Friday, June 20, 2014

DARK ENGINE—J.H. WILLIAMS III SAYS:
“BUY IT, READ IT.”
The new series explores the evil things that lurk inside us all, plus early artwork revealed

Ryan Burton and John Bivens, debut creators who caught the eye of comics veteran J.H. Williams III (Sandman, Promethea, Batwoman) early on, bring to fruition an all-new ongoing series that blends elements of dark fantasy and action with mystery in DARK ENGINE.

The project first came to Image Comics’ publisher, Eric Stephenson, with high praise from bestselling artist Williams III, who went into detail about how he discovered DARK ENGINE and why he fell in love with it.

“Dark Engine narratively is many things; an otherworldly horrific poetic movement that is immediately immersive,” said Williams III. “It does not flinch in creating questions, bold in that it doesn't feel it must answer them in one chapter. Where would the fun be in that?

“Hooking deeply with high concept, strong visuals, and unusual characters is how I always feel reading something from Ryan Burton. And when I saw this concept by him featuring the very charged art from the talented John Bivens I knew that I was seeing something intriguingly unique. I wanted more. So I showed it to Eric Stephenson at Image.

“Image too does not flinch, giving us great comics with profound perspectives, daring to ask there be no limitations. Dark Engine has found the right home. Buy it, read it, I know I will.”

In DARK ENGINE the world is in ruin. Infectious beasts called SporeDevils roam the country, the air is full of dead men's ashes, and fallen colossi smother the ground with their decayed husks. A cult of madmen have created a killer named Sym from alchemy, outfitting her with an engine that will allow her to travel back in time to stop whatever it was that made their world so. But these Alchemists have no idea that this engine is sentient, it is thinking. The seed of their destruction is powering an unstoppable killer. Their world is paradise compared to what's to come when Sym is unleashed.

“This book is unsafe and it is insane,” said Burton. “John and I are building a very different type of dark fantasy, one where the lead character has a sword made from a thunder lizard's rib. One where a walking dragon lives inside a dead colossus's mouth. I can't believe Image is letting us do this.”

DARK ENGINE #1 arrives in stores on 7/16, and will be available for $3.50. It can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code MAY140574. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is 6/23.

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.

UMBRAL LEADS READERS
DOWN A DARK PATH
Fans of The Spiderwick Chronicles and Dark Crystal
will love this new story arc

“A must-read for fans of magic, thieves and all things scary.” —CBR

“If magic and toothy things that go 'boo' in the night trip your trigger, you shan't go wrong with Umbral.” —Crave Online

"The novel has nice pacing. It is fast and it needs to be as there is a great deal of action in it right from the start… Antony Johnston's writing skills and Christopher Mitten's pencilling talent have made this idea become an epic story of good versus evil."
—SF Site

Bestselling writer Antony Johnston (THE FUSE, Wasteland) and artist Christopher Mitten cast their spell once more as they return with the eagerly anticipated new story arc of UMBRAL in Book Two: “The Dark Path,” which begins with issue #7.

Umbral #7 begins a new story arc that takes the tale’s unlikely heroes through the ‘Bulaswode’: a strange, misty forest full of dangers and weird creatures, including the deadly Silvali riders, called Wodelings. Rascal will have to face her past and battle against hopelessness. Dalone’s own past will return to literally haunt his nightmares. As for Shayim and Munty... well, they’ve got their own secrets to worry about. By the end of it, none of them—especially Rascal—will ever be the same again.

"By now, most books would have settled down into a cosy status quo, with good and bad guys clearly marked,” said Johnston. “But in Umbral, there is no status quo. Just a quick-witted, potty-mouthed thief on the run from nightmare shadow creatures, wizards, assassins... and magic itself. We recommend Umbral for discerning fans of high adventure and low morals."

UMBRAL #7 arrives in stores this 7/16 and will be available for $3.50. It can be pre-ordered using Diamond Code MAY140740. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is 6/23.

