VIZ MEDIA AND SIMON & SCHUSTER RENEW SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL SALES AND DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP

Global Publishing Leader To Continue To Offer Retail And Wholesale Distribution And Develop New Markets in the United States and United Kingdom For North America’s Foremost Manga Company

NEW YORK, LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, November 12, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels, and anime in North America, and Simon & Schuster today announced the renewal of their longstanding sales and distribution partnership in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Simon & Schuster has been the exclusive distribution partner of VIZ Media manga titles (graphic novels) for the United States and Canadian markets since 2004, providing a range of retail and wholesale distribution services including warehousing, fulfillment, customer service, and accounts receivable collection for VIZ Media’s substantial library of titles. The company manages distribution for all of VIZ Media’s imprints including Shonen Jump, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shojo Beat, Shonen Sunday, Perfect Square, VIZ Signature, Studio Ghibli Library and Haikasoru.

Since September 2007, Simon & Schuster UK has been the exclusive distributor of VIZ Media titles across several international territories including Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa, and the fast-growing Indian market via Simon & Schuster India.

“The massive popularity of manga among a broad cross-section of international readers of all ages speaks to the universal appeal of the genre,” says Michael Selleck, Simon & Schuster Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “We are very happy to deepen our relationship with VIZ Media both domestically and internationally, where we are seeing exciting growth in markets such as the Philippines and Singapore.”

“We are delighted to renew our long-standing sales and distribution agreement with VIZ Media,” said Gill Richardson, Group Sales Director, Simon & Schuster UK. “Since 2007, we have been delivering the best manga titles to the UK and Ireland, adding South Africa in 2008, and India in 2014. We look forward to many more years of this fruitful partnership.”

“Simon & Schuster is a key partner for VIZ Media and has provided us with the industry leading infrastructure that has been critical to supporting our continued growth, both across North America and increasingly, in new international territories,” said Kevin Hamric, Senior Director, Publishing Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media. “As the global fan base for VIZ Media’s extensive manga catalog continues to grow in burgeoning markets in India, the Philippines and other countries, Simon & Schuster will play a crucial role in our strategy to develop these new audiences.”

About Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children‘s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.simonandschuster.com.

About Simon & Schuster UK

Simon & Schuster UK is one of the leading general book publishing companies in the UK,giving readers the very best of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. Home to bestselling brands, award-wining writers and critical hits, Simon and Schuster UK is home to authors as diverse as Philippa Gregory, Ranulph Fiennes, Tom Rob Smith, Tyler Oakley, Walter Isaacson and Lynda La Plante to name but a few. The group is based in London with sister companies in Australia, Canada and the United States. It also runs a sales and distribution service for a number of independent and international publishers including VIZ Media, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Rebellion, and Black Library. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.co.uk.

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 manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

Christmas Comes Early! BOOM! Studios Announces a Second Print for 'Klaus' #1
 

Klaus #1 Second Print Cover by Dan Mora
 

November 12,  2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce that Grant Morrison and Dan Mora’s first issue of Klaus, their hit original comic series that details the epic, historic origin of the one and only Santa Claus, has sold out at the distributor level. The publisher has rushed to a second printing to fill demand.

 

Klaus #1 second print ships with a recolored main cover by Mora and carries a retail price of $3.99 under Diamond Code OCT158148. Orders close on November 23rd, and copies are anticipated to be in stores on December 9th.

 

Set in a dark fantastic past of myth and magic, Klaus tells the story of how Santa Claus really came to be. Where did he begin? What was he like when he was young? And what happens when he faces his greatest challenge? Drawing on Santa Claus’ wilder roots in Viking lore and Siberian shamanism—taking in the creepier side of Christmas, and characters like the sinister Krampus—Klaus is “Santa Claus: Year One.”

