WILL EISNER WEEK, MARCH 1-10, CELEBRATES THE ‘FATHER OF THE MODERN GRAPHIC NOVEL’ IN A DOZEN CITIES

NEW YORK (February 20, 2013) - The Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation is proud to announce Will Eisner Week 2013, a ten-day series of events in more than a dozen cities nationwide that celebrates graphic novels, free speech awareness, and the career and legacy of Will Eisner, one of the most innovative figures in the history of comics and graphic novels.

Will Eisner Week’s theme this year is, “Read a Graphic Novel,” which will be the underlying message of all the events. Cities holding celebrations include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and Minneapolis.

Will Eisner Week 2013 has added significance, as it marks 35 years since the 1978 publication of Eisner’s groundbreaking graphic novel, “A Contract With God.”

“This year, we will be having Will Eisner Week celebrations in more places than ever before,” said Will Eisner Week Organizing Committee Chair Danny Fingeroth. “The people doing the events are planning some amazing happenings that will spread the word about how cool graphic novels are, and that celebrate Will Eisner’s astonishing body of work done over a career that spanned seven decades.”

Will Eisner Week 2013 events include:

March 1-15, SAVANNAH, GA: Savannah College of Art and Design will hold several events run by Professor David Duncan, including a March 2 screening of “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist” and various Eisner-themed art sessions.

March 2, 4:00-4:55 PM, SEATTLE, WA:  Emerald City Comic Convention panel: Eisner’s “A Contract With God—Reflections on the 35th Anniversary,” featuring Dennis O’Neil, Batton Lash, Matt Fraction, Jackie Estrada, and Ben Saunders.

March 3-10, PITTSBURGH, PA: Various events at the Toonseum, including a screening of the documentary “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist” by Andrew & Jon Cooke on March 6.

March 4-8, ARKADELPHIA, AR: The Comics Arts Club of Henderson State University, under the direction of Professor Randy Duncan, will study Eisner’s work in the context of Immigrant Experience Focus Week.

March 6: 7:30 PM, PORTLAND, OR: The Art Institute of Portland: Lecture on Eisner by Dark Horse Editor Diana Schutz.

March 7, 6:30-9:30 PM, NEW YORK, NY: The Society of Illustrators hosts a Will Eisner Sketch Night.

March 7, 7:00-9:00 PM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The Cartoon Art Museum. An Evening With Mario Hernandez, including a discussion of Eisner’s influence. 

March 7, 7:30 PM, PORTLAND, OR: The Jack London Bar. A reading of Eisner’s “Last Day in Vietnam,” with Brian Bendis, Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Michael Oeming, and Dylan Meconis.

March 7, 7:00-9:30 PM, BOSTON, MA: Tufts University. Screening of “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist,” followed by a panel discussion including A. David Lewis, Chuck Henebry, and Stephen Weiner.

March 10, 1:00-4:00 PM, MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Minneapolis College of Art and Design hosts a Graphic Novel Read-In, featuring a screening of “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist.”

March 11, 7:00-9:00 PM, NEW YORK, NY:  Parsons/The New School, Comics & Picture-Story Symposium. Jeremy Dauber and Danny Fingeroth discuss Eisner’s work in the context of Jewish-American literature.

March 12, WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT: Center for Cartoon Studies. Lecture on Eisner by Stephen Bissette. (For CCS students only.)

March 14, 7:30 PM, BURBANK, CA: The Animation Guild will hold a special Comic Art Professional Society meeting devoted to Eisner, hosted by Scott! Shaw.

Celebrations are also being planned for Amherst, MA and Washington, DC. Check www.willeisnerweek.com for updates on all events.

About WILL EISNER:

WILL EISNER (1917-2005) grew up in the tenement Bronx of the Great Depression. He was a pioneer in the creation of comics of the "golden age" of the 1930s and '40s, achieving immortality with his noir crime fighting superhero, The Spirit, the first character to star in a comics insert distributed in newspapers. At one time or another, just about every comics great of his own and succeeding generations worked with and for Eisner, including Jules Feiffer, Wallace Wood, Jack Kirby, Al Jaffee, and Mike Ploog. When The Spirit ceased publication in 1952, Eisner devoted himself to producing educational and instructional Sequential Art, a term he coined. Then, in 1978, Eisner reinvented himself—and the medium— again with his graphic novel A Contract with God, the first of a series of works focused, for the most part with a compassionate yet unsentimental lens, on early 20th century Jewish life in America. Other notable graphic novels included To The Heart of the Storm, A Life Force, Last Day In Vietnam, and Fagin. At the time of his 2005 death, Eisner had just completed The Plot, a comics-form refutation of the resurgent anti-Semitic Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which was released posthumously by W.W. Norton.

