Adviser to the King or Traitor to the Realm?

Nathaniel Parker Brings Agravaine to Camelot as

Newest Member of MERLIN Cast

MERLIN season premiere scores solid ratings for Syfy;

epic conclusion of two-part season opener airs Friday, Jan. 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Just as one mysterious character departs, another enters as MERLIN welcomes its newest addition – Agravaine, chief adviser to the King. Played by acclaimed actor Nathaniel Parker, the character provides yet another potential snake in Camelot’s grass for Arthur and Merlin as they fend off Morgana’s attack in the epic conclusion of the season-opening episode entitled “The Darkest Hour, Part 2.” The episode premieres this Friday, January 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Syfy.

In “The Darkest Hour, Part 2” the kingdom of Camelot is on the brink of collapse as Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera) races back to Camelot with the dying Merlin, the Dorocha continue their siege on the kingdom, Arthur considers an unthinkable sacrifice … and Morgana waits to strike.

In light of Uther’s dwindling power, a new leader has arrived in Camelot – Agravaine, uncle to Prince Arthur. While positioning himself as mentor and guide to Arthur as he readies for the crown, the devious Agravaine’s allegiances actually lie with Morgana. As the new patriarchal figure in the kingdom, Agravaine figures intricately in Morgana’s plan to return to Camelot and assume the throne.

This isn’t the first man of mystery played by Parker, who is best known in the United States for his roles in films like Stardust and The Haunted Mansion. Throughout the UK and much of the rest of the world, Parker is highly regarded for his title role in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.

Parker, an avid MERLIN fan even before being cast (he watches regularly with his daughters), admits that he does relish playing the villain.

“Agravaine is pretty much a baddy – you know that within the first 20 minutes of the first episode – and yes, I do enjoy playing baddies,” Parker says. “We have changed the mythology a bit, but the bottom line is that Agravaine has come to help advise Arthur, and that isn’t going to be a good thing for him. I’m playing a fairly dark, mysterious character behind Arthur’s back, and it’s both a good part to play, and good fun playing it.”

Though the MERLIN cast has melded into a cohesive, tight-knit unit over its three seasons, Parker has quickly assimilated himself into the fabric of the show, and the hearts of his fellow actors

“I love Nat – he’s a brilliant and lovely to work with,” says Angel Coulby (Gwen). “Right away, he said, ‘You must tell me if I’m doing something wrong – I’m not as stern as I look.’ And he’s really not. I thought he was going to be very serious, very method, but he’s a lot sillier on set than I could’ve imagined, and he definitely blended into the MERLIN atmosphere quickly and easily.”

“When I think of Nat,” says Katie McGrath (Morgana), “I think of laughing --  during the entire season, he never stopped trying to make everyone laugh. Even on the longest days, when everyone was cold or tired. He was always there with a smile and a joke, bless him.”

“Guest artists have always commented that they’ve been so easily and readily been accepted on MERLIN, but I think that’s because it’s the kind of show that they can easily be assimilated,” explains Anthony Head (Uther). “The writing is strong, and the series has such a good rhythm – people just don’t feel under pressure. Plus, it’s always fun for us to get to play with someone new. And Nat definitely fits with this group.”

RICH JOHNSTON CHARGED WITH MANY MURDERS!

DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8 HAS DETAILS!

January 11, MILWAUKIE, OR—From the mind of the infamous editor of Bleeding Cool, Rich Johnston, comes a three-part tale of gruesome gossip: The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne, set to premiere in Dark Horse Presents #8!

Have you ever wondered how amateur detectives keep stumbling over dead bodies? Miss Cranbourne doesn’t. Because she kills them. Then finds someone else to pin the blame on.

In “The Vicar Slash’d from Side to Side,” Miss Cranbourne is at odds with the local man of God, and so introduces him to his maker. But in a 1940s English village held together by gossip and sharp looks, how will Miss Cranbourne ensure people look in the direction she’d prefer? And what happens when a man from Scotland Yard arrives to take over the case? This is Dexter meets Miss Marple. 