 

Praise for Klaus #1:

 

“It's the beautiful art and the unusual blend of grim medieval setting and whimsical fairy tale elements that truly distinguish this tale.” - IGN

 

"Klaus #1 is an atypical yet wonderful and characteristic take on a beloved and timeless childhood legend. Morrison and Mora have created the beginning of a potential future classic.” - CBR

 

“From the epic opening double-page spread of a frozen landscape, Klaus standing like a Mad Max figure of the wasteland in its wake, Dan Mora immediately makes a strong impression. 10 out of 10.” - Newsarama

 

“Morrison approaches his Santa Claus origin with a mix of superhero meter and mythical scope, clearly having the time of his life developing a wilder, crazier, and sexier Saint Nick. - Multiversity Comics

 

“...underneath the ice of the Northern winter, Klaus #1 has a vibrant beating heart…” - PopOptiq

 

Comic book fans should bear in mind that first printings of Klaus #1 may still be found at the local comic shop nearest you. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

 

 

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

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

GLOBAL YAOI IMPRINT SUBLIME PREVIEWS THREE NEW MANGA SERIES ACQUISITIONS SET TO LAUNCH IN 2016

New Series Include TEN COUNT, DON’T BE CRUEL,

And MIDNIGHT STRANGER 

San Francisco, CA, November 12, 2015 – SuBLime, the leading global English-language yaoi manga publisher, has announced the acquisition of three notable new manga (graphic novel) series. The new titles are set to begin publication in 2016 and will include the highly requested fan-favorite TEN COUNT, by Rihito Takarai, DON’T BE CRUEL, Yonezou Nekota’s English-language debut, and MIDNIGHT STRANGER, a paranormal beauty-and-the-beast tale by Bohra Naono.

The forthcoming new SuBLime series will be published in print, with TEN COUNT and DON’T BE CRUEL available digitally via SuBLimeManga.com as a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device or computer as well as via the online manga viewer found on the Website.

“We are very excited to expand the SuBLime manga roster with the addition of these new series for 2016, and we look forward to announcing additional information on each of the titles in coming months,” says Jennifer LeBlanc, Editor, SuBLime. “From the debut of MIDNIGHT STRANGER, by the creator of the SuBLime series THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN, to the launch of the doctor–patient romance, TEN COUNT, and the debut of DON’T BE CRUEL, which marks the English-language debut of creator Yonezou Nekota, these three new SuBLime titles are not to be missed by yaoi manga fans!”

TEN COUNT · Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Debuts Summer 2016

In this series created by Rihito Takarai, corporate secretary Shirotani suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. One day he meets Kurose, a therapist who offers to take him through a ten-step program to cure him of his compulsion. As the two go through each of the ten steps, Shirotani’s attraction to his counselor grows.

DON’T BE CRUEL 2-In-1 Omnibus Edition · Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Debuts Summer 2016

Maya catches Nemugasa cheating on a test and to ensure his silence blackmails him into doing whatever Maya wants. Catch the debut of this series by Yonezou Nekota, which also includes two bonus side stories!

MIDNIGHT STRANGER · Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Debuts Spring 2016

Roi, a black goat spirit, is getting bullied when out of nowhere he’s rescued by the beautiful fire god Xiu. Xiu gives Roi the ability to take human form, and a grateful Roi decides to serve Xiu as his new master. Discover what happens in this new series from Bohra Naono, the creator of THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN.

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.

About SuBLime

SuBLime is a global yaoi/boys’ love manga publisher presenting English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at www.SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

WGN AMERICA ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATE FOR ‘OUTSIDERS’

POWERFUL NEW ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES DEBUTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 at 9 PM ET/PT

Network Unveils Visceral Extended Trailer and First Episodic Image

Created by Peter Mattei and Executive Produced by Peter Tolan and Paul Giamatti, Series Stars Internationally Renowned Ensemble Cast Including David Morse, Thomas M. Wright, Ryan Hurst, Kyle Gallner and Gillian Alexy

 

VIEW/EMBED EXTENDED TRAILER HERE: https://youtu.be/u7K0ecPen2c

LOS ANGELES, November 13, 2015 –WGN America unveiled today the full-length trailer for its intense and gritty original drama “Outsiders,” and announced the highly anticipated series will premiere Tuesday, January 26 at 9 PM ET/PT.   A struggle of power and control set in the rugged hills of Appalachia, “Outsiders” explores the epic battle between the Farrell Clan, a tight-knit family of renegades who have lived atop the rugged Shay Mountain for over two hundred years, and their fight to defend their way of life from the town below and anyone who would dare to challenge them.

