DARK HORSE DAY CELEBRATION TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 4!

Dark Horse Announces Dark Horse Day Celebration To Take Place June 4! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR—2016 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Dark Horse Comics, and it’s time to party! To celebrate, Dark Horse is proclaiming Saturday, June 4, 2016, to be “Dark Horse Day,” with events happening in comic shops around the country! We are inviting our retail partners to celebrate with us by offering exclusive promotional materials, ordering discounts on Dark Horse Comics backlist titles, and a commemorative Dark Horse Day Sampler comic! “Just over thirty years ago, I gathered a group of would-be collaborators in the restaurant I owned and told them I was going to start a comics company. I’m not sure whether their smiles were a result of excitement over the possibilities or amusement at the thought of it, but here we are all these years later making comic books,” remarked Dark Horse president and publisher Mike Richardson. “It’s been an amazing journey and we’ve witnessed extraordinary changes both in the comics market and in our pop culture over three decades. We’re excited to still be spending our lives in the career we love, and we hope that you all will help us celebrate thirty years of comics.” As Dark Horse Comics turns thirty, we present a look back at some of our top titles from past decades in an exclusive Dark Horse Day Sampler comic featuring classic stories including Aliens vs. Predator: Blood Time (1994), by Randy Stradley and Phill Norwood, Sin City: Daddy’s Little Girl (1996), by Frank Miller, and The Umbrella Academy: Anywhere but Here (2008), by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá! Plus: a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer tale by Christos Gage! The forty-page Dark Horse Day Sampler comic features a special cover by Steve Morris and will be available in comic shops everywhere on June 4. “It’s hard to believe it has been thirty years—mainly because the memories of seeing our first comics on the stands and going to conventions and meeting fans for the first time are still so clear. If you’re a Dark Horse fan, or if you’ve ever been a Dark Horse fan, I hope you join us for this milestone celebration!” added Dark Horse vice president of publishing Randy Stradley. Fans: Make sure to tell your retailer you want your local store to participate in this awesome celebration! Retailers: Look for the April cover-dated issue of Previews for details on participation levels, along with promotional support being offered by Dark Horse for the event! ### About Dark Horse For 30 years, 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. Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, the company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

Dark Horse Day Sampler cover by Steve Morris

    

PRODUCTION UNDERWAY ON CRACKLE AND LEGENDARY DIGITAL MEDIA’S ‘DEAD RISING: ENDGAME’

BILLY ZANE, MARIE AVGEROPOULOS, IAN TRACEY, JESSICA HARMON, VICTOR WEBSTER AND CAMILLE SULLIVAN JOIN JESSE METCALFE, DENNIS HAYSBERT, KEEGAN CONNOR TRACY AND PATRICK SABONGUI IN ZOMBIE SEQUEL

 

(hi-res version available upon request)

CULVER CITY, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2016) – Crackle, Sony’s free streaming network, and Legendary Digital Media has announced that production has kicked off in Vancouver on DEAD RISING: ENDGAME, the sequel to last year’s successful original feature film, DEAD RISING: WATCHTOWER.  The sequel DEAD RISING: ENDGAME drops us into the zombie-infested quarantined zone of East Mission City where investigative reporter Chase Carter must stop a secret government conspiracy which, though seemingly aimed at ending the country’s zombie epidemic, will also kill millions of innocent civilians.  DEAD RISING: ENDGAME is based on the hugely popular Dead Rising video game franchise by Capcom, which has sold over 9.1 million copies worldwide.

Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives,” “Dallas”) returns to DEAD RISING: ENDGAME as Chase Carter, the well-known television journalist who goes back underground to stop the military’s rogue operation and break the ultimate story. Keegan Connor Tracy (“Once Upon a Time,” “Bates Motel”) returns as camera operator and producer, Jordan Blair.  Attempting to thwart their plans is Dennis Haysbert (“24,” “SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR,” “WRECK-IT RALPH”) reprising his role as General Lyons, a crooked Military Intelligence Officer.  Patrick Sabongui (“The Art of More”) returns in a new role, playing a skilled zombie killer and video game aficionado who talks a big and crude game to mask his gentle side. 

