FANTAGRAPHICS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF THE WORKS OF EUROPEAN MASTER GRAPHIC NOVELIST JACQUES TARDI
This summer, Fantagraphics will launch an ongoing series of hardcover books presenting the works of the legendary French cartoonist Jacques Tardi.
The first two releases will be West Coast Blues (Le petit bleu de la Côte Ouest), a hard-boiled crime thriller adapted by Tardi from the novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette, and You Are Here (Ici même), a satirical, surreal story written for Tardi by Barbarella creator Jean-Claude Forest that many consider one of the first true French graphic novels. Both will be released simultaneously in August, in what series editor Kim Thompson calls a “double-pronged shock-and-awe assault on the American readership, to immediately show off Tardi’s versatility.”
Planned for Spring 2010 is the graphic album World War I-theme It Was the War of the Trenches, chapters of which have previously appeared in RAW and Drawn and Quarterly magazines during the 1980s and 1990s.
“Tardi has always been one of my top favorite European cartoonists,” said Thompson, who will also be translating the books. “I’ve wanted to do this for many years -- pretty much as long as we’ve been publishing -- and I think the time is ripe. In today’s graphic-novel world, the audience is finally ready for Tardi.”
Tardi’s best known creation is the saturnine early-20th Century heroine Adèle Blanc-Sec, the first two of whose nine (to date) adventures were released by Dark Horse and NBM in the early 1980s. (A series of Adèle Blanc-Sec movies is currently being prepared by French filmmaker and comics buff Luc Besson.) American readers may also remember Tardi’s “Nestor Burma” stories (based upon stories by French crime writer Leo Malet), the first of which was serialized in the Fantagraphics anthology Graphic Story Monthly in the 1980s, and the second of which was released as a graphic album by iBooks two decades later -- or Tardi’s multiple appearances in RAW magazine. All of these, as well as NBM’s Roach Killer and the hardboiled detective story Griffu (written by Manchette especially for Tardi) which appeared in the Fantagraphics anthology Pictopia, have been out of print for years.
Tardi has won every French cartooning award in existence including the Grand Prize of Angoulême, and has created over 30 graphic novels in a wide variety of genres. He continues to produce work to this day at a pace that puts his contemporaries to shame, including last year’s World War I story Putain de guerre, 2006’s satirical thriller Le Secret de l’étrangleur, and the epic 300-page Le Cri du peuple, set in 1871’s Paris Commune. He is currently working on two new projects, including another World War I volume and an adaptation of a third Manchette-written crime thriller. He lives in Paris with his wife and his cats.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The final chapter of the thrilling three-part Ryloth saga, “Liberty on Ryloth” brings Jedi Master Mace Windu to the Separatist-occupied planet for the crucial final stages of the peacekeeping effort. The all-new episode of the hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premieres at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 13, on Cartoon Network.
With Republic forces stretched thin, Mace must convince the beleaguered people of Ryloth to rise up and join him in repelling the droid army. But the Twi’lek freedom fighters are wary of intervention from outside of their race, and are hesitant to trust the Jedi’s efforts. With the liberation of the planet at stake, time is of the essence and Mace must rally the natives for their final stand against the Separatist invaders.
With a story developed alongside creator George Lucas and supervising director Dave Filoni, the episode reflects some of the untold stories that necessarily unfold when the canvas is as expansive as a galactic war. Director Rob Coleman and writer Henry Gilroy were intrigued with the prospect of exploring the viewpoint of the conflict’s non-military combatants – particularly with regard to their dealings with the Jedi.
“Jedi were never intended to be generals in an army, and this was our first chance to focus on Mace Windu – so rather than show him as a fantastic warrior, we explore his exceptional skills as a negotiator,” Gilroy says. “We put Mace in a position to recruit the Twi’lek freedom fighters to join the clones in trying to free the capital city of Ryloth.”
But negotiations are only the beginning. Once he has convinced the freedom fighters to stand at his side, Mace must lead them in a final fiery campaign against the occupying Separatist forces. The result is one of the most spectacular and complicated battle sequences seen thus far in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS.
“This is probably my favorite episode in that it’s a really strong script. Mace is our hero, and there are some really cool environments, which allows us to explore some unique action,” says Coleman. “We open in a canyon battle with droids firing on a convoy of walkers, then there’s this fortress with a plasma bridge that could turn on and turn off at any time. We did a lot of long shots, moving and staying with the characters in action. So there’s a lot of fun to play with here.”
With Republic forces stretched thin, Mace must convince the beleaguered people of Ryloth to rise up and join him in repelling the droid army. But the Twi’lek freedom fighters are wary of intervention from outside of their race, and are hesitant to trust the Jedi’s efforts. With the liberation of the planet at stake, time is of the essence and Mace must rally the natives for their final stand against the Separatist invaders.
With a story developed alongside creator George Lucas and supervising director Dave Filoni, the episode reflects some of the untold stories that necessarily unfold when the canvas is as expansive as a galactic war. Director Rob Coleman and writer Henry Gilroy were intrigued with the prospect of exploring the viewpoint of the conflict’s non-military combatants – particularly with regard to their dealings with the Jedi.
“Jedi were never intended to be generals in an army, and this was our first chance to focus on Mace Windu – so rather than show him as a fantastic warrior, we explore his exceptional skills as a negotiator,” Gilroy says. “We put Mace in a position to recruit the Twi’lek freedom fighters to join the clones in trying to free the capital city of Ryloth.”
But negotiations are only the beginning. Once he has convinced the freedom fighters to stand at his side, Mace must lead them in a final fiery campaign against the occupying Separatist forces. The result is one of the most spectacular and complicated battle sequences seen thus far in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS.
“This is probably my favorite episode in that it’s a really strong script. Mace is our hero, and there are some really cool environments, which allows us to explore some unique action,” says Coleman. “We open in a canyon battle with droids firing on a convoy of walkers, then there’s this fortress with a plasma bridge that could turn on and turn off at any time. We did a lot of long shots, moving and staying with the characters in action. So there’s a lot of fun to play with here.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Devil's Due Publishing and CBS Consumer Products
Give New Life to Fan-Favorite TV Series Jericho
With New Comic Book Series
CHICAGO - March 5, 2009 - Devil's Due Publishing (DDP) has announced a deal with CBS Consumer Products to publish a new comic book series tied to fan-favorite Jericho, the one-hour drama series that garnered critical acclaim and ran on CBS for two seasons, from 2006-2008. The series centered on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States. The comic book series will pick up where the television program left off, answering many questions for its passionate fans. DDP has teamed up with the show's creators and producers to develop an authentic story that will hit comic book retailers this fall.
Jericho fans are some of the most dedicated in the world of television. In 2007, devotees to the show produced by CBS Paramount Network Television rallied together to bring back the fan-favorite which was initially cancelled after just one season. The show returned for a seven-episode second season, but was not renewed for a third season. While fans received a little more closure with the end of season two, there were still loose ends that could be addressed.
"Jericho is alive and well, thanks to the amazing fans who've driven us to find new and fresh ways to tell the Jericho story," says Dan Shotz, Co-Executive Producer of Jericho. "Josh Blaylock and the DDP team are great partners and have shown a true love for our show. We are so thrilled about this comic book series and the endless possibilities for the future of Jericho."
Joining Shotz in developing the comic book will be most of the original creative team including Jon Turteltaub, Carol Barbee, Karim Zreik, and Jon Steinberg.
"I can't tell you how cool it is for DDP to be able to continue the Jericho story in comic book form," says DDP President Josh Blaylock. "We plan to give fans the story they've been craving. This is going to be epic stuff."
About Devil's Due Publishing:
Proliferators of comic culture, Devil's Due Publishing (DDP) is one of the largest and most established comic book publishers in North America, carrying a diverse line-up of original, creator-owned and licensed properties. With offices in Los Angeles and Chicago, DDP has many projects in development for film and television with major studios including 20th Century Fox, ABC Family, and Rogue Pictures. DDP's titles include Drafted, Lost Squad, Sheena, Dungeons & Dragons, DemonWars, Voltron, Rest, Serpo and the cult-favorite Hack/Slash. The company recently launched a line of cutting edge designer toys and lifestyle accessories under the imprint DDPOP.
About CBS Consumer Products
CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Entertainment, manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles. Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise. For more information, visit www.CBS.com.
Devil's Due Publishing and CBS Consumer Products
Give New Life to Fan-Favorite TV Series Jericho
With New Comic Book Series
CHICAGO - March 5, 2009 - Devil's Due Publishing (DDP) has announced a deal with CBS Consumer Products to publish a new comic book series tied to fan-favorite Jericho, the one-hour drama series that garnered critical acclaim and ran on CBS for two seasons, from 2006-2008. The series centered on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States. The comic book series will pick up where the television program left off, answering many questions for its passionate fans. DDP has teamed up with the show's creators and producers to develop an authentic story that will hit comic book retailers this fall.