“Some people wonder how comic book deals are done. Dark Horse publishing The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne was a handshake deal made while standing in line at Ralph’s during San Diego Comic-Con. I recommend it to anyone,” states Rich Johnston.

The artist behind the story is Simon Rohrmüller, whose previous one-shot with Johnston, Watchmensch, received critical acclaim. 

“Working on The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne was loads of fun, as aside from the interesting concept, it reunited me with Rich on a project again. Having worked with Rich in the past, and knowing how easy he is to work with, there really was nothing to it; I just jumped straight into it, knowing I’d have a great time,” said Rohrmüller.

Dark Horse Presents #8 is on sale February 1, 2012!

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists.  In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, Will Eisner, and best-selling prose author Janet Evanovich, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and the Occultist. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan the Barbarian, Mass Effect, Serenity, and Domo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the United States and is recognized as both an innovator in the cause of creator rights and the comics industry’s leading publisher of licensed material.

PAPERCUTZ RELEASES “PAPERCUTZ SLICES #4: THE HUNGER PAINS”

PARODY GRAPHIC NOVEL DEBUTS AHEAD OF “THE HUNGER GAMES,”
ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MOVIES OF 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 11, 2012

(New York, NY) Following in the hallowed tradition of Mad Magazine, Papercutz, the premiere publisher of graphic novels for young readers, is proud to announce the latest release in its Papercutz Slices series of pop culture parodies: The Hunger Pains. A take-no-prisoners skewering of “The Hunger Games” book trilogy and movie – named the most anticipated movie of the year by an MTV poll – the graphic novel offers readers a moment of respite from their breathless anticipation.

Writer Stefan Petrucha and artist Rick Parker have received accolades for the Papercutz Slices series, but they are not resting on their laurels. Now, as Martha Cornog of Library Journal writes, The Hunger Pains is “the next victim for the Petrucha/Parker sausage machine, following the shredded remains of Harry Potty, breaking down, and Percy Jerkson. Meet the Hockingjay, and prepare for lots of birdspit. P'tooie!”

Stefan Petrucha is the author of such YA series as Timetripper and The Rule of Won, and has written every Nancy Drew Graphic Novel from Papercutz to date. Rick Parker’s artwork has been seen in the NY Times, Village Voice, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, to name a few, not to mention millions of MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head Comic Books worldwide. The popularity of Petrucha and Parker's collaboration on the “Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid” stories in Tales from the Crypt #8 led to the creation of the Papercutz Slices series.

The premiere American publisher of graphic novels for kids, tweens, and teens, Papercutz publishes a wide range of genres, from major licensed characters to international translations to original titles. Their hits include LEGO^®Ninjago, The Smurfs, Geronimo Stilton, Classics Illustrated, Nancy Drew graphic novels and more. Papercutz graphic novels are beloved by reluctant readers and passionate bookworms alike.

Papercutz Slices #4: Hunger Pains is 64 pages, 6” x 9”, full-color. The paperback is priced at $6.99, ISBN 978-1-59707-312-7. The hardcover is priced at $10.99, ISBN 978-1-59707-313-4. Publication date: February 2012. For ages 12 and above.

VIZ MEDIA OPENS 2012 WITH A BRAND NEW DIGITAL MANGA UPDATE FOR JANUARY

Updates Include WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA “Issue Zero” & “Issue Origins” Debut and Launch of Preorder Promotion; SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP Continues For BLEACH And ONE PIECE

VIZ Media begins 2012 with a brand new update of manga (graphic novels) titles available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad^®, iPhone^® and iPod^® touch.

The countdown to the January 30^th debut of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA (WEEKLY SJ ALPHA), North America’s only near-simultaneous digital manga magazine, continues with the debut of the free WEEKLY SJ ALPHA “Issue Zero” and “Issue Origins.” Get a taste of WEEKLY SJ ALPHA in “Issue Zero,” featuring the recently released-in-Japan chapters of BAKUMAN。, BLEACH, NARUTO, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, ONE PIECE and TORIKO. In “Issue Origins,” read where each story began in full first chapter previews, and see why millions of readers worldwide have fallen in love with these series.

