Friday, July 14, 2017

J-POP SUMMIT 2017 ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE ARTISTS AND OTHER KINETIC LIVE PERFORMERS

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event Presents Anison Singer May’n, Kendama Performers Zoomadanke, Vogue-Inspired Dance Team TOKYO GEGEGAY, And Renowned Studio Ghibli Singer Azumi Inoue And Daughter Yuyu

San Francisco, CA, July 14, 2017 J-POP SUMMIT 2017, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has announced additional dance and music artists set to perform at this year’s festival.

This year’s event will be highlighted by an exciting 2-day slate of live music from a wide range of top Japanese pop, anison (anime song), dance, electronica, enka (Japanese soul) and rock artists that will complement an extensive roster of immersive experiences and attractions inspired by the wonders of Japanese pop culture.

Just-added artists that are scheduled to perform include anison rock singer, May’n, world-renowned professional Kendama performers from Japan, Zoomadanke, the vogue-inspired dance performance group, TOKYO GEGEGAY, and the mother and daughter singing duo of Azumi Inoue & Yuyu; the widely renowned singer of theme songs to beloved anime films from the legendary Studio Ghibli, and her daughter Yuyu.

The newly added artists complement other live performers previously announced that include BAND-MAID, Babyraids Japan, Misaki Iwasa (Former AKB48) and YANAKIKU.

J-POP SUMMIT 2017 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 9th and 10th at the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture located in San Francisco’s Marina district. Attendees will experience the festival’s theme of ARTS, EATS and INNOVATIONS; a vibrant celebration of Japanese pop culture featuring live music, Japanese food and travel attractions, and interactive technologies. The festival is accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and additional events highlighted by celebrity Guests of Honor. Festival details are available at www.J-POP.com.

J-POP SUMMIT 2017 (Fort Mason Center-only) Tickets are available for VIP, 1-Day, 2-Day, and Kid’s Passes (ages 0-12). Adult single-day passes start at only $35.00 each; 2-day passes start at only $50.00 each. Additional ticket purchase details can be found at:

About May’n
As one of the must-see Japanese female rock vocalists of a new generation, May’n has performed a wide array of music for anime. She drew initial acclaim as the singing voice of Diva of the Galaxy, Sheryl Nome, in the anime series, Macross Frontier. In 2014, she made a long-time dream come true by completing her biggest world tour ever consisting of 47 cities in Japan and multiple foreign countries, including her first-ever appearance at J-POP SUMMIT in San Francisco. More details available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/mayn.

About Zoomadanke
Zoomadanke is one of the most famous professional Kendama performers in Japan. The duo consists of Takeshi Kodama (Kodaman) and Hiroki Iijima (Easy). They are pioneers who blend the elements of Kendama, which is a traditional Japanese wooden toy, with dance and music to create a new style of live performance. Their stylish and acrobatic performances also have captured a growing international following. More details are available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/zoomadanke.

About TOKYO GEGEGAY
TOKYO GEGEGAY is an eccentric art and dance performance group led by Munetaka Maki, aka MIKEY, along with four girls: housewife BOW, yoga instructor MARIE, University student MIKU, and the Colleen Bawn of the group, YUYU. TOKYO GEGEGAY recently won the 10th Japan Dance Forum Award. This award is given to an individual or a group with a remarkable year of creative activity and who has made a major contribution to dance scene in Japan. The group also has performed in the Philippines and Thailand. By crossing cultural borders, the troupe has leveraged the power of dance and has received extremely positive coverage from fans and the media. More details available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/tokyo-gegegay.

About Azumi Inoue & Yuyu
Making her debut in 1983, Azumi Inoue first gained notice as the singer of the end theme for Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli anime movie, Laputa: Castle In The Sky with “Carrying You.” Performing as a singer on many early Studio Ghibli movies, she is also known for such favorites as the opening and closing themes for My Neighbor Totoro: “Stroll” and “My Neighbor Totoro;” and incidental music for Kiki’s Delivery Service: “Changing Seasons” and “Maho No Nukumori.”

