STAPLES VARIANT TO THE WICKED + THE DIVINE UNVEILED
Issue #11 will feature an alternate cover by SAGA artist Fiona Staples

The New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-nominated series THE WICKED + THE DIVINE by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie will feature a special variant cover for issue #11 by Eisner Award-winning artist Fiona Staples (SAGA) to celebrate the highly anticipated conclusion to the second story arc, which hits stores on June 3.

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #11 marks the end of Fandemonium. The end of Ragnarock. The end of the arc. The start of something else. Everything’s going to be okay.

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #11 will be available on June 3 and Cover A by McKelvie can be ordered with Diamond Code MAR150616. Cover B featuring artwork by Fiona Staples can be ordered with Diamond Code MAR158641. Final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, May 11.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION AT

ANIME CENTRAL 2015 CONVENTION

VIZ Media Returns To Mid-West’s Largest Anime/Manga Convention With Exclusive Products, Advance Copies Of Upcoming Titles, Special Guest Appearances, Informative Panels And Much More

San Francisco, CA, May 7, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has announced its participation at the Anime Central 2015 convention with an exciting weekend full of unique booth giveaways and exclusive items for sale, informative panel discussions and special guest appearances, anime screenings, and other fun activities.

Anime Central 2015 (ACen) takes place May 15^th to 17^th in Rosemont, IL, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and the adjacent Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, located less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago. ACen presents special Guests of Honor from the Japanese and U.S. sectors of the anime and manga industry, as well as gaming, cinema, and other Asian pop culture personalities. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #I-11. Complete details on Anime Central 2015 are available at: http://www.acen.org.

The VIZ Media booth will offer fans a wide variety of retail products available for purchase throughout the convention. Special exclusive products include a NARUTO manga replica ($15.00) featuring the Uchiha Brothers in a pivotal and touching moment. Be among the first to get a SAILOR MOON R Event T-Shirt ($15.00) featuring an exclusive design in both unisex and ladies’ styles/sizes! Also pick up a special advance copy of Volume 1 of the forthcoming new shojo manga series, SO CUTE IT HURTS!! ($10.00; rated ‘T’ for Older Teens) ahead of its June 2^nd street date. All purchases also offer the buyer a selection of 1 of 4 exclusive VIZ Media tote bags that make for a handy way to carry convention treasures.

Other VIZ Media products available at Anime Central 2015 include:

·         SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 1 Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack with special gift with purchase (while supplies last) ($65)   

·         SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 2 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack ($50)

·         RANMA ½ Sets 1-5 Blu-ray Limited Edition Sets ($45 ea)

·         POKÉMON: INDIGO LEAGUE Complete DVD Set ($45) & POKÉMON: ADVENTURES IN THE ORANGE ISLANDS Complete DVD Set ($25)

·         THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST ($20) and THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Manga Box Set ($80)

·         Anime Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack sets for BLOOD LAD ($55), COPPELION ($55), GARGANTIA ($55), K ($55); DEATH NOTE – DVD only  ($40)

·         Manga Box Sets for BLEACH ($175), DEATH NOTE ($115), NARUTO ($215), ONE PIECE ($186), OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB ($140), and VAMPIRE KNIGHT ($100) 

·         LOVE STAGE Vol. 1 Advance Copy ($13: street date 5/12)

·         WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP annual membership, with exclusive Game Mat and Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimaya Tzolkin promo card ($25); all ACen subscribers have an opportunity to enter a special sweepstakes, please stop by the VIZ Media booth for details

Fans can also stop by the VIZ Media booth to pre-order the upcoming SAILOR MOON R Season 2, Set 1 Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and will receive an exclusive gift with purchase commemorative coin while supplies last. Anime Central attendees that sign up at the VIZ Media booth for the company’s official newsletter will receive a free TOKYO GHOUL manga poster. Also catch a variety of free items including manga samplers, postcards and posters for popular VIZ Media anime and manga properties and more!

VIZ Media’s Anime Central 2015 Panels Include:

Friday May 15^th

4:30PM                VIZ Media Industry Panel

                             (Panel Room 1)

Join VIZ Media as we pull back the curtain on your favorite manga and anime. Be the first to hear about upcoming releases and throw questions at our staff!

