Wednesday, December 30, 2015

MONSTRESS CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
First and second issues of new dark fantasy series from Liu and Takeda fast-tracked for third and second printings


New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men, Black Widow) and artist Sana Takeda (X-23, Ms. Marvel) launched their new fantasy adventure to early critical acclaim and have taken the comics industry by storm. Image Comics is pleased to announce that issues #1 and #2 are being fast-tracked for third and second printings, respectively, to keep up with the high customer demand.

Vox.com calls MONSTRESS “a world that is as heinous as it is dazzling” while The Hollywood Reporter says it is “full of hidden depths.” The Onion’s A.V. Club calls attention to a “sense of in-between-ness—the book neither traditionally Western nor manga, paced like a novel but drawn like a comic—[that] makes for an incredibly intriguing read.”

Steampunk meets Kaiju in MONSTRESS, an original fantasy epic for mature readers. Young Maika risks everything to control her psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, placing her in the center of a devastating war between human and otherworldly forces. “Watching a series like Monstress come to life is one of the best parts of publishing comics,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Marjorie and Sana are both amazing talents and everyone here is so excited that all their hard work is resulting such a warm response from fans around the world.”

MONSTRESS #1 and #2 remain available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.

MONSTRESS #1, third printing (Diamond Code NOV158340) and MONSTRESS #2, second printing (Diamond Code NOV158341) will arrive in stores on Wednesday, January 27th. Final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, January 4th.

MONSTRESS #3 (Diamond Code NOV150620) hits stores on Wednesday, January 20th.

    



ABOUT MARJORIE LIU

New York Times
bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.
 
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steampunk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.

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.
Christmas Comes Twice This Year!
BOOM! Studios Announces a
Second Printing for 'Klaus' #2

 
Klaus #2 2nd Print
Klaus #2 2nd Printing Cover by David Rubín
 
December 29,  2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Looks like there was one more present left under the Christmas tree! BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce that the second issue of Klaus, their hit original comic series by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora that details the epic origin of the one and only Santa Claus, has sold out through its first printing at the distributor level. The publisher has rushed to a second printing to fill demand.
 
Klaus #2 second print ships with a new cover by David Rubín (The Fiction) and carries a retail price of $3.99 under Diamond Code NOV158280. Orders close on January 4th, and copies are anticipated to be in stores on January 20th.
 
Set in a dark fantastic past of myth and magic, Klaus tells the story of how Santa Claus really came to be. Where did he begin? What was he like when he was young? And what happens when he faces his greatest challenge? Drawing on Santa Claus’ wilder roots in Viking lore and Siberian shamanism—taking in the creepier side of Christmas, and characters like the sinister Krampus—Klaus is “Santa Claus: Year One.” In issue #2, as the downtrodden people of the twon of Grimsvig struggle under totalitarian rule, Klaus stealthily evades the guard and slips magical, living toys into the poorest of homes to lift their spirits.
 
Praise for Klaus #2:
 
“...a great read, and its skillful reworking of myth is for all seasons.” - Comic Book Resources
 
“The combination of the book's violent action and the utter innocence and nobility of Klaus' quest make for a memorable combination.” - IGN
 
“...an intriguing concept that delivers a fun story, with some darker undertones.” - Comic Vine
 
“...effectively mixes classic fairy tales with modern grit to create a fitting holiday treat…” - Pop Matters
 
“...this is a story that is easy to get on board with and is shaping up to be a great run.” - Big Glasgow Comic Page

Comic book fans should bear in mind that first printings of Klaus #2 may still be found at the local comic shop nearest you. Not sure where your nearest comic retailer is? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

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ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS
Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates New York Times best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic books and graphic novels. BOOM! Studios is comprised of four distinct imprints: the "Studios" imprint is home to The Woods, Grant Morrison's Klaus, and Big Trouble in Little China; imprint "BOOM! Box" publishes Lumberjanes, Steve Jackson Games' Munchkin, and Giant Days; All-Ages imprint "KaBOOM!" publishes Charles Schulz’ Peanuts; Jim Davis’ Garfield; and Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. And the "Archaia" imprint is home to Mouse Guard, Cow Boy, and numerous Jim Henson Company properties. Since 2013, BOOM! Studios has had a unique first-look feature film relationship with 20th Century Fox and since August 2014 BOOM! has had a similar first-look relationship with Fox' television studio to develop properties for the small screen.
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT AND STORYBUNDLE LAUNCH BUNDLE,
BENEFITING TWO GREAT CAUSES

Continue the Spirit of Giving AND Receiving with
Dynamite's "Thrills and Chills" Bundle,
Benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
and Saved Whiskers Animal Rescue!