Fans can now pre-order an annual subscription or gift a subscription to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA at SJ.viz.com/preorder. All preorders include entry to win a 16GB WiFi iPad 2. This special limited time promotion will end January 30^th at 10AM Pacific. 

Subscribers to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA will receive a full year’s subscription (48 issues), an annual collector’s yearbook, and access to exclusive content, including creator interviews and videos. The first interview, featuring NARUTO creator Masashi Kishimoto, debuts the same day WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA launches on Monday, January 30^th.

The SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP continues with the release of the latest BLEACH Vol. 52 and ONE PIECE Vol. 63. The SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP is a ‘speed-up’ of selected titles to bring U.S. readers up-to-date with Japanese releases and prepare for the launch of WEEKLY SJ ALPHA.

Manga volumes launching this week include:

BLACK BIRD Vol. 12

BLEACH Vol. 52

DENGEIKI DAISY Vol. 8

ONE PIECE Vol. 63

VIZ Media’s multiple digital manga platforms allow for universal access to read manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, on VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers as well as Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world. Over 45 series and 500+ volumes are currently available, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps. 

WREKIN HILL ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES An ACCELERATED RELEASE PLAN for THE FLOWERS OF WAR

Following a successful December qualifying run, the Christian Bale-starrer will now open in the top U.S. markets on January 20.

New York, NY (January 10, 2012) - Los Angeles-based distributor Wrekin Hill Entertainment announced today that the company, in association with Row 1 Productions, will be pushing up the nationwide theatrical release for THE FLOWERS OF WAR, starring Christian Bale and directed by renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou.  The film - a blockbuster in China - will now open on Friday, January 20th, 2012 in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and 10 other cities.   

The accelerated distribution plan follows strong box office grosses during the film's U.S. qualifying run in late December. The film averaged over $30,000 per screen and was among the top grossing films of the year in the three theaters in which it opened. In just a few weeks after its mid-December release in China, the film became the highest grossing Chinese film of 2011, and is still going strong. The film has been nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Foreign Language Film.

"We had an incredible response to the film during our one-week qualifying run, with sell-out shows and increasing demand as the week unfolded," Wrekin Hill President and CEO Chris Ball said. "As the exceptional grosses in the US and China have shown, this is a film that audiences are passionately embracing and that has real staying power."

In THE FLOWERS OF WAR, Director Zhang Yimou (RAISE THE RED LANTERN, JU DOU, HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) tells an epic story of love and sacrifice. The film, set during Japan's 1937 invasion of China, is told from a young girl's point of view, not as a history lesson, but as an intimate, elemental and paradoxically universal celebration of the human spirit.   Bale stars as a dissolute Westerner who seeks refuge in a Catholic church. There he meets a beautiful Chinese courtesan who helps him rescue a group of schoolgirls from a terrible fate at the hands of the Japanese.

THE FLOWERS OF WAR was adapted by Liu Heng and Geling Yan from the novel by Geling Yan. The film is produced by Zhang Weiping (marking his tenth collaboration with Zhang Yimou) under his New Pictures Film banner. The executive producers are Chaoying Deng, David Linde, and Bill Kong.

THE FLOWERS OF WAR, which is being released by Wrekin Hill Entertainment in association with Row 1 Productions, will open in the following cities on January 20^th: New York, Los Angeles (including Orange County), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and Washington DC.

About Wrekin Hill Entertainment

WREKIN HILL ENTERTAINMENT is a Los Angeles-based production and distribution company, founded by the former Newmarket Films team of Chris Ball and Rene Cogan. Ball and Cogan built a reputation at Newmarket for producing and distributing such indie classics as MEMENTO, DONNIE DARKO, WHALE RIDER, MONSTER, and THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.  Wrekin Hill has a multi-year US home entertainment distribution deal with Lionsgate, and a three-year multi-platform output deal with Canadian distributor eOne. The company aims to distribute four to five quality theatrical releases each year, in addition to its ancillary driven output with a focus on the same kind of director-driven specialty films on which the team has built its reputation. During 2011, Wrekin Hill theatrically released such films as Peter Weir's THE WAY BACK, and Spencer Susser's HESHER starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and Natalie Portman. Upcoming releases in 2012 include Academy Award®-nominated Morgan Spurlock's fanboy documentary COMIC-CON EPISODE IV - A FAN'S HOPE.

