nWAY ANNOUNCES POWER RANGERS:

LEGACY WARS PARTNERSHIP WITH

BOOM! STUDIOS FOR MASSIVE CONTENT

UPDATE, INCLUDING LORD DRAKKON AND

BLACK DRAGON

Road to SDCC Announcement #10: BOOM! Studios' record-breaking
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comic comes to video games for the first time

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – July 18, 2017 – Synchronous multiplayer fighting game developer nWay and comic book publisher BOOM! Studios today announced the first video game appearance for characters from the top-selling Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comics in Power Rangers: Legacy Wars.

After an in-game update going live later this week, Lord Drakkon - the first new official Mighty Morphin Power Ranger created in over 20 years - and Black Dragon will appear as playable warriors in the smash-hit mobile game, along with various in-game updates and feature additions.

“We love how BOOM! Studios has taken the Power Rangers story to unprecedented and mature places, and now we’re bringing the characters to a new realm with their first appearance in a video game,” said Taehoon Kim, CEO, nWay. “Partnering with them to bring in Lord Drakkon and Black Dragon is the perfect way to bolster Power Rangers: Legacy Wars’ roster with next-level evil warriors!”

"Powers Rangers: Legacy Wars marks the first time that the all-new canonical creations from BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comics ventured beyond the two-dimensional page," said Filip Sablik, President of Publishing & Marketing, BOOM! Studios. "As an avid player of this amazing game, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with the team at nWay and our friends at Saban Brands and Lionsgate to unleash these two villains!"

Lord Drakkon is an intensely evil version of Tommy Oliver from an alternate universe who rules his Earth with dystopian philosophies. Lord Drakkon first appeared in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #9 from BOOM! Studios. Black Dragon is a powerful Zord from an alternate universe that’s come to destroy Tommy Oliver.  Black Dragon first appeared in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #4 from BOOM! Studios. Their debut in the game marks the first time either character has appeared outside of the comic book series.

In the update, players can also experience some of the most requested features and tweaks, such as:

• Challenge Mode – Compete in a series of battles using a group of your teams and reach the maximum number of wins before losing three matches in order to win huge prizes.
• Talents System – Upgrade your warriors with passive abilities that provide bonus damage and attributes.

Full details on the incoming fighters and updates can be found here: http://playlegacywars.com/1-4-patch-notes/

Fans looking to get their Power Rangers: Legacy Wars fix this week at Comic-Con International: San Diego have a couple of options:

• BOOM! Studios and nWay will be revealing more information and a closer look at the characters in action later this week during the BOOM! Studios Power Rangers panel on Friday, July 21, at 11:30 a.m. PDT in Room 5AB of the San Diego Convention Center. The panel is open to all registered attendees, and fans attending the panel will have a chance to win a super-rare limited edition Power Rangers: Legacy Wars item.
• Renowned actor Jason David Frank, from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, will be playing Power Rangers: Legacy Wars against fans in the Lionsgate booth located at #4045.

 

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About Power Rangers: Legacy Wars
Developed for iOS and Android in partnership with Saban Brands, Lionsgate and nWay, Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is the first video game to feature Rangers and villains from the Power Rangers TV show, currently in its 24th season, and the feature film, Saban’s Power Rangers, fighting alongside one another. Since its launch in March 2017, Power Rangers: Legacy Wars has been downloaded more than 15 million times.

Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is a free-to-play action-strategy fighting game focusing on real-time, head-to-head battles with opponents from around the world. Players can currently compete in weekly tournaments for cash prizes through a partnership with ESL. For more information about Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, please visit www.playlegacywars.com.

About nWay
nWay is the game studio behind Power Rangers: Legacy Wars and ChronoBlade, a competitive and cooperative multiplayer Action RPG for mobile, TV, and browser platforms. Featuring console quality graphics and fast-paced synchronous cross-platform multiplayer gameplay, nWay’s games leverage the company’s proprietary technology for a latency-free experience. The company is based in San Francisco with offices in Seoul, Korea. The nWay team is comprised of leading developers and executives from companies like Sony, Electronic Arts, LucasArts, Kabam, Nexon and NCSoft.  They have collectively contributed to over a dozen hit mobile, console and online games including: FIFA, Battlefield Online, Lineage II, Warhammer, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Heroes of Newerth, Dominations, Star Wars Uprising and Marvel Contest of Champions. nWay has received venture funding from Baseline Ventures, TransLink Capital, WI Harper Group, Cowboy Ventures, Harrison Metal and Keytone Ventures. For more information, visit nWay at www.nway.com.

