#SDCC: DARK HORSE TO PUBLISH CRIMINAL MACABRE: FINAL NIGHT—THE 30 DAYS OF NIGHT CROSSOVER!

July 3, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse and IDW team up on this once-in-a-lifetime crossover between the critically acclaimed Criminal Macabre and 30 Days of Night!

Steve Niles’s greatest characters come together in a final showdown, with a thrilling script by Steve Niles and artwork by Christopher Mitten.

Cal McDonald only wanted a beer, but what he got was a jaded federal agent and a story about vampires up in Barrow, Alaska. There’s a new vamp in LA, and he’s hell bent on escalating his attacks. When Mo’Lock’s sometimes ghoul-friend is murdered, Cal’s on the hunt . . . for Eben—the longtime protagonist/antagonist of 30 Days of Night.

Praise for Steve Niles:

“Not only is Niles’ dialogue and pacing the best it has ever been, but Mitten’s art is absolutely paradisiacal by being horrific, high-brow, or low-brow whenever the situation demands it. This is a collaboration seemingly blessed by the comic book gods.”—Comics Bulletin

“Fans of the horror genre really can’t go wrong with [30 Days of Night].”—About.com

For additional information check out the exclusive interview with Steve Niles on Comic Book Resources!

 Criminal Macabre: Final Night—The 30 Days of Night Crossover #1 (of 4) is on sale December 12, 2012!

About Dark Horse

Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, including The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

 

Baltimore Comic-Con Welcomes Jim Starlin    BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - July 3, 2012 -  The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce the addition of comic legend  to the growing line-up of creators attending this year's show. The 13th annual show will be taking place September 8-9, 2012 at the Baltimore Convention Center in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Starlin began his illustrious career as a writer and artist in 1972 and made a name for himself in the industry with his universe-spanning cosmic tales and space operas at Marvel Comics. In addition to revamping Marvel's Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock, he is also the creator of Marvel's Mad Titan, Thanos. Aside from creating Thanos, Starlin also co-created Marvel's Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu along with Steve Englehart. His extensive resume includes on the DC Comics titles Detective Comics, Batman, and Legion of Super-Heroes, working on such notable story-arc as "Batman: A Death in the Family" and "Ten Nights of the Beast." "With the amazing success of Marvel's The Avengers this summer, we couldn't be more thrilled to have the creator of one of the Avenger's most fearsome adversaries attending the show," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "With Thanos set to be the next major villain in the second phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jim Starlin is a guest that everyone is going to want to see at the show!" Most recently, Stalin wrote and drew the seven-issue miniseries, Breed: Book of Revelation for Image Comics and The Art of Jim Starlin: A Life in Words and Images published by IDW, both in 2011. This year's confirmed guests for the show including: Guest of Honor, Stan "The Man" Lee (Saturday only!); Ken Bald (Golden Age Timely/Marvel artist); Marty Baumann (Pixar artist); Brian Bolland (Dial H, Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland); Greg Capullo (Batman, Spawn); Tommy Castillo (Grimm Fairy Tales); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (Avengers vs. X-Men, Liberty Meadows); Steve Conley (Bloop webcomic www.bloopstree.com); Amanda Conner (Before Watchmen:  Silk Spectre); Lar deSouza (Looking For Group, Least I Could Do); Dan Didio (O.M.A.C.); Garth Ennis (The Shadow, Hellblazer, Preacher, The Boys); Rich Faber (Roboy Red); David Finch (Batman:  The Dark Knight); John Gallagher (Buzzboy); Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman); Keith Giffen (Superman, O.M.A.C., Green Arrow); Gene Ha (Justice League); Larry Hama (G.I. Joe, Wolverine, The 'Nam); Cully Hamner (Action Comics); Dean Haspiel (Billy Dogma, ACT-I-VATE, Trip City); Jamal Igle (KISS, Supergirl, The Ray); J.G. Jones (Wanted, Doc Savage); Barry Kitson (Captain America, Iron Man, Fantastic Four); Joe Kubert (Before Watchmen: Nightowl); Scott Kurtz (PvPonline.com); David Mack (Kabuki); Ron Marz (Artifacts, Voodoo); Bob McLeod (DC Comics Presents: Wonder Woman); Mark Morales (Avengers vs. X-Men); Jimmy Palmiotti (All-Star Western); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Brian Pulido (Lady Death); Frank Quitely (All Star Superman, Batman & Robin); John Romita, Jr. (Avengers Vs. X-Men); Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge); Stuart Sayger (Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night One-Shot); Walter Simonson (Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes, Avengers); Ryan Sohmer (Looking For Group, Least I Could Do); Scott Snyder (Batman, Severed, Swamp Thing); Brian Stelfreeze (ICE); Karl Story (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9); Peter Tomasi (Batman and Robin); Billy Tucci (A Child Is Born, Shi); Matt Wagner (Tower Chronicles, Mage, Grendel); Mark Waid (Daredevil, Incorruptible, Irredeemable); Bernie Wrightson (Frankenstein). In the 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 on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages. This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 8-9, 2012. 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, September 8th. Please take a moment to help us spread this message using the social media links embedded, reposting, or retweeting! 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 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 13th 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 September 8-9, 2012. 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 7 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.

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INFERNO: THE CITY OF HELL
Mike Carey and Michael Gaydos in Collection of Early Classic.
Coming from Transfuzion Publishing is the collection of the Caliber Comics series from 1996, Inferno: A Sleep and a Forgetting.   One of the first series written by Mike Carey (Lucifer, Hellblazer), it features artwork from Michael Gaydos (Daredevil, Alias) in the five issue compilation.