About WILL EISNER WEEK:

WILL EISNER WEEK is an annual series of celebrations that takes place in multiple cities, timed around Eisner’s March 6th birthday. Started in 2009, Will Eisner Week is dedicated to promoting graphic novels, literacy, free speech awareness, and the legacy of Will Eisner. This year Will Eisner Week is primarily being celebrated March 1-10 in locales including New York City, Portland (OR), Seattle, Columbus (OH), Minneapolis, Savannah, Burbank, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Arkadelphia (AR), and Amherst. Will Eisner Week details can be found at www.willeisnerweek.com.

THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH SELLS OUT

Second issue of TODD gets second printing

Selling out the same week as its release, TODD, THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #2 continues the success of the new Image Comics mini-series by Ken Kristensen and MK Perker. The issue will receive a second printing (JAN138185), to be in stores on March 27.

The third issue of TODD, THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH, which focuses on an infectiously upbeat kid caught in an epically dysfunctional world, will be in stores on March 13.

The title continues to receive critical praise with its second issue:

"Todd, The Ugliest Kid on Earth is so wrong it circles back around and becomes so, so right. If you don't have a slightly askew sense of humor you'll find this more offensive than hilarious, and that's your loss. Todd is one of the rare books that's a good read AND a fun ride."
    -Comic Book Therapy

"This title continues to be one of my favorite this year. The team on this book are layering all sorts of different meats and cheeses and using all kinds of spicy condiments to serve up one hell of a sandwich, and you know how much I like sandwiches."
    -Comics Bulletin

"If you like your humor dark and your satire biting, then you should check this one out. Four and a half Disturbing Prison Groupies out of Five."
    -Fanboy Comics

"It's an insane premise with oddities all over the place, but it's intelligently put together and is heavily entertaining.... Don't let this pass under your radar."
    -Comic List

NEW PEOPLE PRESENTS ALL-DAY FREE VOCALOID MUSIC EVENT

New VOCALOID3 Megpoid English Launch Event

Offers Hot Beats, Live Vocaloid Dancers and Vocaloid Workshops

San Francisco, CA, February 21, 2012 – NEW PEOPLE, Inc, a San Francisco-based entertainment company bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, celebrates the latest wave of the Vocaloid music phenomenon as it presents a special FREE Megpoid Launch Event featuring Vocalekt Visions on Sunday, March 3^rd. 

The all-day VOCALOID3 Megpoid English launch event commences at 12:00 noon, and will offer a variety of dance and Vocaloid performances, free VOCALOID3 Megpoid English software workshops, demos, and other activities that will run thru 6:00pm. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post St. in San Francisco’s Japantown.

Vocalekt Visions, a unique Bay Area-based Vocaloid performance troupe, will present two special Vocaloid holographic performances inside the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, at 2:00pm and 4:30pm, which will feature Megpoid songs performed by GUMI and complemented by live on-stage dancers. Tickets are free and will be available from the NEW PEOPLE Cinema box office on a first come/first served basis. Cinema box office will open at 12:30pm. All the attendees will receive a FREE trial version of VOCALOID3 Megpoid English while supplies last.

Vocaloid music, which has swept Japan and is gaining popularity in North America, is characterized by a variety of pop-flavored animated avatars, or “virtual pop stars,” that sing and perform songs written using innovative software that enables users to synthesize the performer’s voice by inputting lyrics and a melody. VOCALOID3 Megpoid English notably features the virtual persona of GUMI, a character and avatar developed by manga artist Masami Yuuki.

The new VOCALOID3 Megpoid English release is an English singing synthesizer application powered by Yamaha's Vocaloid3 software and published by INTERNET Co., Ltd. The voice of the GUMI character is based on that of Megumi Nakajima, a popular Japanese singer and voice actress. During the event, visitors can learn how to use the software in a series of hands-on workshops and software demonstrations to be held in the NEW PEOPLE lobby. Copies of the Megpoid software, along with other Vocaloid products and collectables, will also be for sale. More information on VOCALOID3 Megpoid English is available at www.ssw.co.jp/en/products/vocal3/megpoid/index.html.

 “NEW PEOPLE was the very first venue that brought Vocaloid music to the attention of North American audiences and we’ve continued to celebrate the genre’s colorful Japanese pop culture roots with a variety of unique events over the last few years,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “The launch of the first English Vocaloid software is very significant and should inspire U.S. users to create an even bigger catalog of great vocaloid music. We’re very pleased to invite Vocaloid and J-Pop fans, music lovers, technophiles, and anyone that just digs good beats to attend this fun free event in Japantown!”

More information on NEW PEOPLE is available at www.newpeopleworld.com.

About INTERNET, Co., Ltd.

Internet Co., Ltd. is a music software developer headquartered in Osaka, Japan. The company manufactures a wide range of products that support both music listeners and creators to enjoy a desktop-based music environment. Their product lineup includes music composition software (Singer Song Writer, MIXTURE), Vocaloid products (Gackpoid, Megpoid, Lily, CUL.) as well as sound editing software (Sound it!). For more information, please visit http://www.ssw.co.jp/ (Japanese Only).