“Smart, Funny and Fun”

– Sam Rubin, KTLA-TV

FROM THE CREATORS OF THE CROODS AND HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

LOS ANGELES, CA – Unleash the fun at home with the hilarious comedy-adventure, DreamWorks Animation’s MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN! Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell) is an inventor, scientist and genius who just happens to be a dog. With his son Sherman, he will embark on the most extraordinary adventure imaginable as they race against time to repair history and save the future. “Heartfelt and snappy” (Jessica Herndon, Associated Press), MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN has been hailed by critics as “a great adventure for the entire family” (Mike Wilbur, NBC Newschannel), receiving outstanding audience reaction and a coveted “A” CinemaScore^®.

Directed by Rob Minkoff (THE LION KING, STUART LITTLE) and from the team behind family favorite franchises THE CROODS and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN is “fun” and “fast moving” (A.O. Scott, The New York Times) and features hilarious performances from an incredible voice cast of popular stars including Ty Burrell, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Max Charles, Patrick Warburton and Allison Janney.

MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN is based upon the beloved characters that first appeared in in the late 1950s and early 1960s animated television series “Rocky and His Friends” and “The Bullwinkle Show,” produced by Jay Ward.

Sit back and go WABAC to experience the ultimate joy ride and loads of laughs when MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN arrives on Digital HD on September 23 and on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on October 14. Jay Ward fans will want to get the 3D Blu-ray™ release which has everything for enthusiasts to celebrate the Jay Ward legacy including a 5-minute All New Rocky & Bullwinkle short and several original TV episodes.

DreamWorks Animation’s Mr. Peabody & Sherman Blu-ray™ Deluxe Edition

The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy Deluxe Edition includes:

Feature film in high definition

	Blu-ray Exclusive Special Features:
	●	Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends Show – See the premiere episode of the original 1959 television show.
	●	Mr. Peabody & Sherman Segments – Watch five segments from the original television series including “Robin Hood,” “Leonardo Da Vinci,” “Louis XVI,” “William Shakespeare,” and “Ludwig Van Beethoven.”
	●	History’s Greatest Mysteries – A Dog and his Boy
	●	Peabody’s Paw Print on History - We take part in the excitement as Mr. Peabody gets his pawprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Cast members Ty Burrell (voice of “Mr. Peabody”) and Max Charles (voice of “Sherman”), join filmmakers Rob Minkoff (director), Alex Schwartz (producer) and Tiffany Ward (executive producer) for the festivities. Also on hand (or paw?) are some of Mr. Peabody’s very famous furry friends, including Lassie, Beethoven, Rin Tin Tin, and a very adorable dog named George Clooney.
	●	Time Travel Memory Match game
	●	The WABAC Jigsaw Puzzle game

	Additional Special Features:
	●	Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends Show – See the premiere episode of the original 1959 television show.
	●	Mr. Peabody & Sherman Segments – Watch five segments from the original television series including “Robin Hood,” “Leonardo Da Vinci,” “Louis XVI,” “William Shakespeare,” and “Ludwig Van Beethoven.”
	●	History’s Greatest Mysteries – A Dog and his Boy
	●	Peabody’s Paw Print on History - We take part in the excitement as Mr. Peabody gets his pawprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Cast members Ty Burrell (voice of “Mr. Peabody”) and Max Charles (voice of “Sherman”), join filmmakers Rob Minkoff (director), Alex Schwartz (producer) and Tiffany Ward (executive producer) for the festivities. Also on hand (or paw?) are some of Mr. Peabody’s very famous furry friends, including Lassie, Beethoven, Rin Tin Tin, and a very adorable dog named George Clooney.
	●	Time Travel Memory Match game
	●	The WABAC Jigsaw Puzzle game

DreamWorks Animation’s Mr. Peabody & Sherman Blu-ray™ 3D Deluxe Edition

The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Blu-ray™ 3D + Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital Copy Deluxe Edition includes the following:

