STARZ ANNOUNCES ELISABETH SHUE AND JASON SCHWARTZMAN TO GUEST STAR ON “BLUNT TALK”

 

Series stars patrick stewart and is executive produced BY

SETH MACFARLANE AND JONATHAN AMES

Beverly Hills, Calif. – March 5, 2015 - The STARZ Original series “Blunt Talk” has added two guest cast members to its roster of actors appearing in the premiere season.  Elisabeth Shue (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” Chasing Mavericks) and Jason Schwartzman (The Grand Budapest Hotel, “Bored to Death”) will appear in the first season of the half-hour scripted comedy series from MRC and executive produced by Seth MacFarlane, Jonathan Ames (creator and showrunner), Stephanie Davis and Tristram Shapeero.

Shue and Schwartzman will both appear as possible guests for Walter Blunt’s (Patrick Stewart) nightly cable news show “Blunt Talk.”  They join previously announced recurring stars Richard Lewis (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Ed Begley Jr. (“Arrested Development,” “St. Elsewhere”) and guest stars that include musician and actor Moby, Sharon Lawrence (“Rizzoli & Isles,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) among others.

Shue has recently wrapped her fourth season on the CBS hit series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Her extensive film career includes an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her work in Leaving Las Vegas, which also garnered her an Independent Spirit Award win. Other feature credits

include Behaving Badly, Hope Springs, The Saint, Soap Dish and Cocktail among others.  Shue is represented by Management 360 and Creative Artists Agency.

Schwartzman, most recently seen in the Academy Award nominated film The Grand Budapest Hotel and Listen Up Philip, made his motion picture debut in Rushmore. In 2009, Schwartzman stared in the HBO series “Bored To Death” for three seasons which was created by Jonathan Ames.  Other credits include Saving Mr. Banks, The Darjeeling Limited, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Moonrise Kingdom.

Set in Los Angeles, the story follows Walter Blunt, a British import intent on conquering the world of American cable news and the fallout from his well-intentioned, but mostly misguided decision-making, both on and off the air. The series will premiere on STARZ in the summer of 2015.

Through the platform of his nightly cable news show, Blunt is on a mission to impart his wisdom and guidance on how Americans should live, think and behave.  Besieged by network bosses, a dysfunctional news staff, numerous ex-wives and children of all ages, Blunt’s only support is the alcoholic manservant he transplanted from the U.K. to join him in Los Angeles.  The series is greenlit for a two-season, 20-episode commitment.

The actors join the previously announced cast led by Patrick Stewart (X-Men franchise, Ted) in the role of Walter Blunt, Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) as Rosalie, Blunt’s tough and motherly producer-manager and Adrian Scarborough (The King’s Speech) as Harry, Blunt’s manservant. Dolly Wells (“Doll & Em”) who was cast as Celia, Blunt’s senior producer and head writer, with Timm Sharp (“Enlightened”) who was cast as Jim, Blunt’s head writer round out the cast.

MacFarlane and Fuzzy Door Productions, Inc. serve as executive producer.  Ames, who created the series, will also serve as executive producer, showrunner as well as a writer on the project.  Tristram Shapeero (“Community”) and Stephanie Davis (“Bored to Death”) will also serve as executive producers with Shapeero also serving as director. Stewart will also serve as producer on the series.

MRC, the studio behind MacFarlane’s directorial debut Ted, which is the highest grossing original comedy of all time worldwide, the highly anticipated sequel, Ted 2, and the award-winning series “House of Cards,” is best known as one of the most artist friendly independent studios. 

About MRC

MRC is a leading film and television studio, specializing in the creation of content in partnership with the industry’s foremost creative talent.  The company develops, produces and finances film and TV for leading distributors including Sony, Warner Brothers, Universal and Fox, as well as premier networks including HBO, ABC, Netflix, AMC, Lifetime and Comedy Central. 