About NEW PEOPLE, Inc.

Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. (www.newpeopleworld.com) offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films as well as various forms of entertainment. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment (www.newpeopleent.com), a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, GANTZ, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, and THE TASTE OF TEA.

BATMAN DOCUMENTARY FILM RELEASES NEW TRAILER
Documentary film "Legends of the Knight" explores the inspirational impact of Batman and the power of heroic storytelling.

The trailer for the new documentary film "Legends of the Knight" debuted online on Thursday.

The not-for-profit film collects the stories of Batman fans around the world whose lives have been significantly impacted by the legends and tales of the Dark Knight.

The official trailer can be viewed at www.WEareBATMAN.com or on YouTube: http://youtu.be/sf_7IsvXV-U

"Batman has become contemporary mythology," producer/director Brett Culp said. "We want to show how enduring stories like this shape us. Our goal is to inspire everyone on the planet who loves Batman to embody his spirit, engage with the world, and make a difference. Together, we are Batman."

Culp is a life-long Batman fan. Over the past year, he and his team have filmed stories in 12 cities, recording 48 interviews. They captured the stories of individuals whose love of the Dark Knight has inspired them to overcome devastating obstacles, to motivate and encourage young people, and to contribute to their communities.

Well-known Batfans who appear in the film include:

• Michael Uslan - executive producer of "Batman", "Batman Begins", "The Dark Knight", and "The Dark Knight Rises"
• Denny O'Neil - legendary Batman writer
• Lenny B Robinson - visits children's hospitals around the country as Batman
• Jill Pantozzi (The Nerdy Bird) - Superhero journalist with the spirit of the Caped Crusader
• Rabbi Cary Friedman - author, "Wisdom from the Batcave"
• Dr. Travis Langley - author, "Batman & Psychology"; teacher of university course in psychology called "Batman"
• Gotham Chopra - co-author, "Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes"; son of best-selling author Deepak Chopra

The film's production team is offering a unique opportunity for supporters to interact and ask questions via a free online video webcast on Saturday, February 23 at 2pm EST. The webcast will be hosted on www.WEareBATMAN.com.

"Human beings have always been stirred to greatness by the tales of heroes," Culp said. "We connect with Batman because he is the super hero with no super powers. Just as he has committed himself to making the world better, we can dedicate ourselves to a noble cause and make a difference. This type of inspiration is a core function of storytelling in society."

The production team for "Legends of the Knight" is now raising funds through Kickstarter to finish the film. The 30-day funding campaign gives supporters of the project the opportunity to pre-order copies of the finished film and other incentives as a way of funding this documentary project.

The campaign raised nearly $5,000 in pledges in the first 12 hours.

LINK to Kickstarter campaign: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brettculp/legends-of-the-knight

In the spirit of Batman, all revenues generated by the completed film that are beyond production, screening, distribution, and administrative costs will be donated to charitable organizations.

Release date will be Summer 2013.

Official website: www.WeAreBatman.com

BARRY JOSEPHSON TO PRODUCE

DAN GILROY’S SCRIPT OF STAN LEE’S SUPERHERO FILM ANNIHILATOR

Los Angeles, CA (Feb. 21, 2013) - Prolific film & television producer Barry Josephson (ENCHANTED, BONES) has signed on with Magic Storm Entertainment to produce the legendary Stan Lee's creation ANNIHILATOR.  The film script has been penned by Dan Gilroy (BOURNE LEGACY/REAL STEEL).

ANNIHILATOR tells the story of a young Chinese expatriate, Ming, who must choose between remaining in prison or enlist in a secret US super soldier program.  The program uses targeted genetic enhancements from various animal species.  Ming chooses to undergo this nearly fatal procedure and through his extreme resolve, gained as a result of his family’s tradition of practicing Qijong and martial arts, he survives. Now, armed with remarkable abilities, he must confront a former rival with his own set of enhanced faculties. Our reluctant hero is forced not only to face his personal demons, but also to defeat the villain who will destroy everything that he knows and loves.

“Barry is the perfect partner at every level to produce a film of this magnitude that targets a global market, including mainland China.” said Eric Mika, CEO of Magic Storm Entertainment. “Barry’s talents combined with Dan Gilroy’s explosive script makes Stan Lee’s treatment extremely powerful and a cornerstone for a unique franchise. " 

Also producing is Douglas Falconer. Doug’s recent credits include THE WARRIOR'S WAY starring Kate Bosworth and Jeffrey Rush and HEAVEN'S RAIN starring Mike Vogel.  Doug is currently producing the biopic film chronicling the life of Wall Street legend Reginald Lewis, WHY SHOULD WHITE GUYS HAVE ALL THE FUN starring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, THE MAGICIAN, THE MARLIN BRISCOE STORY, screenplay by Gregory Howard (ALI, REMEMBER THE TITANS), LAST DAYS HERE starring Kim Coates (OPEN RANGE, BLACK HAWK DOWN), and 500, a screenplay by Angelo Pizzo (RUDY, HOOSIERS).  "Doug brings a unique business perspective to this film and understands the global brand value", says Eric Mika CEO of Magic Storm Entertainment.