The film also features new cast including Billy Zane (ZOOLANDER 2, TITANIC) as Rand, a handsome, cruel scientist who was hired by the government to find a cure for the raging zombie infection, but is instead conducting horrendous experiments on the infected.  Marie Avgeropoulos (“The 100") plays Sandra Lowe, a skilled computer hacker and Chase’s on-and-off girlfriend who joins him in his quest to battle the zombie-infested underground and stop General Lyons’ plan. Ian Tracey (“Bates Motel,” MAN OF STEEL) portrays George Hancock, the courageous whistleblower who compels Chase and his team to enter a zombie-infested city on a rescue mission.  Jessica Harmon (“iZombie,” IF I HAD WINGS) plays Jill, a news producer who joins Chase and his intrepid crew to infiltrate a secret laboratory and stop the carnage. Victor Webster (“Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” “Continuum”) is Chuck Greene, the reluctant hero and protagonist of the Dead Rising 2 video game. Additionally, Camille Sullivan (“The Man in the High Castle”) portrays the role of Susan Ingot, the CEO of Phenotrans, the manufacturer of Zombrex, the vaccine that keeps the zombie infection at bay.

  

Eric Berger, GM of Crackle and EVP, Sony Pictures Television Digital Networks said: “With last year’s success of DEAD RISING: WATCHTOWER, there was no question that Crackle viewers had an insatiable appetite for this popular and entertaining franchise—we can’t wait to deliver another great feature for this ‘rabid’ and loyal audience.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the next installment of the Dead Rising film series to life,” said Greg Siegel, SVP of Development and Production, Legendary Digital Media. “We see this as an ongoing franchise that will continue to thrill audiences worldwide.”

DEAD RISING: ENDGAME expands on Crackle’s evolving slate of original feature films, which includes: JOE DIRT 2: BEAUTIFUL LOSER, the first ever digital sequel to a major motion picture, starring David Spade; the international cyber spy thriller, THE THROWAWAYS, with James Caan, Kevin Dillion and Sam Huntington; and the first made for digital movie EXTRACTION, Danny Glover and Sean Astin.  Crackle’s quality original programs include the network’s recently announced second one-hour long scripted drama, “StartUp,” with Martin Freeman, Adam Brody, Otmara Marrero and Edi Gathegi along with “The Art of More,” starring Dennis Quaid, Kate Bosworth, Christian Cooke and Cary Elwes, a series that garnered praise from critics at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Deadline and Entertainment Weekly, among others. Additionally, Harper’s Bazaar called it the “#1 Best New Fall TV Show.”  Crackle’s slate of original content also includes the stop-motion animated comedy series “SuperMansion,” with Bryan Cranston, Seth Green, Keegan Michael-Key and Jillian Bell; the weekly live game show series “Sports Jeopardy!,” hosted by Emmy® award-winning sportscaster Dan Patrick; and its flagship award-winning series “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” with Jerry Seinfeld.

DEAD RISING: ENDGAME is directed by Pat Williams (“Continuum”) and written by Michael Ferris (TERMINATOR SALVATION, TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES) and Tim Carter (DEAD RISING: WATCHTOWER, MORTAL KOMBAT: LEGACY).  DEAD RISING: ENDGAME is presented by Legendary Digital Media and produced by Tim Carter with Tomas Harlan as the executive producer under their Contradiction Films banner.  This second chapter in the DEAD RISING film series is scheduled for a summer 2016 release.

  

Legendary Digital Media has been very active in the digital content space of late, having produced the upcoming Fullscreen release ELECTRA WOMAN & DYNA GIRL, starring YouTube phenomenons Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart, and the digital film THE THINNING, a thriller starring top digital entertainer Logan Paul and Disney Channel star Peyton List.  Paul and List have 30 million combined social media followers, one of the biggest social footprints of any digital film produced thus far.  Legendary will distribute THE THINNING direct to consumers via digital sell-through and video on demand. The division also announced that it is partnering with StyleHaul to produce the second season of YouTube star’s Joey Graceffa’s highly acclaimed young adult supernatural series STORYTELLERS.   Legendary Digital Media will continue to feed this steady stream of content with more digital films and series to be produced, acquired and distributed throughout 2016 and beyond.