Feature film in high definition and 3D

	Blu-ray 3D Exclusive Special Feature
	●	All New Rocky & Bullwinkle Adventure

DreamWorks Animation’s Mr. Peabody & Sherman DVD

The Mr. Peabody & Sherman single disc DVD includes:

Feature film in standard definition

	Special Features:
	●	Tour of the WABAC Machine - Mr. Peabody, himself, takes us on an in-depth tour of the WABAC machine. He explains what many of the WABAC’s knobs, buttons, and gizmos do. Exactly what is a Pneumatic Dressilator? A hemidemisemiquavatron? And, those windshield wiper controls…how exactly do they help while speeding through the space-time continuum? Mr. Peabody explains it all!
	●	Time Travel: Mad Science - We talk to real physicists Kenneth Wharton and Anthony Aguirre to find out if there is any possibility of time travel, and if so, how it would work. We explore the two time travel theories of the Block Universe and the Multi-Verse. We also learn why scientists think only forward time travel is possible, and how Einstein’s Theory of Relativity still determines how scientists imagine the possibilities of time travel.
	●	Photo Gallery
	●	Theatrical Trailer
	●	World of DreamWorks Animation – Music videos from your favorite DreamWorks Animation feature films
	●	Holiday Favorites – Sneak Peeks

ABOUT DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE^® Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2013, DreamWorks Animation ranks #12 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 28 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Puss In Boots, and The Croods.

ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programing. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.

NO TREES WERE HARMED IN THIS FREE #1
Growing enthusiasm for Warren Ellis’ second issue leads Image to plant free digital edition across all platforms

In anticipation of the frenzied mob of fans likely to storm comic book stores everywhere for issue #2 of the hit new series, Image Comics is pleased to announce that the digital edition of Warren Ellis (SUPREME: BLUE ROSE, Planetary) and Jason Howard’s TREES #1 will be available for free, across all platforms, starting today, Friday, June 20 through Tuesday, June 24.

“It’s not every day that a writer as important and influential as Warren Ellis launches a major new series, so making sure Trees reaches as many readers as possible is an ongoing priority for us here at Image,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “We started off by doing a massive overprint to make sure the book would remain in print over the course of the first few issues—we overprinted by one third of total orders—and now, based on not just incredible post-release sales, but near-unanimous praise, we are sharing the first issue with straggling non-believers for free.

“Modern comics would not be what they are today without Warren Ellis, it’s as simple as that. Transmetropolitan. Planetary. The Authority. There are a fair number of writers working at Image today who could rightly be described as heirs to his creative legacy, but Warren is still at the peak of his powers and Trees is a glowing testament as to why.

“Best of all, Warren continues his long-time tradition of working with some of comics’ absolute best artists, and in Jason Howard, he may have found his canniest collaborator yet. Warren and Jason have completed up through issue five at this point, and as someone lucky enough to have read that far, I’m happy to report the world they’re building together is nothing short of phenomenal.”

Readers who haven’t yet had a chance to jump on with the new science fiction suspense series everyone has been raving about will find the perfect opportunity to do so in this free TREES #1 promotion, available just before the second issue’s release.

Praise for TREES:

“Trees is a bold debut that offers many questions and fewer answers. The book's large scope is intriguing, made even more so when considering that much of humanity's demise is self-inflicted. Though we only get a glimpse of the assumed main players here in issue #1, Ellis and Howard appear prepped to deliver a uniquely exciting read.” —Jeff Lake, IGN

“Trees #1 is a strong debut… it's great to see Ellis not just writing comics, but writing excellent comics. In interviews it's been stated that Trees will have an initial story arc of eight issues or so, but that it could run for quite some time if all goes well. Based on the first issue, let's hope so.” —Greg McElhatton, CBR