Yang Buting, Chairman of China State run National Film Capital, NFC, who In July 2012 inked a Co-Production/Co-Finance agreement with Magic Storm Entertainment, commented, “We are delighted to have Barry Josephson as our Producer for the ANNIHILATOR.  He will create a genuine co-production that will have both a global appeal and perform well with audiences in China.  We are very pleased to have Barry and Doug join this major co-production.”  "National Film Capital will draw on an initial $422 million raised by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and other partners."

“One of my dreams when I became a producer was to work with Stan Lee. Now with Dan Gilroy's magnificent script, that dream will become a reality “ said Barry Josephson.

Josephson has over 30 years in the industry, during which he was the president of Worldwide Productions at Sony Columbia Pictures and has been an independent producer at Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, and Universal Pictures. As a studio executive, some of the films Josephson developed were MEN IN BLACK, AIR FORCE ONE, IN THE LINE OF FIRE, THE FIFTH ELEMENT, BAD BOYS, THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT, and THE PROFESSIONAL. During those years he worked with international superstars such as Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. As a producer Josephson has produced the hit family film ENCHANTED, which has grossed over 350 million at the worldwide box office. Among his many other credits are HIDE & SEEK (Robert DeNiro), THE LADYKILLERS (Tom Hanks), LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (Katherine Heigl), WILD WILD WEST (Will Smith), and the long running international hit FOX television series BONES.

POW!’s Stan Lee commented “Connecting with my fans in China and worldwide has always been incredibly important to me and so I am beyond thrilled that I get the chance to create such a fascinating and powerful Chinese superhero with the ANNIHIILATOR, in partnership with Magic Storm Entertainment and Barry Josephson. Dan's story and character is unlike anything I have developed before, so I wait with intrigue as we begin to reveal more details about the ANNIHIILATOR franchise and to hear what audiences think as they immerse themselves into his world through the film. We are thrilled to welcome Barry Josephson on board to produce the film."

James Thoma of Stradling is providing legal services for the project.

Magic Storm Entertainment, www.magicstormentertainment.com

is a global joint venture film financing entity formed by Eric Mika in 2010.  It is a joint partnership between Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, RiccoCapital (Holdings), and Fidelis Entertainment.  Magic Storm's primary focus is to develop globally appealing Hollywood branded Stan Lee film franchises that have a unique brand and consumer appeal to audiences throughout the world and China.

'WHITE COLLAR' STAR MATT BOMER DONS THE ICONIC ‘S’
SHIELD OPPOSITE 'FRINGE’S' JOHN NOBLE AS BRAINIAC IN AN
ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE

SUPERMAN: UNBOUND

COMING MAY 7, 2013
FROM WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

'Castle' Duo of Stana Katic & Molly Quinn Voice Lois Lane & Supergirl on
Blu-rayTM Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand & For Digital Download


BURBANK, CA (February 21, 2012) – A destructive force is devastating
planets across the galaxy – with Earth next in its sights – and even
Superman may not be capable of halting the terror in SUPERMAN:
UNBOUND, the next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated
Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and
Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives May 7,
2013 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack
($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Digital Download.
The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack will include UltraViolet™*.

Based on the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank 2008 release "Superman: Brainiac,"
SUPERMAN: UNBOUND finds the Man of Steel aptly handling day-to-day
crime while helping acclimate Supergirl to Earth’s customs and
managing Lois Lane’s expectations for their relationship. Personal
issues take a back seat when the horrific force responsible for the
destruction of Krypton – Brainiac – begins his descent upon Earth.
Brainiac has crossed the universe, collecting cities from interesting
planets – including Supergirl’s home city of Kandor – and now the
all-knowing, ever-improving android has his sights fixed on
Metropolis. Superman must summon all of his physical and intellectual
resources to protect his city, the love of his life and his
newly-arrived cousin.

The film’s stellar voicecast is led by Matt Bomer (White Collar) as
Superman, John Noble (Fringe, The Lord of the Rings films) as
Brainiac, Stana Katic (Castle) as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn (Castle)
as Supergirl. Additional voices in the cast include Golden Globe Award
winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Wade Williams (The
Dark Knight Rises) as Perry White, Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey
Show, Office Space) as Steve Lombard, Stephen Root (Boardwalk Empire,
Justified) as Zor-El, and Alexander Gould (Weeds) as Jimmy Olsen.

Supervising Producer James Tucker (Justice League, Batman: The Brave
and the Bold) also directs the film from a script by Bob Goodman
(Warehouse 13, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns).

“SUPERMAN: UNBOUND adds an all-new chapter to the growing legacy of
animated films featuring the Man of Steel and his epic challenges to
maintain peace on Earth,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Home Video
Vice President, Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. “Matt
Bomer’s voice epitomizes the All-American hero that is Superman, and
John Noble counters that tone with a commanding, chilling delivery for
Brainiac. A superhero is only as good as the depths of his opposition,
and Noble brings out the best in his villainous portrayal of
Brainiac.”

SUPERMAN: UNBOUND Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has over 4 1/2 hours of exciting
content, including:
• Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
• UltraViolet™*
• Sneak Peek at Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the next DC
Universe Animated Original Movie
• Featurette – “Kandor: History of the Bottle City” – An all-new
featurette. Kandor: a peaceful scientific community dedicated toward
the preservation of all that is good on Krypton, the home world of
Superman. That is, until the city was ripped from its world and
placed into a small glass bottle! This is the short story
highlighting the shrunken city of Kandor. Its history just as
fascinating as it is unique, here is how it ties in directly with the
Man of Tomorrow.
• Featurette – “Brainiac: Technology and Terror” – An all-new
featurette. Mostly machine, but part sentient being, Brainiac steals
cities and destroys worlds. Is he the most vile of Superman’s
villainous foes? Experience the Brainiac mythology and find out why
Superman barely stands a chance!
• Audio Commentary – Featuring members of the creative team: Mike
Carlin, Bob Goodman and James Tucker.
• Four bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series (“The Last
Son of Krypton, Part 1”; “New Kids in Town”; and “Little Girl Lost,
Parts 1 & 2”), all handpicked by producer Alan Burnett.
• Digital Comic – Excerpt from the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac by
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.


* Spuerman: Unbound UltraViolet offer is a limited time offer.
Restrictions and limitations apply. Go to ultraviolet.flixster
.com/info for details.



About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros.
Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive
entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical
operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and
next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the
global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through
and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online
channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both
internal and third party videogame titles.

About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman,
Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and
MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating
its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment 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. In January 2012,
DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner
divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the
iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to
fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and
© DC Comics. (s13)

About Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of
animation in the entertainment industry, with an innovative and
talent-rich roster boasting some of the most accomplished writers,
producers and artists working today. The studio is on the cutting edge
of animation technology and has both CG and traditionally animated
projects in current production and development. For TV, WBA produces
series such as Green Lantern: The Animated Series, The Looney Tunes
Show, MAD, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and Young Justice:
Invasion, as well as the forthcoming Beware The Batman, Teen Titans
Go! and The Tom and Jerry Show for Cartoon Network. WBA also produces
series and additional original content — including animated shorts —
for Cartoon Network’s multiplatform branded DC Nation programming
block. In addition to TV programming, WBA produces theatrically
released CG cartoon shorts featuring iconic Looney Tunes characters,
rendered in stereoscopic 3D. WBA also creates the highly successful
series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies for DVD. Producing for
multiple platforms including TV, digital and home entertainment both
domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its
creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the
Studio’s rich cartoon heritage. It is also the home of the iconic
animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney
Tunes libraries. One of the most-honored animation studios in history,
WBA has been honored with six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the
George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’
Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie
Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES A NEW AUDIOBOOK RELEASE OF THE HIT SCI-FI ACTION THRILLER
ALL YOU NEED IS KILL

Acclaimed Novel Now In Production As A Major Feature Film From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures, VIZ Media Also Secures Publishing Rights To Official Movie Novel Edition

San Francisco, CA, February 20, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has announced the digital release by Simon & Schuster Audio of an unabridged audio book version of Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s science fiction thriller ALL YOU NEED IS KILL. The acclaimed novel, read and narrated by Mike Martindale, is now available for $19.95 U.S. from the Simon & Schuster website.

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Haikasoru imprint and is currently in production as a major feature film directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. The film is slated for release in the spring of 2014, to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. Liman is directing the film from a screenplay by Dante Harper and Jez Butterworth & John Butterworth and Christopher McQuarrie, based on the novel. Erwin Stoff, Gregory Jacobs, Jeffrey Silver, Jason Hoffs and Tom Lassally are the producers, with Doug Liman, Dave Bartis, Joby Harold, Hidemi Fukuhara and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers.

VIZ Media has also acquired the North American publishing rights for the official ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel tie-in edition for the film that will support the release next year.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation. Simon & Schuster is the exclusive distributor for VIZ Media in the U.S. and Canada.

In the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel, there’s one thing worse than dying. It’s coming back to do it again and again. When the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158^th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally – a female soldier known as the Full Metal Bitch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death?

New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi (Old Man’s War) described ALL YOU NEED IS KILL as, “science fiction for the adrenaline junkie,” and went on to declare it to be a novel that "reads fast, kicks ass, and keeps on coming." The novel was the first title to be published by Haikasoru and, since its North American debut in 2009, it has become one of the imprint’s most successful releases.

