FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/2/2011: ONI PRESS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE PROMOTION OF JILL BEATON & CHARLIE CHU TO EDITOR

Critically acclaimed, creator-centric graphic novel publishing house Oni Press, Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of Jill Beaton and Charlie Chu to Editor.

“For the last year both Jill and Charlie have given their all to Oni Press as associate editors and integral parts of our editorial team,” editor in chief James Lucas Jones proclaimed. “They each have taken on added responsibility, working with established Oni creators on stellar books and reaching out to bring new creators into the Oni fold.”

“I believe we have one of the strongest editorial departments in comics,” added publisher Joe Nozemack. “Jill and Charlie are a big part of that. These new titles recognize their hard work to date and present them with new challenges that will only continue to grow their editorial prowess.”

Founded in 1997, Oni Press, Inc. is a leading publisher of creator-owned comics and graphic novels. Not content to focus on any one genre or format, Oni Press believes that sequential art is for everyone and that there’s a comic out there for every type of reader.

REED GUNTHER LASSOS A NEW HOME
Shane and Chris Houghton Bring Their Grizzly-Riding Cowboy to Image Comics in June

Berkeley, CA - 1 March 2011 – REED GUNTHER, the fun all-ages western adventure created by brothers Shane and Chris Houghton will soon be available in full color for the first time through Image Comics, beginning this June. The creators' originally self-published five-issue miniseries will then be followed by an all-new series chock full of the same wild antics fans expect from their favorite hapless cowboy.

Whether battling supernatural monsters, tracking down slimy villains, or catching a runaway train, REED GUNTHER has already won many fans over with its good-natured wit and rambunctious style. Comic Book Resources gave an enthusiastic recommendation: “If you truly want to read a comic that is good, clean fun, completely unhinged from continuity, crossovers or company agendas, then do yourself a favor and pick this book up.”

“Chris and I were physically carrying new issues of REED GUNTHER to our local comic shops to be sold," said writer Shane Houghton of the brothers' decision to move to Image Comics. "We are incredibly excited to be working with Image, who can help us spread our goofy, wild adventures of cowboys and monsters to a wider audience.”

“Publishing through Image allows us to release our original series in color, something we had always wanted to do," added illustrator Chris Houghton. "Watching Reed ride Sterling into the sunset is going to be that much more spectacular now in color!"

REED GUNTHER #1, a 32-page full-color all-ages western comedy for $2.99, will come galloping full speed into a comic store near you on June 1, 2011. For more information on Reed Gunther, Sterling, and all their unruly friends and foes, visit www.reedgunther.com.

Blue Dream Studios Launches iKids Comics
Within 48 Hours of Launch, iKids Comics Hits #11 on the list of Top Downloaded iPad Book Apps

NASHVILLE, TN -- March 1, 2011 -- Blue Dream Studios creator Scott Christian Sava announced today the launch of the first all-ages comic app -- iKids Comics. The iKids Comics iPad app features the award-winningcover and critically acclaimed works of Blue Dream Studios including The Dreamland Chronicles, Ed's Terrestrials, The Luckiest Boy, Pet Robots, Hyperactive, My Grandparents are Secret Agents, Cameron and his Dinosaurs, Gary the Pirate and Magic Carpet. The new iPad app is free and includes the complete Ed’s Terrestrials comic, which was named one of the top comics of 2010 according to Graphic Novel Reporter. In addition, the app allows readers to download 11 other exciting titles, and read the first 25 pages for free. Each story can be downloaded in its entirety for only $1.99 per book and $3.99 for each of 300-page Dreamland Chronicles books.

“We’re extremely excited to be the first to bring an app created entirely for kids’ comics to the iPad,” said Scott Christian Sava, creator of the award-winning titles and founder of Blue Dream Studios. “Parents know how much their kids love to play games on the iPad. But there just wasn’t anything for their kids to read. Now, there are 12 new books that will capture the imagination and encourage literacy.”