The ensemble cast for “Outsiders” includes: David Morse (“Treme,” “Hurt Locker”) as Big Foster, the gruff and powerful heir to tribe leadership; Thomas M. Wright (“The Bridge,” “Top of the Lake”) as Sheriff Wade Houghton, a cop who has a rough history with the Farrells, and grapples with several troubles of his own; Ryan Hurst (“Sons of Anarchy,” “Bates Motel”), as Lil Foster, a massive mountain man and son of Big Foster; Joe Anderson (“The Divide,” “Across the Universe”) as Asa, a former member of the Farrell clan looking to rejoin the family after a 10-year stint with the outside world; Gillian Alexy (“The Americans,” “Damages”) as G'Winveer, a healer and a survivor, and Asa’s trusted confidante; Kyle Gallner (“American Sniper,” “Veronica Mars”) as Hasil, a young, intuitive soul who feels rejected by the group; Christina Jackson (“Boardwalk Empire,” “Deception”) as Sally-Ann, a beautiful girl from a mining town who is fascinated by the Farrells, and Hasil in particular; Francie Swift (“Hostages,” “House of Cards”) as Haylie, a clever and cunning all-American community relations manager representing the encroaching coal company; and Phyllis Somerville (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Big C”) as Lady Ray, the regal yet tough leader of the Farrell clan.

Hailing from Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, “Outsiders,” is created and written by award-winning playwright Peter Mattei, who executive produces alongside Fedora Entertainment's Emmy® Award-winner Peter Tolan ("Rescue Me," "Analyze This"), Emmy® Award-winner Paul Giamatti ("John Adams," "Sideways"), Dan Carey ("All Is Bright") for Touchy Feely Films and Fedora’s Michael Wimer ("2012," "Rake").

About WGN America and Tribune Studios

WGN America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company is nationally distributed in 73 million homes via cable, satellite and telco, with high-quality entertainment programming including the breakout hit series “Salem," Emmy® award-winning drama “Manhattan," and upcoming scripted dramas “Outsiders” and “Underground.”  The network also brings its audience a strong slate of popular first-run syndicated series and blockbuster movies.  Through Tribune Studios, the creative development arm of Tribune Media, original content is produced for WGN America and Tribune local stations nationwide.  Follow the network on Twitter @wgnamerica.  For additional information, please visit www.wgnamerica.com.

THE VIOLENT PACKS A PUNCH WITH READERS
The gritty new crime series hits stores this December

Writer Ed Brisson (SHELTERED) and Adam Gorham (Dead Drop) come together for an all-new ongoing series in THE VIOLENT—set to launch from Image Comics this December. 

In THE VIOLENT #1, readers meet Mason, an ex-con and former drug addict who’s trying hard to give up his old life. He’s got more important things to live for now: a wife struggling to contain her own addiction and a young daughter who needs them both. When threatened with losing his daughter, Mason falls into old habits, stumbling through a string of desperate criminal acts whose repercussions quickly become deadly serious. 

"The Violent is a book that I've been dying to do for years. I've been a lifelong crime fiction fan—be it movies, books, comics—and grew up in a household where crime monopolized dinner table conversations—my father was a cop and my mom was a nurse who did a stint working in victim services,” said Brisson. “When I finally got my break into the industry, it was with the crime series Murder Book (eventually collected by Dark Horse). With The Violent, Adam, Michael [Garland] and I wanted to build on that, creating gritty character-driven crime stories that will grab readers by the throat and punch them right in the heart. The Violent is about desperate people doing desperate things to get out of desperate situations. 
I’m thrilled to be working with Adam, who I've known for a few years now. The work he's been doing on the book so far is going to blow people's eyeballs through the back of their heads. Michael Garland's colors are a masterclass in mood and atmosphere." 