Yuyu is the daughter of Azumi Inoue. In 2012 Yuyu made her debut at the age of seven on the public broadcasting channel NHK, performing the song “6 Sai No Ballad” (6 Year-Old’s Ballad) for the TV show, Minna No Uta, which has a 50-year history, was bombarded with requests for the song, making it a huge hit. In 2014, her song, “Hanbun Otona” (Half an adult), a duet performed with her mother Azumi Inoue, was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna No Uta, making it her third consecutive song to be shown on the program. She is currently a 12-year-old junior high school student.
More details are available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/azumi-inoue-yuyu/

Visit www.J-POP.com for additional festival information and a comprehensive listing of all the J-POP SUMMIT 2017 attractions and events.


About J-POP SUMMIT
J-POP SUMMIT is one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events held annually in San Francisco, CA. As an open playground of discovery and diversion inspired by the wonders of Japanese pop culture, J-POP SUMMIT presents ARTS, EATS and INNOVATIONS; a vibrant celebration of Japanese pop culture featuring live music, Japanese food and travel attractions, and interactive technologies. With more than 20,000 attendees for two days, the festival has become an immersive landing platform for new trends from Japan.

Official website: www.j-pop.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpopsummit

Thursday, July 13, 2017

“Goosebumps” Comic Books Creeping
into Stores This October

R.L. Stine’s Spine-tingling Series Heading to Comics

San Diego (July 13, 2017)— Comic readers, beware, you're in for a scare! New comic book adventures will beckon young readers into the world of R.L. Stine’s bestselling Goosebumps series. IDW Publishing will bring funny scares to the next generation of Goosebumps readers this October.

This year, the Goosebumps book series published by Scholastic celebrates 25 years of giving readers… well, goosebumps, and IDW is thrilled to add to the chills with original stories that re-visit some familiar and frightening faces. Fearsome monsters will populate the Goosebumps comics, and our spunky heroes will need to work together to get out of some truly bumpy spots.

"My first reading thrill when I was a kid were the EC horror comics, Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror,” said R.L. Stine. “They introduced me to the excitement of reading. Now all these years later, I have another thrill--seeing my stories and characters come to life in a comic book series of their own."

The first Goosebumps storyline, “Monsters at Midnight,” will kick off with writer Jeremy Lambert (Attack on Titan Anthology) and artist Chris Fenoglio (X-Files: Origins), who will transport readers to a hauntingly familiar setting called Horrorland—a world of terrifying possibilities originally introduced in the Goosebumps novels. Mia and Ginny were planning on spending a thoroughly dull summer at Grandma’s house with nothing but mothballs to entertain them. Enter a spooky, old bookshop and a door left slightly ajar, and soon these sisters find themselves trapped in a Horrorland drastically different from the sleepy, suburban town they left behind.

Each three-issue arc will feature a brand-new, self-contained story with rotating creative teams. And good news for monster collectors—each single issue will have creep-tastic variant covers by artists such as Derek Charm, Drew Rausch, CP Wilson III, Cat Farris, and more!

Read at your own risk!
 

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About IDW
IDW Media Holdings, Inc. (OCTQX: IDWM) is a fully integrated media company, which includes publishing, games, entertainment, and the San Diego Comic Art Gallery.

IDW Publishing’s comic book and graphic novel catalog includes some of the world’s most popular entertainment brands, including TransformersMy Little PonyStar TrekTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesGhostbusters, and Disney’s classic characters. At IDW’s core is its commitment to creator-owned comics including 30 Days of NightLocke & KeyWormwoodRagnarökV-Wars, and Archangel by bestselling sci-fi author William Gibson.

IDW Publishing is also home to the acclaimed and award-winning imprints; Top Shelf, The Library of American Comics, Yoe! Books, and Artist Editions, showcasing the greatest original art ever published in American comic books.

IDW Games’ diverse line-up includes the international phenomenon Machi Koro, as well as hit licensed games such as X-FilesBack to the FutureThe Godfather, and TMNT.

IDW Entertainment serves as the worldwide distributor of Wynonna Earp airing on the Syfy Channel in the U.S. and is producing BBC America’s Dirk Gently, based on the bestseller by Douglas Adams starring Elijah Wood and Samuel Barnett.