The iPad, introduced in April 2010 by Apple, is on track to deliver $15 to $20 billion in revenue in its first full year of sales, according to A.M. Sacconaghi, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, a leading global investment firm. At this rate, if the iPad were a stand-alone company, it would rank within the top third of the Fortune 500. According to Sava, “With the explosion of portable games and entertainment on handheld devices, it seems children will never be “bored” again. But literacy is still an important part of our children’s needs. As parents, we must find ways to keep our children interested in reading. iKids Comics for the iPad promotes literacy while entertaining both visually and intellectually.”

Found in 2000 by Scott Christian Sava, Blue Dream Studios has brought to life some of the most beloved characters of our time including Casper, Spiderman, Alien vs. Predator, X-Files and Star Trek. Formerly an animation studio, Blue Dream Studios now creates award winning characters and stories for print, television, and film. Sava's ongoing graphic novel series, The Dreamland Chronicles, has not only won Best Graphic Novel Series awards but has also gained 20,000,000 readers worldwide through the website that gives readers a new page each day. His work can be found in local bookstores as well as on Amazon and www.bluedreamstudios.com.

For more information about any of the books, please download the iPad App and check them out! http://itunes.apple.com/app/ikids-comics/id413889668?mt=8

There is more information about them and the author on the Blue Dream Studios web site at www.bluedreamstudios.com. For more information about The Dreamland Chronicles, please visit www.thedreamlandchronicles.com.

IS LOVE STRONGER THAN DEATH?
A Man Fights For His Life and His Love in Undying Love

Berkeley, CA - February 28, 2011 - Image Comics is proud to present UNDYING LOVE, an all-new eight-issue miniseries from the creative collaboration of Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman. Set in an expertly mood-evoking and cinematic Hong Kong, UNDYING LOVE presents a simple concept: hardened American ex-soldier, John Sargent, has fallen in love with a beautiful Chinese woman named Mei. The only thing keeping these star-crossed lovers apart? Mei is a vampire.

Determined to ensure the possibility of a future together, Sargent sets out with Mei on a journey to free her from this curse and make her human once more. Unfortunately, that means destroying the vampire that first made her, and Sargent soon learns Mei was bitten by one of the most powerful vampires in history! Further complicating their desperate situation, their unlikely human/vampire dynamic has piqued the unfathomable interests of other strange beings drawn from Chinese folklore.

“Being able to create a world, populate it with interesting characters and then realize that story through my own art is fantastic," Coker said of his work on the serires. "It was the most fun I’ve had in years and I think that comes across when you read the book.”

Co-creator Daniel Freedman added, "With UNDYING LOVE, we tried to create something really special, bringing together different elements of the West and the East and letting them run wild in this violent love story. To say things get a little messy would be like asking a bear to eat with a knife and fork.”

UNDYING LOVE is already receiving advance praise from other well-respected creators:

"A work of stunning and staggering beauty, by one of the most talented, consistently awesome artists in comics. Helluva story, great setting and fantastic action to boot!" - John Layman (CHEW)

"Holy shit!!! This book looks fucking great!!!" - Robert Kirkman (INVINCIBLE, THE WALKING DEAD)

"So, you'd think Tomm would be satisfied with being one of the finest artists working in the comics medium, but no, he had to go and team up with Daniel and get me hooked on the writing, as well. Well, okay, smart guys, where's the second issue? Because I want it. Now!" - JG Jones (WANTED, Marvel Boy)

"I always feel two steps behind Tomm Coker, but UNDYING LOVE reminds me I'm probably further back than just two. With razor sharp line work and atmosphere you can cut with a knife, Tomm and Daniel Freedman have crafted a taught, spellbinding mixed genre tale that has the makings of something truly epic." -- Lee Bermejo (Superman, Hellblazer)

UNDYING LOVE #1 (FEB110389), a 32-page full-color action tale of fantasy, horror and unlikely romance, equal parts vampire mythology and Chinese folklore, will be on sale March 30, 2011 for $2.99.

For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com and www.corvxstudios.com.