About Row 1 Productions

Row 1 Productions was founded by a group of private investors including world-renowned Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Rick Lehman. In addition to his prestigious medical practice, Lehman also has several holdings which include entertainment, medicine and an ownership stake in the NHL's Florida Panthers.  Row 1 Production's investments include domestic rights acquisition and early stage bridge financing for production.  Row 1 has provided financing for Stephen Frears' LAY THE FAVORITE, FROZEN GROUND starring Nicholas Cage, and BROKEN CITY starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe.  Row 1 Productions is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California.

EPIC BATTLES COME TO LIFE ON STUNNING

BLU-RAY

 

 

Featuring Alternate Beginning and Endings Visually-Striking Film Explodes on 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray Triple Play and DVD March 6

 

One brave warrior, touched by the gods, must overcome all odds to save mankind from a merciless and powerful tyrant when IMMORTALS comes to Blu-ray and DVD on March 6^th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Directed by visionary filmmaker Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) and written by Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides, the home entertainment release is chock-full of must-see bonus features including an alternate beginning, two alternate endings, deleted scenes and an amazing graphic novel, creating the ultimate viewing experience.  

 

From the producers of 300, Mark Canton, Gianni Nunnari, and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, IMMORTALS explodes off the screen with action-packed battles, mythological adventure and an all-star cast including: Henry Cavill (Superman: Man of Steel), Luke Evans (Robin Hood), Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies), John Hurt (Hellboy) and Mickey Rourke (Iron Man 2). In this epic tale of vengeance and destiny, power-mad King Hyperion (Rourke) threatens to destroy all of humanity on his maniacal quest to obtain the ultimate weapon – the legendary Epirus Bow that gives the power to unleash war on both Heaven and Earth.  But Theseus (Cavill), a heroic young villager chosen by the gods, rises up to stop Hyperion’s brutal rampage.  With supernatural help from the beautiful oracle Phaedra (Pinto), Theseus embraces his destiny and leads a fierce band of warriors in a desperate fight for the future of mankind.

 

IMMORTALS is available on Blu-ray and DVD on March 6^th and was theatrically-released by Relativity Media on November 11, 2011.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES (Blu-ray plus Digital Copy):

·         Alternate Opening

-        Young Theseus

·         Two Alternate Endings

-        This Is Our Last Embrace

-        Theseus Kills Hyperion

·         Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes

-        It’s No Myth

-        Caravaggio Meets Fight Club: Tarsem’s Vision

·         Deleted Scenes

·         Immortals: Gods & Heroes (Graphic Novel)

 

 

SPECIAL FEATURES (DVD):

·         Deleted Scenes

·         Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes

-        It’s No Myth

 

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

 

# # #

 

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

VIZ MEDIA SIMULCASTS THE NEW SCI-FI ANIME SERIES LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE ON VIZANIME.COM

Kinetic Action Comedy Series Created By Production I.G. Features An Arsenal Of Robots Designed By Nissan;

First Episode Available To Stream Now!

San Francisco, CA, January 9, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, excites anime fans with the announcement of the U.S. online simulcast premiere of the brand new series, LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE, on VIZAnime.com, the company’s own website for free anime, as well as on the free, ad-supported Hulu service and in high-definition on the Hulu Plus subscription service (www.Hulu.com). The first episode (subtitled) is available now with new installments scheduled to debut each Sunday!

In addition, Kazé SAS will be the official partner in the United Kingdom for the simulcast of LAGRANGE - THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE. Episode 1 is now available on www.anime-on-demand.com, with new episodes debuting every Sunday.

LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE just launched on Japanese television on January 8^th, and is produced by Studio XEBEC (Broken Blade, Martian Successor Nadesico, Fafner), created by the famed animation studio, Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell S.A.C Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings), and directed by Tatsuo Sato (Martian Successor Nadesico, Ninja Scroll: The Series, Stellvia). The robots are designed in collaboration with Nissan Motor Co., LTD’s creative team, chosen from more than 60 designs from an internal Nissan design competition.

LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE (Rated TV-MA) depicts the adventures of a 17 year-old girl whose mission becomes to defend her city from invading space aliens. Madoka Kyono is an energetic girl who is full of passion. As the proud, and only, member of the Kamogawa Girls’ High School Jersey Club, she goes around helping people in need. But Madoka’s life is turned upside down when she is suddenly asked by a mysterious girl named Lan to pilot a robot. Motivated by her desire to protect the people and city of Kamogawa, Madoka agrees to pilot the resurrected Vox robot to fight against extraterrestrials that have come to attack Earth.

“LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE is a hilarious, action-packed story about a determined teenager that devotes herself to protecting Kamagawa City and its peaceful inhabitants against mysterious alien invaders,” says Brian Ige, Vice President, Animation. “The story features a stylish cast of lead characters, as well as an arsenal of sleek, battle ready robots conceived by a team of top car designers from Nissan Motors. The series plays an important part of our 2012 roster which will deliver near-simultaneous release of many top anime properties throughout the year.”

VIZAnime.com is a free-to-use web destination that is now the permanent home to some of the company’s best-loved animated series. Over 1,800 episodes are currently available, and new content is added on a weekly basis. Series currently simulcast on VIZAnime.com include TIGER & BUNNY, BLUE EXORCIST, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN and BLEACH. Other fan-favorite series available include CROSS GAME, DEATH NOTE, FULL MOON, INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, KEKKAISHI, NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, ONE PIECE, VAMPIRE KNIGHT, and more!

For more information on LAGRANGE – THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE and other VIZ Media anime titles, please visit www.VIZAnime.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

About Kazé SAS

Kazé is the leading distributor for Japanese anime in France and beyond, and has gone from strength to strength since becoming a part of VIZ Media Europe. Kazé has a diverse selection of licenses including TV series like BLEACH, DEATH NOTE and PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETERNAL DIVA, across a wide variety of products including DVDs, CDs and merchandise. Watch out in 2012 for new and innovative ways to watch animé from Kazé and a host of other partners in the UK! 

GENERATION LAST

Joe Keatinge and Andre Szmanowicz Drag Superheroes Into the 21st Century

Berkeley, CA – 6 January 2011 –  The future is now as Eisner and Harvey award-winnerJoe Keatinge and ELEPHANTMEN's Andre Szymanowicz debut the last generation of superheroes in the new ongoing series HELL YEAH.

Twenty years ago, the world was rocked by the emergence of real-life superheroes. Sports and entertainment industries collapsed overnight as people run across the planet and punch through walls changed the word forever. A new global culture formed around these bigger-than-life beings and now the generation raised in its wake must fight to find a place in this brave new world! By pairing the energy and excitement of the original Image superheroes with modern, innovative storytelling, Keatinge and Szymanowicz have crafted a modern superhero epic that could only begin on Image's 20th anniversary.

"HELL YEAH exists because Image Comics exists," explained Keatinge. "I read superhero comics my whole life, but when Image Comics debuted, it made me realize all the rules and restrictions I saw in other superhero comics didn't have to exist. Anything could happen. You could kill lead characters in first issues. Obliterate long-standing villains in a page turn. They could be in different tone than what's normally presented by the diversity shown in anything from YOUNGBLOOD to CASUAL HEROES. They didn't have to be noble, they didn't have to maintain the same status quo. It was turned into a genre where the term 'impossible' didn't exist. Due to all this my imagination went into over drive and after twenty years of percolating in my brain, HELL YEAH was born."