6:00PM                VIZ Media Official SAILOR MOON Panel

                             (Panel Room 1)

One year ago, VIZ Media announced at Anime Central the return of the legendary SAILOR MOON anime. Now, one year later, join members of the VIZ Media SAILOR MOON staff as they talk about the impact of this beloved anime series and celebrate the long-awaited return of Usagi and her friends! Don’t miss special appearances at the panel by the SAILOR MOON English cast including Stephanie Sheh (Usagi Tsukino / Sailor Moon), Sandy Fox (Chibiusa), Amanda C. Miller (Makoto Kino / Sailor Jupiter), Cherami Leigh (Minako Aino / Sailor Venus), and Cristina Vee (Rei Hino / Sailor Mars)

Saturday May 16^th

9:00PM                VIZ Media Presents: The Classics Of Shonen Jump

                             (GR Industry Panel Rooms)

Long before hits such as NARUTO and BLEACH came to be, SHONEN JUMP magazine brought us many classic manga series such as KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC, DRAGON BALL and RUROUNI KENSHIN. Think you know them all? Find out at this panel as VIZ Media goes through a list of legendary SHONEN JUMP classics and how you can get them! 

Also don’t miss special convention screenings of a variety of acclaimed VIZ Media anime titles including SAILOR MOON, SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL, ZETMAN and GARGANTIA and more! Specific screening times and dates will be listed in the official Anime Central 2015 program guide.

For more information on award winning anime and manga 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 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.

###

Myx TV Suits Up for Second Season of “Call to Cosplay”

Asian American Cable Television Network to Premiere

Creative Costume Competition Tuesday, May 12

(Los Angeles, Calif. – May 7, 2015) — Myx TV, the only English-language multicultural Asian American entertainment network in the United States, will premiere the second season of fan-favorite costume competition series “Call to Cosplay,” on May 12, 2015 at 8/7c.

Cosplay, a term meaning ‘costume play’ is a popular subculture where participants dress-up and role play various characters from anime, manga, comic books and more. “Call to Cosplay” combines the world of cosplay with all of the exciting elements of a competition design program. Each episode of the series features two cosplayers competing for cash prizes. Contestants are assigned a theme, budget, mystery element and strict time limit to create a character and costume from scratch. Costumes and performances are then judged by a panel of experts and scored on four main criteria: authenticity, creativity, “wow” factor and craftsmanship.

“We were blown away by the fan reaction to the first season of ‘Call to Cosplay,’ and we’ve brought it back even better than before,” said Miguel Santos, General Manager of Myx TV. “Fans are passionate about these artists and characters and Myx TV is the perfect showplace for that talent.”

Fans will notice a few changes to the look of the show this season, including the addition of the Cosplay Arena, a state-of-the-art set that includes a material pantry, industrial sewing stations, photo set and fashion catwalk. The new set creates a pressure-cooker environment where the cosplay contestants must work under the microscope of the camera team leaving no move unseen.

The competition reality series consists of six episodes, with episodic themes including: sports anime, magical girls, American/non-Japanese characters, throwback anime (pre-1990) and heavy metal armor throw-down. The show is executive produced by George Chung.

Judges this season include actress/host Brook Lee, the only native Hawaiian to win both Miss USA and Miss Universe; Marisa Lynch, author and “New Dress a Day” fashion blogger; Johnny Junkers, one of America’s most beloved cosplayers and grand prize champion from the show’s first season, and veteran cosplayer and writer Lindsay Elsye.

 

Hosts for the second season of “Call to Cosplay” include returning host Keith Kawamura, anime expert and one of the most visible and popular ambassadors of cosplay in the United States, and Taylor Chung, who performs under the name DJ Wednesday, one of the youngest and most popular DJs performing at top Hollywood venues today. 