For more information, visit the official DEAD RISING movie Facebook Page and follow @WatchDeadRising on Twitter.  Join the conversation with #DeadRisingEndgame and #Crackle.

About Crackle

Crackle, a unit of Sony Pictures Television, programs movies, popular TV shows, original series and feature films for the worlds connected audience. Available in 21 countries on every screen, Crackle is always freely accessible with no subscription or commitments required. The streaming TV network houses a robust library of original programming available anytime, anywhere on every connected device. Follow @Crackle on Twitter for real time updates. For additional information, please go to www.crackle.com.

About Legendary Entertainment
Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film (Legendary Pictures), television and digital (Legendary Television and Digital Media) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to mainstream audiences with a targeted focus on the powerful fandom demographic. Through complete or joint ownership, Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world's most popular intellectual property. In aggregate, Legendary Pictures-associated productions have realized grosses of more than $12 billion worldwide at the box office. To learn more visit: www.legendary.com.

About Contradiction Films

Contradiction is an independent, fully-integrated content creation and production company with expertise across a broad range of mediums including film, television, new media, and gaming. Contradiction specializes in adapting video games for film, TV, and digital broadcast and maintains a portfolio of top video game titles designated for live action development.

Dave McKean Channels WWI Surrealism in New Original Graphic Novel

Dave McKean Channels WWI Surrealism in New Original Graphic Novel FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse proudly presents Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash, a new original graphic novel by the legendary artist Dave McKean based on the life of surrealist painter Paul Nash. Black Dog takes biographical moments from Paul Nash’s life and explorations of his work, writing, and imagination and mixes them with firsthand accounts of the First World War. Presented as a series of surreal dreams, the stories add up to a moving piece about how war and extreme situations change us and how we deal with the resulting pain—in Nash’s case, by turning landscapes into powerful and fantastical “psychoscapes.” Best known for his collaborations with Neil Gaiman, McKean defied expectations with his stunning debut as writer and artist in Cages, winner of multiple awards for Best Graphic Album. McKean is also the winner of the Alph-Art, Pantera, Harvey, Spectrum, and BSFA awards. In addition to the standard release, Black Dog will also receive a limited edition of 400 copies featuring an exclusive plate signed by Dave McKean. Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash (978-1-50670-108-0) is in stores October 5, 2016. Preorder your copy today at your local comic shop or through these fine retailers: Amazon Barnes and Noble IndieBound Praise for other works by Dave McKean: “One of the most important works of comic art in the last decade.” —The Comics Journal “It is compulsively readable, with a lyrical tone that moves the reader through the rougher, more elusive passages as it strives at the very edge of the form’s limitation.” —Comic Foundry Magazine “The finest comic being created today. Get it and see what heights narrative graphic art can achieve.” —The Fine Print   Also available from Dave McKean & Dark Horse: Pictures That Tick Volume 2 TPB | 978-1-61655-308-1 | $29.99 Signal to Noise HC | 978-1-59307-752-5 | $24.99 Violent Cases HC | 978-1-61655-210-7 | $19.99 Pictures That Tick TPB | 978-1-59582-328-1 | $24.99 Coming soon: Cages TPB (Second Edition) | 978-1-50670-084-7 | $29.99  ### About Dave McKean David Tench McKean is an illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art and sculpture. After a trip to New York in 1986 during which he failed to find work as a comics artist, McKean met writer Neil Gaiman and the pair collaborated on a short graphic novel of disturbing childhood memories, Violent Cases, published in 1987. This was followed in 1988 by a Black Orchid miniseries (again with Gaiman) and Hellblazer covers for DC Comics. Beginning in 1989 he produced the covers for Gaiman’s celebrated series The Sandman, all its collected editions and many of its spin-offs, and the Batman graphic novel, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, with writer Grant Morrison (1989). McKean has gone on to collaborate further with Neil Gaiman in both print and film. 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 Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

