Baltimore Comic-Con Announces On-Site CGC Grading for This Year's Show

  

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - June 19, 2014 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is excited to announce that Certified Guaranty Company, LLC (CGC) will be on-hand to conduct on-site grading at this year's show. The show, which is expanding this year to three days, will take place the weekend of September 5-7 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

According to Harshen Patel, Director of Operations for CGC, they will be accepting submission for all tiers of service - with the exception of Magazines - on a first-come, first-serve basis for all three days of the show. In addition to the on-site grading, CGC will be partnering with Classic Collectible Services (CCS) to also offer attendees of the show on-site pressing service. 

"The Baltimore Comic-Con has always been such a successful show and CGC has shared in that success over the years," said Patel. "With the show moving to 3 days, it was only natural for us to offer on-site grading to the collectors and dealers attending this year."

"We couldn't be happier to have CGC exhibiting at the show," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "The services that they provide in the collectible community are invaluable, and having them on-hand to provide on-site grading and pressing will make many of the show's attendees very happy!"

Pricing information for on-site services will be available as we approach the show date.

About CGC

Founded in 2000, CGC is the first independent, impartial, third-party comic book grading service. A proven and respected commitment to integrity, accuracy, consistency and impartiality has made CGC the leader in its field. In fact, in 2007, CGC crossed the million-book mark and has now graded over 2 million comic books.

Because we value our relationship with collectors who share our passion for comics, the hobby's vibrant history and its exciting future, we offer membership in the CGC Collectors Society. Paid membership starts at $39 per year, and includes direct submission privileges, access to expert tools and resources like the Comics Registry, and dynamic interaction with fellow collectors.

To learn more about Certified Guaranty Company and its many offerings, including magazines, lobby cards, and photos, visit www.certifiedguaranty.com.

 

   

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.

 

  

About The Baltimore Comic-Con

The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. 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 9 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.

  

JAPANESE POP TEEN IDOL GROUP TOKYO GIRLS STYLE LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDING PROJECT “Let’s Join Hands Together and Make Sunflowers Bloom in San Francisco”

FOR 2014 J-POP SUMMIT CONCERT

Phenomenal Teenage Pop Idol Act Launches Fundraiser To Produce A Special TV Documentary Capturing The Group’s U.S. Live Concert Debut With A Sea Of Sunflowers At The Annual Bay Area Japanese Pop Culture Extravaganza In July

San Francisco, CA – In conjunction with their upcoming appearance at the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival and J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert appearance, the Japanese teen pop idol group – Tokyo Girls’ Style –  has launched a crowd-funding project dubbed “Let’s All Join Hands to Make Sunflowers Bloom Girls’ Style in San Francisco.”

The fundraiser’s proceeds will help finance a special Tokyo Girls’ Style TV documentary, co-produced with SPACE SHOWER TV Plus, which will document the group’s monumental first-ever U.S. concert with full of Sunflowers at Union Square in San Francisco downtown, as well as present interviews and other special J-POP SUMMIT Festival appearances.

Tokyo Girls’ Style will appear as Guests of Honor for a series of live performances and special personal appearances at the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival, one of the nation’s largest celebrations of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film. The 5-member all-girl dance and vocal group will perform live in concert along with other top pop artists from Japan on the evening of Saturday, July 19^th as part of the “J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE,” taking place in city’s downtown Union Square area, and also will perform live on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20^th. Full J-POP SUMMIT Festival details and updates are available at: www.j-pop.com.

Replica sunflowers will be distributed to concertgoers attending the special J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE Saturday evening performance and Tokyo Girls’ Style will ask the audience to wave them in unison when they sing an English version of their hit song "Himawari to Hoshikuzu" (Sunflowers and Stardust), enveloping the entire area in a sea of sunflowers and summer color. The performance will be captured for a live music video for the documentary.