ABOUT Myx TV®:

Launched in 2007, Myx TV is the only English-language multicultural Asian American entertainment network in the United States. It is broadcast in more than 15 million households on cable providers such as Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and DIRECTV. The network is also available on digital platforms, offering on demand content on www.myx.tv and on OTT platforms such as Roku, Samsung Smart TV and Blu-Ray, and Sony Bravia and Blu-Ray. Myx TV's award-winning programming includes reality shows, live music performances and movies. To find out more, visit www.myx.tv.

Bruce Boxleitner Headlines BOOM! Studios' Presence at the First-Ever
Atlantic City Boardwalk Con

Lantern City #1 Atlantic City Boardwalk Con Variant Cover by Conor Nolan
 

May 7, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is excited to announce it will be exhibiting at the first-ever Atlantic City Boardwalk Con (ACBC), a new East Coast-based “Comic/Geek/Cosplay convention” that will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey during the weekend of May 14-17.

 

Bruce Boxleitner (Tron, Babylon 5), co-creator of the new Archaia steampunk comic series Lantern City, will be attending ACBC on Saturday, May 16 only and can be found at the Lantern City table #2106 from 10am-12:30pm, at The World of Lantern City panel from 2-3pm, and at the BOOM! Studios booth from 3:30-4:30pm.

 

BOOM! and its imprints Archaia, KaBOOM!, and BOOM! Box can be found at Booth #724 and will host the following creators all weekend:

 

• James Tynion IV (writer of The Woods, Memetic, and UFOlogy)
• Trevor Crafts and Matthew James Daley (creators of Lantern City)
• Coleman Engle (artist on the Steven Universe comics)
• Travis Hill (artist on Adventure Time short stories)

 

Engle and Hill are also available to create custom illustrations for fans for $30.00 on blank sketch covers all weekend. Interested attendees can place their order at the booth and return later for pickup.

 

BOOM! imprint Archaia will host a panel on Lantern City—the first issue launches the same week of ACBC.

 

The World of LANTERN CITY

Saturday, May 16

2:00-3:00pm

Presented by: Filip Sablik (Host), Trevor Crafts, Matthew James Daley, and Bruce Boxleitner.

 

Lantern City is an exciting, new steampunk comic series just launched by Archaia and Macrocosm Entertainment, featuring wondrous settings, engaging characters, and of course, some great costumes. Come explore the development of the series and see exclusive behind-the-scenes content with creators Trevor Crafts, Matthew James Daley, and Bruce Boxleitner, and learn what’s new with the development of the proposed television series. Moderated by BOOM! Studios President of Publishing & Marketing Filip Sablik. Attendees will receive a free, Limited Edition Lantern City pin exclusive to Atlantic City Boardwalk Con!

 

The panel will be followed by a Lantern City signing at 3:30pm of the ACBC exclusive variant (available for purchase for $10.00) by Trevor Crafts, Matthew James Daley, Bruce Boxleitner, and cover artist Conor Nolan (Never Boy). The signing will take place at the BOOM! Studios booth, #724.

For more information about and tickets for ACBC, visit their website at doacbc.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.

ODD SCHNOZZ AND THE ODD SQUAD DIGITAL RELEASE BEGINS ON COMIXOLOGY MAY 12TH

 

SCIFI PUNK ROCK GRAPHIC NOVEL AVAILABLE DIGITALLY ON COMIXOLOGY

 

PORTLAND, OR April 22nd, 2015 – Oni Press, Portland’s premier independent comic book publisher, announced today the weekly digital chapter release on ComiXology of their upcoming science fiction punk rock graphic novel, Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad, written by Jeffrey Burandt, illustrated by Dennis Culver and colored by Ramon Villalobos. The 6-part weekly digital chapter release will begin May 12th and continue every week through June 23rd, before the full graphic novel’s physical release on June 24th.

Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad, Liz, Bodey, Maude, and Justine are sure to win this year's Battle of the Bands. But when a talking chimp, who claims to be a scientist from the mysterious organization B.L.A.N.K., interrupts their practice session, they have a whole new set of problems. Now B.L.A.N.K. agents are closing in, determined to recapture the escaped chimp before he becomes a liability. Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad is a thrilling tale of cyborg animals and punk rock teenagers from Jeffrey Burandt (Americans UK), Dennis Culver (Edison Rex) and Ramon Villalobos (Young Avengers).