December 21, 2015, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Want to enjoy holiday cheer AND some great comics!? Dynamite Entertainment is once again teaming up with StoryBundle, the unique literature bundling site known for its support of indie authors, to host an all-new comic book and graphic novel promotion hosting over 2,500 pages of horror and fantasy-inspired stories! The "Pay What You Want" model lets readers pay as little as $5, with a portion of the proceeds contributed to two very important charitable organizations, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Saved Whiskers Animal Rescue. The more YOU give, the more THEY receive! YOU'LL receive MORE as well, with bonus comics unlocked at the $15 and $20 thresholds!
StoryBundle is offering a fixed set of Dynamite comics featuring iconic characters ranging from Vampirella to Herbert West, Evil Ernie and more in each bundle, but available ONLY till Thursday December 31st! With over 2,500 total pages available, this promotion has something for both longtime fans and newcomers, all empowered to decide how much they want to pay for awesome graphic fiction. StoryBundle has already sold hundreds of thousands of books through its popular horror, fantasy, video game and sci-fi book bundles, and now offer readers to expand their experience to include these newly-offered Dynamite digital stories. What better way is there than for fans to download and load up on great comics than this Story Bundle Offering?
"The Dynamite Fantasy and Horror StoryBundle is a great way for fans to check out some of the thrilling stories Dynamite has to offer." says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment.  "We're incredibly fortunate to be working with such talented writers as Dean Koontz, Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, Leah Moore, John Reppion, Tim Seeley, Joe Harris, Marc Guggenheim, George RR Martin, Daniel Abraham and so many others, and being able to bring them to a new audience is incredibly rewarding."
"We're thrilled to partner with Dynamite for the 4th time to feature the Dynamite Fantasy and Horror bundle which has a huge variety of titles that make it our biggest and best comic bundle yet! Not only do we have the first four issues of the tremendously popular Game of Thrones, we have past StoryBundle participant Neil Gaiman returning with his The Last Temptation" said Jason Chen, Storybundle founder. "Add to that Dean Koontz's Fear Nothing plus Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files: Storm Front Vol. 1, along with 14 other tremendously entertaining titles, and we've got a collection that's perfect for you or any comic lover this holiday season."
The first tier of the all-new Dynamite StoryBundle, unlocked with a minimum purchase of $5, includes the following graphic novels:
Charlaine Harris' Grave Sight #1
Evil Ernie Vol 2: The Rise Of Evil Ernie
Raise The Dead #1-4
Dark Shadows #10 - 15
Vampirella Vol 3: Throne Of Skulls
The second tier of the Dynamite StoryBundle, unlocked upon reaching a $15.00 threshold, includes the following collected editions, increasing the total page count to over:
Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files: Storm Front Vol 1
Lady Demon #1-4
Super Zombies #1-5
Alice Cooper Vol 1: Welcome To My Nightmare
Dead Irons
The third tier of the Dynamite StoryBundle, unlocked upon reaching a $20.00 threshold, includes the following collected editions, increasing the total page count to over 2,500:
Neil Gaiman's The Last Temptation 
Game Of Thrones #1-4
Purgatori #1-5
Reanimator #1-4
Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson: Moon Called Vol. 2
Cryptozoic Man Vol 1: Decapitation Strike
Living Corpse Omnibus
Dean Koontz's Fear Nothing
The Dynamite Horror and Fantasy bundle is available now at StoryBundle.com/comics.