I HATE FAIRYLAND, VOLUME 1: MADLY EVER AFTER BEATS THE FLUFF OUT OF FAIRY TALES“A candy-colored and vicious delight and always dangerously funny.” —Neil Gaiman

From the superstar New York Times bestselling cartoonist Skottie Young (Rocket Raccoon, Wizard of Oz, Fortunately, The Milk), comes the first volume of an all-new series of adventure and mayhem. This collects issues #1-5 and will be available in April.

I HATE FAIRYLAND, VOLUME 1: MADLY EVER AFTER is an Adventure Time/Alice in Wonderland­-style epic that smashes its cute little face against grown­up Tank Girl/Deadpool­-esque violent madness. Follow Gert, a forty­-year-­old woman in a six­-year-­old’s body, who has been stuck in the magical world of Fairyland for nearly thirty years. Join her and her giant battle­axe on a delightfully blood­soaked journey to see who will survive the girl who HATES FAIRYLAND.

I HATE FAIRYLAND, VOLUME 1: MADLY EVER AFTER (ISBN 9781632156853) hits comic book stores on Wednesday, April 20th and bookstores on Tuesday, April 26th, and will be available for $9.99. It can be ordered by retailers from Diamond Book Distributors with Diamond code JAN160644. It can be preordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, and Indiebound. 

Praise for I HATE FAIRYLAND:

“I Hate Fairyland is pure uncut Skottie Young awesomeness. Like a bag of Angel Dust in comic book form. Only Crazier.” —Jason Aaron

"In this business of comics, cartoonists are the purest practitioners of craft. They blend words and pictures in a way that shouldn't be possible; they make magic. Skottie Young is a master cartoonist, and this book is a masterpiece." —Jonathan Hickman

“Awesomely twisted—irreverent and inventive and crazy fun.” —Scott Snyder

“Just read the first issue of my buddy Skottie Young’s new Image Comics book I Hate Fairyland: just pure, distilled FUN from cover to cover” —Francesco Francavilla

“I Hate Fairyland is diabolically engaging and sick and twisted and lovely in that in every single way possible.” —Blastr 

“I Hate Fairyland is like Candyland seen through the prism of John Kricfalusi. It's filled with the dark humor that we've come to love and expect from the likes of Lenore and Invader Zim. It takes the tropes from classic children's tales and kicks them right in the balls before ripping their hearts right out.” —Horror Talk

“I Hate Fairyland is sculpted out of Skottie Young’s rainbow-colored brain meat and then hammer-smashed into the pages of a comic book.” —Dennis Hopeless

 

  

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 Publishing Hires Joel Elad As Direct Market Sales Manager Publisher Continues to Strengthen Relationship with Direct Market   San Diego, CA (February 18, 2016) – IDW Publishing has named Joel Elad as Direct Market Sales Manager, who will be the publisher’s liaison to comic shop retailers as well as manage the company’s retailer exclusive variant cover program. Elad comes to IDW from NewComix.Com, an online comic book retailer he co-founded in 1998. His wealth of experience includes acting as Director of Sales and Marketing for Top Cow Productions, where he led marketing campaigns for titles such as Wanted, by Mark Millar and JG Jones, and worked closely with retailers on a national basis. During his career, Elad has consulted with comic book stores, publishers, and conventions, as an independent contractor for Certified Guaranty Corporation (CGC), a third-party comic book grading company. In addition to his expertise in the direct market, Elad co-founded the So Cal Comic Con, a one-day comic book and toy convention in the San Diego area, where he personally recruited guests of honor as varied as J. Scott Campbell, George Perez, Marc Silvestri, Herb Trimpe, Rob Liefeld, Howard Chaykin, and Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi. Currently, Elad is a Regional Advisory Board Member for the HERO Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators in need. “We continue to expand what we do here at IDW, producing everything from Television shows to board games,” said IDW’s VP of Marketing Dirk Wood. “But the cornerstone of our business continues to be our partnership with comic book stores. We’ve been looking to expand our communication with the Direct Market, to reach out to our most important customers on a consistent basis. With Joel’s experience and understanding of the market, it’s clear he’s the right person for the job.” "I'm extremely thrilled to be joining this organization, as I feel IDW is part of my extended family after our previous successes together," says Elad. "I can't wait to contribute any expertise or perspective that I have to forge and enhance lots of beneficial partnerships with comic book retailers worldwide. I'm very honored to be a part of this team and I'm looking forward to the possibilities that lie ahead."