Leaping off the page and into your ears, music from the official Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad soundtrack will be available with each new digital chapter release. Written and performed by writer Jeffrey Burandt and his Brooklyn-based scifi rock band Americans UK, a new track will release on OddSchnozz.com every Tuesday, beginning May 12th through June 23rd, when the full Odd Schnozz EP will be available.
 

 
About Oni Press

Oni Press has been Portland’s premier indie comic book publisher since 1997. Home to a range of rad comics including Scott Pilgrim, The Sixth Gun, Invader Zim, Rick and Morty, Stumptown, Princess Ugg, Letter 44 and The Bunker, Oni Press strives to create comics for you.

Fans Can See Live Streams of David Tennant/Billie Piper and Stephen Amell Panels at Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia Free on CONtv Saturday

PHILADELPHIA, May 7, 2015 -- CONtv, the new digital entertainment network devoted exclusively to the fanspace, will live stream Saturday's top Q&A panels, including the one featuring "Doctor Who" stars David Tennant and Billie Piper (10:30-11:15 a.m ET) and another starring "Arrow" headliner Stephen Amell (3:30-4:15 p.m ET) from Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia.

Fans can sign up free at http://wizd.me/TennantLive or http://wizd.me/AmellLive to view the streams at the designated times.

It marks the first time that Tennant and Piper have participated in a live streamed Q&A session; the appearance at the convention marks their first dual U.S. public signing and photo op appearance.

It is also the first time that Stephen Amell has participated in a live streamed Q&A session.

The live streams, titled "The Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey David Tennant And Billie Piper" and "Protecting Starling City with Stephen Amell," are open to all fans who register for free at the links above.

Tennant, who starred as the “Tenth Doctor” on the long-running series “Doctor Who,” will appear at Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday, while Piper, who was his love “Rose Tyler,” will attend Saturday only. On site, the panel is open on site to "Doctor Who" VIP attendees only.

Stephen Amell plays the title character in the CW’s hit series Arrow, based on the famous DC Comics superhero, The Green Arrow. Amell will appear at Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday. The panel is open on site to all attendees, with VIP attendees receiving first entry. Seating is limited.

WIN A PLAYSTATION 4 & MORE IN ‘THE WITCHER’ ART CONTEST

SUBMIT YOUR OWN FAN ART FROM THE WORLD OF ‘THE WITCHER’ FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR—Are you a Witcher superfan? Before delving into the seven islands of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, now’s your chance to prove your fandom in a special art contest presented by Dark Horse Comics and CD PROJEKT RED. In celebration of the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Dark Horse’s The World of the Witcher source book, Dark Horse will run a special art contest through Facebook from May 5 to May 27 that gives dedicated fans a chance to win a PlayStation 4, copies of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The World of the Witcher, autographed original concept art from the game, and much more. Whether it’s a drawing, sculpture, painting, digital design, or something else entirely—enter your artistic vision of The Witcher for consideration! For eligibility, fans must submit a piece of original fan art via the dedicated contest tab on the Dark Horse Comics Facebook page or the dedicated contest website by May 27. One grand-prize winner will receive: PlayStation 4 Collector’s edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, signed by the CD PROJEKT RED developers, with statue Autographed original art from the game The Witcher skateboard The World of the Witcher limited edition art book The Witcher Adventure game (physical and digital editions) The Witcher T-shirt Volume 1 of The Witcher comics The Witcher digital comic collection One first runner-up will receive: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the platform of their choice, signed by the CD PROJEKT RED developers Autographed original art from the game The World of the Witcher The Witcher medallion The Witcher Adventure Game digital edition The Witcher T-shirt Volume 1 of The Witcher comics The Witcher digital comic collection One second runner-up will receive: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the platform of their choice, signed by the CD PROJEKT RED developers The World of the Witcher The Witcher medallion The Witcher Adventure Game digital edition The Witcher T-shirt Volume 1 of The Witcher comics The Witcher digital comic collection For more details and contest rules, see the Dark Horse Comics Facebook contest tab or the dedicated contest website. ### About Dark Horse Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

INTERSECT, VOL. 1 TO TERRIFY READERS THIS MAY
The twisted, puzzling nightmare series will be collected into trade paperback

Bestselling cartoonist Ray Fawkes (Batman: Eternal, Constantine, One Soul, The People Inside) pushes sequential storytelling boundaries with his horror-inducing, transcendent tale INTERSECT. The first six issues of the series will be collected into trade paperback and available this May.