The Inferno.  It is a city fueled by sin, driven by corruption and where lives are lived in desperate despair.  John Travis finds himself in the endless city of the damned and plunged into a power struggle for in reality, he is Jacamo Terence, the only person to escape Hell and live.
 He just doesn’t remember it.  Inferno is a dark descent into the corrupt Stygian city full of lost souls and demons.  Helped by the seer Nostradamus and a were-girl, Jacamo struggles not only against the decadence but his own mind as well.

Called “ a work of genius on the dark fantasy genre” by Comics International, the graphic novel will ship in September, 2012.  It will be 144 pages and retail for $14.99 and is a Diamond Comics Spotlight title, order #JUL12 1240.

About Transfuzion Publishing
Transfuzion is a publisher of graphic novels and currently has 50 creator owned book available.  In addition to collecting previous works, Transfuzion has recently begun presenting original graphic novels as well.

DARK HORSE DELUXE ANNOUNCES

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2012 EXCLUSIVES!

July 2, MILWAUKIE, OR—The largest and most highly anticipated pop culture event of the year is right around the corner, and Dark Horse is bringing you the latest and greatest in exclusive products from Dark Horse Deluxe!

2" Pirate Domo Qee (Limited Edition of 1,500)

These popular 2" Qee figures have continually sold out, appearing in stores and galleries worldwide. Who wouldn’t want a Pirate Domo Qee? Get one while they last! 

Marvel Classic Character: Iron Man Gold Variant (Limited Edition of 200)

Iron Man was originally portrayed in a silvery iron suit when he was introduced to the world by Marvel. Very shortly thereafter he transitioned into this gold-colored iron suit. This Comic-Con exclusive limited-edition Syroco-style statuette stands 4 3/4" tall and comes in a litho-printed tin box, with a pin-back button and a booklet. 

Marvel Classic Character: The Hulk Green Variant (Limited Edition of 200)

We’ve turned the original short-lived gray Hulk to his familiar green just for Comic-Con in this very limited-edition Syroco-style statuette. Hulk stands 4 3/4" tall, and comes in a litho-printed tin box, with a pin-back button and a booklet.

2.5" Good Luck Troll: Black-Light Green (Limited Edition of 1,500)

Trolls became one of America’s biggest toy fads in the early 1960s, and again over the years in various revivals from many toy manufacturers. They’ve been off the market for nearly a decade; now Dark Horse is bringing them back with a mystery-box program. However, our San Diego Comic-Con exclusive is no mystery. This green Good Luck Troll with white hair glows under black light and is limited to 1,500 pieces! 

Make sure to stop by booth #2615 to check out all this awesome stuff, only available at San Diego Comic-Con 2012!

About Dark Horse

Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, including The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

 

MONKEYBRAIN AND COMIXOLOGY ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT FOR
MONKEYBRAIN’S NEW LINE OF INDEPENDENT CREATOR-OWNED COMICS  

CELEBRATE INDEPENDENTS DAY!

New York Times Bestselling Author Chris Roberson to Head Up New Comic Book Publishing Imprint with Co-Publisher Allison Baker

July 2nd, 2012 – Portland, OR / New York, NY — New York Times bestselling comic book creator Chris Roberson is celebrating “Independents Day” a little differently than others this year as he and co-publisher Allison Baker launch MonkeyBrain Comics, with a slate of creator-owned titles from some of the top names in the field.  MonkeyBrain Comics will debut digitally first on comiXology — the revolutionary digital comics platform with over 75 million comic and graphic novel downloads to date — through a exclusive distribution agreement between the two companies.

Joining New York Times bestselling author Chris Roberson (iZombie, Memorial, Cinderella) under the Monkeybrain Comics umbrella with their own independent titles will be a who’s who line up of creators, including; Grace Allison, Nick Brokenshire, J. Bone, Chad Bowers, Wook-Jin Clark, Colleen Coover, Kevin Church, Dennis Culver, Matt Digges, Ming Doyle, Curt O. Franklin, Ken Garing, Chris Haley, David Hahn, Phil Hester, Joe Keatinge, D.J. Kirkbride, Adam Knave, Axel Medellin, Jennifer L. Meyer, Michael Montenat, Ananth Panagariya, Thomas Perkins, Adam Rosenlund, Chris Schweitzer, Brandon Seifert, Chris Sims, Matthew Dow Smith, Paul Tobin, J. Torres, Josh Williamson and Bill Willingham, among others.
More creative teams with new titles will be announced next week at Comic-Con International during the Monkeybrain Comics panel on Friday, July 13^th at 7PM.

“MonkeyBrain Comics was born out of a desire to directly explore what opportunities there were in the newly expanding digital marketplace for creator owned material,” said Chris Roberson, co-publisher of Monkeybrain Comics. “We knew from the get go that we’d want to work exclusively with comiXology, who have become the undisputed leader in the digital comics field with their platforms’ unparalleled reading and shopping experience. And we’re pleased to have so many of our close creator friends along for the ride. I can’t wait to see what fans around the world think about our first batch of releases!”
“We’re excited to be the exclusive digital home of MonkeyBrain Comics,” says co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “ComiXology’s mission is to get comics into the hands of people everywhere and we look forward to doing just that with Chris an Allison’s stellar line of creator owned comics!”

