BOOM! Studios Announces Pre-Show Event, Talent, and Panels for 2015 New York Comic Con

The Spire #1 Midtown Comics NYCC Cover by Jamie McKelvie

The Amazing World of Gumball  2015 Grab Bag Special
Newbury Comics NYCC Cover by Katy Farina
 

October 5,  2015 - Los Angeles, CA - Award-winning comic book publisher BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce a pre-show event, panels, exclusives, and list of talent for the 2015 New York Comic Con, which will take place at the Javits Center on Manhattan’s West Side during the weekend of October 8-11.

 

Anchoring the publisher’s presence at New York Comic-Con, BOOM! has partnered with several comics retailers for New York Comic Con exclusives and a pre-show signing event.

 

Midtown Comics will offer for purchase at its booth (#2036) a New York Comic Con exclusive cover by Jamie McKelvie (The Wicked + The Divine) to Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely’s The Spire #1, while Newbury Comics will offer for purchase at its booth (#2945) a New York Comic Con exclusive cover by Katy Farina (The Amazing World of Gumball) to The Amazing World of Gumball 2015 Grab Bag Special.
 

BOOM! has partnered with Forbidden Planet in Manhattan’s East Village for a pre-New York Comic Con signing event on Thursday, October 7 from 7-9pm (NYCC badge NOT required), featuring the following creators (additional creators may be announced):

 

Brooke Allen (Lumberjanes)

Frank Barbiere (Broken World, Black Market)
Matthew Daley (Lantern City)
Michael Dialynas (The Woods)
Eryk Donovan (Cognetic, Memetic)

Brian Joines (Imagine Agents)

Simon Spurrier (The Spire, Six-Gun Gorilla)
S.M. Vidaurri (Iscariot, Iron: Or, the War After)

Shannon Watters (Lumberjanes)

 

Forbidden Planet (212-473-1576, fpnyc.com) is located at 832 Broadway, between 12th and 13th St.

 

BOOM! will host the following panels at New York Comic Con:

 

BOOM! Studios Celebrates 10 Years and Push Comics Forward

Thursday, October 8, 2:45 - 3:45 p.m., Room 1A06

2015 marks the 10th year of publishing for BOOM! Studios, a multiple Eisner award-winning top 10 comic publisher. Rather than look back at what we achieved the past 10 years, join us as we look ahead to the next 10 years and how we can all push comics forward. Moderated by BOOM! President of Publishing & Marketing Filip Sablik, join Shannon Watters, Brooke Allen, Si Spurrier, James Tynion IV, Matthew Daley, and Kyle Higgins as they highlight the changes in the industry and what they want to see in comics.

Push Boundaries Forward: Gender, Diversity, and Representation in Comic Books

Friday, October 9, 5:15 - 6:15 p.m., Room 1A24

The face of comics is changing. Join a diverse Panel examining what indie/web publishing have been doing right, how mainstream comics can catch up, and what Creators and Fans can do to be heard. Join Moderator David Brothers and Panelists Marjorie Liu, Shannon Watters, Jeremy Whitley, Amber Garza, Joey Stern and Darryl Ayo in a sincere, thoughtful discussion on the topic of gender, diversity and representation in mainstream comics.

 

Camp Out with Lumberjanes!

Friday, October 9, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Room 1A24

 

Pack your bags, bring your s'mores kit and get your badges ready! Join the brilliant minds and collaborators behind the breakout hit Lumberjanes, from the BOOM! Studios imprint, BOOM! Box! Shannon Watters, Brooke Allen, and Special Guests discuss what's down the pipeline for Mal, Molly, April, Jo, and Ripley and the importance of hardcore lady types! Moderated by Raina Telgemeier (Drama).