BOOM! STUDIOS
@ EMERALD CITY COMICON '11
MARCH 4–6
BOOTHS #402 & #502


DON'T MISS THE EXCLUSIVE
INTERLOCKING STAN LEE TRYPTIC
MADE UP OF STARBORN #3
THE TRAVELER #4 & SOLDIER ZERO #5




AND REMEMBER TO
GET YOUR OWN CUSTOM
"GET-A-SKETCH" COVER
EXCLUSIVE TO EMERALD CITY COMICON!



BOOM! STUDIOS GUESTS INCLUDE:
Eisner & Harvey Award-nominated
IRREDEEMABLE & INCORRUPTIBLE's Mark Waid
STAN LEE'S STARBORN's Chris Roberson
IRREDEEMABLE'S Peter Krause
DARKWING DUCK comic series artist James Silvani
28 DAYS LATER's Michael Alan Nelson
MUPPET SNOW WHITE'S Shelli Paroline
DISNEY PIXAR'S CARS & TOY STORY's Travis Hill
CBGB'S SAM HUMPHRIES





BOOM! Studios Booths #402 & 502

ECCCExclusive Covers


STAN LEE'S STARBORN #3 (Tryptic Cover)
STAN LEE'S THE TRAVELER #4 (Tryptic Cover)
STAN LEE'S SOLDIER ZERO #5 (Tryptic Cover)
DARKWING DUCK #9 "GET-A-SKETCH" Cover
THE MUPPET SHOW #11 "GET-A-SKETCH" Cover
CARS: THE ADVENTURS OF TOW MATER #4 "GET-A-SKETCH" Cover





SCHEDULED SIGNINGS & PANELS


Friday, March 4, 2011

All Day Signing – 28 DAYS LATER writer Michael Alan Nelson

All Day Sketching – DARKWING DUCK artist James Silvani, MUPPET artist Shelli Paroline and CARS artist Travis Hill

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM – Mark Waid, Peter Krause, Chris Roberson signing

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM – Mark Waid, Peter Krause, Chris Roberson signing


Saturday, March 5, 2011

All Day Signings – 28 DAYS LATER writer Michael Alan Nelson

All Day Sketching – DARKWING DUCK artist James Silvani, MUPPET artist Shelli Paroline and CARS artist Travis Hill

11:00 AM - 12:00PM – Mark Waid, Peter Krause and Chris Roberson signing

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM – Mark Waid, Peter Krause and Chris Roberson signing

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM – BOOM! Studios: Big. Bold. BOOM! in 2011Panel -- Room 4C3-4

4:00 PM- 5:00 PM – CBGB's signing with Sam Humphries

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM – Mark Waid, Peter Krause and Chris Roberson signing



Sunday, March 6, 2011

All Day Signings –28 DAYS LATER writer Michael Alan Nelson

All Day Sketching – DARKWING DUCK artist James Silvani, MUPPET artist Shelli Paroline and CARS artist Travis Hill

11:00 PM - 12:00 PM – Mark Waid, Peter Krause and Chris Roberson signing

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM – Mark Waid, Peter Krause and Chris Roberson signing








About BOOM! Studios
Award-winning "Best Publisher" BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE, Stan Lee's SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN (the first new series in print from the industry icon in 20 years), new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker as well as 20th Century Fox's PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and DIE HARD, Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, and The Henson Company's FARSCAPE. BOOM!'s recently rebranded all-ages imprint, kaboom! will see publication of PEANUTS, SPACE WARPED, Roger Langridge's SNARKED!, Scholastic's WORD GIRL and DUCK TALES, as well as continuing to publish fan-favorite Disney Afternoon series DARKWING DUCK, CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS along with Disney standards MICKEY MOUSE, DONALD DUCK, UNCLE SCROOGE, and WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES.

ASYLUM PRESS TO AUCTION OFF ORIGINAL ART FROM IT’S WAREHOUSE

Art consists of comic book pages/artwork from 1991-2010, drawings, sketches and animation art from Frank Forte’s personal collection.

Mar. 1, 2011 (Los Angeles) Frank Forte, publisher of Asylum Press, announces that Asylum Press will be auctioning off it’s collection of original comic art, paintings, animation cels, animation production art, comic strip art and signed editions on Ebay.