MRC is the studio behind the Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning series, House of Cards, distributed by Netflix and various international distributors.  The company also developed, produced and financed Ted, distributed by Universal Pictures, the highest grossing original comedy of all time.  For more information, please visit www.mrcstudios.com.

About Starz

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

Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ^® and ENCORE^® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies.  As of December 31, 2014, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 57.3 million subscribers, including 23.3 million at STARZ, and 34.0 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S.  STARZ^® and ENCORE^®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX^®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television.  Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties.  Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.

IMAGE COMICS RESPONDS TO DIRECT MARKET FEEDBACK WITH PRINT RUN INCREASE

Image Comics has slated the following issues of new bestselling creator-owned series—BITCH PLANET by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine de Landro, DESCENDER by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, Shadowline Comics’ THE EMPTY by Jimmie Robinson, and RUMBLE by John Arcudi and James Harren—to subsequent printings in order to meet demand and will be increasing print runs for forthcoming publications.

BITCH PLANET #2, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JAN158230)
BITCH PLANET #3, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JAN158231)
DESCENDER #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JAN158232)
THE EMPTY #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JAN158238)
RUMBLE #3, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JAN158239)

The decision to increase overall print runs to accommodate increasing demand among bricks-and-mortar retailers comes on the heels of feedback at the annual ComicsPro meeting in Portland, Oregon last month.

“We’ve been listening to the feedback from the Direct Market, and we would like to take this opportunity to announce that we are now increasing print runs to make sure we don’t find ourselves and our creators in a position where we are constantly going back to press so quickly, or hopefully, at all,” said Corey Murphy, Director of Retail Sales at Image Comics. “We don’t want to spend our creators’ money carelessly, but that being said, we understand how essential it is to the health and wellbeing of our retail partners, the creators we work with, and Image itself, that we make the necessary investments in our series.”

Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson added: “This is an issue we’ve wrestled with for some time now, but in all honestly, we’d love it if this announcement was the last press release we ever had to send out about sell outs or second printings.  It’s more important to us that these comics are in stores when readers come looking for them.”

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.

LEMIRE AND NGUYEN’S DESCENDER
FAST-TRACKED TO SECOND PRINTING
New science-fiction series launches to critical acclaim

“Gorgeous.” —Vulture.com
“The best new comic book of 2015.” —Vox.com
“Your new sci-fi obsession is here, and its name is Descender…”
—Entertainment Weekly

Writer Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Hawkeye) and artist Dustin Nguyen (Batman: Li'l Gotham) take the comics scene by storm with the launch of DESCENDER #1—already optioned for film before even hitting the shelves—and collect an outpouring of advance praise. In order to keep up with customer demand, Image Comics is pleased to announce a second printing of DESCENDER #1.

DESCENDER follows one young robot's struggle to stay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bounty hunters lurk on every planet. A rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey that pits humanity against machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling space opera.

DESCENDER #1 remains 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.

DESCENDER #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JAN158232), arrives in stores on April 1.

DESCENDER #2 (Diamond Code FEB150601) will arrive in stores on April 8.

More praise for DESCENDER:
“Your new sci-fi obsession is here, and its name is Descender… a gorgeous, moody story about a future where a lonely robot boy searches for a home in a galaxy that hates and fears him.” —Entertainment Weekly

"Jeff Lemire has dreamt up an emotional, imaginative new universe, lavishly brought to life by the great Dustin Nguyen. I can't wait to see where they take TIM-21 next." —Brian K. Vaughan

“The best new comic book of 2015.” —Vox.com

 "Lemire and Nguyen just pulled the curtain back on the medium's new best science fiction heartbreaker." —Matt Kindt

“Between Lemire's penchant for building sweeping yet personal stories and Nguyen's gorgeous, painterly art, the book is stunning to behold.”
—Comic Book Resources

“Epic, intelligent, and full of heart.” —Comics Alliance

“Gorgeous.” —Vulture.com

“An epic sci-fi tale with a huge heart.” —Scott Snyder

“Remarkable…. Descender #1 truly takes you on a journey that’s so gripping, you’ll be begging for more..” —Bleeding Cool

