VIZ MEDIA SHOWCASES A VARIETY OF NEW TITLES AT 2008 BOOKEXPO AMERICA SHOW
Company To Offer A Dynamic Array Of Manga Titles For Children, Teens And Adults At Preeminent Publishing Event
In Booth #1647
San Francisco, CA, May 30, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will highlight several notable upcoming manga (graphic novel) releases at the 2008 BookExpo America (BEA) show, taking place May 30-June 1, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. BEA is the preeminent yearly trade event for publishers and booksellers in North America. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 1647.
VIZ Media will further participate in three roundtable discussions on a variety of important topics central to the burgeoning manga industry in North America. Graphic Novel Distribution, Bookstores, and the Direct Market takes place Saturday, May 31, 9:30am-10:30am in Room 406B and will feature VIZ Media’s Vice President of Sales & Product Marketing Gonzalo Ferreyra. The discussion will review various changes the domestic manga industry has undergone, as well as the risks and rewards of distributing manga in the bookstore arena and what comes next for publishers.
On Saturday, May 31, 2008, 1:00pm-2:00pm in Room 406A panelists will examine new challenges facing publishers, new changes in content and taste, and how publishers like VIZ Media are attracting new demographics in a panel entitled Manga's New Generational Trade-up: The Publishers Quest for New Readers and will feature Leyla Aker, Manga Editor, VIZ Media.
Leyla Aker will also be a panelist on the The Graphic Novel Buzz that will be taking place on Saturday, May 31, 2008, 4:00pm in Room 404B.
- more -
Some of the titles VIZ Media will be showcasing at BEA 2008 Include:
From the VIZKIDS imprint:
POKÉMON: THE RISE OF THE DARKRAI • Rated “A” for All Ages •
MSRP: $7.99 • Available June 3, 2008
POKÉMON is more than just a game or a TV show: it's an international cultural phenomenon that has won the hearts of millions of fans worldwide! In POKÉMON: THE
RISE OF DARKRAI, the newest addition to the VIZKIDS imprint, our young hero Ash may
think he's seen everything when it comes to Pokémon, but is he ready to face the mysterious Darkrai in his latest awesome adventure? While touring Alamos Town—home of the Space-Time Tower—with the beautiful Alice, Ash and his friends discover that the town's special garden has been decimated! Baron Alberto, a dashing but arrogant fellow, immediately blames the destruction on Darkrai. As if it just overheard the accusation, Darkrai appears and confronts our heroes! Who is Darkrai? Is it a friend... or an enemy in disguise? And as a battle between Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia rages directly above Alamos Town, and threatens to tear a hole in the space-time continuum, will Ash and his friends survive this showdown and learn Darkrai's true nature? Find out in this companion volume to the new feature film, also to be distributed by VIZ Media.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE OCARINA OF TIME • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $7.99 • Available October 7, 2008
Based on the best-selling adventure video games from Nintendo, THE LEGEND OF ZELDA manga are being made available for the first time in North America. The Legend of Zelda series details the adventures of Link as his destiny is revealed starting with the Ocarina of Time. Beloved by millions of fans around the world, readers will enjoy the additional details and in-depth explanation of game elements that are available nowhere else but in the manga.
From the VIZ Signature imprint:
CAT EYED BOY • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $24.99 •
Available June 10, 2008
The latest horror masterpiece from Kazuo Umezu, the creator of DRIFTING CLASSROOM (also published by VIZ Media), Cat-Eyed Boy is a half-human, half-monster child who mostly resembles a human, and therefore cannot live in the demon world. He lives hidden in the shadows of the human world, hated by demons and humans alike, but wherever he goes, awful events occur. Humans interact with demons, but surprisingly it’s the humans that act more evil than the monsters. Cat-Eyed Boy acts like a Trickster, saving the innocent and helping the wicked receive the punishment that fate metes out. CAT EYED BOY features gripping tales of revenge and retribution for the evil acts that people commit. The series is broken into 11 individual stories, many full of extremely grotesque and disturbing images. Kazuo Umezu started drawing professionally in the 1950s and is considered the most influential horror manga artists. Umezu's weird style, incredible ideas and sometimes terrifying imagery have made him a fixture of Japanese pop culture, and his work has been adapted into movies, anime and collectibles.
- more -
REAL • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $12.99 •
Available July 15, 2008
REAL is a gritty drama from Takehiko Inoue and offers a unique twist on the sports manga genre as it focuses on wheelchair basketball. A motorcycle accident, bone cancer, and a speeding truck crashing into a boy on a stolen bicycle all present tragic, life-changing events that turn the worlds of three young men upside down in this gripping new series. Three very different personalities have only one thing in common – their passion for basketball.
SOLANIN • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $17.99 •
Available October 21, 2008
College graduates struggle to cope with the real world and music offers refuge in this modern manga with an American attitude. Meiko Inoue is a recent college grad working as an office lady in a job she hates. Her boyfriend Naruo is permanently crashing at her apartment because his job as a freelance illustrator doesn't pay enough for rent. And her parents in the country keep sending her boxes of veggies that just rot in her fridge. Straddling the line between her years as a student and the rest of her life, Meiko struggles with the feeling that she's just not cut out to be a part of the real world. SOLANIN was created by Inio Asano and was originally published as a two-volume series but will be released by VIZ Media as a single omnibus edition and will have six color pages.
FROM THE SHONEN JUMP IMPRINT:
SHONEN JUMP FIFTH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR’S EDITION • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $24.99 • Available August 5, 2008
SHONEN JUMP is the most popular manga anthology in the English-speaking world and celebrates its fifth anniversary with this special edition. Each month, SHONEN JUMP publishes more than 300 pages of the world’s most popular manga—Japanese comics that range from the ninja action of NARUTO to the soul-reaping epic that is BLEACH to the ocean-faring adventures of ONE PIECE. Collected in this special edition is all the manga from the very first issue of SHONEN JUMP, published in December 2002—plus the first chapter of NARUTO, now one of the most successful manga series, which originally appeared in the second issue of the magazine. Also included are feature stories from the first five years of SHONEN JUMP, including Japanese lessons, manga sudoku and rare interviews with great manga creators such as Masashi Kishimoto (NARUTO), Akira Toriyama (DRAGON BALL Z), Tite Kubo (BLEACH) and Eiichiro Oda (ONE PIECE)—over a dozen in all. Plus a valuable YU-GI-OH! trading card, and essays by SHONEN JUMP’s American and Japanese editors.
SLAM DUNK • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $7.99 •
Available August 11, 2008
SLAM DUNK is the highly anticipated 31-volume basketball drama from Takehiko Inoue that was a smash hit in Japan. Sakuragi Hanamichi's got no game with girls – none at all! It doesn't help that he's known for throwing down at a moment's notice and always
coming out on top. A hopeless bruiser, he's been rejected by 50 girls in a row! All that
- more -
changes when he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko, and she's actually not afraid of him! When she introduces him to the game of basketball, his life is changed forever. SLAM DUNK sold over 100 million copies worldwide and catapulted Inoue into the top ranks of Japanese manga artists. An ardent fan of the sport, he also worked on character design for the PLAYSTATION basketball game ONE ON ONE. Takehiko Inoue is also the creator of the VAGABOND manga series, also published by VIZ Media in the US.
From the SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED imprint:
NORA: THE LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM • Rated “T+” for Older Teens •MSRP: $7.99 • Available October 7, 2008
Nora is an unruly demon that has defied his Dark Liege one too many times. For the sake of his "education," Nora is sent to live among mortals and enters a bond of servitude with cool-as-ice star student Kazuma Makkari. Kazuma is about to learn the ways of the underworld – and Nora will learn more from the "real world" than he ever thought possible! NORA: THE LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM is Kazunari Kakei's first manga series and debuted in Japan in the April 2004 issue of Monthly Shonen Jump and also spawned a sequel, SUREBREC: NORA THE 2nd, which premiered in Monthly Shonen Jump's March 2007 issue.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Geeklings, rejoice!
Nerdcore is proud to announce the birth of our new baby, Double Fine Action Comics by Scott C (Vol. 1). It's the result of an unholy union between us and the most mighty videogame developer in all the land, Double Fine Productions.
It's a very cool book.
It comes out in August 2008.
Pre-order it now
so you don't miss out!
Here's some more info:
From the secret laboratory of renowned videogame developer Double Fine Productions comes this incredible collection of funnies created by the one and only Scott C, art director of Psychonauts and Brütal Legend. Chock full of 300 strips, as well as the coolest "behind-the-scenes" pages you'll ever find in a book, Double Fine Action Comics by Scott C is an absolute for anyone who enjoys frequent amusement and side effects like laughter.
Exciting Book Extras,
Bullet-pointed for Convenience...
Occasional color (as if gray-scale wasn't exciting enough)!
Knight Guy board game (pieces not included)!
Sketches and in-progress work (only half-done on purpose)!
Special commentary section (where Scott C writes what he's thinking)!
Secrets of "How to Draw!" (Warning: Not a state-certified class)!
Sexy Knight Guy pin-up (aww, yeah!)
The Really True Myth
of Double Fine Action Comics...
Once upon a morning, way back in 2002, Scott C stumbled into work at Double Fine Productions. On that particular morning, he decided to get extra inspired and draw a comic to warm up the creative side of his brain. It depicted a two-headed baby (also known as 2HB) and a knight doing not much of anything. Scott quickly got into an amazing groove, drawing a new comic every morning, just to see where the adventure with 2HB and the knight would go. Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine, suggested to Scott C that he never stop doing comics every morning. In fact, he was so excited about the idea, that he empowered three other Double Fine artists to join him with their own adventures: Nathan Stapley, Razmig Mavlian, and Mark Hamer. Every, single day these dudes would make comics and upload them to doublefine.com. And the world was made amazing.
About the Author...
Scott C is Scott Campbell, art director for Psychonauts and Brütal Legend at Double Fine Productions. Scott has done numerous comics that have appeared in such anthologies as Hickee, Flight, Beasts!, and Project: Superior. His story, Igloo Head and Tree Head, was awarded the silver medal from the Society of Illustrators. He has also painted many clever little paintings that have shown in such places as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Montreal, and Japan.
Scott thinks you should go to the internet and look at more of his stuff. You will get super happy. These are some places that you can go: scott-c.blogspot.com, doublefine.com, and pyramidcar.com
And that Foreword Writer,
Tim Schafer...
Tim Schafer is one of the few men in the videogame industry to marry intelligent humor, imaginative storytelling and brilliant design for the perfect three-way of interactivity. His games during his tenure at LucasArts, including Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango, garnered him the respect of gamers everywhere. Upon founding his very own company, Double Fine Productions, in 2000, Schafer put his creativity into overdrive, giving birth to the groundbreaking Psychonauts in 2005. Next up: a heavy metal odyssey called Brütal Legend, featuring the voice of Jack Black, set to unleash holy hell on next-generation gaming consoles everywhere very, very soon.
That's all!
Yours nerdly,
The Nerdcore Crew
totallynerdcore.com
Nerdcore is proud to announce the birth of our new baby, Double Fine Action Comics by Scott C (Vol. 1). It's the result of an unholy union between us and the most mighty videogame developer in all the land, Double Fine Productions.
It's a very cool book.
It comes out in August 2008.
Pre-order it now
so you don't miss out!
Here's some more info:
From the secret laboratory of renowned videogame developer Double Fine Productions comes this incredible collection of funnies created by the one and only Scott C, art director of Psychonauts and Brütal Legend. Chock full of 300 strips, as well as the coolest "behind-the-scenes" pages you'll ever find in a book, Double Fine Action Comics by Scott C is an absolute for anyone who enjoys frequent amusement and side effects like laughter.
Exciting Book Extras,
Bullet-pointed for Convenience...
Occasional color (as if gray-scale wasn't exciting enough)!
Knight Guy board game (pieces not included)!
Sketches and in-progress work (only half-done on purpose)!
Special commentary section (where Scott C writes what he's thinking)!
Secrets of "How to Draw!" (Warning: Not a state-certified class)!
Sexy Knight Guy pin-up (aww, yeah!)
The Really True Myth
of Double Fine Action Comics...
Once upon a morning, way back in 2002, Scott C stumbled into work at Double Fine Productions. On that particular morning, he decided to get extra inspired and draw a comic to warm up the creative side of his brain. It depicted a two-headed baby (also known as 2HB) and a knight doing not much of anything. Scott quickly got into an amazing groove, drawing a new comic every morning, just to see where the adventure with 2HB and the knight would go. Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine, suggested to Scott C that he never stop doing comics every morning. In fact, he was so excited about the idea, that he empowered three other Double Fine artists to join him with their own adventures: Nathan Stapley, Razmig Mavlian, and Mark Hamer. Every, single day these dudes would make comics and upload them to doublefine.com. And the world was made amazing.
About the Author...
Scott C is Scott Campbell, art director for Psychonauts and Brütal Legend at Double Fine Productions. Scott has done numerous comics that have appeared in such anthologies as Hickee, Flight, Beasts!, and Project: Superior. His story, Igloo Head and Tree Head, was awarded the silver medal from the Society of Illustrators. He has also painted many clever little paintings that have shown in such places as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Montreal, and Japan.
Scott thinks you should go to the internet and look at more of his stuff. You will get super happy. These are some places that you can go: scott-c.blogspot.com, doublefine.com, and pyramidcar.com
And that Foreword Writer,
Tim Schafer...
Tim Schafer is one of the few men in the videogame industry to marry intelligent humor, imaginative storytelling and brilliant design for the perfect three-way of interactivity. His games during his tenure at LucasArts, including Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango, garnered him the respect of gamers everywhere. Upon founding his very own company, Double Fine Productions, in 2000, Schafer put his creativity into overdrive, giving birth to the groundbreaking Psychonauts in 2005. Next up: a heavy metal odyssey called Brütal Legend, featuring the voice of Jack Black, set to unleash holy hell on next-generation gaming consoles everywhere very, very soon.
That's all!
Yours nerdly,
The Nerdcore Crew
totallynerdcore.com
As reported in Publishers Weekly, Enemi Entertainment has partnered with Haven Distributors to produce a new catalog, which will be available to retailers and direct to comic fans around the world.
The catalog will showcase independent comics, including product lines by publishers that have signed with both companies. All orders will be fulfilled by Haven and shipped out of their warehouse in Chicago, IL.
Getting listed with a cover image and solicitation blurb is free and advertising options will be available. The lineup will include new releases printed through Enemi’s printing service as well as existing stock ready for immediate reorders at Haven’s standard flat discount structure.
“This alliance is a perfect fit,” explained Lance Stahlberg, Director of Haven Distributors. “Enemi Entertainment can provide a marketing component that we’ve been missing, helping us reach out to more customers. And Haven can provide Enemi with a solid order fulfillment solution for the fantastic catalog they’ve designed.”
Enemi’s CEO, John Kotsis, added, “There are a lot of retailers and fans with an interest in purchasing independent titles, especially if they can do so easily by accessing a comprehensive resource that lists a broad spectrum of independent publishers, their comics, graphic novels, and related products. Our catalog can be that resource.”
Orders and inquiries can be submitted through www.Havendistro.com or by phone at 877-HAVEN-50, or by fax at 773-506-4749.
ABOUT Haven Distributors – www.HavenDistro.com
Haven Distributors was launched in 2008 as a subsidiary of Rogue Wolf Entertainment with the mission of enabling independent comics to succeed in an ever-changing market place. They strive to treat their customers as partners, providing a range of order fulfillment services from wholesale distribution to web store management.
ABOUT Enemi Entertainment – www.Enemi-Entertainment.com
Enemi Entertainment was founded in 2006 as an independent publisher with the intention of putting together a catalog of their own titles that would mail directly to retailers. Founder and CEO John Kotsis thought it would be a better idea to publish a catalog including other independent companies, as well, providing them with greater exposure to the retailers and fans seeking out their titles. Networking with retailers and talking to fans while laying the groundwork for what would become a joint venture with Haven Distribution, John Kotsis discovered that there was interest in the catalog, which is something he is reminded of daily as new titles and products are added by publishers that want to join the independent revolution.
The catalog will showcase independent comics, including product lines by publishers that have signed with both companies. All orders will be fulfilled by Haven and shipped out of their warehouse in Chicago, IL.
Getting listed with a cover image and solicitation blurb is free and advertising options will be available. The lineup will include new releases printed through Enemi’s printing service as well as existing stock ready for immediate reorders at Haven’s standard flat discount structure.
“This alliance is a perfect fit,” explained Lance Stahlberg, Director of Haven Distributors. “Enemi Entertainment can provide a marketing component that we’ve been missing, helping us reach out to more customers. And Haven can provide Enemi with a solid order fulfillment solution for the fantastic catalog they’ve designed.”
Enemi’s CEO, John Kotsis, added, “There are a lot of retailers and fans with an interest in purchasing independent titles, especially if they can do so easily by accessing a comprehensive resource that lists a broad spectrum of independent publishers, their comics, graphic novels, and related products. Our catalog can be that resource.”
Orders and inquiries can be submitted through www.Havendistro.com or by phone at 877-HAVEN-50, or by fax at 773-506-4749.
ABOUT Haven Distributors – www.HavenDistro.com
Haven Distributors was launched in 2008 as a subsidiary of Rogue Wolf Entertainment with the mission of enabling independent comics to succeed in an ever-changing market place. They strive to treat their customers as partners, providing a range of order fulfillment services from wholesale distribution to web store management.
ABOUT Enemi Entertainment – www.Enemi-Entertainment.com
Enemi Entertainment was founded in 2006 as an independent publisher with the intention of putting together a catalog of their own titles that would mail directly to retailers. Founder and CEO John Kotsis thought it would be a better idea to publish a catalog including other independent companies, as well, providing them with greater exposure to the retailers and fans seeking out their titles. Networking with retailers and talking to fans while laying the groundwork for what would become a joint venture with Haven Distribution, John Kotsis discovered that there was interest in the catalog, which is something he is reminded of daily as new titles and products are added by publishers that want to join the independent revolution.