The collection includes original comic pages from The Vampire Verses (by Frank Forte), From Beyonde comic pages, original comic panels by Al Columbia, comic pages by John Cassaday from Spare Parts, Billy Boy comic pages (by Frank Forte), original animation cels from Hoot Kloot, Jackson Five animated series, Original Lone Ranger animated series from the 1960’s, Rock Odyssey animated film (Hanna Barbera) production drawings, original background paintings from various 80’s cartoons, various short horror stories from 1990’s horror anthologies (Cry for Dawn, NightCry, Boneyard Press), original paintings, sketches and more.

“I’ve been holding onto this artwork for a long time and I’d just like to let it go,” says publisher Frank Forte”, we need to make room in the warehouse for our new line of 2011 releases."

“We’ve had a lot of fans ask about The Vampire Verses pages and out of the 4 issues we did, I’ve only sold a few pages”, explains Frank, “with this auction I’m going to let a lot of it go. I’ve been pulling a ton of cool drawings and paintings out of storage that I forgot about. It’s all going up on Ebay.”

The auction will run the entire month of March 2011 and beyond.

Asylum Press’ Ebay storefront: http://myworld.ebay.com/asylumpress

ABOUT ASYLUM PRESS:Founded in 1999 by Frank Forte, Asylum Press is a unique publishing house specializing in high profile projects from some of the industry's biggest rising stars. Steve Mannion’s Fearless Dawn is the company’s newest title and has been a great fan favorite. Publishing action/adventure comics with Black Powder: A Bloody Frontier Adventure, Trenchcoats, Cigarettes and Shotguns, Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis. And continuing their tradition of horror with Undead Evil, Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell, Asylum of Horrors, Zombie Terrors, EEEK! and Beyond Lovecraft, also venturing into dark humor with Billy Boy The Sick Little Fat Kid and The Cletus and Floyd Show, Asylum Press continues to be on the cutting edge of comic and graphic novel publishing. Asylum Press is distributed by Diamond Comics Distributors, Haven Distributors and Tony Shenton and to the Booktrade by SCB Distributors, Ingram and Baker and Taylor.

AMC AIRS “THE WALKING DEAD” SEASON ONE MARATHON

ON FRIDAY, MARCH 4 AT 8PM ET/PT



Marathon Features Exclusive First Look at Network’s Newest Original, “The Killing”



Episodes Packaged with Exclusive Interviews with Frank Darabont,

Gale Anne Hurd, Robert Kirkman and Greg Nicotero



WHAT: AMC will air a special Marathon of “The Walking Dead,” featuring all six episodes from the Golden Globe® nominated and critically acclaimed first season.



Each episode will be packaged with exclusive content, including interviews with Executive Producer and Writer Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile), who also directed the pilot, Executive Producers Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens) and Robert Kirkman, and Special Effects Makeup Designer and Consulting Producer Greg Nicotero.



In addition, the Marathon will feature an exclusive first look at AMC’s new original drama, “The Killing,” which debuts Sunday, April 3 at 9pm ET/PT with a two-hour premiere. From writer, executive producer and showrunner Veena Sud (“Cold Case”), the series tells the story of the murder of a teenage girl and the subsequent police investigation.



WHEN: “The Walking Dead” Marathon airs Friday, March 4 beginning at 8pm ET/PT on AMC.



An exclusive first look at “The Killing” will air at 9:30pm, during the first episode of “The Walking Dead,” and again at 12:45am during the Marathon’s fourth episode.



WHO: The series stars Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually) as Rick Grimes, Jon Bernthal (“The Pacific”) as Shane Walsh, Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break”) as Lori Grimes, Laurie Holden (Stephen King’s The Mist) as Andrea, Jeffrey DeMunn (The Green Mile) as Dale, Steven Yeun (“The Big Bang Theory”) as Glen, Emma Bell (The Bedford Diaries) as Amy and Chandler Riggs (Get Low) as Carl Grimes.



