'The Spire' Looms Large, a New Limited Series from the Creative Team Behind 'Six-Gun Gorilla,' Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely

The Spire #1 Main Cover by Jeff Stokely


The Spire #1 Jackpot Cover by Aaron Conley


The Spire #1 10 Years Cover by Rob Guillory (full wraparound image shown)


The Spire #1 Incentive Cover by David LaFuente
 

June 5, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - The top cop of a sprawling structure with over a million inhabitants has a triple homicide on her hands—and a new boss who can’t stand her. That’s the premise behind The Spire, a new limited series from Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely, the team that created the critically acclaimed BOOM! Studios series Six-Gun Gorilla. The duo reunites to create a murder-mystery set in a fantastical apocalyptic future in the vein of East of West and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal.

 

“Si and Jeff are an unstoppable team and a powderkeg of ideas,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “After Six-Gun Gorilla, we absolutely had to bring them back for an encore. This team has endless imagination and a pure joy for the medium; The Spire is a genre-defying manifestation of what they stand for creatively. I couldn’t be more proud or excited about a series we’re publishing.”

 

The Spire is a mountain of metal and stone that rises from the toxic nowherelands; a city of twisting tunnels, grinding elevators, ancient machinery, and home to over one million human and non-human residents. Shå, the only citizen of her species, is Commander of the Watch: responsible for keeping order despite the racist views of those around her. When a string of grisly murders occurs on the eve of the new Baroness's coronation, Shå is tasked with bringing the killer to justice... and picking apart the wider mysteries tangled around the crime. But the city’s new ruler seems sets to usher in a more xenophobic age, and Shå swiftly finds she has far more than one enemy at her back…

 

Praise for The Spire #1:

 

“The Spire is fantastic! Naked imagination + actual naked people = I’m in.” - Brian K. Vaughan (Saga, Y: The Last Man)

 

“Devoured The Spire by Spurrier and Stokely. Fantasy that's hard like Perdido Street Station, soft like Labyrinth, and weird like both. STRONG!” - Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine)

 

“Great police procedural in a world worthy of and reminiscent of Miyazaki.” - Paul Cornell (Doctor Who)

 

“Read and loved The Spire #1 from [Spurrier] and [Stokely]—art, color, story, all a cut above. Really beautiful book. Pre-order this.” - Brian Wood (Rebels, Moon Knight)

 

“The Spire by [Spurrier] and [Stokely] is fantastic! Don’t miss out—pre-order now!” - Jeff Lemire (Descender, Hawkeye)

 

“Okay, I got to read an advance copy of The Spire, written by by [Spurrier]. Holy crap. This thing is an EPIC.” - Gail Simone (Swords of Sorrow, Red Sonja)

 

The Spire #1 (of 8) arrives in comic shops on July 1st with an oversized 28 pages of story and a main cover by series artist Jeff Stokely for the price of $3.99 under Diamond order code MAY151076. Also available in a limited quantity are a Jackpot variant cover by Aaron Conley (Sabertooth Swordsman), a 10 Years incentive cover by Rob Guillory (Chew), and a retailer incentive cover by David LaFuente (Batman Eternal).

The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is June 8th. 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 HITS MANGA FANS WITH THE PRINT DEBUT OF SUPERHERO COMEDY MANGA SERIES ONE-PUNCH MAN

Debut Of First Two Print Volumes Of The Manga Series About A Superhero Who Just Needs A Villain Strong Enough To Take Him On; Special Digital Preview Of Opening Chapters Available

San Francisco, CA, June 5, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers a knock-out blow, manga style, with the exciting print debut later this summer of the acclaimed superhero series, ONE-PUNCH MAN.

Volumes 1 and 2 of the wildly popular action-comedy manga (graphic novel) series created by writer ONE and artist Yusuke Murata are both set for release in September 2015. ONE-PUNCH MAN is rated ‘T’ for Teens and print volumes will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN each. Future print editions of the series, which is also ongoing in Japan, will be published in English on a bimonthly basis under VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump imprint.

In anticipation of the forthcoming print launch, VIZ Media invites readers to enjoy the first 3 chapters of ONE-PUNCH MAN in a special FREE digital preview available now for a limited time on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App. Please check select partner sites for similar availability.