Available exclusively worldwide via comiXology’s digital platform across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web starting July 4^th, the initial Monkey Brain Launch titles are:

• Aesop’s Ark by J. Torres and Jennifer L. Meyer
• Amelia Cole and the Unknown World by Adam P. Knave, DJ Kirkbride and Nick Brokenshire
• Bandette by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover
• Edison Rex by Chris Roberson and Dennis Culver
• October Girl by Matthew Dow Smith
• Wander by Kevin Church and Grace Allison

MonkeyBrain Comics is a new comics imprint of Roberson and Baker’s long-running publishing company MonkeyBrain Books. Over the past decade, MonkeyBrain Books has published a line of prose novels by authors such as Phillip Jose Farmer, Michael Moorcock, Rudy Rucker, Paul Cornell and genre collections edited by such notables as Joe R. Lansdale, Lou Anders and others.
Launching their first titles on July 4^th with the slogan “Independents Day” exclusively on the comiXology digital platform, Monkeybrain Comics are currently exploring following up their digital releases with trade paperback collections.
About Monkeybrain Books and Comics
Owned and operated by Chris Roberson and Allison Baker since 2001, Monkeybrain Books was originally founded as an independent press specializing in science fiction & fantasy and nonfiction genre studies. Print titles from Monkeybrain Books are distributed to the book trade by National Book Network, and are available from wholesalers like Diamond Comic Distributors, Baker & Taylor, and Ingram, and from finer booksellers everywhere. In 2012, Monkeybrain launched a new creator-owned digital comics line, Monkeybrain Comics, which is distributed exclusively digitally by comiXology.
About Chris Roberson and Allison Baker
New York Times bestselling writer Chris Roberson is best known for his Eisner-nominated ongoing comic book series iZombie (co-created with artist Mike Allred), his modern fantasy series Memorial (co-created with artist Rich Ellis), the Fables spinoff Cinderella mini-series, and his work on Superman, Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes, and Elric: The Balance Lost, all of which are available for digital download at http://cmxl.gy/CRoberson. His favorite food is meat, he’s allergic to wheat, and his favorite cocktail is a caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil.
Allison Baker has worked in feature film and political media production for over 13 years, while also managing the day-to-day operations of Chris Roberson and Monkeybrain Books. She likes the color pink, enjoys a challenge, fixing things, and is allergic to being bored.
Chris and Allison met at a Ben Folds Five show in 1997, got married in 2000, started their own business in 2001 and had a baby girl in 2004. All three currently live in Portland, Oregon with a lot of books and their two cats, Bubbles and Blue.
About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology — in just five short years — has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world.  From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform — available across  iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web — comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.

Geek Girl Trendsetters Asked To Show Off Their Style To Experts For

Her Universe Panel at San Diego Comic-Con

NEW YORK, NY – July 2, 2012 - For the third year-in-a-row, actress and HER UNIVERSE™ Founder Ashley Eckstein will sponsor and host a panel at San Diego Comic-Con -- but this time with a very special and unique participatory theme for girls at the convention. The panel, entitled, "Are You a Geek Girl Trendsetter? Show Off Your Style to the Fashion Experts and Win Prizes," will take place on Saturday, July 14th from 6-7p.m. in room 25ABC and will feature an all-star group of experts made up of fashion buyers, designers, creators and actresses from the fashion and sci-fi worlds who will give their advice to fangirls on how to create their own style and look. Eckstein (the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars) was inspired by the NBC television show Fashion Star to give female fans the opportunity to show their unique style and original designs to the experts through this panel!

Girls are asked to attend the panel in their own custom made or styled everyday geek/sci-fi inspired outfits and accessories. Up to 30 girls on a first come, first served basis will have the opportunity to show their outfits before our expert panel. Each panelist will then choose two girls who truly impressed them with their overall design and flair to become finalists. Panelists will give their feedback and advice to the finalists and they will then choose a first, second and third place winner, each of whom will receive a special prize. The panel will be filmed by MTV Geek as part of their Comic-Con coverage.

Comic-Con is full of geek girls who create, design and construct their own fashions. Eckstein devised this panel as a way for girls to get feedback on their trendsetting creations from a special panel of fashion professionals:

Tarina Tarantino - World renowned designer whose jewelry, handbag, cosmetic and lifestyle collections can be found in the best luxury fashion stores internationally as well as her own trademark boutiques.

Ed Labay - Senior Buyer/Licensed Apparel for leading music and pop culture fashion retailer, Hot Topic, who helps determine the fashion trends for fanboys and fangirls through the chain's more than 600 stores.

Courtney Lear – Social Media Manager for Hot Topic and self-proclaimed geekette who has her finger on the pulse of the fanboy and fangirl communities online.

Clare Grant - Actress (Robot Chicken and Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and producer and founder of Team Unicorn, a multi-media production team of fangirls whose videos have been seen by millions.

Bonnie Burton - Author and creator of the Star Wars Craft Book and geek girl extraordinaire.

Stepping in as co-host with Ashley for this very special panel is actress, "Geek Goddess" and voice of Padme Amidala in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Catherine Taber! Her Universe will also be offering its licensed geek girl apparel at booth 2913-F in the Lucasfilm Pavilion at Comic-Con.

About Her Universe
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for its Doctor Who franchise. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Twitter and visiting the Her Universe Facebook page.