MORE: Based on Kirkman’s hugely successful and popular comic book series, “The Walking Dead” tells the story of the weeks and months that follow after a zombie apocalypse. A survivalist story at its core, the series explores how the living are changed by the overwhelming realization that those who survive can be far more dangerous that the mindless walkers roaming the earth. They themselves have become the walking dead.



“The Walking Dead” premiered in October 2010 and became the most watched drama series in basic cable history among Adults 18-49.*



*Source: NMR (1993-12/05/2010), Adults 18-49, program indicator general drama, ad supported cable networks.

GENRE MASTER TOBE HOOPER TAKES THE HELM OF IMAGENATION ABU DHABI’S ARABIAN HORROR DJINN



Abu Dhabi, February 28th 2011: The Master of Horror -- Tobe Hooper -- the director behind the legendary classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as well as the three-time Academy Award-nominated, Steven Spielberg-produced Poltergeist, will helm Imagenation Abu Dhabi’s Arabian horror film DJINN. Penned by U.S writer David Tully (Hepzibah), this unique new take on the haunted house thriller uncovers the dark truth behind classic fairytales of the Genie. DJINN tells the nightmarish story of a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. and discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to the malevolent beings known as Djinn.



DJINN, which was announced at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is scheduled to begin shooting in the UAE March 20th. Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja, behind the short films Once, Arabana, and Malal (premiering at the Dubai International Film Festival this month), will work as a cultural consultant on DJINN. Khaja will shadow Hooper on the set and train with him in preparation to helm her first feature length horror film.



Tobe Hooper said: “The horror genre speaks an international language and I am so pleased to be involved in a project with Imagenation Abu Dhabi that will transcend cultures and borders. Simply put, this movie will scare everyone, no matter where you live or what you believe in!"



Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman Elect of Imagenation Abu Dhabi, said: “We are very proud to have Tobe on board for Djinn; he is a pioneer and legend in the horror genre. With our second production, Imagenation Abu Dhabi continues to work toward its promise of helping to develop the Abu Dhabi film industry, by bringing international talent and expertise into the region and of producing commercially viable and distinctly Arab stories for a global audience.”



As one of the producers, Imagenation Abu Dhabi Vice President of Development Daniela Tully continued: “From the very beginning, Tobe was at the top of our list to take the reign of this project. The horror genre has rarely been explored in this region, and Tobe’s involvement will not only leave a lasting impact in the Arab world, but will also carry Djinn into international markets. Combining this highly original story, and its new breed of bogeyman with Tobe’s outstanding directing skill, this production has huge potential to initiate a new horror wave globally, much as Asian cinema did a decade ago.”

Hooper is a director, writer and producer best known for his work in the horror genre, with credits that include the Emmy-nominated Stephen King adaptation Salem's Lot, several episodes for Showtime’s Masters of Horror, The Funhouse, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, Invaders from Mars, and the Toolbox Murders. Hooper will soon add author to his dossier when his novel, MIDNIGHT MOVIE, co-written with Alan Goldsher, is published next year by Random House.

Imagenation Abu Dhabi is focused on establishing the foundations and infrastructure for a vibrant and enduring Arabic film industry, by developing collaborative relationships with the region’s talent, and developing films based around strong, commercial and traditional Arabic stories. Their Emirati slate includes six very diverse films, in addition to Djinn: the coming of age story Sea Shadow (which recently wrapped principal photography in Abu Dhabi); the drama Million’s Poet; the adventure comedy Alaska; the romantic comedy Monsoon; and the romance Alis and Aishas.



Hooper is repped by Gersh and Prolific while Howard Abramson of Behr Abramson negotiated the deal on his behalf. Wendy Heller negotiated on behalf of Imagenation Abu Dhabi.





About Imagenation Abu Dhabi

Launched in 2008 as a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), Imagenation Abu Dhabi has rapidly become one of the world’s leading feature film producers, playing an instrumental role in the development of a film industry in the United Arab Emirates.



Imagenation Abu Dhabi develops, finances and produces Arabic and international features which offer fresh perspectives, have universal appeal and tell compelling stories that inspire, enlighten and entertain.