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’s Power Rangers
Saban’s Power Rangers franchise is the brainchild of Haim Saban, creator and producer of the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” hit series that launched in 1993. Following its introduction, “Power Rangers” quickly became the most-watched children’s television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running kids live-action series in television history. The series follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who morph into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets, translated into numerous languages and a favorite on many key international children’s programming blocks around the world. For more information, visit www.powerrangers.com.

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) is a vertically integrated next-generation global content leader with a diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, premium pay television networks, home entertainment, global distribution and sales, interactive ventures and games and location-based entertainment.

With the acquisition of Starz, Lionsgate adds to its portfolio of businesses the flagship STARZ premium pay network serving 24.2 million subscribers. The combined company will operate five over-the-top (OTT) streaming services and the STARZ app delivering content directly to consumers.

The Company's feature film business spans eight labels and includes the global box office phenomenon La La Land, winner of six Academy Awards®, the blockbuster Hunger Games, John Wick and Now You See Me franchises, double Oscar-winner Hacksaw Ridge, Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween, Saban's Power Rangers, Roadside Attractions' critically acclaimed Manchester by the Sea, Codeblack Films' All Eyez on Me and Pantelion Films’ How to Be A Latin Lover and Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.

One of the largest independent television businesses in the world, Lionsgate's slate of premium-quality series encompasses nearly 90 shows on more than 40 different networks. These include the ground-breaking Orange is the New Black, Nashville, The Wendy Williams Show, The Royals, Casual, Greenleaf, Dear White People, the network reality show Candy Crush, and hit STARZ series including American Gods, The White Princess, Outlander and Power, the second highest-rated premium pay television series of 2016.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of more than 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment and Starz brands are synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com

STEVE SKROCE—STORYBOARD ARTIST FOR THE MATRIX TRILOGY—UNLEASHES MAESTROS THIS OCTOBER

"MAESTROS is a masterpiece." —Brian K. Vaughan

PORTLAND, OR, 07/18/2017 — Superstar comics and storyboard artist Steve Skroce (WE STAND ON GUARD, Wolverine) will take on both writing and art duties in his all-new, totally irreverent and fantastical action-comedy MAESTROS this October from Image Comics.

The Maestro and his entire royal family have been murdered. Now, his banished son from Earth will inherit the Wizard King's throne along with a spell that turns its user into GOD. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom?

“MAESTROS is a finely seasoned stew of everything I love about the fantasy and action adventure genres,” said Skroce. “I tried to create a universe where all my beloved magical characters and settings might exist together, side by side. The protagonist, Willy Little, isn't a chosen one; he's granted ultimate power through blind luck—but can a nice guy stay nice when no one ever says 'no' to him again?”

MAESTROS #1 (Diamond code: AUG170542) arrives in comic book stores Wednesday, October 18th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, September 25th.

Advance praise for MAESTROS:

“MAESTROS is manic magic! We've waited too damn long for Steve to have his own book but this was worth the wait. MAESTROS is a Skroce Hadron Collider where panel-packed action slams into his wicked sense of humor releasing some of the most original and gleeful fun comics has seen in some time.” —Lana Wachowski, creator of The Matrix and Sense8 

"MAESTROS is a masterpiece, with one of the best first issues I've ever read. Steve is somehow an even greater writer than he is an artist. Get ready for your new favorite comic." —Brian K. Vaughan

“Steve Skroce continues to amaze and inspire me. He pushes himself and the medium of comics past the four-color and into the technicolor. There is a Maestro behind MAESTROS and I can’t wait for the world to see the concerto he has orchestrated for us all.
Fortissimo!!!!!!!!!!!!” —Geof Darrow 

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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.

IDW & Glénat Join Forces and Talents
in an International Partnership

San Diego, CA (July 18, 2017) — US company IDW Publishing and French publisher Glénat are launching a new joint initiative, “Original Graphic Novel”, focused on the creation of original comic books, to be published both in France and the United States.

The main purpose of the program is the creation of genre sequential art fit for both markets in terms of storytelling, formats, and themes.