Bodies shift and merge, warring with themselves. Blood rains from the skies. A child’s song is translated into toxic, thought-destroying whispers. Everything is changing. Everything is wrong. This is the world of INTERSECT. 

INTERSECT, VOL. 1 (ISBN: 978-1-63215-279-4) hits comic book stores on May 20 and bookstores on June 2, and will be available for $14.99. It can be ordered by retailers from Diamond Book Distributors with Diamond Code NOV148042. 

More praise for INTERSECT: 

“Epitomizes the creative opportunities horror has in the comic medium. Ray Fawkes firmly rejects the retrofitting of horror film tropes and conventions that is all too common in horror comics today to deliver something truly original, truly unreplicable, and truly terrifying… Intersect just might be the scariest book ever written.” —Bloody Disgusting 

“Intersect is vastly different than anything you've read before. Completely breaking away from traditional comics, Fawkes shows you what is capable in this medium. It's stories like these that pave the way for other original stories and ideas to follow.” —Coming Up Comics 

“A harrowing psychological drama, Intersect tears at the most basic components of the of the human experience. It's uncomfortable and oddly terrifying. The pacing of the story, with its constant twists and turns, never allows readers to get comfortable. It is an incredibly disorienting experience, robbing us of the truths we cling to in order to define ourselves. Fawkes presents a reality that betrays the most essential elements of identity and understanding. This is a difficult book, but it rewards those who are willing to lose themselves in it. Highly imaginative and beautifully rendered.” —Multiversity Comics 

“Intersect is like nothing out there.” —Comic Bastards 

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.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT BRINGS FRIGHT-NIGHT-STYLE THRILLS THIS MAY
This standalone vampire crime series will be collected into trade paperback

Writer Jay Faerber (COPPERHEAD, SECRET IDENTITIES) and artist Fran Bueno bring readers a new tale of crime, horror, and romance in GRAVEYARD SHIFT. The complete miniseries will be collected into trade paperback and available this May.

Liam and Hope are deeply in love, but when Liam attempts to arrest a serial killer who turns out to be a vampire, he incurs the wrath of the vampire's brood, who retaliate by turning Hope into a vampire. GRAVEYARD SHIFT follows Liam and Hope as they try to cope with her new "condition," while trying to bring down the other vampires once and for all.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT (ISBN: 978-1-63215-375-3) hits comic book stores on May 20 and bookstores on June 2, and will be available for $14.99. It can be ordered by retailers from Diamond Book Distributors with Diamond Code MAR150535.

More praise for GRAVEYARD SHIFT:

“Overall, Graveyard Shift excels at bringing a fresh take on the vampire genre with characters that are smart and engaging.” —Geeks with Wives

“One of the best written and drawn horror comics currently out.” —Big Glasgow Comic Page

“Exciting action, gripping drama, and a fitting climax.” —Unleash the Fanboy

“Whether you are a fan of vampire stories, power couples, or crime, Graveyard Shift is a solid read.” —The Latest Pull

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

VIZ MEDIA PREVIEWS NEW NARUTO RELEASES AHEAD OF CREATOR MASASHI KISHIMOTO’S FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCE

Final Manga Volume Of Seminal Ninja Action Adventure Will Coincide With Creator’s Special Appearance At 2015 New York Comic Con; NARUTO Illustration Book, 3 New Novels And Final Manga Series Box Set Edition Announced

San Francisco, CA, May 5, 2015 – Coming right after news of NARUTO manga (graphic novel) creator Masashi Kishimoto’s first international appearance outside of Japan, set to take place at the 2015 New York Comic-Con, VIZ Media has announced several forthcoming new NARUTO titles that longtime fans and readers will not want to miss.