About Scholastic
For more about Scholastic, visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com
Visit Bluefin during 2017 Comic-Con International at Booth #401

BLUEFIN DETAILS LIMITED EDITION SUPERHERO AND SUPERVILLAIN STATUES FOR IRON STUDIOS’ BATTLE DIORAMA SERIES TO BE UNVEILED AT 2017 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL

Hand-Painted Polystone 1/10 Scale Figures For Batman: Arkham Knight, Spider Man, Spider Gwen, Carnage And Venom Introduce High-Detail Line Of Beloved Characters That Can Be Combined To Form An Action-Packed Diorama

Anaheim, CA, July 13, 2017 – Bluefin, the leading North American distributor of toys, collectibles, and hobby merchandise from Japan, Asia and more, details an exciting new series of high-detail Limited Edition products from collectibles brand, Iron Studios, with the forthcoming release of the Battle Diorama Series.

Set to be unveiled for the first time at the 2017 Comic-Con International, these Limited Edition 1/10 scale statues depict an array of beloved heroes and supervillains. Each one is hand-painted and rendered in Polystone and presented on a detailed display base and ready for battle. Combine each 10-inch statue with others in the series to create a kinetic diorama that is sure to become a centerpiece of any fans’ personal collection.

Comic-Con International is one of the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction and pop culture events, and will take place July 20th–23rd at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, CA. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: www.comic-con.org. Bluefin will be located in Booth #401

The first statues in the Iron Studios Battle Diorama series will be on prominent display at Bluefin’s booth during the Comic-Con International and will include Spider-Man, Spider-Gwen, Venom and Carnage!  The first of these figures will be available via retail channels beginning in November with additional ones set for release in early 2018. Pre-orders are available now from authorized Bluefin retailers nationwide and also from a variety of leading online outlets.
Also set to be showcased for the first time at Comic-Con will be new Batman: Arkham Knight statues along with prototypes for additional upcoming Iron Studios statues based on the recent Wonder Woman movie by Warner Bros. and several Marvel-based characters.

Available in Limited Edition quantities as a 2017 Comic-Con Exclusive will be the Iron Studios 1/10 Art Scale Batman: Arkham Knight Bronze Version. This stunning 10-inch statue is available only from Bluefin for $149.99 and based on original 3D references from the action-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Founded in 2010, Iron Studios is headquartered in Brazil and specializes in a wide range of incredibly accurate and lifelike 1/10 scale products. For additional information on Iron Studios, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ironstudios and http://www.ironstudios.com.br/.

Batman: Arkham Knight
Height: Approx. 9 inches; MSRP: $109.99
Available November 2017!
Limited Edition hand-painted statue based on original 3D references from the action-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Spider Man
Height: Approx. 10 inches; MSRP: $164.99
Available November 2017!
Limited Edition hand-painted statue based on the concept art of Raphael Albuquerque from Chiaroscuro Studios; includes base display.

Spider Gwen
Height: Approx. 6 inches; MSRP: $129.99
Available December 2017!
Limited Edition hand-painted statue based on the concept art of Raphael Albuquerque from Chiaroscuro Studios; includes base display.

Carnage Spider Man
Height: Approx. 10 inches; MSRP: $144.99
Available January 2018!
Limited Edition hand-painted statue based on the concept art of Raphael Albuquerque from Chiaroscuro Studios; includes base display.

Venom Spider Man
Height: Approx. 14 inches; MSRP: $159.99
Available January 2018!
Limited Edition hand-painted statue based on the concept art of Raphael Albuquerque from Chiaroscuro Studios; includes base display.


About Bluefin:
Based in Anaheim, CA, Bluefin built its reputation as a leading distributor of Japanese toys, collectibles, novelty and hobby products. In recent years, Bluefin has grown to include a range of high quality collectible lines from the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan and established itself as the official North American consumer products and retail development partner for Studio Ghibli. Selling to thousands of specialty, chain and independent stores, Bluefin is an official North American distributor for Bandai Hobby, Bandai Shokugan, and Capcom, and is also an official provider of Bandai Tamashii Nations products, and is also the exclusive and official distributor for Blitzway Studios, Mr. Hobby, SEN-TI-NEL, Storm Collectibles, and X-Plus. Bluefin also represents TruForce Collectibles products worldwide. Additional information is available at: www.bluefincorp.com.
Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘LUPIN THE 3RD
THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO’ Hits Big Screens Nationwide
for First Time Ever, as Part of a Special
Two-Night Event This Fall
 
 
Miyazaki’s Classic 1979 Debut Feature Comes to U.S. Cinemas September 14 and 19 Only
 
DENVER – July 13, 2017 –  LUPIN THE 3RD is one of the most recognizable animation series in Japanese history, and now U.S. audiences can experience one of the most notable titles when the 1979 Japanese comedy-drama animated adventure, LUPIN THE 3RD THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, comes to movie theaters nationwide for the first time, to commemorate Lupin’s 50th anniversary.
 
Co-written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki as his feature film debut, LUPIN THE 3RD THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO” will be broadcast for two nights only on Thursday, September 14 (English dubbed) and Tuesday, September 19 (English subtitled) at 7:00 p.m. local time (both days), from Fathom Events, ELEVEN ARTS Anime Studio, and TMS Entertainment.
 
Tickets for LUPIN THE 3RD THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO” can be purchased online beginning Friday, August 18 by visiting www.FathomEvents.com, or at participating theater box offices. A complete list of theater locations will be available August 18 on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
 
LUPIN THE 3RD THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO follows the great thief Arsène Lupin III, who successfully robs a casino – only to discover the money is counterfeit. He heads to the tiny country of Cagliostro, the rumored source of the bills, and attempts to save the runaway Clarisse from Count Cagliostro's men. Lupin enlists his associates, Jigen and Goemon, and sends his calling to the Count to get Inspector Zenigata, his longtime nemesis, to the castle. After becoming trapped in the dungeon under the castle, Lupin and Zenigata form a pact to escape and foil the Count's counterfeit operation and save Clarisse from her forced marriage to the Count.
 
“Anime events continually prove to be a wildly popular genre for our audiences,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “We are thrilled to debut Hayao Miyazaki’s first masterpiece on big screens nationwide and to partner with ELEVEN ARTS and TMS Entertainment to make this possible.”
 
For more information, visit www.lupin-3rd.net/en and www.elevenarts.net.
 

 
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema with participating affiliate theaters in all 100 of the top Designated Market Areas®, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events such as live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions like the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live, sporting events like “Canelo Álvarez vs. Julio César Chávez, Jr.,” concerts with artists like Michael Bublé, Rush and Mötley Crüe, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics film series, inspirational events such as To Joey With Love and Facing Darkness, and anime titles such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 897 locations and 1,387 screens in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.
 
About ELEVEN ARTS Anime Studio
ELEVEN ARTS Anime Studio is a Los Angeles-based distribution company known for bringing high quality Japanese anime to North American big screens.  ELEVEN ART’S distribution anime titles include Girls Und Panzer Der Film, Yo-Kai Watch: The Movie, Digimon Adventure Tri. Chapter 1: Reunion, the Evangelion franchise, The Last Naruto: The Movie, Boruto: Naruto the Movie, The Anthem of the Heart, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, and Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions, Sword Art Online The Movie - Ordinal Scale -. For additional information, visit: www.elevenarts.net
 
About TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd.
TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd. (better known as TMS) is one of the world largest and most distinguished animation studios.  TMS has won recognition from the international filmmaking community for its highly-acclaimed animation, pioneering techniques and proud commitment to quality.  With a dedicated team of development, production and design executives, TMS's growing reputation is reflected by the versatility, artistry and originality of the programs the company has produced for international markets worldwide.
Established in 1964, TMS has produced more than 100 features, and over 100 TV program series, with a total of 8,000 half hours for global distribution. TMS programs have attained worldwide recognition and TMS will continue to strive for excellence. For additional information, visit: www.tms-e.com/english/  
 
 
BOOM! STUDIOS REVEALS THE ORIGINAL

POWER RANGERS TEAM IN THE

MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS

COMIC BOOK CANON


Zordon’s original team of Power Rangers in BOOM! Studios’
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Comic Book Canon to Debut
in October 2017

  
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #20 Main Cover by Jamal Campbell

July 13, 2017 (Los Angeles, Calif.) – BOOM! Studios, in partnership with Saban Brands, is proud to reveal the original Power Rangers team in October’s release of MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #20.

In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #20, writer Kyle Higgins (Nightwing: The New Order) and artist Daniele Di Nicuolo (Mighty Morphin Powers Rangers: Pink) explore an eye-opening new piece of Power Rangers history that will rock the very foundations of the current team to its core. Well before Jason, Zack, Kimberly, Billy, and Trini became Power Rangers, Zordon recruited Rangers in 1969 to battle a foe who was downright... psycho.

"Any opportunity to add to the Power Ranger mythos is always an incredible honor and one of the fundamental reasons I love writing this book,” explained Higgins. “Case in point, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #20 is going to take us back in time to explore a very different—yet familiar—team of Rangers: the ones that stopped a secret Moon attack during the 1960s. Who were the Power Rangers of 1969? What happened to them? And how do they fit into our current story? We're jumping into the Wayback Machine to the Summer of Love to meet a new cast of Rangers, some of whom will have a huge impact on the future of the Mighty Morphin team!"

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #20 features a main cover by Jamal Campbell (Prowler), along with an interconnecting variant cover by Steve Morris (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), an Action Figure variant cover by Amazon Game Studios VFX artist Joshua McDonald, and a special variant cover by Klaus and Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers superstar artist Dan Mora.

“We’re incredibly excited to show you a part of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers mythos that hasn’t been explored yet, but has definitely helped shape the team as we know it now. With Saban Brands, we have the opportunity to explore this part of the mythos in a new and exciting way, and we can’t wait to show the fans!” said Dafna Pleban, Editor, BOOM! Studios. “If the reveals of Lord Drakkon and the Black Dragon weren’t enough, then strap in—because this is when things get crazy!”

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is available every month for sale at local comic book shops (to find a shop near you, visit comicshoplocator.com) or through the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers including comiXology, Kindle, iTunes, Google Play, and the BOOM! Studios app. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #20 is scheduled for release on October 18.

Discover your breaking Road to San Diego Comic-Con news from BOOM! Studios by visiting www.boom-studios.com and following @boomstudios on Twitter.



  
    Cover by Steve Morris              Cover by Dan Mora          Cover by Joshua McDonald



 


About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios was founded by Ross Richie in 2005 with the singular focus of creating world-class comic book and graphic novel storytelling for all audiences. Through the development of four distinct imprints—BOOM! Studios, BOOM! Box, KaBOOM!, and Archaia—BOOM! has produced award-winning original work, including Lumberjanes, The Woods, Giant Days, Klaus, and Mouse Guard, while also breaking new ground with established licenses such as WWE, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Cartoon Network, and Jim Henson Company properties. BOOM! will also bring their original series to life through unique first-look relationships with 20th Century Fox for film and with Fox Television for the small screen. Please visit www.boom-studios.com for more information. For news and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.


About Saban Brands
Formed in 2010 as an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands (SB) acquires and develops a world-class portfolio of properties in the entertainment and lifestyle sectors. SB applies a global 360-degree management approach to growing and monetizing its brands through content, media, marketing, distribution, licensing and retail to markets worldwide and consumers of all ages. Saban Brands Entertainment Group (SBEG) develops innovative branded content that resonates with consumers across all media platforms. SBEG’s growing entertainment portfolio of brands includes Power Rangers, Julius Jr., Popples, Cirque du Soleil – Luna Petunia, La Banda, Emojiville and others in development. Saban Brands Lifestyle Group (SBLG) drives major expansion within the company’s diverse portfolio of fashion and lifestyle properties. SBLG’s portfolio currently includes Paul Frank, Macbeth, Mambo and Piping Hot. SB operates a global network of offices in Los Angeles, New York, London and Sydney. For more information, visit www.sabanbrands.com.
HIGH-OCTANE BLOODSTRIKE FINALE WILL RUN IN FORTHCOMING YOUNGBLOOD ISSUES 
 
PORTLAND, OR, 07/13/2017 — Image Comics is pleased to announce that the action-packed BLOODSTRIKE finale story by Rob Liefeld will be serialized in the backmatter of the forthcoming Rob Liefeld’s YOUNGBLOOD #4-6 written by Chad Bowers with art by Jim Towe. Issue #4 will hit stores this August.

“Bloodstrike fans have been beyond patient as I work towards completing the saga I originally envisioned that ties directly into larger plans for my Extreme vision for my Extreme Universe,” said Liefeld. “The most immediate way to get the work I've been doing to the fans is by including it as a flip feature in the current Youngblood series featuring the acclaimed work of Chad Bowers and Jim Towe! No extra charge for a book that will be packed with content!”

Previously in BLOODSTRIKE, a new recruit to the Bloodstrike program, (his identity as a mystery man from the historical Extreme Universe soon to be revealed!) struggles on a covert mission and loses his life as well as his junk to the mysterious Tragedy Ann!

In YOUNGBLOOD #4 Shaft rides a motorcycle straight into danger. When the world's most extreme bowman goes rogue, it's up to the new Youngblood to stop him before he ruins everything. Or worse, gets them all killed.

YOUNGBLOOD #4 hits stores on Wednesday, August 9th.

YOUNGBLOOD #4, Cover A by Towe (Diamond Code JUN170820)
YOUNGBLOOD #4, Cover B by Liefeld (Diamond Code JUN170821)
YOUNGBLOOD #4, Cover C by Level (Diamond Code JUN170822)
YOUNGBLOOD #4, Cover D Hickman (Diamond Code MAY178631)
###
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling 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 Comics, Skybound Entertainment, 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.
BOOM! STUDIOS ANNOUNCES

KONG: GODS OF SKULL ISLAND


Road to San Diego 2017 Announcement #6: New one-shot
explores the Tagatu civilization's relationship with Kong


   
Kong: Gods of Skull Island
One-shot
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Chad Lewis
Cover Artists:
     Main Cover: Jeremy Wilson
     Variant Cover: Tyler Jenkins
Format: 48 pages, full color
Price: $7.99
On sale: October 2017
Synopsis: 
  • In this stand-alone Kong story, the year is 1912, and a wealthy humanitarian has traveled to Skull Island with the purpose of civilizing the native Tagatu living there. Although the Tagatu accept his gifts and allow his team to live among hem, they're devoted to their god... and the team soon discovers that Kong is very, very real. 
  • "Somehow, the Tagatu survived for generations at the bottom of the food chain in the harshest, deadliest environment on Earth, and they worshipped Kong as a living god. I always wanted to see more of that tribe's culture in the films—specifically the 'Church of Kong' and their relationship with Kong himself—but that wasn't the story they were telling. Now, it's the story we're telling." – Phillip Kennedy Johnson
  • BOOM! Studios’ Kong comics are based on Joe DeVito’s Skull Island and Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong. The publisher recently completed a 12-issue series, Kong of Skull Island, set thousands of years in the past, written by James Asmus (All-New Inhumans) and illustrated by Carlos Magno (Lantern City).
 


About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios was founded by Ross Richie in 2005 with the singular focus of creating world-class comic book and graphic novel storytelling for all audiences. Through the development of four distinct imprints—BOOM! Studios, BOOM! Box, KaBOOM!, and Archaia—BOOM! has produced award-winning original work, including Lumberjanes, The Woods, Giant Days, Klaus, and Mouse Guard, while also breaking new ground with established licenses such as WWE, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Cartoon Network, and Jim Henson Company properties. BOOM! will also bring their original series to life through unique first-look relationships with 20th Century Fox for film and with Fox Television for the small screen. Please visit www.boom-studios.com for more information. For news and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.
Documentary SHE MAKES COMICS Now Available on iTunes, Amazon VOD

EDWARDSVILLE, IL, 07/11/2017 — Sequart Organization and Respect Films are proud to announce that She Makes Comics is now available on iTunes, Amazon VOD, and cable VOD.

Directed by Marisa Stotter, She Makes Comics traces the fascinating history of women in the comics industry. Despite popular assumptions about the comics world, women have been writing, drawing, and reading comics since the medium’s beginnings in the late 19th century. And today, there are scores of women involved in comics and its vibrant fan culture.