Pledge “Seeds” start at only $19.00 and Tokyo Girls’ Style will personally thank contributors with a variety of premium items including exclusive behind the scenes performance and backstage photographs, DVDs of the San Francisco concert, and an array of personally autographed items and more. Fans can visit the official J-POP SUMMIT Media Sponsor – Tokyo Girls Update – at: http://tokyogirlsupdate.com/crowd/en/single.php?project_id=286 for additional information on the Tokyo Girls’ Style Sunflower crowd-funding project.

“Tokyo Girls’ Style is one of the hottest pop idol Kawaii groups in Japan and their upbeat songs and dance-driven live show will add an exciting component to the line-up of amazing pop artists we will present this year,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee. “Music, fashion and film are among the most popular aspects of Japanese pop culture and Tokyo Girls’ Style will exemplify all three throughout the J-POP SUMMIT Festival. We are honored to present the group’s U.S. debut and look forward to fans of all ages giving them a warm welcome on-stage for the concert, on the big-screen for their film premieres and also in-person at the special artist meet-and-greet!”

The smash hit group Tokyo Girls’ Style formed in 2010 and has become a major new force in the bustling Japanese pop music scene. Consisting of 5 teenagers - Ayano Konishi, Miyu Yamabe, Hitomi Arai, Yuri Nakae and Mei Shoji – the group, whose member’s average age was only 15 when they formed, was signed to Avex and released four debut singles within their first year. Tokyo Girls’ Style has gone on to captivate millions of avid fans across Japan with a hook-driven funk and disco sound that is infused with a glossy urban appeal. As of 2012, the group was the youngest female acts to ever headline a concert at Tokyo’s most famous Budokan live hall, has released several hit records in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and also performed live shows in Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

Additional information on Tokyo Girls’ Style is available at: http://tokyogirlsstyle.jp/tokyogirlsstyle_en. Fans can also catch their music videos on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/TokyoGirlsStyle.  

About J-POP SUMMIT Festival

Launched in 2009, J-POP SUMMIT Festival is an annual street fair held in San Francisco, CA that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest pop trends and creative innovations from Japan.

The 5^th annual J-POP SUMMIT held in July 2013 welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. In addition to the original Festival held in Japantown, new attractions include the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area’s premier dedicated Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, and sake-tasting and fine foods events at the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which have each further enriched the experience. Additional information about J-POP SUMMIT Festival is available at: J-POP.com.

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A BOY AND HIS ROBOT IN ALEX + ADA

New graphic novel series explores the limits of technology—and humanity

Ada is an X5, the very latest in Tanaka android technology. Alex is her reluctant owner. Ada may look and sound just like a person, but she’s still a robot in a society that is growing increasingly suspicious of her kind. In ALEX + ADA, a new graphic novel series by Jonathan Luna (GIRLS, THE SWORD, ULTRA) and Sarah Vaughn (Sparkshooter) from Image Comics, Alex and Ada try to find out if artificial intelligence can make the leap to human awareness — and whether the world is ready for it. “I’ve wanted to tell a futuristic story for a long time,” said co-writer and artist Luna in an interview at Comic Vine. “I’ve been fascinated with androids and how we’d interact with them. And since I have leanings toward drama and romance, all of it just meshed together into ALEX + ADA.” “The book isn’t necessarily a stance on sentience and whether or not it’s possible,” co-writer Vaughn commented on ALEX + ADA’s science fiction elements, “but more a social and emotional exploration of what happens if it does.” Appropriate to this exploration is Luna’s clean, distinctive art, which conveys the rich inner lives of characters with subtle facial expressions and gestures, as well creates a world that is technologically advanced yet still recognizably a possible future version of our world. “Dialogue, speed, silence and stillness; it’s all very deliberate,” said Vaughn of their storytelling style in an interview at Multiversity Comics. “Sometimes dialogue and exposition are necessary, especially when quiet people are living within a dramatic world, but hopefully we keep the balance by also showing how dramatic quiet life can be.” With a momentous decision that could shake the very foundation of the society he lives in, Alex’s quiet life is about to get very dramatic indeed — and he’s going to bring Ada along with him. A unique story that will appeal equally to fans of science fiction, drama, and romance, ALEX + ADA VOLUME 1 will be in comic book stores on July 16 and in bookstores on July 29.