“Exciting.” —The Los Angeles Times’ “HeroComplex”

“​Jeff Lemire has a real talent for ​drawing me into cold, alien worlds that I'd never dream I'd care about and then having me not want to leave them.” —Mark Waid

“The craft on display in this first issue of Descender is tour-de-force stuff.”
—Greg Rucka

“Descender by Jeff Lemire & Dustin Nguyen is hauntingly beautiful sci-fi that manages to be both epic and powerfully intimate. Masterfully done.” —Jason Aaron

"What a beautiful, beautiful book. Descender is worth buying for the artwork alone, so it's almost a bonus that it tells such a compelling story about the future of humanity in a universe filled with terrors (planet-sized killer robots, for one). I can't wait to see where it goes." —Charles Soule

“A beautiful cosmic opera and nuanced think piece, balancing the fear of the unknown with the spirit of adventure. Driven by the gorgeous visuals of artist Dustin Nguyen, Descender is a book on the rise.” —IGN

“I love Jeff Lemire. I love Dustin Nguyen. But believe me when I say Descender #1 is the best I've seen from both. This is a 5 star book!” —Mark Millar

“Like the best sci-fi, Lemire’s script transcends the fantastic to dissect such universal issues as fear, acceptance and hope… From the same scribe behind such reflective graphic novel touchstones as the Essex County trilogy, The Underwater Welder and Trillium, we’d expect no less.” —PASTE Magazine 

“Bloody hell, Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's Descender looks fantastic... “
—Declan Shalvey

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.

Tynion IV, Yuenkel, and Fox Bring Aliens to the Midwest in 'UFOlogy'

UFOlogy #1 Main Cover by Matthew Fox


UFOlogy #1 Jackpot Variant Cover by Alison Sampson


UFOlogy #1 10 Years Incentive Cover by Frazer Irving
(full wraparound image shown)


UFOlogy #1 Incentive Cover by Paul Maybury
 

March 5, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - James Tynion IV (Batman Eternal) has taken readers deep into an otherworldly forest with The Woods and to the very end of the world with Memetic. This April, he teams up with his Thrillbent partner Noah J. Yuenkel (The House in the Wall) and artist Matthew Fox (Long Walk to Valhalla) for a story of growing up and dealing with aliens in the debut of UFOlogy from award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios.

 

“Character is at the heart of all of James’s stories,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Whether they’re on a strange planet or in rural Wisconsin, he’s proven he’s one of the best in the business when it comes to character-driven stories with rich concepts. This April he’s teaming up with Noah Yuenkel to do it again. They’re joined by the incredibly talented artist Matthew Fox, for a story that feels like an heir to sci-fi thrillers like Super 8 and The X-Files.”

 

Becky Finch never wanted to be special. She just wanted to be a normal high school student in the small Midwestern town of Mukawgee. Malcolm Chamber wanted something more. A destiny. An answer from the stars. When Becky is marked by an alien’s touch, she’ll stumble into a mystery she never wanted. A mystery that almost ripped apart both their parents’ lives 12 years ago. She’ll need the help of her eccentric young classmate, Malcolm, as she finds the power within herself to uncover the truth.

 

UFOlogy #1 arrives in comic shops on April 1st with a main cover by series artist Matthew Fox for the price of $3.99 under Diamond order code FEB151123. Also available in a limited quantity are a Jackpot Variant by Alison Sampson (Genesis), a 10 Years Anniversary incentive cover by Frazer Irving (Eternal), and a retailer incentive cover by Paul Maybury (Sovereign).