Jericho fans are some of the most dedicated in the world of television. In 2007, devotees to the show produced by CBS Paramount Network Television rallied together to bring back the fan-favorite which was initially cancelled after just one season. The show returned for a seven-episode second season, but was not renewed for a third season. While fans received a little more closure with the end of season two, there were still loose ends that could be addressed.
"Jericho is alive and well, thanks to the amazing fans who've driven us to find new and fresh ways to tell the Jericho story," says Dan Shotz, Co-Executive Producer of Jericho. "Josh Blaylock and the DDP team are great partners and have shown a true love for our show. We are so thrilled about this comic book series and the endless possibilities for the future of Jericho."
Joining Shotz in developing the comic book will be most of the original creative team including Jon Turteltaub, Carol Barbee, Karim Zreik, and Jon Steinberg.
"I can't tell you how cool it is for DDP to be able to continue the Jericho story in comic book form," says DDP President Josh Blaylock. "We plan to give fans the story they've been craving. This is going to be epic stuff."
About Devil's Due Publishing:
Proliferators of comic culture, Devil's Due Publishing (DDP) is one of the largest and most established comic book publishers in North America, carrying a diverse line-up of original, creator-owned and licensed properties. With offices in Los Angeles and Chicago, DDP has many projects in development for film and television with major studios including 20th Century Fox, ABC Family, and Rogue Pictures. DDP's titles include Drafted, Lost Squad, Sheena, Dungeons & Dragons, DemonWars, Voltron, Rest, Serpo and the cult-favorite Hack/Slash. The company recently launched a line of cutting edge designer toys and lifestyle accessories under the imprint DDPOP.
About CBS Consumer Products
CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Entertainment, manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles. Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise. For more information, visit www.CBS.com.
SECOND ISSUE OF DEAD MAN HOLIDAY, NEW WELL RECEIVED COMIC BOOK SERIES, RELEASED
In opposition to market and common sense, creator continues self-publishing weird genre pamphlet, offering free PDF download and print copies for purchase
Sarasota, Florida- March 10, 2009- Dead Man Holiday, a “haunted science-fiction” ongoing comic book series self published by Colin Panetta, released its second issue this month. The comic is available as a free PDF download at DeadManHoliday.com. Print issues are also available at the website for purchase, and a 20% discount is offered if both issues are purchased, totaling 70 pages of comic for $6.38. The story is centered on Thad Planck who lives in a broken-down, flooded city referred to as “Little Atlantis”, where he has an escalating series of spooky, supernatural encounters. Here’s what some people had to say about the previous issue:
I was really charmed by this "haunted science fiction" comic...
There could be leaps and bounds to come...
-Tom Spurgeon
The Comics Reporter
"Really, it's exactly the sort of thing I like seeing: a confident fantasy
in a weird and interesting world drawn in a raw black & white style."
-Zach Taylor
Gnourg.com
The first issue received positive reviews from The Comics Reporter, Aint It Cool News and Kleefeld on Comics. In this issue Thad is introduced to the ghost skeleton from last issue’s friends, who are very excited to make Thad’s acquaintance. Later, Thad has a bizarre encounter with a crazy street person (or is it “people”?), while Bethany Horatio enjoys a quiet night at home. Thad’s night, however, is not as peaceful- he loses on a game show, accidentally steps on a face and squeezes a brain stem.
The series started out in negative numbers. This issue is negative two and the previous was negative three. The issue contains 35 hand painted pages of story, and the print version includes exclusive artwork. Dead Man Holiday is noted for its originality. It utilizes a slow, cinematic storytelling style and, unlike most genre comics, rejects the use of archetypes (which is to say that it doesn’t rely on pre-established creations like zombies, vampires or werewolves). Colin Panetta keeps a detailed blog of his experiences self publishing Dead Man Holiday, and it has been featured prominently on The Comics Reporter, Publisher Weekly’s The Beat and The Comics Journal’s Journalista. You can view it here:
http://colinpee.blogspot.com/search/label/self-publishing
The next issue of Dead Man Holiday, number negative one, is set to be released in Fall 2009, after which all three negative issues will be collected into a graphic novel.
###
In opposition to market and common sense, creator continues self-publishing weird genre pamphlet, offering free PDF download and print copies for purchase
Sarasota, Florida- March 10, 2009- Dead Man Holiday, a “haunted science-fiction” ongoing comic book series self published by Colin Panetta, released its second issue this month. The comic is available as a free PDF download at DeadManHoliday.com. Print issues are also available at the website for purchase, and a 20% discount is offered if both issues are purchased, totaling 70 pages of comic for $6.38. The story is centered on Thad Planck who lives in a broken-down, flooded city referred to as “Little Atlantis”, where he has an escalating series of spooky, supernatural encounters. Here’s what some people had to say about the previous issue:
I was really charmed by this "haunted science fiction" comic...
There could be leaps and bounds to come...
-Tom Spurgeon
The Comics Reporter
"Really, it's exactly the sort of thing I like seeing: a confident fantasy
in a weird and interesting world drawn in a raw black & white style."
-Zach Taylor
Gnourg.com
The first issue received positive reviews from The Comics Reporter, Aint It Cool News and Kleefeld on Comics. In this issue Thad is introduced to the ghost skeleton from last issue’s friends, who are very excited to make Thad’s acquaintance. Later, Thad has a bizarre encounter with a crazy street person (or is it “people”?), while Bethany Horatio enjoys a quiet night at home. Thad’s night, however, is not as peaceful- he loses on a game show, accidentally steps on a face and squeezes a brain stem.
The series started out in negative numbers. This issue is negative two and the previous was negative three. The issue contains 35 hand painted pages of story, and the print version includes exclusive artwork. Dead Man Holiday is noted for its originality. It utilizes a slow, cinematic storytelling style and, unlike most genre comics, rejects the use of archetypes (which is to say that it doesn’t rely on pre-established creations like zombies, vampires or werewolves). Colin Panetta keeps a detailed blog of his experiences self publishing Dead Man Holiday, and it has been featured prominently on The Comics Reporter, Publisher Weekly’s The Beat and The Comics Journal’s Journalista. You can view it here:
http://colinpee.blogspot.com/search/label/self-publishing
The next issue of Dead Man Holiday, number negative one, is set to be released in Fall 2009, after which all three negative issues will be collected into a graphic novel.
###
FEMALE FORCE: HILLARY CLINTON SELLS OUT AND GETS SECOND PRINTING
On the heals of last weeks announcement about the FEMALE FORCE: SARAH PALIN comic selling out, Bluewater Productions is proud to announce that the Hillary Clinton issue has also now sold out and will be going back for a second printing.
“We are excited to be going to a 2nd printing on the Hillary Clinton title,” said Bluewater Productions publisher Darren G. Davis. “We thought when we overprinted these issues there would be enough for the demand. We had no clue how well these books would be received in the marketplace”.
Comic book stores that have ordered this title will have them on the release date of March 11.
The 2nd printing of the comic will feature the same painted cover of Hillary Clinton by Vinnie Tartamella. It will be available now to bookstores with a new ISBN: 978-1-4276-3886-1.
The comic book series has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today and numerous other media outlets.
The FEMALE FORCE: Hillary Clinton title was printed using Bluewater’s new green printing philosophy.
According to Diamond Distributor, FEMALE FORCE: Michelle Obama has become the highest selling non-premier comic book for April 2009. There is still time to order Female Force: Michelle Obama DCD ITEM # FEB094121.
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewaterprod.com.
On the heals of last weeks announcement about the FEMALE FORCE: SARAH PALIN comic selling out, Bluewater Productions is proud to announce that the Hillary Clinton issue has also now sold out and will be going back for a second printing.
“We are excited to be going to a 2nd printing on the Hillary Clinton title,” said Bluewater Productions publisher Darren G. Davis. “We thought when we overprinted these issues there would be enough for the demand. We had no clue how well these books would be received in the marketplace”.
Comic book stores that have ordered this title will have them on the release date of March 11.
The 2nd printing of the comic will feature the same painted cover of Hillary Clinton by Vinnie Tartamella. It will be available now to bookstores with a new ISBN: 978-1-4276-3886-1.
The comic book series has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today and numerous other media outlets.
The FEMALE FORCE: Hillary Clinton title was printed using Bluewater’s new green printing philosophy.
According to Diamond Distributor, FEMALE FORCE: Michelle Obama has become the highest selling non-premier comic book for April 2009. There is still time to order Female Force: Michelle Obama DCD ITEM # FEB094121.
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewaterprod.com.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Times At Viper Comics Are Getting More And More Odd By The Minute!
Fans of the critically acclaimed series already know there’s a crazy parallel world called Fignation where magic replaces science. Nothing is quite right and many things are just plain weird. Now it seems that Fignation craziness has seeped into the real world and right into the offices of Viper Comics! Starting March 9, 2009, Viper Comics and Otis Frampton are releasing “Oddly Normal: Fignation Times” for FREE, online. That's right . . . for a limited time you can read the entire book, including two new "Oddly Normal Tales" with artwork by Grant Gould and Katie Cook, absolutely free!