About Tarina Tarantino
With a design aesthetic that is unmistakable and all her own, designer Tarina Tarantino along with her husband and partner Alfonso Campos founded the TARINA TARANTINO jewelry and accessories brand in 1995. Tarina's original and co-branded designs, with brand giants such as Sanrio, Mattel and Paul Mitchell, are loved by celebrities and legions of fans and she has sparked a cult following that has spread globally. Tarina's jewelry and accessories are all handmade in downtown LA in the heart of LA's Fashion District ,and her designs can be found in her original boutiques in Milan, Los Angeles and nearly 2,000 luxury retailers worldwide. Coming soon, Tarina's newest location, The Sparkle Factory will open in downtown LA. www.tarinatarantino.com

About Hot Topic
Hot Topic is a mall- and web-based specialty retailer beloved by rebellious teens for more than 20 years. Hot Topic capitalizes on the latest trends in music and pop culture, offering band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise, and fashion apparel and accessories to an edgy subculture of expressive individuals. Hot Topic operates 624 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and an online store at hottopic.com. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube

About Team Unicorn
Representing the idea that "like unicorns, geek girls aren't supposed to exist", Team Unicorn is a multi-media production team formed in Los Angeles, California in 2010. Its members are Michele Boyd, Clare Grant, Milynn Sarley, and Rileah Vanderbilt. www.teamunicornftw.com

SPIKE TV TO PRESENT FANS A FRONT ROW SEAT TO “COMIC-CON ALL ACCESS LIVE,”

ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS CELEBRATING POP CULTURE AND COMICS

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Network’s “All Access” Franchise to Feature Top Names in Pop Culture, Comics and Entertainment Including

Mark Hamill, Kevin Smith, Zachary Levi’s Nerd Machine, Stan Lee, the Cast of “Doctor Who” and others

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The Live Multi-Platform Event Airs on Spike TV on July 13 at 4:00pm ET/1:00pm PT

New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA – July 2, 2012 – Spike TV announced today that the network’s live “All Access” multi-platform franchise, which covers the biggest events in gaming, pop culture and technology, will return with “Comic-Con All Access Live.”  The live event which airs on Spike TV, in HD, on Friday, July 13, from 4:00 – 7:00pm ET/1:00 – 4:00pm PT, will be the command center for all of the top entertainment headlines during the event, and the Comic-Con viewing party destination for fans at home.  “Comic-Con All Access Live” will cover the top panels and announcements from the event, host the hottest stars of the genre, including Mark Hamill, Kevin Smith, Zachary Levi and much more.

Kevin Smith will join the “All Access” team to serve as moderator of “Comic-Con Bonus Round,” a live series of roundtable discussions surrounding comic books, pop culture and entertainment.  In addition, Nerd Machine’s Zac Levi, David Coleman and Alison Haislip, will return to the “All Access” franchise to give fans an exclusive sneak peek into their popular Nerd HQ event. 

“Comic-Con All Access Live” will also feature an interview with Stan Lee and the creators of “Amazing Spiderman,” in honor of the superhero’s 50^th anniversary, an exclusive reveal of the landmark #700 issue of “Amazing Spiderman,” interviews with Mark Hamill, Kit Harington from “Game of Thrones,” and visits from the cast of “Doctor Who,” and MMA fighter Nate Quarry who stops by to talk about his “Zombie Cage Fighter” comic book.  Dhani Jones (former NFL player and host of Spike TV’s “Playbook360”) will also be on hand to give a behind-the-scenes look into the “Walking Dead Escape” experience at Petco Park, and viewers can also watch “All Access” host, Katie Linendoll run a quarter-mile segment in the inaugural “Course of the Force” lightsaber relay, dressed in an R2D2 costume.

Yahoo! to Unveil an Immersive Digital Experience with the Debut of Tom Hanks’ New Animated Series “Electric City” on July 17^th, 2012

                                                                                                             

Yahoo! Screen to Launch Original Digital Experience from Playtone and Reliance Entertainment as First-of-its Kind 360 Degree Online Interaction of Digital, Social, Mobile and Gaming Media

SUNNYVALE, CA – (July 2, 2012) - Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), the premier digital media company, today announced that Playtone and Reliance Entertainment’s animated series “Electric City,” created by and starring Tom Hanks, will make its global debut on July 17^th, 2012 on Yahoo! Screen. Set in a futuristic society, “Electric City” is a new 90- minute action-packed sci-fi adventure series. Yahoo! will bring Hanks’ vision and storytelling to a global audience through a first-of-its kind 360 degree online interaction of digital, social, mobile and gaming media.  View the trailer here: http://electriccity.yahoo.com.

“The much anticipated ‘Electric City’ is here - we at Yahoo! could not be more thrilled to be the digital partner for this unparalleled, groundbreaking series,” said Erin McPherson VP & Head of Video at Yahoo!. “Partnering with Playtone, Reliance Entertainment and one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Tom Hanks, is an important milestone for Yahoo! in paving the way to becoming the global destination for premium online content from the best storytellers in entertainment.”

“Electric City” features a multi-talented cast that includes the voices of Tom Hanks, Jeanne Tripplehorn (“Big Love,” “Grey Gardens”), Holland Taylor (“Two and a Half Men”), Ginnifer Goodwin (WALK THE LINE, A SINGLE MAN, HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU), Jason Antoon, Chris Parnell, Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Georg Stanford Brown among many others. The series, produced in partnership with Playtone and Reliance Entertainment, was created by Tom Hanks and executive produced by Gary Goetzman and Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, Vice Chairman Reliance Entertainment Group.

“Every now and then, storytelling and technology unite in a fun and surprising way,” said Playtone Partner Gary Goetzman. “‘Electric City’ brings viewers into a totally unique world through a truly immersive online experience whether they're at home on their computers or mobile on their tablets and smartphones.”

“We at Reliance Entertainment are thrilled to have partnered with Playtone and Yahoo! on this ground-breaking and exciting project,” said Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, Vice Chairman Reliance Entertainment Group. “‘Electric City’ is a creative coup, a first-of-its-kind digital event blending great storytelling, breath-taking animation and digital technology unlike anything anyone has ever done before. Playtone and Yahoo! have joined us at Reliance in devoting our very best to this series, and it’s a real tribute to our shared vision.”

