USAGI YOJIMBO REACHES 200^TH ISSUE!

STAN SAKAI HONORED WITH YEAR OF THE RABBIT EXHIBIT!

October 25, MILWAUKIE, OR—Earlier this year, Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai was named the 2011 Cultural Ambassador by the Japanese American National Museum. Shortly thereafter, the JANM opened their Year of the Rabbit exhibit—the most comprehensive collection of Sakai’s work to date.

Stan Sakai has won several Eisner Awards and has received over twenty Eisner Award nominations. Prior to Dark Horse’s long run on the series, there were thirty-eight Fantagraphics issues, sixteen Mirage issues, a summer special, and four color specials. Dark Horse’s Usagi Yojimbo #141 marks the landmark two hundredth overall issue of master storyteller Stan Sakai’s beloved series, and the rabbit ronin celebrates with a special story perfect for new readers, “200 Buddhas”! With a ruthless gang terrorizing his small town, a humble stonecutter receives a vision and sets out to carve two hundred stone figures. Just as he has finished the 199th, a long-eared stranger comes to his door seeking shelter from the rain!

“In a perfect world, everyone would read Usagi Yojimbo.”

—Greg McElhatton, Comic Book Resources

The Japanese American National Museum is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry. The founding of the museum is a story of high hopes, remarkable achievements, frustration, and, ultimately, success. The JANM is located in Los Angeles, and the Year of the Rabbit exhibit closes its doors October 30, 2011 - http://www.janm.org/exhibits/stansakai/ 

Usagi Yojimbo #141 is on sale October 26, 2011!

 

IDW and HBO® Announce First Ongoing
True Blood® Comic Series

All-new adventures in the comics based on HBO’s hit show start in spring 2012
 

San Diego, CA (October 26, 2011) — Since the first issue launched in July of 2010, the TRUE BLOOD comic books have become one of IDW Publishing’s most popular titles.  Fans of the hit HBO show were excited to have new, unique stories featuring their favorite characters.  In an effort to give Truebies what they crave – more Sookie, Bill and Eric – continuously through the year, IDW and HBO will launch the first-ever ongoing TRUE BLOOD comic series in spring 2012, featuring new series installments each month.   

“The comics are a great way to continue telling True Blood stories off screen,” said show creator, Alan Ball. “With this new ongoing series, Truebies will be able to find a new comic in stores every month. We’ll also have even more room to create in-depth drama and further explore the world of Bon Temps.”

Added IDW chief operations officer, Greg Goldstein, “IDW could not be happier than to move to this next step with our HBO partners. Since we originally launched TRUE BLOOD comics in 2010, fans have been asking for an ongoing series, and we’re happy to be able to work with HBO and offer it.”

Following on the success of the New York Times best-selling first comic collection, TRUE BLOOD: ALL TOGETHER NOW, IDW and HBO launched the second edition TRUE BLOOD: TAINTED LOVE. In this twisted tale, co-written by True Blood actor Michael McMillian and comic mainstay Marc Andreyko, Jessica is exposed to contaminated bottles of Tru Blood, causing the lovely vampire to go berserk. It’s up to Sookie, Bill, Eric and the rest of the Bon Temps gang to figure out who (or what) is behind the bad Blood. Plus, Reverend Newlin is back and as always in the world of True Blood, things are not as they seem. Both TRUE BLOOD: ALL TOGETHER NOW and TRUE BLOOD: TAINTED LOVE are currently available in comic and book stores, and through the Apple iTunes and iBooks stores.

IDW’s third TRUE BLOOD comic series, TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER is a monthly comic series currently available in stores and will be available as a collection in March 2012. THE FRENCH QUARTER finds Sookie and Eric in New Orleans tracking a killer, whom Eric and Godric thought they killed in Paris more than 200 years ago, while Bill is in town investigating a local Hep-D outbreak that may be connected to the killer’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.


TRUE BLOOD: ALL TOGETHER NOW ($24.99, 160 pages, hard cover, full color) is now available in stores. Diamond order code DEC10 0370; ISBN 978-1-60010-868-6.

TRUE BLOOD: TAINTED LOVE ($24.99, 160 pages, hard cover, full color) is now available in stores. Diamond order code JUL11 0370; ISBN 978-1-61377-019-1.

TRUE BLOOD: TAINTED LOVE ($11.99) is available in Apple’s iBook Store here: http://bit.ly/smqTIA

The entire TRUE BLOOD COMICS COLLECTION is available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch through the Apple App Store [http://itunes.com/apps/idwpublishing/truebloodcomicscollection]

TRUE BLOOD comics are available for the Sony PSP through the Sony Digital Comics store here: http://bit.ly/fKNzWV


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; Toho’s Godzilla; 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.