Gorham added: “I’m very excited about The Violent. I love crime fiction, crime comics, and Ed's Murder Book is no exception. Working with Ed is truly satisfying because his background has given him the gift of spinning a taught thriller while never losing sight of the human element at the center of his tales. Bringing these stories to life visually has been some of the most fun I've had in comics. What I want readers to know about The Violent going in—it's not simply about the suspense of the gun firing, it's about the damage left in the bullet's wake. With Ed's writing and my gritty illustrating, Michael Garland's stylish colours and Tom Muller's killer design, I'm optimistic The Violent won't be a book readers can walk away from.” 

THE VIOLENT #1 (Diamond Code OCT150505) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, December 9th. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, November 16th.

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.

THE EMPTY ZONE, VOL. 1 IS A HAUNTING CYBERPUNK READ
The first story arc of the science-fiction horror is collected into trade paperback

"Jason Shawn Alexander has always been one of the most original artists in comics, but with Empty Zone, he shows he's one of our most unique writers, too. What a gorgeous book."
—Brian K. Vaughan

Eisner-award nominated artist Jason Shawn Alexander (Abe Sapien: The Drowning, The Escapists) weaves the unsettling, dystopian saga of Corinne White in THE EMPTY ZONE, VOL. 1: CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEAD. This collects issues #1-5 into trade paperback and will be available in December.

THE EMPTY ZONE, VOL. 1 introduces readers to a bleak future, eighty years after a worldwide blackout. The world is a much darker and scarier place. Corinne White is an ex-soldier turned black market spy, data courier, manic-depressive, alcoholic. Punishing herself for mistakes from her past, Corinne is brought out from her spiral when she’s contacted by her dead friends who inform her of a plot to reanimate the bodies of the dead by a psychotic billionaire. THE EMPTY ZONE follows Corinne as she confronts these undead monsters and comes to terms with her past.

THE EMPTY ZONE, VOL. 1 (ISBN: 978-1-63215-548-1) hits comic book stores on Wednesday, December 16th and bookstores on Tuesday, December 29th, and will be available for $9.99. It can be ordered by retailers from Diamond Book Distributors with Diamond Code OCT150531. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.

Praise for THE EMPTY ZONE:

"I would urge anyone who is a fan of high concept sci-fi to pick this up and, for those of you not usually into that kind of thing, this is the comic to take a chance on, there's so much more to it than meets the eye." —Multiversity Comics

"Jason Shawn Alexander has produced a visually stunning comic book here, with a unique script that begs just as many questions as it answers.” —Newsarama
“Backed with excellent art, Alexander has created the type of comic that you walk away from feeling slightly disturbed and you can't identify why. Any comic that's powerful enough to make you feel like you need to take a cold shower afterwards is a keeper.” —AiPT!
“If one were to combine Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell and a few Raymond Chandler novels in a blender, the end result might be something like The Empty Zone.” —IGN

  

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.

IDW PROMOTES JERRY BENNINGTON TO VICE PRESIDENT OF NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE BRINGS EXPERIENCE TO KEY GROWTH POSITION San Diego, CA (November 11, 2015) – IDW Publishing has announced the promotion of Jerry Bennington from Director of Business Development to Vice President of New Product Development. Bennington’s primary role will be to further develop IDW’s emerging business units to include IDW Games, IDW Limited, and impulse pack product lines. “Having known and worked with Jerry for over 20 years, it hasn’t surprised me what he’s been able to achieve since arriving at IDW,” said CEO & Publisher Ted Adams. “IDW continues to grow and expand rapidly, and with this new role, Jerry will be an even bigger part of what we do.” “It’s been a pleasure to be a part of IDW’s expansion over the past few years.  Everyday IDW raises the bar on quality and innovation and I look forward to continue leading my team to even greater results.” said Bennington. A long-standing industry executive, Bennington previously served as Vice President of Marketing for Upper Deck Entertainment from 1999-2006. Under Bennington’s tenure, he established Upper Deck’s tabletop gaming division and generated over $2 billion in retail sales fueled by the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game brand. Since joining IDW in 2012, Bennington has quickly helped establish several key platforms for company growth including IDW Games, which publishes the best-selling Machi Koro card game, IDW Limited, and impulse micro comics featuring My Little Pony, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Star Wars brands with over 1 million packs produced to date.