 

The following BOOM! creators can be found in Artist Alley at New York Comic Con:

 

Brooke Allen (Lumberjanes) - AA9

Frank Barbiere (Broken World, Black Market) - Q14

Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl) - J2

Marguerite Bennett (Butterfly, Sleepy Hollow) - G3
Elena Casagrande (Suicide Risk) - J12
Jorge Coelho (John Flood, Sleepy Hollow) - K15

Tim Daniel (Burning Fields, Curse) - U16

Camilla d’Errico (Tanpopo) - 215

Vanesa R. Del Rey (Hit, The Empty Man) - K12

Eryk Donovan (Cognetic, Memetic) - H3

Evan Dorkin (Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Comic Archive)

Joe Eisma (Big Trouble in Little China) - X4

Jerry Gaylord (Bill & Ted’s Most Triumphant Return) - N14
Penelope Gaylord (Adventure Time) - N15

Gabriel Hardman (Planet of the Apes) - Q9

Kyle Higgins (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) - CC19

Brian Joines (Imagine Agents) - W10

Justin Jordan (John Flood) - R6

Janet Lee (The Wonderland Alphabet) - K13
Michael Moreci (Burning Fields, Curse) - U17
Jimmy Palmiotti (Palmiotti & Brady’s The Con Job)

Missy Pena (The Amazing World of Gumball) - U8

David Petersen (Mouse Guard) - J1

Joe Quinones (Big Trouble in Little China, Sleepy Hollow) - G4

Humberto Ramos (Crimson) - L9

Stephane Roux (Protocol: Orphans) - B10

Felipe Smith (Bill & Ted’s Most Triumphant Return, Freelancers) - R4

Simon Spurrier (The Spire, Six-Gun Gorilla)

Dominike “Domo” Stanton (Palmiotti & Brady’s The Con Job) - Z9

Durwin Talon & Guin Thompson (Beautiful Scars) - V12

James Tynion IV (Cognetic, The Woods, UFOlogy, Memetic) - H3

Charles Soule (Strange Attractors) - W15
Allison Strejlau (Regular Show) - AA15
Fred Van Lente (Big Trouble in Little China) - W13

Shannon Watters (Lumberjanes) - AA9

Jim Zub (Munchkin) - X3

For more information on New York Comic Con, visit their site at newyorkcomiccon.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 comprised of four distinct imprints. The original Studios imprint is home to titles like Suicide Risk, The Woods, Irredeemable, Sons of Anarchy, and Big Trouble in Little China. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 Guns was 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, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe; Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid; and Natasha Allegri's Bee and PuppyCat. BOOM!'s experimental imprint BOOM! Box publishes The Midas Flesh and Lumberjanes. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment. Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of Mouse Guard, Cow Boy, Gunnerkrigg Court, Rust, and Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand. 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. In August 2014, BOOM! Studios began a similar first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox TV to develop properties for the small screen.

ComiXology @ New York Comic Con 2015

Limited edition comiXology Submit variant comics to be given away at NYCC 2015 in celebration of Artist Alley sponsorship

Limited edition variants of comiXology Submit digital hits include Fresh Romance, Gamma, Revenger, Heathen and Aw Yeah! Comics

Weekend schedule also includes signings with Submit creators, panels, giveaways and a Saturday night party open to all!

October 8th – 11th
Artist Alley B11 – B14

October 5th, 2015 – New York, NY – ComiXology Submit is sponsoring Artist Alley at this week's New York Comic Con, October 8th – 11th at the Javits Center.  To celebrate, comiXology is giving away special limited edition print variants of hit comiXology Submit comics each day during creator signings in Artist Alley tables B11 – B14.  In addition, comiXology will host panels and giveaways throughout the weekend and a Saturday night party open to all.

The limited edition comiXology Submit variant comics include Janelle Asselin's anthology Fresh Romance #1 with cover by Kevin Wada, Ulises Farinas & Erick Freitas' Gamma #1 with cover by Ulises Farinas, Charles Forsman's Revenger #1 with cover by Charles Forsman, Natasha Alterici's Heathen #1 with cover by Natasha Alterici and Art Balthazar and Franco's Aw Yeah Comics #1 with cover by Faith Erin Hicks. These special comiXology Submit edition comic giveaways are limited to 500 copies, and will be handed out on a first come, first served basis.

"ComiXology Submit continues to be the place for fans worldwide to sample the widest array of self-published comics in the world," said John D. Roberts, comiXology co-founder and Director of Submit. "It's so much fun to offer some of our top digital hits in print via these limited edition comiXology Submit editions."

ComiXology Submit will also host a number of creators whose work is sold on the platform throughout the convention.

In conjunction with Amazon Video, Ted Naifeh will be at the comiXology Artist Alley tables signing his special limited edition posters for the Amazon Original Series The Man in the High Castle, available November, 20th on Amazon Video.