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.

The Truth Is Still Out There… ‘X-Files’ Star David Duchovny To Attend Wizard World Philadelphia, Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5

‘Fox Mulder’ On Iconic Sci-Fi Series, ‘Hank Moody’ On ‘Californication’ Joins ‘X-Files’ Co-Stars Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis At Pennsylvania Convention Center

PHILADELPHIA, February 19, 2016 – David Duchovny , best known for portraying such iconic characters as “Fox Mulder” on “The X Files” and “Hank Moody” on “Californication,” returns to the largest pop culture and comic con tour when he attends Wizard World Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The two-time Golden Globe winner is currently starring in the NBC TV series “Aquarius” and in the reboot of “The X-Files” on Fox.

Duchovny will release his second novel, Bucky F*cking Dent: A Novel , following the success of his debut Holy Cow, which landed on The New York Times’ Bestseller List.

In Philadelphia, he will be joined by fellow stars of the iconic series Mitch Pileggi , who played “Walter Skinner” and William B. Davis , who portrayed “Smoking Man.” The three will conduct a group Q&A as well as pose for dual and triple group photo ops during the event.

Aside from his most recent achievements, Duchovny has appeared in numerous television shows, including “The Larry Sanders Show”, “Twin Peaks,” “Life With Bonnie,” and “Sex and the City,” alongside his illustrious film credits including The X Files Movie, Zoolander, Beethoven, Kalifornia, Full Frontal, The Rapture, Evolution, Return To Me, Julia Has Two Lovers, Chaplin, and Playing God . Other feature credits include Trust The Man, The TV Set, and his self-directed and self-written House of D .

Duchovny will also begin his much-anticipated European “Hell or High Water Tour” concert series in May.

Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) continues its 2016 schedule In Philadelphia, June 2-5. In addition to Duchovny, Pileggi and Davis, the star-studded celebrity roster already includes the Back to the Future trio of Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson and "The Walking Dead" standout Norman Reedus , with many more to be announced.

Wizard World comic con and gaming events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Philadelphia show hours are Thursday, June 2, 3-8 p.m.; Friday, June 3, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, June 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more on the 2016 Wizard World Philadelphia, visit http://wizd.me/PhiladelphiaPR .

About Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD)

Wizard World, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com ) produces comic cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also launched Wizard World Store ( www.shopwizardworld.com), CONtv, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM), and ComicConBox™ ( www.comicconbox.com), a premium subscription-based monthly box service. Fans can interact with Wizard World on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

The Wizard World 2016 schedule is available at: http://wizardworld.com/searchby/city/.

MONSTRESS FANS CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF NEW HIT SERIES
The third issue of the break-out hit series fastracked to a second printing

“If you want big, beautiful, terrifying, violent magic, Monstress is your next favorite comic.” —Cosmopolitan

New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men, Black Widow) and artist Sana Takeda (X-23, Ms. Marvel) have captivated fans with the launch of their dark fantasy adventure, MONSTRESS. Image Comics is pleased to announce that issue #3 is being fast-tracked for a second printing to keep up with increasing customer demand.

Steampunk meets Kaiju in MONSTRESS, an original fantasy epic for mature readers. Young Maika risks everything to control her psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, placing her in the center of a devastating war between human and otherworldly forces. In MONSTRESS #3, Maika must confront the deadly secrets that live inside her.
MONSTRESS #3 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 #3, second printing (Diamond Code JAN168230) will arrive in stores on Wednesday, March 16th. Final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, February 22nd.

MONSTRESS #2, second printing (Diamond Code NOV158341) is available in stores now.

MONSTRESS #1, third printing (Diamond Code NOV158340) is available in stores now.

Select praise for MONSTRESS:

“Something entirely different” —Hypable

“A comic book with mud in its blood, unafraid to be a swirling epic as well as a ghastly dark fantasy.” —Vox.com

“Includes not only girls and giant monsters, but also world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.” —The Hollywood Reporter

“Filled to the brim with awesome.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This is stuff that demands to be explained and dares you to turn the page.” —The Rainbow Hub

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.

   

IMAGE EXPO PARTNERS WITH REEDPOP, KICKS OFF ECCC, HOSTS SPRING FORMAL
Image Comics takes Expo on the road to Seattle, with a line-up of exciting creator-owned announcements to precede Emerald City Comicon

Image Comics is pleased to announce that IMAGE EXPO will partner with ReedPOP, the leading producer of pop culture events, for the first time ever and will kick-off the Emerald City Comicon (ECCC) in Seattle on Wednesday, April 6th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Showbox Market theater.

IMAGE EXPO is an all-day event for fans, the retailer community, and the press to experience a showcase of exciting Image Comics announcements. IMAGE EXPO 2016 will feature a line-up of some of the hottest names in comics and offers a unique experience for fans to have unprecedented access to the writers and artists behind their favorite comic books at exclusive autograph sessions and comic-focused programming. The event is open to all fans, comics retailers, librarians, and media.

IMAGE EXPO will be an all-day event featuring such guests as Leila del Duca (SHUTTER), Joe Harris (SNOWFALL), Rick Remender (TOKYO GHOST), Alison Sampson (GENESIS), and Jonathan Hickman (EAST OF WEST), with more guests to be announced soon. In addition, there will be special surprise guests in attendance.

Tickets to the event are now available for sale. Image Comics is pleased to offer General Admission tickets available for $25, Premium Admission tickets available for $75, and Image Comics’ Spring Formal tickets (the official EXPO afterparty—with a twist!) for $15.

A General Admission Ticket will grant one (1) person entry to IMAGE EXPO and includes a program guide book, access to EXPO programming (does not include Spring Formal ticket).

A Premium Admission Ticket will grant one (1) entry to IMAGE EXPO and includes admission to EXPO programming, program guide book, admission ticket to 18+ Image Comics’ Spring Formal dance—a chance to mingle with creators, press, retailers, and fellow fans, Image T-shirt, Image tote bag, EXPO exclusive variants, Priority seating, and access to the Premium signing.

An Image Comics’ Spring Formal Ticket will grant one (1) entry to the official IMAGE EXPO afterparty—this year held from 8 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. in the style and spirit of a traditional high school dance and in celebration of the industry’s diversity and camaraderie. Details to come.
Tickets to IMAGE EXPO presented by Emerald City Comicon are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets can be purchased here.
Seating at IMAGE EXPO is limited. Admission for retailers and members of the media is complimentary (passes are limited).
Members of the media interested in requesting a press pass should fill out this form. Comics retailers interested in obtaining their complimentary pass should fill out this form.
Don’t miss your chance to meet creators, attend panels and signings, receive exclusive swag, and get the scoop on all that Image Comics has in store, all before ECCC.
Image Comics fans can follow the latest IMAGE EXPO updates at imagecomics.com/expo. We hope to see you there! 

  

ABOUT REEDPOP

ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture world. ReedPOP is dedicated to celebrations of popular culture throughout the globe that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) West, East, South and Australia, Emerald City Comicon (ECCC), BookCon, Oz Comic-Con, Comic Con India, Paris Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration, TwitchCon, UFC Fan Expo and more. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to serve those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, India and Australia (www.reedpop.com).

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.