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 officially licenses the HBO® brand for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines inspired by the network’s award-winning programming.  With products created around classic series like the The Sopranos® and Sex and the City® to current hits like True Blood®.  True Blood products include the luxury handbag line Hammitt for True Blood, tarte for True Blood makeup collection, the Tru Blood Beverage in the original glass and new plastic bottle, a high-end headphone line V-MODA for True Blood as well as fashion apparel, jewelry, glassware, digital and CD soundtracks.  Merchandise can be purchased in retail stores nationwide, at http://store.hbo.com, and at the groundbreaking HBO retail hub, the HBO Shop®, located at 42nd and 6th Avenue in New York City.  HBO Licensing & Retail products are also sold internationally across Europe, Asia and Australia.

© 2011 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved. HBO and related service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.


Apple, the Apple logo, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Content purchased from the iTunes Store is for personal lawful use only. Don’t steal music.

MIKE VOSBURG ENTERS THE WORLD OF MORIARTY

Guest Artist To Appear In Daniel Corey and Anthony Diecidue's Moriarty # 7

Berkeley, CA – 26 October 2011 -- The world of MORIARTY just got a little bigger with the announcement that Mike Vosburg will serve as guest artist for MORIARTY #7. Famed for his work in Marvel, DC and HBO’s Tales from the Crypt TV series, Vosburg joins writer Daniel Corey and artist Anthony Diecidue in creating a special flashback sequence for the 3rd chapter in The Lazarus Tree storyline. 

When asked about his guest artist duties on MORIARTY, Vosburg stated, "Working on the Moriarty book was a real treat. Not only is the time period one that I'm very fond of, but Dan's stories have an emotional impact and visual sensibility that made my job as an artist an exciting and rewarding experience."

Diecidue adds, “Voz has been like a mentor to me for years now. Coloring his pages is like getting a lesson in storytelling. They're awesome. I just hope I don't screw them up.”

MORIARTY #7 (OCT110560), a 32-page comic for $2.99 published by Image Comics, will be on sale in stores December 7 and is available to order in the October edition of Previews. MORIARTY #6 (SEP110474) will be on sale in stores November 2. For more information, please visit www.professorjamesmoriarty.com and www.facebook.com/moriartycomic.

ABOUT MIKE VOSBURG

As a teenage Mike edited and produced the fanzine Masquerader, which introduced him to many of his cohorts in the comic book world and helped jump start his career. He worked for Marvel and DC for a number of years until moving to LA in the mid 80's where he branched out into the fields of animation, advertising and film. He has produced artwork for the LA Museum of Tolerance, has drawn the entire run of cover inserts for the HBO Tales from the Crypt series, won an Emmy as a director on the HBO animated series Spawn. Besides any number of advertising projects he has done storyboards for a number of music videos for the like of Emimem, Marilyn Manson and Gwen Stefani. Most recently Mike has storyboarded The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawntreader and Journey to the Center of the Earth.

In his spare time Voz continues to attend weekly figure drawing courses, still shoots baskets in his back yard and continues to create and produce his own graphic novels, Lori Lovecraft and Retrowood. For more information, visit www.vozart.com. 

ABOUT DANIEL COREY

Daniel Corey is a director, screenwriter, playwright, and novelist. He has authored screenplays, teleplays, stage plays, two comic series, and a novel. 

Daniel spent four years as writer in residence with the New York Acting Ensemble, where 10 of his plays were produced, several of which he directed. Titles included JOGGERS, PSYCHE IN A BOX, STAR OF INDIA, and THE WHITE ROOM. Several of his screenplays have ranked in distinguished competitions, including Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope Screenwriting Competition and the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Contest.

In 2007, Daniel created DANGERKATT CREATIVE STUDIO, a company that serves as an umbrella for all of his creative endeavors. In 2009, DANGERKATT published PROPHET, a graphic novel written by Daniel, with art by Anthony Diecidue. Since then, Daniel and Anthony have worked together to create a new comic series titled MORIARTY, which follows the misadventures of Professor Moriarty, arch-nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. The first issue of MORIARTY was released May 11th, 2011. The first volume collected graphic novel of MORIARTY will be released September 14th, 2011, under the full title MORIARTY: THE DARK CHAMBER. For more information, visit www.professorjamesmoriarty.com

ABOUT ANTHONY DIECIDUE

Anthony Diecidue (dee-ETCh-eh-DOO-eh) was born in Morristown, NJ, and is an alum of the prestigious Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art.

His digital technique has a traditional flare inspired by everything from comic books and animation to concept art.

Anthony’s work includes principal art for Stan Lee and Walt Disney Home Entertainment's digital motion comic series TIME JUMPER, MORTAL KOMBAT VS. DC COMICS for Midway Games, PROPHET with writer Daniel Corey at DangerKatt Creative Studio and MORIARTY with Daniel Corey for Image Comics.