On Saturday October 10th, comiXology invites all fans to come to The comiXologist Podcast Party hosted by Matt and Kara from the comiXologist podcast. The party kicks off at 8pm at Tir na nÓg, 315 West 39th St., New York, NY 10018 and goes on until midnight with an open bar and appetizers available to all who stop by. Attendees will receive limited edition giveaways at the door while supplies last. Matt and Kara will be podcasting live from the event. ComiXology and WACOM will also be raffling off prizes throughout the evening.

ComiXology Submit, comiXology's digital self-publishing portal, enables comic creators and cartoonists the ability to easily reach comiXology's global audience of comic, graphic novel, and manga fans.
Those interested in submitting work to comiXology Submit should visit submit.comixology.com.
Comic book, graphic novel, and manga fans interested in finding works available through comiXology Submit can visit www.comixology.com/submit.
Read below for all the details of comiXology's location and events at this week's New York Comic Con:
Artist Alley: Tables B11 – B14
Panels:

ComiXology: Ask Me Anything
Date: Thursday, 10/8/2015
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Room 1A18

ComiXology spills the beans on everything you've ever wanted to know about digital comics, publishing, & more! From how to publish your own comic on comiXology Submit to how to begin your own successful start up, just like comiXology co-founders & panelists David Steinberger (comiXology CEO) & John D. Roberts (director of comiXology Submit). Moderated by comiXology's marketing maven Chip Mosher, this panel will answer all your burning curiosities in a no-holds-barred Q&A of epic proportions!
Comics 101: Where to Begin?
Date: Friday, 10/9/2015
Time: 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Location: Room 1A01
Just getting into comics but not sure where to start? We're here to help! Join some of the industry's biggest professionals as they impart their vast comic knowledge and personally recommend series just right for you! ComiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger is joined by Marcus "djWHEAT" Graham (Twitch Director of Programing), Aroop Sanakkayala (co-founder & COO, Strange Turn Entertainment), Jen Vaughn (cartoonist), Kara Szamborski (co-host, The comiXologist Podcast), Matt Kolowski (co-host, The comiXologist Podcast), as they become your guides through the awesome world of comics! Moderated by Ivan Salazar (comiXology).
ComiXology Submit: The Future of Self-Publishing
Date: Saturday, 10/10/2015
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Room 1A18
To date comiXology Submit has released over 5,000 independent comic books, graphic novels & manga from celebrated indie creators like Shannon Wheeler, Becky Cloonan and more. Join John D. Roberts (comiXology co-founder & director of Submit) along with self-publishing greats & breakout Submit superstars like Jimmy Palmiotti (Abbandon, Denver), Natasha Alterici (Heathen), Jody Houser (Cupcake POW!), Eric Palicki (Orphans), Joe Glass (The Pride,Stiffs), and Hope Nicholson (Publisher, Brok Windsor) for a tell-all discussion on how you too can create, submit, and reach the ranks of comiXology Submit stardom! Moderated by comiXology's marketing maven Chip Mosher.

Artist Alley Creator Signings & Giveaways:
Thursday, October 8th

11:00am - 12:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Eric Palicki (Orphans, Red Angel Dragnet, Corduroy Road) @ AA Table B13

1:00pm - 2:00pm — Submit Creator Signing  — Lonnie Mann (Thoughts from Iceland) @ AA Table B13|
1:00pm - 2:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Jerome Walford (Nowhere Man) @ AA Table B14.

2:00pm - 3:00pm — Signing & Giveaway — The Man in the High Castle Posters: Three free exclusive posters by Ted Naifeh with signing by artist @ AA Table B11

3:00pm - 4:00pm — Submit Signing & Giveaway – Heathen #1 (Exclusive Con Variant): Free exclusive variant cover by Natasha Alterici with signing by Alterici @ AA Table B11

Friday, October 9th

1:00pm - 2:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Enrica Jang (Angel with a Bullet, The Cask of Amontillado, The House of Montresor, Killer Queen) @ AA Table B13

1:00pm - 2:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Deron Bennett (Quixote) @ AA Table B14

2:00pm - 3:00pm — Signing & Giveaway — The Man in the High Castle Posters: Three free exclusive posters by Ted Naifeh with signing by artist @ AA Table B11