Following the example of the original Disney collection, (e.g. Café Zombo by French author Régis Loisel), the Original Graphic Novel initiative aims to carry out projects of original comics, in a wide variety of genres —science-fiction, fantasy, western, humor, thriller, adventure, and whatever may inspire the authors coming from the American and the Franco-Belgian industries, and wishing to collaborate and mix their talents, styles, and influences.

As the first initiative of its kind, the association between IDW — the 4^th largest publisher in the U.S. market — and the Glénat group — 3^rd largest in the French market — is a real artistic and commercial bridge between the two countries. 

The first original creations to be published in 2018 are:

• The Highest House, a fantasy project by Mike Carey & Peter Gross, creators of The Unwritten, which was twice nominated for the Hugo Award.
• Lowlifes, a hard-boiled thriller set in modern day Los Angeles, by Brian Buccellato & Alexis Sentenac.

To be followed by:

• Sukeban Turbo by Sylvain Runberg & Victor Santos, a wild and violent ride through New York City.
• Boogeymen, a fantastic tale in which monsters do not live only in children’s minds, by Mathieu Salvia & Djet.
• A Glimpse of Ashes, a social, urban thriller, by Thomas Day & Aurélien Police.
• Gunning Down Ramirez, a bloody road-trip reminiscent of Tarantino’s movies, by Nicolas Petrimaux.
   

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 Transformers, My Little Pony, Star Trek, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, and Disney’s classic characters. At IDW’s core is its commitment to creator-owned comics including 30 Days of Night, Locke & Key, Wormwood, Ragnarök, V-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-Files, Back to the Future, The 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 Glénat Publishing In more than 40 years of existence, Glénat has created a diverse and quality catalog of comic books, mangas, hiking guides, coffee table books about nature or gastronomy… fine works which are the reflections of the passions of founder and CEO Jacques Glénat. Since its 2015 reboot, the Glénat Comics collection has been releasing American comics and aims for being the originator of the new trends of the medium. The assignments of the collection are: ·       Highlighting the new series written by renowned authors: Greg Rucka, Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Joe Benitez... ·       Revealing tomorrow’s talents: Victor Santos, Kelly Thompson, James Harren, Joelle Jones... ·       Publishing some of the most famous licensed pop-culture series: Skylanders, Jem & les holograms, Power Rangers… ·       Initiating creation projects through wise international unions of creators. Glénat Comics released 19 books in 2015 and 44 in 2016. As early as January 2016, the collection got a huge recognition from the industry, when political-sci-fi thriller Letter 44 by writer Charles Soule and artist Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque was nominated in the Angoulême International Comics Festival official selection and for the Cultura public award. 2016 was also the year of the setting up of US major independent series such as Bitch Planet, The Wicked + The Divine, Geof Darrow’s The Shaolin Cowboy, Harrow County, and Lady Mechanika. The end of 2016 was marked by two more nominations in the Angoulême International Comics Festival official selection: Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro’s first volume of Bitch Planet and Greg Rucka and Michael Lark’s fourth volume of Lazarus.

BOOM! STUDIOS ANNOUNCES

JIM HENSON'S LABYRINTH 2017 SPECIAL

Road to San Diego 2017 Announcement #9: Star-studded, oversized issue from Archaia imprint arrives November 2017

  Jim Henson's Labyrinth 2017 Special Main Cover by Derek Kirk Kim

July 17, 2017 (Los Angeles, Calif.) – BOOM! Studios, in partnership with The Jim Henson Company, is proud to announce the JIM HENSON’S LABYRINTH 2017 SPECIAL, on sale in November. Featuring a diverse assembly of acclaimed creators, including Jeff Stokely (The Spire), Roger Langridge (Thor: The Mighty Avenger), Delilah S. Dawson (Ladycastle), Adam Smith (Jim Henson’s Labyrinth), Katie Cook (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic), Ryan Sook (Batman Beyond), Derek Kirk Kim (Tune), and more, this second annual special is an all-new collection of short stories that celebrates the various characters and creatures from the world of Labyrinth (1986). This includes the never-before-told story of how Sir Didymus met his trusted steed Ambrosius, and the story of a goblin running late to the famous “Dance Magic Dance” sequence from the iconic film.

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth 2017 Special is published through BOOM! Studios’ cutting-edge Archaia imprint and is the latest release in celebrating the innovative family entertainment franchises from The Jim Henson Company such as Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal and  Jim Henson’s The Storyteller.