For digital manga readers, ONE-PUNCH MAN Vols. 1-7 are also now available from VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the iPad^®, iPhone^® and iPod^® touch, Android-powered smart phones and tablets. The volumes also may be purchased through the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, comiXology, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

In ONE-PUNCH MAN, nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem – he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Every time a promising villain appears, he beats the snot out of ’em with one punch! Can Saitama finally find an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of super-powered boredom?

“Prepare for a one-two knockout combo of superhero-inspired action meets comedy in ONE-PUNCH MAN,” says Andy Nakatani, Editor in Chief, WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. “Many fans have already become captivated by the series through its digital serialization in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine. Now, beginning with the release of the first two volumes in September, print readers have the opportunity to enjoy the dynamic illustrations and kinetic fight scenes of the manga series that put a unique twist on the classic superhero story. Also, don’t miss the special digital preview that offers the opening chapters of this hilarious series for a limited time!”

Manga creator ONE began ONE-PUNCH MAN as a web comic, which quickly went viral and garnered over 10 million hits. Japanese manga publisher (and VIZ Media parent company) Shueisha eventually secured the publishing rights to the series. In addition to ONE-PUNCH MAN, ONE writes and draws the series Mob Psycho 100 and Makai no Ossan.

Yusuke Murata is a highly acclaimed and skilled manga artist best known for his work on the football series, EYESHIELD 21 (also published in North America by VIZ Media). In 1995, Murata won the prestigious 122^nd Hop Step Award for his series, Partner, and placed second in 1998 in the semi-annual Akatsuka Awards for Samui Hanashi.

For more information on ONE-PUNCH MAN 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.

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ONE-PUNCH MAN © 2012 by ONE, Yusuke Murata/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ MEDIA TAKES READERS ON A HARROWING JOURNEY BETWEEN THE WORLDS OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD IN TOKYO GHOUL

Sui Ishida’s Horror Action Manga Series About A High School Boy Who Becomes A Reluctant Flesh Eater Launches In Print

San Francisco, CA, June 4, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor, publisher and licensor of manga and anime in North America, takes readers on an incredible journey into the dark world of the flesh-eating undead that live in secret all around us with the launch of Sui Ishida’s acclaimed manga (graphic novel) series – TOKYO GHOUL – on June 16^th.

TOKYO GHOUL is rated ‘T+’ and individual volumes will carry a MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN each. Future print editions of the 14-volume series will be published on a bi-monthly basis. The series is also underway digitally on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App and is available worldwide from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores.

Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every way – except for their craving for human flesh. Shy Ken Kaneki is thrilled to go on a date with the beautiful Rize. But it turns out that she’s only interested in his body – eating it, that is. When a morally questionable rescue transforms him into the first half-human half-Ghoul hybrid, Ken is drawn into the dark and violent world of Ghouls, which exists alongside our own. Trapped between two worlds, he must survive Ghoul turf wars, learn more about Ghoul society and master his new powers. 

“In Japan, TOKYO GHOUL has already sold more than 6 million copies. English readers have been clamoring for it for a while so we’re excited they’ll finally get to tear into the official VIZ Signature release,” says Joel Enos, Editor. “Sui Ishida’s alternate reality is an action-oriented take on zombies but with a harrowing dose of teen angst. Ken is turned by the girl he’s in love with and she just wants to eat him! Now Ken’s got to navigate this fragile, torn and bloody line between the worlds of the living and the dead.”

Manga creator Sui Ishida was born in Fukuoka, Japan. TOKYO GHOUL won him the Young Jump 113^th Grand Prix award in 2010 and was debuted as a series in Japan in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2011. The popular manga also was adapted into a widely watched anime series in 2014.

For additional information on TOKYO GHOUL and other manga and anime 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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TOKYO GHOUL © 2011 by Sui Ishida/SHUEISHA Inc.

2015 J-POP SUMMIT PRESENTS SAN FRANCISCO’S FIRST-EVER SAKE SUMMIT FESTIVAL

Enjoy A Variety Of Japanese Libations From Leading Sake Brands, Brewers And Distributors At Unique Event In August In S.F.’s Union Square Park Accented By Live Music, Food Vendors And Other Exhibitors

San Francisco, CA, June 4, 2015 – The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, the Japanese pop culture event held annually in San Francisco, is proud to announce the city’s very first SAKE SUMMIT, a festival to celebrate Japan’s national spirit taking place in the city’s downtown Union Square Park on the weekend of August 8^th and 9^th.