3:00pm - 4:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Alison Wilgus (Apartment Hunting, A Stray in the Woods)  @ AA Table B13

3:00pm - 4:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Vera Greentea (Nenetl of the Forgotten Spirits, Papa) @ AA Table B14

4:00pm - 5:00pm — Submit Signing & Giveaway – Revenger #1 (Exclusive Con Variant): Free exclusive variant cover by Charles Forsman with signing by Forsman @ AA Table B11

5:00pm - 6:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Mike Isenberg & Oliver Mertz (First Law of Mad Science)  @ AA Table B13

5:00pm - 6:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Natasha Alterici (Heathen) @ AA Table B14.

Saturday, October 10th

11:00am - 12:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Enrica Jang (Angel with a Bullet, The Cask of Amontillado, The House of Montresor, Killer Queen) @ AA Table B13.

11:00am - 12:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Joey Esposito (Footprints) @ AA Table B14.

1:00pm - 2:00pm — Submit Signing & Giveaway – Fresh Romance #1 (Exclusive Con Variant): Free exclusive variant cover by Kevin Wada with signing by editor Janelle Asselin and creators Kevin Wada, Sarah Vaughn, Taylor Esposito and Arielle Jovellanos @ AA Table B11.

1:00pm - 2:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Jerome Walford (Nowhere Man) @ AA Table B13.

1:00pm - 2:00pm— Submit Creator Signing — Joe Caramagna (The Further Adventures of Wyatt Earp) @ AA Table B14.

3:00pm - 4:00pm — Signing & Giveaway — The Man in the High Castle Posters: Three free exclusive posters by Ted Naifeh with signing by artist @ AA Table B11

3:00pm - 4:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Ray Chou & Vincenzo Ferriero (Skies of Fire) @ AA Table B13.

3:00pm - 4:00pm — Submit Creator Signing — Vera Greentea (Nenetl of the Forgotten Spirits, Papa) @ AA Table B14.

5:00pm - 6:00pm — Submit Signing & Giveaway – Gamma #1 (Exclusive Con Variant): Free exclusive variant cover by Ulises Farinas with signing by creators Ulises Farinas and Erick Freitas @ AA Table B11.

5:00pm - 6:00 pm — Submit Creator Signing — Joe Glass (The Pride, Stiffs) @ AA Table B13.

5:00pm - 6:00 pm — Submit Creator Signing — Eric Palicki (Orphans, Red Angel Dragnet, Corduroy Road) @ comiXology AA Table B14.

Sunday, October 11th

12:00pm - 1:00pm — Submit Signing & Giveaway – Aw Yeah Comics! #1 (Exclusive Con Variant): Free exclusive cover by Faith Erin Hicks with signing by creators Art Baltazar and Franco @ AA Table B11.

12:00pm - 1:00 pm — Submit Creator Signing — Rachel Ordway (Art School Adventures) @ AA Table B13.

12:00pm - 1:00 pm — Submit Creator Signing  — Lonnie Mann (Thoughts from Iceland) @ AA Table B14.

2:00pm - 3:00pm — Signing & Giveaway — The Man in the High Castle Posters: Three free exclusive posters by Ted Naifeh with signing by artist @ AA Table B11

2:00pm - 3:00 pm — Submit Creator Signing  — Alison Wilgus (Apartment Hunting, A Stray in the Woods) @ AA Table B13.

2:00pm - 3:00 pm — Submit Creator Signing — Mike Isenberg & Oliver Mertz (First Law of Mad Science) @ AA Table B14.

Party:

ComiXology Presents: The ComiXologist Podcast Party
When: Saturday, October 10th, from 8PM to Midnight
Where: Tir na nÓg - 315 West 39th St.,
Between 8th & 9th Ave., New York, NY 10018

About comiXology
ComiXology, an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel industry by delivering a cloud-based digital comics platform that makes discovering, buying and reading comics more fun than ever before. ComiXology's Guided View reading technology transforms the comic book medium into an immersive and cinematic experience, helping comiXology become a top ten grossing iPad app in 2011 and 2012 and the top grossing non-game iPad app in 2012 and 2013. Offering the broadest library of comic book content from over 75 publishers - and independent creators as well - comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has become a comic book fan. ComiXology is based in New York City, with operations in Los Angeles and Paris. For more information visit www.comixology.com.