This June 4th BOOM! Studios debuts its new horror-comedy mini-series SCREAM QUEEN. Written by Brendan Hay with art by Nate Watson, it's the tale of a murderous lunatic who is about to kill his next teenager, but instead falls head over heels in love with her.
To celebrate the release, SCREAM QUEEN writer Brendan Hay from THE DAILY SHOW, THE COLBERT REPORT, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE SIMPSONS & FRANK TV will be signing at MELTDOWN from 8PM to ????. Free Beer! (While Supplies last!)
Where:
Meltdown Comics & Collectibles
7522 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-7283
When:
June 4th, 8PM to ????
Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=meltdown+comics&sll=34.097999,-118.353353&sspn=0.010555,0.012145&ie=UTF8&ll=34.098497,-118.353353&spn=0.010555,0.012145&z=16&iwloc=A&om=1
To celebrate the release, SCREAM QUEEN writer Brendan Hay from THE DAILY SHOW, THE COLBERT REPORT, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE SIMPSONS & FRANK TV will be signing at MELTDOWN from 8PM to ????. Free Beer! (While Supplies last!)
Where:
Meltdown Comics & Collectibles
7522 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-7283
When:
June 4th, 8PM to ????
Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=meltdown+comics&sll=34.097999,-118.353353&sspn=0.010555,0.012145&ie=UTF8&ll=34.098497,-118.353353&spn=0.010555,0.012145&z=16&iwloc=A&om=1
RADICAL PUBLISHING
Solicitation copy
AUGUST 2008 shipping
DIAMOND ORDER CODE: JUN084169
UPC: 893114002042
Caliber #4 Cover A: by Luis Royo
Caliber #4 Cover B: by Frederick Rambaud of Imaginary Friends Studios
CALIBER
FIRST CANON OF JUSTICE #4
Writer SAM SARKAR
Artwork IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS featuring
Artist GARRIE GASTONNY
Colors by IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS
28 pages, FC, August, $2.99
Talbot is determined to crush the revolution stirring in Telacoma and sets things in motion aimed to bring about Arthur’s death. Finding events unfolding beyond his control, Whitefeather himself triggers the beginning of the end when he makes a fatal mistake.
With covers by Luis Royo and Frederick Rambaud of Imaginary Friends Studios
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
RADICAL PUBLISHING
Solicitation copy
AUGUST 2008 shipping
DIAMOND ORDER CODE: JUNE084170
UPC: 893114002103
Freedom Formula #1 cover A: by Kai of Imaginary Friends Studios (Blue Mech Suit)
Freedom Formula #1 cover B: by Kai of Imaginary Friends Studios (Red, White, and Blue)
FREEDOM FORMULA
GHOST OF THE WASTELAND #1
by IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS featuring
Writer EDMUND SHERN
Artists KAI & CHESTER OCAMPO
Lettering STANLEY ONG
28 pages, FC, August, $2.99
In a future where only genetically engineered pilots are bred to race, the death of a man sends his son to the streets of the city's underworld on a collision course with the secrets of his hidden legacy.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
RADICAL PUBLISHING
Solicitation copy
AUGUST 2008 shipping
DIAMOND ORDER CODE: JUN084171
UPC: 893114002073
Hercules #4 cover A: by Stjepan Sejic
Hercules #4 cover B: by King Mong of Imaginary Friends Studios
HERCULES
THE THRACIAN WARS #4
Writer STEVE MOORE
Artwork IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS featuring
Line work ADMIRA WIJAYA
Colors by IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS
Lettering TODD KLEIN
28 pages, FC, August, $2.99
Bronze Age Thrace: Hercules and his fellow mercenaries have led the armies of King Cotys to a bloody victory that welds the local tribes into a single nation, only to find themselves betrayed and imprisoned by the very man they served. Now, with Greece itself under threat, only a daring scheme can save the band from imminent torture and death … a scheme which can only lead to bloodshed on a massive scale …
Featuring covers by Stjepan Sejic and King Mong of Imaginary Friends Studios
Solicitation copy
AUGUST 2008 shipping
DIAMOND ORDER CODE: JUN084169
UPC: 893114002042
Caliber #4 Cover A: by Luis Royo
Caliber #4 Cover B: by Frederick Rambaud of Imaginary Friends Studios
CALIBER
FIRST CANON OF JUSTICE #4
Writer SAM SARKAR
Artwork IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS featuring
Artist GARRIE GASTONNY
Colors by IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS
28 pages, FC, August, $2.99
Talbot is determined to crush the revolution stirring in Telacoma and sets things in motion aimed to bring about Arthur’s death. Finding events unfolding beyond his control, Whitefeather himself triggers the beginning of the end when he makes a fatal mistake.
With covers by Luis Royo and Frederick Rambaud of Imaginary Friends Studios
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
RADICAL PUBLISHING
Solicitation copy
AUGUST 2008 shipping
DIAMOND ORDER CODE: JUNE084170
UPC: 893114002103
Freedom Formula #1 cover A: by Kai of Imaginary Friends Studios (Blue Mech Suit)
Freedom Formula #1 cover B: by Kai of Imaginary Friends Studios (Red, White, and Blue)
FREEDOM FORMULA
GHOST OF THE WASTELAND #1
by IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS featuring
Writer EDMUND SHERN
Artists KAI & CHESTER OCAMPO
Lettering STANLEY ONG
28 pages, FC, August, $2.99
In a future where only genetically engineered pilots are bred to race, the death of a man sends his son to the streets of the city's underworld on a collision course with the secrets of his hidden legacy.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
RADICAL PUBLISHING
Solicitation copy
AUGUST 2008 shipping
DIAMOND ORDER CODE: JUN084171
UPC: 893114002073
Hercules #4 cover A: by Stjepan Sejic
Hercules #4 cover B: by King Mong of Imaginary Friends Studios
HERCULES
THE THRACIAN WARS #4
Writer STEVE MOORE
Artwork IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS featuring
Line work ADMIRA WIJAYA
Colors by IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS
Lettering TODD KLEIN
28 pages, FC, August, $2.99
Bronze Age Thrace: Hercules and his fellow mercenaries have led the armies of King Cotys to a bloody victory that welds the local tribes into a single nation, only to find themselves betrayed and imprisoned by the very man they served. Now, with Greece itself under threat, only a daring scheme can save the band from imminent torture and death … a scheme which can only lead to bloodshed on a massive scale …
Featuring covers by Stjepan Sejic and King Mong of Imaginary Friends Studios
Writer/Creator Jason M. Burns (A Dummy's Guide to Danger, The Expendable One, The Sleepy Truth) has inked a deal with Devil's Due Publishing that will see him release a number of books through the Chicago-based publisher starting with the August release "Serpo". With art by Joe Eisma (A Dummy's Guide to Danger: Lost at Sea), the graphic novel is based on the supposed true events involving an interplanetary exchange program.
In 2005, an anonymous source within the DIA released detailed information on an extraterrestrial exchange program tied to the infamous Roswell crash. According to the files, 12 intrepid Americans journeyed to a distant, alien planet to live among its people. Serpo tells the adventures of this incredible "true" story.
With two other books already in the works with the publisher, as well as a run on the licensed property Chucky, based on the Child's Play franchise.
Burns also has a number of releases due out through Viper Comics, including Imaginary Friends: The Rise of Shift Valentine (June), Gypsy Joe Jefferson (July), and The Sleepy Truth: Volume 2 (October). For more information, visit www.jasonmburns.com.
In 2005, an anonymous source within the DIA released detailed information on an extraterrestrial exchange program tied to the infamous Roswell crash. According to the files, 12 intrepid Americans journeyed to a distant, alien planet to live among its people. Serpo tells the adventures of this incredible "true" story.
With two other books already in the works with the publisher, as well as a run on the licensed property Chucky, based on the Child's Play franchise.
Burns also has a number of releases due out through Viper Comics, including Imaginary Friends: The Rise of Shift Valentine (June), Gypsy Joe Jefferson (July), and The Sleepy Truth: Volume 2 (October). For more information, visit www.jasonmburns.com.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Zenescope's ARABIAN NIGHTS sells out at Diamond, some copies still available
Zenescope Entertainment is reporting that its new series 1001 Arabian Nights: The Adventures of Sinbad has sold out of issues #0 and #1 through Diamond Distributors. However the company does have a limited number of copies for each issue remaining in house in case retailers need to re-order. Zenescope is planning a second printing of issue #1 later next month. For more information go to www.zenescope.com or contact info@zenescope.com
Zenescope Entertainment is reporting that its new series 1001 Arabian Nights: The Adventures of Sinbad has sold out of issues #0 and #1 through Diamond Distributors. However the company does have a limited number of copies for each issue remaining in house in case retailers need to re-order. Zenescope is planning a second printing of issue #1 later next month. For more information go to www.zenescope.com or contact info@zenescope.com
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES DVD RELEASE OF POKÉMON: THE RISE OF DARKRAI
Latest Feature Film From Iconic Children’s Property Offers Exciting New Adventure Featuring Popular “Diamond and Pearl” Characters Dialga and Palkia, Also Introducing the Mysterious Darkrai
San Francisco, CA, May 27 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the DVD release of the latest Pokémon movie – Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai to hit store shelves today and will carry an SRP of $19.98.
Pokémon remains one of the most successful children's properties worldwide, generating billions in global sales to date. In North America the Pokémon television series airs seven days a week on Cartoon Network and the property continues to be one of the network’s top ranked programs in all key demographics. Pokémon is also the top-ranked show on Toonami JetstreamT, an online service developed jointly by Cartoon Network and VIZ Media that allows users to watch streamed episodes from several of the network’s hit series.
In Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, young hero Ash may think he's seen everything when it comes to Pokémon, but is he ready to face the mysterious Darkrai in his latest awesome adventure? While touring Alamos Town - home of the Space-Time Tower - with the beautiful Alice, Ash and his friends discover that the town's special garden has been decimated! Baron Alberto, a dashing but arrogant fellow, immediately blames the destruction on Darkrai. As if it just overheard the accusation, Darkrai appears and confronts our heroes! Who is Darkrai? Is it a friend... or an enemy in disguise? And as a battle between Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia rages directly above Alamos Town, and threatens to tear a hole in the space-time continuum, will Ash and his friends survive this showdown and learn Darkrai's true nature?
“Pokémon continues to be a cornerstone of VIZ Media’s catalog of unique children’s titles and we’re extremely pleased to announce the DVD release of this latest feature film, Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai,” says Mark Chang, Director, Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “For more than a decade, Pokémon has captivated millions of kids with positive messages about cooperation and friendship. VIZ Media was one of the first companies to bring Pokémon home videos and DVDs to a domestic audience and in coming months we plan on releasing a variety of new Pokémon DVDs, manga and puzzle books and we look forward to fans catching them all!”
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
Latest Feature Film From Iconic Children’s Property Offers Exciting New Adventure Featuring Popular “Diamond and Pearl” Characters Dialga and Palkia, Also Introducing the Mysterious Darkrai
San Francisco, CA, May 27 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the DVD release of the latest Pokémon movie – Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai to hit store shelves today and will carry an SRP of $19.98.
Pokémon remains one of the most successful children's properties worldwide, generating billions in global sales to date. In North America the Pokémon television series airs seven days a week on Cartoon Network and the property continues to be one of the network’s top ranked programs in all key demographics. Pokémon is also the top-ranked show on Toonami JetstreamT, an online service developed jointly by Cartoon Network and VIZ Media that allows users to watch streamed episodes from several of the network’s hit series.
In Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, young hero Ash may think he's seen everything when it comes to Pokémon, but is he ready to face the mysterious Darkrai in his latest awesome adventure? While touring Alamos Town - home of the Space-Time Tower - with the beautiful Alice, Ash and his friends discover that the town's special garden has been decimated! Baron Alberto, a dashing but arrogant fellow, immediately blames the destruction on Darkrai. As if it just overheard the accusation, Darkrai appears and confronts our heroes! Who is Darkrai? Is it a friend... or an enemy in disguise? And as a battle between Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia rages directly above Alamos Town, and threatens to tear a hole in the space-time continuum, will Ash and his friends survive this showdown and learn Darkrai's true nature?
“Pokémon continues to be a cornerstone of VIZ Media’s catalog of unique children’s titles and we’re extremely pleased to announce the DVD release of this latest feature film, Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai,” says Mark Chang, Director, Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “For more than a decade, Pokémon has captivated millions of kids with positive messages about cooperation and friendship. VIZ Media was one of the first companies to bring Pokémon home videos and DVDs to a domestic audience and in coming months we plan on releasing a variety of new Pokémon DVDs, manga and puzzle books and we look forward to fans catching them all!”
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
BOOM! Studios Announces Beta Test Deadline Extended
EA Mythic pushes back 5-31-08 deadline to 6-14-08
for gaining entry into WARHAMMER® ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING MMO Beta
May 27th, Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios' smash hit first issue of WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1, carrying an innovative scratch-off strip that gives game fans everywhere a chance at gaining entry into the beta test of the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game from EA Mythic, WARHAMMER® ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING, has had the deadline for entering the scratch-off code extended.
The original deadline of 5-31-08 has been pushed back to 6-14-08, giving fans who have not yet picked up a copy of the series more time to go to their local comic book store and buy a copy and get in on the beta test.
Each copy of WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 (COVERS A&B) contains a scratch-off which reveals a code giving readers a 1-in-5 chance of entry into the WARHAMMER ONLINE beta test.
EA Mythic's WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING, also known as WAR, is the upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy world. Slated for release in 2008, the game features innovative Realm vs. Realm combat that immerses players in a world of perpetual conflict.
WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE is a five issue mini-series that directly follows BOOM!'s successful WARHAMMER: FORGE OF WAR mini-series, both of which are set in the Warhammer Fantasy world. Reuniting the WARHAMMER: FORGE OF WAR team of fan-favorite writers Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton with phenomenal art by Rahsan Ekadal, WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE concentrates on the exploits of Witch Hunter Magnus Gault. This tireless foe of Chaos roams the Empire seeking to stop the spread of dark magic and witchery of all kinds.
To meet demand, WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 will be overshipped to retailers, and BOOM! Studios will also be offering retailers an additional 3% reorder incentive.
Looking for a comic book retailer in your area? You can input your zip code at the Free Comic Book Day comic shop locator: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/fcbd_locator.asp
If your local retailer sells out, WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 is available for order at the BOOM! Studios website: http://www.boom-studios.com.
Please note that while one copy out of every five at random will have a valid code to the WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING beta test, there is no statistical guarantee that assures consumers one code for every five copies purchased.
The BOOM! beta promotional code must be activated by June 14, 2008 to be eligible for the Beta Test. Previous registrants can add the promo code to their existing accounts by visiting the Beta Center. One in five registrants using this promo code are potentially eligible to participate in the Beta test. However, this is dependent upon the registrant meeting specific computer system specifications and the time of entry is not guaranteed. The Beta Test is an ongoing process and registrants will be invited to participate at various intervals until the launch of the game. Offer valid for North American beta test only. Only one BOOM! Beta Code can be associated with a Beta Center Account.
In order to participate in the WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING Beta you must agree to a Beta Test Agreement, in which you will represent and warrant that, among other things, you (a) are eighteen (18) years of age or older, (b) are not a principal, employee, agent, independent contractor, officer or director of a developer or publisher of video or computer games (other than EA), and (c) are not a principal, employee, supplier, independent contractor, officer or director or of any entity that participates either directly or indirectly in the sale of in-game items, including but not limited to, in-game currency, armor, weapons, etc., whether these sales are to the general public or to a third-party.
Beta Code Instructions
1. Create a North American Warhammer Online Beta Center account or log into your existing account at - https://betacenter.eamythic.com/login.php. If you are creating a new account, please follow the instructions in the confirmation email you receive to complete your account set-up.
2. Once your account is created, enter the Beta code in the Promotional Code section of your Beta Center account.
3. One in five Warhammer: Condemned by Fire readers will be chosen to take part in the WAR North American Beta. Selected participants will receive an email inviting them into the Beta. This email will contain instructions on how to access the Beta and download the game files.
About BOOM! Studios
Winner of Wizard Magazine's "Best New Publisher," BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects from some of the industry's biggest talents. Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
BOOM! Studios co-founder Andrew Cosby's television series EUREKA recently finished its second season at the Sci-Fi Channel, having launched to impressive ratings this past summer and consistently winning several key demographics on basic cable. EUREKA is the highest-rated series in the Sci-Fi Channel's history.
About Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR)
War is everywhere in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), the new fantasy MMORPG from the creators of Dark Age of Camelot. Based on Games Workshop's wildly successful Warhammer tabletop fantasy war game, this world provides a rich setting for hundreds of thousands of players to experience the epic nature of war and the glory of battle.
Players are thrust into a grim world of perpetual conflict to fight for the Realms of Order (Dwarfs, High Elves, and Empire) or Destruction (Greenskins, Dark Elves, and Chaos). Next generation Realm vs. Realm game play ensures that players are never fighting alone. With an army of allies at their back, players will defend their homeland, invade enemy Realms, and ultimately lead the siege of their enemy's Capital City. Every aspect of the game - every player, every quest, every encounter, and every battle - can turn the tide of the ongoing war and mean victory for a player's Realm!
For the first time ever, players can engage in Public Quests - multi-stage, communal quests to be completed by allied players fighting together against overwhelming odds. They can also embark on an epic quest to complete the Tome of Knowledge and unlock Warhammer lore, detailed monster information, new abilities, rewards, and major story plotlines. Drawing from a quarter century of highly detailed source material, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning will bring Games Workshop's fantasy world to life in a way that will allow players to create characters destined for great deeds on the field of battle.
To learn more about the game, please visit www.warhammeronline.com.
EA, Public Quest, and Realm vs. Realm are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Games Workshop, Warhammer, Warhammer Online, Age of Reckoning, and all associated marks, names, races, race insignia, characters, vehicles, locations, units, illustrations and images from the Warhammer world are either ®, and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2008.