About Dynamite Entertainment:
Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The BoysThe ShadowRed SonjaWarlord of MarsBionic Man, A Game of Thrones, and more.  Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over 3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics properties), such as VampirellaPanthaEvil ErnieSmiley the Psychotic ButtonChastity, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt.  In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Kevin Smith, Alex Ross, Neil Gaiman, Andy Diggle, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Jae Lee, Marc Guggenheim, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner, Gail Simone, Steve Niles, James Robinson, and a host of up-and-coming new talent.  Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's Project Superpowers - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors.  In 2005, Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011.  The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Dynamite Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dynamitecomics
Dynamite Twitter: http://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
Dynamite Official Website: http://www.dynamite.com/
Comic Shop Locator Service: 1-888-comicbook, or visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com/



About StoryBundle:

StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com. For more information, visit the official website at storybundle.com, follow the Twitter account @storybundle, and follow StoryBundle on Facebook and Google Plus. For press inquiries, please email press@storybundle.com.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

COLLEEN DORAN TO ADAPT NEIL GAIMAN’S “TROLL BRIDGE”


DECEMBER 22, 2015, MILWAUKIE, OR—As announced last week, Dark Horse Books is pleased to offer Troll Bridge, a beautiful graphic novel adaptation of a tale from the mind of master storyteller Neil Gaiman (Sandman), illustrated by artist Colleen Doran (Sandman, Orbiter).
Based on a story originally published in Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions, Troll Bridge is a tragic coming-of-age fantasy masterpiece. The artwork of the inimitable Colleen Doran makes this book a gorgeous new addition to your Gaiman library.
“She showed me an unusual style that isn’t like classic comics. Her pencils are wonderful, layered full-color drawings. They’re subversive, more like children’s book illustrations from 50 years ago,” said Neil Gaiman in an exclusive interview with Publishers Weekly.
Troll Bridge tells the story of Jack, a young boy whose world was full of ghosts and ghouls, one of which—a ravenous and hideous troll—would haunt him long into manhood. As the beast sups upon a lifetime of Jack’s fear and regret, Jack must find the courage within himself to face the fiend once and for all.
Look for new hardcover editions of Gaiman’s Creatures of the Night and The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch in 2016!
Troll Bridge is in stores September 14, 2016. Preorder your copy today at your local comic shop or through these fine retailers:
Neil Gaiman's Troll Bridge (Hardcover) | 978-1-50670-008-3 | 9/14/2016 | $14.99
Coming soon:

Neil Gaiman's How to Talk to Girls at Parties (Hardcover) | 978-1-61655-955-7 | 6/15/2016 | $17.99
The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch (Hardcover, Second Edition) | 978-1-61655-949-6 | 4/20/2016 | $13.99
Creatures of the Night (Hardcover, Second Edition) | 978-1-50670-025-0 | 11/2/2016 | $12.99
# # #
About Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, and is the recipient of numerous literary honors. Originally from England, he now lives in America.
About Colleen Doran
Colleen Doran is a cartoonist/illustrator whose most recent work can be seen in The New York Times  bestseller "Amazing Fantastic Incredible Stan Lee". Her work has also appeared in "Sandman" by Neil Gaiman.
She was Artist in Residence at the Smithsonian Institution, and lectured at The Maryland Institute College of Art and Design, The Australian Society of Authors, and has exhibited and lectured in galleries, museums and exhibits around the world. Books featuring her work have received the Eisner Award, The International Horror Guild Award, and the Harvey Award.
About Dark Horse Comics
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 Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X, and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga, and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.
 
THE MISADVENTURES OF GRUMPY CAT & POKEY HARDCOVER COLLECTION
APPROACHES SELL OUT OF 100,000 COPY PRINT RUN!


December 21, 2015, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Only two months after the series debuted to universal acclaim from critics and fans of all ages, Dynamite Entertainment announces that the first collection of The Adventures of Grumpy Cat & Pokey is rapidly approaching a complete sellout of a massive 100,000 copy print run!

Written by Ben Fisher (Smuggling Spirits), Ben McCool (Captain America and the Korvac Saga), Royal McGraw (Detective Comics), and Elliott R. Serrano (Army of Darkness), and featuring art from Ken Haeser (The Living Corpse) and Steve Uy (Avengers: The Initiative), the breakout series' third issue released in stores last week, bringing to close its first Grumpy Cat miniseries... although new misadventures are just around the corner, as a new series entitled Grumpy Cat & Pokey will debut in February 2016!