“Jim Henson’s Labyrinth is home to some of the most memorable characters in pop culture,” said Sierra Hahn, Senior Editor. “Through our partnership with The Jim Henson Company, Archaia has been able to expand this world in meaningful and innovative ways. This Special is the first of a few projects that will excite longtime fans of the film and reveal to newcomers the magic and wonder of this singular world.”

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth 2017 Special will be available in November 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.

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 Ryan Sook                                      Cover by Jeff Stokely



 

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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 THE JIM HENSON COMPANY
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world-famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix), Dot. (Sprout/Hulu), Splash and Bubbles (PBS), Word Party (Netflix), Doozers (Hulu/ Sprout), and the Emmy®-nominated Sid the Science Kid (PBS), Dinosaur Train(PBS), and Pajanimals (Sprout). Television productions include Fraggle Rock, The Storyteller and the sci-fi cult series Farscape. Features include Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, as well as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, MirrorMask, and Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow.

With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. The Company is home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of- the-art and vintage equipment. The Company’s Henson Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live puppet improvisational show.

www.henson.com
www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
www.twitter.com/hensoncompany

eigoMANGA Showcases Comic Book Virtual Reality at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2017

San Diego, CA — July 18, 2017 — At Comic-Con International: San Diego, eigoMANGA will showcase how it empowers comic book publishing with its mobile Virtual Reality app, known as ComX VR in Booth #4531, July 20-23, 2017 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

ComX VR is an upcoming mobile VR app for Android and iPhones using Google VR development framework. It provides an innovative experience of reading digital comic books while being completely immersed in a 360-degree environment, rather than being confined to the resolution of a mobile device.

Centrally located in the Exhibition Hall at the San Diego Convention Center, eigoMANGA's Booth (#4531) will provide a fully-immersive virtual reality reading experience for Comic-Con attendees with demo stations showcasing ComX VR, along with exclusive giveaways and signings by eigoMANGA's creative team.

Also at Comic-Con International: San Diego, 2pm on Sunday, July 23, eigoMANGA will be hosting "Manga Tutorials for Kids" workshop. The workshop (Room 11) will be moderated by eigoMANGA's team of manga artists and animators as they offer kids of all ages tutorials on manga illustrations and storytelling.

The ComX VR app for Android and iPhone is being developed and is coming soon.

About eigoMANGA

eigoMANGA is a production and publishing company that specializes in creating original comic books, animation, and digital media. More information about eigoMANGA can be found at www.eigoMANGA.com

​​​

CHRISTMAS IN THE WIZARDING WORLD,
A NEW HARRY POTTER™-THEMED HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE, TO PREMIERE FALL 2017

GLENDALE, Calif. (July 18, 2017) --- Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) and GES, producers of the internationally touring exhibition Harry Potter: The Exhibition, today announced the creation of the newest Harry Potter-themed environment, with a holiday twist, Christmas in the Wizarding World.

Launching fall 2017 in selected shopping venues, Christmas in the Wizarding World is a holiday experience inspired by the Harry Potter film series, which will feature beautifully crafted settings and showcase unique experiences sure to dazzle families of all ages. WBCP and GES will partner with premier retail developers to bring the experience to major shopping destinations during the holiday season.

”This holiday season, we are excited to introduce new Christmas themed experiences that further extend J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World into the lifestyle of our fans and consumers,” said Peter van Roden, Senior Vice President, Global Themed Entertainment, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Christmas in the Wizarding World will be an all-new touchpoint that celebrates this very special time of the year.”  

This fully themed holiday retail experience will be reminiscent of the setting and atmosphere of a wintry Hogsmeade village, complete with a wand shop, ornate window displays and interactive elements that are sure to be a hit with Harry Potter fans.

Key features of the experience include:

• Ollivanders™, where guests will be able to experience a holiday surprise with the help of the Wandkeeper, amid soaring shelves of hundreds of precariously stacked wand boxes.
• A memorable photo opportunity, featuring a number of background options from the Harry Potter films, where guests can purchase a keepsake of their Christmas in the Wizarding World experience.  
• Throughout the attraction, animated windows will bring the iconic shops from the films to life,  delighting visitors and fans alike.
• A wide selection of authentic Harry Potter merchandise, from house sweaters and robes to fan-favorite confections and plush owls, as well as jewelry and collectibles will be featured in familiar storefronts seen in the films.  

“GES is delighted to be a part of creating a new way for fans to experience the world of Harry Potter, this time in a holiday setting,” said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer of GES. “This one-of-a-kind experience is sure to be a hit with families and friends who are looking for a magical experience this holiday season.”