Organized by the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee and presented in partnership with a variety of leading Japanese and U.S. sake brands, brewers, distributors, and retailers, the 2015 SAKE SUMMIT UNION SQUARE will feature multiple sake tasting booths at Union Square Park. Attendees can try a wide range of premium Japanese sake and learn how to enjoy them with food-pairings. In addition to tasting, attendees can purchase select brands of sake on-site. There also will be live Japanese traditional music entertainment, Japanese food vendors, and Japanese Matcha (green tea) exhibitors. Additional information is available at: www.sakesummit.com.

Early bird tickets are on-sale now (until 6/30) for $25.00 each at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1431523; advance tickets (until 8/7) will be $30.00 each; tickets purchased on-site the day of SAKE SUMMIT will be $35.00 each.

The 2015 SAKE SUMMIT UNION SQUARE takes place at San Francisco’s Union Square on Saturday, August 8^th and Sunday, August 9^th, from 11:00am to 6:00pm each day. Sake tasting participants must be at least 21 years old (IDs will be checked). Each tasting session lasts 2 hours and 3 sake tasting sessions are scheduled each day. Tastings will take place at: 11:00 to 1:00pm / 1:30pm to 3:30pm / 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes places Saturday and Sunday August 8^th & 9^th at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district.

A special panel discussion, “American Entrepreneurs on Sake, Matcha & Sushi,” will take place on Saturday August 8^th at the Fort Mason Main Stage. The panel features prominent Japanese food and cuisine entrepreneurs that will share their experience; working with Japanese foods and serving Bay Area food lovers, what were their hurdles and triumphs along the way, and finally, what does authenticity mean to them? For more information on J-POP SUMIT Fort Mason food attractions, please visit: http://www.j-pop.com/events/share-food

Tickets and V.I.P Passes to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT are available now at: www.J-POP.com. Throughout the weekend, J-POP SUMMIT attendees to Fort Mason can enjoy a colorful assortment of Japanese pop-influenced culture, fashion, pop art, live music, technology and travel that will be complemented by celebrity Guests of Honor, anime programming, cosplay and pop idol contests, and a wide assortment of vendors and other programming.

“The sake tasting events at our previous J-POP SUMMITs have been extremely popular and we are very excited to expand it with even more participating brewers and distributors from both Japan and around the Bay Area,” says Seiji Horibuchi, chairman of the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee. “SAKE SUMMIT at Union Square will be one of the key attractions of J-POP SUMMIT festivities this year, and we hope everyone join us to celebrate the launch of this unique event.”  

Participating Sake Companies and Breweries Include:

Choya Umeshu USA. (www.choya.com)

Choya specializes in producing Umeshu, a traditional Japanese liqueur made from ume fruit. More than half a century has passed since CHOYA began producing Umeshu. Today, it is a brand with country-wide recognition, available across the whole of Japan. The delicious tang of Umeshu comes from citric acid in the fruit, and the refreshing flavor stimulates the appetite.

Gekkeikan Sake USA (www.gekkeikan-sake.com)

Gekkeikan Sake (USA), Inc. was established in Folsom, California in 1989. Today, Gekkeikan's passion for pleasing the sake connoisseur remains unchanged. Dedicated just as the founder was over 370 years ago, both Gekkeikan Japan and Gekkeikan USA continue the tradition of both taste and quality.

Iichiko (Sanwa Shurui)  (www.iichiko.co.jp/en)

Japan's best-selling genuine Shochu iichiko is a genuine distilled spirits produced from carefully selected barley and crisp cold water drawn. Produced by the advanced brewing and distilling technologies to meet the very highest quality, the refreshing flavor and crystal clear taste embody essence of Japanese refinement.

Ozeki Sake USA (www.ozekisake.com)

With over three centuries of history in sake making, Ozeki started its U.S. production in Hollister, California, in 1979. Ozeki became the first Japanese sake brewer to locally brew sake within the U.S. As the popularity of sake has steadily grown, the product lineup of Ozeki has been expanded to retail, food service, and food manufacturing industries.

Sequoia Sake (https://sequoiasake.com)

Sequoia Sake is the first and only sake micro-brewery in the Bay Area. The company is founded upon a mission to create fresh, live and accessible sake. Producing small batches of hand crafted, premium sake to ensure the highest quality product possible, Sequoia Sake is proud to be a part of the new American micro-sake revolution.