Featuring dozens of interviews with such vital figures as Ramona Fradon, Trina Robbins, Joyce Farmer, Karen Berger, Wendy Pini, 
Colleen Doran, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Raina Telgemeier, and Becky Cloonan, She Makes Comics is the first film to bring together the most influential women of the comics world.

The documentary has received rave reviews and won Best Documentary at the 2015 Comic-Con International.

Purchase from Amazon
Purchase from iTunes

What the critics have said about the film:
·  “Entertaining, informative, and inspiring. Drips with passion for the comic book medium and for the fight against the sad realities that have plagued women in the industry for decades.” — Cliff Wheatley, IGN
·  “I can’t stress enough how important it is that you see this film, and more than that, that you take its message with you after the credits roll. She Makes Comics lets any woman watching know that she too is accepted, that she is welcome here… 10/10.” — Timothy Merritt, Coming Up Comics
·  “An uplifting and informative celebration of women in comics.” — Hugh Armitage, Digital Spy
·  “It’s still blowing my mind… Mesmerizing.” — Verushka Byrow, Pop.Edit.Lit
·  “I watched this with my girlfriend, also a comic book fan, and we were high-fiving throughout!” — Clay N. Ferno, Forces of Geek

Check out other Sequart / Respect films:
·  Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously is available on Vimeo and Starz.
·  The Image Revolution is available on Amazon Prime Video (and on DVD).
·  Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts are available on Sequart’s own online store.
·  Chris Claremont’s X-Men will be released by XLRator in the fall.
“Behaving Madly” - When MAD Wasn't The Only Funny Magazine Around
San Diego, CA (July 13, 2017) – When MAD was turned into a magazine, every publisher and his uncle came up with his own version using many of the same artists and writers as well as other top-ranking comic book creators.

In Behaving Madly you will find rare, never before reprinted material by such industry greats as Bill Elder, Jack Davis, John Severin, Joe Maneely, Ross Andru, Joe Kubert, Russ Heath, Bob Powell, Howard Nostrand, Lee Elias, Basil Wolverton, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Ric Estrada, and Al Jaffe. Rare, complete stories by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko are included at the same price. A special section at the end of the book is devoted to the way MAD reacted to these imitations and the many ways they took on their main competitor themselves.

Selected and introduced by Ger Apeldoorn and Craig Yoe, Behaving Madly covers every MAD Magazine imitation between 1955 and 1959, from Snafu, Lunatickle, Cockeyed and Crazy, Man, Crazy to Think, Frantic, Frenzy, Loco, Panic and Zany, as well as a thoroughly researched introduction on the whole field, which will be seen as the final word on the subject.

But Behaving Madly is more than a must-have collection. It is also a fresh and funny look into the culture of yesterday, littered with big names and even bigger yucks. You'll see Edward E. Murrow interviewing Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley as an alien, Walt Disney pestering wild life, and spoofs, imitations, and parodies of everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Ernest Hemingway.   
If all this wasn't enough Behaving Madly includes an amazing revelation! Yoe says, "This surprising and never before known fact is sure to shake both the comic and Fine Art world!" For the first time Behaving Madly reveals the previously unknown source for Roy Lichtenstein's famous, most widely seen painting, Pistol. Pistol (1964) was appropriated from a MAD knock-off, Panic #3 (Nov. 1958), and a magazine, Time, then, used a version by Lichtenstein  for their controversial cover on their "The Gun in America" issue (June 21, 1968). The image was taken by Lichtenstein  from from a magazine to make a Pop Art painting and then went into back to a magazine completing the circle.   
Ger Apeldoorn is a comic book historian who wrote about Mad comic book imitation and Harvey Kurtzman for Alter Ego and has been running the popular The Fabulous Fifties blog for more than eight years. It is visited daily by many artists and collectors and often referred to in the Comic Journal's weblog. In December, Alter Ego will use his study on the efforts of Stan Lee to get out of comics between 1956 and 1962 as its cover article.