GES, producer of blockbuster touring-themed attractions and world-class live events across the globe, will design, produce and operate Christmas in the Wizarding World.

FAN-FAVORITE HACK/SLASH RETURNS IN RESURRECTION

 

PORTLAND, OR, 07/18/2017 — Cassie Hack is returns in Tim Seeley’s HACK/SLASH: RESURRECTION with Tini Howard as the series’ new writer and artists Celor and K. Michael Russel.

"Hack/Slash is the book people always ask me about,” said Seeley. “I've been waiting for the proper time to bring it back, but I wanted to make sure I had the perfect creators first. Now that I have them, it's time to unleash Cassie Hack on the world again."

In HACK/SLASH: RESURRECTION, Cassie’s been living off the grid, but when a new monstrous threat arises to torment promiscuous teens, it's time for Cassie to pick up the baseball bat once again!

Gory, sexy, twisted, and funny… HACK IS BACK!

HACK/SLASH: RESURRECTION #1 Cover A by Seeley (Diamond Code AUG170557), HACK/SLASH: RESURRECTION #1 Cover B by Stefano Caselli (Diamond Code AUG170558) will hit stores on Wednesday, October 25th. The final order cutoff for comics retailers is Monday, October 2nd.

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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.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF K RETURN OF KINGS

Season 2 Of The Acclaimed Anime Action Psycho-Thriller Arrives As A Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack And Standard DVD Edition

San Francisco, CA, July 17, 2017 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing and animation distribution, delivers the exciting next season of the beautifully animated action thriller, K, with the home media release of K RETURN OF KINGS on July 18^th.

The latest release presents the entire 13-episode second season of the acclaimed series and will be available to audiences as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and also as a Standard Edition DVD set. The series is rated ‘TV-14’.

Following the events of the feature film, K MISSING KINGS… The Green Clan JUNGLE has been spreading its influence, causing friction with the Red Clan HOMRA and the Blue Clan SCEPTER 4. The war escalates when the Green King, Nagare Hisui, sends his men to attack Kuro and Neko, forcing the return of the Silver King, Yashiro Isana. Reunited with his friends, Shiro reveals his plans for dealing with the Green Clan – an alliance of the Red, Blue and Silver Clans! But the Green King carries his own wild cards! Will the combined power of three kings be enough to stop Nagare Hisui from fulfilling his dark ambitions?

The K RETURN OF KINGS Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack features full 1080p HD resolution and 16x9 video and will carry an MSRP of $69.99 U.S. / $81.99 CAN. Notable bonus features exclusive to the Blu-ray edition include clean opening and closing segments and a special Episode 13 Director’s Cut and a set of 13 full-color character art cards.

The Standard edition DVD set will be offered with an MSRP of $39.99 U.S. / $52.99 CAN. Bonus features for the DVD edition include clean opening and closing segments.

“The gripping saga of an ordinary teenager that becomes embroiled in a deadly ongoing conflict between several clans continues in the exciting second season of K and audiences will not want to miss a single episode,” says Charlene Ingram, Director of Animation Marketing. “The dynamic mix of action, psychological drama, gorgeous animation and intriguing, multi-layered characters has made K a favorite series among anime fans and we look forward to audiences diving into this latest release!”

VIZ Media invites viewers to catch season one of K, available on home media as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and Standard Edition DVD sets, as well as the K MISSING KINGS feature film, which is also available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and Standard Edition DVD set.

For more information on K or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at VIZ.com.

Comic Con’s 5^th Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero

Film Composer Panel

July 20, 2017, 10am -11am

Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront Hotel

Press Interviews - July 20, 2017, 11am – 12pm, Aqua 300A Room, Hilton Bayfront Hotel.

If you would like to attend, please let us know ASAP as there is limited space.

(SAN DIEGO, CA) July 14, 2017- Back by popular demand and celebrating five years at Comic Con, the annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero panel opens Comic Con, Thursday July 20, 2017 at 10 am in the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel, 1 Park Blvd, next to the Convention Center. Unreleased music and videoclips from upcoming projects will be featured. Leading Hollywood composers will explain the process and challenges of creating the musical voice behind the superhero and their environment as well as collaborating with the director, producers and the franchise.