The first ten episodes, which are all 5-7 minutes in length, will premiere on Yahoo! beginning on July 17th with the remaining episodes being released July 18^th and July 19^th. 

Jump Games, which is part of Reliance Entertainment, will be releasing an interactive mobile application on iOS and Android. Mobile audiences will also be able to play an original Role Playing Game featuring a key character from the online series, read digital comic-books that expand on the mythology of the online series, get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks from its development, and access other exclusive content. The app will be available on July 17^th.

In addition to superior quality, high-end graphic animation designed specifically for the Internet, “Electric City” on Yahoo! Screen will feature an immersive and interactive online experience featuring a 3-D map of ‘Electric City,’ behind-the-scenes footage of the cast, games and more. The “Electric City” experience can be found on http://electriccity.yahoo.com. 

What is “Electric City”?

The world as we know it has ended and out of the rubble, the Electric City stands as a symbol of peace and security.  Yet under the veneer of order lies a world full of secrets and violence.  Secret police, back-alley dealings, daring chases, and murder all find a home in the “Electric City.” Through the lens of a functioning, yet dystopian metropolis, “Electric City” touches upon relevant global issues and themes including energy consumption, freedom of information, crime and punishment and more.  The story unfolds gradually, layering mystery upon mystery, inviting viewers to interact with the content and each other.  Metaphors and symbols are woven throughout, creating a perfect environment for puzzle-solving and community interaction.  Like good science fiction, “Electric City” raises provocative questions about our own way of life and value systems.  Short-form connecting storylines combined with vivid animation and a compelling score will keep audiences watching, while metaphors and a range of subject lines will keep them guessing—and reflecting.

The “Electric City” Experience on Yahoo!

“Electric City” will be shown as a multi-part series on Yahoo! Screen, and will be supported by a deeply immersive and interactive online experience that enhances the drama, mystery and intrigue of the series.

Yahoo!’s interactive and social features will allow viewers to: 

• Navigate non-linearly and learn more about the world of “Electric City” through a 3-D interactive map
• Dig deeper into the character’s back-stories
• Watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage
• Post reactions and commentary directly to Facebook and Twitter at facebook.com/tomhanksec  and @tomhanksec
• Engage members of their social networks in discussions and debates about societal themes, events and characters
• Engage in casual games and other content related to the series

“Electric City” will also live across multiple devices and comes enabled for tablets.  The series will be punctuated by special events, such as opportunities to watch exclusive content and to interact with the cast and creators.  As a truly global entertainment experience, the series will also be available in numerous languages, including French and Spanish.

As the premier digital media company, Yahoo! sets the bar for best-in-class original video programming  with 21 out of the top 25 most-watched online series* and captures more than 57 million unique viewers a month** who come to Yahoo! to watch video.

ComiXology Celebrates Their 5-Year Anniversary & 3-Year App-iversary
at
Comic-Con International 2012
in San Diego, California

Don’t Miss ComiXology’s Brand New Booth Space!

Meet The Folks Behind Comixology At Our First Comic-Con Tweet-up, Including Two Of The Co-Founders

Find Out What’s Next At The Comixology Panels!

Make Sure You Get Your Image Comics, IDW Publishing, Oni Press, and Archaia
Limited Edition Promotional Postcard With Free Download Codes

And Two Chances To Win Brand New iPads!

ComiXology @ SDCC 2012
July 11th – 15th
Booth #2447

July 2nd, 2012 – New York, NY – ComiXology — the revolutionary digital comics platform with over 75 million downloads to date and a selection of more than 25,000 comics and graphic novels — is kicking off this year’s Comic-Con International 2012 in style by celebrating their 5-Year Anniversary and 3-Year App-iversary with a whole host of programming, a “Tweetup," two opportunities to win a free iPad, publishing partner promotions, and, for the first time ever, comiXology will be manning a booth (#2447) in the heart of Comic-Con!
The celebration of comiXology’s 5-year Anniversary and 3-year App-iversary begins on Preview Night at the debut of comiXology’s new booth space (#2447) and continues all convention long! All comic fans are invited to have a hands-on look at the leading digital comics platform and all fans that register for comiXology’s newsletter at the booth will have a chance to win a brand new iPad!
But the comiXology booth is only where the celebration begins! Each day from Thursday to Sunday, one of comiXology’s many publishing partners will be giving away one of four limited edition postcards that has a promo code for a free comic or graphic novel! Once all four cards are collected, a larger image is revealed celebrating comiXology’s anniversary!
How do you collect them all? First up on Thursday, Image Comics will be giving away the Fatale #1 promo postcard at their booth (#2729). Then on Friday, IDW Publishing will be giving away the Locke & Key Vol. 1 promo postcard at their booth (#2643). Saturday, the promo postcard giveaway continues as Oni Press hands out the Sixth Gun Vol. 1 promo postcard at their booth (#1833). Last but not least, on Sunday, Archaia will be giving away the Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol. 1 promo postcard at their booth (#2635). Each postcard is limited to just 1,000 copies and is available only at these publishers’ booths and only on the days listed above.
Don’t get distracted while you are busy collecting all those postcards and miss a rare chance to meet part of the team behind comiXology! On Thursday July 12th from 4pm to 6pm, all comiXology fans and new users alike are invited to join us for the official “ComiXology Tweetup” at the Hilton Bayfront Odysea Bar where attendees can meet and mingle with the folks behind the award-winning digital comics platform — comiXology co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts as well as team members Matt “Slim” Kolowski, Bronson Lingamfelter, Chip Mosher, Kevin Pearl and Elizabeth Yulianto. As a sincere “thank you” to our fans, one lucky attendee will win an iPad during the Tweetup!
If that’s not enough for you, then make sure you don’t miss any of the six panels that comiXology will be present at, including two comiXology focused panels! Join co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts with Power Play artist Riley Brown for the "Creating Comics the ComiXology Way" panel on Thursday July 12th at 2pm in Room 11AB to discuss how comiXology is transforming not only how people read comics, but how people create comics. Then on Saturday July 14th in Room 23ABC don’t miss the "ComiXology Open Discussion: Everything Digital" where comiXology co-founders Steinberger and Roberts talk about the first five years of comiXology and field your questions about anything and everything under the digital sun!
You will also find comiXology represented on four additional panels, with comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger participating in the "Comic Book Entrepreneurs" panel on July 13th at 1:30pm in Room 8 and then with comiXology co-founder John D. Roberts joining him on the "Are Digital Comics Expanding the Market?" panel later that day at 6pm in Room 9. ComiXology’s VP of Marketing, PR & Business Development, Chip Mosher, will be moderating two panels — the "Indie Comics Marketing and PR 101" panel in Room 8 on Thursday July 12th at 7pm and also the "Digital Comics Price Fight" panel on Sunday July 15th at 11am.
Comic-Con International 2012 looks to be the biggest Comic-Con for comiXology so far. We can’t wait to see you there!