The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is March 9th. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one! It’s also available for order directly from boom-studios.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 comprised of four distinct imprints. The original Studios imprint is home to Mike Carey's Suicide Risk; James Tynion IV's The Woods; Mark Waid's Irredeemable; Sons of Anarchy; and Big Trouble in Little China. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 Guns was 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, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe; Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid; and Natasha Allegri's Bee and PuppyCat. BOOM!'s experimental imprint BOOM! Box publishes The Midas Flesh and Lumberjanes. 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, and Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand. 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. In August 2014, BOOM! Studios began a similar first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox TV to develop properties for the small screen.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES A MANGA ACQUISITION DOUBLE SHOT WITH NEW SHOJO SERIES BLOODY MARY AND HONEY SO SWEET

A Heretical Supernatural Murder Pact Between Vampire and Exorcist In BLOODY MARY And An Adorable High School Romance Where A Girl Decides Whether A Tough Guy’s Love Is For Real In HONEY SO SWEET

San Francisco, CA, March 5, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, announces the acquisition of two new shojo manga (graphic novel) series – BLOODY MARY, by Akaza Samamiya, and HONEY SO SWEET, by Amu Meguro.

Both titles will be published in English under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint. They will also be available digitally via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from select VIZ Media content partners’ proprietary digital platforms. BLOODY MARY will launch in December; HONEY SO SWEET is scheduled to debut in January 2016.

Creator Akaza Samamiya’s BLOODY MARY is a heart-pounding tale of an unorthodox allegiance between a vampire and an exorcist who is thought to have inherited the power the kill vampires. The Shojo Beat imprint will release new volumes of the ongoing series quarterly.

HONEY SO SWEET is by new manga artist Amu Meguro, and is currently featured in Japan in the iconic shojo magazine, Bessatsu Margaret. Featuring whimsical artwork and an ensemble cast, HONEY SO SWEET offers a heartwarming story about love that begins out of an act of kindness. The ongoing series will be released quarterly.

“Wonderfully memorable but markedly different characters are at the core of each of these exciting new manga titles,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor, Shojo Beat. “We have supernatural fantasy with two male protagonists in the gothic BLOODY MARY, and the utterly adorable romantic comedy about love and friendship among high schoolers in HONEY SO SWEET. Both are sure to appeal to a broad array of fans and readers!”

BLOODY MARY, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens ·

MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN · Debuting December 2015

“Bloody” Mary, a vampire with a death wish, has spent the past 400 years chasing down a modern-day exorcist named Maria who is thought to have inherited “The Blood of Maria” and is the only one who can kill Mary. To Mary’s dismay, Maria doesn’t know how to kill vampires. Desperate to die, Mary agrees to become Maria’s bodyguard until Mary can find a way to kill him.

Manga creator Akaza Samamiya's other works include Hatsukoi Canvas (First Love Canvas), Torikago Syndrome (Birdcage Syndrome) and Ouji wa Tadaima Dekasegichuu (The Prince Is Gone on Business), all of which were published in the popular Japanese shojo magazine Asuka. 

HONEY SO SWEET, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens ·

MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN · Debuting January 2016

Little did Nao Kogure realize back in middle school that when she left an umbrella and a box of bandages in the rain for injured delinquent Taiga Onise that she would meet him again in high school. Nao wants nothing to do with the gruff and frightening Taiga, but he suddenly presents her with a huge bouquet of flowers and asks her to date him—with marriage in mind! Is Taiga really so scary, or is he a sweetheart in disguise?

Newcomer Amu Meguro debuted with the one-shot manga Makka na Ringo ni Kuchizuke wo (A Kiss for a Bright Red Apple). Born in Hokkaido, her hobbies are playing with her niece and eating. HONEY SO SWEET is her current series in Bessatsu Margaret magazine.    

For more information on BLOODY MARY, HONEY SO SWEET, or other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, 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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HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED NONPLAYER RETURNS
The second issue in the critically-acclaimed series
by Nate Simpson coming this June

After much fan anticipation, Image Comics is pleased to announce that Nate Simpson's NONPLAYER, which achieved massive levels of critical acclaim upon its debut, will return with the highly anticipated issue #2 on June 3, 2015. In order to meet customer demand, NONPLAYER #1 will return for a third printing and be available on April 1.