EA Mythic pushes back 5-31-08 deadline to 6-14-08
for gaining entry into WARHAMMER® ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING MMO Beta
May 27th, Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios' smash hit first issue of WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1, carrying an innovative scratch-off strip that gives game fans everywhere a chance at gaining entry into the beta test of the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game from EA Mythic, WARHAMMER® ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING, has had the deadline for entering the scratch-off code extended.
The original deadline of 5-31-08 has been pushed back to 6-14-08, giving fans who have not yet picked up a copy of the series more time to go to their local comic book store and buy a copy and get in on the beta test.
Each copy of WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 (COVERS A&B) contains a scratch-off which reveals a code giving readers a 1-in-5 chance of entry into the WARHAMMER ONLINE beta test.
EA Mythic's WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING, also known as WAR, is the upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy world. Slated for release in 2008, the game features innovative Realm vs. Realm combat that immerses players in a world of perpetual conflict.
WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE is a five issue mini-series that directly follows BOOM!'s successful WARHAMMER: FORGE OF WAR mini-series, both of which are set in the Warhammer Fantasy world. Reuniting the WARHAMMER: FORGE OF WAR team of fan-favorite writers Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton with phenomenal art by Rahsan Ekadal, WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE concentrates on the exploits of Witch Hunter Magnus Gault. This tireless foe of Chaos roams the Empire seeking to stop the spread of dark magic and witchery of all kinds.
To meet demand, WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 will be overshipped to retailers, and BOOM! Studios will also be offering retailers an additional 3% reorder incentive.
Looking for a comic book retailer in your area? You can input your zip code at the Free Comic Book Day comic shop locator: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/fcbd_locator.asp
If your local retailer sells out, WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 is available for order at the BOOM! Studios website: http://www.boom-studios.com.
Please note that while one copy out of every five at random will have a valid code to the WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING beta test, there is no statistical guarantee that assures consumers one code for every five copies purchased.
The BOOM! beta promotional code must be activated by June 14, 2008 to be eligible for the Beta Test. Previous registrants can add the promo code to their existing accounts by visiting the Beta Center. One in five registrants using this promo code are potentially eligible to participate in the Beta test. However, this is dependent upon the registrant meeting specific computer system specifications and the time of entry is not guaranteed. The Beta Test is an ongoing process and registrants will be invited to participate at various intervals until the launch of the game. Offer valid for North American beta test only. Only one BOOM! Beta Code can be associated with a Beta Center Account.
In order to participate in the WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING Beta you must agree to a Beta Test Agreement, in which you will represent and warrant that, among other things, you (a) are eighteen (18) years of age or older, (b) are not a principal, employee, agent, independent contractor, officer or director of a developer or publisher of video or computer games (other than EA), and (c) are not a principal, employee, supplier, independent contractor, officer or director or of any entity that participates either directly or indirectly in the sale of in-game items, including but not limited to, in-game currency, armor, weapons, etc., whether these sales are to the general public or to a third-party.
Beta Code Instructions
1. Create a North American Warhammer Online Beta Center account or log into your existing account at - https://betacenter.eamythic.com/login.php. If you are creating a new account, please follow the instructions in the confirmation email you receive to complete your account set-up.
2. Once your account is created, enter the Beta code in the Promotional Code section of your Beta Center account.
3. One in five Warhammer: Condemned by Fire readers will be chosen to take part in the WAR North American Beta. Selected participants will receive an email inviting them into the Beta. This email will contain instructions on how to access the Beta and download the game files.
About BOOM! Studios
Winner of Wizard Magazine's "Best New Publisher," BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects from some of the industry's biggest talents. Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
BOOM! Studios co-founder Andrew Cosby's television series EUREKA recently finished its second season at the Sci-Fi Channel, having launched to impressive ratings this past summer and consistently winning several key demographics on basic cable. EUREKA is the highest-rated series in the Sci-Fi Channel's history.
About Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR)
War is everywhere in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), the new fantasy MMORPG from the creators of Dark Age of Camelot. Based on Games Workshop's wildly successful Warhammer tabletop fantasy war game, this world provides a rich setting for hundreds of thousands of players to experience the epic nature of war and the glory of battle.
Players are thrust into a grim world of perpetual conflict to fight for the Realms of Order (Dwarfs, High Elves, and Empire) or Destruction (Greenskins, Dark Elves, and Chaos). Next generation Realm vs. Realm game play ensures that players are never fighting alone. With an army of allies at their back, players will defend their homeland, invade enemy Realms, and ultimately lead the siege of their enemy's Capital City. Every aspect of the game - every player, every quest, every encounter, and every battle - can turn the tide of the ongoing war and mean victory for a player's Realm!
For the first time ever, players can engage in Public Quests - multi-stage, communal quests to be completed by allied players fighting together against overwhelming odds. They can also embark on an epic quest to complete the Tome of Knowledge and unlock Warhammer lore, detailed monster information, new abilities, rewards, and major story plotlines. Drawing from a quarter century of highly detailed source material, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning will bring Games Workshop's fantasy world to life in a way that will allow players to create characters destined for great deeds on the field of battle.
To learn more about the game, please visit www.warhammeronline.com.
EA, Public Quest, and Realm vs. Realm are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Games Workshop, Warhammer, Warhammer Online, Age of Reckoning, and all associated marks, names, races, race insignia, characters, vehicles, locations, units, illustrations and images from the Warhammer world are either ®, and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2008.
BOOM! STUDIOS ANNOUNCES IAN BRILL AS NEW GAMES WORKSHOP EDITOR
Comic Industry Professional Moves to BOOM!
May 20, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios announced today the appointment of Ian Brill to the role of Games Workshop Editor. Bringing heavy experience in writing and editing, Mr. Brill will helm BOOM!'s Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Blood Bowl line of comics while providing steady leadership and unique insight to the expanding BOOM! catalog as the company continues its explosive growth.
"Ian has an unparalleled devotion for comics that makes him ideal to work at BOOM!," said Ross Richie, the company's co-founder and CEO. "Coming from comic book journalism, Ian has a unique vantage point that has allowed him to see every part of the comic business, and this, hands down, makes him one of the best-suited people in the industry today to make the jump to an editorial position."
"I'm thrilled to see what ideas Ian will bring to the table," said Mark Waid, BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief. "BOOM! continues to bring in top talent with various backgrounds, which gives us a cutting edge in what used to be a two-company market."
Ian Brill started working on the other side of the comics business, writing article after article for The Comics Journal, Publishers Weekly and Newsarama. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a B.A. in English Literature, Brill is no stranger to writing and editing. Mr. Brill now takes his love of comics to BOOM! where he will oversee the bestselling Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Blood Bowl line of comic books, licensed from Games Workshop.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
Comic Industry Professional Moves to BOOM!
May 20, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios announced today the appointment of Ian Brill to the role of Games Workshop Editor. Bringing heavy experience in writing and editing, Mr. Brill will helm BOOM!'s Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Blood Bowl line of comics while providing steady leadership and unique insight to the expanding BOOM! catalog as the company continues its explosive growth.
"Ian has an unparalleled devotion for comics that makes him ideal to work at BOOM!," said Ross Richie, the company's co-founder and CEO. "Coming from comic book journalism, Ian has a unique vantage point that has allowed him to see every part of the comic business, and this, hands down, makes him one of the best-suited people in the industry today to make the jump to an editorial position."
"I'm thrilled to see what ideas Ian will bring to the table," said Mark Waid, BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief. "BOOM! continues to bring in top talent with various backgrounds, which gives us a cutting edge in what used to be a two-company market."
Ian Brill started working on the other side of the comics business, writing article after article for The Comics Journal, Publishers Weekly and Newsarama. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a B.A. in English Literature, Brill is no stranger to writing and editing. Mr. Brill now takes his love of comics to BOOM! where he will oversee the bestselling Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Blood Bowl line of comic books, licensed from Games Workshop.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
"COMIC ARTIST'S PHOTO REFERENCE: WOMEN & GIRLS" TO DEBUT AT WIZARD WORLD PHILADELPHIA
Original Visual Reference CD-ROMs Debuted in Philly in 2002!
PARAMUS, NJ – The second book in Buddy Scalera's photo reference series debuts at the Wizard World Philadelphia convention, six years after the first photo reference CD-ROMs debuted at the very same convention in 2002.
"Comic Artist's Photo Reference: Women & Girls" is the eagerly awaited follow up to the original best selling pose file book by photographer Buddy Scalera, who is known among artists for his innovative CD-ROM series "Visual Reference for Comic Artists." The new photo book is published by F+W Publishing's IMPACT Books imprint.
The new book features 1000+ photos of female actors in superheroic action poses, inspiring artists with accurate anatomy reference. Contributors include Terry Moore, Jamal Igle, Josh Howard, and JG Jones, who painted the stunning female barbarian cover.
Fans who visit the After Hours Press booth in Philadelphia on Saturday May 31 will be able to meet author Buddy Scalera and cover model and actress Pamela Paige.
"Wizard's Philadelphia convention is the perfect place to debut the new book, since that's where I launched the very first demo of the photo reference CD-ROMs," says Scalera. "Fans and artists in Philly have always been very supportive of my photo reference products."
All of Scalera's photo reference products will be available at the After Hours Press booth, including "Visual Reference for Comic Artist's" Vol. 1-3 and "Comic Artist's Photo Reference: People & Poses." The books are available on June 2, 2008 at Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Amazon.com, Bud Plant Comic Art, and many fine comic book stores. For previews and links, visit www.buddyscalera.com.
About After Hours Press - http://www.ahpcomics.com.
After Hours Press is a New Jersey- based comic book publisher co-created by Buddy Scalera, Darren Sanchez, and Chris Eliopoulos. Projects have included Foxwood Falcons, Necrotic: Dead Flesh on a Living Body, Celestial Alliance, Impossible Tales, Model Operandi, and 7 Days to Fame. AHP's Foxwood Falcons was recently optioned by Tapestry Films as a motion picture property.
Original Visual Reference CD-ROMs Debuted in Philly in 2002!
PARAMUS, NJ – The second book in Buddy Scalera's photo reference series debuts at the Wizard World Philadelphia convention, six years after the first photo reference CD-ROMs debuted at the very same convention in 2002.
"Comic Artist's Photo Reference: Women & Girls" is the eagerly awaited follow up to the original best selling pose file book by photographer Buddy Scalera, who is known among artists for his innovative CD-ROM series "Visual Reference for Comic Artists." The new photo book is published by F+W Publishing's IMPACT Books imprint.
The new book features 1000+ photos of female actors in superheroic action poses, inspiring artists with accurate anatomy reference. Contributors include Terry Moore, Jamal Igle, Josh Howard, and JG Jones, who painted the stunning female barbarian cover.
Fans who visit the After Hours Press booth in Philadelphia on Saturday May 31 will be able to meet author Buddy Scalera and cover model and actress Pamela Paige.
"Wizard's Philadelphia convention is the perfect place to debut the new book, since that's where I launched the very first demo of the photo reference CD-ROMs," says Scalera. "Fans and artists in Philly have always been very supportive of my photo reference products."
All of Scalera's photo reference products will be available at the After Hours Press booth, including "Visual Reference for Comic Artist's" Vol. 1-3 and "Comic Artist's Photo Reference: People & Poses." The books are available on June 2, 2008 at Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Amazon.com, Bud Plant Comic Art, and many fine comic book stores. For previews and links, visit www.buddyscalera.com.
About After Hours Press - http://www.ahpcomics.com.
After Hours Press is a New Jersey- based comic book publisher co-created by Buddy Scalera, Darren Sanchez, and Chris Eliopoulos. Projects have included Foxwood Falcons, Necrotic: Dead Flesh on a Living Body, Celestial Alliance, Impossible Tales, Model Operandi, and 7 Days to Fame. AHP's Foxwood Falcons was recently optioned by Tapestry Films as a motion picture property.
Hi, folks. The dinner for the comic-book and graphic-novel industry is
this Thursday.
For those of you coming from Book Expo America at the Los Angeles
Convention Center, here are the directions.
The Convention Center stands near the intersection of the HARBOR
FREEWAY (the 110) and the SANTA MONICA FREEWAY (the 10). Your goal:
get onto the 10 WEST.
How you get onto the 10 depends on where you’ve parked at the
Convention Center, but it’s probably easiest to take the 110 SOUTH.
Once you’re on the 110 South, the exit to the 10 West will be on your
right.
Exit onto the 10 West.
Stay on the 10 West for about 8 1/2 miles.
Take Exit 4, the OVERLAND AVENUE EXIT.
Merge onto NATIONAL BOULEVARD.
Turn right onto WESTWOOD BOULEVARD.
Stay on Westwood Boulevard for about 0.8 miles.
JUNIOR’S, at 2379 Westwood Boulevard, will be on your LEFT.
this Thursday.
For those of you coming from Book Expo America at the Los Angeles
Convention Center, here are the directions.
The Convention Center stands near the intersection of the HARBOR
FREEWAY (the 110) and the SANTA MONICA FREEWAY (the 10). Your goal:
get onto the 10 WEST.
How you get onto the 10 depends on where you’ve parked at the
Convention Center, but it’s probably easiest to take the 110 SOUTH.
Once you’re on the 110 South, the exit to the 10 West will be on your
right.
Exit onto the 10 West.
Stay on the 10 West for about 8 1/2 miles.
Take Exit 4, the OVERLAND AVENUE EXIT.
Merge onto NATIONAL BOULEVARD.
Turn right onto WESTWOOD BOULEVARD.
Stay on Westwood Boulevard for about 0.8 miles.
JUNIOR’S, at 2379 Westwood Boulevard, will be on your LEFT.
Papercutz’s BIONICLE® Retailer Contest
Publisher Offers $500 in Prizes to Retailers with Best Store Displays
The retailers who create the best displays supporting the graphic
novels based on the LEGO® BIONICLE toy line (one of the top boys’ game
and action-figure series) will win prizes from books’ publisher,
Papercutz.
BIONICLE #1 comes to comic-book shops in May 2008 (and bookstores in
June). For booksellers, comic-book retailers, and other storekeepers,
Papercutz offers two $250 gift certificates, good for orders from
Papercutz’s backlist, to the stores with the best displays promoting
the BIONICLE comics. Retailers who want to enter the contests can
contact Papercutz at papercutz@papercutz.com point-of-purchase display
materials. (Retailers need not use the materials to win the contest.)
Retailers may enter the contest in one or both of two categories:
window displays and point-of-purchase displays. The deadline for
submitting entries is July 1. Send photos or videos to
papercutz@papercutz.com (put “Papercutz Bionicle Contest” in the
subject field) or to Papercutz Bionicle Contest, 40 Exchange Place,
Suite 1308, New York, NY 10005. Include your name, address, phone
number, and e-mail address on the entry. All entries become the
property of Papercutz and The LEGO Group.
BIONICLE editor Jim Salicrup and publisher Terry Nantier will judge
the contests along with BIONICLE experts at The LEGO Group. Papercutz
will announce the winners at the San Diego Comic-Con (July 24-27).
Papercutz and The LEGO Group will post the results on their websites.
See www.papercutz.com for complete rules and regulations.
In novels, video games, and of course the LEGO toys where it began,
the BIONICLE story centers on the Toa, six heroes who are part machine
and part living creatures. In Papercutz’s BIONICLE #1, the Toa arrive
on a tropical island guarded by the Great Spirit Mata Nui, only to find
it under siege. The powerful and evil Makuta has cast the Mata Nui into
an unending sleep and is attacking the island’s villagers, the Matoran.
The armored Toa, who wear Masks of Power and can control the elements,
attack Makuta. During the fight, the Toa become the Toa Nuva, with new
armor, weapons, and Masks of Power. But will all of that be enough to
defeat Makuta?
The writer of the BIONICLE comics is the main creator of the BIONICLE
universe, Greg Farshtey. The artists of Papercutz’s BIONICLE #1 are
Carlos D’Anda (DC Comics’ Outsiders), Aliens vs. Predator storyboard
artist Richard Bennett, and Randy Elliott (Marvel’s Spider-Woman). The
series reprints stories created for the BIONICLE club, which has over a
million members. The stories have not appeared in print for several
years.
Each quarterly Papercutz volume -- 112 pages in full color with a trim
size of 5” x 7 1/2” -- will appear in two formats: hardcover for $12.95
and paperback for $7.95. The release of BIONICLE #1 dovetails with
plans to release all-new Toa Nuva figures. The LEGO Group is planning a
huge promotional effort, including a partnership with McDonald’s.
The BIONICLE world is the hottest LEGO toy line since the original
LEGO blocks.
• It’s a favorite among boys age 7 through 12, earning more than $150
million in annual revenue.
• The website BIONICLE.com attracts two million unique visitors per
month.
• BIONICLE characters appear on apparel, bedding, stationery, board
games, and other products.
• Scholastic has sold more than 1.5 million copies of BIONICLE chapter
books.
• Universal Studios is planning a DVD release of a BIONICLE movie for
the end of 2009.
You can find art from BIONICLE #1 at www.papercutz.com.
Publisher Offers $500 in Prizes to Retailers with Best Store Displays
The retailers who create the best displays supporting the graphic
novels based on the LEGO® BIONICLE toy line (one of the top boys’ game
and action-figure series) will win prizes from books’ publisher,
Papercutz.
BIONICLE #1 comes to comic-book shops in May 2008 (and bookstores in
June). For booksellers, comic-book retailers, and other storekeepers,
Papercutz offers two $250 gift certificates, good for orders from
Papercutz’s backlist, to the stores with the best displays promoting
the BIONICLE comics. Retailers who want to enter the contests can
contact Papercutz at papercutz@papercutz.com point-of-purchase display
materials. (Retailers need not use the materials to win the contest.)
Retailers may enter the contest in one or both of two categories:
window displays and point-of-purchase displays. The deadline for
submitting entries is July 1. Send photos or videos to
papercutz@papercutz.com (put “Papercutz Bionicle Contest” in the
subject field) or to Papercutz Bionicle Contest, 40 Exchange Place,
Suite 1308, New York, NY 10005. Include your name, address, phone
number, and e-mail address on the entry. All entries become the
property of Papercutz and The LEGO Group.
BIONICLE editor Jim Salicrup and publisher Terry Nantier will judge
the contests along with BIONICLE experts at The LEGO Group. Papercutz
will announce the winners at the San Diego Comic-Con (July 24-27).
Papercutz and The LEGO Group will post the results on their websites.
See www.papercutz.com for complete rules and regulations.
In novels, video games, and of course the LEGO toys where it began,
the BIONICLE story centers on the Toa, six heroes who are part machine
and part living creatures. In Papercutz’s BIONICLE #1, the Toa arrive
on a tropical island guarded by the Great Spirit Mata Nui, only to find
it under siege. The powerful and evil Makuta has cast the Mata Nui into
an unending sleep and is attacking the island’s villagers, the Matoran.
The armored Toa, who wear Masks of Power and can control the elements,
attack Makuta. During the fight, the Toa become the Toa Nuva, with new
armor, weapons, and Masks of Power. But will all of that be enough to
defeat Makuta?
The writer of the BIONICLE comics is the main creator of the BIONICLE
universe, Greg Farshtey. The artists of Papercutz’s BIONICLE #1 are
Carlos D’Anda (DC Comics’ Outsiders), Aliens vs. Predator storyboard
artist Richard Bennett, and Randy Elliott (Marvel’s Spider-Woman). The
series reprints stories created for the BIONICLE club, which has over a
million members. The stories have not appeared in print for several
years.
Each quarterly Papercutz volume -- 112 pages in full color with a trim
size of 5” x 7 1/2” -- will appear in two formats: hardcover for $12.95
and paperback for $7.95. The release of BIONICLE #1 dovetails with
plans to release all-new Toa Nuva figures. The LEGO Group is planning a
huge promotional effort, including a partnership with McDonald’s.
The BIONICLE world is the hottest LEGO toy line since the original
LEGO blocks.
• It’s a favorite among boys age 7 through 12, earning more than $150
million in annual revenue.
• The website BIONICLE.com attracts two million unique visitors per
month.
• BIONICLE characters appear on apparel, bedding, stationery, board
games, and other products.
• Scholastic has sold more than 1.5 million copies of BIONICLE chapter
books.
• Universal Studios is planning a DVD release of a BIONICLE movie for
the end of 2009.
You can find art from BIONICLE #1 at www.papercutz.com.
Friday, May 23, 2008
BOOM! STUDIOS WEB STORE EXCLUSIVE: WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE & WARHAMMER 40,000: FORGE OF WAR SIGNED-AND-NUMBERED AND SIGNED-AND-LETTERED HARDCOVERS AVAILABLE NOW!
May 23rd, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA) - BOOM! Studios' hardcover collections of their critically acclaimed WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE and WARHAMMER 40,000: FORGE OF WAR can now be purchased exclusively through the BOOM! Studios web store as both signed-and-numbered and signed-and-lettered editions.
The signed-and-numbered edition is limited to 100 copies and costs $99.99. BOOM! Studios will also make available 26 copies of the signed-and-lettered editions A through Z for $149.99.
WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE originally appeared on newsstands as a six-issue series beginning in late 2006. Written by fan favorite Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton with art by Greg Boychuk and Lui Antonio, WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE thrilled existing fans of the Games Workshop property and brought new fans into the WARHAMMER 40,000 world.
WARHAMMER 40,000: FORGE OF WAR also debuted in 2007, written by Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton with art by Rahsan Ekedal, and continued to expand the WARHAMMER 40,000 universe, solidifying the franchise as one of BOOM!'s flagship titles.
BOOM!'s launch of WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE initiated a new, successful series of comic books and graphic novels followed up with last summer's launch of WARHAMMER: FORGE OF WAR and this years WARHAMMER: BLOOD AND THUNDER. BOOM! continues to grow and expand its line of WARHAMMER 40,000, WARHAMMER and BLOOD BOWL series with the recent launch of WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE and the upcoming BLOOD BOWL: KILLER CONTRACT, WARHAMMER:40,000 EXTERMINATUS, WARHAMMER 40,000: FIRE AND HONOUR and WARHAMMER: CROWN OF DESTRUCTION.
The signed-and-numbered edition and signed-and-lettered editions can be found at the following links:
WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE:
SIGNED-AND-NUMBERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2039
SIGNED-AND-LETTERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2040
WARHAMMER 40,000: FORGE OF WAR
SIGNED-AND-NUMBERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2041
SIGNED-AND-LETTERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2042
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
-30-
May 23rd, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA) - BOOM! Studios' hardcover collections of their critically acclaimed WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE and WARHAMMER 40,000: FORGE OF WAR can now be purchased exclusively through the BOOM! Studios web store as both signed-and-numbered and signed-and-lettered editions.
The signed-and-numbered edition is limited to 100 copies and costs $99.99. BOOM! Studios will also make available 26 copies of the signed-and-lettered editions A through Z for $149.99.
WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE originally appeared on newsstands as a six-issue series beginning in late 2006. Written by fan favorite Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton with art by Greg Boychuk and Lui Antonio, WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE thrilled existing fans of the Games Workshop property and brought new fans into the WARHAMMER 40,000 world.
WARHAMMER 40,000: FORGE OF WAR also debuted in 2007, written by Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton with art by Rahsan Ekedal, and continued to expand the WARHAMMER 40,000 universe, solidifying the franchise as one of BOOM!'s flagship titles.
BOOM!'s launch of WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE initiated a new, successful series of comic books and graphic novels followed up with last summer's launch of WARHAMMER: FORGE OF WAR and this years WARHAMMER: BLOOD AND THUNDER. BOOM! continues to grow and expand its line of WARHAMMER 40,000, WARHAMMER and BLOOD BOWL series with the recent launch of WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE and the upcoming BLOOD BOWL: KILLER CONTRACT, WARHAMMER:40,000 EXTERMINATUS, WARHAMMER 40,000: FIRE AND HONOUR and WARHAMMER: CROWN OF DESTRUCTION.
The signed-and-numbered edition and signed-and-lettered editions can be found at the following links:
WARHAMMER 40,000: DAMNATION CRUSADE:
SIGNED-AND-NUMBERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2039
SIGNED-AND-LETTERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2040
WARHAMMER 40,000: FORGE OF WAR
SIGNED-AND-NUMBERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2041
SIGNED-AND-LETTERED - http://www.boom-studios.com/node/2042
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
-30-
2008.05.23
For Immediate Release
Writer-artist David Yurkovich (The SHOP, MANTLO: A Life in Comics, DEATH BY CHOCOLATE: REDUX, LESS THAN HEROES) presents volume 2 of the all-new episodic graphic novel, NOCTURNE.
Originally scheduled for release in June 2008, volume 2 is done and is available for download now. This highly stylized and abstract work presents a glimpse of a near-distant and surreal future. Each chapter is a unique, stream-of-consciousness look at the world and its mysterious inhabitants.
Volume 2 feature's three short and distinct installments: REM, NEWBURY, and HOLIDAY, as well as the capsule story, BREATH. It is featured exclusively on Wowio: http://www.wowio.com/users/searchresults.asp?nPublisherId=196
NOCTURNE V3 is scheduled for a July 1 release.
Additional SGC titles available on Wowio include THE SHOP (2008 revision) and MANTLO: A Life in Comics. For additional information visit www.sleepinggiantcreations.com.
For Immediate Release
Writer-artist David Yurkovich (The SHOP, MANTLO: A Life in Comics, DEATH BY CHOCOLATE: REDUX, LESS THAN HEROES) presents volume 2 of the all-new episodic graphic novel, NOCTURNE.
Originally scheduled for release in June 2008, volume 2 is done and is available for download now. This highly stylized and abstract work presents a glimpse of a near-distant and surreal future. Each chapter is a unique, stream-of-consciousness look at the world and its mysterious inhabitants.
Volume 2 feature's three short and distinct installments: REM, NEWBURY, and HOLIDAY, as well as the capsule story, BREATH. It is featured exclusively on Wowio: http://www.wowio.com/users/searchresults.asp?nPublisherId=196
NOCTURNE V3 is scheduled for a July 1 release.
Additional SGC titles available on Wowio include THE SHOP (2008 revision) and MANTLO: A Life in Comics. For additional information visit www.sleepinggiantcreations.com.
Dark Horse Deluxe Announces Exclusive
Comic-Con International Domo Variant
Japan’s favorite television network mascot is taking a giant-size bite into America’s pop-culture consciousness, and Dark Horse is helping him nibble away at the edges with a sold-out series of custom vinyl figures. Although the character depicted is normally seen in his natural brown hue as an animated character or on licensed products, the Japanese property owner and its master agent, Big Tent Entertainment, have allowed Dark Horse Deluxe to introduce limited editions of flocked vinyl figures in rare variant colors. Response has been strong, and all the color variant figures sold out in advance of publication. A new, previously unannounced variant flocked vinyl Domo in bright canary yellow is being readied for distribution as an exclusive at Comic-Con International, which takes place July 2327 in San Diego. Although the event is expected to draw over 150,000 attendees, only 400 of the yellow figures are being produced, and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Dark Horse Comics exhibit booth. Domo has enjoyed great success with Japanese youth, and has fostered increasing recognition in the American anime community over the last few years.
In addition to the 8 vinyl figures, Dark Horse has produced a highly successful line of Domo products, including a self-mailer stationery set, two journals (one in the shape of Domo), an embroidered patch, and a sculpted magnet. Future licensed products in development include a line of 5.5 vinyl figures, again featuring color variants, and a very large 18 limited-edition version. The canary yellow Domo will be sold exclusively during Comic-Con International for a retail price of $50.
Comic-Con International Domo Variant
Japan’s favorite television network mascot is taking a giant-size bite into America’s pop-culture consciousness, and Dark Horse is helping him nibble away at the edges with a sold-out series of custom vinyl figures. Although the character depicted is normally seen in his natural brown hue as an animated character or on licensed products, the Japanese property owner and its master agent, Big Tent Entertainment, have allowed Dark Horse Deluxe to introduce limited editions of flocked vinyl figures in rare variant colors. Response has been strong, and all the color variant figures sold out in advance of publication. A new, previously unannounced variant flocked vinyl Domo in bright canary yellow is being readied for distribution as an exclusive at Comic-Con International, which takes place July 2327 in San Diego. Although the event is expected to draw over 150,000 attendees, only 400 of the yellow figures are being produced, and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Dark Horse Comics exhibit booth. Domo has enjoyed great success with Japanese youth, and has fostered increasing recognition in the American anime community over the last few years.
In addition to the 8 vinyl figures, Dark Horse has produced a highly successful line of Domo products, including a self-mailer stationery set, two journals (one in the shape of Domo), an embroidered patch, and a sculpted magnet. Future licensed products in development include a line of 5.5 vinyl figures, again featuring color variants, and a very large 18 limited-edition version. The canary yellow Domo will be sold exclusively during Comic-Con International for a retail price of $50.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Mystical Parlor Games
MILWAUKIE, OR—Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising and
Dark Horse Comics are proud to present two magical products that are
sure to provide hours of sleepless slumber parties this fall. Joss
Whedon's mythology comes alive with the official Buffy the Vampire
Slayer Tarot Deck and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations
with Dead People” Board!
Named for an award-winning episode from Season Seven of the BVS
television series—and written by Buffy Season Eight: Wolves at the
Gate author Drew Goddard—the Buffy the Vampire Slayer
“Conversations with Dead People” Board is a great game for fans,
in this world and the next, to communicate with each other about
life, death, and other mysteries. In the tradition of the Sunnydale
Hellmouth, through which countless entities gained entry, fearless
souls can let voices from the other side guide the planchette along
the board to spell out the answers to their queries. Folks can
channel their inner Willow and hone their witchy skills, providing
hours of fun for the whole séance! Accompanying the game board and
planchette, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead
People” Board includes an exclusive, comic-style instruction book
featuring sequential art by Buffy SeasonEight guest illustrator Paul
Lee!
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck was written and conceived by
renowned tarot writer Rachel Pollack, author of twelve books on the
tarot, including the renowned 78 Degrees of Wisdom. She teams with
long-time Buffy artist Paul Lee to create this fully painted 78-card
deck, drawing on characters, themes, and legends from all eight
seasons of Whedon's masterpiece. This special deck was created by
Pollack not merely as a collector's item, but as an actual, working
tarot deck: the cards come with a book explaining their divinatory
meanings and use. The traditional symbols of the tarot are
reinterpreted through the vision of Whedon's Buffy universe.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People”
Board and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck will both be available
in September 2008 and retail at $14.99-$29.99
About Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising
A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and
Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox
Broadcasting Company, as well as third-party lines. The division is
aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top
suppliers of prime-time entertainment programming to the broadcast
networks.
About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how
integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling
medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant.
In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller,
Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and comics legend Will Eisner, their
highly successful line of comics and products based on popular
properties includes Star Wars, Aliens, Conan, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and The Incredibles.
Today Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in
the U.S. and is recognized as the world's leading publisher of
licensed comics material.
MILWAUKIE, OR—Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising and
Dark Horse Comics are proud to present two magical products that are
sure to provide hours of sleepless slumber parties this fall. Joss
Whedon's mythology comes alive with the official Buffy the Vampire
Slayer Tarot Deck and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations
with Dead People” Board!
Named for an award-winning episode from Season Seven of the BVS
television series—and written by Buffy Season Eight: Wolves at the
Gate author Drew Goddard—the Buffy the Vampire Slayer
“Conversations with Dead People” Board is a great game for fans,
in this world and the next, to communicate with each other about
life, death, and other mysteries. In the tradition of the Sunnydale
Hellmouth, through which countless entities gained entry, fearless
souls can let voices from the other side guide the planchette along
the board to spell out the answers to their queries. Folks can
channel their inner Willow and hone their witchy skills, providing
hours of fun for the whole séance! Accompanying the game board and
planchette, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead
People” Board includes an exclusive, comic-style instruction book
featuring sequential art by Buffy SeasonEight guest illustrator Paul
Lee!
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck was written and conceived by
renowned tarot writer Rachel Pollack, author of twelve books on the
tarot, including the renowned 78 Degrees of Wisdom. She teams with
long-time Buffy artist Paul Lee to create this fully painted 78-card
deck, drawing on characters, themes, and legends from all eight
seasons of Whedon's masterpiece. This special deck was created by
Pollack not merely as a collector's item, but as an actual, working
tarot deck: the cards come with a book explaining their divinatory
meanings and use. The traditional symbols of the tarot are
reinterpreted through the vision of Whedon's Buffy universe.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People”
Board and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck will both be available
in September 2008 and retail at $14.99-$29.99
About Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising
A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and
Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox
Broadcasting Company, as well as third-party lines. The division is
aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top
suppliers of prime-time entertainment programming to the broadcast
networks.
About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how
integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling
medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant.
In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller,
Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and comics legend Will Eisner, their
highly successful line of comics and products based on popular
properties includes Star Wars, Aliens, Conan, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and The Incredibles.
Today Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in
the U.S. and is recognized as the world's leading publisher of
licensed comics material.
PRESS RELEASE - ROB SCHRAB, JOE CASEY AND MARK SABLE ARE JUDGE AND JURY ON INDIE 103.1 FM!
SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN's Rob Schrab, HAZED's Mark Sable and GØDLAND's Joe Casey to appear on INDIE 103.1's Jonesy Jukebox!
22 May 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - This Friday, SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN's Rob Schrab, HAZED's Mark Sable and GØDLAND's Joe Casey will appear on INDIE 103.1 FM's Jonesy's Jukebox, from 12 to 2 PM.
"Jonesy's Jukebox is a one of my favorite radio shows so being part of it in time to celebrate the end of SCUD is surreally awesome," Schrab said. "It's a perfect way to cap off over ten years of the series."
Jonesy's Jukebox, hosted by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols on what Rolling Stone declared the best radio station of 2008, airs every Friday from Noon to 2pm with the first hour repeating at 6pm. Each episode features four guests panelists talking about and judging the newest tracks to hit the radio with this week's including Casey, Hazed and Schrab. In addition, they'll be discussing their latest projects such as the Eisner-nominated GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION, CHARLATAN BALL, HAZED and SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG.
Joe Casey added, "Big Steve Jones fan. Huge guitar sounds hit me just the right way. Moving into the last year of GØDLAND and launching of CHARLATAN BALL, this is a very cool way to get the word out."
Jonesy's Jukebox will air Friday, May 23rd from 12 to 2 PM. Listeners out of the Los Angeles area can listen via http://www.indie1031.fm/4045_Listen_Live.php?id=27. GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION (MAY071862), a 360-page hardcover for $34.99, and HAZED (DEC072052), a 160-page graphic novel for $14.99, are available now. SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG (TP - APR082180/HC-APR082181), a 786-page black & white collection, will be available June 25th. CHARLATAN BALL (APR082158), a 24-page full color comic book for $2.50, will be available June 11th.
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN's Rob Schrab, HAZED's Mark Sable and GØDLAND's Joe Casey to appear on INDIE 103.1's Jonesy Jukebox!
22 May 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - This Friday, SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN's Rob Schrab, HAZED's Mark Sable and GØDLAND's Joe Casey will appear on INDIE 103.1 FM's Jonesy's Jukebox, from 12 to 2 PM.
"Jonesy's Jukebox is a one of my favorite radio shows so being part of it in time to celebrate the end of SCUD is surreally awesome," Schrab said. "It's a perfect way to cap off over ten years of the series."
Jonesy's Jukebox, hosted by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols on what Rolling Stone declared the best radio station of 2008, airs every Friday from Noon to 2pm with the first hour repeating at 6pm. Each episode features four guests panelists talking about and judging the newest tracks to hit the radio with this week's including Casey, Hazed and Schrab. In addition, they'll be discussing their latest projects such as the Eisner-nominated GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION, CHARLATAN BALL, HAZED and SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG.