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.

LEGO® NINJAGO, THE SEASON’S “MOST WANTED” TOY IS ALSO A HIT GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES!  

190,000 copies of LEGO® NINJAGO #1 HIT STORES NOVEMBER 8^th

(November 1, 2011) With LEGO NINJAGO® making Time to Play Magazine's 2011 "Most Wanted" toy list, the popularity of the toy is directly translating to an extraordinarily high demand for the debut of the LEGO NINJAGO® graphic novel series published by Papercutz. LEGO® NINJAG #1 “The Challenge of Samukai!” ($6.99, ages 6+) has experienced record demand this holiday season and Papercutz has responded with an unprecedented 190,000 copy first print run.

With a publication date of November 2011, LEGO® NINJAGO #1 “The Challenge of Samukai! “ is a classic story of good versus evil starring little, and totally adorable LEGO® figures!  Handpicked by the wise Master Sensei Wu, Kai, Cole, Zane and Jay band together and use “spinjitzu” to battle the evil skeleton warriors who threaten to take over the world of NINJAGO. The LEGO® NINJAGO graphic novels are written by Greg Farshtey, who penned the hugely successful BIONICLE® graphic novels, also based on a LEGO property.  To date, Papercutz has sold over 250,000 copies of its BIONICLE line. Paulo Henrique, who has illustrated THE HARDY BOYS graphic novels from Papercutz, provides his trademark talent for creating expressive faces, flawless backgrounds and seamless action scenes.

NINJAGO is the current blockbuster toy line from LEGO that is being coveted and collected by children across the country.  The ninja-themed playsets have spawned a made-for-TV movie, an upcoming TV series, a video game for the Nintendo DS system and an animated series is in the pipeline with Cartoon Network.

The next installment in the series, LEGO® NINJAGO #2 “Mask of the Sensei,” is due out February 28, 2012.

#   #  #

LEGO NINJAGO® #1: The Challenge of Samukai!

Papercutz

November 8, 2011/Ages 6 and up

$6.99 paperback/ISBN: 978-1597072977

$10.99 hardcover/ISBN: 978-1597072984

Indie Comics Publisher 215 Ink Now Powered By Cloud 9 Comix

Sydney, Australia, Monday, 24th October, 2011: Cloud 9 Comix, the
leading independent digital comic book publisher based in Sydney,
Australia, has partnered with the US-based independent comic book
publisher 215 Ink to provide a range of customized comic book apps,
starting with the iPad.

215 Ink is an independent comic book publisher dedicated to showcasing
some of the most original creator-owned titles from some of the best
up and coming creators in the industry. Based out of Philadelphia,
215 Ink's catalog features works by writers and artists from around
the world, offering some of the most diverse titles out there. So
whether they're books about a zombie-fighting messiah, a Speedo clad
commando, the last supervillain alive, and the King of Rock and Roll
himself, 215 Ink is offering up something for everyone.

The app, already available in the Appstore, will be the primary hub
for the entire catalog of 215 Ink comic book titles, many of which
offer the first issue as a free download to allow readers to get a
taste for the series and introduce the immense talent under the 215
Ink flag.

“We invite all comic books fans with an iPad to download the free 215
Ink app and sample many of titles available as a free download”, the
managing director of Cloud 9 Comix, Benjamin Slabak, has stated. “We
have recognized 215 Ink early on as an important emerging publisher of
extremely high quality content and are proud to announce a range of
apps customized for 215 Ink and powered by Cloud 9 Comix, effectively
making them the first small press publisher with their own line of
dedicated apps for their publications.”

“It's a great pleasure to be able to bring our titles to the iPad and
millions of new fans”, stated Andrew DelQuadro, the president of 215
Ink. “The comic landscape is changing every day and more readers are
turning to digital versions of their favorite comics. Thanks to the
superb team at Cloud 9, we at 215 Ink are able to provide readers the
format they want. Cloud 9's knowledge and hard work has made it
possible for fans to download their favorite 215 Ink titles whenever
and wherever they want.”

The iPad app will be followed soon by the much anticipated Android
app, which will reach out to new audiences around the world. Cloud 9
Comix will provide similar solutions for a number of other publishers
around the globe and build a strong library of original content never
before accessible on the global scale. The Cloud 9 Comix app is also
available as a free download from the Appstore, offering independent
comic book titles from all six continents. Many of the titles are
exclusive to Cloud 9 Comix and some are presented in the English
language for the very first time.

For more information visit http://215ink.com and http://cloud9comix.com

Official Cloud 9 Comix promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzDmip68u0w

LONG BEACH COMIC-CON 2011
IDW EVENT SCHEDULE!