In The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat & Pokey hardcover, Dynamite proudly presents the comic book hijinks of "The World's Grumpiest Cat" and her brother, Pokey! With her ever-present pout and sassy disposition, Grumpy Cat has won the hearts of people everywhere. Now, her unbearable cuteness and infectious sourpuss are featured in an all-new, all-sensational collection of comic stories, sure to make fans of all ages laugh! If you love the memes, the videos, and that irresistible scowl, then get ready for the wildly fun antics of Grumpy Cat and Pokey!

Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite, says, "Working with the fine folks at Grumpy Cat has been absolutely wonderful. And although I'm sure the cute little curmudgeon herself may have a stereotypically grouchy opinion of the comics, we're so very pleased with how they've found an enthusiastic audience, how remarkably well the collection has pre-sold, and how many new misadventures we're dreaming up for next February's all-new Grumpy Cat series!"

Comic book retailers, check your December-dated issue of Previews for ordering info. The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat & Pokey arrives on shelves in comic shops and bookstores everywhere in February, value-priced for parents and fans of all ages at $12.99. Grumpy Cat will also be available for purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.




About Dynamite Entertainment:
Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The BoysThe ShadowRed SonjaWarlord of MarsBionic Man, A Game of Thrones, and more.  Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over 3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics properties), such as VampirellaPanthaEvil ErnieSmiley the Psychotic ButtonChastity, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt.  In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Kevin Smith, Alex Ross, Neil Gaiman, Andy Diggle, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Jae Lee, Marc Guggenheim, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner, Gail Simone, Steve Niles, James Robinson, and a host of up-and-coming new talent.  Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's Project Superpowers - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors.  In 2005, Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011.  The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Dynamite Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dynamitecomics
Dynamite Twitter: http://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
Dynamite Official Website: http://www.dynamite.com/
Comic Shop Locator Service: 1-888-comicbook, or visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com/
BLUEFIN EXPANDS STAR WARS EGG ATTACK STATUE LINE WITH NEW PREMIUM R2-D2 AND C-3PO STATUES BY
BEAST KINGDOM

New Renditions Of The Legendary Droids As They Appeared In The Classic Original Star Wars Film Trilogy Debut This Month And Are The Latest To Join The Egg Attack Line Of Super Deformed Premium Statues

Anaheim, CA, December 21, 2015 – Bluefin, the leading North American distributor of toys, collectibles, and hobby merchandise from Japan, Hong Kong and more, expands its line of Star Wars products with the release this month of the Egg Attack Star Wars series EA-015 R2-D2 statue and EA-016 C-3PO statue from Beast Kingdom. 

The statues are the latest to join Beast Kingdom’s line of officially licensed, collectible Egg Attack Star Wars figures that are available now from authorized Bluefin retailers nationwide and also from a variety of leading online outlets. The Egg Attack statues present extremely high quality, super-deformed renditions of several legendary characters from the Star Wars film franchise and can accent an ardent fan’s existing display or become the unique centerpieces of any collection.

Depicted as the legendary droids appeared in the original Star Wars Episodes IV, V and VI film trilogy, the stunning renditions of R2-D2 and C-3PO are officially licensed by Lucasfilm and are constructed with compound materials. Their screen accurate paintjobs fully realize R2-D2’s classic blue and white plating and C-3PO’s gold armor, silver right leg, and his weathered appearance from the time spent stranded on the desert planet of Tatooine.

EA-015 Star Wars R2-D2 Statue
Height: Approx. 5 inches; MSRP: $149.99
This collectible statue is constructed with compound material and painted to reflect R2-D2’s classical blue and white plating. The lighting function of the droid 100% matches the original movie setting. It also has built-in R2-D2 sound effects officially licensed by Lucasfilm. To complete the display, a classic-looking Carbon-Freezing Chamber light-up figure stand is also included.