“Trees definitely falls into the and now for something different category. Warren Ellis delivers a strange alien invasion story that catches you off guard. Its hard to tell what this story will be about or where its going to go but thats the charm of the book. It allows you to relate to the characters as they are left wondering as well. Jason Howard nicely creates this new world and gives loads of detail that really fleshes everything out. I may not know where this story is going to go but I’m definitely hooked.” —Tony Guerrero, ComicVine

“Trees is a visually spectacular vision of first contact that will leave you with plenty to wonder about.” —Michelle White, Multiversity Comics

“Trees is certainly worth a continued watch, especially given Jason Howard's art. He seamlessly balances both line work and color art resulting in a story that is well-paced and makes use of colors that provide emphasis in all the right moments.” —Forrest C. Helvie, Newsarama

The free digital edition of TREES #1 will be available 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.

TREES #2 can be pre-ordered using Diamond Code APR140611.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

VIZ MEDIA PREMIERES ANTICIPATED

SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL ANIME SERIES ON

NEON ALLEY AND HULU ON JULY 5TH

North America’s Leading Anime Distributor Launches Reboot Of The Famed Fantasy Action Series; Free Streaming Episodes Premiere At The Same Time As Japanese Debut!

San Francisco, CA, June 19, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers the much-anticipated launch of the new SAILOR MOON anime series – SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL – on July 5^th on Hulu and Neon Alley. The series, which reboots the beloved shojo fantasy action property, debuts simultaneously in North America at the same time as its online streaming premiere in Japan, making a true simultaneous release. Future new episodes (subtitled) will debut in North America and Japan the first and third Saturday of each month.

Based on Naoko Takeuchi’s legendary manga (graphic novel) series, SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL (rated ‘TV-PG’), retells the story of Sailor Moon as she searches for her fellow Sailor Guardians and the Legendary Silver Crystal to stop the dark forces of Queen Beryl. Visit www.NeonAlley.com and Hulu.com/sailor-moon-crystal for more information; the trailer may also be viewed at http://www.hulu.com/watch/651047 and http://youtu.be/I0B5gnKvHKQ.

SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL will be available through NeonAlley.com, VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. Episodes will also be available on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service, where users can watch on a variety of devices including Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 (PS3®) or PlayStation®4 (PS4™) systems Roku, Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu and Hulu Plus-enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.

“Fans everywhere have eagerly awaited the launch of the new SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL series, and we are very excited to announce its premiere on Neon Alley and Hulu starting next month,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. “More than two decades after it first captivated millions of fans, the smash hit story of the valiant sailor guardians returns in a big way to thrill a whole new generation of viewers. Join in the celebration throughout the summer as VIZ Media marks the return of this legendary anime property!”

The original smash hit SAILOR MOON anime series was inspired by the bestselling manga (graphic novel) series created by Naoko Takeuchi (published in North America by Kodansha). In the series, Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy but kindhearted teenage girl who transforms into the powerful guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Meeting allies along the way who share similar fates, Usagi and her team of planetary Sailor Guardians fight to protect the universe from forces of evil and total annihilation!

Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com.

For more information on SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL, or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

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THE WICKED + THE DIVINE—GONE IN A SNAP
The posh new series draws early worshippers and sells out instantly

The first issue of the feverishly anticipated new series from Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, has sold out instantly at the distributor level and is being rushed to a second printing.

Hot off their hugely successful run on Young Avengers, writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jamie McKelvie have returned to Image Comics with THE WICKED + THE DIVINE. Every ninety years, twelve gods are reincarnated on Earth. Two years later, they are dead. During their brief lifespan the gods are revered and worshipped as celebrities. In the modern day, that means interviews with the press and sold-out life-changing concerts full of their adoring fans. With colorist Matt Wilson and letterer Clayton Cowles by their side, Gillen and McKelvie have created a pop comic like no other, as the raves on the #wicdiv hashtag on Twitter and the instant sell-out of the first issue proves.