BOOTH #201
 

Saturday Oct. 29th

12:00 – 2:00 Kevin Eastman – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
*Ask about the convention exclusive Ultimate TMNT Hardcover!

2:00 – 3:00 IDW: The Big Panel! - Darwyn Cooke & Scott Dunbier celebrate the release of Parker: The Martini Edition, and reveal a top secret new image!
Room 103A

2:00 – 3:00 Thom Zahler – Love & Capes

2:00 – 3:00 Chris Ryall - Zombies vs Robots
*Ask about the convention exclusive Zombies vs Robots Hardcover!

3:30 – 5:30 Darwyn Cooke – Richard Stark’s Parker
 *Ask about the convention exclusive Parker: The Martini Edition!

6:00 – 7:00 Steve Niles & Bernie Wrightson – Monstrous Book of Steve Niles & Bernie Wrightson, Frankenstein: Alive, Alive
  *Ask about the convention exclusive Monstrous Book of Steve Niles & Bernie Wrightson!

Sunday Oct. 30th

11:00 – 12:00 Ben Wagner – Baja

12:00 – 1:00 Steve Niles & Bernie Wrightson – Monstrous Book of Steve Niles & Bernie Wrightson, Frankenstein: Alive, Alive
  *Ask about the convention exclusive Monstrous Book of Steve Niles & Bernie Wrightson!

1:00 – 3:00 Darwyn Cooke – Richard Stark’s Parker
  *Ask about the convention exclusive Parker: The Martini Edition!

3:00 – 4:00 Livio Ramondelli – TRANSFORMERS

Coming this December from NBM and being solicited for at your comics shop now:

INNER SANCTUM
Tales of Mystery, Horror and Suspense
Ernie Colón
A revered veteran of comics brings to comics life tales based on one of the most fondly remembered mystery and horror radio shows in history. In striking black & white as only Colón is well known for, we are swept into chilling mysteries including:

• The Horla: A man is haunted by a mysterious, grotesque being only he can see… It seeks to enslave him, but in the end reveals its true intent–to destroy him.

• Death of a Doll: An unidentified corpse in the morgue intrigues a reporter, who sets out to identify her and how she died. On her was a doll which cries “Kara Nana”, another name for the devil.

• The Undead: A young woman discovers an obituary for her living husband.

• Alive in the Grave: Seeing a man collapse in an alley, our hero rushes to help only to find that the man is dead. Jobless and desperate, he takes the man’s wallet, only to find out later he may not have been dead! He rushes back only to find that the man has been removed and buried…perhaps alive.

6×9, 112pp, B&W jacketed hardcover, $16.99 ISBN 978-1-56163-614-3
See the previews. Believe us when we say, this is Ernie’s pet project and he has gone all out!
We are currently previewing the story, Death of a Doll on our Facebook page, where we also have a new interview with Ernie!



From Eurotica, the next issue of Sizzle magazine:

SIZZLE #52
Cornnell Clarke’s Peanut Butter series starts its 6th chapter right up. Kevin Taylor provides raunchy pin-ups including an amazing pull out poster in the middle. We introduce the new sex soaked action-packed detective series District 69 and more Barbarian Chicks.

8 1/2 x 11, full color magazine, $5.95

Starz and BBC Worldwide Productions  Announce New Original Series
“Da Vinci’s Demons”

First Series in the Starz Entertainment and BBC Worldwide Productions Development, Production and Distribution Deal

Writer of the Upcoming Man of Steel and Co-Writer of Batman Begins,
The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, David S. Goyer, Pens Script

Los Angeles, Calif. – October 25, 2011 – Starz Entertainment has green-lit a new original adventure series titled “Da Vinci’s Demons,” developed and produced by BBC Worldwide Productions.  This is the first project to enter production under the multi-year agreement Starz signed with BBC Worldwide Productions earlier this summer. 

The series was jointly announced today by Starz Media Managing Director, Carmi Zlotnik and BBC Worldwide Productions Head, Jane Tranter.

Written by David S. Goyer, co-writer of blockbuster and critically-acclaimed films Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and writer of the highly anticipated Man of Steel, the eight-episode series is scheduled to begin production in early-2012.

“Da Vinci's Demons" is David Goyer's historical fantasy, following the "untold" story of the world's greatest genius during his raucous youth in Renaissance Florence.  Brash and brilliant, the twenty five-year old da Vinci is an artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist.  As a free thinker, with intellect and talents that are almost superhuman, he struggles to live within the confines of his own reality and time.  He begins to not only see the future, but invent it. 