About IDW IDW Publishing is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, MY LITTLE PONY and JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS; Paramount/CBS’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Toho’s Godzilla; Twentieth Century Fox’s The X-Files; Sony’s Ghostbusters, Temple Street Productions’ Orphan Black; multiple monthly DISNEY titles; and many more licensed and creator-driven titles. IDW Publishing is also home to acclaimed imprints such as; The Library of American Comics, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio; and the multiple award-winning IDW Artist’s Edition line. In 2015, IDW acquired Top Shelf Productions, an award-winning publisher of graphic novels. Top Shelf is known for publishing works of literary sophistication, including the #1 New York Times and Washington Post Best Seller March by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell and the authorized graphic-novel adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. IDW Games publishes both creator-owned and licensed tabletop games. The division was launched in 2014 and has quickly found success with one of the top-selling card games of the year with the Award-Winning Japanese import card game, Machi Koro. IDW Entertainment was started in 2013 to fund, develop, and produce television series based on IDW properties. IDW Entertainment is currently in development with a slate of properties for television including Wynonna Earp, licensed to Syfy and premiering in early 2016; Brooklyn Animal Control, sold to USA Network with executive producers David Goyer (DaVinci’s Demons, Dark Knight Rises) and Circle of Confusion (Walking Dead); and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, sold to BBC America with writer/executive producer Max Landis (Chronicle). IDW Entertainment also has several active theatrical projects in development, including Zombies vs. Robots, which is in development as a major motion picture with Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Sony.

STARVE, VOL. 1 SERVES UP A TAUT, POLITICAL EXAMINATION OF POP CULTURE
The first story arc of the dystopian thriller about a culinary competition of deadly proportions

“It's a fast, furious opening to an amazing new story from one of my favorite creators… The story is a heady mix of elite panic, grotesque wealth concentration, and precarity, and it could hardly be more timely.” —Boing Boing

Brian Wood (Star Wars, DMZ, The Massive), Danijel Zezelj (Northlanders, Loveless), & Dave Stewart (THE WALKING DEAD, Star Wars) are cooking up a story set in the near future, where celebrity chefs are idolized and the reality television trend has taken an even more unhealthy turn in STARVE, VOL. 1. This collects issues #1-5 into trade paperback and will be available in January.

STARVE, VOL. 1 is set in a world where chefs are practically royalty, and access to them is the ultimate status symbol. Chef Gavin Cruikshank, back from self-imposed exile, finds his little foodie television program "Starve" transformed into a gonzo arena sport where chefs slice and dice rare and endangered species for their super-rich patrons. Since his personal life is as much a shambles as his professional career, Chef Cruikshank works to repair his relationship with his grown daughter while dismantling the monstrosity that Starve has become.

STARVE, VOL. 1 (ISBN: 978-1-63215-546-7) hits comic book stores on Wednesday, January 13th and bookstores on Tuesday, January 19th, and will be available for $9.99. It can be ordered by retailers from Diamond Book Distributors with Diamond Code OCT150605. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.

Praise for STARVE:

“A well-paced and entertaining introduction to a character driven story… Wood gives readers a mission statement to end the issue, and Zezelj and Stewart are a dynamite pair on visuals. The writer's track record of great characters and compelling plots bodes well for the future of this series, and it has the potential for cross-media appeal.” —Comic Book Resources

“Brian Wood, Danijel Zezelj and colorist Dave Stewart have produced a striking comic book that'll stick in your mind long after you put it down.” —Newsarama

“One need only look at work like DMZ and The Massive to know that Wood has dealt in things like global economic collapse, global climate change, or military adventurism run amok. And while that tendency toward the post-apocalyptic crashing down is present in Starve for contextual reasons, Wood is smart to ground the story in personal struggle. It's fabulous world-building.” —Comics Bulletin

“It's unique for sure, and that helps it make it beyond entertaining.” —Graphic Policy

“Proves once again that comics are truly gearing to more mature and daring direction… It also presents the direct and confrontational approach for creators like Wood and others to show the readers the present day problems that need serious actions/remedies from the central powers and the society itself through the usual template of science-fiction: critiquing the present by showing the possible future. It even illuminates the power of the comic medium of highlighting FOOD as the paragon of social, economic, political and cultural dysfunctional and eventual malfunctioned indicator if the ruling classes and the cultural elites never ever learn the mistakes of the past.” —Flip Geeks

  

  

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.