“ALL YOU NEED IS KILL garnered significant critical acclaim with its initial publication in Japan and subsequent release in North America and the buzz has grown significantly with the highly anticipated release of the live-action film,” says Masumi Washington, Editor-in-Chief, Haikasoru. “Fans can prepare for the release and get a jump start on the edgy story with this new audio version. Don’t miss this kinetic story from one of the greatest authors of Japanese science fiction!”

Author Hiroshi Sakurazaka was born in Tokyo in 1970 and has emerged as one of Japan's most energetic writers of both light novels and adult science fiction. After an initial career in information technology, he published his first novel, Modern Magic Made Simple, in 2003 with Super Dash Bunko, a popular young adult light novel imprint. There are now seven volumes in the series and it was also adapted into a manga (graphic novel) series in 2008 and a televised anime series in 2009. Sakurazaka published ALL YOU NEED IS KILL with Super Dash Bunko in 2004 and with it he earned his first Seiun Award nomination for Best of the Year honors in Japanese science fiction. His 2004 short story, Saitama Chainsaw Massacre, notably won the 16^th SF Magazine Reader's Award. Sakurazaka's other novels include Characters (co-written with Hiroki Azuma) and Slum Online (published in English by Haikasoru in 2010). In 2010, Sakurazaka also began an experimental digital magazine called AiR with Junji Hotta.

For more information on ALL YOU NEED IS KILL and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.

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.

LIVING TO THE MAXIMUM WHILE MAKING THE MINIMUM

The definitive edition of Fingerman's MINIMUM WAGE in March

Fumbling lives and loves, a New York City so real you can smell it, people with everyday problems, hopes, and heartbreak — this is the world of Bob Fingerman's Minimum Wage, a slice-of-life comic that captured a devoted following in the late 1990s. One of that following is Robert Kirkman, who writes the introduction to the definitive edition of Fingerman's seminal work, MAXIMUM MINIMUM WAGE, a hardcover collection to be released in March.

"Minimum Wage is an important comic," Kirkman writes in the introduction. "If I were tasked with introducing someone to comics in an attempt to make them love and cherish the medium as much as I do, I'd give them Watchmen, Bone, Savage Dragon, and Minimum Wage."

At the center of Minimum Wage are Rob and Sylvia, a freelance cartoonist and a beauty salon manager — young, in love, and just trying to make their way to their real lives. An array of vivid characters and New York City "personalities" round out the supporting cast. Fingerman's previous collection of Minimum Wage, Beg the Question, was nominated for two 2003 Eisner Awards (Best Graphic Novel — Reprint and Best Publication Design), one 2003 Harvey Award (Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work), and one 2003 Ignatz Award (Outstanding Graphic Novel or Collection).

MAXIMUM MINIMUM WAGE includes the "lost" first issue of Minimum Wage, Minimum Wage Book One, as well as the script for the never-drawn eleventh issue, and an impressive collection of pin-ups by top comics artists, including Peter Bagge, Guy Davis, Dean Haspiel, Gilbert Hernandez, Joe Infurnani, Roger Langridge, Kevin Nowlan, Dave Johnson, Ted McKeever, Mike Mignola, Jill Thompson and more!

A 384-page, black-and-white hardcover book (with 16 pages in full-color), MAXIMUM MINIMUM WAGE will be in stores on March 20 and retail for $34.99. Its ISBN is 978-1-60706-674-3.

PRAISE FOR BOB FINGERMAN
"Fingerman is a brilliant satirist, artist and mind.” ⎯ Trey Parker (South Park, The Book of Mormon)
"Bob Fingerman is a narrative master, as brilliantly adept with words as with images. His vision is urbane, riotous, and unflinching.” ⎯ Jonathan Lethem (The Fortress of Solitude, Omega: The Unknown)
"Mr. Fingerman is a deeply talented, creative, and disturbed man.” — Max Brooks (World War Z)

"It doesn't seem fair that Bob Fingerman gets to be such a funny, savvy, cool and smart writer who can also draw. It gives him an advantage and I may need to have him assassinated.” — Augusten Burroughs (Running With Scissors)

PRAISE FOR BOB FINGERMAN'S MINIMUM WAGE (previous editions):

"Fingerman's visual style is a witty combo of old-school underground-comics grunginess and new-school precision; his dialogue is worthy of the stage — it's terrific screwball-comedy byplay that rings true. A-” — Entertainment Weekly

"Fingerman's dialogue is biting and realistic, and his drawing is exceptional.” — Publishers Weekly

"Beg The Question's episodic, interwoven tales of career disappointments and romantic complications take on the mesmeric quality of a good soap opera…the writing and the art contain plenty of stark, truthful moments.” — The A.V. Club

"Fingerman depicts their eventful if directionless lives with humor and empathy… Anyone who has lived or envied la vie bohème should relate to this dead-on evocation of a contemporary version of it.” — Booklist