Newsarama calls Russ Manning Award-winner Simpson "a superstar in the making," and Warren Ellis says of Simpson, "this guy's going to be a big deal. The whole thing is just a f****** stunning piece of illustration." Multiversity raves that NONPLAYER is "a deafening roar that no one can ignore. Simpson has created the debut of the year with this comic, and to pass it up would certainly be the biggest mistake any comic fan could make."

NONPLAYER is set in the future—and the future is dismal. That goes double for Dana Stevens—she's stuck in a dead-end tamale delivery job, and she's way too old to be living with her mom. But Dana escapes to the online fantasy world of Jarvath, where she's an elite warrior. When she slays the wife of celebrity game character King Heremoth, her victory seems all but guaranteed—that is, until the game spins wildly out of control.

Issue #2 sees a wounded King Heremoth plotting revenge against Dana, while a police standoff at a Los Angeles fish market reveals a homicidal robot armed only with seafood. Simpson outdoes his beautiful and multi-layered debut with an even more ambitious feat of world-building!

NONPLAYER is a lush and vivid story that explores what happens when one girl loses herself in an escapist hobby that turns out to be much more than just a game.

NONPLAYER #1, 3rd printing (Diamond Code = APR150543) will be available on April 1. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, March 9.

NONPLAYER #2 (Diamond Code = APR150542) will be available on June 3 and can be pre-ordered now.

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.

Comic Book Legend Stan Lee to Teach Free Online Course

From edX and the Smithsonian Institution

“Rise of Super Heroes” Explores Different Perspectives of the History and Cultural Influences

of the Superhero Genre

Course Participants Receive a Certificate Featuring
Original Artwork and signed by Stan Lee and Michael Uslan

WHAT:            

Stan Lee, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, POW! Entertainment and Chairman Emeritus of Marvel, has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum and research complex, to teach a free open online course, in partnership with edX, the nonprofit online learning initiative. Fans will have the opportunity to become certified experts in the superhero genre and be taught by one of its greatest living legends.

Lee, a pioneer of the comic book genre and creator of some of the most recognizable action heroes of page and screen, will join Michael Uslan, Executive Producer of the Dark Knight trilogy and Professor of Practice at Indiana University’s Media School, and David Uslan, Executive Producer of Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch and AMC’s Mob Week documentary series, to teach “Rise of Super Heroes and Their Impact on Pop Culture.” An examination of the rise of comic books to their dominant place in pop culture, the course will provide different perspectives of the history and cultural influences of the superhero genre.  The course is open to all ages, and is delivered via video lectures and interviews, interactive exercises, curated links and readings, and online discussion with course faculty and students from around the world.

                       

Participants who sign up for and earn a verified certificate in the five week course will receive a certificate featuring original artwork with both Stan Lee’s and Michael Uslan’s signatures.

“It’s a great honor being invited to share my views on the evolution of superheroes and the genre’s overall impact across all generations of people,” said Stan Lee. “Throughout my career, characters have evolved so much – from drawings on a page to other-worldly special effects only animation could produce, to live-action and so much more. I can’t wait to dive into these discussions thanks to Smithsonian and edX.”

"The comic book is an indigenous American art form worthy of galleries, museums, and universities, and has become contemporary American folklore embraced around the world,” said Michael Uslan. “It's exciting to see the Smithsonian Institution and edX recognize and honor the comic book industry by making this landmark course a reality."

“Rise of Super Heroes” starts May 5, 2015. Participants must register by May 31  and complete the course to qualify to receive the signed certificate with limited edition artwork.

WHERE:          

https://www.edx.org/course/rise-superheroes-impact-pop-culture-smithsonianx-popx1-1x

About the Smithsonian Institution

Since its founding in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to inspiring generations through knowledge and discovery. The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. There are 6,400 Smithsonian employees and 5,500 volunteers. There were 28 million visits to the Smithsonian in 2014. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 138 million, including more than 126 million specimens and artifacts at the National Museum of Natural History. www.smithsonian.org

About edX

EdX is a nonprofit, open-source enterprise offering online courses from more than 60 member institutions, composed of both leading global universities and colleges and a diverse group of prominent organizations from around the world. Founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, edX is focused on transforming online and on-campus learning through groundbreaking methodologies, game-like experiences and cutting-edge research on an open-source platform. Based in Cambridge, MA, USA, edX is focused on people, not profit.