David Goyer commented, "Da Vinci was the original Renaissance man -- a near-mythic figure that has world-wide appeal.  After working with characters like Batman and Superman, it made a strange kind of sense for me to dive into the facts and legends swirling around his origins.  This will be a show about secret histories, genius, madness, and all things profane.  And I'm particularly excited that I get to do it on premium cable, where the story can be as dark and challenging and irreverent as it deserves to be.  Starz and BBC Worldwide Productions have been nothing but supportive."

Zlotnik said, "David has reimagined some of the most iconic superheroes of all time, and is again building an extraordinary prism through which to rediscover the world’s greatest genius and most mysterious man.  If modern day has Tony Stark, the Renaissance had da Vinci.  This is a story we believe will captivate the imaginations of audiences around the world and is the first of what we expect to be many productions with our talented partners at BBC Worldwide Productions."

Jane Tranter, Head of BBC Worldwide Productions, said, “The young life of this incredibly complex and brilliant man has not yet been explored.  With David Goyer, whose imagination has created juggernaut and iconic theatrical features, coupled with the premium presence of Chris Albrecht, Carmi Zlotnik and their Starz team, we couldn’t be more passionate about bringing this story to U.S. viewers and international audiences.”

Starz is expected to air the worldwide broadcast premiere in 2013. BBC Worldwide will distribute the series internationally. David S. Goyer is showrunner. Julie Gardner will serve as Executive Producer, along with BBC Worldwide Productions’ Head Jane Tranter.

 

“Da Vinci’s Demons” is the latest piece of distinguished, exclusive original programming announced from Starz.  “Boss,” starring Kelsey Grammer and produced by Lionsgate debuted on October 21. “Spartacus: Vengeance,” season two of the breakout worldwide hit, returns in January 2012 and the much-anticipated “Magic City,” debuts in April 2012.

BBC Worldwide Productions started its scripted efforts when Jane Tranter, former Controller of BBC Fiction, arrived to run the company in January 2009. Shortly thereafter Julie Gardner, former Head of Drama, BBC Wales, joined as SVP, Scripted, BBC Worldwide Productions. Tranter and Gardner have been responsible for a plethora of titles in their careers including “Doctor Who,” “Torchwood,” “Little Dorrit,” “Bleak House,” “Girl in a Café,” “Ashes to Ashes” and “State of Play.” “Torchwood: Miracle Day” was the first scripted series produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, recently wrapped its run on Starz. The company has over 20 scripted projects in sold development with various cable and network partners as well as 10 unscripted series currently in production.

BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY WEEK ONE SALES TOP

4.6 MILLION UNITS WORLDWIDE

Critically Acclaimed Sequel From Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Rocksteady Studios

Becomes the Highest Reviewed Videogame of 2011 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system

BURBANK, Calif. – October 25, 2011 –Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that Batman: Arkham City™, the critically acclaimed videogame developed by Rocksteady Studios, has shipped more than 4.6  million units worldwide since its October 18 North American launch on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

The week one sales figure for Batman: Arkham City is more than double the number of units sold of Batman: Arkham Asylum in the same time period and solidifies the game’s place as a contender for one of the top-selling titles of 2011.  Additionally, the game currently stands as the highest reviewed PS3™ and Xbox 360 game of 2011 on Metacritic.com with average scores of 96 and 95 respectivly.*

“Batman: Arkham City is one of the best action adventure games, proven by the tremendous reviews, and it further establishes the Batman brand as a marquee franchise for our growing business,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  “Rocksteady Studios went above and beyond in delivering an incredible game and the support of the entire team at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment drove the excellent campaign a game like this deserves.”

"The true test for any game is what the players think and we have been thrilled by their reaction to Batman: Arkham City,” said Sefton Hill, Game Director at Rocksteady Studios.  “The team at Rocksteady put every ounce of effort into making the best Batman experience we possibly could, so we are overwhelmed by the incredible feedback from the community.”

Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players flying through the expansive Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds.  Featuring an incredible Rogues Gallery of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals including Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze and many others, the game allows players to genuinely experience what it feels like to be The Dark Knight delivering justice on the streets of Gotham City.

Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.  The game is currently available on Xbox 360 and PS3™.  The Games for Windows version will be available beginning Nov. 15, 2011.  Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com for more information about the game.

*Compiled by Metacritic.com, one of the web’s best resources for critical information about film, video, games, books and television.

# # #

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, 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 stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games.  Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment 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.   

BATMAN and all characters, their distinctive likenesses, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics © 2011. All Rights Reserved.

WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

(s11)

KURT BUSIEK’S
‘DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS’
MIGRATES FROM PRINT TO DIGITAL
FREE WEBCOMIC
WWW.DRACULACOMIC.COM
UPDATES DAILY

October 24, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - Happy Halloween from Kurt Busiek, Daryl Gregory, Scott Godlewski, and Damian Couciero -- who have a trick for the bags of comic book fans worldwide with the launch of the DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS webcomic! Launching right now with 11 pages ready to be read, www.draculacomic.com will update daily with new content, serializing the critically-acclaimed print issues while introducing new digital-exclusive story pages and creator commentary. It’s another ground-breaking industry first for BOOM! Studios as DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS migrates from print to digital!