ALEX + ADA VOLUME 1 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn ISBN 978-1-63215-006-6, Diamond Comics order code MAY140618 128 pages, $12.99 In comic book stores July 9, bookstores July 22 Collects issues #1-5 of ALEX + ADA Rated Teen Plus

Praise for ALEX + ADA: “Vaughn and Luna have found a way to depict a future and a story filled with familiar elements, but still make it feel like something that’s simultaneously very lived in and completely unique. It’s impossible not to connect with it thanks to the strangely relatable stories, and the awakening that’s taking place at the center of the story for both Alex and Ada. Luna’s art is the perfect fit for the book, as the very pristine future the book takes place in is completely simpatico with Luna’s clean lines and restrained character work. This book is one that I didn’t even expect to buy at first, but it has become not just my favorite Image title of 2014, but my favorite comic of 2014 period.” –David Harper, Multiversity Comics “...a quiet but enthralling series.” –Greg McElhatton, Comic Book Resources “ the just-ahead-of-now future is almost palpable, and the story is incredibly easy to invest in.” –Jen Aprahamian, Comic Vine “...a heart-pounding exploration of morals, technology and emotions. From subtle jokes to belly laughing moments, smiles to tears, gasps to page flicking, Alex + Ada is a must for anyone wanting a new obsession.” –Sophie, Panels and Pixels

Preview

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES EXCITING WEEKEND OF WORLD PREMIERES, CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES, PANELS AND MORE AT 2014 ANIME EXPO

Celebrate SAILOR MOON DAY As Well As Catch Exclusive Anime And Manga Announcements, Special Guests, And So Much More!

San Francisco, CA, June 18, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, prepares an exciting weekend of festivities and fun as it returns to Anime Expo with a jam-packed schedule of special anime premieres, guest appearances, panel discussions, autograph sessions, and promotional giveaways.

The 2014 Anime Expo is North America’s largest anime convention and will be held July 3^rd–6^th at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. More details are available at: www.anime-expo.org. VIZ Media will be located on the main convention floor in Booth 1601.

The VIZ Media booth will be a hub of activity with special freebies and promo item giveaways throughout the convention including posters, temporary tattoos, posters, postcards, buttons and more for popular series such as BLOOD LAD, DEADMAN WONDERLAND, SAILOR MOON and ONE-PUNCH MAN. 

The VIZ Media retail area also will offer a variety of must-have Anime Expo convention exclusives including Limited Edition ONE PIECE replica manga art imported from Japan, special advance copies of Naoki Urasawa’s MONSTER: THE PERFECT EDITION before it’s available anywhere else, new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Jump Packs featuring the exclusive new YU-GI-OH! “Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Evening Twilight” trading card, RANMA ½ anime box sets featuring a special gift with purchase, and much more! Also don’t miss the return of the VIZ MEDIA convention tote bag, FREE with any purchase, available in four amazing designs!

Anime Expo attendees can catch a preview of upcoming anime and manga releases in the VIZ Media panel on Thursday, July 3^rd, and then fans of ONE PIECE can get all the latest news on the ONE PIECE manga, anime, video games and more at a super-sized panel set for Friday July 4^th, featuring guests from VIZ Media, Funimation, Banda Namco Games and more! Anime fans can also catch up on the latest news and upcoming series premieres set for VIZ Media’s Neon Alley anime streaming service in a special Animation panel on Sunday July 7^th. In addition, members of the Shojo Beat editorial team will host a panel on Sunday, and fans can catch the dub premiere of GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET!