Craig Yoe is a two-time Eisner winner and legendary editor and packager of the Yoe! Books line of reprints at IDW. His books have covered subjects ranging from horror, to romance, to kids comics. His book, Super Weird Heroes, is a best-seller and a sequel is in the works. They first met when Ger on his blog shared some rare scans of Milt Gross' silent movie reviews and it was love at first sight. Behaving Madly is the duo’s joint love letter to the art of graphic satire and took them both more than five years to produce.

Both are willing to be interviewed, probed, and paraded around for the entertainment medium of your choice. You can find them signing copies of Behaving Madly during San Diego Comic-Con at the IDW booth (#2743) on Friday, July 22nd from 1-2pm.
 
View the book trailer for Behaving Madly here.

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About IDW
IDW Media Holdings, Inc. (OCTQX: IDWM) is a fully integrated media company, which includes publishing, games, entertainment, and the San Diego Comic Art Gallery.

IDW Publishing’s comic book and graphic novel catalog includes some of the world’s most popular entertainment brands, including TransformersMy Little PonyStar TrekTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesGhostbusters, and Disney’s classic characters. At IDW’s core is its commitment to creator-owned comics including 30 Days of NightLocke & KeyWormwoodRagnarökV-Wars, and Archangel by bestselling sci-fi author William Gibson.

IDW Publishing is also home to the acclaimed and award-winning imprints; Top Shelf, The Library of American Comics, Yoe! Books, and Artist Editions, showcasing the greatest original art ever published in American comic books.

IDW Games’ diverse line-up includes the international phenomenon Machi Koro, as well as hit licensed games such as X-FilesBack to the FutureThe Godfather, and TMNT.

IDW Entertainment serves as the worldwide distributor of Wynonna Earp airing on the Syfy Channel in the U.S. and is producing BBC America’s Dirk Gently, based on the bestseller by Douglas Adams starring Elijah Wood and Samuel Barnett.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017



Comics and Graphic Novel Sales Up 5% in 2016 
According to New Estimate by ICv2 and Comichron


The comics and graphic novel market grew 5% in 2016, according to a new joint estimate by Comichron
's John Jackson Miller and ICv2's Milton Griepp.  Total comics and graphic novel sales to consumers in the U.S. and Canada reached $1.085 billion in 2016, a $55 million increase over sales in 2015.

"It's gratifying to see continued growth in the audience for graphic novels," Griepp said.  "This represents growth in the broadest part of the market, where increased variety of content is being found by new audiences for comics, including kids and women."

"Marvel's lucrative relaunch of the Star Wars line in 2015 set a high mark for the comics shop market to beat in 2016," Miller said.  "The fact that it pulled even, thanks in part to DC's Rebirth event, was remarkable-and the book channel's strength was even more so."

Graphic novels in the book channel were the only area of growth in 2016, as sales in comic stores, through download-to-own digital channels, and in newsstands remained flat.  Sales of graphic novels through the book channel grew 16% to $405 million in 2016, after growing 23% in 2015 and 16% in 2014.

As presented above and in the accompanying infographics, the analysis by Comichron and ICv2 was divided up between periodical comics (what some call "floppies" or "pamphlets"), graphic novels, and digital download-to-own sales.  All print figures are calculated based on the full retail price of books sold into the market, and do not account for discounting or markup.  Digital sales do not include subscription or "all you can read" services.

This is the fourth joint market size analysis from ICv2 and Comichron; the first was for 2013 sales.

Comichron
Comichron is the world
's largest public repository of comic-book sales figures, featuring data from the 1930s to today about comic book and graphic novel circulation, cover prices, and market shares on its website, www.comichron.com.  With data and analysis on the distant past as well as the present, Comichron serves as a trusted resource for academics studying the historical reach of the medium and for collectors seeking accurate information about how many copies of a comic book originally circulated.

ICv2
ICv2 is the #1 industry source on the business of geek culture, including comics and graphic novels, hobby games, and showbiz on its website, www.ICv2.com, and in its magazine, Internal Correspondence.  For the people on the front lines of the geek culture business, staying ahead of the trends isn
't something that can be left to chance-it's a basic necessity for being successful.  That's why ICv2 is the #1 source of news and information for the buyers, gatekeepers, and tastemakers on the front lines.  ICv2 is where trend-watching is a science.