The third volume of the graphic novel series that was recommended by The American Library Association continues the adventures of the olive-haired girl named Oddly Normal! After saving Figopolis from the dreaded Snowman, Oddly Normal is offered a job as a photographer on the staff of the Fignation Times. But before she can start, Oddly is sent on the adventure of two lifetimes that will reveal the secrets of her Mother's past ... and her own as well. "Oddly Normal: Fignation Times" is written, inked & colored by Otis Frampton and illustrated by Jessica Hickman. Link to Oddly Normal: Fignation Times Volume 3
http://www.vipercomics.com/features/oddly_normal_fignation_times.asp http://www.otisframpton.com/
http://www.jessicahickman.com/
http://www.grantgould.com/
http://www.katiecandraw.typepad.com/http://www.vipercomics.com
Fans of the critically acclaimed series already know there’s a crazy parallel world called Fignation where magic replaces science. Nothing is quite right and many things are just plain weird. Now it seems that Fignation craziness has seeped into the real world and right into the offices of Viper Comics! Starting March 9, 2009, Viper Comics and Otis Frampton are releasing “Oddly Normal: Fignation Times” for FREE, online. That's right . . . for a limited time you can read the entire book, including two new "Oddly Normal Tales" with artwork by Grant Gould and Katie Cook, absolutely free!
The third volume of the graphic novel series that was recommended by The American Library Association continues the adventures of the olive-haired girl named Oddly Normal! After saving Figopolis from the dreaded Snowman, Oddly Normal is offered a job as a photographer on the staff of the Fignation Times. But before she can start, Oddly is sent on the adventure of two lifetimes that will reveal the secrets of her Mother's past ... and her own as well. "Oddly Normal: Fignation Times" is written, inked & colored by Otis Frampton and illustrated by Jessica Hickman. Link to Oddly Normal: Fignation Times Volume 3
http://www.vipercomics.com/features/oddly_normal_fignation_times.asp http://www.otisframpton.com/
http://www.jessicahickman.com/
http://www.grantgould.com/
http://www.katiecandraw.typepad.com/http://www.vipercomics.com
SPECIAL GUESTS DEBATE “WATCHMEN” ON “ATTACK OF THE SHOW”
MONDAY, MARCH 9, AT 7PM, ONLY ON G4
For the first time on television, two of the best known movie bloggers will square-off about one of the most anticipated movies of the year – “Watchmen,” offering two very different perspectives on the film.
Drew McWeeny of HitFix, formerly Moriarty from Aint it Cool News, and David Poland from Movie City News will join “Attack of the Show” live, in the studio for a very special roundtable debate.
Don’t miss this special event
MONDAY, MARCH 9, AT 7PM, ONLY ON G4
For the first time on television, two of the best known movie bloggers will square-off about one of the most anticipated movies of the year – “Watchmen,” offering two very different perspectives on the film.
Drew McWeeny of HitFix, formerly Moriarty from Aint it Cool News, and David Poland from Movie City News will join “Attack of the Show” live, in the studio for a very special roundtable debate.
Don’t miss this special event
Friday, March 06, 2009
“WATCHMEN: JUSTICE IS COMING” ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAME
NOW AVAILABLE ON THE APPLE APP STORE
Burbank, Calif., March 6, 2009 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced the availability of Last Legion Games’ highly anticipated Watchmen: Justice is Coming online multiplayer game for the iPhone and iPod touch. For a very limited time, Watchmen: Justice is Coming is being offered at a special introductory price of $0.99 on the Apple App Store. Based on the film Watchmen, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures, Watchmen: Justice is Coming takes iPhone gaming to a new level allowing players to battle in realistic 3D environments and visualize changes to the world in real time.
Watchmen: Justice is Coming uses “cloudMMO,” Last Legion's patent pending cloud based multiplayer technology that leverages Amazon.com Web Services allowing players to adventure through the incredible world of Watchmen. Players experience an ever-changing gaming environment, chat with other players and participate in street battles.
In Watchmen: Justice is Coming, players bring their own unique form of justice to New York City in the 1970s before the film’s central story unfolds. Masked adventuring has been outlawed. During this critical time period, crime is rampant and average citizens must take matters into their own hands to survive. Players create their personal avatar and enter the rain-soaked city of Manhattan. The dark metropolitan world is a vast network of interlocking and overlapping spaces that include: the seedy and saturated neon Red Light District; a run down Financial District and its dark waterfront; the downtown back-alleys of Lower Manhattan; a wide open City Park; and more.
An original story inspired by director Zack Snyder’s big screen version of Watchmen, which is based on the graphic novel illustrated and co-created by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen: Justice is Coming leads players on an immersive adventure inside the depths of the Watchmen universe. Average citizens evolve into fully equipped costumed avengers by completing unique challenges, exploring the universe and battling enemies.
Watchmen fans can download the game by clicking this link http://tinyurl.com/bkfv6f or to learn more visit www.watchmenjusticeiscoming.com.
###
ABOUT WATCHMEN: Opening nationwide on March 6, 2009, Watchmen is a complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the Doomsday Clock—which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union—moves closer to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach uncovers a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with catastrophic consequences for the future.
Watchmen is directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay is by David Hayter and Alex Tse, based upon the award-winning graphic novel co-created and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC Comics. Herbert W. Gains and Thomas Tull are the executive producers, with Wesley Coller serving as co-producer. The film stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson. Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures present, in Association with Legendary Pictures, a Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd Levin Production, a Zack Snyder Film, Watchmen.
About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution streams over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
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 Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
WATCHMEN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
(s09)
About Last Legion Games LLC
Last Legion Games, LLC is a privately held technology company and game developer located in Santa Monica, Calif. Last Legion’s all veteran videogame staff create new gaming paradigms for gesture-based platforms. Last Legion’s proprietary, patent pending cloudMMO technology enables developers to create MMOs on commercially available distributed clouds.
NOW AVAILABLE ON THE APPLE APP STORE
Burbank, Calif., March 6, 2009 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced the availability of Last Legion Games’ highly anticipated Watchmen: Justice is Coming online multiplayer game for the iPhone and iPod touch. For a very limited time, Watchmen: Justice is Coming is being offered at a special introductory price of $0.99 on the Apple App Store. Based on the film Watchmen, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures, Watchmen: Justice is Coming takes iPhone gaming to a new level allowing players to battle in realistic 3D environments and visualize changes to the world in real time.
Watchmen: Justice is Coming uses “cloudMMO,” Last Legion's patent pending cloud based multiplayer technology that leverages Amazon.com Web Services allowing players to adventure through the incredible world of Watchmen. Players experience an ever-changing gaming environment, chat with other players and participate in street battles.
In Watchmen: Justice is Coming, players bring their own unique form of justice to New York City in the 1970s before the film’s central story unfolds. Masked adventuring has been outlawed. During this critical time period, crime is rampant and average citizens must take matters into their own hands to survive. Players create their personal avatar and enter the rain-soaked city of Manhattan. The dark metropolitan world is a vast network of interlocking and overlapping spaces that include: the seedy and saturated neon Red Light District; a run down Financial District and its dark waterfront; the downtown back-alleys of Lower Manhattan; a wide open City Park; and more.
An original story inspired by director Zack Snyder’s big screen version of Watchmen, which is based on the graphic novel illustrated and co-created by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen: Justice is Coming leads players on an immersive adventure inside the depths of the Watchmen universe. Average citizens evolve into fully equipped costumed avengers by completing unique challenges, exploring the universe and battling enemies.
Watchmen fans can download the game by clicking this link http://tinyurl.com/bkfv6f or to learn more visit www.watchmenjusticeiscoming.com.
###
ABOUT WATCHMEN: Opening nationwide on March 6, 2009, Watchmen is a complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the Doomsday Clock—which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union—moves closer to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach uncovers a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with catastrophic consequences for the future.
Watchmen is directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay is by David Hayter and Alex Tse, based upon the award-winning graphic novel co-created and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC Comics. Herbert W. Gains and Thomas Tull are the executive producers, with Wesley Coller serving as co-producer. The film stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson. Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures present, in Association with Legendary Pictures, a Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd Levin Production, a Zack Snyder Film, Watchmen.
About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution streams over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
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 Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
WATCHMEN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
(s09)
About Last Legion Games LLC
Last Legion Games, LLC is a privately held technology company and game developer located in Santa Monica, Calif. Last Legion’s all veteran videogame staff create new gaming paradigms for gesture-based platforms. Last Legion’s proprietary, patent pending cloudMMO technology enables developers to create MMOs on commercially available distributed clouds.
Here are 2 interviews with Moore that you might not have seen yet.
Alan Moore Discusses Watchmen (from The Mindscape of Alan Moore):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwm4TSlNO3U
Podcast interview with Moore and "Mindscape of Alan Moore" director Dez Vynl
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=294855429
The Mindscape of Alan Moore is a 2-Disc Collector’s Set Featuring the
Film, an Exclusive 20-Page Booklet and Over Three Hours of Bonus
Footage. Review copies or contest copies are stillavailable.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCSnqQzU7Fw
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7273278@N06/sets/72157614396306861/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001BEGB3O/disinformation
“… an artfully executed documentary …. [I]t will leave casual viewers
with the impression that some of the more peculiar geniuses of our day
gravitate to comics.”