Fright fest DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS showcases the talent of Eisner and Harvey Award-winning creator Kurt Busiek (ASTRO CITY), World Fantasy and Locus Award Finalist writer Daryl Gregory (PLANET OF THE APES), artist Scott Godlewski (CODEBREAKERS), and Harvey nominated artist Damian Couceiro (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES).

Serializing the print comic first, the DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS webcomic will soon showcase new, original digital pages not seen in print and host commentary from the series contributors that gives fans an inside look on how the comics are created.

The site updates everyday, including weekends.

A digital innovator, BOOM! Studios’ DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS will be the first Direct Market comic book series that launches in print and then migrates to the web. Continuing to lead the market, BOOM! Studios was the first company to release day-and-date digital download content in 2007 and was one of the first comic book publishers to have their own downloadable app.

DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS tells how a powerful, predatory corporation acquires a valuable asset - Dracula! They think they own him, but no one can own the Son of the Dragon. There's a monster in their midst that puts Hannibal Lecter to shame - and he plans to gain his freedom in blood. It's bloodsuckers vs. bloodsucker, as Busiek, Gregory, Godlewski, and Couceiro bring an incredibly modern spin to the Dracula mythos.

Don't miss this Halloween's hottest free webcomic at www.draculacomic.com! Starting October 24th and updating each day!

Some critical acclaim for DRACULA: THE COMPANY OF MONSTERS:

"A thought-provoking Dracula that readers can actually root for..." -- Publishers Weekly

"This series is almost overflowing with ridiculously wonderful concepts..." -- Pop Culture Network

“Damn near perfect... 9.9 out of 10” -- PlayerAffinity.com

"I’m looking forward to seeing what they and Gregory—and Dracula and Evan and Marta—do next" -- Newsarama

“A great read” -- WatchPlayRead.com

“Intriguing” -- MultiversityComics.com

“Wonderfully dynamic art...It’s a new, thoroughly modern vampire story in a classic style that would make Bram Stoker proud." -- A Walrus Darkly

About BOOM! Studios
Founded by Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) is 2009 and 2010's "Best Publisher" and an Eisner and Harvey Award-winner, generating a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry's top talent, including Mark Waid's IRREDEEMABLE, new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker, PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?. BOOM!'s all ages imprint KABOOM! publishes Charles Schulz' PEANUTS, Roger Langridge's SNARKED, and Scholastic's WORDGIRL. BOOM!'s lit comix-focused imprint, BOOM! Town, recently won the Eisner Award for its first book, Shannon Wheeler's I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER.

176 DAYS OF RATFIST

Image Comics Publishes Doug TenNapel's Quirky Webcomic as Graphic Novel

Berkeley, CA – 24 October 2011 – Earlier this year, Earthworm Jim creator, Doug TenNapel, stepped into the world of Webcomics when he began sharing RATFIST, his latest oddball action comic, online for all to see. Now for the first time ever in print, Image Comics will be publishing RATFIST in December.

Originally conceived of as a possible character that might be featured on Cartoon Network, RATFIST became a daily-updated Webcomic instead! With coloring help from Katherine Garner, RATFIST stars a vigilante-in-tights, satirizing comics, politics, philosophy, and even TENNAPEL himself! Those that followed along with the daily online RATFIST schedule and new readers alike will be pleased to find that the printed collection will not only include the entirety of TenNapel's RATFIST story, but also feature a forward written by MST3K/RiffTraxx's Michael J. Nelson, and fantastic pinups by Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE), Skottie Young (Wizard of Oz, Spiderman), Christopher Hastings (Dr. McNinja) and Ethan Nicolle (Exa Cop)! 

"I'm so thrilled that this can join the line up of books I've brought to Image," said TenNapel. "I hope those that missed it when I was publishing online get to pick it up now in print!"

Other graphic novels by TenNapel that were previously published by Image Comics include FLINK, TOMMYSAURUS REX, CREATURE TECH, GEAR, IRON WEST, EARTHBOY JACOBUS, BLACK CHERRY, MONSTER ZOO, and most recently POWER UP.

RATFIST TP (OCT110463, ISBN: 978-1-60706-478-7), a 176-page full-color humorous super hero graphic novel for $19.99, will be on sale in stores December 14, and is available for order now in the October issue of Previews.