Be a guardian of love and justice and join VIZ Media as it celebrates the return of the legendary action fantasy anime series with SAILOR MOON Day on Saturday, July 5^th. The subtitled series is currently streaming exclusively on NeonAlley.com and Hulu.com, and VIZ Media’s acquisition includes all 200 episodes of the revered series, including the never before licensed for North America fifth and climatic final season, “Sailor Stars,” as well as the three features and additional specials.

On SAILOR MOON Day, catch the World Dub Premiere of the first 2 Episodes as well as the reveal of the new English voice cast at the special SAILOR MOON Official Panel. Fans can also catch the premiere of the brand new first episode SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL (subtitled), presented by VIZ Media in a special Anime Expo screening. Meet the voice cast at an exclusive autograph session in the Anime Expo autograph area; fans can also take photos of the talented cast with the Sailor Guardian cosplayers at the VIZ Media booth. Don’t miss the opportunity to join what could become the world’s largest SAILOR MOON Cosplay Event ever with a special gathering the same afternoon in the Anime Expo Main Event Hall. 

The SAILOR MOON action also takes place all weekend at the VIZ Media booth with a SAILOR MOON Stamp Rally. Strange things have been happening and Sailor Moon needs your help! Come by the VIZ Media booth at Anime Expo to get your stamp card and mission from the Sailor Guardians. Collect planetary symbol stamps from special booths around the Dealer's Room and return the completed card to the VIZ Media booth to get the exclusive premiere event coin. There's a limited quantity of coins for each day, so be sure to help Sailor Moon before it's too late! 

Plus, cool down with free drinks and balloons from the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP team at the Drink Cart Meet Up, Friday July 4^th, between 12 – 7:30pm outside the Los Angeles Convention Center!

VIZ Media Anime Expo Panels & SAILOR MOON Special Events Include:

Thursday, July 3^rd

4:45 – 5:45pm    VIZ Media Panel (Room LP2)

Join the VIZ Media staff for a presentation and Q & A session all about the latest in manga & anime! Staff will be talking about the latest news, upcoming releases and other cool announcements from the publishing and animation teams.  Free manga for attendees while supplies last!

Friday, July 4^th

12 – 7:30pm       WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Drink Cart

Weekly Shonen Jump will be handing out free energy drinks featuring NARUTO, ONE PIECE, BLEACH, and more! Look for the cart on Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street or follow @ShonenJump on Twitter for real-time location.

4:30 – 6:00pm    SHONEN JUMP Presents: ONE PIECE (Room LP1)

ONE PIECE is the world’s most popular manga series, with over 300 million volumes sold to-date! Get all the latest news on the ONE PIECE manga, anime, video games and more at this super-sized panel, featuring guests from VIZ Media, FUNimation, Bandai Namco Games and more!

Saturday July 5^th – VIZ Media Presents SAILOR MOON DAY

10:00 – 11:30am    SAILOR MOON Official Panel (Room LP1)

Join VIZ Media for the world premiere of the all-new, uncut English language premiere of the legendary anime series, SAILOR MOON! VIZ Media will introduce the cast and show the first 2 episodes of the re-mastered classic anime series. Following the premiere, a very special Q & A session will take place with the staff and cast of the production. There also will be a special giveaway for attendees (while supplies last)!!

[*Note: This special session will feature the World Premiere of the New English Dub of classic SAILOR MOON series Episodes 1 and 2 and announcements at the panel]  

12:00 – 12:30pm     SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Screening (Video Room 1)

Based on Naoko Takeuchi’s legendary manga series, SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL retells the story of Sailor Moon as she searches for her fellow Sailor Guardians and the Legendary Silver Crystal to stop the dark forces of Queen Beryl! - Catch the special screening of the first episode of this exciting new series! 

1:00pm      Special SAILOR MOON Dub Voice Cast Autograph Session (Anime Expo Autograph Area)

Stop by the Anime Expo Autograph Area and pick up your very own SAILOR MOON full-color poster and get it personally signed by members of the official English voice cast!