--Los Angeles Times
“Mr. Moore’s interview is great stuff; with his droopy eyes and bushy
beard, he looks and sounds like a talking British bear who spends his
days fixing car engines and his nights philosophizing.”
-- New York Sun
“… rare look at the famously reclusive talent.”
-- Tribune Media Services
“The only exceptional worm in the Moore feeding frenzy may in fact be
a documentary about him, called The Mindscape of Alan Moore…. If you
want to see his true genius at work on the wide screen, start there
and work your way outward. It may be the longest, strangest trip you
ever take.”
--Wired.com
Alan Moore Discusses Watchmen (from The Mindscape of Alan Moore):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwm4TSlNO3U
Podcast interview with Moore and "Mindscape of Alan Moore" director Dez Vynl
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=294855429
The Mindscape of Alan Moore is a 2-Disc Collector’s Set Featuring the
Film, an Exclusive 20-Page Booklet and Over Three Hours of Bonus
Footage. Review copies or contest copies are stillavailable.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCSnqQzU7Fw
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7273278@N06/sets/72157614396306861/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001BEGB3O/disinformation
“… an artfully executed documentary …. [I]t will leave casual viewers
with the impression that some of the more peculiar geniuses of our day
gravitate to comics.”
--Los Angeles Times
“Mr. Moore’s interview is great stuff; with his droopy eyes and bushy
beard, he looks and sounds like a talking British bear who spends his
days fixing car engines and his nights philosophizing.”
-- New York Sun
“… rare look at the famously reclusive talent.”
-- Tribune Media Services
“The only exceptional worm in the Moore feeding frenzy may in fact be
a documentary about him, called The Mindscape of Alan Moore…. If you
want to see his true genius at work on the wide screen, start there
and work your way outward. It may be the longest, strangest trip you
ever take.”
--Wired.com
Thursday, March 05, 2009
1492 ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES FILM RIGHTS TO BEN TEMPLESMITH’S GRAPHIC NOVEL WELCOME TO HOXFORD FROM
IDW PUBLISHING
(San Diego, March 5, 2009) -- Chris Columbus’ 1492 Entertainment has optioned the motion picture rights to Ben Templesmith’s graphic novel Welcome To Hoxford from IDW Publishing. Columbus will produce with 1492 partners Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe. Michelle Miller brought the project into 1492. Templesmith is the co-creator of 30 Days of Night (with writer Steve Niles), upon which the film was based. His credits include the critically-acclaimed serial Wormwood Gentleman Corpse and Singularity 7.
When a deeply disturbed and violent inmate is transferred to a privately run mental prison called Hoxford, his psychiatrist discovers that the worst of the worst inmates are being transferred into the facility but never out. After trying to see her patient, the doctor find herself trapped in the prison, so she and the inmate must fight for survival … together … against the werewolves … that run the facility. Welcome to Hoxford.
“I actually owe the entire book to an idea I had after receiving a letter about some previous work being banned from a prison,” said Templesmith. “It turned into one of the darker things I’ve ever done, with a few sick twists. It’s really been quite fantastic that Chris Columbus has thought Hoxford worthy enough to perhaps burst from the comic page to the screen.”
IDW president Ted Adams says “We are thrilled to be in business with Chris Columbus and his company. We know these talented filmmakers will do justice to Ben’s singular vision.”
CAA represents both Columbus and IDW Publishing. Columbus’ attorney is Walter Teller. In addition to CAA, IDW was repped by Circle of Confusion and attorney Darren Trattner.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
IDW PUBLISHING
(San Diego, March 5, 2009) -- Chris Columbus’ 1492 Entertainment has optioned the motion picture rights to Ben Templesmith’s graphic novel Welcome To Hoxford from IDW Publishing. Columbus will produce with 1492 partners Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe. Michelle Miller brought the project into 1492. Templesmith is the co-creator of 30 Days of Night (with writer Steve Niles), upon which the film was based. His credits include the critically-acclaimed serial Wormwood Gentleman Corpse and Singularity 7.
When a deeply disturbed and violent inmate is transferred to a privately run mental prison called Hoxford, his psychiatrist discovers that the worst of the worst inmates are being transferred into the facility but never out. After trying to see her patient, the doctor find herself trapped in the prison, so she and the inmate must fight for survival … together … against the werewolves … that run the facility. Welcome to Hoxford.
“I actually owe the entire book to an idea I had after receiving a letter about some previous work being banned from a prison,” said Templesmith. “It turned into one of the darker things I’ve ever done, with a few sick twists. It’s really been quite fantastic that Chris Columbus has thought Hoxford worthy enough to perhaps burst from the comic page to the screen.”
IDW president Ted Adams says “We are thrilled to be in business with Chris Columbus and his company. We know these talented filmmakers will do justice to Ben’s singular vision.”
CAA represents both Columbus and IDW Publishing. Columbus’ attorney is Walter Teller. In addition to CAA, IDW was repped by Circle of Confusion and attorney Darren Trattner.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
PRESS RELEASE - BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS SHADOWLINE'S ALL GIRL COMICS THIS MAY!One-shot to feature Bomb Queen teaming up with the super-heroines of the Shadowline universe!
5 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This May, summer heats up early as Shadowline Publisher Jim Valentino, BRUCE THE LITTLE BLUE SPRUCE's Kristen Simon and I HATE GALLANT GIRL's Kat Cahill and Seth Damoose launch the ultimate super-heroine one-shot, BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS!
"Ever since restarting Shadowline, we've been slowly building up our very own corner of the Image universe, especially in the pages of BOMB QUEEN, SHADOWHAWK and most recently I HATE GALLANT GIRL. A spotlight is long overdue," Valentino said. "BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS showcases our super-heroines and most infamous super-villianess like never before in a self-contained adventure just about any super-hero fan will get a kick out of. It's hard not to enjoy a bevy of beauties quite like this one!"
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, illustrated by Damoose, co-plotted by Valentino & Simon and written by Cahill, features the women of the Shadowline universe - Bomb Queen, Dee Rail, Blacklight, Rebound, Editor Girl, Tempest and Fetish - working together to solve a problem that affects them all: something is rendering all the men in the world impotent! Can Bomb Queen team up with Shadowline's pantheon of super-heroines long enough to find the culprit and save the human race? Only this one-shot holds the key to the future of the Shadowline super-universe! BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS also features pinups by Image Comics Founders Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio and Jim Valentino!
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in-stores May 27th, 2009.
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
5 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This May, summer heats up early as Shadowline Publisher Jim Valentino, BRUCE THE LITTLE BLUE SPRUCE's Kristen Simon and I HATE GALLANT GIRL's Kat Cahill and Seth Damoose launch the ultimate super-heroine one-shot, BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS!
"Ever since restarting Shadowline, we've been slowly building up our very own corner of the Image universe, especially in the pages of BOMB QUEEN, SHADOWHAWK and most recently I HATE GALLANT GIRL. A spotlight is long overdue," Valentino said. "BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS showcases our super-heroines and most infamous super-villianess like never before in a self-contained adventure just about any super-hero fan will get a kick out of. It's hard not to enjoy a bevy of beauties quite like this one!"
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, illustrated by Damoose, co-plotted by Valentino & Simon and written by Cahill, features the women of the Shadowline universe - Bomb Queen, Dee Rail, Blacklight, Rebound, Editor Girl, Tempest and Fetish - working together to solve a problem that affects them all: something is rendering all the men in the world impotent! Can Bomb Queen team up with Shadowline's pantheon of super-heroines long enough to find the culprit and save the human race? Only this one-shot holds the key to the future of the Shadowline super-universe! BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS also features pinups by Image Comics Founders Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio and Jim Valentino!
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in-stores May 27th, 2009.
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
TRAVIS KNIGHT NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LAIKA, INC.
Coraline and Wallace and Gromit Award-Winning Producer Claire Jennings Appointed President of Entertainment
(Portland, OR; March 5, 2009) -- LAIKA, Inc., the Portland-based animation studio whose first feature film, Coraline, has been a critical and box office hit since its release by Focus Features on February 6th, has announced that Travis Knight has been named President and CEO of the company. Knight succeeds Dale Wahl, who has held the position since 2005. Knight, who sits on the LAIKA Board and has been Head of Animation since 2007, was one of the lead animators on Coraline, the first stop-motion animated feature film to be produced in 3-D. Additionally, LAIKA has appointed Coraline producer Claire Jennings, an award-winning independent animation executive and producer of Oscar®-winning shorts and feature films including Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, to the newly created position of President, Entertainment. The appointments were announced today by Philip H. Knight, LAIKA’s owner and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Knight is also Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of Nike, Inc.