Panelist includes: Mark Isham (Cloak & Dagger, Blade) Marco Beltrami (Logan, Wolverine), 

Ludwig Goransson (Black Panther, Death Wish), Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Power Rangers), David Russo (Gotham), Lorne Balfe (Lego Batman Movie) and moderated by Ray Costa of Costa Communications.

Now in its fifth year, the panel consistently debuts film and TV clips from upcoming projects. Composers discuss collaborating with the directors to convey the story. The panelists emphasize the integral nature that music plays within TV shows and movies.  Previous composers include Christophe Beck (Ant-Man, Frozen), Tyler Bates (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017), Blake Neely (Arrow, Super Girl, The Flash), John Powell (the Bourne Franchise, Hancock) Tom “Junkie XL” Holkenborg (Deadpool, Mad Max: Fury Road), John Ottman (X-Men: Apocalypse, Superman Returns), Lorne Balfe (Terminator: Genisys), and John Debney (Iron Man 2).

The event is produced by Costa Communications.

BOOM! STUDIOS AND NICKELODEON

ANNOUNCE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP
 

Road to San Diego 2017 Announcement #8: New Rugrats comic books
coming this October

 Rugrats #1 Main Cover by Jorge Corona

July 17, 2017 (Los Angeles, Calif.) – BOOM! Studios and Nickelodeon today announced a new partnership that will see the award-winning publisher produce comic books and graphic novels based on a number of the network’s original ’90s animated shows. The first comic book comes to market this October with Rugrats #1, featuring all-new adventures of the most intrepid toddlers to ever bust out of a playpen!

“As longtime fans of Nickelodeon’s innovative, outstanding programming, we couldn’t be happier to kick off our partnership with the return of Rugrats,” says Filip Sablik, President, Publishing & Marketing, BOOM! Studios. “The entire team at Nickelodeon has been a fantastic partner, working with us to deliver the best all-new stories of your favorite animated shows in comic book form through our all-ages KaBOOM! imprint.”

In Rugrats #1, from award-winning writer Box Brown and rising-star artist Lisa Dubois, Tommy, Chucky, Phil, and Lil have noticed something—they are being watched. Somehow their parents can see every little thing that they do. They’re going to have to find a way to have fun while avoiding the electronic eyes of the babycam!

Rugrats #1 features covers by Jorge Corona (The Flash), Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb (Adventure Time), and Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans). It will be available 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. Rugrats #1 is scheduled for release on October 18.

BOOM! Studios’ agreement with Nickelodeon is the latest licensing partnership to fall under BOOM! Studios’ KaBOOM! imprint, publisher of acclaimed, all-ages licensed series from a lineup of all-star content providers. As the fastest-growing publisher in the comic book industry, BOOM! Studios is the leader in innovative all-ages comics publishing, delivering high-quality licensed and original series from top creators.

For news on Rugrats and upcoming Nickelodeon comic book series from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.

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

 

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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 NICKELODEON
Nickelodeon, now in its 38th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated kids’ basic cable network for 22 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN,
ALL BETS ARE OFF IN SLOTS
All-new series from Dan Panosian launches this October
 

PORTLAND, OR, 07/17/2017 — Superstar artist Dan Panosian (Daredevil: Back in Black, Conan/Red Sonja) will take on writing as well as art duties on his all-new series SLOTS, coming this October from Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment.

You can say this about the life of Stanley Dance: he did it his way.

Unfortunately, his way never took getting old into account. Now, the former boxer is on his last legs, and looking for redemption...but he’ll settle for going down swinging.

SLOTS is a bold new take on Las Vegas, where everything old can become new, and superstition influences how the chips fall.

“Producing this story is really a dream come true for me, and I have Image Comics and Skybound to thank for the experience,” said Panosian. “People throw the term ‘labor of love’ around pretty often, but every aspect of creating SLOTS has been a true joy for me. I’m very happy we can finally announce and share it with everyone.”

SLOTS #1 (Diamond code: AUG170587) arrives in comic book stores Wednesday, October 4th. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, September 11th.

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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.

ABOUT SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT
Founded in 2010, Skybound Entertainment is a multiplatform entertainment company specializing in television, comics, film, digital content, interactive, gaming, and merchandise. The company is led by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and his longtime producing and business partner David Alpert.

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 9^th and 10^th 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:

http://www.J-POP.com/2017/Tickets.

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 10^th 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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JPOPSummit/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JpopSummitFest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpopsummit