VALIANT COMICS TO RETURN; FORMER MARVEL CEO BECOMES CHAIRMAN
Company Announces Investment and Expansion of Management Team
New York, NY – June 2, 2011 – Valiant Entertainment, the character-based entertainment company with more than 1,500 characters in its library, announced it will reintroduce the critically acclaimed Valiant Universe in print and digital comics in 2012. Valiant has hired accomplished industry executives and creative talent to expand its management team. The first announcement is that former Marvel CEO and Vice Chairman Peter Cuneo has assumed the role of Chairman of Valiant.
Valiant Entertainment, co-founded by Jason Kothari and Dinesh Shamdasani, has received a capital infusion from private investment company Cuneo & Company, LLC. Peter Cuneo, Managing Principal of Cuneo & Co., recently concluded ten years of leadership at Marvel Entertainment, which achieved one of the most extraordinary turnarounds in entertainment history during that period. His tenure with Marvel concluded with Marvel’s sale at the end of 2009 to The Walt Disney Company for over $4 billion. Gavin Cuneo, Principal of Cuneo & Co., was an investment banker with Bank of America Merrill Lynch prior to the founding of Cuneo & Co. He has spent over ten years working in investment banking and investment management and has been appointed to Valiant’s Board of Directors. Peter and Gavin Cuneo are working closely with Valiant’s expanded management team to usher in the new era of Valiant.
“I am excited to be partnering with Peter and Gavin,” said CEO Jason Kothari. “Peter’s decade of leadership at Marvel, Gavin’s decade of experience on Wall Street, and their highly active roles with Valiant will be integral to our expansion.”
“The strength of the management team which Jason has created and the quality of the characters owned and controlled by the company have made this an extremely attractive and exciting investment,” said Peter Cuneo.
“We see a great opportunity in today’s comic book industry for the emergence of a brand that combines the power of a strong legacy with a first-class creative and business team,” said Gavin Cuneo.
Originally founded in 1989, Valiant Comics quickly became one of the most successful comic book publishers by creating unique and compelling heroes and villains and focusing on storytelling. Valiant characters have been written and illustrated by many of the industry’s most famous creative talents, including Jim Shooter, Bob Layton, Barry Windsor Smith, Joe Quesada, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch, Steve Ditko, Mike Mignola and Neal Adams, among many others. Previously named Publisher of the Year by Diamond Comics Distributors, Valiant characters have sold over 80 million comic books. After creating some of the most popular comic book characters, Valiant was acquired by video game company Acclaim Entertainment. Acclaim used the characters as the basis for a number of successful video game franchises. Acclaim went out of business in 2005 due to issues unrelated to Valiant, including the loss of key sports video game licenses. This enabled Valiant Entertainment to acquire all the rights to the Valiant Comics library at the end of 2007. Valiant Entertainment began operations in 2008 and has made significant progress in the licensing and development of major motion pictures that will be communicated in the coming months. Valiant now expands into publishing.
“We have been planning the reintroduction of the Valiant titles for some time and I’m excited to announce our scheduled launch for 2012,” said Director Dinesh Shamdasani. “Cutting-edge characters and stories were the core tenants of the original Valiant and are the core tenants of the new Valiant.”
“Valiant owns and controls a universe of some of the most recognizable characters in the comic world,” added Peter Cuneo. “To this day, despite interruptions in its history, Valiant has retained an extremely passionate fan base. We are keenly focused on bringing the original Valiant Universe back for these fans as well as introducing these powerful characters and stories to new readers.”
About Valiant Entertainment
Valiant Entertainment is a character-based entertainment company that owns and controls some of the most cherished comic characters ever created across all media, including film, television, video games, new media, publishing, and consumer products. Since their creation in 1989, Valiant characters have sold 80 million comic books and have been the basis of a number of successful video game franchises. Valiant’s extensive library includes over 1,500 characters, such as X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman, and Ninjak. Visit www.ValiantEntertainment.com.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Catwoman Confirmed as Playable Character in Batman: Arkham City
In anticipation of E3, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment are excited to announce that Catwoman is a fully playable character in Batman: Arkham City on all platforms for which the game will be available: Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows PC and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.
As Catwoman, players will have a chance to indulge in their darker side and explore Arkham City as the infamous feline femme fatale. Complete with her own storyline in the main game, Catwoman’s adventure complements Batman’s central role and is seamlessly interwoven with his main story arc. She will also be playable in the challenge maps with her own unique combat moves, gadgetry and signature 'takedowns'.
Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.
Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game and join the discussion on the recently launched community site at http://community.batmanarkhamcity.com to participate in forums, read upcoming developer diaries and stay abreast of all the latest Batman: Arkham City news.
About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to such iconic DC Comics properties as Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, and Fables, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its superheroic characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing over 1,000 comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Comics is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.
About Rocksteady Studios Ltd
Rocksteady Studios is a multi-award winning videogame developer based in London, England. Located in a spacious, purpose built converted factory, with full motion capture and audio studio capabilities, Rocksteady is an energetic company formed by a core team of senior industry professionals. This creates an ideal balance of drive, talent, proven methods, experience and cutting edge technology to make AAA games. Now employing over 90 people, Rocksteady's mission is to be a highly professional, efficient company whose purpose is to make great games, and have happy and healthy team members. This philosophy is the heart and soul of the company. Rocksteady received the coveted ‘studio of the year’ award at the 2009 VGA awards.
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY software © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by Rocksteady Studios Ltd. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, Xbox, 'Games for Windows' and the Windows Vista Start button logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
In anticipation of E3, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment are excited to announce that Catwoman is a fully playable character in Batman: Arkham City on all platforms for which the game will be available: Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows PC and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.
As Catwoman, players will have a chance to indulge in their darker side and explore Arkham City as the infamous feline femme fatale. Complete with her own storyline in the main game, Catwoman’s adventure complements Batman’s central role and is seamlessly interwoven with his main story arc. She will also be playable in the challenge maps with her own unique combat moves, gadgetry and signature 'takedowns'.
Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.
Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game and join the discussion on the recently launched community site at http://community.batmanarkhamcity.com to participate in forums, read upcoming developer diaries and stay abreast of all the latest Batman: Arkham City news.
About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to such iconic DC Comics properties as Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, and Fables, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its superheroic characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing over 1,000 comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Comics is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.
About Rocksteady Studios Ltd
Rocksteady Studios is a multi-award winning videogame developer based in London, England. Located in a spacious, purpose built converted factory, with full motion capture and audio studio capabilities, Rocksteady is an energetic company formed by a core team of senior industry professionals. This creates an ideal balance of drive, talent, proven methods, experience and cutting edge technology to make AAA games. Now employing over 90 people, Rocksteady's mission is to be a highly professional, efficient company whose purpose is to make great games, and have happy and healthy team members. This philosophy is the heart and soul of the company. Rocksteady received the coveted ‘studio of the year’ award at the 2009 VGA awards.
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY software © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by Rocksteady Studios Ltd. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, Xbox, 'Games for Windows' and the Windows Vista Start button logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
DARK HORSE COMICS ANNOUNCES DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES FOR BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORES
JUNE 1, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce its Digital Retailer Exclusive program, with never-before-seen material from B.P.R.D., Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Mass Effect!
Dark Horse has come up with a unique way to offer support for brick-and-mortar retailers in a changing market: free, exclusive eight-page digital stories from our best-selling titles!
Launching in July, the Dark Horse Digital Retailer Exclusive program will offer all-new monthly digital comics for free! This exclusive program is a great way to drive both new and existing customers into local comic shops for digital comics that only those stores can provide.
The three-month program will include three of our current hottest titles:
July: B.P.R.D.
August: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
September: Mass Effect
How does it work?
During July through September 2011, Dark Horse will e-mail exclusive retailers a sheet of one hundred unique (one-time use) digital-download codes at the beginning of every month. The store simply prints out the codes and hands them out to loyal customers!
Customers redeem the coupon code and get their free digital comic by visiting Digital.DarkHorse.com/RetailerExclusive.
Fans should head over to their local comic shop and tell them to sign up today!
JUNE 1, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce its Digital Retailer Exclusive program, with never-before-seen material from B.P.R.D., Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Mass Effect!
Dark Horse has come up with a unique way to offer support for brick-and-mortar retailers in a changing market: free, exclusive eight-page digital stories from our best-selling titles!
Launching in July, the Dark Horse Digital Retailer Exclusive program will offer all-new monthly digital comics for free! This exclusive program is a great way to drive both new and existing customers into local comic shops for digital comics that only those stores can provide.
The three-month program will include three of our current hottest titles:
July: B.P.R.D.
August: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
September: Mass Effect
How does it work?
During July through September 2011, Dark Horse will e-mail exclusive retailers a sheet of one hundred unique (one-time use) digital-download codes at the beginning of every month. The store simply prints out the codes and hands them out to loyal customers!
Customers redeem the coupon code and get their free digital comic by visiting Digital.DarkHorse.com/RetailerExclusive.
Fans should head over to their local comic shop and tell them to sign up today!
Cinedigm Digital Cinema AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENTERTAINMENT TO DISTRIBUTE GROUNDBREAKING DOCUMENTARY “LIFE IN A DAY”FROM OSCAR®-WINNING FILMMAKERS KEVIN MACDONALD AND RIDLEY SCOTT
User-Generated Film From Worldwide YouTube Community Offers Snapshot Of Life On Earth on July 24th 2010
Premiere Screenings in Digital Cinemas Across the Country; Select Number Of Theaters Will Participate in LIVE Q&A With Filmmakers to Mark One Year Anniversary
Hollywood, CA, June 1, 2011 – Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. (NASDAQ: CIDM), the global leader in digital cinema, and National Geographic Entertainment will co-distribute the documentary LIFE IN A DAY to digital theatres across the country, it was announced today by Cinedigm Chairman Chris McGurk and Daniel Battsek, National Geographic Entertainment President. The film is directed by Oscar®-winner Kevin Macdonald (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER) and executive produced by Oscar®-winner Ridley Scott (GLADIATOR, BLADE RUNNER). A select number of the theatres will participate in a LIVE, interactive segment with the film’s creators following the special premiere screening on Sunday, July 24th, the one year anniversary of the original content capture. National Geographic will release the documentary theatrically on July 29th to select theatres across the country.
LIFE IN A DAY is an extraordinary, user-generated, feature-length documentary shot on a single day - July 24, 2010. The film’s creators invited the global YouTube community to capture this single day of their lives on camera and the world responded by submitting more than 80,000 videos to YouTube. The submissions represent over 4,500 hours of deeply personal, powerful film originating around the world from Australia to Zambia, from the heart of bustling major cities to the most remote reaches of the earth.
"LIFE IN A DAY is a wonderful opportunity to hear the voices of extraordinary people describing the world as they see it - telling us their fears and loves,” said Macdonald. “I always knew this would say something fascinating about who we are as a species and what we value - but I never realized how emotionally affecting the result would be."
Crafted by Macdonald, executive producer Ridley Scott, producer Liza Marshall and editor Joe Walker, LIFE IN A DAY offers a unique experience that shows with beautiful, humorous and joyful honesty, what it’s like to be alive on earth today.
“We are thrilled to bring this powerful and touching documentary to theatres around the country,” said McGurk. “Theatres are places where folks come together, to be together, to be moved together... and LIFE IN A DAY provides the perfect communal content.”
“We saw this one-day special event on July 24th as a wonderful way to ‘premiere’ this movie prior to its more traditional theatrical release,” said Battsek. “Many locations will be able to take part in a live experience where they can interact with the filmmakers directly, asking questions and getting unique insights.”
For further information, please visit www.cinedigm.com/lifeinaday.
User-Generated Film From Worldwide YouTube Community Offers Snapshot Of Life On Earth on July 24th 2010
Premiere Screenings in Digital Cinemas Across the Country; Select Number Of Theaters Will Participate in LIVE Q&A With Filmmakers to Mark One Year Anniversary
Hollywood, CA, June 1, 2011 – Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. (NASDAQ: CIDM), the global leader in digital cinema, and National Geographic Entertainment will co-distribute the documentary LIFE IN A DAY to digital theatres across the country, it was announced today by Cinedigm Chairman Chris McGurk and Daniel Battsek, National Geographic Entertainment President. The film is directed by Oscar®-winner Kevin Macdonald (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER) and executive produced by Oscar®-winner Ridley Scott (GLADIATOR, BLADE RUNNER). A select number of the theatres will participate in a LIVE, interactive segment with the film’s creators following the special premiere screening on Sunday, July 24th, the one year anniversary of the original content capture. National Geographic will release the documentary theatrically on July 29th to select theatres across the country.
LIFE IN A DAY is an extraordinary, user-generated, feature-length documentary shot on a single day - July 24, 2010. The film’s creators invited the global YouTube community to capture this single day of their lives on camera and the world responded by submitting more than 80,000 videos to YouTube. The submissions represent over 4,500 hours of deeply personal, powerful film originating around the world from Australia to Zambia, from the heart of bustling major cities to the most remote reaches of the earth.
"LIFE IN A DAY is a wonderful opportunity to hear the voices of extraordinary people describing the world as they see it - telling us their fears and loves,” said Macdonald. “I always knew this would say something fascinating about who we are as a species and what we value - but I never realized how emotionally affecting the result would be."
Crafted by Macdonald, executive producer Ridley Scott, producer Liza Marshall and editor Joe Walker, LIFE IN A DAY offers a unique experience that shows with beautiful, humorous and joyful honesty, what it’s like to be alive on earth today.
“We are thrilled to bring this powerful and touching documentary to theatres around the country,” said McGurk. “Theatres are places where folks come together, to be together, to be moved together... and LIFE IN A DAY provides the perfect communal content.”
“We saw this one-day special event on July 24th as a wonderful way to ‘premiere’ this movie prior to its more traditional theatrical release,” said Battsek. “Many locations will be able to take part in a live experience where they can interact with the filmmakers directly, asking questions and getting unique insights.”
For further information, please visit www.cinedigm.com/lifeinaday.
All New True Blood® Comic Story Debuts In August
Sookie and Eric Discover a New Threat in The French Quarter
[True Blood: The French Quarter #1 Image]San Diego, CA (June 1, 2011) – IDW Publishing and HBO®, Inc. are pleased to announce the continuation of their mega-hit comic series with TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER, an all-new six-issue story arc beginning in August, 2011. Trubies' favorite characters return, including mind-reading waitress Sookie Stackhouse and vampire Sherif Eric Northman, who join forces to track down a killer in New Orleans. Intrigue and suspense will follow Sookie and Eric, as will Bill Compton, in IDW’s TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER, based entirely in the supernatural world of the critically-acclaimed HBO hit television show.
“We are delighted to be announcing the third installment of our True Blood comic series,” stated James Costos, vice president of Licensing & Retail. “The franchise has been extremely successful and offers a terrific way to for fans to engage with their favorite characters all year long.”
As with the previous stories, IDW’s TRUE BLOOD comics offer fans all-new plots with their favorite characters. In this sequel to the first New York Times best-selling TRUE BLOOD compilation, "All Together Now," and the second series “Tainted Love,” Sookie and Eric travel to New Orleans to track down a killer named Guerra, whom Eric and Godric thought they killed in Paris more than 200 years ago. Bill Compton's in town, too, making sure Eric doesn't get too close to Sookie, and investigating a local Hep-D outbreak that may be connected to Guerra's latest victims. Meanwhile, back in Bon Temps, Trubies will wonder why Pam is hanging out at Merlotte's and what it is she wants with Lafayette.
Joining writers Mariah Huehner and David Tischman are artists David Messina and Claudia Balboni, who will bring this latest story arc to life. Messina and Joe Corroney will provide covers. Trubies everywhere will be left wanting more of TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER, the newest original adventure, featuring the same erotically-charged romance, wry humor, mystery and suspense for which the show has become known.
TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in stores in August 2011.
Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro's The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC's Doctor Who; and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio; and is the print publisher for EA Comics.
IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.
About HBO Licensing & Retail
HBO Licensing & Retail awards official HBO licenses throughout the world for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines which are inspired by the television broadcaster’s award-winning programs.
© 2010 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved. HBO and related service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.
Sookie and Eric Discover a New Threat in The French Quarter
[True Blood: The French Quarter #1 Image]San Diego, CA (June 1, 2011) – IDW Publishing and HBO®, Inc. are pleased to announce the continuation of their mega-hit comic series with TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER, an all-new six-issue story arc beginning in August, 2011. Trubies' favorite characters return, including mind-reading waitress Sookie Stackhouse and vampire Sherif Eric Northman, who join forces to track down a killer in New Orleans. Intrigue and suspense will follow Sookie and Eric, as will Bill Compton, in IDW’s TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER, based entirely in the supernatural world of the critically-acclaimed HBO hit television show.
“We are delighted to be announcing the third installment of our True Blood comic series,” stated James Costos, vice president of Licensing & Retail. “The franchise has been extremely successful and offers a terrific way to for fans to engage with their favorite characters all year long.”
As with the previous stories, IDW’s TRUE BLOOD comics offer fans all-new plots with their favorite characters. In this sequel to the first New York Times best-selling TRUE BLOOD compilation, "All Together Now," and the second series “Tainted Love,” Sookie and Eric travel to New Orleans to track down a killer named Guerra, whom Eric and Godric thought they killed in Paris more than 200 years ago. Bill Compton's in town, too, making sure Eric doesn't get too close to Sookie, and investigating a local Hep-D outbreak that may be connected to Guerra's latest victims. Meanwhile, back in Bon Temps, Trubies will wonder why Pam is hanging out at Merlotte's and what it is she wants with Lafayette.
Joining writers Mariah Huehner and David Tischman are artists David Messina and Claudia Balboni, who will bring this latest story arc to life. Messina and Joe Corroney will provide covers. Trubies everywhere will be left wanting more of TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER, the newest original adventure, featuring the same erotically-charged romance, wry humor, mystery and suspense for which the show has become known.
TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in stores in August 2011.
Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro's The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC's Doctor Who; and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio; and is the print publisher for EA Comics.
IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.
About HBO Licensing & Retail
HBO Licensing & Retail awards official HBO licenses throughout the world for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines which are inspired by the television broadcaster’s award-winning programs.
© 2010 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved. HBO and related service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.
AustinBooks & Comics kicks off Summer events
Nationally-acclaimed pop culture retailer hosts DC Comics legend and Green Lantern artist Doug Mahnke,
plus Star Wars: The Old Republic comic writer Alexander Freed
and Disney*Pixar’s CARS comic writer Alan Porter
Austin, TX---Wednesday, June 1, 2011– Austin Books & Comics, Central Texas’s biggest and oldest comics and pop culture retailer, is proud to announce a premier series of special events through June and into early July. Austin Books & Comics is located at 5002 North Lamar Boulevard.
Star Wars: The Old Republic- The Lost Suns Signing Event
Meet Series Writer Alexander Freed In-Store
Saturday, June 18, 4 pm - 6 pm
Have the first issue in the new Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ comic series signed by the author and Bioware senior creative writer, Alexander Freed! Special guest appearances from the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers and R2-D2, courtesy of creator Jamie McShan. Published by Dark Horse Comics, Star Wars: The Old Republic - The Lost Suns is the third limited series based on the Star Wars: The Old Republic massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Unlike the prior two installments, Threat of Peace and Blood of the Empire, it will not be a reprint of web comic content available online, but an all-new story focusing on Theron Shan, the son of Jedi Master Satele Shan. RSVP online: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221864384509508.
Exclusive Green Lantern Signing Events
Regal Cinemas Presents DC Comics/Green Lantern artist Doug Mahnke
Friday, June 24, 7:30 pm – 10:15 pm
Join us for a very special pre-and-post-Green Lantern film screening Q&A and book signing at Regal Gateway with guest DC Comics/Green Lantern artist Doug Mahnke for a special screening at 7:45 pm. Austin Books & Comics will provide special Green Lantern door prizes, plus Green Lantern comic books and merchandise for sale. During the month of June, come by Austin Books & Comics lobby display at the Gateway Regal Cinema and register to win a signed Green Lantern comic and more prizes! Also during June and July, every Green Lantern ticket stub from any Regal Cinema theater in Austin gets you a free Green Lantern comic at Austin Books & Comics. RSVP online: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123250664423154
Meet DC Comics Artist Doug Mahnke In-Store
Saturday, June 25, 4 pm - 7 pm
Accomplished DC Comics artist Doug Mahnke will be at Austin Books & Comics on Saturday, June 25 to meet Green Lantern comic series fans and sign books. Doug is the ongoing artist for DC's Green Lantern with DC Comics writer Geoff Johns, right at the beginning of the Blackest Night storyline. Doug is well-known as a regular Grant Morrison collaborator, plus worked on the critically acclaimed prestige one-shot Batman: The Man Who Laughs with writer Ed Brubaker. Austin Books & Comics and Regal Gateway are the only locations in Austin where you will have a chance to meet and talk with Doug Mahnke, so mark your calendars now! Participate in out Green Lantern costume contest and you have a chance to win a Regal Cinema family 4-pack. Event partners include DC Comics, Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, Regal Cinemas, Scare For a Cure and Time Warner Cable. RSVP now: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163894277007413
Special CARS Signing Events
Meet Disney*Pixar comicwriter Alan Porter In-Store
Saturday, July 2, 4 pm – 6 pm
Bring out the kids for this fun family event and author signing, with CARS giveaways and vroom vroom for everyone! In celebration of the upcoming film release of CARS 2, we’re hosting a special event with Alan Porter, writer for Disney*Pixar's The World of CARSseries for BOOM! Studios. Alan’s latest CARS story "Rally Race" has been chosen as the first story to be featured in the just announced Disney*Pixar Presents magazine line from Disney Worldwide and Marvel Comics. Also well-known as a pop culture writer, Alan is the author of "BATMAN: The Unofficial Collectors Guide," JAMES BOND: the history of the illustrated 007," and "STAR TREK: A comics history." Courtesy of Disney, we’re giving away CARS 2 posters as door prizes. Participate in out CARS trivia contest and receive a Regal Cinema family 4-pack. RSVP now: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203953259646437
Regal Cinemas Presents Disney*Pixar comicwriter Alan Porter
Sunday, July 3, 2 pm – 5pm
Join us for a very special pre-and-post-CARS 2 screening Q&A and book signing at Regal Westgate with guest BOOM! Studios/Disney*Pixar comic writer Alan Porter for a special screening at 2:20 pm. Austin Books & Comics will provide special CARS door prizes, plus CARS comic books and merchandise for sale. During the month of June, come by Austin Books & Comics lobby display at the Regal Westgate and register to win a signed CARS comic and more prizes! Also during June and July, every CARS 1 ticket stub from any Regal Cinema in Austin gets 20% off of all CARS merchandise (books, T-shirts, etc.) at Austin Books & Comics. RSVP now: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=226001694093569
AustinBooks & Comics teams up with Blue Starlite Drive-in Theatre for GODZILLA film series!
Austin Books & Comics is proud to kick of its new partnership and collaboration with the awesome Blue Starlite Drive-in Theatre by co-sponsoring their first-ever Godzilla FEST 2011 in June! Join us for two nights and four films of non-stop Godzilla action. OnMonday, June 13, come out to the Blue Starlite Drive-in Theatre at 2326 E. Cesar Chavez for a double feature: Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) at 9pm, Destroy All Monsters (1968) at 11pm. On Monday, June 20,check out the final Godzilla double feature withMothra vs. Godzilla (1964) at 9 pm, andGodzilla vs. the Smog Monster at 11 pm. 50% of ticket sales go to Japan Aid! www.bluestarlitedrivein.com
RSVP to any of these events by checking our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/AustinBooks and clicking on the various Events.
About Austin Books & Comics
www.austinbooks.com
Central Texas’s biggest and oldest comics and pop culture retailer, AustinBooks & Comics has been in business since 1977. Austin Books & Comics is a multiple Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retail finalist, and was inducted into the Austin Chronicle's 'Best Of’ Hall of Fame. The Austin Chronicle has referred to Austin Books & Comics as “the Library of Alexandria of comics,”while Ain’t It Cool News says that Austin Books & Comics is the “one-stop shop for anything comic related.” Austin Books & Comics is proud to host both frequent and surprise celebrity guest signings and events. Partners include Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, Regal Cinemas and Scare For a Cure.
Nationally-acclaimed pop culture retailer hosts DC Comics legend and Green Lantern artist Doug Mahnke,
plus Star Wars: The Old Republic comic writer Alexander Freed
and Disney*Pixar’s CARS comic writer Alan Porter
Austin, TX---Wednesday, June 1, 2011– Austin Books & Comics, Central Texas’s biggest and oldest comics and pop culture retailer, is proud to announce a premier series of special events through June and into early July. Austin Books & Comics is located at 5002 North Lamar Boulevard.
Star Wars: The Old Republic- The Lost Suns Signing Event
Meet Series Writer Alexander Freed In-Store
Saturday, June 18, 4 pm - 6 pm
Have the first issue in the new Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ comic series signed by the author and Bioware senior creative writer, Alexander Freed! Special guest appearances from the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers and R2-D2, courtesy of creator Jamie McShan. Published by Dark Horse Comics, Star Wars: The Old Republic - The Lost Suns is the third limited series based on the Star Wars: The Old Republic massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Unlike the prior two installments, Threat of Peace and Blood of the Empire, it will not be a reprint of web comic content available online, but an all-new story focusing on Theron Shan, the son of Jedi Master Satele Shan. RSVP online: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221864384509508.
Exclusive Green Lantern Signing Events
Regal Cinemas Presents DC Comics/Green Lantern artist Doug Mahnke
Friday, June 24, 7:30 pm – 10:15 pm
Join us for a very special pre-and-post-Green Lantern film screening Q&A and book signing at Regal Gateway with guest DC Comics/Green Lantern artist Doug Mahnke for a special screening at 7:45 pm. Austin Books & Comics will provide special Green Lantern door prizes, plus Green Lantern comic books and merchandise for sale. During the month of June, come by Austin Books & Comics lobby display at the Gateway Regal Cinema and register to win a signed Green Lantern comic and more prizes! Also during June and July, every Green Lantern ticket stub from any Regal Cinema theater in Austin gets you a free Green Lantern comic at Austin Books & Comics. RSVP online: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123250664423154
Meet DC Comics Artist Doug Mahnke In-Store
Saturday, June 25, 4 pm - 7 pm
Accomplished DC Comics artist Doug Mahnke will be at Austin Books & Comics on Saturday, June 25 to meet Green Lantern comic series fans and sign books. Doug is the ongoing artist for DC's Green Lantern with DC Comics writer Geoff Johns, right at the beginning of the Blackest Night storyline. Doug is well-known as a regular Grant Morrison collaborator, plus worked on the critically acclaimed prestige one-shot Batman: The Man Who Laughs with writer Ed Brubaker. Austin Books & Comics and Regal Gateway are the only locations in Austin where you will have a chance to meet and talk with Doug Mahnke, so mark your calendars now! Participate in out Green Lantern costume contest and you have a chance to win a Regal Cinema family 4-pack. Event partners include DC Comics, Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, Regal Cinemas, Scare For a Cure and Time Warner Cable. RSVP now: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163894277007413
Special CARS Signing Events
Meet Disney*Pixar comicwriter Alan Porter In-Store
Saturday, July 2, 4 pm – 6 pm
Bring out the kids for this fun family event and author signing, with CARS giveaways and vroom vroom for everyone! In celebration of the upcoming film release of CARS 2, we’re hosting a special event with Alan Porter, writer for Disney*Pixar's The World of CARSseries for BOOM! Studios. Alan’s latest CARS story "Rally Race" has been chosen as the first story to be featured in the just announced Disney*Pixar Presents magazine line from Disney Worldwide and Marvel Comics. Also well-known as a pop culture writer, Alan is the author of "BATMAN: The Unofficial Collectors Guide," JAMES BOND: the history of the illustrated 007," and "STAR TREK: A comics history." Courtesy of Disney, we’re giving away CARS 2 posters as door prizes. Participate in out CARS trivia contest and receive a Regal Cinema family 4-pack. RSVP now: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203953259646437
Regal Cinemas Presents Disney*Pixar comicwriter Alan Porter
Sunday, July 3, 2 pm – 5pm
Join us for a very special pre-and-post-CARS 2 screening Q&A and book signing at Regal Westgate with guest BOOM! Studios/Disney*Pixar comic writer Alan Porter for a special screening at 2:20 pm. Austin Books & Comics will provide special CARS door prizes, plus CARS comic books and merchandise for sale. During the month of June, come by Austin Books & Comics lobby display at the Regal Westgate and register to win a signed CARS comic and more prizes! Also during June and July, every CARS 1 ticket stub from any Regal Cinema in Austin gets 20% off of all CARS merchandise (books, T-shirts, etc.) at Austin Books & Comics. RSVP now: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=226001694093569
AustinBooks & Comics teams up with Blue Starlite Drive-in Theatre for GODZILLA film series!
Austin Books & Comics is proud to kick of its new partnership and collaboration with the awesome Blue Starlite Drive-in Theatre by co-sponsoring their first-ever Godzilla FEST 2011 in June! Join us for two nights and four films of non-stop Godzilla action. OnMonday, June 13, come out to the Blue Starlite Drive-in Theatre at 2326 E. Cesar Chavez for a double feature: Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) at 9pm, Destroy All Monsters (1968) at 11pm. On Monday, June 20,check out the final Godzilla double feature withMothra vs. Godzilla (1964) at 9 pm, andGodzilla vs. the Smog Monster at 11 pm. 50% of ticket sales go to Japan Aid! www.bluestarlitedrivein.com
RSVP to any of these events by checking our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/AustinBooks and clicking on the various Events.
About Austin Books & Comics
www.austinbooks.com
Central Texas’s biggest and oldest comics and pop culture retailer, AustinBooks & Comics has been in business since 1977. Austin Books & Comics is a multiple Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retail finalist, and was inducted into the Austin Chronicle's 'Best Of’ Hall of Fame. The Austin Chronicle has referred to Austin Books & Comics as “the Library of Alexandria of comics,”while Ain’t It Cool News says that Austin Books & Comics is the “one-stop shop for anything comic related.” Austin Books & Comics is proud to host both frequent and surprise celebrity guest signings and events. Partners include Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, Regal Cinemas and Scare For a Cure.
IMAGE INCLUDES HEROES
Image Comics Exhibits at HeroesCon This Weekend
Berkeley, CA – June 1, 2011 – Image Comics is heading to Charlotte, NC for this weekend's HeroesCon. Running June 3-5, Heroes is one of the most popular conventions on the East Coast, and Image is pleased to add the show to its convention circuit in 2011.
Image will have a wide array of critically acclaimed collections of creator-owned comics for sale at booth #422, as well as many of the talented creators responsible for those titles: Jim Zubkavich of SKULLKICKERS, Charles Soule of 27, Nam Kim of SAMURAI’S BLOOD, Daniel Corey of MORIARTY, John Mahoney of LAST MORTAL, Nathan Edmondson of WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? and Nat Jones of ‘68.
Make sure not to miss this show and a chance to meet some of your Image Comics creators!
EXCLUSIVES
SAMURAI’S BLOOD #1 - This exclusive variant of the debut issue features a story written by Owen Wiseman, art by Nam Kim, Matthew Dalton and Jessica Kholinne and cover art by Nam Kim.
WITCHBLADE #145 - This HeroesCon exclusive features a stand alone story called "Perspectives," written by Ron Marz with art by Stjepan Sejic and cover art by Erik Jones.
Both convention exclusives will only be available only at the Image Comics booth #422!
SIGNING SCHEDULE
Friday
12:00 - 1:00 Jim Starlin ('BREED)
1:00 - 2:00 Micah Harris & Loston Wallace (LORNA, RELIC WRANGLER)
3:00 - 4:00 Chris Giarrusso (G-MAN)
Saturday
12:00 - 1:00 Micah Harris & Loston Wallace (LORNA, RELIC WRANGLER)
2:00 - 3:00 Jim Starlin ('BREED)
3:00 - 4:00 Tommy Lee Edwards (TURF)
4:00 - 5:00 Ben McCool (CHOKER, MEMOIR)
Sunday
12:00 - 1:00 Jonathan Hickman (THE NIGHTLY NEWS, A RED MASS FOR MARS)
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Image Comics Exhibits at HeroesCon This Weekend
Berkeley, CA – June 1, 2011 – Image Comics is heading to Charlotte, NC for this weekend's HeroesCon. Running June 3-5, Heroes is one of the most popular conventions on the East Coast, and Image is pleased to add the show to its convention circuit in 2011.
Image will have a wide array of critically acclaimed collections of creator-owned comics for sale at booth #422, as well as many of the talented creators responsible for those titles: Jim Zubkavich of SKULLKICKERS, Charles Soule of 27, Nam Kim of SAMURAI’S BLOOD, Daniel Corey of MORIARTY, John Mahoney of LAST MORTAL, Nathan Edmondson of WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? and Nat Jones of ‘68.
Make sure not to miss this show and a chance to meet some of your Image Comics creators!
EXCLUSIVES
SAMURAI’S BLOOD #1 - This exclusive variant of the debut issue features a story written by Owen Wiseman, art by Nam Kim, Matthew Dalton and Jessica Kholinne and cover art by Nam Kim.
WITCHBLADE #145 - This HeroesCon exclusive features a stand alone story called "Perspectives," written by Ron Marz with art by Stjepan Sejic and cover art by Erik Jones.
Both convention exclusives will only be available only at the Image Comics booth #422!
SIGNING SCHEDULE
Friday
12:00 - 1:00 Jim Starlin ('BREED)
1:00 - 2:00 Micah Harris & Loston Wallace (LORNA, RELIC WRANGLER)
3:00 - 4:00 Chris Giarrusso (G-MAN)
Saturday
12:00 - 1:00 Micah Harris & Loston Wallace (LORNA, RELIC WRANGLER)
2:00 - 3:00 Jim Starlin ('BREED)
3:00 - 4:00 Tommy Lee Edwards (TURF)
4:00 - 5:00 Ben McCool (CHOKER, MEMOIR)
Sunday
12:00 - 1:00 Jonathan Hickman (THE NIGHTLY NEWS, A RED MASS FOR MARS)
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
REED GUNTHER NOT SOLD OUT!
Image Comics Trusts Market's Potential to Buoy Three New All Ages Titles
BERKELEY, CA -- 31 May 2011 – Following the overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception to both Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard’s SUPER DINOSAUR and Mark Andrew Smith and Armand Villavert's GLADSTONE'S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS, Image Comics has decided to take a chance on significantly overprinting the first issue of its next new all ages title: REED GUNTHER. And because Image is ensuring plenty of copies will be available to reorder after initial orders have been made, REED GUNTHER #1 has not yet sold out!
Image hopes that retailers will take this opportunity to introduce new readers to Shane and Chris Houghton's charming and colorful yarn by increasing their orders. Although initial orders from retailers are historically lower on new all ages titles than their PG-13 counterparts, the publisher believes the success of SUPER DINOSAUR and GLADSTONE'S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS proves that the comics market is opening up to more diversity in genre and readership. Retailers and fans were already given a glimpse of what sort of hijinks they’ll be in for with Reed and his unruly friends, when a preview of REED GUNTHER was published in the back of SUPER DINOSAUR #2 last week.
Sales and Licensing Coordinator Todd Martinez said, “As the experience of this year's Free Comic Book Day event once again illustrated, readers want to be introduced to new material, and there are plenty of new readers to reach out to. REED GUNTHER is just the thing to show readers of any age who need a follow-up recommendation after Free Comic Book Day.”
REED GUNTHER is a humorous western tale of hapless cowboy Reed Gunther and his best friend and trusty steed, a no-fooling grizzly bear by the name of Sterling. Readers can soon share in the trouble-making and uproarious fun of the first issue, which includes plenty of close scrapes, a distressingly tough-as-nails damsel, stupid cows, and steak snacking snakes!
Writer Shane Houghton commented, "REED GUNTHER is all about fun. It's a book about a cowboy that rides a grizzly bear, for pickle's sake! There's plenty of dark and serious comics out there, which is totally fine, but we're hoping folks will enjoy balancing out their gritty and dramatic stories with some fun and goofy cowboy adventures!"
"Some comic book fans may be wary of our series at first because of the stigma that "all ages" really just means "for kids," artist Chris Houghton added. "Never fear! REED GUNTHER wears it's "all ages" title with accuracy, and I'm confident fans will respond positively to the series no matter their age."
REED GUNTHER #1, a 32-page full-color all-ages western comedy for $2.99, will come galloping full speed into a comic store near you on June 1, 2011. For more information on Reed Gunther, Sterling, and all their unruly friends and foes, visit www.reedgunther.com.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Image Comics Trusts Market's Potential to Buoy Three New All Ages Titles
BERKELEY, CA -- 31 May 2011 – Following the overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception to both Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard’s SUPER DINOSAUR and Mark Andrew Smith and Armand Villavert's GLADSTONE'S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS, Image Comics has decided to take a chance on significantly overprinting the first issue of its next new all ages title: REED GUNTHER. And because Image is ensuring plenty of copies will be available to reorder after initial orders have been made, REED GUNTHER #1 has not yet sold out!
Image hopes that retailers will take this opportunity to introduce new readers to Shane and Chris Houghton's charming and colorful yarn by increasing their orders. Although initial orders from retailers are historically lower on new all ages titles than their PG-13 counterparts, the publisher believes the success of SUPER DINOSAUR and GLADSTONE'S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS proves that the comics market is opening up to more diversity in genre and readership. Retailers and fans were already given a glimpse of what sort of hijinks they’ll be in for with Reed and his unruly friends, when a preview of REED GUNTHER was published in the back of SUPER DINOSAUR #2 last week.
Sales and Licensing Coordinator Todd Martinez said, “As the experience of this year's Free Comic Book Day event once again illustrated, readers want to be introduced to new material, and there are plenty of new readers to reach out to. REED GUNTHER is just the thing to show readers of any age who need a follow-up recommendation after Free Comic Book Day.”
REED GUNTHER is a humorous western tale of hapless cowboy Reed Gunther and his best friend and trusty steed, a no-fooling grizzly bear by the name of Sterling. Readers can soon share in the trouble-making and uproarious fun of the first issue, which includes plenty of close scrapes, a distressingly tough-as-nails damsel, stupid cows, and steak snacking snakes!
Writer Shane Houghton commented, "REED GUNTHER is all about fun. It's a book about a cowboy that rides a grizzly bear, for pickle's sake! There's plenty of dark and serious comics out there, which is totally fine, but we're hoping folks will enjoy balancing out their gritty and dramatic stories with some fun and goofy cowboy adventures!"
"Some comic book fans may be wary of our series at first because of the stigma that "all ages" really just means "for kids," artist Chris Houghton added. "Never fear! REED GUNTHER wears it's "all ages" title with accuracy, and I'm confident fans will respond positively to the series no matter their age."
REED GUNTHER #1, a 32-page full-color all-ages western comedy for $2.99, will come galloping full speed into a comic store near you on June 1, 2011. For more information on Reed Gunther, Sterling, and all their unruly friends and foes, visit www.reedgunther.com.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Kids Read Comics Event Brings Free Weekend Festival of Fun and Creativity to Chelsea, Michigan
June 18 and 19 brings the third annual Kids Read Comics Celebration to Chelsea, Michigan. This year’s event has its headquarters at the Chelsea District Library and spreads throughout the historic downtown, where sixteen shops and restaurants will take part by hosting artists and activities. The weekend will feature interactive events with comics professionals, free comics giveaways from major publishers, a kids’ costume parade down Main Street, and much more. Festivities run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and noon until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The nonprofit Kids Read Comics was organized to highlight comics’ unique blend of words and pictures, and to foster fun, imagination, creativity, and a lifelong love of reading. Over the course of the weekend, kids and teens (and adults too) will have plenty of opportunity to meet and talk with more than forty comics creators at two artists’ alleys, and buy comics from those artists and writers. They’ll also be able to participate in hands-on cartooning and storytelling workshops, and attend panel discussions, art demonstrations, and fun events like the improvisational Quick Draw challenge.
Special guests for the weekend festivities include Raina Telgemeier, cartoonist creator of the Eisner-Award-nominated middle-school comics memoir Smile; Dave Roman, writer-artist of Astronaut Academy; Ruth McNally Barshaw, author and illustrator of the popular Ellie McDoodle series of books; Rob Worley, writer of Scratch9, an Eisner nominee for best children’s publication; Barbara Slate, creator of You Can Do a Graphic Novel; and Marc Sumerak, writer of many comics in Marvel’s all-ages line as well as the upcoming graphic novel All-Ghouls School from IDW. Roman and Telgemeier will also give a kickoff talk at the Ann Arbor District Library on Friday, June 17, followed by a live performance of “Avatar: The Last Puppetbender” with Dave Roman and Kevin Coppa .
Dan Mishkin, a longtime comics writer and a cofounder of Kids Read Comics, describes the guest list as “fantastic.” “From popular creators like Dave and Raina, Marc Sumerak, and the almost legendary John Ostrander and Bill Messner-Loebs, to mini-comics greats like Matt Feazell, to talented newcomers, we’ve got a great range of guests.”
In addition to the kids and teens artists’ alleys, Saturday events feature a superhero costume parade, face painting, kids’ comics crafts, a comics scavenger hunt, and lunch with artists. Saturday activities specifically oriented to teens include a drawing wall, cosplay classes, and a costume contest and masquerade party ending the day. Chelsea’s River Gallery will hold a 6:00-8:00 p.m. reception for "Comic Jam," an exhibit of original comic book art on display from May 28 through June 23, 2011.
Sunday will feature in-depth cartooning and storytelling workshops for kids, teens, and adults, along with professional development workshops for teachers and librarians who will learn how to use comics on behalf of young people in their work settings. On Sunday there will be a single, combined artists’ alley. Free comics will be given away on both days, says co-director Dan Merritt of Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Michigan, courtesy of DC Comics, Top Shelf Productions, Archaia Entertainment and Sky-Dog Comics.
Admission to all Kids Read Comics events is totally free, and guests are charged no fees for table space. KRC is run by volunteers and benefits from the generous in-kind contributions of the Chelsea District Library, the Friends of the Library, the Chelsea Center for the Arts, and River Gallery Fine Art, as well as a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Additional information and a full schedule of events are available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.
Kids Read Comics Event Brings Free Weekend Festival of Fun and Creativity to Chelsea, Michigan
June 18 and 19 brings the third annual Kids Read Comics Celebration to Chelsea, Michigan. This year’s event has its headquarters at the Chelsea District Library and spreads throughout the historic downtown, where sixteen shops and restaurants will take part by hosting artists and activities. The weekend will feature interactive events with comics professionals, free comics giveaways from major publishers, a kids’ costume parade down Main Street, and much more. Festivities run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and noon until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The nonprofit Kids Read Comics was organized to highlight comics’ unique blend of words and pictures, and to foster fun, imagination, creativity, and a lifelong love of reading. Over the course of the weekend, kids and teens (and adults too) will have plenty of opportunity to meet and talk with more than forty comics creators at two artists’ alleys, and buy comics from those artists and writers. They’ll also be able to participate in hands-on cartooning and storytelling workshops, and attend panel discussions, art demonstrations, and fun events like the improvisational Quick Draw challenge.
Special guests for the weekend festivities include Raina Telgemeier, cartoonist creator of the Eisner-Award-nominated middle-school comics memoir Smile; Dave Roman, writer-artist of Astronaut Academy; Ruth McNally Barshaw, author and illustrator of the popular Ellie McDoodle series of books; Rob Worley, writer of Scratch9, an Eisner nominee for best children’s publication; Barbara Slate, creator of You Can Do a Graphic Novel; and Marc Sumerak, writer of many comics in Marvel’s all-ages line as well as the upcoming graphic novel All-Ghouls School from IDW. Roman and Telgemeier will also give a kickoff talk at the Ann Arbor District Library on Friday, June 17, followed by a live performance of “Avatar: The Last Puppetbender” with Dave Roman and Kevin Coppa .
Dan Mishkin, a longtime comics writer and a cofounder of Kids Read Comics, describes the guest list as “fantastic.” “From popular creators like Dave and Raina, Marc Sumerak, and the almost legendary John Ostrander and Bill Messner-Loebs, to mini-comics greats like Matt Feazell, to talented newcomers, we’ve got a great range of guests.”
In addition to the kids and teens artists’ alleys, Saturday events feature a superhero costume parade, face painting, kids’ comics crafts, a comics scavenger hunt, and lunch with artists. Saturday activities specifically oriented to teens include a drawing wall, cosplay classes, and a costume contest and masquerade party ending the day. Chelsea’s River Gallery will hold a 6:00-8:00 p.m. reception for "Comic Jam," an exhibit of original comic book art on display from May 28 through June 23, 2011.
Sunday will feature in-depth cartooning and storytelling workshops for kids, teens, and adults, along with professional development workshops for teachers and librarians who will learn how to use comics on behalf of young people in their work settings. On Sunday there will be a single, combined artists’ alley. Free comics will be given away on both days, says co-director Dan Merritt of Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Michigan, courtesy of DC Comics, Top Shelf Productions, Archaia Entertainment and Sky-Dog Comics.
Admission to all Kids Read Comics events is totally free, and guests are charged no fees for table space. KRC is run by volunteers and benefits from the generous in-kind contributions of the Chelsea District Library, the Friends of the Library, the Chelsea Center for the Arts, and River Gallery Fine Art, as well as a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Additional information and a full schedule of events are available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.
STEVE AHLQUIST RETURNS TO
OZ SQUAD WITH FULL LENGTH NOVEL:
OZ SQUAD: MARCH OF THE TIN SOLDIERS
Available via E-Readers and Print on Demand
This is the story of two worlds. Earth and Oz.
Dorothy Gale was born on Earth, but her home is Oz.
With the brilliant Scarecrow, faithful Nick the Tin Woodman and the fearless Lion she has protected each world from the other for over a century.
Rebecca Eastwitch is Dorothy's oldest enemy. Rebecca has a plan that will send the companions to Hell and back. She will strike at the heart of Oz and test the faith of Dorothy's oldest friends.
After over a decade, writer Steve Ahlquist returns to his Oz Squad mythos in his new novel, Oz Squad: March of The Tin Soldiers, a follow-up to his comic book series that set the stage for Fairy Tale Noir.
An updating of L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz series, Oz Squad focused on the adventures of Gale Force, a tactical organization designed to protect Oz from all manner of bizarre threats, reuniting Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion as members. The complex and clever series was the first modern reimagining of the Oz mythos and it updated Baum's work for an adult audience.
In addition, Ahlquist has also co-created the anthology Strange Eggs and wrote a story for Disney's Haunted Mansion both published by Slave Labor Graphics, was nominated for four Harvey Awards with collaborator Chris Reilly for the comic PupHedz and has written for Paranoia: The Conspiracy Reader. He also writes a regular column, Applied Mythographics for the webzine, Forces of Geek.
The novel is currently available through Smashwords and will be available as a print on demand book via Lulu. Two volumes of the complete, annotated comic book series are available as well.
OZ SQUAD WITH FULL LENGTH NOVEL:
OZ SQUAD: MARCH OF THE TIN SOLDIERS
Available via E-Readers and Print on Demand
This is the story of two worlds. Earth and Oz.
Dorothy Gale was born on Earth, but her home is Oz.
With the brilliant Scarecrow, faithful Nick the Tin Woodman and the fearless Lion she has protected each world from the other for over a century.
Rebecca Eastwitch is Dorothy's oldest enemy. Rebecca has a plan that will send the companions to Hell and back. She will strike at the heart of Oz and test the faith of Dorothy's oldest friends.
After over a decade, writer Steve Ahlquist returns to his Oz Squad mythos in his new novel, Oz Squad: March of The Tin Soldiers, a follow-up to his comic book series that set the stage for Fairy Tale Noir.
An updating of L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz series, Oz Squad focused on the adventures of Gale Force, a tactical organization designed to protect Oz from all manner of bizarre threats, reuniting Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion as members. The complex and clever series was the first modern reimagining of the Oz mythos and it updated Baum's work for an adult audience.
In addition, Ahlquist has also co-created the anthology Strange Eggs and wrote a story for Disney's Haunted Mansion both published by Slave Labor Graphics, was nominated for four Harvey Awards with collaborator Chris Reilly for the comic PupHedz and has written for Paranoia: The Conspiracy Reader. He also writes a regular column, Applied Mythographics for the webzine, Forces of Geek.
The novel is currently available through Smashwords and will be available as a print on demand book via Lulu. Two volumes of the complete, annotated comic book series are available as well.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Ink Pen Mutations Celebrates Website Revamp with Memorial Day Sale!
(May 26, 2011- Los Angeles CA) Ink Pen Mutations announced today that in celebration for huge website redo they are launching a huge Memorials day sale. From May 28th to May 31st everything on their website www.inkpenmutations.com will be 30% off. All of their illustrated fiction hits including Zombie Cadence to Mother's Urn are included in the sale. Click on the preview links to Sick and Fragile Bodies to get a sneak peek at books coming this July!
“I wanted the website to be more user friendly and inviting,” explained Ave Rose creator of Ink Pen Mutations. “Our subject matter runs a huge gamut from Apocalypse Nair to women's issues. We needed to make sure that our website reflected the scope of the line”.
Other ways to check out products from Ink Pen Mutations:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/living-dolls/id382580170?mt=8
http://www.youtube.com/inkpenmutations#p/a/u/1/x6FwXYJRXJY
To join the Ink Pen Mutations mailing list email visit: http://inkpenmutations.ifanz.net/
Retailers should contact inkpenmutations@gmail.com for terms.
About Ink Pen Mutations: In 2005, founder of Ink Pen Mutations Ave Rose searched for an outlet that reflected her unique, no holds barred vision and found the world lacking and thus Ink Pen was born. Her business model was to partner with the best unconventional West Coast artists to create products that brought new ideas to established genres, formats and themes. In 2008, a permanent installation in the renowned Hive Gallery in Los Angeles was secured to give all Ink Pen artists a place to display their work. Primarily a West Coast business, Ink Pen is making the moves to go nationwide and put their avant-garde creations to the mainstream. Ink Pen Mutations:-Your underground storybook generator.
(May 26, 2011- Los Angeles CA) Ink Pen Mutations announced today that in celebration for huge website redo they are launching a huge Memorials day sale. From May 28th to May 31st everything on their website www.inkpenmutations.com will be 30% off. All of their illustrated fiction hits including Zombie Cadence to Mother's Urn are included in the sale. Click on the preview links to Sick and Fragile Bodies to get a sneak peek at books coming this July!
“I wanted the website to be more user friendly and inviting,” explained Ave Rose creator of Ink Pen Mutations. “Our subject matter runs a huge gamut from Apocalypse Nair to women's issues. We needed to make sure that our website reflected the scope of the line”.
Other ways to check out products from Ink Pen Mutations:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/living-dolls/id382580170?mt=8
http://www.youtube.com/inkpenmutations#p/a/u/1/x6FwXYJRXJY
To join the Ink Pen Mutations mailing list email visit: http://inkpenmutations.ifanz.net/
Retailers should contact inkpenmutations@gmail.com for terms.
About Ink Pen Mutations: In 2005, founder of Ink Pen Mutations Ave Rose searched for an outlet that reflected her unique, no holds barred vision and found the world lacking and thus Ink Pen was born. Her business model was to partner with the best unconventional West Coast artists to create products that brought new ideas to established genres, formats and themes. In 2008, a permanent installation in the renowned Hive Gallery in Los Angeles was secured to give all Ink Pen artists a place to display their work. Primarily a West Coast business, Ink Pen is making the moves to go nationwide and put their avant-garde creations to the mainstream. Ink Pen Mutations:-Your underground storybook generator.
Baltimore Comic-Con Announces Stan "The Man" Lee as Guest of Honor!
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - May 26, 2011 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to officially announce that Stan "The Man" Lee will be the Guest of Honor at this year's convention. The show will be taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center the weekend of August 20-21, 2011.
Stan Lee picture
Known the world over as the architect of the Marvel Universe, Lee -- along with Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko -- co-created some of the most iconic characters of the Silver Age, including the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Avengers, X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, Iron Man, and Doctor Strange.
Lee began his career in comics in 1939 at the age of 16, working for Martin Goodman at Timely Comics. He made his writing debut in 1941 with a text filler story in Captain America Comics #3 and wrote his first back-up story for that title two issues later. Lee continued to write for the publisher and, at the age of 19, was installed as interim editor. With a head for business and an eye for comics, Lee graduated to become editor-in-chief and art director of the comics division.
Throughout his illustrious career, which has spanned more than 70 years, Lee has been a writer, editor, publisher, President, and Chairman at Marvel Comics. He's made cameo appearances in 14 films based on his creations and had a supporting role in Kevin Smith's 1995 film, Mallrats.
In 2010, Lee teamed up with Boom! Studios to create three original superheroes titles -- Soldier Zero, Starborn, and The Traveler -- for the publisher, and in January of 2011, he worked with the National Hockey League (NHL) on the Guardian Project, creating a "Guardian" character based on the team mascot for each of the 30 cities with NHL franchises.
"There is no bigger star in all of comics. This will thrill all comics fans on the East Coast," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Personally, I am so excited, I can't wait!"
Lee will be appearing at the Baltimore Comic-Con on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as attending the banquet for the Harvey Awards on Saturday evening. Details regarding ticket pricing for signings and VIP packages will be released over the next few weeks. To receive the latest information about Stan Lee and all of the Baltimore Comic-Con news, sign up for our mailing list at baltimorecomiccom.com!
In addition to Guest of Honor Stan Lee, other confirmed guests for the show include: Jason Aaron (Scalped, PunisherMAX); Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead); Nick Cardy (Aquaman, Teen Titans); Cliff Chiang (Greendale); Frank Cho (50 Girl 50, X-Men: Schism, New Ultimates); Todd Dezago (Super Hero Squad, The Perhapanauts); David Finch (Brightest Day, Batman: The Dark Knight); Ron Frenz (Spider-Girl); Jose-Luis Garcia-Lopez (Wednesday Comics, Batman Confidential); Michael Golden (creator of Bucky O'Hare); Mike Grell (Action Comics, The Pilgrim); Brad Guigar (Evil, Inc., Courting Disaster); Steve Hamaker (Bone); Cully Hamner (Red, Red: Eyes Only); Dean Haspiel (The Alcoholic, Act-i-Vate); Jamal Igle (Supergirl, Zatanna); J.G. Jones (Doc Savage, DC Universe Legacies); Barry Kitson (Secret Invasion, Amazing Spider-Man); Laura Martin (New Avengers, Thor); Mark Morales (Fear Itself cover artist); Kevin Nowlan (Wednesday Comics); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Brandon Peterson (Ultimate Vision, Strange); Craig Rousseau (Marvel Her-Oes); Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo); Walter Simonson (Thor); Jeff Smith (Bone, RASL); Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Iron Man 2.0); Brian Stelfreeze (Wednesday Comics); Karl Story (DC Universe Legacies); Tim Truman (Conan the Cimmerian); Neil Vokes (Flesh & Blood, Eagle: The Original Adventures); and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website, Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace pages.
This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 21st.
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 12th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 6 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - May 26, 2011 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to officially announce that Stan "The Man" Lee will be the Guest of Honor at this year's convention. The show will be taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center the weekend of August 20-21, 2011.
Stan Lee picture
Known the world over as the architect of the Marvel Universe, Lee -- along with Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko -- co-created some of the most iconic characters of the Silver Age, including the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Avengers, X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, Iron Man, and Doctor Strange.
Lee began his career in comics in 1939 at the age of 16, working for Martin Goodman at Timely Comics. He made his writing debut in 1941 with a text filler story in Captain America Comics #3 and wrote his first back-up story for that title two issues later. Lee continued to write for the publisher and, at the age of 19, was installed as interim editor. With a head for business and an eye for comics, Lee graduated to become editor-in-chief and art director of the comics division.
Throughout his illustrious career, which has spanned more than 70 years, Lee has been a writer, editor, publisher, President, and Chairman at Marvel Comics. He's made cameo appearances in 14 films based on his creations and had a supporting role in Kevin Smith's 1995 film, Mallrats.
In 2010, Lee teamed up with Boom! Studios to create three original superheroes titles -- Soldier Zero, Starborn, and The Traveler -- for the publisher, and in January of 2011, he worked with the National Hockey League (NHL) on the Guardian Project, creating a "Guardian" character based on the team mascot for each of the 30 cities with NHL franchises.
"There is no bigger star in all of comics. This will thrill all comics fans on the East Coast," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Personally, I am so excited, I can't wait!"
Lee will be appearing at the Baltimore Comic-Con on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as attending the banquet for the Harvey Awards on Saturday evening. Details regarding ticket pricing for signings and VIP packages will be released over the next few weeks. To receive the latest information about Stan Lee and all of the Baltimore Comic-Con news, sign up for our mailing list at baltimorecomiccom.com!
In addition to Guest of Honor Stan Lee, other confirmed guests for the show include: Jason Aaron (Scalped, PunisherMAX); Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead); Nick Cardy (Aquaman, Teen Titans); Cliff Chiang (Greendale); Frank Cho (50 Girl 50, X-Men: Schism, New Ultimates); Todd Dezago (Super Hero Squad, The Perhapanauts); David Finch (Brightest Day, Batman: The Dark Knight); Ron Frenz (Spider-Girl); Jose-Luis Garcia-Lopez (Wednesday Comics, Batman Confidential); Michael Golden (creator of Bucky O'Hare); Mike Grell (Action Comics, The Pilgrim); Brad Guigar (Evil, Inc., Courting Disaster); Steve Hamaker (Bone); Cully Hamner (Red, Red: Eyes Only); Dean Haspiel (The Alcoholic, Act-i-Vate); Jamal Igle (Supergirl, Zatanna); J.G. Jones (Doc Savage, DC Universe Legacies); Barry Kitson (Secret Invasion, Amazing Spider-Man); Laura Martin (New Avengers, Thor); Mark Morales (Fear Itself cover artist); Kevin Nowlan (Wednesday Comics); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Brandon Peterson (Ultimate Vision, Strange); Craig Rousseau (Marvel Her-Oes); Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo); Walter Simonson (Thor); Jeff Smith (Bone, RASL); Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Iron Man 2.0); Brian Stelfreeze (Wednesday Comics); Karl Story (DC Universe Legacies); Tim Truman (Conan the Cimmerian); Neil Vokes (Flesh & Blood, Eagle: The Original Adventures); and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website, Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace pages.
This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 21st.
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 12th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 6 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Digital Audience Invited to Edit Final Cut of New Indie Pic THE POWER OF FEW with Ground-Breaking Online Contest
Upcoming Crime Mystery Stars Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, and Q´orianka Kilcher
(Los Angeles, CA) May 18, 2011 – Director/writer Leone Marucci and star Q’orianka Kilcher (Terrence Malick's The New World) are inviting online audiences to determine the final cut of their new film, THE POWER OF FEW, with a ground-breaking digital editing contest, ‘Scene 64.’ Using raw film footage and editing tools on the film’s official websitewww.thepoweroffew.com, participants will have the opportunity to cut a scene from the film. One of the favorites, as voted by fans, will be used in the finished film and the winner will receive a screen credit.
‘Scene 64’ features Kilcher and co-star Jesse Bradford (Bring It On, Flags of Our Fathers), in an action sequence shot on location in New Orleans. The pair co-star with an ensemble cast including Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can, Wedding Crashers) and Christian Slater (True Romance, Very Bad Things) in the crime mystery. THE POWER OF FEW revolves around an enigmatic smuggling ring’s efforts to steal a priceless artifact. The story unfolds through the unique perspective of five characters who cross paths on a day filled with danger, hope and possible transformation.
Marucci and Kilcher are continuing the exploration of perspectives by welcoming users to the film’s official sitewww.thepoweroffew.com where they can download pages of Maurcci’s script; access a video library containing all footage shot on location; and edit the scene as they envision it. Entrants will also have access to audio tracks from the film’s score by Grammy-winning Mike Simpson, whose composing credits include the film soundtracks of Fight Cluband Zoolander and acclaimed work as co-writer/producer on the Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique” album.
First-time producer and star Q’orianka Kilcher commented, “We’re doing something that’s never been done before: we’re creating a direct connection between a passionate global audience and Hollywood, with an Internet connection being the only requirement. I love the idea of empowering people from around the world with this direct involvement.”
CONTEST TIMELINE:
May 18 – ‘Scene 64’ editing tools live on www.thepoweroffew.com
June 21 – First day to publish final cut in the Scene Gallery. Voting begins for the top fan favorite
July 21 – Voting closes. One of top 30 edits with the most votes will be included in the final cut of THE POWER OF FEW
July 28 – Winner announced
Director Leone Marucci said, "From performance to design to direction, filmmaking in its purest form is a collaborative process. In the spirit of a story being told from multiple perspectives, it's been our goal to create an interactive experience where we open up the creation of the film to the worldwide audience."
THE POWER OF FEW producers continue their embrace of the collaborative filmmaking process with ‘Scene 64.’ During the casting process, first-time actress Stephanie Meilaq won the part of “Carmen,” by a vote hosted on the film’s website. The audience had direct control over the make-up department after the filmmakers asked for body location of tattoos to be sported by “Junkshow,” the key character played by Anthony Anderson (Transformers, The Departed), who's character's name was also picked by fans.
The ensemble cast includes Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation), Nicky Whelan (Hall Pass), Devon Gearhart (Changeling), Jordan Prentice (In Bruges), Navid Negahban (Fox’s “24”) and multi-platinum selling rap artist Juvenile.
The film was written, directed and produced by Leone Marucci under his Steelyard Pictures banner; produced by Q’orianka Kilcher’s iQ Films; Exec Produced by Todd Trosclair, Roy Kurtluyan, Whitney Kroenke; Produced by Jimmy Holcomb, Jay Thames, Roy Scott Macfarland, Fred D'Amico. Arclight Films is handling international sales.
ABOUT STEELYARD PICTURES
Headed by Leone Marucci, Steelyard Pictures develops and produces feature films and other original experiences across all media platforms.
ABOUT iQ FILMS
Q'orianka Kilcher's iQ-Films produces feature films and cause driven documentaries and youth-programming projects which inspire, empower and challenge.
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/ThePowerOfFew
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/thepoweroffew
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/thepoweroffew
Upcoming Crime Mystery Stars Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, and Q´orianka Kilcher
(Los Angeles, CA) May 18, 2011 – Director/writer Leone Marucci and star Q’orianka Kilcher (Terrence Malick's The New World) are inviting online audiences to determine the final cut of their new film, THE POWER OF FEW, with a ground-breaking digital editing contest, ‘Scene 64.’ Using raw film footage and editing tools on the film’s official websitewww.thepoweroffew.com, participants will have the opportunity to cut a scene from the film. One of the favorites, as voted by fans, will be used in the finished film and the winner will receive a screen credit.
‘Scene 64’ features Kilcher and co-star Jesse Bradford (Bring It On, Flags of Our Fathers), in an action sequence shot on location in New Orleans. The pair co-star with an ensemble cast including Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can, Wedding Crashers) and Christian Slater (True Romance, Very Bad Things) in the crime mystery. THE POWER OF FEW revolves around an enigmatic smuggling ring’s efforts to steal a priceless artifact. The story unfolds through the unique perspective of five characters who cross paths on a day filled with danger, hope and possible transformation.
Marucci and Kilcher are continuing the exploration of perspectives by welcoming users to the film’s official sitewww.thepoweroffew.com where they can download pages of Maurcci’s script; access a video library containing all footage shot on location; and edit the scene as they envision it. Entrants will also have access to audio tracks from the film’s score by Grammy-winning Mike Simpson, whose composing credits include the film soundtracks of Fight Cluband Zoolander and acclaimed work as co-writer/producer on the Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique” album.
First-time producer and star Q’orianka Kilcher commented, “We’re doing something that’s never been done before: we’re creating a direct connection between a passionate global audience and Hollywood, with an Internet connection being the only requirement. I love the idea of empowering people from around the world with this direct involvement.”
CONTEST TIMELINE:
May 18 – ‘Scene 64’ editing tools live on www.thepoweroffew.com
June 21 – First day to publish final cut in the Scene Gallery. Voting begins for the top fan favorite
July 21 – Voting closes. One of top 30 edits with the most votes will be included in the final cut of THE POWER OF FEW
July 28 – Winner announced
Director Leone Marucci said, "From performance to design to direction, filmmaking in its purest form is a collaborative process. In the spirit of a story being told from multiple perspectives, it's been our goal to create an interactive experience where we open up the creation of the film to the worldwide audience."
THE POWER OF FEW producers continue their embrace of the collaborative filmmaking process with ‘Scene 64.’ During the casting process, first-time actress Stephanie Meilaq won the part of “Carmen,” by a vote hosted on the film’s website. The audience had direct control over the make-up department after the filmmakers asked for body location of tattoos to be sported by “Junkshow,” the key character played by Anthony Anderson (Transformers, The Departed), who's character's name was also picked by fans.
The ensemble cast includes Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation), Nicky Whelan (Hall Pass), Devon Gearhart (Changeling), Jordan Prentice (In Bruges), Navid Negahban (Fox’s “24”) and multi-platinum selling rap artist Juvenile.
The film was written, directed and produced by Leone Marucci under his Steelyard Pictures banner; produced by Q’orianka Kilcher’s iQ Films; Exec Produced by Todd Trosclair, Roy Kurtluyan, Whitney Kroenke; Produced by Jimmy Holcomb, Jay Thames, Roy Scott Macfarland, Fred D'Amico. Arclight Films is handling international sales.
ABOUT STEELYARD PICTURES
Headed by Leone Marucci, Steelyard Pictures develops and produces feature films and other original experiences across all media platforms.
ABOUT iQ FILMS
Q'orianka Kilcher's iQ-Films produces feature films and cause driven documentaries and youth-programming projects which inspire, empower and challenge.
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/ThePowerOfFew
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/thepoweroffew
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/thepoweroffew
FANTAGRAPHICS ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO TWO LEGENDARY BELGIAN CLASSICS: PEELLAERT’S THE ADVENTURES OF JODELLE AND PRAVDA
Fantagraphics Books has signed a deal to release two groundbreaking graphic novels from cult Belgian artist Guy Peellaert (1934-2008): The Adventures of Jodelle (1966) and Pravda (1967). The remastered editions will be produced in collaboration with the late artist’s estate, which will contribute previously unseen material for extensive archival supplements.
Both albums were originally released in France by Eric Losfeld, the controversial publisher who passionately defied censorship in the lead-up to the cultural revolution of 1968; along with Jean-Claude Forest’s Barbarella, Peellaert’s Jodelle and Pravda were among the earliest of European adult-oriented graphic novels.
The Adventures of Jodelle, whose voluptuous title heroine was modeled after French teen idol Sylvie Vartan, is a satirical spy story set in a Space Age Roman-Empire fantasy world. Its then-revolutionary clashing of high and low culture references, borrowing as much from Renaissance painting as from a fetishized American consumer culture, marked the advent of the Pop movement within the nascent “9th art” of comic books, not yet dignified as “graphic novels” but already a source of great influence in avant-garde artistic circles. Visually, Jodelle was a major aesthetic shock. According to New York magazine, its “lusciously designed, flat color patterns and dizzy forced perspective reminiscent of Matisse and Japanese prints set a new record in comic-strip sophistication.”
Released a year later and first serialized in the French counter-culture bible Hara-Kiri, Pravda follows the surreal travels of an all-female motorcycle gang across a mythical American landscape, led by a mesmerizing cold-blooded heroine whose hyper-sexualized elastic anatomy was this time inspired by quintessential Gallic chanteuse Françoise Hardy. Pravda’s eye-popping graphics pushed the psychedelic edge of Jodelle to dazzling new heights, further liberating the story from narrative conventions to focus the reader’s attention on the stunning composition and glaring acid colors of the strips, with each frame functioning as a stand-alone cinematic picture.
Pravda, with its themes of female empowerment and beauty emerging from chaos, became an instant sensation on the European underground scene, inspiring various tributes and appropriations from the worlds of film, literature, fashion, music, live arts, advertising or graphic design. Over the years, it has acquired a rarefied status as a unique and timeless piece of Pop Art defying categorization or trends, and has found itself exhibited in such unlikely “high culture” institutions as the Musée d’Orsay or the Centre Pompidou. An early admirer of Peellaert’s radical vision—along with luminaries as diverse as Jean-Luc Godard (who optioned the film rights to Pravda) and Mick Jagger—Frederico Fellini praised Jodelle and Pravda as “the literature of intelligence, imagination and romanticism.”
The Adventures of Jodelle was published in the United States in 1967 by Grove Press, whose legendary editor-in-chief Richard Seaver (the man credited with introducing Samuel Beckett, William Burroughs and Henry Miller to America) also provided the translation; Pravda has never been released in English, despite its lead character transcending the long out-of-print book where she originated to become a peculiar iconic figure, the maverick muse of a few “au courant” art and design aficionados from Paris to Tokyo.
Refusing to cash in on the phenomenal success of Jodelle and Pravda (he viewed the former as a one-time graphic “experiment” of which the latter marked the accomplishment) the reclusive Peellaert abruptly left cartoons behind after only two albums at the dawn of the 1970s to pursue an obsessive kind of image-making which painstakingly combined photography, airbrush painting and collage in the pre-computer age. His best-known achievement in America remains the seminal 1973 book Rock Dreams, a collection of portraits which resulted from this distinctive technique and was hailed as “the Sistine Chapel of the Seventies” by Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, eventually selling over a million copies worldwide, influencing a generation of photographers and earning its place in the pantheon of rock culture. Other well-known creations include the iconic artwork for David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs album cover (1974) as well as The Rolling Stones’ It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll the same year. Peellaert also created the indelible original poster for Martin Scorcese’s Taxi Driver (1978), the first of many commissions from renowned auteurs including Wim Wenders, Robert Altman, Stephen Frears, Alain Resnais and Robert Bresson.
As the original negatives and color separations for Jodelle and Pravda are long lost (interestingly, Peellaert never reclaimed the original ink-on-paper pages from Losfeld) Fantagraphics will be re-coloring both books digitally. “The original Books were colored via hand-cut separations from Peellaert’s detailed color indications,” said Fantagraphics co-publisher Kim Thompson, who will be editing and translating the new editions. “Since the Losfeld editions were printed quite well and Peellaert’s linework is thick and simple, we’re going to be able to generate crisp black-and-white versions of the line art to start from which should duplicate the original ‘look’ exactly. Although actually our edition of Pravda should be better than the original, which had some pretty erratic color registration.”
The Adventures of Jodelle is scheduled for release in May 2012, and Pravda in November 2012, both in deluxe oversized hardcover editions. Each will feature an extensive original essay discussing the works and their historical context, accompanied by numerous archival illustrations and photographs.
“I am terrifically excited to bring these two landmark books to American audiences especially Pravda, which has never been published in English,” said Thompson. “They are some of the most graphically jaw-dropping comics ever put to paper. They remain both quintessentially 1960s in attitude and look, and utterly timeless.”
Fantagraphics Books has signed a deal to release two groundbreaking graphic novels from cult Belgian artist Guy Peellaert (1934-2008): The Adventures of Jodelle (1966) and Pravda (1967). The remastered editions will be produced in collaboration with the late artist’s estate, which will contribute previously unseen material for extensive archival supplements.
Both albums were originally released in France by Eric Losfeld, the controversial publisher who passionately defied censorship in the lead-up to the cultural revolution of 1968; along with Jean-Claude Forest’s Barbarella, Peellaert’s Jodelle and Pravda were among the earliest of European adult-oriented graphic novels.
The Adventures of Jodelle, whose voluptuous title heroine was modeled after French teen idol Sylvie Vartan, is a satirical spy story set in a Space Age Roman-Empire fantasy world. Its then-revolutionary clashing of high and low culture references, borrowing as much from Renaissance painting as from a fetishized American consumer culture, marked the advent of the Pop movement within the nascent “9th art” of comic books, not yet dignified as “graphic novels” but already a source of great influence in avant-garde artistic circles. Visually, Jodelle was a major aesthetic shock. According to New York magazine, its “lusciously designed, flat color patterns and dizzy forced perspective reminiscent of Matisse and Japanese prints set a new record in comic-strip sophistication.”
Released a year later and first serialized in the French counter-culture bible Hara-Kiri, Pravda follows the surreal travels of an all-female motorcycle gang across a mythical American landscape, led by a mesmerizing cold-blooded heroine whose hyper-sexualized elastic anatomy was this time inspired by quintessential Gallic chanteuse Françoise Hardy. Pravda’s eye-popping graphics pushed the psychedelic edge of Jodelle to dazzling new heights, further liberating the story from narrative conventions to focus the reader’s attention on the stunning composition and glaring acid colors of the strips, with each frame functioning as a stand-alone cinematic picture.
Pravda, with its themes of female empowerment and beauty emerging from chaos, became an instant sensation on the European underground scene, inspiring various tributes and appropriations from the worlds of film, literature, fashion, music, live arts, advertising or graphic design. Over the years, it has acquired a rarefied status as a unique and timeless piece of Pop Art defying categorization or trends, and has found itself exhibited in such unlikely “high culture” institutions as the Musée d’Orsay or the Centre Pompidou. An early admirer of Peellaert’s radical vision—along with luminaries as diverse as Jean-Luc Godard (who optioned the film rights to Pravda) and Mick Jagger—Frederico Fellini praised Jodelle and Pravda as “the literature of intelligence, imagination and romanticism.”
The Adventures of Jodelle was published in the United States in 1967 by Grove Press, whose legendary editor-in-chief Richard Seaver (the man credited with introducing Samuel Beckett, William Burroughs and Henry Miller to America) also provided the translation; Pravda has never been released in English, despite its lead character transcending the long out-of-print book where she originated to become a peculiar iconic figure, the maverick muse of a few “au courant” art and design aficionados from Paris to Tokyo.
Refusing to cash in on the phenomenal success of Jodelle and Pravda (he viewed the former as a one-time graphic “experiment” of which the latter marked the accomplishment) the reclusive Peellaert abruptly left cartoons behind after only two albums at the dawn of the 1970s to pursue an obsessive kind of image-making which painstakingly combined photography, airbrush painting and collage in the pre-computer age. His best-known achievement in America remains the seminal 1973 book Rock Dreams, a collection of portraits which resulted from this distinctive technique and was hailed as “the Sistine Chapel of the Seventies” by Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, eventually selling over a million copies worldwide, influencing a generation of photographers and earning its place in the pantheon of rock culture. Other well-known creations include the iconic artwork for David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs album cover (1974) as well as The Rolling Stones’ It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll the same year. Peellaert also created the indelible original poster for Martin Scorcese’s Taxi Driver (1978), the first of many commissions from renowned auteurs including Wim Wenders, Robert Altman, Stephen Frears, Alain Resnais and Robert Bresson.
As the original negatives and color separations for Jodelle and Pravda are long lost (interestingly, Peellaert never reclaimed the original ink-on-paper pages from Losfeld) Fantagraphics will be re-coloring both books digitally. “The original Books were colored via hand-cut separations from Peellaert’s detailed color indications,” said Fantagraphics co-publisher Kim Thompson, who will be editing and translating the new editions. “Since the Losfeld editions were printed quite well and Peellaert’s linework is thick and simple, we’re going to be able to generate crisp black-and-white versions of the line art to start from which should duplicate the original ‘look’ exactly. Although actually our edition of Pravda should be better than the original, which had some pretty erratic color registration.”
The Adventures of Jodelle is scheduled for release in May 2012, and Pravda in November 2012, both in deluxe oversized hardcover editions. Each will feature an extensive original essay discussing the works and their historical context, accompanied by numerous archival illustrations and photographs.
“I am terrifically excited to bring these two landmark books to American audiences especially Pravda, which has never been published in English,” said Thompson. “They are some of the most graphically jaw-dropping comics ever put to paper. They remain both quintessentially 1960s in attitude and look, and utterly timeless.”
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
12-GAUGE COMICS
AUGUST 2011 SOLICITATIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Birmingham, AL (May 26, 2011)
ICE #2 (of 4)
Writer: Doug Wagner
Artist: Jose Holder
Cover Artist: Brian Stelfreeze
Colors: Michael Wiggam
$3.99
Following a string of brutal drug-runner murders in the States, the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement agency’s top tactical team is in hot pursuit of the killer. As they close in on the suspect (drug-kingpin Luis Morales), chaos erupts on the streets in a jumble of bullets and explosions! As the battle rages, Morales attempts to escape and ICE agent Cole Matai is forced to leave his team and pursue the ruthless killer on foot. Cole corners Morales and gets the upper hand--- but makes a critical decision that will end up haunting him forever.
12-Gauge Comics is known for high-octane action, and ICE is taking that reputation to a new level! Don’t miss the next installment of this summer’s hottest new series!
LOOSE ENDS #2 (of 4)
Writer: Jason Latour
Art and Cover: Chris Brunner
Colors: Rico Renzi
$3.99 (please note size: 7 - ¼” x 11”)
In the wake of the worst night of their lives, Sonny and Cheri are ‘wanted’ and on the run. Vicious drug cartels and crooked cops lie in wait on the road before them, but tonight it's the past that looms largest in the rear view mirror-- a past filled with betrayal, conspiracy, promise rings and varsity jackets. Tonight, no matter how fast they drive, they can't escape the mistakes of their youth.
LOOSE ENDS is a gritty, slow cooked, "southern crime romance", that follows a winding trail down Tobacco Road, through the war torn streets of Baghdad, and into the bright lights and bloody gutters of South Florida...12-Gauge style.
####
About the Publisher
12-Gauge Comics was founded by Keven Gardner in 2004 and currently publishes some of the most successful and critically acclaimed independent comic books in the marketplace today. 12-Gauge members Jason Pearson, Brian Stelfreeze, Cully Hamner, and Doug Wagner are creating new and innovative multi-media concepts for the company, including Pearson’s run-away hit BODY BAGS and THE RIDE, which debuted as the top-selling black and white comic of the year in 2004. After solidifying its position as a force to be reckoned with by packaging THE O.C.T. (Occult Crimes Taskforce), an original comic book concept co-created and starring actress ROSARIO DAWSON. THE O.C.T. has been featured on “The Today Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Access Hollywood,” and many other media outlets.
In 2009 12-Gauge began to firmly solidify its unique identity by publishing under its own banner (prior titles were through Image Comics), starting with the company's first licensed property, THE BOONDOCK SAINTS: The Comic Series -- which made a major splash. With all new stories by series creator/director TROY DUFFY, the comics have been selling-out and exposing the 12-Gauge brand to an all-new audience. 12-Gauge then moved into the untapped market of country music with superstar recording artist TRACE ADKINS. In LUKE MC BAIN, Adkins lends his likeness to a hard-as-nails character in an adventure story of revenge and redemption. Trace went on a wide publicity tour for the comics; highlights being a guest appearance on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and a feature story in “USA Today”. 2010 closed strong with the release of 25 TO LIFE, a limited series that pushed the boundaries of the traditional law enforcement procedural.
2011 looks equally promising; the recently launched high-concept series MAGUS is rewriting the world of magic as we know it. R.P.M., from NYT #1 Bestselling author MICK FOLEY, is a crossover hit, and the just announced action-franchise I.C.E. is generating strong buzz in the industry. Other 2011 titles include the zombie-noir themed DEADTOWN and the gritty crime drama LOOSE ENDS. For more information, please visit www.12gaugecomics.com or email info@12gaugecomics.com.
AUGUST 2011 SOLICITATIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Birmingham, AL (May 26, 2011)
ICE #2 (of 4)
Writer: Doug Wagner
Artist: Jose Holder
Cover Artist: Brian Stelfreeze
Colors: Michael Wiggam
$3.99
Following a string of brutal drug-runner murders in the States, the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement agency’s top tactical team is in hot pursuit of the killer. As they close in on the suspect (drug-kingpin Luis Morales), chaos erupts on the streets in a jumble of bullets and explosions! As the battle rages, Morales attempts to escape and ICE agent Cole Matai is forced to leave his team and pursue the ruthless killer on foot. Cole corners Morales and gets the upper hand--- but makes a critical decision that will end up haunting him forever.
12-Gauge Comics is known for high-octane action, and ICE is taking that reputation to a new level! Don’t miss the next installment of this summer’s hottest new series!
LOOSE ENDS #2 (of 4)
Writer: Jason Latour
Art and Cover: Chris Brunner
Colors: Rico Renzi
$3.99 (please note size: 7 - ¼” x 11”)
In the wake of the worst night of their lives, Sonny and Cheri are ‘wanted’ and on the run. Vicious drug cartels and crooked cops lie in wait on the road before them, but tonight it's the past that looms largest in the rear view mirror-- a past filled with betrayal, conspiracy, promise rings and varsity jackets. Tonight, no matter how fast they drive, they can't escape the mistakes of their youth.
LOOSE ENDS is a gritty, slow cooked, "southern crime romance", that follows a winding trail down Tobacco Road, through the war torn streets of Baghdad, and into the bright lights and bloody gutters of South Florida...12-Gauge style.
####
About the Publisher
12-Gauge Comics was founded by Keven Gardner in 2004 and currently publishes some of the most successful and critically acclaimed independent comic books in the marketplace today. 12-Gauge members Jason Pearson, Brian Stelfreeze, Cully Hamner, and Doug Wagner are creating new and innovative multi-media concepts for the company, including Pearson’s run-away hit BODY BAGS and THE RIDE, which debuted as the top-selling black and white comic of the year in 2004. After solidifying its position as a force to be reckoned with by packaging THE O.C.T. (Occult Crimes Taskforce), an original comic book concept co-created and starring actress ROSARIO DAWSON. THE O.C.T. has been featured on “The Today Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Access Hollywood,” and many other media outlets.
In 2009 12-Gauge began to firmly solidify its unique identity by publishing under its own banner (prior titles were through Image Comics), starting with the company's first licensed property, THE BOONDOCK SAINTS: The Comic Series -- which made a major splash. With all new stories by series creator/director TROY DUFFY, the comics have been selling-out and exposing the 12-Gauge brand to an all-new audience. 12-Gauge then moved into the untapped market of country music with superstar recording artist TRACE ADKINS. In LUKE MC BAIN, Adkins lends his likeness to a hard-as-nails character in an adventure story of revenge and redemption. Trace went on a wide publicity tour for the comics; highlights being a guest appearance on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and a feature story in “USA Today”. 2010 closed strong with the release of 25 TO LIFE, a limited series that pushed the boundaries of the traditional law enforcement procedural.
2011 looks equally promising; the recently launched high-concept series MAGUS is rewriting the world of magic as we know it. R.P.M., from NYT #1 Bestselling author MICK FOLEY, is a crossover hit, and the just announced action-franchise I.C.E. is generating strong buzz in the industry. Other 2011 titles include the zombie-noir themed DEADTOWN and the gritty crime drama LOOSE ENDS. For more information, please visit www.12gaugecomics.com or email info@12gaugecomics.com.
San Diego Live Painter Sean Dietrich Takes His New Kid's Book on a 10,000 Mile U.S. Tour.
After 900 live art shows in Southern California over 11 years, Sean Dietrich hops in his car to drive his unique live painting, and a new kid's book 'The Fruits of Our Labor', to the rest of the country on a six month tour to promote creative living, and arts awareness.
May 25, 2011, San Diego, CA – In the age of the internet when most artists rely on online sales to promote, or a rare decent paying, steady gig at a big company to pay the bills, Sean Dietrich is going against the grain with a six month, 10,000 mile U.S. Live Art Tour starting Aug 1st to promote several new books, including a brand new kid's book 'The Fruits of Our Labor', and introduce thousands of new people to his own special brand of live art. With all the art programs being ripped out of California schools, Dietrich insists on a public tour de force to promote his books, art, and a way of life he's spent the last 30 years developing since he first put crayon to paper. And he's doing it all with his wife, and co-author of 'Fruits', and 3-year-old daughter out of the back of his Volvo and tent trailer.
Sure, you can see artists at galleries and at comic cons every so often, but Dietrich is driving across the U.S. hitting comic stores, comic conventions, galleries, nightclubs, festivals and more to promote, in person, his books and art. While you will be able to sample the darker art Dietrich is known for, the tour itself is focusing on a new kid's book 'The Fruits of Our Labor', illustrated by Dietrich and written by Rachel Dietrich and Lexi Sadler. The book itself, simply put, is AWESOME! We always tell our kids, "Eat your fruits and veggies, and you'll grow up big and strong!", but what do you do when you DO grow up big and strong? Well, our cast of garden grown characters will show you. By coupling fruits and veggies with occupations in an alphabet style book, such as the 'Artistic Artichoke', 'Stay at Home Strawberry', and 'Onion the Optometrist', we are able to teach children about different and unique things to eat, and allow them to learn about a multitude of cool job possibilities they can strive for as they grow up.
The main themes the creators are surrounding the promoting of the book with are raising awareness of healthy living, creativity with food, supplementing children's knowledge of art, and teaching them how to apply creative thinking in their day-to-day life; a concept and commitment of the creators that hits close to home as they watch art, music and drama being taken out of the California schools because of budget cuts. In San Diego, the creators are teaming up with chefs and fitness experts to throw events that will offer demos to children, covering everything from how to make food fun, to simple exercises they can do, to discussions on how to enhance their lives creatively.
Also available on this tour will be the full line of the artist's art prints, original art, and his new books 'Bubbles from Atlantis' written by Richard A. Webster, and Dietrich's 10 yr. anniversary live art book 'I Brought the Gutter'. Both books are also available from Colosseum Publishing online at Amazon.com and at BarnesandNoble.com.
Current tour dates are as follows with many, many more dates to follow including club dates and store signings in most of the cities:
5/31 - Poster Show @ Bar Basic (San Diego)
6/4 - Dragonfly (Hollywood, CA)
6/5 - Happenin' Harry @ The Cat Club (Hollywood, CA)
6/23 - NOHO Studios Show (North Hollywood, CA)
6/24 - Beer and Sake Festival (San Diego, CA)
7/19 - Poems, Rhymes and Tales @ Bar Basic (San Diego, CA)
7/21 - 24th - San Diego Comic Con (San Diego, CA)
8/11 - 8/14 - Wizard World Chicago (Chicago, IL)
8/20 - 8/21 - Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD)
9/24 - Jet City Comic Con (Seattle, WA)
10/29 - 10/30 - Long Beach Comic Con (Long Beach, CA)
11/11 - 11/13 - Wizard World Austin (Austin, TX)
1/28 - 1/29 - Wizard World New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)5/31 - Poster Show @ Bar Basic (San Diego)
Sean Dietrich currently lives in San Diego (at least for the next 2 months!) and has been published since he was 15. He used his live art as a marketing tool when his first book 'industriacide' came out because he was too broke to buy ad space to promote, and it's since become a successful career. Dietrich has painted at the lowliest dive bars on up to celebrity filled clubs in Beverly Hills, and has been able to maintain his status in the underground art scene in San Diego, helping new artists break into live art and make a living off of their craft. The artist has also been apart of numerous charity events raising thousands of dollars through donated paintings that are auctioned off.
--For more information on the tour, the books, tour blog and more, log to www.industriacide.com or follow Dietrich at www.facebook.com/seandietrich.
--To help fund the tour and get some pretty rad pledge prizes, log to http://kck.st/lsrexT and pledge to the kickstarter.com project.
After 900 live art shows in Southern California over 11 years, Sean Dietrich hops in his car to drive his unique live painting, and a new kid's book 'The Fruits of Our Labor', to the rest of the country on a six month tour to promote creative living, and arts awareness.
May 25, 2011, San Diego, CA – In the age of the internet when most artists rely on online sales to promote, or a rare decent paying, steady gig at a big company to pay the bills, Sean Dietrich is going against the grain with a six month, 10,000 mile U.S. Live Art Tour starting Aug 1st to promote several new books, including a brand new kid's book 'The Fruits of Our Labor', and introduce thousands of new people to his own special brand of live art. With all the art programs being ripped out of California schools, Dietrich insists on a public tour de force to promote his books, art, and a way of life he's spent the last 30 years developing since he first put crayon to paper. And he's doing it all with his wife, and co-author of 'Fruits', and 3-year-old daughter out of the back of his Volvo and tent trailer.
Sure, you can see artists at galleries and at comic cons every so often, but Dietrich is driving across the U.S. hitting comic stores, comic conventions, galleries, nightclubs, festivals and more to promote, in person, his books and art. While you will be able to sample the darker art Dietrich is known for, the tour itself is focusing on a new kid's book 'The Fruits of Our Labor', illustrated by Dietrich and written by Rachel Dietrich and Lexi Sadler. The book itself, simply put, is AWESOME! We always tell our kids, "Eat your fruits and veggies, and you'll grow up big and strong!", but what do you do when you DO grow up big and strong? Well, our cast of garden grown characters will show you. By coupling fruits and veggies with occupations in an alphabet style book, such as the 'Artistic Artichoke', 'Stay at Home Strawberry', and 'Onion the Optometrist', we are able to teach children about different and unique things to eat, and allow them to learn about a multitude of cool job possibilities they can strive for as they grow up.
The main themes the creators are surrounding the promoting of the book with are raising awareness of healthy living, creativity with food, supplementing children's knowledge of art, and teaching them how to apply creative thinking in their day-to-day life; a concept and commitment of the creators that hits close to home as they watch art, music and drama being taken out of the California schools because of budget cuts. In San Diego, the creators are teaming up with chefs and fitness experts to throw events that will offer demos to children, covering everything from how to make food fun, to simple exercises they can do, to discussions on how to enhance their lives creatively.
Also available on this tour will be the full line of the artist's art prints, original art, and his new books 'Bubbles from Atlantis' written by Richard A. Webster, and Dietrich's 10 yr. anniversary live art book 'I Brought the Gutter'. Both books are also available from Colosseum Publishing online at Amazon.com and at BarnesandNoble.com.
Current tour dates are as follows with many, many more dates to follow including club dates and store signings in most of the cities:
5/31 - Poster Show @ Bar Basic (San Diego)
6/4 - Dragonfly (Hollywood, CA)
6/5 - Happenin' Harry @ The Cat Club (Hollywood, CA)
6/23 - NOHO Studios Show (North Hollywood, CA)
6/24 - Beer and Sake Festival (San Diego, CA)
7/19 - Poems, Rhymes and Tales @ Bar Basic (San Diego, CA)
7/21 - 24th - San Diego Comic Con (San Diego, CA)
8/11 - 8/14 - Wizard World Chicago (Chicago, IL)
8/20 - 8/21 - Baltimore Comic Con (Baltimore, MD)
9/24 - Jet City Comic Con (Seattle, WA)
10/29 - 10/30 - Long Beach Comic Con (Long Beach, CA)
11/11 - 11/13 - Wizard World Austin (Austin, TX)
1/28 - 1/29 - Wizard World New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)5/31 - Poster Show @ Bar Basic (San Diego)
Sean Dietrich currently lives in San Diego (at least for the next 2 months!) and has been published since he was 15. He used his live art as a marketing tool when his first book 'industriacide' came out because he was too broke to buy ad space to promote, and it's since become a successful career. Dietrich has painted at the lowliest dive bars on up to celebrity filled clubs in Beverly Hills, and has been able to maintain his status in the underground art scene in San Diego, helping new artists break into live art and make a living off of their craft. The artist has also been apart of numerous charity events raising thousands of dollars through donated paintings that are auctioned off.
--For more information on the tour, the books, tour blog and more, log to www.industriacide.com or follow Dietrich at www.facebook.com/seandietrich.
--To help fund the tour and get some pretty rad pledge prizes, log to http://kck.st/lsrexT and pledge to the kickstarter.com project.
Aspen Comics Joins Forces with comiXology to Enter the Digital Market
Independent Publisher Debuts First Wave of Classic and All New Titles on Leading Digital Platform
New York, NY/Los Angeles, CA - 5/25/11– Aspen Comics is proud to announce the launch of their digital line of comic books on the comiXology platform, allowing consumers worldwide the opportunity to access Aspen’s ever expanding library of original properties as well as exclusive digital content on the horizon from the publisher.
“We’re excited to finally usher our Aspen line of books into the digital marketplace, and are thrilled to be teaming up with comiXology to make this a reality,” said Frank Mastromauro, President of Aspen MLT, Inc. “This will give our fans greater access to our current catalogue of titles, while also providing potential new readers with a wide choice of different avenues to jump into the Aspen Comics universe.”
The first wave of the comiXology launch will include 15 titles, including some of Aspen’s most popular series, such as Michael Turner’s Fathom and Soulfire, the critically acclaimed series Executive Assistant: Iris and Shrugged, and several more available at launch and to be announced. Individual titles from Aspen will be priced on comiXology from $.99 to $2.99 depending on issue size, with over-sized titles priced accordingly, and every introductory zero or preview issue offered for free. Aspen and comiXology will also be offering full series sets of Aspen’s various titles for a discounted price.
“We've been working to get Aspen titles onto Comics by comiXology since before we even launched, “ said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “So, it gives us great pleasure to add them to the platform. We are always looking to expand our comic library to give our community more comic titles to enjoy and Aspen will be a great addition.”
List of digital Aspen Comics to be released today:
* Executive Assistant: Iris Preview (Free)
* Executive Assistant: Iris #0 (Free)
* Executive Assistant: Iris #1
* Executive Assistant: Iris #2
* Fathom #0/Preview (Free)
* Fathom #1
* Fathom #2
* Shrugged Beginnings (Free)
* Shrugged #0 (Free)
* Shrugged #1
* Shrugged #2
* Soulfire #0 (Free)
* Soulfire #1
* Soulfire #2
About Aspen Comics
Aspen MLT, Inc. is an entertainment publishing company founded in January 2003 by superstar comic artist Michael Turner. Aspen produces the popular series Fathom, the hit fantasy series Soulfire, the smash hit Lady Mechanika, the acclaimed series Shrugged, as well as new series such as Broken Pieces, Charismagic, Dellec, Executive Assistant: Iris, Mindfield, and The Scourge in association with Valhalla Motion Pictures. As well as publishing their own line of books, Aspen MLT Inc. continually collaborates on the comic industry’s most exciting titles including Marvel’s Civil War and World War Hulk, and DC Comics’ Identity Crisis and Brightest Day events. Aspen has branched into other media forms and continues to do so. Aspen has produced original content and designs for such clients as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, NBC, American Express and more.
About comiXology
Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archaia Entertainment, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment and Image Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which hosts over 9,000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in digital comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace.
Independent Publisher Debuts First Wave of Classic and All New Titles on Leading Digital Platform
New York, NY/Los Angeles, CA - 5/25/11– Aspen Comics is proud to announce the launch of their digital line of comic books on the comiXology platform, allowing consumers worldwide the opportunity to access Aspen’s ever expanding library of original properties as well as exclusive digital content on the horizon from the publisher.
“We’re excited to finally usher our Aspen line of books into the digital marketplace, and are thrilled to be teaming up with comiXology to make this a reality,” said Frank Mastromauro, President of Aspen MLT, Inc. “This will give our fans greater access to our current catalogue of titles, while also providing potential new readers with a wide choice of different avenues to jump into the Aspen Comics universe.”
The first wave of the comiXology launch will include 15 titles, including some of Aspen’s most popular series, such as Michael Turner’s Fathom and Soulfire, the critically acclaimed series Executive Assistant: Iris and Shrugged, and several more available at launch and to be announced. Individual titles from Aspen will be priced on comiXology from $.99 to $2.99 depending on issue size, with over-sized titles priced accordingly, and every introductory zero or preview issue offered for free. Aspen and comiXology will also be offering full series sets of Aspen’s various titles for a discounted price.
“We've been working to get Aspen titles onto Comics by comiXology since before we even launched, “ said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “So, it gives us great pleasure to add them to the platform. We are always looking to expand our comic library to give our community more comic titles to enjoy and Aspen will be a great addition.”
List of digital Aspen Comics to be released today:
* Executive Assistant: Iris Preview (Free)
* Executive Assistant: Iris #0 (Free)
* Executive Assistant: Iris #1
* Executive Assistant: Iris #2
* Fathom #0/Preview (Free)
* Fathom #1
* Fathom #2
* Shrugged Beginnings (Free)
* Shrugged #0 (Free)
* Shrugged #1
* Shrugged #2
* Soulfire #0 (Free)
* Soulfire #1
* Soulfire #2
About Aspen Comics
Aspen MLT, Inc. is an entertainment publishing company founded in January 2003 by superstar comic artist Michael Turner. Aspen produces the popular series Fathom, the hit fantasy series Soulfire, the smash hit Lady Mechanika, the acclaimed series Shrugged, as well as new series such as Broken Pieces, Charismagic, Dellec, Executive Assistant: Iris, Mindfield, and The Scourge in association with Valhalla Motion Pictures. As well as publishing their own line of books, Aspen MLT Inc. continually collaborates on the comic industry’s most exciting titles including Marvel’s Civil War and World War Hulk, and DC Comics’ Identity Crisis and Brightest Day events. Aspen has branched into other media forms and continues to do so. Aspen has produced original content and designs for such clients as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, NBC, American Express and more.
About comiXology
Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archaia Entertainment, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment and Image Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which hosts over 9,000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in digital comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace.
JAGEX ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF HEROTOPIA FOR SUPERKIDS
AROUND THE WORLD
AWARD WINNING VIRTUAL WORLD ALLOWS CHILDREN TO PLAY, SOCIALIZE AND LIVE OUT THEIR SUPERHERO DREAMS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FILLED WITH AMAZING HEROIC EXPERIENCES
CAMBRIDGE, UK – May 25, 2011 – Calling all Superkids! Jagex Games Studio, the UK’s largest independent games publisher, in partnership with New York based developer Herotainment, today launched Herotopia, the free-to-play online game for children, with new content, activities and features. Herotopia offers a fun, vibrant, and safe environment for kids to play, socialize and live out their superhero dreams.
With today’s launch, Herotopia unveils a new Mission System, giving players more than 75 challenging quests to complete and five new mini-games, including daily Power Puzzles that test their creativeness, skill and knowledge of the world around them.
Recipient of the NAPPA Gold Award from the National Parenting Publications Awards, Herotopia offers kids a rich and engaging world for them to become their ultimate Superheroes. Traveling to real-world locations such as New York, the North Pole, Beijing and Paris, kids visit iconic destinations from the Eiffel Tower to Rockefeller Plaza, completing quests, games and adventures along the way. In addition to global travels and the action-packed mini-games, every new Superhero also has their own Secret Hideout, a fully customizable hero base where they can meet with their in-game friends.
Mark Gerhard, CEO at Jagex, commented: “Herotopia offers a fantastically rich and fun experience which we know will appeal to the superhero in everyone. Herotopia is our first under 12 title and, with today’s substantial update making Herotopia even more compelling, we are certain that the game has what it takes to be a huge hit with kids all over the world.”
Caryn and Wade Teman, joint CEO’s of Herotainment said: “When creating Herotopia, we as parents ourselves wanted to empower kids to be their own heroes and to get something more out of playing an online game than just a high score. The content update launched today is our largest to date and we are very excited to be teaming up with Jagex to make Herotopia the leading virtual world for children everywhere.”
Herotopia is accessible to play for free on almost any internet enabled computer. An All-Access Superhero membership option is available for a small monthly fee, offering special features and privileges on top of the free game. These include the opportunity to buy accessories for the player’s Secret Hideout, adopt an Orangutan Sidekick, acquire multiple Superpowers and Super Vehicles to travel around this exciting world as well as the ability to unlock and visit to the special imaginary location, Herotopia Island. An All-Access membership costs from $5.95 a month, a portion of which will be donated to children’s charities, voted on by the Herotopia community.
To play Herotopia and find out more about the game, visit www.herotopia.com.
About Jagex – Just About the Game Experience:
Jagex Games Studio is a multi-award winning games developer and publisher based in Cambridge, England. Jagex specializes in the development of browser-based MMO’s and is the largest independent games developer and publisher in the UK.
Jagex has a long-standing reputation for creating the world’s best online games, for developing hugely popular, high quality, accessible, free-to-play games and for providing an unbeatable community experience for millions of players around the world. Jagex has developed and self-published over 40 online titles including the world’s most popular free online multiplayer game, RuneScape.
About Herotainment, LLC
Herotainment, LLC is a New York based children’s media and entertainment company. Herotainment develops interactive content that is fun, educational and rewarding. The company’s flagship property is Herotopia.com, a dynamic, multi-player online game with engaging characters and story that will be the basis for books, mobile apps, an animated television show, licensed products and more.
AROUND THE WORLD
AWARD WINNING VIRTUAL WORLD ALLOWS CHILDREN TO PLAY, SOCIALIZE AND LIVE OUT THEIR SUPERHERO DREAMS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FILLED WITH AMAZING HEROIC EXPERIENCES
CAMBRIDGE, UK – May 25, 2011 – Calling all Superkids! Jagex Games Studio, the UK’s largest independent games publisher, in partnership with New York based developer Herotainment, today launched Herotopia, the free-to-play online game for children, with new content, activities and features. Herotopia offers a fun, vibrant, and safe environment for kids to play, socialize and live out their superhero dreams.
With today’s launch, Herotopia unveils a new Mission System, giving players more than 75 challenging quests to complete and five new mini-games, including daily Power Puzzles that test their creativeness, skill and knowledge of the world around them.
Recipient of the NAPPA Gold Award from the National Parenting Publications Awards, Herotopia offers kids a rich and engaging world for them to become their ultimate Superheroes. Traveling to real-world locations such as New York, the North Pole, Beijing and Paris, kids visit iconic destinations from the Eiffel Tower to Rockefeller Plaza, completing quests, games and adventures along the way. In addition to global travels and the action-packed mini-games, every new Superhero also has their own Secret Hideout, a fully customizable hero base where they can meet with their in-game friends.
Mark Gerhard, CEO at Jagex, commented: “Herotopia offers a fantastically rich and fun experience which we know will appeal to the superhero in everyone. Herotopia is our first under 12 title and, with today’s substantial update making Herotopia even more compelling, we are certain that the game has what it takes to be a huge hit with kids all over the world.”
Caryn and Wade Teman, joint CEO’s of Herotainment said: “When creating Herotopia, we as parents ourselves wanted to empower kids to be their own heroes and to get something more out of playing an online game than just a high score. The content update launched today is our largest to date and we are very excited to be teaming up with Jagex to make Herotopia the leading virtual world for children everywhere.”
Herotopia is accessible to play for free on almost any internet enabled computer. An All-Access Superhero membership option is available for a small monthly fee, offering special features and privileges on top of the free game. These include the opportunity to buy accessories for the player’s Secret Hideout, adopt an Orangutan Sidekick, acquire multiple Superpowers and Super Vehicles to travel around this exciting world as well as the ability to unlock and visit to the special imaginary location, Herotopia Island. An All-Access membership costs from $5.95 a month, a portion of which will be donated to children’s charities, voted on by the Herotopia community.
To play Herotopia and find out more about the game, visit www.herotopia.com.
About Jagex – Just About the Game Experience:
Jagex Games Studio is a multi-award winning games developer and publisher based in Cambridge, England. Jagex specializes in the development of browser-based MMO’s and is the largest independent games developer and publisher in the UK.
Jagex has a long-standing reputation for creating the world’s best online games, for developing hugely popular, high quality, accessible, free-to-play games and for providing an unbeatable community experience for millions of players around the world. Jagex has developed and self-published over 40 online titles including the world’s most popular free online multiplayer game, RuneScape.
About Herotainment, LLC
Herotainment, LLC is a New York based children’s media and entertainment company. Herotainment develops interactive content that is fun, educational and rewarding. The company’s flagship property is Herotopia.com, a dynamic, multi-player online game with engaging characters and story that will be the basis for books, mobile apps, an animated television show, licensed products and more.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED STARZ ORIGINAL, “TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY” PREMIERES JULY 8 AT 10PM ET/PT
Series Features Alums John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Kai Owen, Joined by Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins, Bill Pullman, and Special Guest Stars Lauren Ambrose and Arlene Tur
Plus Other Notable Guest Stars Including C. Thomas Howell, Wayne Knight, Ernie Hudson, Frances Fisher and Mare Winningham
New York, May 24, 2011 -- Imagine a day when nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep aging. They get hurt and sick but they never die. This is the extraordinary premise of the highly-anticipated STARZ original drama series, "Torchwood: Miracle Day," produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for STARZ, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide. The new series, premiering on STARZ on July 8 at 10pm ET/PT, features Torchwood alumni John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen and new headliners, Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins and Bill Pullman.
Special guest starring actors in the cult sensation include: Arlene Tur (“Crash,” Eat Pray Love) and Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under,” The Other Woman). The 10-episode, hour-long series will also feature an impressive list of guest stars: Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld,” Jurassic Park), C. Thomas Howell (“Southland,” The Outsiders), Ernie Hudson (“OZ,” Ghostbusters), Nana Visitor (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), John DeLancie (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Mare Winningham (Mildred Pierce, George Wallace) and Frances Fisher (Titanic, The Lincoln Lawyer).
"Torchwood: Miracle Day" begins with a day when nobody dies. The result: a population boom, overnight. With all the extra people, resources are finite. It's said that in four month's time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can't be a natural occurrence - someone's got to be behind it. It's a race against time as C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking "What is Torchwood?," he's drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.
The show's original creator, writer/producer Russell T Davies, serves as executive producer along with BBC Worldwide Productions' SVP Julie Gardner, with Davies also serving as show-runner. "Torchwood: Miracle Day" is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide.
Torchwood: Miracle Day
About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 16 premium channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 18.8 million and 33.1 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its Starz, Encore and MoviePlex brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation and is attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group (NASDAQ: LSTZA).
About BBC Worldwide Productions
BBC Worldwide Productions, based in Los Angeles and headed by Jane Tranter, develops and produces scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is responsible for the smash hit “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC), “Top Gear” (HISTORY), “What Not to Wear” (TLC) and “Torchwood: Miracle Day” (STARZ). BBC Worldwide Productions is one of seven core businesses within BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Series Features Alums John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Kai Owen, Joined by Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins, Bill Pullman, and Special Guest Stars Lauren Ambrose and Arlene Tur
Plus Other Notable Guest Stars Including C. Thomas Howell, Wayne Knight, Ernie Hudson, Frances Fisher and Mare Winningham
New York, May 24, 2011 -- Imagine a day when nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep aging. They get hurt and sick but they never die. This is the extraordinary premise of the highly-anticipated STARZ original drama series, "Torchwood: Miracle Day," produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for STARZ, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide. The new series, premiering on STARZ on July 8 at 10pm ET/PT, features Torchwood alumni John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen and new headliners, Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins and Bill Pullman.
Special guest starring actors in the cult sensation include: Arlene Tur (“Crash,” Eat Pray Love) and Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under,” The Other Woman). The 10-episode, hour-long series will also feature an impressive list of guest stars: Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld,” Jurassic Park), C. Thomas Howell (“Southland,” The Outsiders), Ernie Hudson (“OZ,” Ghostbusters), Nana Visitor (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), John DeLancie (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Mare Winningham (Mildred Pierce, George Wallace) and Frances Fisher (Titanic, The Lincoln Lawyer).
"Torchwood: Miracle Day" begins with a day when nobody dies. The result: a population boom, overnight. With all the extra people, resources are finite. It's said that in four month's time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can't be a natural occurrence - someone's got to be behind it. It's a race against time as C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking "What is Torchwood?," he's drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.
The show's original creator, writer/producer Russell T Davies, serves as executive producer along with BBC Worldwide Productions' SVP Julie Gardner, with Davies also serving as show-runner. "Torchwood: Miracle Day" is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide.
Torchwood: Miracle Day
About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 16 premium channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 18.8 million and 33.1 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its Starz, Encore and MoviePlex brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation and is attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group (NASDAQ: LSTZA).
About BBC Worldwide Productions
BBC Worldwide Productions, based in Los Angeles and headed by Jane Tranter, develops and produces scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is responsible for the smash hit “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC), “Top Gear” (HISTORY), “What Not to Wear” (TLC) and “Torchwood: Miracle Day” (STARZ). BBC Worldwide Productions is one of seven core businesses within BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
BOOM! STUDIOS &
POW! ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCH
STAN LEE BOOM! COMICS APP
App Will Feature First Four Issues of Stan Lee’s SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER & STARBORN comic series. Issues Will Also Debut On Multiple Platforms Via All Major Digital Comics Vendors and the BOOM! Studios Comics App
May 23, 2011 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios, one of the top publishers of graphic novels and comic books, announced today the immediate availability of the new free Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App for iOS mobile devices! The app will showcase the digital versions of legendary comics creator Stan Lee’s superhero comic series, SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN. In addition, the titles can be downloaded for iOS through the BOOM! Studios Comics App.
Fans can also download these series through all major digital comics vendors, including ComiXology, Graphic.ly, iVerse, and MyDigitialComics, for desktop (Windows, MacOS) and mobile (iOS, Android) platforms. SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN debuted last fall from one of the comic book industries greatest creators, Stan Lee, in association with his company, POW! Entertainment!
Today’s announcement marks a major foray into the digital comics space by Stan Lee. Lee is a National Medal of Arts Award winner and created the superhero mainstays that populate the House of Ideas, Marvel Comics, including SPIDER-MAN, IRON MAN, THE X-MEN, THE HULK, DR. STRANGE, DAREDEVIL, THE FANTASTIC FOUR, and THOR, among many others.
“What’s great about releasing this app is that it enables us to bring the joy and wonder of comics to the mobile fan and a whole new generation of readers,” said Lee. “Comics are a medium that transcends age, appealing not only to today’s young readers, but older ones as well. And by giving them an unprecedented level of access, we’re ensuring that the fantastic stories, characters, and worlds found only in comics will endure for many years to come.”
The move comes as part of BOOM! Studios’ aggressive digital comics strategy to offer their entire frontlist and backlist of titles for download across multiple mobile and desktop platforms. Last year, they announced the BOOM! Studios App as well as partnerships with comiXology, Graphic.ly, iVerse, and MyDigitalComics to offer high-resolution, easy-to-use digital versions of BOOM!’s most popular titles, including the Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated IRREDEEMABLE, DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, and DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS. The digital comics experience gives readers access to BOOM! Studios’ diverse catalog right at their fingertips. The BOOM! Studios Comics app is available for free download in the iTunes App Store.
“With the easy accessibility of digital comics, we’re excited to be able to turn everyone with a computer, iOS, or an Android device into a lifelong comics fan,” says Chip Mosher, marketing director, BOOM! Studios. “Anyone who’s ever been curious to try comics now has the power to read them instantly with just a click of a button. So what better way to experience comics for the first time than by reading all-new series from the master of the medium, Stan Lee!”
Developed by iVerse Media in association with BOOM! Studios, the all-new Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App features direct access to Lee’s Twitter feed and keeps readers up-to-date on all the latest digital releases from him and BOOM! Studios. Both the Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App and the BOOM! Studios Comics App are available absolutely free in the iTunes App Store. Singles issues of all comics cost $1.99 with a free preview of every first issue of SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN available from every vendor.
SOLDIER ZERO debuted in October 2010 written by Paul Cornell (DOCTOR WHO) and drawn by Javier Pina (MANHUNTER, SUPERMAN). Dan Abnet and Andy Lanning currently write the series with the next installment SOLDIER ZERO #8 in stores 6/15/2011.
THE TRAVELER launched in November 2010 written by Mark Waid (IRREDEEMABLE, KINGDOM COME) and drawn by Chad Hardin (SPIDER-MAN). The series is currently written by Mark Waid & Tom Peyer with The Traveler #7 hitting store shelves next Wednesday 5/25/11.
STARBORN premired in December 2010 written by Chris Roberson (SUPERMAN, iZOMBIE) and drawn by Khary Randolph (THE ADVENTURES OF SPAWN). STARBORN #7 will available in stores 6/8/11.
About BOOM! Studios
Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid's series IRREDEEMABLE, Stan Lee’s SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN (the first new series in print from the industry icon in 20 years), new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker as well as 20th Century Fox’s PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and DIE HARD, Philip K. Dick’s DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, and The Henson Company’s FARSCAPE. BOOM!’s recently rebranded all-ages imprint, KABOOM! will see publication of PEANUTS, SPACE WARPED, Roger Langridge’s SNARKED!, Scholastic’s WORDGIRL and DUCKTALES, as well as continuing to publish fan-favorite Disney Afternoon series DARKWING DUCK, CHIP ‘N’ DALE RESCUE RANGERS along with Disney standards MICKEY MOUSE, DONALD DUCK, UNCLE SCROOGE, and WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES.
ABOUT POW! (PURVEYORS OF WONDER) ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
POW! Entertainment,Inc. (OTCQB: POWN), a multi-media and entertainment company, was founded by noted comic book and entertainment figure Stan Lee, together with award-winning producer Gill Champion and intellectual property specialist Arthur Lieberman. POW!’s principals have extensive backgrounds in the entertainment industry encompassing the creation, production and licensing of original intellectual properties, including some of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time.
POW! is capitalizing on this combined expertise, specializing in creating and developing both the legacy and digital media components of the entertainment industry. This includes animation and live-action feature films, plus television, DVDs, multi-media, merchandising and related ancillary markets, all of which contribute to global expansion.
POW! partners with other individuals and entities of entertainment’s top echelon, including studios and networks in the creation, licensing and distribution of new POW! character franchises. www.powentertainment.com.
POW! ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCH
STAN LEE BOOM! COMICS APP
App Will Feature First Four Issues of Stan Lee’s SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER & STARBORN comic series. Issues Will Also Debut On Multiple Platforms Via All Major Digital Comics Vendors and the BOOM! Studios Comics App
May 23, 2011 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios, one of the top publishers of graphic novels and comic books, announced today the immediate availability of the new free Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App for iOS mobile devices! The app will showcase the digital versions of legendary comics creator Stan Lee’s superhero comic series, SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN. In addition, the titles can be downloaded for iOS through the BOOM! Studios Comics App.
Fans can also download these series through all major digital comics vendors, including ComiXology, Graphic.ly, iVerse, and MyDigitialComics, for desktop (Windows, MacOS) and mobile (iOS, Android) platforms. SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN debuted last fall from one of the comic book industries greatest creators, Stan Lee, in association with his company, POW! Entertainment!
Today’s announcement marks a major foray into the digital comics space by Stan Lee. Lee is a National Medal of Arts Award winner and created the superhero mainstays that populate the House of Ideas, Marvel Comics, including SPIDER-MAN, IRON MAN, THE X-MEN, THE HULK, DR. STRANGE, DAREDEVIL, THE FANTASTIC FOUR, and THOR, among many others.
“What’s great about releasing this app is that it enables us to bring the joy and wonder of comics to the mobile fan and a whole new generation of readers,” said Lee. “Comics are a medium that transcends age, appealing not only to today’s young readers, but older ones as well. And by giving them an unprecedented level of access, we’re ensuring that the fantastic stories, characters, and worlds found only in comics will endure for many years to come.”
The move comes as part of BOOM! Studios’ aggressive digital comics strategy to offer their entire frontlist and backlist of titles for download across multiple mobile and desktop platforms. Last year, they announced the BOOM! Studios App as well as partnerships with comiXology, Graphic.ly, iVerse, and MyDigitalComics to offer high-resolution, easy-to-use digital versions of BOOM!’s most popular titles, including the Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated IRREDEEMABLE, DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, and DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS. The digital comics experience gives readers access to BOOM! Studios’ diverse catalog right at their fingertips. The BOOM! Studios Comics app is available for free download in the iTunes App Store.
“With the easy accessibility of digital comics, we’re excited to be able to turn everyone with a computer, iOS, or an Android device into a lifelong comics fan,” says Chip Mosher, marketing director, BOOM! Studios. “Anyone who’s ever been curious to try comics now has the power to read them instantly with just a click of a button. So what better way to experience comics for the first time than by reading all-new series from the master of the medium, Stan Lee!”
Developed by iVerse Media in association with BOOM! Studios, the all-new Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App features direct access to Lee’s Twitter feed and keeps readers up-to-date on all the latest digital releases from him and BOOM! Studios. Both the Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App and the BOOM! Studios Comics App are available absolutely free in the iTunes App Store. Singles issues of all comics cost $1.99 with a free preview of every first issue of SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN available from every vendor.
SOLDIER ZERO debuted in October 2010 written by Paul Cornell (DOCTOR WHO) and drawn by Javier Pina (MANHUNTER, SUPERMAN). Dan Abnet and Andy Lanning currently write the series with the next installment SOLDIER ZERO #8 in stores 6/15/2011.
THE TRAVELER launched in November 2010 written by Mark Waid (IRREDEEMABLE, KINGDOM COME) and drawn by Chad Hardin (SPIDER-MAN). The series is currently written by Mark Waid & Tom Peyer with The Traveler #7 hitting store shelves next Wednesday 5/25/11.
STARBORN premired in December 2010 written by Chris Roberson (SUPERMAN, iZOMBIE) and drawn by Khary Randolph (THE ADVENTURES OF SPAWN). STARBORN #7 will available in stores 6/8/11.
About BOOM! Studios
Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid's series IRREDEEMABLE, Stan Lee’s SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN (the first new series in print from the industry icon in 20 years), new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker as well as 20th Century Fox’s PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and DIE HARD, Philip K. Dick’s DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, and The Henson Company’s FARSCAPE. BOOM!’s recently rebranded all-ages imprint, KABOOM! will see publication of PEANUTS, SPACE WARPED, Roger Langridge’s SNARKED!, Scholastic’s WORDGIRL and DUCKTALES, as well as continuing to publish fan-favorite Disney Afternoon series DARKWING DUCK, CHIP ‘N’ DALE RESCUE RANGERS along with Disney standards MICKEY MOUSE, DONALD DUCK, UNCLE SCROOGE, and WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES.
ABOUT POW! (PURVEYORS OF WONDER) ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
POW! Entertainment,Inc. (OTCQB: POWN), a multi-media and entertainment company, was founded by noted comic book and entertainment figure Stan Lee, together with award-winning producer Gill Champion and intellectual property specialist Arthur Lieberman. POW!’s principals have extensive backgrounds in the entertainment industry encompassing the creation, production and licensing of original intellectual properties, including some of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time.
POW! is capitalizing on this combined expertise, specializing in creating and developing both the legacy and digital media components of the entertainment industry. This includes animation and live-action feature films, plus television, DVDs, multi-media, merchandising and related ancillary markets, all of which contribute to global expansion.
POW! partners with other individuals and entities of entertainment’s top echelon, including studios and networks in the creation, licensing and distribution of new POW! character franchises. www.powentertainment.com.
UNLOCK THE VAULT
Image Comics Reunites Sarkar and Gastonny In New Series
Image Comics is pleased to announce that writer Sam Sarkar and artist Garrie Gastonny (Warren Ellis’ Supergod), the team behind Caliber: First Canon of Justice, have reunited to unlock the horror and action within their new miniseries THE VAULT.
THE VAULT is about a small team of treasure hunters, struggling to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the "Graveyard of the North Atlantic." Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature's fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash.
"THE VAULT is kind of a contemporary Pandora’s Box story," explained creator and writer, Sam Sarkar. "Though it appears on the surface to be a pretty straightforward story, it has most of its mythology buried deeply. It gets uncovered both literally and figuratively as the pit gets excavated."
When asked how THE VAULT found its home at Image, Sarkar replied: "Well, I’m incredibly fortunate that most of the lasting gifts of Caliber were the relationships it helped to cement. Chief among them, David Elliott. Dave and I have soldiered through quite a few storms personally and professionally, and when I asked him to edit THE VAULT, he didn’t hesitate. There are few people I trust as much. I asked Dave what he thought the best way to release THE VAULT would be and Image was at the top of his list of publishers to approach. I’ve always been a fan of Image, not just because of their model, but because of the quality of titles they have represented and continue to represent."
THE VAULT #1 (1 of 3), a 32-page full color comic book, will be on sale in stores July 27th for $3.50 and is available to order in the June 2011 edition of Diamond Previews (Diamond Order Code: JUN110501).
ABOUT SAM SARKAR
Born in , Sam Sarkar is a 23-year veteran of the entertainment industry. He began his career as an actor and was one of the leads on the long-running, syndicated television series Neon Rider. Following the series, Sam decided to pursue writing and worked for the hit television series Beverly Hills 90210. Stemming from his work on the show, he also co-wrote a television pilot for Spelling Entertainment under the direct guidance of TV legend Aaron Spelling. Deciding then to embark on feature films, Sam took some chances, following a varied path of writing screenplays and working as a sound technician. In 2004, after working on several films with actor Johnny Depp, Sam was asked to help run Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, headed by Christi Dembrowski. As Senior VP at the company, he continues to serve the varied needs of as an executive, producer and writer.
ABOUT GARRIE GASTONNY
Having worked as a comic book artist and illustration lecturer, Garrie Gastonny now mainly focuses on illustration to avoid getting beaten up. Garrie also serves as Senior Artist at Imaginary Friends Studios. His credits include Warren Ellis' Supergod, Caliber: First Canon of Justice and Lady Death. For more information about the artist, please visit http://thegerjoos.deviantart.com/.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the . Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Image Comics Reunites Sarkar and Gastonny In New Series
Image Comics is pleased to announce that writer Sam Sarkar and artist Garrie Gastonny (Warren Ellis’ Supergod), the team behind Caliber: First Canon of Justice, have reunited to unlock the horror and action within their new miniseries THE VAULT.
THE VAULT is about a small team of treasure hunters, struggling to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the "Graveyard of the North Atlantic." Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature's fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash.
"THE VAULT is kind of a contemporary Pandora’s Box story," explained creator and writer, Sam Sarkar. "Though it appears on the surface to be a pretty straightforward story, it has most of its mythology buried deeply. It gets uncovered both literally and figuratively as the pit gets excavated."
When asked how THE VAULT found its home at Image, Sarkar replied: "Well, I’m incredibly fortunate that most of the lasting gifts of Caliber were the relationships it helped to cement. Chief among them, David Elliott. Dave and I have soldiered through quite a few storms personally and professionally, and when I asked him to edit THE VAULT, he didn’t hesitate. There are few people I trust as much. I asked Dave what he thought the best way to release THE VAULT would be and Image was at the top of his list of publishers to approach. I’ve always been a fan of Image, not just because of their model, but because of the quality of titles they have represented and continue to represent."
THE VAULT #1 (1 of 3), a 32-page full color comic book, will be on sale in stores July 27th for $3.50 and is available to order in the June 2011 edition of Diamond Previews (Diamond Order Code: JUN110501).
ABOUT SAM SARKAR
Born in , Sam Sarkar is a 23-year veteran of the entertainment industry. He began his career as an actor and was one of the leads on the long-running, syndicated television series Neon Rider. Following the series, Sam decided to pursue writing and worked for the hit television series Beverly Hills 90210. Stemming from his work on the show, he also co-wrote a television pilot for Spelling Entertainment under the direct guidance of TV legend Aaron Spelling. Deciding then to embark on feature films, Sam took some chances, following a varied path of writing screenplays and working as a sound technician. In 2004, after working on several films with actor Johnny Depp, Sam was asked to help run Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, headed by Christi Dembrowski. As Senior VP at the company, he continues to serve the varied needs of as an executive, producer and writer.
ABOUT GARRIE GASTONNY
Having worked as a comic book artist and illustration lecturer, Garrie Gastonny now mainly focuses on illustration to avoid getting beaten up. Garrie also serves as Senior Artist at Imaginary Friends Studios. His credits include Warren Ellis' Supergod, Caliber: First Canon of Justice and Lady Death. For more information about the artist, please visit http://thegerjoos.deviantart.com/.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the . Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Baltimore Comic-Con Adds Hot Talent to the Summer Heat
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - May 23, 2011 - The Baltimore Comic-Con has just added a slew of fan-favorite creators to the growing list of talent for this year's show. Cully Hamner, Craig Rousseau, Todd Dezago, Brian Stelfreeze, and Karl Story will all be in attendance when the show rolls into Baltimore on August 20-21, 2011.
Cully Hamner, one of the original members of Gaijin Studios, has worked professionally in the comics industry for the last 20 years. His writing and art has been featured in books from DC Comics, Vertigo, Marvel Comics, Image, and many more. Red_01 by Cully Hamner.jpgThe artist behind Wildstorm's Red, which was adapted as a feature film in 2010 by Summit Entertainment, Hamner re
cently finished writing and illustrating the prequel to the mini-series, called Eyes Only, which hit stores in December of 2010.
Craig Rousseau broke into comics in the early-'90s, providing art for DC Comics' Impulse. After a 22-issue run, Rousseau went on to become the semi-regular artist on Batman Beyond and Harley Quinn. In 2005, along with writer Todd Dezago, Rousseau co-created the series The Perhapanauts, which debuted at Dark Horse Comics. Rousseau most recently worked on Marvel Comics' Marvel Her-Oes, which showcased the women of the Marvel Universe, as well as Captain America & the Korvac Saga, a reimagining of the original 1978 classic.
Writer Todd Dezago, whose body of work includes The Sensational Spider-Man and Tellos (with the late Mike Wieringo), is the co-creator of Young Justice from DC Comics and The Perhapanauts from Dark Horse/Image. In 2010, Dezago took over writing duties for Super Hero Squad, an all-ages title from Marvel, and recently finished up Super Hero Squad Spectacular #1. He is currently working on the motion comic versions of his own Tellos and Perhapanauts, as well as an all-new title, Katie Greaven and the Engine-Men, with artist Bret Blevins for MotionWorks Entertainment.
Brian Stelfreeze, who was also a founding member of Gaijin Studios, is the current art director of 12 Gauge Comics. An accomplished painter, penciller, inker and colorist, Stelfreeze's art graced more than 50 covers for DC Comics' Shadow of the Bat. He most recently worked on the Demon/Catwoman feature for DC's Wednesday Comics, which was written by previously-announced guest, Walter Simonson.
Karl Story, yet another founding member of Gaijin Studios, is an inker whose work has added depth and shadow to such titles as Nightwing, Batman, Aliens versus Predator, X-Men, Terra Obscura, Tom Strong, Ocean, The American Way, and Midnighter. Most recently, Story worked on the DC Comics' mini-series, DC Universe Legacies.
"Gaijin was such an influential studio throughout the '90s and 2000s. With Cully [Hamner], Brian [Stelfreeze], Karl [Story] and Laura [Martin] on board for this year's show, we've got the core group of creators that helped propel so many careers," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Also, the addition of Todd Dezago and Craig Rousseau to our growing roster adds such talent to the fan-favorite creators already attending the show."
In addition to Hamner, Rousseau, Dezago, Stelfreeze and Story, confirmed guests for the show including: Jason Aaron (Scalped, PunisherMAX); Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead); Nick Cardy (Aquaman, Teen Titans); Cliff Chiang (Greendale); Frank Cho (50 Girl 50, X-Men: Schism, New Ultimates); David Finch (Brightest Day, Batman: The Dark Knight); Ron Frenz (Spider-Girl); Jose-Luis Garcia-Lopez (Wednesday Comics, Batman Confidential); Michael Golden (creator of Bucky O'Hare); Mike Grell (Action Comics, The Pilgrim); Brad Guigar (Evil, Inc., Courting Disaster); Steve Hamaker (Bone); Dean Haspiel (The Alcoholic, Act-i-Vate); Jamal Igle (Supergirl, Zatanna); J.G. Jones (Doc Savage, DC Universe Legacies); Barry Kitson (Secret Invasion, Amazing Spider-Man); Laura Martin (New Avengers, Thor); Mark Morales (Fear Itself cover artist); Kevin Nowlan (Wednesday Comics); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Brandon Peterson (Ultimate Vision, Strange); Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo); Walter Simonson (Thor); Jeff Smith (Bone, RASL); Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Iron Man 2.0); Tim Truman (Conan the Cimmerian); Neil Vokes (Flesh & Blood, Eagle: The Original Adventures); and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website, Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace pages.
This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 21st.
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 12th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 6 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - May 23, 2011 - The Baltimore Comic-Con has just added a slew of fan-favorite creators to the growing list of talent for this year's show. Cully Hamner, Craig Rousseau, Todd Dezago, Brian Stelfreeze, and Karl Story will all be in attendance when the show rolls into Baltimore on August 20-21, 2011.
Cully Hamner, one of the original members of Gaijin Studios, has worked professionally in the comics industry for the last 20 years. His writing and art has been featured in books from DC Comics, Vertigo, Marvel Comics, Image, and many more. Red_01 by Cully Hamner.jpgThe artist behind Wildstorm's Red, which was adapted as a feature film in 2010 by Summit Entertainment, Hamner re
cently finished writing and illustrating the prequel to the mini-series, called Eyes Only, which hit stores in December of 2010.
Craig Rousseau broke into comics in the early-'90s, providing art for DC Comics' Impulse. After a 22-issue run, Rousseau went on to become the semi-regular artist on Batman Beyond and Harley Quinn. In 2005, along with writer Todd Dezago, Rousseau co-created the series The Perhapanauts, which debuted at Dark Horse Comics. Rousseau most recently worked on Marvel Comics' Marvel Her-Oes, which showcased the women of the Marvel Universe, as well as Captain America & the Korvac Saga, a reimagining of the original 1978 classic.
Writer Todd Dezago, whose body of work includes The Sensational Spider-Man and Tellos (with the late Mike Wieringo), is the co-creator of Young Justice from DC Comics and The Perhapanauts from Dark Horse/Image. In 2010, Dezago took over writing duties for Super Hero Squad, an all-ages title from Marvel, and recently finished up Super Hero Squad Spectacular #1. He is currently working on the motion comic versions of his own Tellos and Perhapanauts, as well as an all-new title, Katie Greaven and the Engine-Men, with artist Bret Blevins for MotionWorks Entertainment.
Brian Stelfreeze, who was also a founding member of Gaijin Studios, is the current art director of 12 Gauge Comics. An accomplished painter, penciller, inker and colorist, Stelfreeze's art graced more than 50 covers for DC Comics' Shadow of the Bat. He most recently worked on the Demon/Catwoman feature for DC's Wednesday Comics, which was written by previously-announced guest, Walter Simonson.
Karl Story, yet another founding member of Gaijin Studios, is an inker whose work has added depth and shadow to such titles as Nightwing, Batman, Aliens versus Predator, X-Men, Terra Obscura, Tom Strong, Ocean, The American Way, and Midnighter. Most recently, Story worked on the DC Comics' mini-series, DC Universe Legacies.
"Gaijin was such an influential studio throughout the '90s and 2000s. With Cully [Hamner], Brian [Stelfreeze], Karl [Story] and Laura [Martin] on board for this year's show, we've got the core group of creators that helped propel so many careers," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Also, the addition of Todd Dezago and Craig Rousseau to our growing roster adds such talent to the fan-favorite creators already attending the show."
In addition to Hamner, Rousseau, Dezago, Stelfreeze and Story, confirmed guests for the show including: Jason Aaron (Scalped, PunisherMAX); Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead); Nick Cardy (Aquaman, Teen Titans); Cliff Chiang (Greendale); Frank Cho (50 Girl 50, X-Men: Schism, New Ultimates); David Finch (Brightest Day, Batman: The Dark Knight); Ron Frenz (Spider-Girl); Jose-Luis Garcia-Lopez (Wednesday Comics, Batman Confidential); Michael Golden (creator of Bucky O'Hare); Mike Grell (Action Comics, The Pilgrim); Brad Guigar (Evil, Inc., Courting Disaster); Steve Hamaker (Bone); Dean Haspiel (The Alcoholic, Act-i-Vate); Jamal Igle (Supergirl, Zatanna); J.G. Jones (Doc Savage, DC Universe Legacies); Barry Kitson (Secret Invasion, Amazing Spider-Man); Laura Martin (New Avengers, Thor); Mark Morales (Fear Itself cover artist); Kevin Nowlan (Wednesday Comics); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Brandon Peterson (Ultimate Vision, Strange); Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo); Walter Simonson (Thor); Jeff Smith (Bone, RASL); Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Iron Man 2.0); Tim Truman (Conan the Cimmerian); Neil Vokes (Flesh & Blood, Eagle: The Original Adventures); and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website, Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace pages.
This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 21st.
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 12th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 20-21, 2011. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 6 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
MoCCA's June Comics and Animation Classes start Monday June 6th!
NEW YORK (May 21, 2011) - The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA - is proud to announce the June offerings from its Adult Education Department, organized and headed by Senior Vice-President of Education, Danny Fingeroth:
(1) Back and expanded to 4 sessions!
HOW TO DO STORYBOARDS FOR ANIMATION
with STEPHEN DeSTEFANO
and
(2) OUTSIDE THE BOX: EXPANDING YOUR COMICS VISION
with PETER KUPER
About the classes:
(1) Back and expanded to 4 sessions!
HOW TO DO STORYBOARDS FOR ANIMATION
Instructor: STEPHEN DeSTEFANO
4 sessions, MONDAYS
June 6, 13, 20 and 27
6:30-9:00 pm
$255 tuition / $235 for MoCCA members
No other pre-production stage of creating animation is lavished with as much time, care and expense as the storyboarding job. Often considered the best and most sought after job in the animation industry, storyboarding is the art of creating a blueprint for an entire animated film or episode.
Simply put, a storyboard is a very fancy and very long comic strip. But it's much more complex than that. Storyboard artists can make or break an animated production. Besides drawing ability, the storyboard artist must have knowledge of acting, writing, and cinematic theory to convey to laypeople and experts alike how exciting and entertaining an animated production has the potential to be. It's a hard job, being both highly technical and demandingly creative.
But it's possibly the most fun you can have in the world of cartoons. Instructor STEPHEN DeSTEFANO-veteran storyboard artist-will show you how it's done.
The class will acquaint the student with basic theories of, not one, but two different styles of storyboarding: The "Full Script" style (where a 'board artist is supplied with a fully-fleshed out script, featuring action and all dialogue created by writers); and The "Outline" style (the “Wild West of storyboarding,”) where a 'board artist is given several paragraphs of outlined story with minimal dialogue, requiring the artist to not only draw and devise action on the fly, but write final dialogue as well. Students will have the option of 'boarding a script or outline of their own creation if they prefer.
[While the class will focus on storyboarding for TV animation, 'boarding for other formats and venues will be touched upon, as well.]
The class format will consist of lectures and demonstrations by the instructors, as well as at-home and in-class assignments they will critique, including a final assignment which they will critique after the class via e-mail.
NOTES:
(1) Tools required for class. 2 pencils, an eraser, a sense of humor.
(2) Students will be supplied with an animation script to storyboard from; model sheets of characters, props and backgrounds to incorporate into their storyboards; and several sheets of thumbnail and storyboard templates.
STEPHEN DeSTEFANO began his cartooning career in 1985 drawing the fondly remembered 'Mazing Man for DC Comics. In 1992, he began working in television animation, drawing backgrounds for Nickelodeon's original Ren and Stimpy Show, eventually being promoted to storyboard artist. Studios and productions he has storyboarded for include Warner Bros (on Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond, and The Brave and the Bold); Universal Studios (on Earthworm Jim, Baby Huey, Beethoven, and The Woody Woodpecker Show); and Cartoon Network on several productions, including his own animated pilot film, The Thundermans. Stephen has served as an art director for Katbot, a Disney Television production, and as storyboard and design supervisor on Adult Swim's The Venture Brothers. (eventually being dubbed "the guru" by show creator Jackson Publick). He continues to work in animation, as well as comic books. His graphic novel, Lucky in Love (co-created with writer George Chieffet), was recently published by Fantagraphics Books.
(2) ADVANCED VISUAL STORYTELLING: EXPANDING YOUR COMICS VISION
Instructor: PETER KUPER
3 sessions: WEDNESDAYS June 8, 15, and 22
6:30-9:00 pm
$185 tuition / $165 for MoCCA members
Join visionary comics artist PETER KUPER and explore the medium of sequential art and learn how to find outlets for publishing your own self-generated comics and illustration projects. There will be weekly assignments with in-class crit sessions along with visual presentations and demonstrations by the instructor that will expand your familiarity with the history and vast potential of sequential art. Students should have some experience creating comics and should bring one example of their comics work to the first class. [No art supplies will be necessary in class.]
PETER KUPER is the co-founder of World War 3 Illustrated and has remained on its editorial board for over 30 years. His illustrations and comics have appeared in Time, The New York Times and MAD, where he has written and illustrated SPY vs. SPY every month since 1997. He has produced over twenty books and graphic novels including The System, Sticks and Stones, Speechless and Stop Forgetting To Remember. Peter has also adapted Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and many of Franz Kafka's works into comics. His adaptation of The Metamorphosis has been translated around the world and is in high school and college curriculums nation-wide. He won the 2010 Society of Illustrators gold medal for sequential art and appears in 2010's Best American Comics anthology. Peter lived in Oaxaca, Mexico from 2006-2008 during a major teachers' strike and his work about that time can be seen in his latest book, Diario de
Oaxaca. More of his work can be found at www.peterkuper.com
All classes will be held at:
MoCCA
594 Broadway (between Houston and Prince Streets)
Suite 401
New York, NY 10012
For more information and to register, call 212-254-3511 or go to www.moccany.org.
The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to the preservation, study and display of all forms of comic and cartoon art. The museum promotes greater understanding and appreciation of the artistic, cultural and historical significance of comic and cartoon art through a variety of events, exhibitions, and educational programs. The museum is located at 594 Broadway (between Houston and Prince Streets) in New York City. MoCCA is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 12:00-5:00 pm. Suggested donation to the museum is $5 but free for MoCCA Members as well as for children 12 and under (when accompanied by a paying adult). For more information about the museum and MoCCA events, exhibitions and programs, visit the museum's Website (www.moccany.org).
NEW YORK (May 21, 2011) - The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA - is proud to announce the June offerings from its Adult Education Department, organized and headed by Senior Vice-President of Education, Danny Fingeroth:
(1) Back and expanded to 4 sessions!
HOW TO DO STORYBOARDS FOR ANIMATION
with STEPHEN DeSTEFANO
and
(2) OUTSIDE THE BOX: EXPANDING YOUR COMICS VISION
with PETER KUPER
About the classes:
(1) Back and expanded to 4 sessions!
HOW TO DO STORYBOARDS FOR ANIMATION
Instructor: STEPHEN DeSTEFANO
4 sessions, MONDAYS
June 6, 13, 20 and 27
6:30-9:00 pm
$255 tuition / $235 for MoCCA members
No other pre-production stage of creating animation is lavished with as much time, care and expense as the storyboarding job. Often considered the best and most sought after job in the animation industry, storyboarding is the art of creating a blueprint for an entire animated film or episode.
Simply put, a storyboard is a very fancy and very long comic strip. But it's much more complex than that. Storyboard artists can make or break an animated production. Besides drawing ability, the storyboard artist must have knowledge of acting, writing, and cinematic theory to convey to laypeople and experts alike how exciting and entertaining an animated production has the potential to be. It's a hard job, being both highly technical and demandingly creative.
But it's possibly the most fun you can have in the world of cartoons. Instructor STEPHEN DeSTEFANO-veteran storyboard artist-will show you how it's done.
The class will acquaint the student with basic theories of, not one, but two different styles of storyboarding: The "Full Script" style (where a 'board artist is supplied with a fully-fleshed out script, featuring action and all dialogue created by writers); and The "Outline" style (the “Wild West of storyboarding,”) where a 'board artist is given several paragraphs of outlined story with minimal dialogue, requiring the artist to not only draw and devise action on the fly, but write final dialogue as well. Students will have the option of 'boarding a script or outline of their own creation if they prefer.
[While the class will focus on storyboarding for TV animation, 'boarding for other formats and venues will be touched upon, as well.]
The class format will consist of lectures and demonstrations by the instructors, as well as at-home and in-class assignments they will critique, including a final assignment which they will critique after the class via e-mail.
NOTES:
(1) Tools required for class. 2 pencils, an eraser, a sense of humor.
(2) Students will be supplied with an animation script to storyboard from; model sheets of characters, props and backgrounds to incorporate into their storyboards; and several sheets of thumbnail and storyboard templates.
STEPHEN DeSTEFANO began his cartooning career in 1985 drawing the fondly remembered 'Mazing Man for DC Comics. In 1992, he began working in television animation, drawing backgrounds for Nickelodeon's original Ren and Stimpy Show, eventually being promoted to storyboard artist. Studios and productions he has storyboarded for include Warner Bros (on Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond, and The Brave and the Bold); Universal Studios (on Earthworm Jim, Baby Huey, Beethoven, and The Woody Woodpecker Show); and Cartoon Network on several productions, including his own animated pilot film, The Thundermans. Stephen has served as an art director for Katbot, a Disney Television production, and as storyboard and design supervisor on Adult Swim's The Venture Brothers. (eventually being dubbed "the guru" by show creator Jackson Publick). He continues to work in animation, as well as comic books. His graphic novel, Lucky in Love (co-created with writer George Chieffet), was recently published by Fantagraphics Books.
(2) ADVANCED VISUAL STORYTELLING: EXPANDING YOUR COMICS VISION
Instructor: PETER KUPER
3 sessions: WEDNESDAYS June 8, 15, and 22
6:30-9:00 pm
$185 tuition / $165 for MoCCA members
Join visionary comics artist PETER KUPER and explore the medium of sequential art and learn how to find outlets for publishing your own self-generated comics and illustration projects. There will be weekly assignments with in-class crit sessions along with visual presentations and demonstrations by the instructor that will expand your familiarity with the history and vast potential of sequential art. Students should have some experience creating comics and should bring one example of their comics work to the first class. [No art supplies will be necessary in class.]
PETER KUPER is the co-founder of World War 3 Illustrated and has remained on its editorial board for over 30 years. His illustrations and comics have appeared in Time, The New York Times and MAD, where he has written and illustrated SPY vs. SPY every month since 1997. He has produced over twenty books and graphic novels including The System, Sticks and Stones, Speechless and Stop Forgetting To Remember. Peter has also adapted Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and many of Franz Kafka's works into comics. His adaptation of The Metamorphosis has been translated around the world and is in high school and college curriculums nation-wide. He won the 2010 Society of Illustrators gold medal for sequential art and appears in 2010's Best American Comics anthology. Peter lived in Oaxaca, Mexico from 2006-2008 during a major teachers' strike and his work about that time can be seen in his latest book, Diario de
Oaxaca. More of his work can be found at www.peterkuper.com
All classes will be held at:
MoCCA
594 Broadway (between Houston and Prince Streets)
Suite 401
New York, NY 10012
For more information and to register, call 212-254-3511 or go to www.moccany.org.
The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to the preservation, study and display of all forms of comic and cartoon art. The museum promotes greater understanding and appreciation of the artistic, cultural and historical significance of comic and cartoon art through a variety of events, exhibitions, and educational programs. The museum is located at 594 Broadway (between Houston and Prince Streets) in New York City. MoCCA is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 12:00-5:00 pm. Suggested donation to the museum is $5 but free for MoCCA Members as well as for children 12 and under (when accompanied by a paying adult). For more information about the museum and MoCCA events, exhibitions and programs, visit the museum's Website (www.moccany.org).
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