Joe Casey added, "Big Steve Jones fan. Huge guitar sounds hit me just the right way. Moving into the last year of GØDLAND and launching of CHARLATAN BALL, this is a very cool way to get the word out."
Jonesy's Jukebox will air Friday, May 23rd from 12 to 2 PM. Listeners out of the Los Angeles area can listen via http://www.indie1031.fm/4045_Listen_Live.php?id=27. GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION (MAY071862), a 360-page hardcover for $34.99, and HAZED (DEC072052), a 160-page graphic novel for $14.99, are available now. SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG (TP - APR082180/HC-APR082181), a 786-page black & white collection, will be available June 25th. CHARLATAN BALL (APR082158), a 24-page full color comic book for $2.50, will be available June 11th.
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Mystical Parlor Games
MILWAUKIE, OR—Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising and
Dark Horse Comics are proud to present two magical products that are
sure to provide hours of sleepless slumber parties this fall. Joss
Whedon's mythology comes alive with the official Buffy the Vampire
Slayer Tarot Deck and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations
with Dead People” Board!
Named for an award-winning episode from Season Seven of the BVS
television series—and written by Buffy Season Eight: Wolves at the
Gate author Drew Goddard—the Buffy the Vampire Slayer
“Conversations with Dead People” Board is a great game for fans,
in this world and the next, to communicate with each other about
life, death, and other mysteries. In the tradition of the Sunnydale
Hellmouth, through which countless entities gained entry, fearless
souls can let voices from the other side guide the planchette along
the board to spell out the answers to their queries. Folks can
channel their inner Willow and hone their witchy skills, providing
hours of fun for the whole séance! Accompanying the game board and
planchette, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead
People” Board includes an exclusive, comic-style instruction book
featuring sequential art by Buffy SeasonEight guest illustrator Paul
Lee!
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck was written and conceived by
renowned tarot writer Rachel Pollack, author of twelve books on the
tarot, including the renowned 78 Degrees of Wisdom. She teams with
long-time Buffy artist Paul Lee to create this fully painted 78-card
deck, drawing on characters, themes, and legends from all eight
seasons of Whedon's masterpiece. This special deck was created by
Pollack not merely as a collector's item, but as an actual, working
tarot deck: the cards come with a book explaining their divinatory
meanings and use. The traditional symbols of the tarot are
reinterpreted through the vision of Whedon's Buffy universe.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People”
Board and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck will both be available
in September 2008 and retail at $24.99-$29.99
About Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising
A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and
Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox
Broadcasting Company, as well as third-party lines. The division is
aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top
suppliers of prime-time entertainment programming to the broadcast
networks.
About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how
integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling
medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant.
In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller,
Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and comics legend Will Eisner, their
highly successful line of comics and products based on popular
properties includes Star Wars, Aliens, Conan, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and The Incredibles.
Today Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in
the U.S. and is recognized as the world's leading publisher of
licensed comics material.
MILWAUKIE, OR—Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising and
Dark Horse Comics are proud to present two magical products that are
sure to provide hours of sleepless slumber parties this fall. Joss
Whedon's mythology comes alive with the official Buffy the Vampire
Slayer Tarot Deck and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations
with Dead People” Board!
Named for an award-winning episode from Season Seven of the BVS
television series—and written by Buffy Season Eight: Wolves at the
Gate author Drew Goddard—the Buffy the Vampire Slayer
“Conversations with Dead People” Board is a great game for fans,
in this world and the next, to communicate with each other about
life, death, and other mysteries. In the tradition of the Sunnydale
Hellmouth, through which countless entities gained entry, fearless
souls can let voices from the other side guide the planchette along
the board to spell out the answers to their queries. Folks can
channel their inner Willow and hone their witchy skills, providing
hours of fun for the whole séance! Accompanying the game board and
planchette, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead
People” Board includes an exclusive, comic-style instruction book
featuring sequential art by Buffy SeasonEight guest illustrator Paul
Lee!
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck was written and conceived by
renowned tarot writer Rachel Pollack, author of twelve books on the
tarot, including the renowned 78 Degrees of Wisdom. She teams with
long-time Buffy artist Paul Lee to create this fully painted 78-card
deck, drawing on characters, themes, and legends from all eight
seasons of Whedon's masterpiece. This special deck was created by
Pollack not merely as a collector's item, but as an actual, working
tarot deck: the cards come with a book explaining their divinatory
meanings and use. The traditional symbols of the tarot are
reinterpreted through the vision of Whedon's Buffy universe.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People”
Board and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck will both be available
in September 2008 and retail at $24.99-$29.99
About Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising
A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and
Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox
Broadcasting Company, as well as third-party lines. The division is
aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top
suppliers of prime-time entertainment programming to the broadcast
networks.
About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how
integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling
medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant.
In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller,
Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and comics legend Will Eisner, their
highly successful line of comics and products based on popular
properties includes Star Wars, Aliens, Conan, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and The Incredibles.
Today Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in
the U.S. and is recognized as the world's leading publisher of
licensed comics material.
Summer getaways with the B.P.R.D.
With Hellboy II: The Golden Army coming in July, there’s no better
time to get up to speed on what’s happening with the characters in
the B.P.R.D. Dark Horse will be releasing three new B.P.R.D. titles
by Mike Mignola and B.P.R.D. vet John Arcudi into the Hellboy
Universe for summer reading pleasure—with new revelations for Liz
Sherman and the origin story for Johann Kraus, as well as a bit of
backstory for the Bureau’s battle with the infamous frog creatures.
June 5th will see the first installment of War on Frogs—a series of
four one-shots that pick up from the March-April B.P.R.D. feature on
MySpace Dark Horse Presents. Renowned artist Herb Trimpe (The
Incredible Hulk) joins regular B.P.R.D. writer John Arcudi and
Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, with Guy Davis handling the inking, for
the first one-shot story in this series that will feature a different
legendary comics artist for each issue. War on Frogs chronicles the
Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense's fight against the frog
monsters, set mostly between the events of B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs
and B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame. As the frog cult spreads across
America, Roger the Homunculus returns to the site of the B.P.R.D.'s
first clash with the frog creatures—the ruins of Cavendish Hall,
where Hellboy, Abe, and Liz first encountered both the frogs and
Rasputin (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction)—to track down the final
pieces of the puzzle of the Cavendish family. War on Frogs #2 is
scheduled for a December release and will feature art by Eisner Hall-
of-Famer John Severin (Two Fisted Tales)!
On June 18th, The Ectoplasmic Man arrives! This one-shot comic tells
the origin of Johann Kraus—corresponding with Johann's appearance in
Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and including previously unrevealed
details of how he came to be. Mignola/Arcudi team up with illustrator
Ben Stenbeck (Living with the Dead) to round out the creative team!
The Ectoplasmic Man is the ideal introduction to one of the most
peculiar members of the remarkable Bureau for Paranormal Research and
Defense.
Finally, on July 9th, Mignola and Arcudi reunite with long-time
B.P.R.D. illustrator Guy Davis for B.P.R.D: The Warning, a five-issue
series that immediately follows the events of B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground.
The team rushes to track down the mysterious gentleman who's been
appearing in Liz's visions, as a slew of old enemies menace the
Bureau from all sides in a catastrophic escalation to the end of the
world.
“I’m excited,” says Mike Mignola. “B.P.R.D. is really picking
up speed now. Fans can start girding their loins for big,
catastrophic changes to come.”
“As many changes as we've already seen take place in the
B.P.R.D.,” says John Arcudi, “now is when it really starts getting
nuts!”
With Hellboy II: The Golden Army coming in July, there’s no better
time to get up to speed on what’s happening with the characters in
the B.P.R.D. Dark Horse will be releasing three new B.P.R.D. titles
by Mike Mignola and B.P.R.D. vet John Arcudi into the Hellboy
Universe for summer reading pleasure—with new revelations for Liz
Sherman and the origin story for Johann Kraus, as well as a bit of
backstory for the Bureau’s battle with the infamous frog creatures.
June 5th will see the first installment of War on Frogs—a series of
four one-shots that pick up from the March-April B.P.R.D. feature on
MySpace Dark Horse Presents. Renowned artist Herb Trimpe (The
Incredible Hulk) joins regular B.P.R.D. writer John Arcudi and
Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, with Guy Davis handling the inking, for
the first one-shot story in this series that will feature a different
legendary comics artist for each issue. War on Frogs chronicles the
Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense's fight against the frog
monsters, set mostly between the events of B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs
and B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame. As the frog cult spreads across
America, Roger the Homunculus returns to the site of the B.P.R.D.'s
first clash with the frog creatures—the ruins of Cavendish Hall,
where Hellboy, Abe, and Liz first encountered both the frogs and
Rasputin (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction)—to track down the final
pieces of the puzzle of the Cavendish family. War on Frogs #2 is
scheduled for a December release and will feature art by Eisner Hall-
of-Famer John Severin (Two Fisted Tales)!
On June 18th, The Ectoplasmic Man arrives! This one-shot comic tells
the origin of Johann Kraus—corresponding with Johann's appearance in
Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and including previously unrevealed
details of how he came to be. Mignola/Arcudi team up with illustrator
Ben Stenbeck (Living with the Dead) to round out the creative team!
The Ectoplasmic Man is the ideal introduction to one of the most
peculiar members of the remarkable Bureau for Paranormal Research and
Defense.
Finally, on July 9th, Mignola and Arcudi reunite with long-time
B.P.R.D. illustrator Guy Davis for B.P.R.D: The Warning, a five-issue
series that immediately follows the events of B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground.
The team rushes to track down the mysterious gentleman who's been
appearing in Liz's visions, as a slew of old enemies menace the
Bureau from all sides in a catastrophic escalation to the end of the
world.
“I’m excited,” says Mike Mignola. “B.P.R.D. is really picking
up speed now. Fans can start girding their loins for big,
catastrophic changes to come.”
“As many changes as we've already seen take place in the
B.P.R.D.,” says John Arcudi, “now is when it really starts getting
nuts!”
VIZ MEDIA’S SHONEN JUMP WELCOMES BLEACH MANGA CREATOR TITE KUBO
FOR ULTRA-RARE APPEARANCE AT
2008 SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL
Creator Of BLEACH And ZOMBIEPOWDER. Manga To Appear On Special Panel and For Signings At VIZ Media Booth #4113
San Francisco, CA, May 21, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its SHONEN JUMP magazine will welcome prolific manga (graphic novel) creator Tite Kubo for a series of rare in-person appearances beginning on Friday, July 25 at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International.
Mr. Kubo is the creator of the wildly successful manga series BLEACH and ZOMBIE POWDER. and this is the first time the artist will appear at a North American convention. Both series are published domestically by VIZ Media and BLEACH is currently serialized in SHONEN JUMP Magazine. Comic-Con International is renowned as the nation’s largest comic book and science fiction event and takes place July 24-27 at the Convention Center in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 4113.
Mr. Kubo is scheduled to appear throughout Comic-Con and to provide insight regarding his past, current and future projects on SHONEN JUMP magazine’s panel discussion and to further greet fans at VIZ Media’s booth and sign autographs twice on Saturday, July 26. Details will be issued shortly as times are still to be determined, but fans are also encouraged to regularly check http://www.shonenjump.com for updates.
Tite Kubo made his debut in 1999 with ZOMBIEPOWDER., a four-volume series serialized in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump until 2000. His second series, BLEACH, firmly established Mr. Kubo as major manga talent. Beginning its serialization in 2001, BLEACH remains a mainstay in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump and has spawned more than 300 chapters to-date. BLEACH was further named a winner of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award in 2005. Published domestically by VIZ Media, BLEACH manga volumes have sold over 1.2 million copies to-date in the United States and the series is serialized monthly in SHONEN JUMP magazine. The title was further developed into a popular animated series that is distributed domestically by VIZ Media and seen weekly by millions on Cartoon Network.
Mr. Kubo begins his appearances on Friday evening at 8 p.m., when he is scheduled to make opening remarks at VIZ Media’s theatrical screening of the first BLEACH feature film, BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY, scheduled to take place in a theatre in downtown San Diego. Seating is limited and convention attendees are encouraged to stop by the VIZ Media booth prior to the event to secure tickets, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
BLEACH, rated T for Teens, follows the adventures of Ichigo, a fifteen-year-old student with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace. The pair encounters plenty of action as they investigate an intriguing range of spiritual mysteries and frequently run into all manner of malevolent and usually violent spirits and demons that are reluctant to return to their own world peacefully.
“VIZ Media and SHONEN JUMP magazine are privileged and extremely excited to welcome Tite Kubo to the 2008 Comic-Con International,” says Marc Weidenbaum, Editor-in-Chief of Shonen Jump Magazine and Vice President, Original Publishing, at VIZ. “His BLEACH and ZOMBIEPOWDER. manga series have set new benchmarks in the field. BLEACH holds the attention of millions of fans internationally, and we look forward to offering those fans this very rare opportunity to interact with him personally. This is an incredibly rare situation when the manga creator of a weekly-serialized title is taking time apart from his busy work to visit with his fans outside Japan. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate SHONEN JUMP’s 5th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump, the Japanese magazine in which BLEACH is originally serialized. The enormous audience of manga fans at Comic-Con this year will truly have a hero around whom to rally.”
Ten lucky winners of a contest held by VIZ Media's parent company Shueisha, Inc., are also being flown from Japan to attend the Comic-Con Festivities as ambassadors from Shueisha and will participate in welcoming Mr. Kubo. Fans are encouraged to support BLEACH Day (Saturday) in their best BLEACH gear and will even have the opportunity to win great prizes if spotted in official BLEACH attire.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
FOR ULTRA-RARE APPEARANCE AT
2008 SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL
Creator Of BLEACH And ZOMBIEPOWDER. Manga To Appear On Special Panel and For Signings At VIZ Media Booth #4113
San Francisco, CA, May 21, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its SHONEN JUMP magazine will welcome prolific manga (graphic novel) creator Tite Kubo for a series of rare in-person appearances beginning on Friday, July 25 at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International.
Mr. Kubo is the creator of the wildly successful manga series BLEACH and ZOMBIE POWDER. and this is the first time the artist will appear at a North American convention. Both series are published domestically by VIZ Media and BLEACH is currently serialized in SHONEN JUMP Magazine. Comic-Con International is renowned as the nation’s largest comic book and science fiction event and takes place July 24-27 at the Convention Center in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 4113.
Mr. Kubo is scheduled to appear throughout Comic-Con and to provide insight regarding his past, current and future projects on SHONEN JUMP magazine’s panel discussion and to further greet fans at VIZ Media’s booth and sign autographs twice on Saturday, July 26. Details will be issued shortly as times are still to be determined, but fans are also encouraged to regularly check http://www.shonenjump.com for updates.
Tite Kubo made his debut in 1999 with ZOMBIEPOWDER., a four-volume series serialized in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump until 2000. His second series, BLEACH, firmly established Mr. Kubo as major manga talent. Beginning its serialization in 2001, BLEACH remains a mainstay in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump and has spawned more than 300 chapters to-date. BLEACH was further named a winner of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award in 2005. Published domestically by VIZ Media, BLEACH manga volumes have sold over 1.2 million copies to-date in the United States and the series is serialized monthly in SHONEN JUMP magazine. The title was further developed into a popular animated series that is distributed domestically by VIZ Media and seen weekly by millions on Cartoon Network.
Mr. Kubo begins his appearances on Friday evening at 8 p.m., when he is scheduled to make opening remarks at VIZ Media’s theatrical screening of the first BLEACH feature film, BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY, scheduled to take place in a theatre in downtown San Diego. Seating is limited and convention attendees are encouraged to stop by the VIZ Media booth prior to the event to secure tickets, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
BLEACH, rated T for Teens, follows the adventures of Ichigo, a fifteen-year-old student with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace. The pair encounters plenty of action as they investigate an intriguing range of spiritual mysteries and frequently run into all manner of malevolent and usually violent spirits and demons that are reluctant to return to their own world peacefully.
“VIZ Media and SHONEN JUMP magazine are privileged and extremely excited to welcome Tite Kubo to the 2008 Comic-Con International,” says Marc Weidenbaum, Editor-in-Chief of Shonen Jump Magazine and Vice President, Original Publishing, at VIZ. “His BLEACH and ZOMBIEPOWDER. manga series have set new benchmarks in the field. BLEACH holds the attention of millions of fans internationally, and we look forward to offering those fans this very rare opportunity to interact with him personally. This is an incredibly rare situation when the manga creator of a weekly-serialized title is taking time apart from his busy work to visit with his fans outside Japan. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate SHONEN JUMP’s 5th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump, the Japanese magazine in which BLEACH is originally serialized. The enormous audience of manga fans at Comic-Con this year will truly have a hero around whom to rally.”
Ten lucky winners of a contest held by VIZ Media's parent company Shueisha, Inc., are also being flown from Japan to attend the Comic-Con Festivities as ambassadors from Shueisha and will participate in welcoming Mr. Kubo. Fans are encouraged to support BLEACH Day (Saturday) in their best BLEACH gear and will even have the opportunity to win great prizes if spotted in official BLEACH attire.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
On-sale date change for MR. FOOSTER TRAVELING ON A WHIM
(Doubleday/Flying Dolphin; On-sale: June 17, 2008)!
The date has moved from June 10 to June 17.
Like Harold and the Purple Crayon for adults, writer Tom Corwin and illustrator Craig Frazier’s stunning visual novel, MR. FOOSTER TRAVELING ON A WHIM will take you out of your hum-drum daily life, back to the world of whimsy and imagination.
Below you’ll find some of the terrific early praise and the first two chapters of MR. FOOSTER are “live” at www.mrfooster.com. Hope you enjoy taking a look!
Please let me know if you have coverage plans for review or inclusion in summer previews. Thanks.
Best,
Rachel
“Mr. Fooster is one of the more charming perambulators to
come around in recent days. I am delighted to walk with him.”