BOOM! Studios Original Series 'The Spire' #1 and 'Welcome Back' #1 Go to Second Print

The Spire #1 Second Print Cover by Jeff Stokely

Welcome Back #1 Second Print Cover by Jonathan Brandon Sawyer
 

October 2,  2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce that the first issues of two of its original series, The Spire and Welcome Back, have both sold out at the distributor level. The publisher has rushed to second printings to fill demand.

 

Welcome Back #1 second print ships with a modified main cover by series artist Jonathan Brandon Sawyer and carries a retail price of $3.99 under Diamond Code AUG158724. The Spire #1 second print ships with a modified main cover by series artist Jeff Stokely and carries a retail price of $3.99 under Diamond Code AUG158723. Orders for both issues close on October 5th, and they are anticipated to be in stores on October 21st.

 

Christopher Sebela and Jonathan Brandon Sawyer explore the lives of reincarnated assassins in Welcome Back. Mali and Tessa have lived hundreds of different lives throughout time, caught up in an eternal cycle as they take part in a war so old that neither side remembers what they’re fighting for anymore. As Mali wakes up in her newest life, she suddenly becomes self-aware and starts to question everything, especially why she continues to fight.  But elsewhere, Tessa is already on the hunt...

 

Praise for Welcome Back #1:

 

“...Welcome Back is a deftly told high-concept yarn that cleverly introduces itself through suburban life juxtaposed with stylized action and bloodletting.” - Newsarama

 

“This is the type of book I love to see from BOOM! Studios because the high concept idea is never dumbed down to make it more digestible. The creative team takes a risk and it pays off to make for a very exciting, action packed series with just the first issue.” - Multiversity

 

“This series is quickly shaping up to be something special…” - IGN

 

The Six-Gun Gorilla creative team of Si Spurrier and Jeff Stokely reunite in The Spire. The Spire is a mountain of metal and stone that rises from the toxic nowherelands; a city of twisting tunnels, grinding elevators, ancient machinery, and over one million human and non-human residents. Shå, the only citizen of her species, is Commander of the Watch: responsible for keeping order despite the racist views of those around her. When a string of grisly murders occurs on the eve of the new Baroness's coronation, Shå is tasked with bringing the killer to justice... and picking apart the wider mysteries tangled around the crime. But the city's new ruler seems sets to usher in a more xenophobic age, and Shå swiftly finds she has far more than one enemy at her back… Oversized first issue with 28 pages of story!

 

Praise for The Spire #1:

 

“...Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely take the best parts of their previous work and combine it into a new creation that is packed with unique character designs and visual charm…” - CBR

 

“The Spire is one of the freshest recent takes on urban fantasy I’ve seen in any medium, delightfully weird but grounded in the language and problems of the real world.” - Graphic Policy

 

“Confident and controlled, Spurrier and Stokely have managed to create a whole new world that feels both satisfyingly fresh and immediately familiar.” - Multiversity

 

“...one of the best first issues I’ve read in a long time.” - Comic Bastards

 

“...this is a really, really good introduction to a well-paced and balanced story that I recommend you get on board with as soon as possible.” - Big Comic Page

Comic book fans should bear in mind that first printings of Welcome Back #1 and The Spire #1 may still be found at the local comic shop nearest you. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

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 comprised of four distinct imprints. The original Studios imprint is home to Suicide Risk; The Woods; Irredeemable; Sons of Anarchy; and Big Trouble in Little China. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 Guns was released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts; Jim Davis’ Garfield; Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe; Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid; and Natasha Allegri's Bee and PuppyCat. BOOM!'s experimental imprint BOOM! Box publishes Lumberjanes and Giant Days. 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, and Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand. 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. In August 2014, BOOM! Studios began a similar first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox TV to develop properties for the small screen.

WAYWARD TAKES OFF IN A NEW STORY ARC
Collect all five issues in this story arc to fit them into a massive WAYWARD illustration

Writer Jim Zub (SKULLKICKERS) and artists Steven Cummings (THE DARKNESS, Gene Pool) and Tamra Bonvillain (RAT QUEENS, Black Dawn) will launch a new story arc in their spectacularly supernatural ongoing series WAYWARD this November. WAYWARD #11's cover A will be part one of five connecting covers—one per each issue in this story arc—that will fit together into a panorama illustration.