“Travis’ passion has always been the arts in general and filmmaking in particular,” said Phil Knight. “He was Coraline’s earliest champion, playing a key role in our decision to greenlight the project and his creative contribution as lead animator on the film was immense. His ambitious business vision for LAIKA grows out of a first-hand understanding of, and reverence for, the creative process. Enhanced by Claire Jennings’ extraordinary depth of career experience as an award-winning producer and as a development and production executive of the highest order, I’m confident that our new leadership team will continue to move LAIKA to the forefront of the animation industry.
“Dale Wahl steps down as CEO at his request,” Mr. Knight continues. “After four years and at age 65 he felt, in his words, it was time to smell one rose. Dale moves into the position of Vice-Chairman to help Travis and Claire transition into their new positions until his retirement from LAIKA at the end of this October. In addition, he will temporarily fill the role of Executive Vice President of Business Operations and CFO until we complete our search to fill that position. With his steady leadership and business acumen, Dale has presided over our nascent feature film operation as well as our thriving commercial division, led by LAIKA/house President Lourri Hammack. The success of both areas of the company under his leadership has gotten us off to a great start.”
Travis Knight says, “At our core, LAIKA is an audacious, scrappy, and inventive community of filmmakers, driven by our love of animation, a belief in its endless possibilities, and confidence in its promise to touch the world. LAIKA’s potential is limitless. In both the entertainment and commercial arenas, we will continue to develop our visual and storytelling expertise across all animation formats. Simply put, we hope to grow into the boldest, most innovative animation studio in the world.”
Travis has been involved in all business and creative decision-making at LAIKA since the company’s inception in 2003, when Phil Knight took over the failing Vinton Studios, Portland’s renowned animation studio with a distinguished 30-year history, and re-christened it LAIKA. Travis joined Vinton Studios in 1998 as a stop-motion animator, working on the Emmy Award-winning television series The PJs, produced with Eddie Murphy Productions and Imagine Entertainment, as well as the animated series Gary & Mike on UPN. He earned his CG animation stripes by animating numerous television commercials (McDonald’s, Hostess, M&M’s) and promo spots, including the “NFL on Fox” campaign. In June 2007, he was honored by Animation magazine as one of the “Rising Stars of Animation.” He has served on LAIKA’s Board of Directors since 2003.
Claire Jennings was named “Producer of the Year for Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures,” along with Nick Park, by the Producers Guild of America for the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning feature film Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (2005). The award joined a long list of honors garnered throughout a career as an independent and studio producer, development and production executive, and project originator, making her one of the most respected names in the animation industry. In addition to Wallace and Gromit, which earned more than $250 million worldwide, she has produced multiple award-winning animated shorts and television series including the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning animated short Father and Daughter, the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated short The Canterbury Tales, and the Oscar and BAFTA nominated short film Jolly Roger. She also developed and produced the BBC animated television series The Big Knights alongside its two directors, produced the BBC series Stressed Eric for Absolutely Productions, and was executive producer of HIT Entertainment’s British children’s TV series Pingu. As an event management and concert promotion executive, she was involved in such projects and talent as Comic Relief, Tina Turner, Talking Heads and Bob Geldof.
“I’m very happy to bring my combined experience in development and production to LAIKA as it embarks upon a new and exciting chapter in its history,” said Jennings. “As Coraline demonstrates, LAIKA is a company committed to taking bold new steps within the animation arena. I believe my strong entrepreneurial skills are a great fit for a company which truly values the creative vision behind any filmmaking process. I have a great deal of respect for this attitude and am looking forward to working alongside Travis to build a studio where many more imaginative films can be produced throughout the coming years.”
All company divisions will report to Travis Knight. Film acquisition, development, production and marketing will fall under Jennings’ purview. LAIKA/house, the advertising and commercial side of the company, will continue to be led by division president Lourri Hammack. Wahl will oversee technology, business affairs, finance and administration. Because of the importance of getting another project into production, Knight and Jennings will head up LAIKA’s film development efforts jointly. Currently LAIKA’s active development slate includes nine film projects, including the already announced Here Be Monsters, based on the best-selling book by Alan Snow; The Wall and the Wing, based on the bestseller by Laura Ruby, and Paranorman, based on an original idea by Coraline Head of Story Chris Butler.
About LAIKA:
Fueled by the vision of its owner, Nike co-founder and Chairman Philip H. Knight, LAIKA, Inc. (www.laika.com), located in Portland, OR, is an animation studio specializing in feature films, commercials, music videos, broadcast graphics and short films.
LAIKA’s initial feature film Coraline (www.coraline.com), was released by Focus Features on February 6, 2009 to overwhelming positive critical reaction. To date it has grossed over $61 million domestically. Directed and written for the screen by Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and based on the internationally best-selling, Hugo Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman, Coraline is the first major stop-motion animated feature to be shot in 3D. Its voice cast includes Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Ian McShane, the comic duo of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, John Hodgman, Keith David and Robert Bailey Jr.
LAIKA/house is world renowned for its skill in storytelling and character animation in many media, including 2D, CG and Stop Motion. The commercial studio produces commercials, branded entertainment and content for television, film, Internet and mobile venues. The team’s ability to create stunning designs and commercials has garnered the attention of advertising agencies such as Leo Burnett, Wieden + Kennedy and BBDO and has attracted clients such as Starbucks, Apple, Coca-Cola, ESPN, M&M’s and the NFL on Fox.
The studio has a 30-year animation history of presenting the artistry of award-winning filmmakers, designers and animators. In addition to numerous international honors, the company has won two Academy Awards, 11 Emmy Awards, 11 Clio Awards, three London International Advertising and Design Awards, five Mobius Advertising Awards and two Cannes Lion International Advertising Festival awards.
Coraline and Wallace and Gromit Award-Winning Producer Claire Jennings Appointed President of Entertainment
(Portland, OR; March 5, 2009) -- LAIKA, Inc., the Portland-based animation studio whose first feature film, Coraline, has been a critical and box office hit since its release by Focus Features on February 6th, has announced that Travis Knight has been named President and CEO of the company. Knight succeeds Dale Wahl, who has held the position since 2005. Knight, who sits on the LAIKA Board and has been Head of Animation since 2007, was one of the lead animators on Coraline, the first stop-motion animated feature film to be produced in 3-D. Additionally, LAIKA has appointed Coraline producer Claire Jennings, an award-winning independent animation executive and producer of Oscar®-winning shorts and feature films including Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, to the newly created position of President, Entertainment. The appointments were announced today by Philip H. Knight, LAIKA’s owner and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Knight is also Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of Nike, Inc.
“Travis’ passion has always been the arts in general and filmmaking in particular,” said Phil Knight. “He was Coraline’s earliest champion, playing a key role in our decision to greenlight the project and his creative contribution as lead animator on the film was immense. His ambitious business vision for LAIKA grows out of a first-hand understanding of, and reverence for, the creative process. Enhanced by Claire Jennings’ extraordinary depth of career experience as an award-winning producer and as a development and production executive of the highest order, I’m confident that our new leadership team will continue to move LAIKA to the forefront of the animation industry.
“Dale Wahl steps down as CEO at his request,” Mr. Knight continues. “After four years and at age 65 he felt, in his words, it was time to smell one rose. Dale moves into the position of Vice-Chairman to help Travis and Claire transition into their new positions until his retirement from LAIKA at the end of this October. In addition, he will temporarily fill the role of Executive Vice President of Business Operations and CFO until we complete our search to fill that position. With his steady leadership and business acumen, Dale has presided over our nascent feature film operation as well as our thriving commercial division, led by LAIKA/house President Lourri Hammack. The success of both areas of the company under his leadership has gotten us off to a great start.”
Travis Knight says, “At our core, LAIKA is an audacious, scrappy, and inventive community of filmmakers, driven by our love of animation, a belief in its endless possibilities, and confidence in its promise to touch the world. LAIKA’s potential is limitless. In both the entertainment and commercial arenas, we will continue to develop our visual and storytelling expertise across all animation formats. Simply put, we hope to grow into the boldest, most innovative animation studio in the world.”
Travis has been involved in all business and creative decision-making at LAIKA since the company’s inception in 2003, when Phil Knight took over the failing Vinton Studios, Portland’s renowned animation studio with a distinguished 30-year history, and re-christened it LAIKA. Travis joined Vinton Studios in 1998 as a stop-motion animator, working on the Emmy Award-winning television series The PJs, produced with Eddie Murphy Productions and Imagine Entertainment, as well as the animated series Gary & Mike on UPN. He earned his CG animation stripes by animating numerous television commercials (McDonald’s, Hostess, M&M’s) and promo spots, including the “NFL on Fox” campaign. In June 2007, he was honored by Animation magazine as one of the “Rising Stars of Animation.” He has served on LAIKA’s Board of Directors since 2003.
Claire Jennings was named “Producer of the Year for Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures,” along with Nick Park, by the Producers Guild of America for the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning feature film Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (2005). The award joined a long list of honors garnered throughout a career as an independent and studio producer, development and production executive, and project originator, making her one of the most respected names in the animation industry. In addition to Wallace and Gromit, which earned more than $250 million worldwide, she has produced multiple award-winning animated shorts and television series including the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning animated short Father and Daughter, the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated short The Canterbury Tales, and the Oscar and BAFTA nominated short film Jolly Roger. She also developed and produced the BBC animated television series The Big Knights alongside its two directors, produced the BBC series Stressed Eric for Absolutely Productions, and was executive producer of HIT Entertainment’s British children’s TV series Pingu. As an event management and concert promotion executive, she was involved in such projects and talent as Comic Relief, Tina Turner, Talking Heads and Bob Geldof.
“I’m very happy to bring my combined experience in development and production to LAIKA as it embarks upon a new and exciting chapter in its history,” said Jennings. “As Coraline demonstrates, LAIKA is a company committed to taking bold new steps within the animation arena. I believe my strong entrepreneurial skills are a great fit for a company which truly values the creative vision behind any filmmaking process. I have a great deal of respect for this attitude and am looking forward to working alongside Travis to build a studio where many more imaginative films can be produced throughout the coming years.”
All company divisions will report to Travis Knight. Film acquisition, development, production and marketing will fall under Jennings’ purview. LAIKA/house, the advertising and commercial side of the company, will continue to be led by division president Lourri Hammack. Wahl will oversee technology, business affairs, finance and administration. Because of the importance of getting another project into production, Knight and Jennings will head up LAIKA’s film development efforts jointly. Currently LAIKA’s active development slate includes nine film projects, including the already announced Here Be Monsters, based on the best-selling book by Alan Snow; The Wall and the Wing, based on the bestseller by Laura Ruby, and Paranorman, based on an original idea by Coraline Head of Story Chris Butler.
About LAIKA:
Fueled by the vision of its owner, Nike co-founder and Chairman Philip H. Knight, LAIKA, Inc. (www.laika.com), located in Portland, OR, is an animation studio specializing in feature films, commercials, music videos, broadcast graphics and short films.
LAIKA’s initial feature film Coraline (www.coraline.com), was released by Focus Features on February 6, 2009 to overwhelming positive critical reaction. To date it has grossed over $61 million domestically. Directed and written for the screen by Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and based on the internationally best-selling, Hugo Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman, Coraline is the first major stop-motion animated feature to be shot in 3D. Its voice cast includes Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Ian McShane, the comic duo of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, John Hodgman, Keith David and Robert Bailey Jr.
LAIKA/house is world renowned for its skill in storytelling and character animation in many media, including 2D, CG and Stop Motion. The commercial studio produces commercials, branded entertainment and content for television, film, Internet and mobile venues. The team’s ability to create stunning designs and commercials has garnered the attention of advertising agencies such as Leo Burnett, Wieden + Kennedy and BBDO and has attracted clients such as Starbucks, Apple, Coca-Cola, ESPN, M&M’s and the NFL on Fox.
The studio has a 30-year animation history of presenting the artistry of award-winning filmmakers, designers and animators. In addition to numerous international honors, the company has won two Academy Awards, 11 Emmy Awards, 11 Clio Awards, three London International Advertising and Design Awards, five Mobius Advertising Awards and two Cannes Lion International Advertising Festival awards.
After spanning the galaxy, the conflict comes home in “Innocents of Ryloth,” an all-new episode of the hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 6, on Cartoon Network.
The second in a three-part saga chronicling the liberation of a Separatist-held planet, “Innocents of Ryloth” looks at the civilians caught in the crossfire of the sweeping galactic conflict. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and his clones are sent to the surface to sabotage a powerful Separatist weapon, they encounter heavy resistance from the droid army – but they also come face to face with the humanity of those that they are sent to protect. Seeing the “human” side of the occupation helps to give the clones a new perspective on the war.
“We really wanted to tell a story about troops going into a foreign land, maybe being a little insensitive to the people, but growing fond of them and coming to love them and wanting to rescue them from their plight,” says Henry Gilroy, co-writer of the episode. “We saw it as an opportunity to reflect those great World War II stories of the American GIs moving through Europe and encountering the people of those areas, particularly orphans.”
For Gilroy and director Dave Filoni, inspiration for this particular story came from The Guns of Navarone, a classic war film in which a commando team must infiltrate impregnable enemy territory to destroy a gun emplacement. The narrative device proved to be an effective method for getting the Republic behind enemy lines – and into the occupied homeland of a downtrodden native race.
“The idea is that this cannon is preventing our heroes from arriving to help, to liberate the planet, and basically it’s going to come down to one Jedi – Obi-Wan – to save the day,” Gilroy explains. “Plus, we’re able to really emphasize just how evil the villains are as they use the inhabitants of the town as human shields.”
The second in a three-part saga chronicling the liberation of a Separatist-held planet, “Innocents of Ryloth” looks at the civilians caught in the crossfire of the sweeping galactic conflict. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and his clones are sent to the surface to sabotage a powerful Separatist weapon, they encounter heavy resistance from the droid army – but they also come face to face with the humanity of those that they are sent to protect. Seeing the “human” side of the occupation helps to give the clones a new perspective on the war.
“We really wanted to tell a story about troops going into a foreign land, maybe being a little insensitive to the people, but growing fond of them and coming to love them and wanting to rescue them from their plight,” says Henry Gilroy, co-writer of the episode. “We saw it as an opportunity to reflect those great World War II stories of the American GIs moving through Europe and encountering the people of those areas, particularly orphans.”
For Gilroy and director Dave Filoni, inspiration for this particular story came from The Guns of Navarone, a classic war film in which a commando team must infiltrate impregnable enemy territory to destroy a gun emplacement. The narrative device proved to be an effective method for getting the Republic behind enemy lines – and into the occupied homeland of a downtrodden native race.
“The idea is that this cannon is preventing our heroes from arriving to help, to liberate the planet, and basically it’s going to come down to one Jedi – Obi-Wan – to save the day,” Gilroy explains. “Plus, we’re able to really emphasize just how evil the villains are as they use the inhabitants of the town as human shields.”
Forever Nuts -- Classic Screwball Strips presents:
GEORGE MCMANUS’ BRINGING UP FATHER
By George McManus; Introduction by Bill Blackbeard
You can’t top George McManus’s BRINGING UP FATHER for visual style and wild slapstick. Jiggs, Maggie, and their lovely daughter Nora are a poor Irish-American family who come into wealth. Jiggs wants to wolf down corned beef and cabbage with his old pals, but Maggie wants to make Jiggs respectable for high society -- and enforces her wishes with a rolling pin. This deluxe volume presents every daily cartoon from the strip’s first two years (1913-1915), most of which have never been reprinted. See why comics experts consider McManus one of the greats.
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-556-6, Diamond order code MAR 09 4376
Also available are the other volumes in the Forever Nuts series:
THE EARLY YEARS OF MUTT & JEFF
By Bud Fisher
One of the most long-lasting and popular humor strips, MUTT AND JEFF was a triumph of goofiness and irreverence. Here’s a rediscovery of a true oddball classic.
“A real work of art. I love how these knuckleballs are always scrambling for 50 cents so they can get some ham and eggs. I thought Herriman was the greatest till I started reading Fisher's working-scrub comics.” -- Tony Millionaire, The Comics Journal
“A blast to read. There is a lively wackiness to them that still makes them funny today.” -- Tim Janson, Silver Bullet Comics & Amazon.com
“Fisher really was a terrific artist and writer . . . creating material that truly set itself apart from others.” -- Marc Mason, Comicswaitingroom.com
“Brilliantly constructed. . . . Just seeing Mutt gamely assert, ‘Jeff, we're in soft, I just got a job as war correspondent,’ is enough to generate a smile of anticipation.” -- The Onion
“The sharp pacing and sardonic wit in Fisher's work set the standard for every newspaper strip that would follow.” -- Washington Post
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-502-3
HAPPY HOOLIGAN
By Frederick Burr Opper
Happy Hooligan’s a well-meaning hobo who always ends up in hilariously bad shape. One of the most popular comic strips ever, HAPPY HOOLIGAN has influenced everything from Donald Duck to the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons of Jules Feiffer -- and it’s still delightful. This volume presents the best of Opper’s early, full-color Sunday strips.
“Required reading for anyone who takes comic strips as seriously as they deserve -- and likes to laugh, too.” -- Andrew Smith, Scripps News
“A remarkable talent.” -- Rod Lott, Bookgasm.com
“The joy of the strip is in the way Opper sets up his dominoes before knocking them down.” -- The Onion
Full-color clothbound hardcover, 11” x 7 ½”, 112 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-542-9
BONEYARD #28
By Richard Moore
After a long wait, here’s the last issue of BONEYARD before its indefinite hiatus. ‘Lita (friend of our hero, Michael Paris) has returned as a faerie princess betrothed to a creepy prince she'd rather not marry. When royal guards drag her away, Paris follows -- and finds himself facing whole armies. But his lover Abbey, bent on saving him, is raising her own army. Don't miss this big, super-sized final blowout!
32-page black-and-white comic book, $3.50, UPC 043016042169-28, Diamond order code MAR 09 4375
New From NBM’s Eurotica imprint:
SIZZLE #42
Christian Zanier’s outrageous “Honey Lickers Sorority” concludes, while Baldazzini’s tongue-in-cheek “Casa Howhard” starts up a new story. Plus: More “Barbarian Chicks,” “Ogenki Clinic,” and “Omaha the Cat Dancer.” Also: the all-new erotic fantasy, “Corinne in Labyrintera.”
Quarterly black-and-white magazine, 8 ½” x 11”, 64 pages, $5.95, UPC 074470753032-42, Diamond order code MAR 09 4247
See previews and more at www.nbmpublishing.com.
Visit our brand-new author/publisher blog at www.nbmpub.com/blog.
Our authors have direct access to post their latest, including art in progress!
For more information and to interact with us, visit www.nbmpub.com/comingup/comaug.html and our MySpace page, www.myspace.com/nbm_publishing.
GEORGE MCMANUS’ BRINGING UP FATHER
By George McManus; Introduction by Bill Blackbeard
You can’t top George McManus’s BRINGING UP FATHER for visual style and wild slapstick. Jiggs, Maggie, and their lovely daughter Nora are a poor Irish-American family who come into wealth. Jiggs wants to wolf down corned beef and cabbage with his old pals, but Maggie wants to make Jiggs respectable for high society -- and enforces her wishes with a rolling pin. This deluxe volume presents every daily cartoon from the strip’s first two years (1913-1915), most of which have never been reprinted. See why comics experts consider McManus one of the greats.
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-556-6, Diamond order code MAR 09 4376
Also available are the other volumes in the Forever Nuts series:
THE EARLY YEARS OF MUTT & JEFF
By Bud Fisher
One of the most long-lasting and popular humor strips, MUTT AND JEFF was a triumph of goofiness and irreverence. Here’s a rediscovery of a true oddball classic.
“A real work of art. I love how these knuckleballs are always scrambling for 50 cents so they can get some ham and eggs. I thought Herriman was the greatest till I started reading Fisher's working-scrub comics.” -- Tony Millionaire, The Comics Journal
“A blast to read. There is a lively wackiness to them that still makes them funny today.” -- Tim Janson, Silver Bullet Comics & Amazon.com
“Fisher really was a terrific artist and writer . . . creating material that truly set itself apart from others.” -- Marc Mason, Comicswaitingroom.com
“Brilliantly constructed. . . . Just seeing Mutt gamely assert, ‘Jeff, we're in soft, I just got a job as war correspondent,’ is enough to generate a smile of anticipation.” -- The Onion
“The sharp pacing and sardonic wit in Fisher's work set the standard for every newspaper strip that would follow.” -- Washington Post
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-502-3
HAPPY HOOLIGAN
By Frederick Burr Opper
Happy Hooligan’s a well-meaning hobo who always ends up in hilariously bad shape. One of the most popular comic strips ever, HAPPY HOOLIGAN has influenced everything from Donald Duck to the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons of Jules Feiffer -- and it’s still delightful. This volume presents the best of Opper’s early, full-color Sunday strips.
“Required reading for anyone who takes comic strips as seriously as they deserve -- and likes to laugh, too.” -- Andrew Smith, Scripps News
“A remarkable talent.” -- Rod Lott, Bookgasm.com
“The joy of the strip is in the way Opper sets up his dominoes before knocking them down.” -- The Onion
Full-color clothbound hardcover, 11” x 7 ½”, 112 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-542-9
BONEYARD #28
By Richard Moore
After a long wait, here’s the last issue of BONEYARD before its indefinite hiatus. ‘Lita (friend of our hero, Michael Paris) has returned as a faerie princess betrothed to a creepy prince she'd rather not marry. When royal guards drag her away, Paris follows -- and finds himself facing whole armies. But his lover Abbey, bent on saving him, is raising her own army. Don't miss this big, super-sized final blowout!
32-page black-and-white comic book, $3.50, UPC 043016042169-28, Diamond order code MAR 09 4375
New From NBM’s Eurotica imprint:
SIZZLE #42
Christian Zanier’s outrageous “Honey Lickers Sorority” concludes, while Baldazzini’s tongue-in-cheek “Casa Howhard” starts up a new story. Plus: More “Barbarian Chicks,” “Ogenki Clinic,” and “Omaha the Cat Dancer.” Also: the all-new erotic fantasy, “Corinne in Labyrintera.”
Quarterly black-and-white magazine, 8 ½” x 11”, 64 pages, $5.95, UPC 074470753032-42, Diamond order code MAR 09 4247
See previews and more at www.nbmpublishing.com.
Visit our brand-new author/publisher blog at www.nbmpub.com/blog.
Our authors have direct access to post their latest, including art in progress!
For more information and to interact with us, visit www.nbmpub.com/comingup/comaug.html and our MySpace page, www.myspace.com/nbm_publishing.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
BOOM! STUDIOS LAUNCHES MARK SABLE'S UNTHINKABLE
WITH COMICS' FIRST ALTERED REALITY GAME
Win a one-of-a-kind hardcover of the first issue signed and numbered
by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid!
Think the UNTHINKABLE!
JOIN UP AT WOLFPACKPMC.COM TODAY!
March 4th, 2009 - Los Angeles - This May, BOOM! Studios premieres Mark Sable's mini-series UNTHINKABLE, but comic fans everywhere can get a head-start participating in the story NOW by playing comics' first Altered Reality Game at www.wolfpackpmc.com.
Written by acclaimed DC writer Mark Sable, best known for his TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE and CYBORG, UNTHINKABLE is a five-issue mini-series that debuts this May. The series features covers by Paul (PUNISHER NOIR) Azaceta and Kristian (DMZ) Donaldson, with interior art by THE REMNANT's rising-star artist Julian Totino Tedesco.
"Mark Sable is one of the best of the new generation of comics writers. Fans are going to love the smart, action-packed work that he and Julian Totino Tedesco are doing on UNTHINKABLE," said BOOM!'s E-i-C Mark Waid. "At BOOM!, we believe in this project so much that we wanted to really do something to make sure people took notice. This contest not only allows fans to become part of the story, but it also enhances and extends UNTHINKABLE beyond the pages of the comic. And hey, winning a signed one-of-a-kind collector's edition isn't bad, either!"
So while fans will have to wait until May for the first issue of UNTHINKABLE to premiere, comic fans everywhere can start experiencing the UNTHINKABLE story NOW by participating in comic's first Altered Reality Game (ARG) at www.wolfpackpmc.com. Once fans join the Wolfpack Private Military Company (PMC) at www.wolfpackpmc.com, they will be tasked with a series of missions that will inform and enhance the story of UNTHINKABLE. The contestant who enters the most winning answers at the end of the three missions will win a unique hardcover of the first issue signed by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid.
Fans have until March 8th to sign up for the UNTHINKABLE Altered Reality Game. Missions will start March 9th, and run until the end of the month when a winner will be announced.
UNTHINKABLE follows Alan Ripley, a best-selling author who joins a think tank commissioned after 9-11 to think the unthinkable and protect America from possible nightmare terrorist scenarios. But years later, when the think tank's imaginary terror plots become frighteningly real, can he stop the UNTHINKABLE from coming to pass?
Comic fans everywhere can help Alan by joining The Wolfpack PMC today. As part of The Wolfpack PMC (www.wolfpackpmc.com), fans will be dropped into the UNTHINKABLE storyline and required to find other members of the think tank to prevent the UNTHINKABLE from happening. But are the players helping to end the terror or enabling it? Players will have to decide for themselves.
Wikipedia defines an alternate or Altered Reality Game (ARG) as, "an interactive narrative... (where) Players interact directly with characters in the game, solve plot-based challenges and puzzles, and often work together with a community to analyze the story and coordinate real-life and online activities. ARGs generally use multimedia, such as telephones, email and mail but rely on the Internet as the central binding medium."
Coming on the heels of such ARGs as THE LOST EXPERIENCE for the TV show LOST and I LOVE BEES for the HALO 2 launch, the UNTHINKABLE ARG will turn the computing power of everyday comic fans into valuable skills as they find information essential to the UNTHINKABLE storyline making the UNTHINKABLE ARG a first in comic book marketing.
"Each comic deserves its own unique marketing campaign. UNTHINKABLE just screamed ARG to us," said BOOM! Studios Marketing and Sales Director Chip Mosher. "BOOM! has a reputation for having some of the most aggressive comics marketing in the business, and we are always looking to top ourselves. Working with Sable on this ARG has been a blast, and it's always great to do something where you are breaking new ground. The UNTHINKABLE ARG is a first-of-its-kind in comics and it will just be so awesome for the fans to participate in the story in ways that were just - dare I say - unthinkable a decade before."
"As excited as I am about the comic, I'm just as excited by the ARG," says series creator Mark Sable, a huge gamer himself. "I see the game as a way for fans to 'earn' a wealth of bonus material instead of paying for it, and a great way to bring interactivity to comics. The game is called an ARG for a reason--it brings home how frighteningly close UNTHINKABLE is to reality."