—Lemony Snicket
(Doubleday/Flying Dolphin; On-sale: June 17, 2008)!
The date has moved from June 10 to June 17.
Like Harold and the Purple Crayon for adults, writer Tom Corwin and illustrator Craig Frazier’s stunning visual novel, MR. FOOSTER TRAVELING ON A WHIM will take you out of your hum-drum daily life, back to the world of whimsy and imagination.
Below you’ll find some of the terrific early praise and the first two chapters of MR. FOOSTER are “live” at www.mrfooster.com. Hope you enjoy taking a look!
Please let me know if you have coverage plans for review or inclusion in summer previews. Thanks.
Best,
Rachel
“Mr. Fooster is one of the more charming perambulators to
come around in recent days. I am delighted to walk with him.”
—Lemony Snicket
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
ASP ANNOUNCES COMPANY RESTRUCTURING
Co-publisher Aki Liao to leave company; ASP will also strive to correct and improve company’s scheduling delays
Kearny, NJ -- May 21, 2008 -- It’s been a busy couple of years here at Archaia Studios Press as the company has produced a growing catalog of award-winning and critically acclaimed comic books and graphic novels. But ASP has also run into a few growing pains along the way---as does any new publishing company---and today must announce that it must take a moment to restructure following the decision of Aki Liao, ASP’s co-publisher, to step back from an ongoing role at the company for personal reasons.
“Mark and I started ASP Comics as a hobby business in classic ‘two-guys-in-a-garage’ fashion, and that hobby business has grown well beyond its initial size and scope. In fact, well beyond my expectations,” said Aki Liao. “Along the way, we’ve built up a line of comic books and graphic novels of the highest quality. It’s been an amazing ride, and I enjoyed meeting a lot of wonderful people along the way, especially the talented group of creators that I’ve had the good fortune to work with. It is with a sad heart that I depart as I’m no longer able to give the company the kind of commitment it requires and wish everyone at ASP the best for the future.”
Ken Light, an investment banker at the DAK Group specializing in small to mid-size company divestitures, sales, and acquisitions, will be assisting ASP in the search for an outside investor or strategic partner to acquire Aki’s stake in the company.
As part of the reorganization, the company will also take the opportunity to address internally the publishing delays that have plagued it of late to ensure a smooth schedule that satisfies not only its own standards but also that of its creators and the expectations of fans and retailers.
“Our growth in the last year has clearly strained our workflow capacity,” said ASP co-publisher Mark Smylie. “Lateness has historically been a problem with many creator-driven and creator-owned titles, but our own workflow issues have exacerbated the situation. We are as frustrated with our struggle to get books out on time as, I’m sure, are our readers, and we want to make sure we come out of the reorganization with a better workflow and solicitation process model. So while there will be some further delays in the release of recently solicited titles as we restructure, we also want to make sure we emerge in the next few months from our reorganization with a release schedule that we can hit on a regular basis, as guaranteed as possible. We can only ask that our many supporters, retailers and fans alike, be patient with us during this time.”
All ASP titles are available worldwide at finer comic book shops, bookstores, amazon.com, the ASP Store at Indie Press Revolution (www.indiepressrevolution.com) and electronically at DriveThruComics.com. ARTESIA is now available at WOWIO.com, with other ASP titles to follow.
ABOUT ARCHAIA STUDIOS PRESS
Mark Smylie founded Archaia Studios Press (ASP) in 2002 as a new home for his epic fantasy comic book, Artesia (first published by Sirius Entertainment). Artesia, winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Best Graphic Novel of 2003, and its sequels -- Artesia Afield and Artesia Afire -- gave ASP its foundation. Artesia: Adventures in The Known World, a roleplaying game written by Mark, expanded ASP into the world of gaming; the game won the 2006 Origins Award for Role-Playing Game of the Year. Now Mark and publishing partner Aki Liao have expanded ASP to include a line of idiosyncratic and creator-driven comic books and graphic novels in the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres, as well as translations of several of Europe’s best titles. Recently two ASP titles, Mouse Guard and The Killer, were both nominated for Eisner Awards. More information can be found at www.aspcomics.com
Co-publisher Aki Liao to leave company; ASP will also strive to correct and improve company’s scheduling delays
Kearny, NJ -- May 21, 2008 -- It’s been a busy couple of years here at Archaia Studios Press as the company has produced a growing catalog of award-winning and critically acclaimed comic books and graphic novels. But ASP has also run into a few growing pains along the way---as does any new publishing company---and today must announce that it must take a moment to restructure following the decision of Aki Liao, ASP’s co-publisher, to step back from an ongoing role at the company for personal reasons.
“Mark and I started ASP Comics as a hobby business in classic ‘two-guys-in-a-garage’ fashion, and that hobby business has grown well beyond its initial size and scope. In fact, well beyond my expectations,” said Aki Liao. “Along the way, we’ve built up a line of comic books and graphic novels of the highest quality. It’s been an amazing ride, and I enjoyed meeting a lot of wonderful people along the way, especially the talented group of creators that I’ve had the good fortune to work with. It is with a sad heart that I depart as I’m no longer able to give the company the kind of commitment it requires and wish everyone at ASP the best for the future.”
Ken Light, an investment banker at the DAK Group specializing in small to mid-size company divestitures, sales, and acquisitions, will be assisting ASP in the search for an outside investor or strategic partner to acquire Aki’s stake in the company.
As part of the reorganization, the company will also take the opportunity to address internally the publishing delays that have plagued it of late to ensure a smooth schedule that satisfies not only its own standards but also that of its creators and the expectations of fans and retailers.
“Our growth in the last year has clearly strained our workflow capacity,” said ASP co-publisher Mark Smylie. “Lateness has historically been a problem with many creator-driven and creator-owned titles, but our own workflow issues have exacerbated the situation. We are as frustrated with our struggle to get books out on time as, I’m sure, are our readers, and we want to make sure we come out of the reorganization with a better workflow and solicitation process model. So while there will be some further delays in the release of recently solicited titles as we restructure, we also want to make sure we emerge in the next few months from our reorganization with a release schedule that we can hit on a regular basis, as guaranteed as possible. We can only ask that our many supporters, retailers and fans alike, be patient with us during this time.”
All ASP titles are available worldwide at finer comic book shops, bookstores, amazon.com, the ASP Store at Indie Press Revolution (www.indiepressrevolution.com) and electronically at DriveThruComics.com. ARTESIA is now available at WOWIO.com, with other ASP titles to follow.
ABOUT ARCHAIA STUDIOS PRESS
Mark Smylie founded Archaia Studios Press (ASP) in 2002 as a new home for his epic fantasy comic book, Artesia (first published by Sirius Entertainment). Artesia, winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Best Graphic Novel of 2003, and its sequels -- Artesia Afield and Artesia Afire -- gave ASP its foundation. Artesia: Adventures in The Known World, a roleplaying game written by Mark, expanded ASP into the world of gaming; the game won the 2006 Origins Award for Role-Playing Game of the Year. Now Mark and publishing partner Aki Liao have expanded ASP to include a line of idiosyncratic and creator-driven comic books and graphic novels in the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres, as well as translations of several of Europe’s best titles. Recently two ASP titles, Mouse Guard and The Killer, were both nominated for Eisner Awards. More information can be found at www.aspcomics.com
Mike Russell does his usual fine work, interviewing Brandon Bolt in THE OREGONIAN this week:
http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2008/05/_brandon_bolt_is_one.html
Check it out!
Marc
http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2008/05/_brandon_bolt_is_one.html
Check it out!
Marc
AAM/Markosia, publishers of King Kong, Starship Troopers and the acclaimed The Boy Who Made Silence, will be attending the London MCM Expo this May 24 - 25.
Markosia will be selling many trades for £4 each or 3 for £10, and most newer trades will be 50% off. The high profile independent publisher will also feature the following creators signing at the booth most of the weekend:
Rich Johnston (Flying Friar, Lying in the Gutters)
Annika Eade (Dark Mists)
Ian Sharman (11th Hour, Kong: King of Skull Island, Flying Friar)
Tony Lee (Hope Falls, Midnight Kiss, Starship Troopers, and many more!)
Dan Boultwood (Hope Falls)
Cy Dethan (Starship Troopers)
Andy Briggs (Kong: King of Skull Island)
Publisher Harry Markos will be on hand to talk with fans about the company's upcoming plans and will also be available for interviews.
The London Expo attracted close to 25,000 people last year. Advance ticket sales and buzz should promise the show tops those numbers this year.
Please visit www.markosia.com and www.mcmexpo.net for more details.
Markosia will be selling many trades for £4 each or 3 for £10, and most newer trades will be 50% off. The high profile independent publisher will also feature the following creators signing at the booth most of the weekend:
Rich Johnston (Flying Friar, Lying in the Gutters)
Annika Eade (Dark Mists)
Ian Sharman (11th Hour, Kong: King of Skull Island, Flying Friar)
Tony Lee (Hope Falls, Midnight Kiss, Starship Troopers, and many more!)
Dan Boultwood (Hope Falls)
Cy Dethan (Starship Troopers)
Andy Briggs (Kong: King of Skull Island)
Publisher Harry Markos will be on hand to talk with fans about the company's upcoming plans and will also be available for interviews.
The London Expo attracted close to 25,000 people last year. Advance ticket sales and buzz should promise the show tops those numbers this year.
Please visit www.markosia.com and www.mcmexpo.net for more details.
Hey everyone,
We've just learned that after releasing the final episode of Satacracy 88, we have been nominated for an Emmy Award! Thank you so much for watching our program over the past two years. At the end of the day, it's the support of our friends and family that has made this journey possible for us.
If you still haven't seen it, watch the final episode of our show at
http://itsallinyourhands.ning.com/Satacracy_88/page/show?id=1970503%3APage%3A9689
Below are links to some recent interviews where we talk about bringing the series to a close and reveal what projects you can expect to see from us in the future.
http://geoffklock.blogspot.com/2008/05/brad-winderbaum-satacracy-interview-pt.html
http://www.tilzy.tv/news/2008/5/Satacracy88-chooses-an-ending.htm
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v11352397pxjed4zq
Thanks again for everything. I hope to hear from you soon.
All the best,
Brad
We've just learned that after releasing the final episode of Satacracy 88, we have been nominated for an Emmy Award! Thank you so much for watching our program over the past two years. At the end of the day, it's the support of our friends and family that has made this journey possible for us.
If you still haven't seen it, watch the final episode of our show at
http://itsallinyourhands.ning.com/Satacracy_88/page/show?id=1970503%3APage%3A9689
Below are links to some recent interviews where we talk about bringing the series to a close and reveal what projects you can expect to see from us in the future.
http://geoffklock.blogspot.com/2008/05/brad-winderbaum-satacracy-interview-pt.html
http://www.tilzy.tv/news/2008/5/Satacracy88-chooses-an-ending.htm
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v11352397pxjed4zq
Thanks again for everything. I hope to hear from you soon.
All the best,
Brad
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
PRESS RELEASE - JESUS CHRIST SLAYER TRAILER GOES ONLINE!
LOADED BIBLE trailer teases upcoming collection!
20 May 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - Just in time for the summer blockbuster season, LOADED BIBLE writer/creator Tim Seeley and digital artist Crank! have teamed to produce an all-new trailer for June's LOADED BIBLE BOOK ONE TP!
"LOADED BIBLE is the craziest summer movie never made," said Seeley. "Crank! has put together one of the finest trailers - comics or otherwise. Of course, having the gorgeous art of DC COUNTDOWN's Mike Norton, CAPES' Mark Englert, INVINCIBLE's Nate Bellegade and Sono Morti's musical talents to work with certainly helps, but he's a major talent in his own right."
LOADED BIBLE begins as humanity's survival hangs by a thread in the aftermath of a nuclear Holy War. When vampires invade the last surviving stronghold of New Vatican City, the Church turns to their deadliest weapon - the clone of Jesus Christ. In addition to all three one-shots, the collection also features a massive amount of bonus materials including an extensive sketchbook, pinups galore and the original LOADED BIBLE short story by NEW UNIVERSAL's Steve Kurth.
LOADED BIBLE, BOOK ONE TP (APR082179), a 168-page book for $16.99, will be in stores June 25th. The trailer can be seen at http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=34503867
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
LOADED BIBLE trailer teases upcoming collection!
20 May 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - Just in time for the summer blockbuster season, LOADED BIBLE writer/creator Tim Seeley and digital artist Crank! have teamed to produce an all-new trailer for June's LOADED BIBLE BOOK ONE TP!
"LOADED BIBLE is the craziest summer movie never made," said Seeley. "Crank! has put together one of the finest trailers - comics or otherwise. Of course, having the gorgeous art of DC COUNTDOWN's Mike Norton, CAPES' Mark Englert, INVINCIBLE's Nate Bellegade and Sono Morti's musical talents to work with certainly helps, but he's a major talent in his own right."
LOADED BIBLE begins as humanity's survival hangs by a thread in the aftermath of a nuclear Holy War. When vampires invade the last surviving stronghold of New Vatican City, the Church turns to their deadliest weapon - the clone of Jesus Christ. In addition to all three one-shots, the collection also features a massive amount of bonus materials including an extensive sketchbook, pinups galore and the original LOADED BIBLE short story by NEW UNIVERSAL's Steve Kurth.
LOADED BIBLE, BOOK ONE TP (APR082179), a 168-page book for $16.99, will be in stores June 25th. The trailer can be seen at http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=34503867
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
This summer SpazDog Comics is offering classes to help kids express
themselves creatively while school is out.
The Comic Creators Club is a 10 week program that guides participants
through the creative process of creating their own comic book. The
Comic Creators Club meets every Monday at 6:30pm. A different topic
each week is designed to build on the previous week's work. There
will
also be a weekly assignment. By following and completing the weekly
assignments, club members will end up with a 24 page comic book.
Those
who complete a finished comic will be invited to a special creator
signing reception. Copies of the Comic Creator Club comics will be
sold with proceeds going to a local charity. Best of all, the club is
FREE. Space may be limited.
Other SpazDog Comics Summer Events:
Jason Cheeseman-Meyer Art Class
Date: June 14
Time: 10:00am to 2:30pm
Cost: $35 includes materials
Ages 10 and up
Bryan Kilgore Art Class
Date: TBA
Time: TBA 1 hour class
Cost: $15 includes his comic
Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested. SpazDog
Comics is located on the SW corner of 35th Avenue and Deer Valley Road.
PDF flyers are available for these events upon request. Please call
us for details or questions at (623) 582-3240 or email us at
shawn@spazdogcomics.com.
themselves creatively while school is out.
The Comic Creators Club is a 10 week program that guides participants
through the creative process of creating their own comic book. The
Comic Creators Club meets every Monday at 6:30pm. A different topic
each week is designed to build on the previous week's work. There
will
also be a weekly assignment. By following and completing the weekly
assignments, club members will end up with a 24 page comic book.
Those
who complete a finished comic will be invited to a special creator
signing reception. Copies of the Comic Creator Club comics will be
sold with proceeds going to a local charity. Best of all, the club is
FREE. Space may be limited.
Other SpazDog Comics Summer Events:
Jason Cheeseman-Meyer Art Class
Date: June 14
Time: 10:00am to 2:30pm
Cost: $35 includes materials
Ages 10 and up
Bryan Kilgore Art Class
Date: TBA
Time: TBA 1 hour class
Cost: $15 includes his comic
Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested. SpazDog
Comics is located on the SW corner of 35th Avenue and Deer Valley Road.
PDF flyers are available for these events upon request. Please call
us for details or questions at (623) 582-3240 or email us at
shawn@spazdogcomics.com.
DRMASTER PUBLICATIONS & FLASH FRAME OMAKE PROUDLY PRESENT THE YASUSHI SUZUKI ART EXHIBIT
SAN JOSE, CA – May, 2008 – DrMaster Publications Inc., DGN Productions Inc. and Flash Frame Omake are proud to present the Yasushi Suzuki Art Exhibit. This event in itself is a milestone in the career of this highly regarded video game concept designer, as it marks the first time that his art work will be displayed publicly outside of Japan. The exhibit is being hosted by Anime North, one of North America’s largest and highly attended anime conventions.
Yasushi Suzuki is a widely recognized name in the video game industry, due to his work as a concept designer at TREASURE, one of the most respected video game developing companies from Japan. His art has been used in a number of high profile gaming titles which include Radiant Silver Gun, IKARUGA and Sin & Punishment, just to name a few. Sin & Punishment, a game that was originally released on the Nintendo 64, in 2000, has seen a resurgence in fandom, due in part to Nintendo making the game available for download off their Wii Virtual Console. Yasushi Suzuki’s concept design work on video games garnered him a lot of attention and praise from fans in Japan, and it was not long before his name began to ring bells with people overseas.
In search of more freedom and flexibility with his craft, Yasushi Suzuki decided to go freelance after a number of years of work at various gaming companies. His decision could not have been made at a better time, as he was now both mentally and artistically prepared to venture into new areas with his art. Under the pen name “D-Suzuki”, he has been an active graphic designer and illustrator in Japan, lending his talents to a number of different forms of media.
He collaborated with Softbank Creative on two short comic series, Phantoms: Soul in the Cage and Phantoms: Fiery Twin Souls. The unique gothic art style of Phantoms pleased the appetites of his current fans, while winning over new ones that had previously not been exposed to his work. In 2007, DrMaster Publications announced that Yasushi Suzuki was creating an entirely original work, titled Purgatory Kabuki. The project was to be his first full–length manga; so naturally, fans and industry alike were very excited about the forthcoming publication. What was even more surprising than the announcement itself was news that DrMaster was planning to publish Purgatory Kabuki in English first, which is unheard of in the manga industry.