1:45pm     Shojo Beat Panel (Room LP4)

Join manga editors Pancha Diaz and Nancy Thistlethwaite while they discuss favorite series, answer questions, and share what’s coming up for Shojo Beat. Free swag will be provided, including manga, while supplies last!

2:45pm     SAILOR MOON Cast Photo Opportunity (VIZ Media Booth #1601)

Fans can take photos of the talented Official English voice cast for SAILOR MOON with the SAILOR GUARDIAN cosplayers from American Cosplay Paradise in a special session!

3:30pm     SAILOR MOON Cosplay Gathering (Main Event Hall)

This could be the world's largest SAILOR MOON cosplay gathering EVER! Wear your best Sailor Guardian costume and have a chance to be included on a future release!

4:45 – 6:00pm     GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET Dub Premiere

(Video 1)

Get an exclusive look at the first episodes of GARGANTIA, dubbed in English! In the distant future, Ledo, a young soldier from space wakes up and finds himself marooned on an ocean planet.  Growing up in space, and knowing nothing but battle, he is a stranger in a strange land, full of odd customs and a foreign language, but he’s not alone. Starting a new journey on this verdurous planet, Ledo must find a way to survive and reconcile the fact that he may never be able to return home!

Sunday July 6^th

2:30 – 3:30pm    VIZ Media Animation Featuring Neon Alley (Room LP3)

Find out all that's new and awesome directly from the VIZ Media animation team! Discover the inside story about upcoming releases, catch new announcements and the latest on the anime streaming service, Neon Alley. Bring all your anime questions, too because the VIZ Media team will be there to answer them! 

Finally, don’t forget to check the Anime Expo screening schedule for a variety of VIZ Media anime titles including showings of BERSERK THE GOLDEN AGE ARC III: THE ADVENT, TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE II: THE RISING, RANMA ½, and BLOOD LAD, and more! 

For more information on VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.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 digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP 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.

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MONSTER KANZENBAN © 2008 Naoki URASAWA/Studio Nuts
Story coproduced with Takashi NAGASAKI
Original Japanese edition published by SHOGAKUKAN

Summer 2014 Artist’s Edition Lineup Finalized!  IDW To Release Influential Books From Across The Comic Spectrum   San Diego, CA (June 17, 2014) – Tomorrow marks the release of the first of six Artist's Editions that will fill the summer with new additions to the Eisner Award-winning line. The scheduled back-to-back releases will continue through October, packed with original art from some of the most influential industry legends. Arguably the most celebrated comic strip of all time, Peanuts, by Charles Schulz, headlines this incredible summer of Artist’s Editions, arriving in stores tomorrow, June 18th! This essential Artist’s Edition collects over Two Hundred and Fifty of Schulz’s original strips that appeared between 1950 and 1960. Scanned at the highest quality possible, this Artist’s Edition presents the finest details that shaped this iconic series. A resoundingly influential run from a creator that helped shape an era, Jim Steranko’s Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist’s Edition arrives in July. Scanned from Steranko’s private collection, this Artist’s Edition has also been designed by the man himself. Steranko’s unique style and impeccable flair will make this truly one of the best-looking books on the shelf. July continues to heat up with the release of Mike Mignola’s modern masterpiece Mike Mignola’s Hellboy: Artist’s Edition. Collecting the 5-issue mini-series Hellboy in Hell, along with added bonus Hellboy material, including the first three Hellboy stories, this very special Artist’s Edition will definitely be a must-have for any collection. The biggest event of the year, San Diego Comic-Con International will be getting even bigger this year, when the Watchmen: Artifact Edition makes its prestigious debut. The importance and lasting legacy of this series cannot be overstated; defining a medium and shattering pre-conceived notions, Watchmen continues to be for many, the standard for what comics can achieve. Artist Dave Gibbons will be on hand with IDW, at the San Diego Comic-Con to celebrate this monumental launch. San Diego Comic-Con International will also premiere the variant cover to the highly sought after Walter Simonson’s The Mighty Thor second printing. Grab yours early, because this unique variant, will sell out quick! Collecting the greatest and most iconic covers from the rich history of Marvel Comics, the Marvel Covers: Artist’s Edition is a cavalcade of epic artwork and will be released in August. With covers from Art Adams, John Buscema, John Byrne, Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, Jim Starlin, Jim Steranko, Bernie Wrightson and many more, this Artist’s Edition guides through the legendary work that has caught readers eyes for over 50 years! One of the most acclaimed series’ of the 1970s, Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson’s Manhunter appeared as a back-up in Detective Comics, and within seven quick tales, became a fan-favorite run. Collected in Walter Simonson’s Manhunter & Other Stories: Artist’s Edition, the original run will be presented in its entirety, along with classic tales from Simonson from Batman, Dr. Fate, Metal Men, & more! Like The Mighty Thor Artist’s Edition, this collection was scanned from Simonson’s own collection and will be available in September. You can order Artist’s Editions while supplies last, anytime online on the IDW webstore or come find IDW at conventions, including New York Comic-Con, to get your copy of these paramount collections.