The company has formed strategic international partnerships to develop those stories with a range of high profile producers, including Participant Media, National Geographic Films, Hyde Park Entertainment, Parkes /Macdonald Productions, Warner Bros., and Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA). Together they are producing commercial films and content that opens a unique window to the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In addition, Imagenation Abu Dhabi partnered with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – co- financing video games such as: SpeedRacer: The Videogame, Fear 2: Project Origin, Looney Tunes Acme Arsenal, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, and Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest.



Imagenation Abu Dhabi’s feature films include the Bollywood hit My Name is Khan, The Crazies, Shorts, and Furry Vengeance, as well as an upcoming slate including Peter Weir’s The Way Back, Doug Liman’s Fair Game, and Jodie Foster’s The Beaver.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/28/2011: ADAMWARROCK AND ONI PRESS JOIN FORCES FOR THE ONI PRESS MIXTAPE

The internet's foremost comic book nerdcore rapper and the comic industries creator-owned publishing powerhouse unveil twenty tracks inspired by Oni Press creators and their work.

The ONI PRESS MIXTAPE features master lyricist Adam WarRock giving his spin to Oni comics including: Queen & Country, Super Pro KO, Possessions, The Sixth Gun, Hopeless Savages, Wasteland, Salt Water Taffy, Guerillas, The Crogan Adventures, and Stumptown. The album also features interlude tracks with creators Antony Jonston, Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt, Greg Rucka, Jarrett Williams, and Jen Van Meter!

The best part about it? It's F. R. E. E. So go grab yourself the ONI PRESS MIXTAPE at his website!
http://www.adamwarrock.com/

And if you're in the Seattle area this weekend, Adam WarRock will be preforming tracks from his new album live at Kracklefest, on March 5th during Emerald City Comicon.

One of Shakespeare’s characters must ‘beware the Ides of March’ as Canadians plot ‘murder most foul’.

­­

Toronto, Canada: The creators of Kill Shakespeare will announce on March 15th that one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters will share Julius Caesar’s fate and, “shuffle off this mortal coil” in the comic series’ next issue.



The critically-acclaimed comic published by IDW, which places some of the Bard’s greatest characters together in the same story, is releasing its 9th issue this week and its 10th – featuring the death of one of the bard’s greatest creations – will be published April 20 (to commemorate the anniversary of Shakespeare’s own death and birth).



“With the murder of Julius Caesar famously taking place on the Ides of March we thought it

only fitting that we too conspire to kill a legend. We think Shakespeare would approve. After all, he may be the greatest literary mass-murderer in history, but even he would be shocked with what we have in store for his characters,” says co-creator Conor McCreery.



Who will die in Issue #10? Fans are urged to go to the Kill Shakespeare website and Facebook page to vote on which of the main characters (Hamlet, Juliet, Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Iago, Othello or Falstaff) they believe is fated to find the “undiscovered country.”



But it will not be all grim business in March for devotees of the Bard. Kill Shakespeare will also introduce a brand new talent to the comic world on March 15. The company has launched a Cover Contest that will see one talented artist get a chance to make their professional debut in comics by creating a cover for the series.



“Since we’re new to the world of comics we wanted to give another ’unknown’ a chance to make their name” says co-creator Anthony Del Col. “We think this contest is going to uncover a major new talent for the industry.”



Artists without a professional credit in the comic world can enter at one of 11 of the top comic shops across North America. The winner’s design will be published as a retailer incentive cover for Issue #11 to be released in May, 2011. To find out more about how to enter go to killshakespeare.com/behindthecurtain.







About the series:



Kill Shakespeare is an adventure story that pits all of Shakespeare’s greatest heroes (including Hamlet, Juliet, Falstaff, Othello, Puck) against the Bard’s most menacing villains (including Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Iago) in a quest to track down and kill – or save – a reclusive wizard by the name of William Shakespeare. ComicBookResources calls it “a tour de force of the storytelling marriage of words and art.” Kill Shakespeare has been profiled by NPR, BBC Worldwide Radio, Wired.com, The Globe and Mail and Publisher’s Weekly. It’s also been debated by Shakespearean scholars online and in the pages of Maclean’s. Written by Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col, the series art is provided by Andy Belanger (D.C.’s Bottle of Awesome), with colours by Ian Herring, and covers by internationally renowned illustrator Kagan Mcleod.