His work has also graced the covers of various fantasy and sci-fi novels in Japan, for authors such as Kazma Sinjow, Hidehiko Maki, Tatsuaki Ishiguro and Kyoko Hino. Suzuki-san also provided cover illustrations for the Japanese version of A Song of Ice and Fire, by New York Times bestselling author, George R.R. Martin. Konami, a powerhouse in the video game industry, contracted Suzuki-san to do promotional art work for their PlayStation 2 title, Zone of Enders: The Second Runner. Those who are unfamiliar with his work will also find quite a few illustrations by him in the Duel Masters trading card series, which is known globally as one of the most popular trading card games.
In the summer of 2007, DrMaster released The Art of Yasushi Suzuki. The publication was a full-color, soft cover art book that consisted of a total of eighty-four pages. It compiled various art works throughout his career as a graphic designer and illustrator. A number of original illustrations were included in the art book, as well as these extras; a foreword by Dave Halverson (Editor in Chief of Play Magazine), a sneak peak at Purgatory Kabuki, as well as interviews with Yasushi Suzuki. The art book is still widely available, and for fans of his work, or rather anyone who appreciates great art, this publication is a must have!
The Yasushi Suzuki Art Exhibit will be the feature attraction at the 12th Annual Anime North Art Show. The art pieces featured in the exhibit are taken from various works by Yasushi Suzuki, and include his artistic and design contributions to video games, as well as other media he has illustrated for. There will also be exclusive illustrations from the recently announced Goths Cage on display. Since this is the first time that Yasushi Suzuki’s art work is being displayed outside of Japan, it is a must see event for anyone planning to attend Anime North!
Special Thanks To:
Yuki Chung (DrMaster Publications)
A-run Chey (Flash Frame Omake)
David Federman and Joe Markovic (Anime North)
About Flash Frame Omake:
The average anime fan has a healthy appetite for all things related to Japanese pop culture, which also include video games, printed media like manga and art books, music such as JPOP, anime and game soundtracks, and merchandise like figures and toys. Flash Frame Omake is an online publication, based out of Toronto, Canada, with the goal of promoting all things related to Japanese pop culture, through unique and original news coverage, as well as exclusive organized events.
About DrMaster Publications, Inc.:
DrMaster Publications Inc. is a uniquely quirky publishing company that was started in 2004. Specializing in bringing interesting graphic novels from Japan and China, across the Pacific for American audiences, DrMaster Publications offers a myriad of titles to cater to its various niche readers. The company is what some may call a boutique publisher, which tailors each its titles to suit every reader’s unique desires. Ranging from side-splitting comedies and heart-wrenching dramas to explosive action adventures and enchanting fantasies, DrMaster books provide a glimpse into a new realm as seen through the eyes of the authors and artists. You don’t just read a DrMaster book-it jolts you to life, as you are propelled through the pages.
Please visit www.drmasterbooks.com for information on our current and upcoming titles. And feel free to tour the site. Regular updates will follow as our line of “masterful” comic series expands.
About DGN Productions International:
DGN Productions (Digital Graphic Novel Productions) is a newly-formed production company and studio made up of industry veterans within the comics and video game industries. Through strategic licensing of key comic book titles and the use of recognized industry professionals within the fields of animation and video game development, DGN Productions International is dedicated to producing cutting-edge video games, comics and animated features adapted from some the biggest and brightest in Hong Kong, Japanese and Korean comic book properties. DGN Productions International was founded June 2004 and is based in Fremont, California.
Goths Cage
ISBN: 978-1-59796-157-8
Price: $12.95
Format: Hardcover/ Full Color
Purgatory Kabuki volume 1
ISBN: 978-1-59796-070-0
Price: $9.95
Format: Paperback/ B&W
The Art of Yasushi Suzuki
ISBN: 978-1-59796-069-4
Price: $26.95
Format: Paperback/ Full Color
###
SAN JOSE, CA – May, 2008 – DrMaster Publications Inc., DGN Productions Inc. and Flash Frame Omake are proud to present the Yasushi Suzuki Art Exhibit. This event in itself is a milestone in the career of this highly regarded video game concept designer, as it marks the first time that his art work will be displayed publicly outside of Japan. The exhibit is being hosted by Anime North, one of North America’s largest and highly attended anime conventions.
Yasushi Suzuki is a widely recognized name in the video game industry, due to his work as a concept designer at TREASURE, one of the most respected video game developing companies from Japan. His art has been used in a number of high profile gaming titles which include Radiant Silver Gun, IKARUGA and Sin & Punishment, just to name a few. Sin & Punishment, a game that was originally released on the Nintendo 64, in 2000, has seen a resurgence in fandom, due in part to Nintendo making the game available for download off their Wii Virtual Console. Yasushi Suzuki’s concept design work on video games garnered him a lot of attention and praise from fans in Japan, and it was not long before his name began to ring bells with people overseas.
In search of more freedom and flexibility with his craft, Yasushi Suzuki decided to go freelance after a number of years of work at various gaming companies. His decision could not have been made at a better time, as he was now both mentally and artistically prepared to venture into new areas with his art. Under the pen name “D-Suzuki”, he has been an active graphic designer and illustrator in Japan, lending his talents to a number of different forms of media.
He collaborated with Softbank Creative on two short comic series, Phantoms: Soul in the Cage and Phantoms: Fiery Twin Souls. The unique gothic art style of Phantoms pleased the appetites of his current fans, while winning over new ones that had previously not been exposed to his work. In 2007, DrMaster Publications announced that Yasushi Suzuki was creating an entirely original work, titled Purgatory Kabuki. The project was to be his first full–length manga; so naturally, fans and industry alike were very excited about the forthcoming publication. What was even more surprising than the announcement itself was news that DrMaster was planning to publish Purgatory Kabuki in English first, which is unheard of in the manga industry.
His work has also graced the covers of various fantasy and sci-fi novels in Japan, for authors such as Kazma Sinjow, Hidehiko Maki, Tatsuaki Ishiguro and Kyoko Hino. Suzuki-san also provided cover illustrations for the Japanese version of A Song of Ice and Fire, by New York Times bestselling author, George R.R. Martin. Konami, a powerhouse in the video game industry, contracted Suzuki-san to do promotional art work for their PlayStation 2 title, Zone of Enders: The Second Runner. Those who are unfamiliar with his work will also find quite a few illustrations by him in the Duel Masters trading card series, which is known globally as one of the most popular trading card games.
In the summer of 2007, DrMaster released The Art of Yasushi Suzuki. The publication was a full-color, soft cover art book that consisted of a total of eighty-four pages. It compiled various art works throughout his career as a graphic designer and illustrator. A number of original illustrations were included in the art book, as well as these extras; a foreword by Dave Halverson (Editor in Chief of Play Magazine), a sneak peak at Purgatory Kabuki, as well as interviews with Yasushi Suzuki. The art book is still widely available, and for fans of his work, or rather anyone who appreciates great art, this publication is a must have!
The Yasushi Suzuki Art Exhibit will be the feature attraction at the 12th Annual Anime North Art Show. The art pieces featured in the exhibit are taken from various works by Yasushi Suzuki, and include his artistic and design contributions to video games, as well as other media he has illustrated for. There will also be exclusive illustrations from the recently announced Goths Cage on display. Since this is the first time that Yasushi Suzuki’s art work is being displayed outside of Japan, it is a must see event for anyone planning to attend Anime North!
Special Thanks To:
Yuki Chung (DrMaster Publications)
A-run Chey (Flash Frame Omake)
David Federman and Joe Markovic (Anime North)
About Flash Frame Omake:
The average anime fan has a healthy appetite for all things related to Japanese pop culture, which also include video games, printed media like manga and art books, music such as JPOP, anime and game soundtracks, and merchandise like figures and toys. Flash Frame Omake is an online publication, based out of Toronto, Canada, with the goal of promoting all things related to Japanese pop culture, through unique and original news coverage, as well as exclusive organized events.
About DrMaster Publications, Inc.:
DrMaster Publications Inc. is a uniquely quirky publishing company that was started in 2004. Specializing in bringing interesting graphic novels from Japan and China, across the Pacific for American audiences, DrMaster Publications offers a myriad of titles to cater to its various niche readers. The company is what some may call a boutique publisher, which tailors each its titles to suit every reader’s unique desires. Ranging from side-splitting comedies and heart-wrenching dramas to explosive action adventures and enchanting fantasies, DrMaster books provide a glimpse into a new realm as seen through the eyes of the authors and artists. You don’t just read a DrMaster book-it jolts you to life, as you are propelled through the pages.
Please visit www.drmasterbooks.com for information on our current and upcoming titles. And feel free to tour the site. Regular updates will follow as our line of “masterful” comic series expands.
About DGN Productions International:
DGN Productions (Digital Graphic Novel Productions) is a newly-formed production company and studio made up of industry veterans within the comics and video game industries. Through strategic licensing of key comic book titles and the use of recognized industry professionals within the fields of animation and video game development, DGN Productions International is dedicated to producing cutting-edge video games, comics and animated features adapted from some the biggest and brightest in Hong Kong, Japanese and Korean comic book properties. DGN Productions International was founded June 2004 and is based in Fremont, California.
Goths Cage
ISBN: 978-1-59796-157-8
Price: $12.95
Format: Hardcover/ Full Color
Purgatory Kabuki volume 1
ISBN: 978-1-59796-070-0
Price: $9.95
Format: Paperback/ B&W
The Art of Yasushi Suzuki
ISBN: 978-1-59796-069-4
Price: $26.95
Format: Paperback/ Full Color
###
Monday, May 19, 2008
ZENESCOPE ANNOUNCES PHILLY WIZARD WORLD PLANS
Zenescope Entertainment has a lot happening during the Philadelphia Wizard World Convention from May 30th-June 1st -- Three convention exclusives, an after-party bash, a Wizard School panel and multiple artist/creator signings are keeping the indie publisher plenty busy at their hometown convention.
“Philly Wizard World is in our backyard and we’re extremely excited about this one.” said Zenescope President Joe Brusha. “We debuted our very first issue at the Philly con back in ’05 and the fans who showed up supported us right out of the gate and we’re so appreciative of that. We’re looking forward to another great show this year.”
The Zenescope exclusives include:
TALES FROM WONDERLAND: THE MAD HATTER one-shot Wizard World Exclusive
Cover art by David Nakayama (Marvel Adventures) limited to 500 issues.
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #27 The 3 Blind Mice Philly ‘Cheesesteak’ Exclusive
Cover art by Romano Molenaar limited to 500 copies.
1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS: The Adventures of Sinbad Philly Wizard World Exclusive
Cover art by David Nakayama limited to 750 copies.
Zenescope is also hosting the ultimate convention AFTER-PARTY along with Brave New Worlds comic shop at MODA and OTIUM lounge 110 Chestnut St. Philadelphia on Saturday May 31st. Doors open at 8:30pm as Zenescope combines Wizard World with Philadelphia nightlife.
And on Friday, May 30th from 4-5pm in the Wizard School Room Zenescope presents “Creating Your Comic.”
Zenescope's Ralph Tedesco and Joe Brusha offer tips and advice on developing your own indie comic book. From idea to story development to artwork to pitching your series to publishers. Join Ralph and Joe as they offer advice and tips about where to start and what publishers tend to look for when taking on new creators and comic book properties.
T-shirts and DVDs will be raffled off and all attendees will receive a choice of free comics so don't miss this panel!
Philadelphia Wizard World runs May 30th-June 1st click here for more info: http://www.wizardworld.com/home-pa.html
Zenescope Entertainment has a lot happening during the Philadelphia Wizard World Convention from May 30th-June 1st -- Three convention exclusives, an after-party bash, a Wizard School panel and multiple artist/creator signings are keeping the indie publisher plenty busy at their hometown convention.
“Philly Wizard World is in our backyard and we’re extremely excited about this one.” said Zenescope President Joe Brusha. “We debuted our very first issue at the Philly con back in ’05 and the fans who showed up supported us right out of the gate and we’re so appreciative of that. We’re looking forward to another great show this year.”
The Zenescope exclusives include:
TALES FROM WONDERLAND: THE MAD HATTER one-shot Wizard World Exclusive
Cover art by David Nakayama (Marvel Adventures) limited to 500 issues.
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #27 The 3 Blind Mice Philly ‘Cheesesteak’ Exclusive
Cover art by Romano Molenaar limited to 500 copies.
1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS: The Adventures of Sinbad Philly Wizard World Exclusive
Cover art by David Nakayama limited to 750 copies.
Zenescope is also hosting the ultimate convention AFTER-PARTY along with Brave New Worlds comic shop at MODA and OTIUM lounge 110 Chestnut St. Philadelphia on Saturday May 31st. Doors open at 8:30pm as Zenescope combines Wizard World with Philadelphia nightlife.
And on Friday, May 30th from 4-5pm in the Wizard School Room Zenescope presents “Creating Your Comic.”
Zenescope's Ralph Tedesco and Joe Brusha offer tips and advice on developing your own indie comic book. From idea to story development to artwork to pitching your series to publishers. Join Ralph and Joe as they offer advice and tips about where to start and what publishers tend to look for when taking on new creators and comic book properties.
T-shirts and DVDs will be raffled off and all attendees will receive a choice of free comics so don't miss this panel!
Philadelphia Wizard World runs May 30th-June 1st click here for more info: http://www.wizardworld.com/home-pa.html
Hey gang,
Coming up in just a few weeks on June 7th, I'll be presenting a program
at the Will and Ariel Durant Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.
That's the one that's only a few blocks away from beloved Hollywood
Comic Store Meltdown Comics (http://www.meltcomics.com). The topic will
be writing comics, but, will probably cover everything from making
mini-comics to breaking in to the big companies. I'm hopefully going to
have a few guests there, and have some cool stuff planned out, so, I hope
some of you can attend.
And please, as always, feel free to repost this and let your friends
know. Here's the full info:
http://events.lapl.org/viewEvent.cfm?eventID=19516
Event Name: Comic Book Writing
Category: Just for Teens
Type: Author Program
Date: 06/07/08
Time: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Day: Saturday
Branch: Will & Ariel Durant
7140 W Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 876-2741
Description: Joshua Hale Fialkov, award winning author of "Elk's Run"
and "Princess Resurrection" shows how comic books are written and
produced.
See you there!
j.
--
www.thefialkov.com
Coming up in just a few weeks on June 7th, I'll be presenting a program
at the Will and Ariel Durant Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.
That's the one that's only a few blocks away from beloved Hollywood
Comic Store Meltdown Comics (http://www.meltcomics.com). The topic will
be writing comics, but, will probably cover everything from making
mini-comics to breaking in to the big companies. I'm hopefully going to
have a few guests there, and have some cool stuff planned out, so, I hope
some of you can attend.
And please, as always, feel free to repost this and let your friends
know. Here's the full info:
http://events.lapl.org/viewEvent.cfm?eventID=19516
Event Name: Comic Book Writing
Category: Just for Teens
Type: Author Program
Date: 06/07/08
Time: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Day: Saturday
Branch: Will & Ariel Durant
7140 W Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 876-2741
Description: Joshua Hale Fialkov, award winning author of "Elk's Run"
and "Princess Resurrection" shows how comic books are written and
produced.
See you there!
j.
--
www.thefialkov.com
TOP SHELF 2.0 GOES LIVE!
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0
American indie-comics publisher Top Shelf Productions launches today
its new free digital comics initiative, playfully titled Top Shelf
2.0. Updated 5 days a week, the new program will showcase a huge
variety of talent both old and new, introducing creators to new fans —
and fans to new creators — with a constant stream of new stories.
Updates to the site, posted every weekday, will take many forms,
ranging from one-page gags to short stories to chapters in an ongoing
series. With each day's new story, co-editors Brett Warnock and Leigh
Walton will unveil another piece in a rolling assortment of previously
featured artists and new debuts. As a special bonus for the site's
launch, the initial offering features ten stories by twelve creators,
demonstrating the vast diversity of comics and cartoonists involved.
According to the editors' welcome message, "that's just the tip of the
iceberg!"
Among those currently or soon to be featured on Top Shelf 2.0 are:
--the haunting avant-garde imagery of Bart Johnson and Ben Constantine…
--the globe-spanning high-kicking funkadelic fury of Kagan McCloud,
serializing his indie classic *Infinite Kung Fu* in preparation for
the collected edition to be published by Top Shelf in 2009…
--a stunning painted fable by John C. Ralston…
--Jed McGowan working his color wizardry with a beautifully limited palette…
--the freewheelin' mythic imagination of the inimitable Bernie McGovern…
--a pair of young artists whose energy and charm practically shines
from every panel of their cartoony adventures: Chris "Elio" Eliopoulos
and Michael DeForge…
--the monumental TENTH 24-hour comic by the master of the form, David
Chelsea (whose new book, *24x2*, is on sale now from Top Shelf)…
--an inky poetic parable from young Slovenian prodigy Domen Finžgar,
and a Japan-flavored short from Belgian brush-master Stedho…
--the brilliant wit and charm of notable webcomickers Jessica McLeod
and Edward J Grug III…
--the Ignatz-nominated architectural hijinks of Jeff Zwirek…
--plus Aaron Navrady, Steve Lafler, Lizz Lunney, Sean T. Collins, Matt
Wiegle, Matt Rota, Nik Daum, Will Dinski, Willow Dawson, Emily Block,
and many more to be revealed as we keep rolling!
With its unique one-story-per-day format, Top Shelf 2.0 is a hybrid
between a webcomics portal's stable of ongoing strips and a print
anthology's stand-alone short stories. As Walton puts it, "We're
somewhere in between Keenspot and *MOME*." Similarly, Walton's
web-savvy youth, combined with Warnock's decade of experience editing
the Eisner- and Harvey-Award-nominated anthology *Top Shelf*, makes
for a killer curatorial combo.
Of course, the new program is no replacement for Top Shelf's primary
business: the print publication of critically-acclaimed and popularly
treasured graphic novels. "People will never stop wanting books," says
Walton, "especially when the books are as lovingly crafted as ours
(and those of other alt-comix publishers). Rather, Top Shelf 2.0 is
like a little online spin-off of the big Top Shelf brand, like MTV2 or
BBC Two. To a certain extent, we see Top Shelf 2.0 as a laboratory for
new ideas and new creators — any webcomic that gets an outstanding
response will naturally suggest that we consider it for print
publication, but in the meantime we're happy to give these creators
and fans an opportunity to discover each other. Throughout the
process, I should add, creators fully own their work — it's an
experiment for them as well as for us. We're all excited to see where
it goes!"