What: San Diego Comic-Con International ComiXology 5-Year Anniversary and 3-Year App-iversary Celebration
When: July 11th - 15th 2012
Where: The San Diego Convention Center, San Diego CA. 

Booth #: 2447
Booth Giveaway: ComiXology fans can register at the comiXology booth (#2447) all during CCI '12 to win a new iPad. After the show ends, one iPad will be given away at random to one of the registrants.
Party: “ComiXology Tweetup” at the Hilton Bayfront Odysea Bar, 1 Park Boulevard San Diego, California 92101 (next to the convention center) on Thursday July 12th from 4pm to 6pm.
Party Giveaway: During the party, one iPad will be given away at random to one lucky attendee.
Panel Schedule:
Thursday July 12th
2:00pm - 3:00pm — Creating Comics the ComiXology Way— From early experiments like Box 13, Valentine, and Power Play to more recent efforts like Marvel's Infinite Comics, comiXology's Guided View has ushered in a new era in comic book creation. Join comiXology co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts and Power Play artist Riley Brown as they show you the ins and outs of creating comics using the Guided View tools and discuss comiXology's plans for these tools. – Room 11AB
7:00pm - 8:00pm — Indie Comics Marketing and PR 101 — Some of the best and brightest reveal all the secrets of doing marketing and PR for your comics. ComiXology’s marketing and PR maven Chip Mosher is joined by Dark Horse’s Director of PR Jeremy Atkins, Image Comics’ PR and Marketing Director Jennifer de Guzman, IDW Publishing’s VP of Marketing Dirk Wood, and comics writer David Gallaher. – Room 8
Friday July 13th
1:30pm - 2:30pm — Comic Book Entrepreneurs — Get a rare look behind the scenes of building successful businesses around the love of comic books. Author and futurist Rob Salkowitz, CEO and co-founder David Steinberger of comiXology, Mike Richardson of Dark Horse Comics, Peter Levin of Nerdist Industries, and comic retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics, founder of Free Comic Book Day and WonderCon. – Room 8
6:00pm - 7:00pm — Are Digital Comics Expanding the Market? — Author and futurist Rob Salkowitz leads a provocative, no-holds-barred discussion with the leaders of the digital comics revolution: comiXology co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts, Dark Horse Publisher Mike Richardson, and IDW Publisher Ted Adams. – Room 9
Saturday July 14th
11:00am - 12:00am — ComiXology Open Discussion: Everything Digital — With over 75 million comics and graphic novels downloaded since its debut, comiXology has revolutionized how people read and buy comic books. Recently hailed by the New York Times as the iTunes of comics, here is your opportunity to discover what is next! Join comiXology cofounders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts for an open discussion on everything digital. All topics are game! Don’t miss out! – Room 23ABC
Sunday July 15th
11:00am - 12:00pm — Digital Comics Price Fight — Join Mark Waid, Scott Kurtz, IDW Publishing’s ePublishing Director Jeff Webber and Top Shelf Productions Director of Digital Chris Ross, for a lively discussion on the price of digital comics. Moderating this fight is comiXology’s Chip Mosher – Room 7AB

About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology — in just five short years — has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform — available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web— comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.

Madefire Shakes Up the Comic and Graphic Novel Industry with Revolutionary App and Reading Experience for iPad

San Francisco, California, June 21, 2012—Madefire <http://www.madefire.com> , an exciting new company that brings a refreshing jolt of energy and innovation to the comic and graphic novel industry, today launched its Madefire App for iPad, featuring original, interactive works from Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons, as well as titles from other leading comic writers and graphic novelists. The Madefire App delivers a continuous flow of ‘Motion Books <http://www.madefire.com/motion-books/> ’, original stories each with their own unique and immersive experience, providing users with a comic or graphic novel experience like none other. Madefire titles are also optimized to take full advantage of iPad’s leading features and functionality, including the gyroscope, accelerometer and stunning Retina display.