ABOUT DOUG TENNAPEL

Doug TenNapel is the writer/artist behind a host of successful graphic novels: Ghostopolis, Creature Tech, Power Up, Monster Zoo, and Gear, just to name a few. Doug is also known for his work on television, notably Catscratch (Nickelodeon) and Earthworm Jim. He is also the creator of video games like Earthworm Jim 1, Earthworm Jim 2, and The Neverhood.

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.

VIZ MEDIA PARTNERS WITH JAPAN’S ANIMATE AND LIBRE PUBLISHING TO LAUNCH

SuBLime, A NEW YAOI MANGA LINE

North American Manga Publishing Powerhouse Launches A Bold New Initiative To Deliver Acclaimed Boys’ Love Titles Digitally And In Print To An Eager Fan Base

San Francisco, CA, October 24, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated new yaoi manga (graphic novel) line – SuBLime – which represents an innovative new partnership between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate) and Libre Publishing Co., Ltd. (Libre Publishing).

This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide on its dedicated web site at SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide. From the supernatural men of Naono Bohra’s tales of fantasy to the sexy actors portrayed in some of Youka Nitta’s best works, SuBLime will offer something for even the most discerning yaoi manga fan.

“The yaoi manga genre enjoys a sizeable and very passionate following, and the launch of SuBLime will give fans around the world an entirely new outlet that will deliver an exciting range of titles,” says Leyla Aker, Vice President of Publishing, VIZ Media. “We invite fans to join us as we prepare to bring some of the best new boys’ love manga titles to North America and beyond!”

“I’m very excited to open the way to providing boys’ love manga to fans all over the world,” says Shingo Kunieda, Director of Animate's Overseas Division. “There are many wonderful yaoi manga titles released every month in Japan, and we know that fans want to read them as soon as possible. We are always moving forward to find new ways of doing business, and by partnering with VIZ Media, we can make yaoi fans happy and release boys’ love titles as quickly as possible!”

Toshiko Ohta, President of Libre Publishing, concurs, saying, “Libre’s dream is to bring our content to yaoi fans around the world. In partnership with VIZ Media, this is now a reality. We look forward to readers’ support for SuBLime!”

SuBLime’s first round of digital manga titles are scheduled to launch this December, and will feature LOVE PISTOLS Vol. 1, by Tarako Kotobuki, and the North American debut of DANNASAMA TO MITSUGETSUCHU Vol. 1, by Haruka Minami. January 2012 sees the debut of OUSAMA NO BED, by Sakae Kusama, and in February, SWEET POOL Vol. 1, by Nitro+CHiRAL. Additional new titles slated for 2012 include SHIZUKU HANABIRA RINGO NO KAORI Vols. 1 and 2 by Toko Kawai, DEVIL’S HONEY by Isaku Natsume, KEKKON ZENYA by Kou Fujisaki, ADULT TEACHER WA OSUKI? by Kiu Aion, and YOKUBOU NO SHIZUKU by You Higashino.

SuBLime’s first print titles are scheduled to be THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN, by Naono Bohra, and HACHIMITSU DARLING, by Norikazu Akira, which will both be released in Spring 2012, followed by PUNCH UP Vol. 1, by Shiuko Kano, and AITSU NO DAIHONMEI Vol. 1, by Suzuki Tanaka, to be released in the Summer of 2012.

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

About Animate, Ltd.

From North to South, it’s by far the largest anime store chain in Japan! There are 100 shops across Japan, gathering countless anime-related goods to fire up the spirits of anime fans. It’s the go-to place for any anime-manga fan! Character goods from anime, manga, game, comics, art supplies… You name it! All anime/mange-related merchandise is available! Additionally, you can find original Animate goods, specials, etc. Furthermore, we have special events such as autograph sessions, panel discussions, campaigns, and more! Come to Animate filled with ‘dreams’ and ‘hope’!! See http://www.animate-world.com for more information.

About Libre Publishing Co., Ltd.

The biggest boys’ love publisher in Japan. The company name “Libre Publishing Co., Ltd.” is taken from the Latin base “Lib”, which can mean “Book” or “Liberty”. Such is the aim of our company, to be able to share this love of “books” and “freedom” by the unique contents of the works that we offer, for the enjoyment of our readers. See http://www.libre-pub.co.jp for more information (in Japanese).

LIVE VIEWING JAPAN PRESENTS A SPECIAL HATSUNE MIKU EVENT FOR ONE-NIGHT-ONLY IN 9 MAJOR U.S. CITIES IN NOVEMEBER

World’s First Virtual Pop Idol Has Become An International Music Sensation And Will Be Featured In A Special Concert Film For Fans

Los Angeles, CA – October 24^th, 2012 – Live Viewing Japan, a distribution company focused on bringing Japanese entertainment media to an international audience, has announced that it will stage a very special one-night-only Hatsune Miku event simultaneously in nine major U.S. cities on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7:00pm (local time). Hatsune Miku Live Party 2011 39's LIVE in SAPPORO (originally organized by 5bp Inc. in August, 2011) will screen a live concert performance of Hatsune Miku in movie theaters in select markets. More information about this exclusive one-night-only event is available at:

http://www.liveviewing.jp/contents/009_mikupa.html.