Top Shelf 2.0 is live at http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0 and
updates Monday through Friday.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0
American indie-comics publisher Top Shelf Productions launches today
its new free digital comics initiative, playfully titled Top Shelf
2.0. Updated 5 days a week, the new program will showcase a huge
variety of talent both old and new, introducing creators to new fans —
and fans to new creators — with a constant stream of new stories.
Updates to the site, posted every weekday, will take many forms,
ranging from one-page gags to short stories to chapters in an ongoing
series. With each day's new story, co-editors Brett Warnock and Leigh
Walton will unveil another piece in a rolling assortment of previously
featured artists and new debuts. As a special bonus for the site's
launch, the initial offering features ten stories by twelve creators,
demonstrating the vast diversity of comics and cartoonists involved.
According to the editors' welcome message, "that's just the tip of the
iceberg!"
Among those currently or soon to be featured on Top Shelf 2.0 are:
--the haunting avant-garde imagery of Bart Johnson and Ben Constantine…
--the globe-spanning high-kicking funkadelic fury of Kagan McCloud,
serializing his indie classic *Infinite Kung Fu* in preparation for
the collected edition to be published by Top Shelf in 2009…
--a stunning painted fable by John C. Ralston…
--Jed McGowan working his color wizardry with a beautifully limited palette…
--the freewheelin' mythic imagination of the inimitable Bernie McGovern…
--a pair of young artists whose energy and charm practically shines
from every panel of their cartoony adventures: Chris "Elio" Eliopoulos
and Michael DeForge…
--the monumental TENTH 24-hour comic by the master of the form, David
Chelsea (whose new book, *24x2*, is on sale now from Top Shelf)…
--an inky poetic parable from young Slovenian prodigy Domen Finžgar,
and a Japan-flavored short from Belgian brush-master Stedho…
--the brilliant wit and charm of notable webcomickers Jessica McLeod
and Edward J Grug III…
--the Ignatz-nominated architectural hijinks of Jeff Zwirek…
--plus Aaron Navrady, Steve Lafler, Lizz Lunney, Sean T. Collins, Matt
Wiegle, Matt Rota, Nik Daum, Will Dinski, Willow Dawson, Emily Block,
and many more to be revealed as we keep rolling!
With its unique one-story-per-day format, Top Shelf 2.0 is a hybrid
between a webcomics portal's stable of ongoing strips and a print
anthology's stand-alone short stories. As Walton puts it, "We're
somewhere in between Keenspot and *MOME*." Similarly, Walton's
web-savvy youth, combined with Warnock's decade of experience editing
the Eisner- and Harvey-Award-nominated anthology *Top Shelf*, makes
for a killer curatorial combo.
Of course, the new program is no replacement for Top Shelf's primary
business: the print publication of critically-acclaimed and popularly
treasured graphic novels. "People will never stop wanting books," says
Walton, "especially when the books are as lovingly crafted as ours
(and those of other alt-comix publishers). Rather, Top Shelf 2.0 is
like a little online spin-off of the big Top Shelf brand, like MTV2 or
BBC Two. To a certain extent, we see Top Shelf 2.0 as a laboratory for
new ideas and new creators — any webcomic that gets an outstanding
response will naturally suggest that we consider it for print
publication, but in the meantime we're happy to give these creators
and fans an opportunity to discover each other. Throughout the
process, I should add, creators fully own their work — it's an
experiment for them as well as for us. We're all excited to see where
it goes!"
Top Shelf 2.0 is live at http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0 and
updates Monday through Friday.
Tozzer webcomic launches!
Get your weekly Tozzer fix
19 May 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read on for:
-- Weekly Tozzer
-- Get ready for the London MCM show!
-- Interviews n stuff
Hey, folks!
Everyone likes free stuff, right? So to cater for all you cheapskates (I mean, you sophisticated members of the cultural elite), we've launched a brand new webcomic. We've been spreading the word at a bunch of conventions recently, and also pimping our latest book, Peckerwood: 24 Minutes. Our next show is this weekend.
Blimey, no rest for the wicked!
Weekly Tozzer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, folks, it's the moment none of you've been waiting for - the launch of the amazing Tozzer webcomic! Yes, the strip is no longer just a vicious rumour. It is now a living, breathing testament to our total lack of talent.
Right now, we're hosting the comic on Drunk Duck, but you can also read the latest episode on tozzer.com. Check out the first strip here .
The strips will be updated weekly, but if you want to make sure that you never miss your fix, then pop over to tozzer.com and sign up to the webcomic updates.
You can discuss Tozzer on our forum.
Get ready for the London MCM show!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The MCM show is on 24-25 May, at the Excel Centre in East London. It's always a good laugh, with a great turnout and a dazzling array of insane (I mean creative) cosplayers. If you want a free hug from a disturbed teenager in a wookie outfit, this is the place for you. There's also loads of high profile movie and videogame booths, so if you're a pop culture junkie, come along!
The Tozzer / Peckerwood action is in the "comics village", tables D1-D2. Come on over, say hi, and shoot the breeze with the Tozzer posse!
Interviews n stuff
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We've been to some great shows recently. New York was a blast, Bristol was bigger and better than ever before, and Milton Keynes was very handy for shopping. We've met some fantastic peeps over the last month, and some of you guys even bought our stuff, so thanks for the support. I'm all teary-eyed!
Now, for anyone who's interested, here's some things you can listen to:
Comic Geek Speak review of Peckerwood - starts at 1h 04m
Comic Geek Speak interview - starts at 1h 02m
Comic Timing interview- starts at 58m
Indie Spinner Rack interview: - starts at 31m
Birds of Geek interview - starts at 34m 30s
And there's a strange and very brief video spot with Filteany - starts at 3m 40s
All the above podcasts are well produced and worth checking out. Thanks to everyone we spoke to - you're an awesome bunch!
That's all for now, folks! You can get in touch by replying to this email, posting on our forum or coming to one of the shows we attend and communicating old-style, like, y'know, face-to-face.
Take it easy,
Rob n Pete
Get your weekly Tozzer fix
19 May 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read on for:
-- Weekly Tozzer
-- Get ready for the London MCM show!
-- Interviews n stuff
Hey, folks!
Everyone likes free stuff, right? So to cater for all you cheapskates (I mean, you sophisticated members of the cultural elite), we've launched a brand new webcomic. We've been spreading the word at a bunch of conventions recently, and also pimping our latest book, Peckerwood: 24 Minutes. Our next show is this weekend.
Blimey, no rest for the wicked!
Weekly Tozzer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, folks, it's the moment none of you've been waiting for - the launch of the amazing Tozzer webcomic! Yes, the strip is no longer just a vicious rumour. It is now a living, breathing testament to our total lack of talent.
Right now, we're hosting the comic on Drunk Duck, but you can also read the latest episode on tozzer.com. Check out the first strip here .
The strips will be updated weekly, but if you want to make sure that you never miss your fix, then pop over to tozzer.com and sign up to the webcomic updates.
You can discuss Tozzer on our forum.
Get ready for the London MCM show!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The MCM show is on 24-25 May, at the Excel Centre in East London. It's always a good laugh, with a great turnout and a dazzling array of insane (I mean creative) cosplayers. If you want a free hug from a disturbed teenager in a wookie outfit, this is the place for you. There's also loads of high profile movie and videogame booths, so if you're a pop culture junkie, come along!
The Tozzer / Peckerwood action is in the "comics village", tables D1-D2. Come on over, say hi, and shoot the breeze with the Tozzer posse!
Interviews n stuff
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We've been to some great shows recently. New York was a blast, Bristol was bigger and better than ever before, and Milton Keynes was very handy for shopping. We've met some fantastic peeps over the last month, and some of you guys even bought our stuff, so thanks for the support. I'm all teary-eyed!
Now, for anyone who's interested, here's some things you can listen to:
Comic Geek Speak review of Peckerwood - starts at 1h 04m
Comic Geek Speak interview - starts at 1h 02m
Comic Timing interview- starts at 58m
Indie Spinner Rack interview: - starts at 31m
Birds of Geek interview - starts at 34m 30s
And there's a strange and very brief video spot with Filteany - starts at 3m 40s
All the above podcasts are well produced and worth checking out. Thanks to everyone we spoke to - you're an awesome bunch!
That's all for now, folks! You can get in touch by replying to this email, posting on our forum or coming to one of the shows we attend and communicating old-style, like, y'know, face-to-face.
Take it easy,
Rob n Pete
AAM/Markosia announces N-Guard
While on a field trip to the legendary Stones of Nature, Boon, Kat Nip, Klondike and Quickstep find themselves drawn into an age-old conflict between Willow, the Mother of Nature and the vile SpiderSect Empire. Reluctantly, our heroes are propelled into the fray when Mother Nature bestows to them the fabled Amulets of Nature, granting them astonishing powers. Together, they become N-Guard.
"When Jon Bryans got in touch I remembered him from a year previously when he'd pitched N-Guard to us," says publisher Harry Markos. "Back then it was a completely different property to what he brought to us the second time around, and I was very impressed with his persistence and determination to make it work. In addition to that N-Guard looked amazing in its new format, which helped! I thought it was about time we had an all ages book again, so it was a very easy decision for me. It is a fresh and dynamic book which I think will go a long way. We've already had interest from animation studios, which I think would be a perfect fit, and I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about N-Guard over the next year or so. The first series is already completed and we're discussing a second series for 2009. I'm looking forward to it!"
N-Guard #1 is available for pre-order now. It has been selected as a Diamond Staff Pick and is also spotlighted. Use code MAY08 3523 when placing your orders.
N-GUARD #1
Jonathan Bryans (writer)
Phillip Jackson (art)
Mickey Clausen (colors)
Thomas Mauer (letters)
Full Color
28 Pages
$3.50 / £2.25p
For more info please visit www.markosia.com
While on a field trip to the legendary Stones of Nature, Boon, Kat Nip, Klondike and Quickstep find themselves drawn into an age-old conflict between Willow, the Mother of Nature and the vile SpiderSect Empire. Reluctantly, our heroes are propelled into the fray when Mother Nature bestows to them the fabled Amulets of Nature, granting them astonishing powers. Together, they become N-Guard.
"When Jon Bryans got in touch I remembered him from a year previously when he'd pitched N-Guard to us," says publisher Harry Markos. "Back then it was a completely different property to what he brought to us the second time around, and I was very impressed with his persistence and determination to make it work. In addition to that N-Guard looked amazing in its new format, which helped! I thought it was about time we had an all ages book again, so it was a very easy decision for me. It is a fresh and dynamic book which I think will go a long way. We've already had interest from animation studios, which I think would be a perfect fit, and I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about N-Guard over the next year or so. The first series is already completed and we're discussing a second series for 2009. I'm looking forward to it!"
N-Guard #1 is available for pre-order now. It has been selected as a Diamond Staff Pick and is also spotlighted. Use code MAY08 3523 when placing your orders.
N-GUARD #1
Jonathan Bryans (writer)
Phillip Jackson (art)
Mickey Clausen (colors)
Thomas Mauer (letters)
Full Color
28 Pages
$3.50 / £2.25p
For more info please visit www.markosia.com
NBM & PAPERCUTZ AT BEA
Graphic-novel publishers to unveil new projects at U.S. book industry’s
biggest annual event
Graphic-novel house NBM Publishing and its sister company, the
children’s publisher Papercutz, will reveal new projects at Book Expo
America (BEA). The trade show, the largest annual event in American
book publishing, will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center
on May 29 through June 1.
NBM’s booth, #725, stands in Hall H of the convention center’s South
Hall in the Publishers Marketing Association section. Among the
projects that NBM will have on display:
Moresukine: Uploaded Weekly from Tokyo by Dirk Schwieger. When
Schwieger drew a comics blog of his life in Tokyo, his readers dared
him to do all sorts of things — exotic, disgusting, revealing — and he
obeyed! This fascinating, funny, funky collection looks inside Japanese
society, life, thought, and food.
Why I Killed Peter by Alfred and Olivier Ka. The author retells his
childhood experience with a priest who went too far. It’s an intense
yet nuanced, gray-area graphic novel on an extremely topical subject,
poignantly and sensitively told.
Plus Dungeon: Monsters, the latest in the popular series by Lewis
Trondheim and Joann Sfar; Happy Hooligan, a deluxe collection of the
classic (and crazy!) comic strip; Nocturnal Conspiracies: Nineteen
Dreams by David B (Epileptic), a surreal collection of nighttime
fantasies; and Miss Don’t Touch Me by Hubert & Kerascoet, a tale that
only the French can offer — suspenseful and spicy yet deep and real.
Papercutz, also in the South Hall, is at #1552, with the Macmillan
group. Papercutz will reveal new editions of the best-selling BIONICLE
graphic novels, based on the popular LEGO toys—not to mention series
such as Tales From The Crypt, Classics Illustrated, Nancy Drew, and The
Hardy Boys.
Graphic-novel publishers to unveil new projects at U.S. book industry’s
biggest annual event
Graphic-novel house NBM Publishing and its sister company, the
children’s publisher Papercutz, will reveal new projects at Book Expo
America (BEA). The trade show, the largest annual event in American
book publishing, will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center
on May 29 through June 1.
NBM’s booth, #725, stands in Hall H of the convention center’s South
Hall in the Publishers Marketing Association section. Among the
projects that NBM will have on display:
Moresukine: Uploaded Weekly from Tokyo by Dirk Schwieger. When
Schwieger drew a comics blog of his life in Tokyo, his readers dared
him to do all sorts of things — exotic, disgusting, revealing — and he
obeyed! This fascinating, funny, funky collection looks inside Japanese
society, life, thought, and food.
Why I Killed Peter by Alfred and Olivier Ka. The author retells his
childhood experience with a priest who went too far. It’s an intense
yet nuanced, gray-area graphic novel on an extremely topical subject,
poignantly and sensitively told.
Plus Dungeon: Monsters, the latest in the popular series by Lewis
Trondheim and Joann Sfar; Happy Hooligan, a deluxe collection of the
classic (and crazy!) comic strip; Nocturnal Conspiracies: Nineteen
Dreams by David B (Epileptic), a surreal collection of nighttime
fantasies; and Miss Don’t Touch Me by Hubert & Kerascoet, a tale that
only the French can offer — suspenseful and spicy yet deep and real.
Papercutz, also in the South Hall, is at #1552, with the Macmillan
group. Papercutz will reveal new editions of the best-selling BIONICLE
graphic novels, based on the popular LEGO toys—not to mention series
such as Tales From The Crypt, Classics Illustrated, Nancy Drew, and The
Hardy Boys.
Hi! Hope that you had a great weekend! Sorry to bother you, but I was
hoping I might ask for another moment of your time... and my apologies
for the mass email.
My webcomic, ACTION, OHIO, is entering it's third week of competition
at DC Comics' Zudacomics competition and I wanted to thank everyone
who voted for us and added us as their favorite comic. If you haven't
had a chance, please click to http://www.zudacomics.com/node/438
before May 30 and vote for/add the comic to your favorites when you
have a chance - we're in second place now but need a big push to win
this month.
As I've been telling people, this whole thing works like a big pyramid
scheme to me... so I was hoping to take advantage of the "tell two
friends and have them tell two friends" thing by asking you to pass
along the info to as many people you know as possible. To make it
easier for you, simply paste this pre-written copy into an email and
send it along:
'Hi - sorry to bother you but I was hoping you might help me out with
a quick favor. My friend Neil is a competitor this May in DC Comics'
webcomic competition - if his comic, ACTION OHIO, gets more votes than
everyone else, he gets a year contract from DC to continue the comic.
If you could, please click over to http://www.zudacomics.com/node/438,
register and vote before May 30 (it only takes a moment), add the
comic as your favorite, and then copy and forward this email to at
least two or three friends. It would mean a lot to Neil and it would
mean a lot to me. Thanks!'
Two more weeks to go and there are interviews coming and more great
posts at the production blog. Thanks again for your support and
outreach!
-Neil
--
-------------------------------------
Neil Kleid
RANT COMICS!
www.rantcomics.com
www.myspace.com/rantcomics
VOTE FOR ACTION, OHIO! this May:
www.zudacomics.com/node/438
hoping I might ask for another moment of your time... and my apologies
for the mass email.
My webcomic, ACTION, OHIO, is entering it's third week of competition
at DC Comics' Zudacomics competition and I wanted to thank everyone
who voted for us and added us as their favorite comic. If you haven't
had a chance, please click to http://www.zudacomics.com/node/438
before May 30 and vote for/add the comic to your favorites when you
have a chance - we're in second place now but need a big push to win
this month.
As I've been telling people, this whole thing works like a big pyramid
scheme to me... so I was hoping to take advantage of the "tell two
friends and have them tell two friends" thing by asking you to pass
along the info to as many people you know as possible. To make it
easier for you, simply paste this pre-written copy into an email and
send it along:
'Hi - sorry to bother you but I was hoping you might help me out with
a quick favor. My friend Neil is a competitor this May in DC Comics'
webcomic competition - if his comic, ACTION OHIO, gets more votes than
everyone else, he gets a year contract from DC to continue the comic.
If you could, please click over to http://www.zudacomics.com/node/438,
register and vote before May 30 (it only takes a moment), add the
comic as your favorite, and then copy and forward this email to at
least two or three friends. It would mean a lot to Neil and it would
mean a lot to me. Thanks!'
Two more weeks to go and there are interviews coming and more great
posts at the production blog. Thanks again for your support and
outreach!
-Neil
--
-------------------------------------
Neil Kleid
RANT COMICS!
www.rantcomics.com
www.myspace.com/rantcomics
VOTE FOR ACTION, OHIO! this May:
www.zudacomics.com/node/438
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