SOUTHERN BASTARDS VARIANT SUPPORTS MOTHER EMANUEL HOPE FUND
Proceeds from the issue #10 rebel flag variant will go to charity

Moved to action by the tragedy in the wake of the Charleston, South Carolina shooting, SOUTHERN BASTARDS creators Jason Aaron (THE GODDAMNED) and Jason Latour announced via social media the SOUTHERN BASTARDS #10 charity variant cover. In total, $18,000 in proceeds was donated to Mother Emanuel Hope Fund.
“We're tremendously moved by the support for this charity cover,” said Latour. “Our readers raised every cent of this money, thanks so much y'all. You're the best.”

Aaron added: “Thank you so much to all the retailers and fans who supported this variant. We're proud to send this donation on behalf of you all.”

SOUTHERN BASTARDS is a bestselling, Southern-fried crime-noir series often praised for its authentic portrayal of southern culture and tone and follows the goings-on of the fictional town Craw County, Alabama.

For those interested in donating, visit: Mother Emanuel Hope Fund.

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.

MONSTRESS TAKES COMICS INDUSTRY BY STORM
First issue of new dark fantasy series from Liu and Takeda goes straight to second printing

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

Vox.com calls MONSTRESS, “a comic book with mud in its blood, unafraid to be a swirling epic as well as a ghastly dark fantasy” while The Hollywood Reporter says it “is a first issue that includes not only girls and giant monsters, but also world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.” Kirkus Reviews declares it, “filled to the brim with awesome.” 

Steampunk meets Kaiju in MONSTRESS, an original fantasy epic for mature readers. As young Maika risks everything to control her psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, placing her in the center of a devastating war between human and otherworldly forces.

“Watching a series like Monstress come to life is one of the best parts of publishing comics,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Marjorie and Sana are both amazing talents and everyone here is so excited that all their hard work is resulting such a warm response from fans around the world.” 

MONSTRESS #1 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.
 MONSTRESS #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code OCT158169) and MONSTRESS #2 (Diamond Code OCT150498) will arrive in stores on Wednesday, December 9th. Final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, November 16th.

ABOUT MARJORIE LIU

New York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.

Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.

Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steampunk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”

Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.

Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

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

Ollie Masters and Tyler Jenkins Uncover a Father's Secret in 'Snow Blind'

 

Snow Blind #1 Cover by Tyler Jenkins


Snow Blind #1 10 Year Cover by Felipe Smith


Snow Blind #1 Incentive Cover by Matt Taylor
 

November 10, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Family ties run deep, but sometimes family secrets run deeper still. In the tradition of unconventional crime thrillers like Criminal, Scalped, and 100 Bullets, acclaimed writer Ollie Masters (The Kitchen) and artist Tyler Jenkins (Peter Panzerfaust) don’t pull any punches in Snow Blind, a new original mini-series from award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios that Warren Ellis calls, “An elevated crime story that feels like it should be the best indie movie of the year.”

 

High school teen Teddy has never seen eye-to-eye with his dad, but he never suspected that he might not be the man he thought he was. His life in a sleepy Alaskan suburb turns upside-down when he innocently posts a photo of his dad online that quickly goes viral, only to learn he and his family are in the Witness Protection Program. But what if his dad’s reasons for going into the program aren’t as innocent as he says?

 

“How much do you really know about the pasts of your parents?” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “In Snow Blind, Ollie and Tyler have crafted a tense, intimate mystery that plays with that very question. This suspenseful narrative, paired with beautiful hand-painted watercolors, make for a thrilling Alaskan crime story that’s one of the most unique titles we’ll publish this year.”

 

Snow Blind #1 (of 4) arrives in comic shops on December 9th with a main cover by series artist Tyler Jenkins for the price of $3.99 under Diamond order code OCT151191. Also available in a limited quality is a 10 Years incentive cover by Felipe Smith (All-New Ghost Rider), and a retailer incentive cover by Matt Taylor (Wolf).

 

The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is November 16th. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

 

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

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