EA-016 Star Wars C-3PO statue
Height: Approx. 6 inches; MSRP: $164.99
This collectible statue is constructed with compound material and expertly painted to depict C-3PO’s gold armor, silver right leg, and the weathering effects from time spent stranded on the desert planet of Tatooine. It has built-in classic lines officially licensed by Lucasfilm, and also comes with a classic Carbon-Freezing Chamber light-up figure stand for collectors to customize their display.                                        

If poseable action figures are more a fans’ preference, collectors also have the opportunity to purchase Star Wars figures from Beast Kingdom’s Egg Attack Action line. Fans will not want to miss out on other Beast Kingdom Star Wars products available from Bluefin including the EAA-002 Star Wars Darth Vader figure (depicted from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back) and the EAA-005 Star Wars Stormtrooper figure (depicted from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back).

For more information on Bluefin’s line of Egg Attack statues by Beast Kingdom, please visit:


About Bluefin
Based in Anaheim, CA, Bluefin built its reputation as a leading distributor of Japanese toys, collectibles, novelty and hobby products. In recent years, Bluefin has grown to include a range of high quality collectible lines from the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore and established itself as the official North American consumer products and retail development partner for Studio Ghibli. Selling to thousands of specialty, chain and independent stores, Bluefin is an official North American distributor for Bandai Hobby, Kotobukiya and Capcom, is the sole provider of Bandai Tamashii Nations products, and is also the exclusive and official distributor for Hero Cross, Beast Kingdom, Comicave, Mr. Hobby, SEN-TI-NEL and X-Plus. Bluefin also represents TruForce Collectibles products worldwide. Additional information is available at: www.bluefincorp.com.

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EA-015-EPV-R2D2-2-03

EA-016-EPV-C3PO-3-02

DARK HORSE TO RELEASE “THE ART OF FIRE EMBLEM: AWAKENING”


Stunning illustrations, concept art, weapon and costume design, and more!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR—After its amazing success with the release of the collectors’ book The Legend of Zelda™: Hyrule Historia, Dark Horse turns its attention to another Nintendo® franchise, Fire Emblem™.
The Art of Fire Emblem: Awakening is an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the smash-hit game for Nintendo 3DS. This book offers beautifully illustrated renditions of your favorite characters, storyboards for in-game events, character designs, weapon designs, character profiles, and the entirety of the script with every possible branch of dialogue!
Fire Emblem is a tactical role-playing video game franchise published by Nintendo. The series currently consists of six games available in the United States. Fire Emblem: Awakening is the latest Fire Emblem game to be released in the US. Fire Emblem: Fates, the follow-up to Awakening, was released in Japan in June 2015 and will come to the US in February 2016.
Relive some of the most poignant moments of the game—or see what might have been if you had made different in-game decisions with The Art of Fire Emblem: Awakening.
The Art of Fire Emblem: Awakening will be available in comic shops on August 17, 2016, and in bookstores on August 30, 2016. Preorder your copy today at your local comic shop or through these fine retailers:
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About Dark Horse Comics
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 Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X, and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga, and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

DARK HORSE COMICS SETS DATE FOR WORLD OF WARCRAFT®: CHRONICLE VOLUME 1!


The First of Three Volumes Exploring the Mythology of Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft® Universe Arrives March 15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Comics and Blizzard Entertainment have set a release date for the first in a multivolume series detailing the history of the Warcraft® universe: World of Warcraft®: Chronicle Volume 1.
On March 15, World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 will hit shelves, taking readers on a journey through an age of myth and legend long before the Horde and the Alliance came to be. This definitive tome of Warcraft lore reveals untold stories about the birth of the cosmos, the rise of ancient empires, and the forces that shaped the world of Azeroth and its people.
World of Warcraft: Chronicle is the first in a series of books that attempts to codify, tighten up, and clarify the history of Warcraft,” said Chris Metzen, Blizzard Entertainment senior vice president of story and franchise development. “People often ask why lore is important. The lore, the storytelling of Warcraft is something that we’ve really tried to work on and hone over the years as an integral part of the fantasy you’re playing through. When it catches you, it’s something you want to keep coming back to over and over.”
This beautiful hardcover book features over twenty full-page illustrations by World of Warcraft artist Peter Lee and is the first in a multipart series exploring the Warcraft universe, from its distant past to the current era. Volume 1 covers the creation of the Warcraft universe up to the story of the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans.
World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 goes on sale March 15, 2016, in comic shops and bookstores. Preorder your copy today! 