"Beg the Question is a coming-of-age graphic novel for twenty-somethings and anyone who remembers being that age. It is a funny, heartwarming, and poignant work. It helps make the case for comics being THE great American art form.” — The Comic Buyers' Guide

"…a meticulous, smutty, hilarious quasi-autobiographical slice of life about a young cartoonist maintaining grownup relationships while struggling to rise from the 'low-end of the New York food chain.' Funny if you've been there, even funnier if you still are.” — The New York Press

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Stephen Mooney and IDW Get Fully Awesome By Going HALF PAST DANGER! Mooney’s Explosive Miniseries Blows Up This May! San Diego, CA (February 21, 2013) – Dinosaurs? Check.Exotic locale shrouded in mystery? Check. Battle-hardened soldiers armed to the teeth? Check. Femme fatales as dangerous as they are beautiful? Check. History’s most evil villains? Nazis. Check. We know what you’re thinking. How do I buy a ticket to this glorious wonderland of thrilling action?! Well, luckily for you, dear comics reader, IDW Publishing is making passage to this many-splendored Fangri-La as easy as swinging by your local comic shop! This May, IDW is proud to present HALF PAST DANGER, the maniacally explosive new miniseries by Stephen Mooney! Over six issues, fans will be treated to the action-packed, intrigue-soaked adventures of Staff Sergeant Tommy “Irish” Flynn, a soldier in the South Pacific in 1943 who’s about to uncover a prehistoric mystery while taking on an army of diabolical Nazis! “I couldn't be more thrilled about partnering up with IDW on HALF PAST DANGER,” said creator Stephen Mooney. “I've long wanted to produce a book of my own firmly set in the pulp world of action-adventure Saturday afternoon serials, and this is it. Nazis vs Dinosaurs, baby. History meets Prehistory in this two-fisted race against time. And there ain’t no time like HALF PAST DANGER!” Accompanied by talents of colorist extraordinaire Jordie Bellaire and featuring variant covers by Tommy Lee Edwards, Declan Shalvey, Lee Bermejo, and a host of dazzling artists yet to be announced, HALF PAST DANGER is destined to be an absolute blockbuster and the kind of unbelievable adventure that will have fans wondering if fun like this shouldn’t come with a Surgeon General’s warning. HALF PAST DANGER #1 (FC, 32 pages, $3.99). In stores 5/22/13. Diamond Code: MAR130351

About IDW 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 critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Warner Brothers and Barry Sonnenfeld are attached to adapt LORE into a feature film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, with Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.

With Merlin Lured Away From Camelot,

Arthur is an Assassin’s Target

Gwen continues her Morgana-directed attack on the King
in an all-new MERLIN episode Feb. 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Syfy

Morgana’s plans to kill King Arthur grow more intense when Guinevere makes a secret pact with a visiting ruler to complete the task – and Merlin is nowhere to be found during  “The Hollow Queen,” an all-new episode of MERLIN premiering Friday, Feb. 22, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Syfy.

Merlin agrees to help a young Druid boy who begs for assistance, and at first his absence is barely noticed as Camelot prepares for a visit by another nearby king, fearsome Sarrum of Amata (John Shrapnel).

But as the sky darkens, so do Merlin's suspicions. Is there more to the Druid than meets the eye? And can a man as ruthless as the Sarrum ever really be trusted? Before long, the young warlock realizes he's made a terrible mistake.

John Shrapnel, a veteran film actor with credits ranging from epic films like Gladiator and Troy to the lighter Notting Hill and 101 Dalmatians, guest stars this week on MERLIN as the deceitful Sarrum, who falls into the web of deceit spun by Morgana and the traitorous Gwen.

“The Hollow Queen” also offers very physical scenes of swordplay as Arthur and his men duel with Sarrum’s forces. The spotlight falls squarely on Bradley James, who has come a long way since first picking up a broadsword five years ago to play Arthur.

“I wouldn’t know how I would stand up in an actual sword fight, and I wouldn’t want to find out, either, but I’m better than the average bear,” James says with a knowing laugh. “It’s been a huge bonus of the job to do all the sword fighting, and there’s some stuff in Season Five that I’m very excited to see.

“The challenge for us this season was to give the audience something to catch their eye. As opposed to just a generic sword fight, we’ve had to go that next step. Season Four really kicked the action of the series into gear, so we knew in this final season we had to really take it up another notch.”

After this week, MERLIN will take a one-week break before returning to Syfy for its final five episodes. However, MERLIN fans can savor all the swordplay and treachery of “The Hollow Queen” this Friday, February 22, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, only on Syfy.

Also of note: MERLIN today was nominated for a Saturn Award as Best Youth Oriented Series on Television!

All four previous seasons of MERLIN are now available on DVD, on iTunes and on Netflix. Be sure to follow the latest news on MERLIN at the Official Merlin page on Facebook.