The Madefire App launches with three original comic and graphic novel titles, and four previews of future titles, including:

            •“Treatment: Tokyo” by Dave Gibbons, Kinman Chan and Robbie Morrison
           •“Treatment: Mexico City” by Dave Gibbons, Doug Braithwaite and Robbie Morrison
            •“Mono” by Ben Wolstenholme and Liam Sharp
            •“Captain Stone Is Missing. . .” by Liam Sharp & Christina McCormack
            •“The Irons” by Haden Blackman & Gary Erskine
            •“The Engine” by Guy Adams & Jimmy Broxton
            •“Houses of the Holy” by Mike Carey and David Kendall

The first three titles include the first episode, introducing readers to the format, story line and characters. Subsequent episodes will be delivered to readers twice a month and users will be updated via Push Notification when the new episodes are ready to download.

“Madefire is igniting a new era by creating a modern, dynamic reading experience and bringing that to the millions of iPad users around the world,” said Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen and advisory board member at Madefire. “It is exciting to be able to bring this robust storytelling into the 21st century while also democratizing the ability to publish comic books.”

Madefire will also be making their publishing tools available to anybody who wants to create their own original comics or graphic novels in the Motion Book <http://www.madefire.com>  format. The basic tools will be available for free at http://www.madefire.com <http://www.madefire.com> .

“Madefire allows creators to bring the excitement and intensity of comics and graphic novels to iPad in a truly interactive format,” says Liam Sharp, Chief Creative Officer of Madefire. “We have seen these great innovations in other forms of entertainment such as gaming, movies and television, but reading has largely transferred words to the digital page without transforming the experience.”

The Madefire executive team boasts an elite roster of technology and storytelling veterans with the passion and expertise to change the way we create and consume stories. Madefire was founded in 2011 by Ben Wolstenholme, CEO of Moving Brands, Liam Sharp, Chief Creative Officer at Madefire and a veteran comic book writer and artist, and Eugene Walden, CTO at Madefire and a seasoned technology entrepreneur and mobile pioneer. The team is also joined by creative superpowers Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen, the best-selling graphic novel of all-time, and Bill Sienkiewicz, widely recognized as one of the greatest innovators in the history of sequential art.

The Madefire App is available for free from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

About Madefire
Founded in 2011 by Ben Wolstenholme, Liam Sharp and Eugene Walden, Madefire is backed by True Ventures. Madefire provides artists and writers a publishing solution for iPad allowing them to build their stories in an exciting new format. The Madefire Board of Advisors includes Mike McCue, CEO and Founder of Flipboard, Sina Tamaddon, former Senior Vice President of Applications for Apple Inc., Toni Schneider, CEO of Automattic, creators of WordPress.com, Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen, the bestselling graphic novel of all time, and Bill Sienkiewicz, widely recognized as one of the greatest innovators of sequential art. For more information go to madefire.com, or download the Madefire App for iPad.

For Immediate Release:

 

About BOOM! Studios
Founded by Ross Richie, 2009 and 2010's "Best Publisher" BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of bestselling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic books and graphic novels with the industry's top talent, including Mark Waid's IRREDEEMABLE, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning’s HYPERNATURALS, new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker, PLANET OF THE APES, and Sam Humphreys’ HIGHER EARTH. BOOM!'s all ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz' PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network's ADVENTURE TIME, and 20th Century Fox’ ICE AGE. 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, and just released SPACE DUCKS, the first comic book from indie musician legend Daniel Johnston.

No Heroes But One Award!

 

 

The “little comic that could” No More Heroes picked up the award for Best Comic at the SICBA (Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards) event held at Glasgow Comic Con over the weekend.

 The four-issue mini-series (with #3 coming out next month) about the suspicious death of the world’s greatest superhero and his sidekick’s search for the truth has picked up a lot of attention since its March debut thanks to its unusual origins. When its writer Gordon Mclean lost his job he used his redundancy money to fund the comic and teamed up with artist Caio Oliveira to make his dream of being a comic creator a reality.

 Gordon: “Winning this award is an incredible honour and a hell of a way to top off what’s already been a shockingly successful few months for our comic. We’ve sold a hefty amount of copies of what’s basically a debut comic by an unknown creative team and of course there was the bizarre situation of seeing issue one becoming the most pirated comic in the British indie scene and sitting in the torrent charts next to Batman and the Walking Dead. Sod it, I’m putting that in the win column too!”

 Gordon and Caio are now planning on using their success to find a publisher for No More Heroes and take their comic to a wider audience.

 Gordon: “If ever there was a time to get a publisher to pick up our comic it’s now. We’re award-winning, the response from readers and critics has been incredibly positive and we’ve received a lot of attention from comic book websites, magazines, blogs, podcasts etc. A special thank you to Rich Johnston at Bleeding Cool – he’s been a hell of a supporter of No More Heroes and by featuring it on his website he raised its profile immensely.

 “I’ve also adapted the title into a film script that’s picked up some studio attention. If all of this this isn’t enough to convince a publisher that this is a hit comic waiting to happen then I don’t know what is!”

 Anyone who’s interested in No More Heroes is asked to please visit its official website at nomoreheroescomic.wordpress.com or e-mail Gordon: no_more_heroes_comic@yahoo.co.uk.

 

HEROES AND VILLAINS CLASH AT
PROFILES IN HISTORY'S
TREASURES FROM THE HOLLYWOOD VAULTS
FOUR-DAY AUCTION IN JULY

THE AUCTION WILL BE JULY 28-31 IN LOS ANGELES
 

LOS ANGELES- JULY 2, 2012- Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce the clashing of heroes and villains at the upcoming Treasures from the Hollywood Vaults auction in July. The items below are from the esteemed Dreier Collection and will be auctioned off on July 28th in Los Angeles. The Animation Auction will be July 29th and the Treasures from the Hollywood Vaults auction has been moved to July 30th and July 31st.