About IDW Publishing IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; V-Wars from New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Maberry; Ragnarök from Eisner Award-winner Walter Simonson; Winterworld, created by Chuck Dixon and Jorge Zaffino; and Little Nemo from the award-winning duo of Eric Shanower and Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, and the multiple award-winning Artist's Edition imprint. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood's Lore; Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film, Kurtzman/Orci are producing a movie based on Locke & Key at Universal.

A KILLER NEW A VOICE IN THE DARK STORY ARC BEGINS IN GET YOUR GUN
The number of victims is about to rise...

Image Comics and Top Cow are pleased to announce that Larime Taylor and Sylv Talor will return this September to the killer storyline that fans can’t get enough of in A VOICE IN THE DARK: GET YOUR GUN #1… and this time, the blood splatter will be in full color.

In this first issue, Zoey's killed again, and another killer knows her secret, but is he a potential friend or foe? She got away with murder the first time, but things won't be so easy this time around. A vengeful father with a friend on the force is out for retribution, and no one—not even Uncle Zeke—can protect Zoey from his wrath.

The series makes the jump to color with cover colorist Sylv Taylor doing interiors as well. The disabled husband and wife team provide an easy entry point for new readers in this first issue of a five part miniseries.

"There's a 'story so far' page at the front of every issue,” said Taylor. “And Sylv's muted colors keep the spirit of the noir feel from the first arc while making it more accessible to a wider audience."

A VOICE IN THE DARK: GET YOUR GUN #1, which arrives in stores on on 9/17 and will be available for $3.99. It can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code JUL140458. Cover B by Ben Templesmith (TEN GRAND, 30 Days of Night) can be pre-ordered using Diamond Code JUL140459.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

SHUTTER SELLS OUT IN A FLASH
Both the second and third issues of the hit fantasy adventure
are rushed to a second printing

The second and third issues of the action-and-mystery-packed hit Image Comics fantasy adventure series SHUTTER, written by Joe Keatinge (GLORY, TECH JACKET) and drawn by Leila del Duca, have sold out completely at the distributor level and are being fast-tracked for new printings to meet customer demand.

“Shutter has been such a wonderful revelation,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “I thought it was a great idea when Joe first pitched the series, but it wasn’t until I saw the amazing work Leila was doing that it had its fullest impact on me. What she’s doing with Joe’s scripts makes each issue such a rewarding read—one of those books you want to go back to again and again to make sure you catch every little thing—and based on what I’ve seen so far, this is a series that’s just going to get better and better as it moves along.”

“The best comics bring something NEW to the table,” added Robert Kirkman, Image Comics partner and creator of THE WALKING DEAD. “Shutter by Joe Keatinge and Leila Del Duca is so completely and utterly new that it reminds you of the potential of this medium.”