VIZ Media and ReedPOP, the organizers of the New York Comic Con, will welcome Kishimoto sensei for a very special series of appearances at the massive pop culture convention that will take place October 8^th-11^th at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. 

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) is the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America. The company is the master North American licensor for the incredibly influential ninja action property, publishing the bestselling NARUTO manga series as well as distributing the popular NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series and related feature films. 

The NARUTO manga series finale, Volume 72, will be released in print and also digitally in October, and brings the long-running ninja action adventure to its thrilling conclusion. Following its release, VIZ Media also will offer fans UZUMAKI NARUTO: ILLUSTRATIONS, a new softcover art book set to be released in November showcasing the artwork and characters from the manga series’ concluding story arc.

November 2015 sees the debut of NARUTO: KAKASHI’S STORY, the first of three new NARUTO prose novels focusing on key characters from the series that will be complemented by original cover illustrations from Masashi Kishimoto. The other two novels include NARUTO: SHIKAMARU’S STORY, set for release in February 2016, and NARUTO: SAKURA’S STORY, which is scheduled for release in May 2016. VIZ Media will release the third and final NARUTO comprehensive manga box set in January 2016.

“Masashi Kishimoto and his seminal series forever changed the manga landscape, and NARUTO has become one of the world’s most successful entertainment properties, with millions of passionate international fans,” says Andy Nakatani, Editor in Chief, WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. “We’re very proud to welcome him for his first ever professional appearance in North America at the 2015 New York Comic-Con, an event that will coincide with the eagerly anticipated release of the final volume of the manga series. And there’s plenty more NARUTO excitement in store with the brand new spin-off serial NARUTO: THE SEVENTH HOKAGE AND THE SCARLET SPRING, running currently in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP, as well as an upcoming illustration book, three novels, and the third and final manga box set!”

NARUTO, Vol. 72 ·

Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Print MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN; Digital MSRP: $6.99 · Available October 2015 

The peace following Kaguya's defeat is short-lived as Sasuke tries to take total control. Can Naruto change his old friend's mind and bring true peace to the ninja world in the final volume of NARUTO?

UZUMAKI NARUTO: ILLUSTRATIONS ·

Print MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN · Available November 2015 

Experience Masashi Kishimoto's artwork in all of its colorful glory in this collection of images from the conclusion of the best-selling Naruto manga! Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi and all your favorite characters appear in nearly a hundred pages of gorgeous full-color images. The book also features commentary from creator Masashi Kishimoto, a beautiful double-sided poster and a sticker sheet!

NARUTO: KAKASHI’S STORY (Novel) ·

Print MSRP: $10.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN · Available November 2015

A year has passed since the Fourth Great Ninja War, and Kakashi’s appointment to Hokage looms. But first he heads to the Land of Waves for a dangerous mission rescuing hostages from a top-secret airship. There he confronts a ninja whose heart is frozen by tragedy. Having lost both his friend’s eye and his greatest abilities, can Kakashi really protect anyone? What is the true meaning of the will of fire gained in the distant heavens? Kakashi finds these answers and more as he opens the door to a new ninja era.

NARUTO MANGA BOX SET Vol. 3 ·

PRINT MSRP: $185.99 U.S. / $214.99 CAN · Available January 2016

The third and final NARUTO Box Set contains the thrilling conclusion to one of the most popular manga series of all time. The set features volumes 49-72 at a substantial savings over buying them individually, along with exclusive premiums.

Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Like many of his peers, he was first inspired to become a manga artist in elementary school when he read Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series. After spending time at art school, Kishimoto won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his story, Karakuri. After considering various genres for his next project, he decided on a story steeped in traditional Japanese culture. His first version of NARUTO, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in the world. The series also spawned multiple anime series, movies, novels, video games and more. Having concluded the series in late 2014, Masashi Kishimoto has kept himself busy this year with a new side story Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring and writing the latest NARUTO anime feature film, both of which will focus on the title character's son, Boruto.

Additional information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.Naruto.com.

For more information on manga titles available 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 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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