NEW SPAWN WRITER AND ARTIST BRING FANS SPAWN: RESURRECTION
The regular series team sheds light on Todd McFarlane's original Al Simmons character

New series writer and Eisner Award-winner Paul Jenkins (Revelations, Batman: The Dark Knight) teams up with artist Jonboy Meyers (The Savage She-Hulks, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man) to shed light on Al Simmons’ tragic past in the collectible issue, SPAWN: RESURRECTION #1. Al Simmons’ highly-anticipated return to the series will then pick up with SPAWN #251.

Five years ago, Al Simmons removed himself to a state of limbo by means of suicide. But what tragic revelation could persuade him to finally return to the city, and how is this connected to the very creation of humanity? Featuring a special guest character: God. Trust us: you've never read a SPAWN comic like this before.

SPAWN: RESURRECTION #1 hits stores on March 11th and can be pre-ordered using Diamond Code DEC140602. Cover B by McFarlane can be pre-ordered using Diamond Code DEC140603.

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.

KaBOOM! and Cartoon Network Enterprises Welcome New Artist in
'Adventure Time: Graybles Schmaybles'
Original Graphic Novel

Adventure Time: Graybles Schmaybles Cover by Stephanie Gonzaga
 

March 4, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - KaBOOM!, the award-winning all-ages imprint of publisher BOOM! Studios, and Cartoon Network Enterprises, the licensing and merchandising arm of the network, are excited to announce the April debut of its fifth volume in the award-winning Adventure Time original graphic novel (OGN) series, Adventure Time Vol. 5: Graybles Schmaybles, presented in full color. Featuring 160 pages of adventure, as well as the franchise return of writer Danielle Corsetto and the debut of artist Bridget Underwood, Adventure Time Vol. 5: Graybles Schmaybles follows on the success of The New York Times bestselling books Adventure Time Vol. 1: Playing with Fire, Adventure Time Vol. 2: Pixel Princesses, Adventure Time Vol. 3: Seeing Red, and Adventure Time Vol. 4: Bitter Sweets.

“We’re overjoyed to welcome Danielle back to writing an Adventure Time original graphic novel,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Her approach to storytelling is always such a great fit with these characters. Also: Bridget Underwood is a real find. Her artwork brings to life the Land of Ooo perfectly. I suspect we’ll be seeing a lot more of her work in the years to come!”

 

In Graybles Schmaybles, best buds Finn & Jake are about to go on their craziest adventure yet—and they don’t even have to leave their living room. The two pals discover a tiny cube all by its lonesome in the middle of the woods after helping Party God with his technical issues. Their commitment to never leaving the helpless finds their new friend back at the treehouse. Finn and Jake soon discover that some of the most harmless looking things can be the most dangerous.

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.

The Adventure Time Vol. 5: Graybles Schmaybles softcover arrives from KaBOOM! and Cartoon Network Enterprises in comic shops on April 1st with a cover illustrated by Stephanie Gonzaga (Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake) for the price of $12.99 under Diamond order code FEB151177.

The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is March 9th. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one! It’s also available for order directly from boom-studios.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 comprised of four distinct imprints. The original Studios imprint is home to Mike Carey's Suicide Risk; James Tynion IV's The Woods; Mark Waid's Irredeemable; Sons of Anarchy; and Big Trouble in Little China. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 Guns was 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, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe; Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid; and Natasha Allegri's Bee and PuppyCat. BOOM!'s experimental imprint BOOM! Box publishes The Midas Flesh and Lumberjanes. 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, and Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand. 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. In August 2014, BOOM! Studios began a similar first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox TV 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.