Kate Kristopher, the star of SHUTTER, left behind the life of adventure her father left to her in favor of something approaching normalcy. Now, however, her secret siblings are crawling out of the woodwork, she's being hassled by rat kids in cute outfits, and must face down assassins of all stripes, themes, and species before finally discovering what other secrets her father kept from her. Beautifully drawn and full of old-school adventure, SHUTTER’s adventure is just beginning and there’s no better time than now for readers to join her Indiana-Jones-style action-packed journey.

Praise for SHUTTER:

“I fell into this world and didn't want to come out. I'm hooked.” —Sci-Fi Pulse

“It's a credit to Keatinge, Del Duca, Gieni, and Brisson as storytellers that I am already this vested in both the character and setting.” —Newsarama

“Del Duca can tell a story in a look, whether it's a half-opened, sleepy eye or angry glare… Beautiful work, all the way through… Add this one to your pull list.” —IGN

“Del Duca's imaginative art plays incredibly well with Keatinge's whimsical story, and both creators excel at keeping readers guessing and eagerly anticipating next issue.” —Comic Book Resources

“Shutter has definitely piqued my curiosity; it's a completely different world from anything else in comics right now, and there's so much to unpack. It's also fantastic to look at; I'm truly fascinated by Leila Del Duca's imaginative pages. They're bold, they're high-energy, and they're just so full of amazing details that I want to see what's next.” —ComicVine

SHUTTER #2 and #3 have completely sold out at the distributor level, but may still be available in comic stores. They are currently available digitally on the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com) and the official Image Comics iOS app, as well as on Comixology on the web (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.

Image Comics is pleased to announce that both these issues will be going back to print to meet customer demand. The second printing of SHUTTER #2 (Diamond Code MAY148087) and SHUTTER #3 (Diamond Code MAY148088) will release on 7/16.

SHUTTER #4 will be available in stores on 7/9 and can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code MAY140729.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

THE BLOOD OF SUPERS WILL SAVE US ALL IN 'BLACK MARKET'

BLACK MARKET #1 Cover A by Victor Santos



BLACK MARKET #1 Cover B by Cameron Stewart
 

June 17,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - What if you could cure any disease in the world with one simple vaccination? What if you had to steal the blood of superheroes to do it? This July, BOOM! Studios explores a truly modern take on the superhero mythos with BLACK MARKET, mixing the noir/pulp sensibilities of writer Frank J. Barbiere (Five Ghosts) and artist Victor Santos (Filthy Rich). Ray Willis is a broken man, a disgraced medical examiner making ends meet by preparing corpses at a funeral parlor and trying to care of his ill wife. His scientific genius is being wasted…that is, until his estranged criminal brother Denny shows up on his doorstep, supposedly cleaned up and proposing a once-in-a-lifetime partnership to cure not just cancer, but all disease. The catch? It exists within the DNA of superheroes.

“From IRREDEEMABLE, to SUICIDE RISK, to TRANSLUCID, we’ve shown time and again that we love to explore the dark corners of the superhero genre and really push those boundaries in unexpected directions,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Frank and Victor are the perfect combination to tell this story of a decent man whose back is against the wall, and the cost it has on your soul to care for the ones you love.”

BLACK MARKET #1 arrives in comic shops on July 16th with a cover price of $3.99 under Diamond order code MAY141135. The first issue will ship with a main cover by series artist Victor Santos and a retailer incentive cover by Cameron Stewart (Batman and Robin). Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one! It’s also available for order directly from boom-studios.com.
 

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is the home of Mike Carey’s SUICIDE RISK, Clive Barker’s NEXT TESTAMENT and HELLRAISER, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos’ FAIRY QUEST, PLANET OF THE APES, Max Bemis’ POLARITY and Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 GUNS was recently released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network’s ADVENTURE TIME and REGULAR SHOW, Mike Kunkel’s HEROBEAR AND THE KID, and Roger Langridge’s Eisner Award-winning SNARKED. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of MOUSE GUARD, COW BOY, GUNNERKRIGG COURT, RUST, SPERA, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, and many other great titles. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox's vast catalog of films.