The cities that will host the Hatsune Miku event include:

                                   

Baltimore, MD                                  

Boston (Manchester), MA              

Chicago, IL                                       

Houston, TX                                     

Los Angeles, CA

Orange, CA                                                               

New York, NY – Two locations                                                                  

San Francisco/Bay Area, CA          

Seattle, WA                                       

“We’re very excited to present this unique Hatsune Miku experience for her U.S. fans,” says Live Viewing Japan Exective Director Hiroki Kotani. “Miku has captivated a global audience with a mix of catchy pop music and captivating technology-inspired visuals. Her popularity has opened an entirely new range of possibilities to blend a cute pop idol persona with technology and computer-created graphics. We invite fans to visit the Live Viewing Japan web link for more information and for specific movie theater event locations. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Hatsune Miku perform!”

Pop idol Hatsune Miku, whose name means, “first sound of the future,” is a Vocaloid (meaning machine-made vocals) digital female avatar and the most popular of the Vocaloid Character Series software originally created by Crypton Future Media, Inc. using Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2 engine to create organic-sounding synthesized vocal tracks.

In Japan, Hatsune Miku is a major national phenomenon and has appeared in numerous popular video games and music videos. She’s also played several enthusiastic “concerts,” where she performs on stage projected as a 3D hologram and backed by a live band. Miku recently played her first live concert in the U.S. called, “MIKUNOPOLIS in LOS ANGELES,” at the Nokia Theatre for the 2011 Anime Expo, held this past July in Los Angeles, CA. The show sold out in only 4 hours, further underscoring the growing popularity she enjoys in North America. Hatsune Miku was also recently featured in a T.V. commercial for the Toyota Corolla.

Live Viewing Japan has seized on the growing global popularity of Hatsune Miku and has plans to screen her live concert film in several countries including France, Thailand and Brazil.

About Live Viewing Japan:

Live Viewing Japan is a Japanese-based media distribution company focused on bringing a variety of entertainment properties to a global theatre-going audience. More information on the company and its projects is available at: www.liveviewing.jp.

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Project: Rooftop and Thwipster Present

"Invincible: Viltrumite Vogue" Redesign Contest

Invincible artists Cory Walker & Ryan Ottley To Guest Judge

He may be still be seen by some as the new super-hero on the block, but Invincible has become an iconic addition to the super-hero landscape in comics. Created nine years ago by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, the Invincible series is nearing a landmark 100 issues and Project: Rooftop wants to dress Mark Grayson up for the occasion. Sponsored by the innovative comics retailer  Thwipster, "Invincible: Viltrumite Vogue" is the latest in a line of contests by Project: Rooftop, giving artists a chance to redesign a super-hero in a friendly competition for prizes, recognition and just plain fun.

"It's definitely exciting to partner up with Project: Rooftop as they are an exciting, handsome site that's a great blend of three things we love: Comics, Art & Design," says Lance Sells, Co-Founder & Director of Thwipster.

Joining our regular P:R staff to judge these entries will be the two artists responsible for making Invincible who he is: co-creator Cory Walker and current Invincible artist Ryan Ottley. Both Walker and Ottley have contributed redesigns to Project: Rooftop in the past, but having their experience and expertise for this contest brings it to a whole new level.

"I'm excited to see everyone's take on Invincible," Ottley explains. "He's actually an extremely hard hero to draw and make look cool so a re-design should be pretty challenging. Sleek, simplistic, and iconic. Those are the hardest things to create in a character even though it might sound easy. Good luck everyone, make it awesome."

The prizes for this contest, provided by Thwipster, are:           

First Place: Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Vols. 1 - 3 (retail value of $105).

Second Place: Invincible Compedium Vol. 1 (retail value of $65).

Third Place: Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 (retail value of $35).

Entries for "Invincible: Viltrumite Vogue" must be received by November 28, 2011 at midnight EST. As usual, check our guidelines, include your name and website, and send your art as an attachment in jpg, png, or gif format to projectrooftop@gmail.com. Thanks to  Paul Milligan for designing our contest logo!

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Project: Rooftop (http://www.projectrooftop.com) is where cartoonists and illustrators bring their costume design skills to task in tribute to the superheroes and villains we've grown up with. This site is intended to promote the idea of superhero costume redesigning as a skill, specific to superhero media. We also aim to foster continued interest for these amazing characters and spotlight up-and-coming creators.