STEPHANIE THORPE Takes ELFQUEST

Over The Rainbow

at Emerald City Comic Con 2013

Los Angeles, CA – Geek Icon STEPHANIE THORPE to moderate panel celebrating 35^th Anniversary of legendary comic series “ElfQuest” at the Emerald City Comic Con 2013 on Saturday, March 2, 2013.

Joined by creators Wendy and Richard Pini, you’re invited to share in an examination of all things “ElfQuest”: past, present and an exciting look ahead at what the future holds for this beloved series.

Recently announced on the front page of Variety, Thorpe and producing partner Paula Rhodes acquired the film/TV rights to the ElfQuest franchise. As one of the driving forces behind the award-winning cyber-phenom “ElfQuest: A Fan Imagining”, Thorpe will bring her unique perspective to the lively discussion. This short live-action production has had over 300,000 views since its debut, earning numerous awards and accolades from film festivals, conventions and the media with over 100 articles and interviews to date.

Thorpe comments, "I think ElfQuest resonates with fans on so many levels. Wendy and Richard Pini are really incredible visionaries and the art is absolutely beautiful. People are also really attracted to the grand adventures that Cutter and his tribe go on, and despite being elves, these conflicts make for very human stories."

Her acting & producing work continues in returning series “Shelf Life” (www.shelflifeseries.com), which has completed 4 seasons of 40 episodes, and was featured at Comic-Con 2012 and at Social Media Week in LA.

And coming soon, Thorpe creates and stars in the new series “Slumber Con.” Touted as ‘The View...for nerds’, Thorpe and fellow geek girl Jennifer Landa host slumber party-style chats about the latest in nerd news, entertainment, crafts, food & style (www.slumbercon.com). Thorpe is also one of the writers, directors, producers & actors in the new comedy series “The Ladies & The Gents," exploring the shenanigans during ‘One night, One club, Two restrooms’ (theladiesandthegents.com), which will premiere in mid-March 2013.

A growing presence in the New Media scene, Thorpe is in demand as an expert panelist & speaker, a host and presenter, a writer & producer, content creator, actress and director. She speaks at events around the country, appearing on such panels as Geek Girls Create at WonderCon 2012 and The Most Dangerous Women at Comic-Con at SDCC 2012. She was honored to speak on 3 panels at Comic-Con 2012 and GeekGirlCon 2012; and she appeared on 2 panels at Stan Lee's Comikaze in September 2012, with her hit series “Shelf Life” featuring at Social Media Week in LA. Thorpe has been nominated twice to the Board of Directors for IAWTV, hosted 4 events for the non-profit organization Celebrate the Web and is a founding member of The League of Extraordinary Ladies.

Where:

Emerald City Comic Con 2013 – Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA

Panel:

“ElfQuest: 35 Years and Beyond!”

When:

Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 11am in Panel Room 3AB.

For Information About STEPHANIE THORPE visit:

www.TheStephanieThorpe.com

Follow Her on Twitter @thestephthorpe

DARK HORSE DELUXE PARTNERS WITH TOY2R TO DISTRIBUTE LIMITED EDITION HELLBOY MINI-QEE VINYL TOYS!

MILWAUKIE, OR–At this year’s International Toy Fair, Dark Horse revealed what is sure to be one of the year’s most-talked-about toy releases! Hong Kong’s innovative designer-toy company Toy2R will produce a new range of 5” vinyl figures in their popular “Mini-Qee” format, putting their unique design spin on Mike Mignola’s popular Hellboy character. 

Mike Mignola’s Hellboy has emerged as one of the classic comic book characters of the modern day, spawning a successful series of graphic novels, motion pictures, animation, interactive games, and toy lines. Excitement around this character is at an all-time high, as Mignola takes him back to whence he came in the smash-hit series Hellboy in Hell, currently in its third issue.

Raymond Choy’s Toy2R is recognized as being among the first companies to explore the potential of the designer/art toy movement since their arrival in 1995. Choy managed to turn his passion for collectible toys into an internationally known company, which today continues to push the boundaries of product design, art, and graphics.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be involved in this program,” Dark Horse Product Development head David Scroggy said. “We have worked with Toy2R for many years, and to see their fun take on Hellboy is a thrill. These vinyl figures will be in very tight edition quantities, so we expect a quick sellout of most of the variants.”

Toy2R’s trademark Qee format gives Hellboy a new look, altering his appearance in several ways, all of which were personally approved by Mignola. The results have already gotten comics fans and toy collectors alike talking, after they were revealed on Tomopop last week. All three were  on display at the Dark Horse exhibit booth at this year’s Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Center.

Dark Horse Comics is the exclusive North American distributor of the Hellboy Mini-Qee line and will handle sales to the specialty market in Europe and other territories. Toy2R will be the exclusive sales entity to Asian territories.

Slated for release in July 2013, the figures will be produced in various limited edition sizes, all with a retail price of $19.99.