Takara Sake USA (www.takarasake.com)

With more than 150 years of sake making history in Japan, Takara USA was established in 1982 in Berkeley, California. Takara Sake USA takes pure snow melt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and superior rice from the fertile Sacramento Valley and applies traditional sake-making craftsmanship and modern technology to produce a sake worthy of the Takara mark.

SAKE SUMMIT Participating Distributors and retailers include:

N.A. Sales (www.nasales.com)

N.A. Sales has been an importer-wholesale distributor in San Francisco, Northern California area for 40 years and carries more than 4,000 products including Asian food, Japanese premium sake, shochu and other restaurant supplies.

Wismettac Asian Foods (http://www.ntcltdusa.com)

Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. (formally Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd.) was established in Kobe, Japan in 1912 and is one of the oldest and most experienced importer, wholesaler and distributor of Asian food products in North America. 

JFC International (www.jfc.com)

JFC International is proud of its roots, dating back to the early 1900's. Today's modern JFC company was formally established in 1958. Ever since, the corporation has broadened and enhanced its 15,000-item product line by penetrating new geographic and consumer markets in fulfilling its commitment of leading the way to tomorrow.

Hosoda Brothers (www.hosodabros.com)

One of California's largest importers and wholesalers of fine Japanese and Hawaii products.  Since 1918, Hosoda Brothers is carrying a wide variety of specialty food and beverages products from Japan, Hawaii, the U.S. and other countries for distribution to restaurants and retail trade in the United States.

True Sake (www.truesake.com)

True Sake is the first retailer in the U.S. devoted entirely and exclusively to sake. Located in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, True Sake is the brainchild of sake aficionado Beau Timken, a professional sake taster and sake sommelier. The retailer offers American consumers sakes that have never before been available on a retail basis.

About J-POP SUMMIT

The J-POP SUMMIT is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration held in San Francisco, CA that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows and events, food and spirits, art, and celebrity appearances. In 2014, the two-day event attracted 125,000 attendees. Details on J-POP SUMMIT are available at www.J-POP.com.

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Sample scores of Sake brands at the 2015 SAKE SUMMIT

'Giant Days' Extended to a 12-Issue Series, Special 'Orientation Edition' Released

 

Giant Days: Orientation Edition Cover by John Allison
 

June 4, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - BOOM! Box, an imprint of award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios, is thrilled to announce that Giant Days, the comedic slice-of-life series from creator John Allison (Bad Machinery, Scary Go Round) and artist Lissa Treiman, has graduated from a six-issue miniseries to a 12-issue maxiseries due to popular demand.

 

In celebration, BOOM! Box will be re-releasing the first two sold-out issues in the special oversized issue Giant Days: Orientation Edition, set at the single-issue price point of $3.99, in order to introduce many new readers to Susan, Esther, and Daisy.

 

“Giant Days has been everything we hoped it would be and more,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “It’s hard to find characters more enjoyable and hilarious than Esther, Daisy, and Susan. This Orientation Edition is the perfect way for new readers to catch up and discover the awesome comics that John and Lissa are serving up every month.”

 

Susan, Esther, and Daisy started at university three weeks ago and became fast friends. Away from home for the first time, all three want to reinvent themselves. But in the face of hand-wringing boys, “personal experimentation,” influenza, mystery-mold, nu-chauvinism, and the willful, unwanted intrusion of “academia,” they may be lucky just to make it to spring alive.

 

Praise for Giant Days:

 

“Allison has been compared to Joss Whedon and, for once, the comparison is warranted.” - CBR

 

“...Allison writes three characters who intrigue us with their eccentricities and their realistic friendship dynamics.” - Newsarama

 

“...Giant Days is a smart, sassy, and confident debut that shouldn’t be missed.” - Multiversity

 

“Overall, this issue is a magnificent start to what might be one of my favorite books this year. I’ll be waiting for class to start once again for the next issue.” - Comics Bulletin

 

Originally published as Giant Days #1-2, Giant Days: Orientation Edition arrives in comic shops on July 1st with an oversized 48 pages of story and a brand-new cover by creator John Allison for the price of $3.99 under Diamond order code APR158446.

 

The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is June 8th. 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.