Comic Shop Locator
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound
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About Dark Horse Comics
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 Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X, and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga, and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes nineteen #1 games* and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.
*Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports from key distribution partners.
 
Chill with the Coolest Guy in Ooo
in the KaBOOM! Limited Series
'Adventure Time: Ice King'

Adventure Time: Ice King #1 Main Cover
Adventure Time: Ice King #1 Main Cover by Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb

Adventure Time: Ice King #1 Subscription Cover
Adventure Time: Ice King #1 Subscription Cover by Corin Howell

Adventure Time: Ice King #1 Incentive Cover
Adventure Time: Ice King #1 Incentive Cover by Wyeth Yates
 
December 23, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - This January, KaBOOM!, an award-winning imprint of publisher BOOM! Studios, and Cartoon Network Enterprises, the licensing and merchandising arm of the network, are pleased to present the six-issue limited series Adventure Time: Ice King. Storytellers Emily Partridge (Adventure Time) and Pranas Naujokaitis (Uncle Grandpa), along with artist Natalie Andrewson (Lumberjanes), focus on one of the most tragic and hilarious characters in the Land of Ooo in an exciting new adventure that really shows what makes the Ice King tick.
 
The Ice King has always been there, kidnapping princesses, messing with Finn and Jake, and generally being a weirdo. But there’s way more to him than that! He’s a deep, thoughtful person with a heart full of love! Or...maybe he just really wants to marry a princess. Either way, this is one journey the citizens of Ooo aren’t likely to forget!
 
“The Ice King is one of the strangest and most intriguing characters in Adventure Time,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “The more we learn about him, the more questions we have! Emily, Pranas, and Natalie will be giving us a closer look at this character as they join us for our first Ice King-centric series!”
 
Ice King wakes up one morning to find Gunter missing and a ransom note from someone called Dark Magister Templi Marble! Panicking over his sweet Gunter, Ice King goes to Wizard City to find help and discovers the coolest, most intimidating secret society of wizards who are also looking for Marble.
 
KaBOOM!'s award-winning Adventure Time comics are based on the hit Cartoon Network original series. From the mind of series creator Pendleton Ward and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, Adventure Time follows the unlikely heroes Finn and Jake, best buddies who traverse the mystical Land of Ooo and encounter its colorful inhabitants—and always find themselves in the middle of heart-pounding escapades.
 
Adventure Time: Ice King #1 (of 6) arrives in comic shops on January 20th with a main cover by the original Adventure Time comic artists Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb for the price of $3.99 under Diamond order code NOV151140. Also available in a limited quantity is a subscription variant by Corin Howell and a retailer incentive cover by Wyeth Yates.

Final orders are due from retailers on December 28th, so let them know to pre-order you a copy if you want to be guaranteed one! Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to help you out!

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ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS
Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates New York Times best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic books and graphic novels. BOOM! Studios is comprised of four distinct imprints: the "Studios" imprint is home to The Woods, Grant Morrison's Klaus, and Big Trouble in Little China; imprint "BOOM! Box" publishes Lumberjanes, Steve Jackson Games' Munchkin, and Giant Days; All-Ages imprint "KaBOOM!" publishes Charles Schulz’ Peanuts; Jim Davis’ Garfield; and Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. And the "Archaia" imprint is home to Mouse Guard, Cow Boy, and numerous Jim Henson Company properties. Since 2013, BOOM! Studios has had a unique first-look feature film relationship with 20th Century Fox and since August 2014 BOOM! has had a similar first-look relationship with Fox' television studio to develop properties for the small screen.
 
ABOUT CARTOON NETWORK ENTERPRISES
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) is responsible for building consumer products and merchandising programs for a wide range of brands by securing and supporting long-term licensing partnerships across all categories. As the global branding and merchandising arm of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, the division manages the consumer product programs for the networks’ award-winning original programming, brands and characters including Ben 10, Adventure Time, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Powerpuff Girls, Adult Swim and more. CNE also serves as the exclusive global licensing agent for LazyTown Entertainment and the PGA of America for the youth marketplace.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is regularly the #1 U.S. television network in primetime among boys 6-11 & 9-14. Currently seen in 99 million U.S. homes and 194 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. In addition to Emmy-winning original programming and industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and the Move It Movement.