Previously in WAYWARD, Rori Lane faced some unique challenges settling into her new life in Japan. She and an eclectic band of other gifted youths battled the dark underbelly of the supernatural. The battle was not without its losses, and it continues to rage.

In WAYWARD #11, the new gods of Japan rise in Tokyo and the world will never be the same. The question is: will the old myths survive?

"Our second story arc ended with massive revelations and the repercussions of those will ripple across Japan and beyond,” said Zub. “The supernatural forces that hunt our teens have been thrust out into the open and a clash between the old world and new will push Tokyo to the brink of disaster. It's big crazy stuff and I can't wait for readers to see what we have in store."

WAYWARD #11 Cover A by Steven Cummings and Tamra Bonvillain (Diamond code: SEP150583) hits stores Wednesday, November 18th. Cover B by Nick Bradshaw (Diamond code: SEP150584) and Cover C by Karibu (Diamond code: SEP150585) will also be available Wednesday, November 18th. Final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, October 26th.

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 PREMIERES ONE-PUNCH MAN ANIME ACTION SERIES SIMULCAST

New Anime Series By Studio MADHOUSE About A Superhero With A Knockout Punch Streams On The Same Day As Japanese Broadcast Premiere – Catch Episode 1 On October 4^th!

San Francisco, CA, October 1, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, invites audiences to catch the knuckle-busting premiere of the ONE-PUNCH MAN anime simulcast – this Sunday, October 4^th!

Presented with English subtitles on the same day as its Japanese network broadcast premiere, Episode 1 introduces an action-packed story about an average-guy-turned-superhero who packs a knockout punch. New episodes of the series will debut each Sunday. ONE-PUNCH MAN will be available to U.S. audiences on-demand on VIZ.com and Hulu. 

ONE-PUNCH MAN is based on the bestselling manga series (also published by VIZ Media; rated ‘T for Teens), created by writer ONE and artist Yusuke Murata. The anime series was animated by the renowned Japanese studio, Madhouse, and helmed by famed anime director, Shingo Natsume, (Space Dandy, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos), and features character designs by Chikashi Kubota (From the New World, Robotics:notes).

In ONE-PUNCH MAN, Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun. After three years of “special” training, though, he’s become so strong that he’s practically invincible. In fact, he’s too strong—even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch, and it turns out that being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore. With his passion for being a hero lost along with his hair, yet still faced with new enemies every day, how much longer can he keep it going?

“ONE-PUNCH MAN is one of the most highly anticipated anime shows of 2015 and we are very excited to add the hard hitting new action adventure to our roster and launch the series to domestic as well as international fans on the same day as broadcast premiere in Japan,” says Brian Ige, VIZ Media Vice President Animation. “The bestselling manga series has established a fervent and fast growing fan base for ONE-PUNCH MAN and we look forward to awareness spreading to legions of new fans with the launch of the anime series. Catch the butt-kicking first episode this weekend!”

Manga creator ONE began ONE-PUNCH MAN as a web comic, which quickly went viral and garnered over 10 million hits. Japanese manga publisher (and VIZ Media parent company) Shueisha eventually secured the publishing rights to the series which has sold more than 4.5 million copies to-date. In addition to ONE-PUNCH MAN, ONE writes and draws the series Mob Psycho 100 and Makai no Ossan.

Yusuke Murata is a highly acclaimed and skilled manga artist best known for his work on the football series, EYESHIELD 21 (also published in North America by VIZ Media). In 1995, Murata won the prestigious 122^nd Hop Step Award for his series, Partner, and placed second in 1998 in the semi-annual Akatsuka Awards for Samui Hanashi.

Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. with over 3,700 subtitled and English dubbed episodes and movies from more than 32 series! Neon Alley also reaches an expansive on-demand U.S.-based audience on Hulu, which enables viewers to watch shows anytime, anywhere across devices including Xbox One, PlayStation^®4 (PS4™), Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu -enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.

For more information on ONE-PUNCH MAN or other anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com/opm/.

Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com and http://blog.neonalley.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 ONE PIECE, 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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