More information about the series can be found at www.killshakespeare.com.

For Immediate Release:

HAPPINESS IS...THE VERY FIRST
“PEANUTS” GRAPHIC NOVEL!

“HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN” HARDCOVER
FROM “KABOOM!” TO BE RELEASED MARCH 2011

Adapted From The All-New Animated Special
From Warner Home Video


February 28, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - This March, join Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy and all your favorite PEANUTS characters as Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, the very first PEANUTS graphic novel ever published, is released by newly-launched all-ages imprint kaboom! Based on the work by PEANUTS creator Charles M. Schulz himself, this graphic novel is sure to delight a whole new generation of PEANUTS fans!

“We're honored to publish such a beloved property,” BOOM! Studios Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ross Richie said. “I can think of no better way to kick-off our new all-ages imprint kaboom! than with the first PEANUTS graphic novel ever published!”

Adapted from the brand new animated special from Warner Home Video, Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown features Charlie Brown’s kite-flying woes, Linus’ insecurities, Lucy’s unrequited love for Schroeder and everyone’s favorite beagle, Snoopy, in a lively and colorful spin through Charles Schulz’s imagination. This 80 page, 7x10, hardcover graphic novel ships this March at the suggested retail price of $19.99 in conjunction with the all-new PEANUTS animated feature of the same name available on DVD from Warner Home Video March 29, 2011.

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown is written by original creator Charles M. Schulz and adapted by Craig Schulz and Stephan Pastis, with art by Bob Scott, Vicki Scott and Ron Zorman.

“New original PEANUTS comic book content is a tradition that goes pretty far back in comic book publishing,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief, Matt Gagnon. “Dell Comics published ‘Tip Top Comics’ which featured new PEANUTS comic book content created under the guidance of Charles Schulz. ‘Tip Top’ ran from 1936 until 1961, creating well over 40 original PEANUTS stories and countless covers. It’s exciting to be a part of the return of PEANUTS to the comic book format.”

The Happiness is a Warm Blanket graphic novel and DVD dovetails into a larger campaign launched in January when PEANUTS proclaimed 2011 as “The Year of ‘Happiness Is…’”. Throughout the year, the classic PEANUTS concept, which cartoonist Charles M. Schulz coined in 1960 with “Happiness is a Warm Puppy,” will be celebrated with special-themed products, cross-branding partnerships, social media campaigns and nationwide activities.

Launched last week, kaboom! is the brand new name for BOOM! Studios’ three year old all-ages imprint previously known as BOOM Kids! This year sees kaboom! launch with the premiere of the PEANUTS graphic novel, followed closely by an all new original series by fan-favorite Roger Langridge entitled SNARKED! along with Scholastic’s WORD GIRL. Taking over the branding on BOOM!’s current publishing of classic Disney stories, the kaboom! logo will now be gracing other previous BOOM Kids! titles such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Uncle Scrooge and fan-favorite DARKWING DUCK, CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS and the recently announced DUCKTALES.

About BOOM! Studios
Award-winning "Best Publisher" BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE, Stan Lee's SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN (the first new series in print from the industry icon in 20 years), new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker as well as 20th Century Fox's PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and DIE HARD, Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, and The Henson Company's FARSCAPE. BOOM!'s recently rebranded all-ages imprint, kaboom! will see publication of PEANUTS, SPACE WARPED, Roger Langridge's SNARKED!, Scholastic's WORD GIRL and DUCK TALES, as well as continuing to publish fan-favorite Disney Afternoon series DARKWING DUCK, CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS along with Disney standards MICKEY MOUSE, DONALD DUCK, UNCLE SCROOGE, and WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES.

About PEANUTS WORLDWIDE
The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO (R), OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R), ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R) and WAVERLY (R). In addition, Iconix owns an interest in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ED HARDY (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ZOO YORK (R), MATERIAL GIRL(TM), and PEANUTS brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.