE COLLECTOR Cover by Sergio Toppi
 
May 29,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - The late Sergio Toppi is considered one of the greatest sequential masters of our time, influencing generations of comic artists and illustrators with his beautifully detailed line work, including Sean Gordon Murphy, Simone Bianchi, Walt Simonson, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Francesco Francavilla. Archaia, an award-winning imprint of BOOM! Studios, is proud to announce the September release of THE COLLECTOR, Toppi’s longest-running original series, now translated into English for the first time since its debut in 1984. Archaia previously published Toppi’s SHARAZ-DE: TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS to much acclaim.
 
Toppi’s breathtaking line work and composition will leave you staring at his pages for hours. While this oversized edition serves as much as an art book as a comic, the adventures of the globe-scouring, daredevil Collector will appeal to fans of the Indiana Jones movies, Five Ghosts, or Doc Savage.
 
“Not everyone realizes how much of an influence Toppi was to some of today’s most successful creators,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “When Archaia released SHARAZ-DE early last year, new fans began to discover what a classic illustrator he truly was. Now, with this English translation of THE COLLECTOR, one of his seminal works, it’s our pleasure to continue to publish the masterworks of one of the all-time greats.”
 
Far from the auction halls of the elite, The Collector seeks out rare and mysterious artifacts across the world. He is as at home in the salons of Paris as he is in the jungles of Borneo. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century colonialism, THE COLLECTOR is a delightful, swashbuckling adventure! This edition features an introduction by Sean Gordon Murphy (The Wake).
 
THE COLLECTOR hardcover graphic novel arrives from Archaia in comic shops on September 3rd with a cover price of $34.99. It will be available for pre-order through comic shops starting May 28th. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!
 
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.
SUPERHERO LABOR UNION C.O.W.L.
WINS PUBLIC FAVOR
The all-new superhero series sells out immediately, rushed to second print
Kyle Higgins (Batman, Nightwing), Alec Siegel (Captain America, Avengers), and Rod Reis’ (Justice League) all-new ongoing series C.O.W.L. has garnered early praise across the comics community and sold out instantly at the distributor level. In order to meet customer demand, Image Comics is pleased to announce a second printing of the new superhero comic will be available on 6/25.
Set in 1960s Chicago, C.O.W.L. begins the story of a labor union of superheroes who must work together to regain the confidence of the public and ferret out threats inside and outside their offices.
Praise for C.O.W.L.:
"Part crime drama, part Chicago history, part superhero epic, Higgins and company have crafted something truly special with C.O.W.L. A refreshingly original debut with scope, mythology, and terrific characters." —Scott Snyder, Batman, WYTCHES
“Gorgeous stuff. Keep an eye out for this one.” —Kelly Sue DeConnick, Ms. Marvel, PRETTY DEADLY
"Rod Reis is doing an amazing modern riff on Sienkiewicz's painted stuff. Really excited to see where he takes it over the next few issues! —Chris Burnham, Batman Incorporated, OFFICER DOWNE
“A 'why didn't I think of that?' idea… Compelling/fun/sinister. If Clifford Odets wrote Watchmen, this is what you'd get!” —Marc Andreyko, Batwoman
“Mad Men with capes. C.O.W.L. isn’t just a compelling Superhero comic, it’s an authentic American story. Higgins and Siegel offer up engaging, sometimes hardboiled characters that Rod Reis paints with aplomb. Definitely a creative team to watch! " —Brian Buccellato, Detective Comics
“Great period-set superhero noir, with atmospheric Noto/Sienkiewicz hybrid artwork.” —Declan Shalvey, Moon Knight
"Check out COWL #1 by Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel, & Rod Reis. Cool noir take on what happens to a superhero union when there's no more villains. Dug it." —Nick Dragotta, EAST OF WEST
“Really great. And pretty as hell, to boot.” —Bryan Q. Miller, Smallville
“A styling first issue with a ton of brains.” —Joshua Fialkov, The Bunker
Mad Men with superheroes. Highly recommended.” —Christos Gage, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
“C.O.W.L. bucks the origin fetish of the superhero genre by introducing us to its intriguing cast not at the start of their sagas, but at what might be the end.” —Comics Alliance
“American history gets overhauled in C.O.W.L., a new series about the superhero labor union of 1960s Chicago that’s been described as Mad Men meets Avengers.” —The Hollywood Reporter
“This is no rebooted Justice League or X-Men. The characters deal with strikingly real issues.” —The Chicago Sun Times
“Exploring Chicago’s tumultuous history under the guise of superheroics is a stroke of genius… The book is an easy sell even without the excellent art by Rod Reis… His work is reminiscent of Kent Williams or Phil Noto, and he gives the book a Mad Men-like authenticity. Recommended.” —CBS Man Cave
“This  instantly absorbing book is the type of book you hand to someone that ‘isn’t into comics,’ or ‘doesn’t read super heroes.’ …These three are a team who knows how to bring out the best in each other. And C.O.W.L. is the best and will only get better. This is a perfect series to get into. It has a long life ahead of it.” —Crimespree Magazine
“A genre mash-up and period piece that sounds as fresh and exciting as anything on cable TV, but is also pure comics.” —Den of Geek (US)
C.O.W.L. #1 has completely sold out at the distributor level, but may still be available in comic stores. It is currently available digitally on the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com) and the official Image Comics iOS app, as well as on Comixology on the web (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.
Image Comics is pleased to announce that this second issue will be going back to print to meet customer demand. The second printing of C.O.W.L. #1 (Diamond Code APR148351) will release on 6/25.
C.O.W.L. #2 releases 6/25 as well and will be available for pre-order with Diamond Code APR140562.
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.