UNTHINKABLE #1 is written by Mark Sable and drawn by Julian Totino Tedesco with first issue covers by Paul Azaceta and Kristian Donaldson. The first issue of UNTHINKABLE ships in May and has a Diamond Code of MAR094127.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
WITH COMICS' FIRST ALTERED REALITY GAME
Win a one-of-a-kind hardcover of the first issue signed and numbered
by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid!
Think the UNTHINKABLE!
JOIN UP AT WOLFPACKPMC.COM TODAY!
March 4th, 2009 - Los Angeles - This May, BOOM! Studios premieres Mark Sable's mini-series UNTHINKABLE, but comic fans everywhere can get a head-start participating in the story NOW by playing comics' first Altered Reality Game at www.wolfpackpmc.com.
Written by acclaimed DC writer Mark Sable, best known for his TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE and CYBORG, UNTHINKABLE is a five-issue mini-series that debuts this May. The series features covers by Paul (PUNISHER NOIR) Azaceta and Kristian (DMZ) Donaldson, with interior art by THE REMNANT's rising-star artist Julian Totino Tedesco.
"Mark Sable is one of the best of the new generation of comics writers. Fans are going to love the smart, action-packed work that he and Julian Totino Tedesco are doing on UNTHINKABLE," said BOOM!'s E-i-C Mark Waid. "At BOOM!, we believe in this project so much that we wanted to really do something to make sure people took notice. This contest not only allows fans to become part of the story, but it also enhances and extends UNTHINKABLE beyond the pages of the comic. And hey, winning a signed one-of-a-kind collector's edition isn't bad, either!"
So while fans will have to wait until May for the first issue of UNTHINKABLE to premiere, comic fans everywhere can start experiencing the UNTHINKABLE story NOW by participating in comic's first Altered Reality Game (ARG) at www.wolfpackpmc.com. Once fans join the Wolfpack Private Military Company (PMC) at www.wolfpackpmc.com, they will be tasked with a series of missions that will inform and enhance the story of UNTHINKABLE. The contestant who enters the most winning answers at the end of the three missions will win a unique hardcover of the first issue signed by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid.
Fans have until March 8th to sign up for the UNTHINKABLE Altered Reality Game. Missions will start March 9th, and run until the end of the month when a winner will be announced.
UNTHINKABLE follows Alan Ripley, a best-selling author who joins a think tank commissioned after 9-11 to think the unthinkable and protect America from possible nightmare terrorist scenarios. But years later, when the think tank's imaginary terror plots become frighteningly real, can he stop the UNTHINKABLE from coming to pass?
Comic fans everywhere can help Alan by joining The Wolfpack PMC today. As part of The Wolfpack PMC (www.wolfpackpmc.com), fans will be dropped into the UNTHINKABLE storyline and required to find other members of the think tank to prevent the UNTHINKABLE from happening. But are the players helping to end the terror or enabling it? Players will have to decide for themselves.
Wikipedia defines an alternate or Altered Reality Game (ARG) as, "an interactive narrative... (where) Players interact directly with characters in the game, solve plot-based challenges and puzzles, and often work together with a community to analyze the story and coordinate real-life and online activities. ARGs generally use multimedia, such as telephones, email and mail but rely on the Internet as the central binding medium."
Coming on the heels of such ARGs as THE LOST EXPERIENCE for the TV show LOST and I LOVE BEES for the HALO 2 launch, the UNTHINKABLE ARG will turn the computing power of everyday comic fans into valuable skills as they find information essential to the UNTHINKABLE storyline making the UNTHINKABLE ARG a first in comic book marketing.
"Each comic deserves its own unique marketing campaign. UNTHINKABLE just screamed ARG to us," said BOOM! Studios Marketing and Sales Director Chip Mosher. "BOOM! has a reputation for having some of the most aggressive comics marketing in the business, and we are always looking to top ourselves. Working with Sable on this ARG has been a blast, and it's always great to do something where you are breaking new ground. The UNTHINKABLE ARG is a first-of-its-kind in comics and it will just be so awesome for the fans to participate in the story in ways that were just - dare I say - unthinkable a decade before."
"As excited as I am about the comic, I'm just as excited by the ARG," says series creator Mark Sable, a huge gamer himself. "I see the game as a way for fans to 'earn' a wealth of bonus material instead of paying for it, and a great way to bring interactivity to comics. The game is called an ARG for a reason--it brings home how frighteningly close UNTHINKABLE is to reality."
UNTHINKABLE #1 is written by Mark Sable and drawn by Julian Totino Tedesco with first issue covers by Paul Azaceta and Kristian Donaldson. The first issue of UNTHINKABLE ships in May and has a Diamond Code of MAR094127.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
“POLITICAL POWER” COLIN POWELL COMIC BOOK LAUNCHES IN JULY AT BLUEWATER
Due to the considerable buzz and sales success generated by the recent Female Force comic series, Bluewater announced it will build on the popular biography series with a spin-off title Political Power, a new title that focuses on past and present American politicians.
Launching in July, the inaugural issue will feature former Secretary of State and retired four-star general Colin Powell. This one-shot format will cover his entire military and government service career.
“Like Female Force, Political Power will tell even-handed stories of the individuals responsible for shaping the American way of life,” said Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis.
Future issues of the series will include Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Alexander Hamilton, Mae Ella Nolan (the first woman elected in her own right to the House of Representatives) and Nancy Pelosi.
“The title is not a history book with pictures,” Davis said, “but they look to analyze what made these individuals influential, and in some respects, integral to our national identity.”
With Female Force moving away from politics to women in the media, Davis felt compelled to find other intriguing and important political stories to tell.
“I think we have a unique way of exposing a younger demographic to these leaders that extend beyond the headlines,” Davis added. “We are excited how well the Female Force series did with schools and libraries. We hope for a similar reception to Political Power.”
The “Political Power: Colin Powell” cover was painted by Vinnie Tartamella whose credits includes “Female Force” Hillary Clinton & Michelle Obama covers. Bluewater announced last week that Female Force: Sarah Palin is getting a 2nd printing. Bluewater is expecting the same of the Hillary Clinton issue.
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers FEMALE FORCE, 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewateprod.com.
Due to the considerable buzz and sales success generated by the recent Female Force comic series, Bluewater announced it will build on the popular biography series with a spin-off title Political Power, a new title that focuses on past and present American politicians.
Launching in July, the inaugural issue will feature former Secretary of State and retired four-star general Colin Powell. This one-shot format will cover his entire military and government service career.
“Like Female Force, Political Power will tell even-handed stories of the individuals responsible for shaping the American way of life,” said Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis.
Future issues of the series will include Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Alexander Hamilton, Mae Ella Nolan (the first woman elected in her own right to the House of Representatives) and Nancy Pelosi.
“The title is not a history book with pictures,” Davis said, “but they look to analyze what made these individuals influential, and in some respects, integral to our national identity.”
With Female Force moving away from politics to women in the media, Davis felt compelled to find other intriguing and important political stories to tell.
“I think we have a unique way of exposing a younger demographic to these leaders that extend beyond the headlines,” Davis added. “We are excited how well the Female Force series did with schools and libraries. We hope for a similar reception to Political Power.”
The “Political Power: Colin Powell” cover was painted by Vinnie Tartamella whose credits includes “Female Force” Hillary Clinton & Michelle Obama covers. Bluewater announced last week that Female Force: Sarah Palin is getting a 2nd printing. Bluewater is expecting the same of the Hillary Clinton issue.
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers FEMALE FORCE, 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewateprod.com.
**FREE** WILL EISNER WEEK PANEL THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, IN NYC, WITH DENNIS O'NEIL, DANNY FINGEROTH, N.C. CHRISTOPHER COUCH, AND KENNETH GINIGER
New York, March 4, 2009
From Danny Fingeroth:
CELEBRATING WILL EISNER: A panel of Eisner experts discusses his life and career, examining just what made (and still makes) him so significant to the comics medium. Featuring DANNY FINGEROTH (Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero), DENNIS O'NEIL (longtime Batman writer and editor), N.C. CHRISTOPHER COUCH (The Will Eisner Companion), and KENNETH GINIGER (legendary publisher and lifelong friend of Will Eisner).
Saturday, March 7, 2:00-4:00 pm
Jim Hanley's Universe
4 W. 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
New York, March 4, 2009
From Danny Fingeroth:
CELEBRATING WILL EISNER: A panel of Eisner experts discusses his life and career, examining just what made (and still makes) him so significant to the comics medium. Featuring DANNY FINGEROTH (Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero), DENNIS O'NEIL (longtime Batman writer and editor), N.C. CHRISTOPHER COUCH (The Will Eisner Companion), and KENNETH GINIGER (legendary publisher and lifelong friend of Will Eisner).
Saturday, March 7, 2:00-4:00 pm
Jim Hanley's Universe
4 W. 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
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