The enthusiasm for the new series has built momentum and inspired fellow artist Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim) to create a variant cover for issue #1 and artist Chip Zdarsky (SEX CRIMINALS) to sign on to create a variant cover for issue #2.

Select early praise for THE WICKED + THE DIVINE:
"I read The Wicked + The Divine last night, and no matter how high your expectations are for it, it's better." —Scott Snyder, Batman, American Vampire, WYTCHES

“So if you’re looking for a new favourite comic, tell your store you want The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie.” —Warren Ellis, TREES, SUPREME: BLUE ROSE

"I have read the first issue of this book and I am so happy to report to you that it is quite wonderful. This book, like Young Avengers last year, in such a lovely step forward from an already strong creative team." —Brian Michael Bendis, Powers, All-New X-Men, United States of Murder Inc.

“The Wicked + The Divine is about art, creativity and living to the fullest, but mainly about death.” —USA Today

“McKelvie and colorist Matthew Wilson create slick, glossy, hyper-real comics.” —Mental Floss

“This is pop comics. It’s that song that comes on the radio that you’ll have stuck in your head for days. The beat is good. The lyrics hint at something bigger and you can’t help but wonder. Although what you are about to read is a work of fiction, it should never the less be played at maximum volume.” —Newsarama

“An absolutely breathtaking book that sets up its world perfectly while leaving just enough mysteries to remain intrigued. Buy with all your heart!” —Multiversity Comics

“The Wicked + The Divine is among the strongest Image debuts of recent memory. This book is absolutely worth checking out this week.” —IGN

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #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 first issue will be going back to print to meet customer demand. The second printing of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #1 (Diamond Code MAY148118) will release on 7/16.

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #2 will hit shelves on 7/16 and can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code MAY140745.

MURDER ME DEAD WEARS NOIR ON ITS SLEEVE

Obsession darkens Lapham’s
tale of lust and murder

Hanging from the ceiling fan in her lavish Hollywood home. That’s where Steven Russell finds his estranged wife, Eve Kroft—rich, beautiful, and desperately sad—a tear-stained note in her pocket pouring out years of pain and regret. Is it suicide? The police think so. But his wife’s rich and powerful family is convinced otherwise, and they’ll do everything in their power to make him pay in MURDER ME DEAD, the classic noir graphic novel by David Lapham (STRAY BULLETS), back in print from Image Comics this July.

As a lascivious private detective systematically destroys Steven’s life, a chance meeting with an old friend drives Steven back toward a simpler time—to a downtrodden neighborhood he had long left behind and a fateful reunion with a woman who loved him...

“Murder Me Dead is my modern-day love letter to the great noir films of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s,” said Lapham. “It’s every bit as emotionally twisted as Stray Bullets, but in the guise of a traditional femme fatale noir."

Hailed as a masterful contemporary take on classic noir, MURDER ME DEAD takes its antihero down an ever-darkening road of obsession, sex, betrayal, murder, and dashed hopes. Peeling back the carefully constructed facades of each character, Lapham exposes the true nature of their humanity and propels you toward a final, horrifying revelation.

MURDER ME DEAD will be in comic book stores on July 16 and bookstores on July 29. Sure to enthrall fans of neo-noir, like Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ FATALE and Criminal, the black-and-white graphic novel is available for pre-order now.

MURDER ME DEAD by David Lapham

ISBN 978-1-63215-079-0
Diamond Comic Distributors order code: MAY140634
264 pages, black and white, $19.99
In comic book stores July 9, bookstores July 22
Rated Mature

Praise for MURDER ME DEAD:

“A rip-snorting murder mystery with more double-crosses than you can count and enough booze, broads and low blows to keep the reader turning pages right up to the bitter end.” —Publishers Weekly

“A gutsy, fast-paced comic that knows its influences very well and puts an interesting spin on the conventions of the genre. Great post-modern fun.” —Tripwire