The first iconic hero costume is Michael Keaton's complete “Batman” costume from Batman Returns. This impressive costume includes the original “armored” rubber bodysuit, boots, gauntlet gloves with serrated “fins,” rubberized cape, and of course the iconic “Batman” cowl. The entire costume is mounted on a custom display with a life cast of Michael Keaton and stands over six feet tall. This is a rare costume from this film, which is now considered a classic in the superhero genre. It is expected to fetch $30,000 - $50,000.

While not from the same film but still a villain of Batman, a signature Jim Carrey “Riddler” question mark costume from Batman Forever. The costume includes the green bowler hat with a large question mark motif on front. The costume is completed by the Riddler’s signature gold 38 in. cane with a rubber question mark handle. This highly identifiable character ensemble is an important landmark in the Riddler’s modern incarnation. It is expected to fetch $20,000 - $30,000.

The Peter Mayhew original “Chewbacca” head from Star Wars is the finest full costume headpiece of Chewbacca from the original trilogy in private hands. It consists of a screen-used cowl hairpiece (which encompasses the entire head) and a period-made Stuart Freeborn facial appliance. Included are signed photographs by Stuart Freeborn and Peter Mayhew. It is expected to fetch $60,000 - $80,000.

From X-Men, a signature “Wolverine” black leather battlesuit. The familiar fine black leather jumpsuit is subtly adorned with metallic copper and yellow-colored trimmings. The X-Men first don their combat suits to battle Magneto and the Brotherhood in the final Statue of Liberty sequence. It comes with a 20th Century Fox certificate of authenticity. It is expected to fetch $30,000 - $50,000. From X2: X-Men United, are Hugh Jackman's “Wolverine” hero claws. It is the only hero set released by the studio. The claws, when worn, give the illusion that they are razor sharp blades protruding from the tops of the wearer’s hands by virtue of an angled handle that rests flush against the upper palm of the hand. The claws come with peerless provenance and paperwork and are expected to fetch $20,000 - $30,000.
 
A worthy adversary for the Wolverine items is a signature Ian McKellen “Magneto” costume also from X-Men. The costume consists of a gray custom jacket with integral red-lined cape, matching gray pants, (2) fiberglass two-piece helmets, one of which is the hero helmet. The costume includes a 20th Century-Fox certificate of authenticity. It is expected to fetch $20,000 - $30,000.

Other heroes and villains include, a complete Cylon costume from Battlestar Galactica, $40,000 – $60,000; Russell Crowe “Maximus” iconic chest armor from Gladiator, $15,000 – $20,000; a Complete hero Spartan soldier costume and shield from 300, $8,000 – $12,000; A complete Stormtrooper tour costume from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, $6,000 - $8,000; Angelina Jolie “Lara Croft” jacket from Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,  $2,000 – $3,000; Patrick Stewart “Jean Luc Picard” season one Starfleet uniform from Star Trek: The Next Generation, $6,000- $8,000; Jean Luc Picard’s “Enterprise-E” command chair from the Star Trek: The Next Generation films, including First Contact, Insurrection and Nemesis, $20,000 - $30,000.

Don't forget previously announced iconic hero costumes from Superman: The Movie, including the complete Christopher Reeve Superman costume consisting of a blue and red long-sleeve stretch jersey leotard, with the trademark Superman “S” emblazoned on the chest (estimated at $60,000 – $80,000), and the complete Marlon Brando Jor-El costume in his memorable role as the father of Superman (estimated at $60,000 – $80,000).



ABOUT PROFILES IN HISTORY
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the nation's leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts.  Born into a family of antiques dealers in Rhode Island, Joseph "Joe" Maddalena learned early on how to turn his passion of collecting historical autographs into a career. Needing to support himself, Joe turned to his hobby of buying and selling historical documents as a potential way to earn revenue. On weekends he scoured old Hollywood bookstores for letters and rare books. Upon graduation from Pepperdine, Joe pursued his passion to become a full-time dealer of historical documents, and opened his first office in 1985. A lifetime member of the Manuscript Society, Joe is widely recognized as the nation's leading authority on entertainment memorabilia and historical documents. Profiles in History has established itself as the world’s largest auctioneer of original Hollywood memorabilia, having held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia and owning virtually every Guinness Book record prices for original screen-used memorabilia. With an extensive network of dealers, collectors, and institutions, Profiles in History is proud to play an important role in the preservation of motion picture history. Prior Profiles in History Hollywood auctions highlights include the "Cowardly Lion" costume from  The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); Steve McQueen's "Michael Delaney" racing suit from Le Mans  ($960,000); a Panavision motion picture camera used by George Lucas to film Star Wars  ($624,000); a full-scale model T-800 Endoskeleton from Terminator 2: Judgment Day  ($488,750); Marilyn Monroe's platinum & diamond wedding band from her marriage to Joe DiMaggio ($504,000); Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds” dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes  ($356,500); a King Kong 1933 six-sheet movie poster ($345,000); Luke Skywalker’s light saber from Star Wars  ($240,000); Margaret Hamilton’s “Wicked Witch” hat from The Wizard Of Oz ($230,000); and The Invisible Man 1933 one-sheet movie poster ($230,000). From the history-making Debbie Reynolds Auction in June 2011, Profiles in History sold the Marilyn Monroe "Subway" Dress from The Seven Year Itch for $5.52M, the Marilyn Monroe signature red-sequined showgirl gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for $1.44M and the Audrey Hepburn Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady for $4.44M. In February 2012, Profiles in History arranged the sale of a pair of Judy Garland screen-used Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz  to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. In addition, Joe Maddalena is the star of  Hollywood Treasure, which just ended its second season on Syfy.  Hollywood Treasure  takes viewers into the fascinating world of showbiz and pop culture memorabilia.