"I've been having a ball drawing HELL YEAH and watching how these characters develop, and at the same time its just a great blend of mainstream and indie comics coming together," added Szymanowicz. "On one hand they are just like how I was at this age: aimless, going to rock shows and trying to find someone to date. Then there's the side of it where they are in this superhero world and can sorta kick somebody's ass (or get their own handed to them) from time to time."

HELL YEAH begins with Ben Day, a college student who finds out versions of himself are being murdered throughout the Multiverse. He must determine where his life diverged from his other selves and just why these crimes have taken the interest of even the world's greatest super-celebrities. Keatinge and Szmanowicz build a sweeping world with a massive cast of characters, a world that threatens to destroy Ben's very existence.

"Nothing excites me more than raw, undiluted creativity, and HELL YEAH delivers that in spades," said Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Joe and Andre are dragging superheroes kicking, screaming and spitting blood into a brave new world where the impossible is possible, nothing is sacred and no one is safe. HELL YEAH, indeed."

HELL YEAH #1 (JAN120501), an 32-page full-color superhero comic book with no ads for $2.99, will be on sale in stores and digital platforms on March 7 and is available for order in the January issue of Previews. A preview of the first issue of HELL YEAH will be featured at the end of John Layman and Rob Guillory's CHEW #23 on January 18th.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

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

1222 STUDIOS ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLISHING VENTURE, KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN FOR FIRST COMIC BOOK

JANUARY 6, LOS ANGELES, CA – 1222 Studios is proud to announce the first title in a new comic book publishing initiative along with a Kickstarter campaign to fund the first four issue mini-series (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1222studios/believer).  The brainchild of Flickcast.com editor-in-chief Chris Ullrich and PopCultureZoo.com editor-in-chief Joseph Dilworth Jr., this new publishing venture will kick off with Believer, the story of Jack Hollenbeck, disgraced Los Angeles police detective turned tabloid reporter and occasional private investigator who is hired by a mysterious woman and her aging father to locate an ancient object of incredible value . . . and incredible power. 

Also in the works is Wednesday, an original science-fiction saga that follows the last Human Being in the galaxy as he tries to find out what happened to the rest of humanity.  Two additional titles are also in production and you will hear more about them in the coming weeks.

On the artwork side, Ullrich and Dilworth have teamed up with Kris Carter on Believer.  A few pages from the first issue are available to look at on the Kickstarter page with more to come.  The artist for Wednesday will be announced soon.

“I’m really excited to kick off our new publishing venture with Believer. It’s a story I’ve been waiting to tell for a long time and I can’t think of a better time, place and person to work with on it,” said Ullrich.

“I’m very pleased to find a creative brother in Chris and have been really wowed by Kris’ finished pages for Believer,” added Dilworth.  “The stories we have coming your way are a lot of fun and we think readers will really enjoy them.”

Chris Ullrich and Joe Dilworth are available for interviews.  Digital review copies of the first issue of Believer will be sent out a week or so prior to publication.  Thank you for your interest and please let us know about any questions or requests.

ABOUT CHRIS ULLRICH

Chris began his professional career while still in college and worked in the entertainment industry as a writer, production manager and producer. During that time, he also became a member of the Director’s Guild of America and gained extensive experience producing feature films, series television, music videos, commercials and more.  In the last ten years Chris has spent the majority of his time writing. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of The Flickcast and has written for other sites including The Unofficial Apple Weblog, Comic Mix, Comic Book Resources, Cinematical, Download Squad and LAist. In addition, he is also currently writing several comic book projects, including Believer, various screenplays and a sci-fi novel.

He’s also very fond of bios written in the third person, which make him sound far more important than he actually is. For more about Chris, check out his Blog and follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

ABOUT JOE DILWORTH

Joseph Dilworth Jr. has been writing since he could hold a pencil (back then it was one of those big, fat red pencils, the Faber-Castell GOLIATH. Remember those? Now that was a pencil!).  He has been editor-in-chief of Pop Culture Zoo for four years, a fiction writer for two decades and a comic book reader his whole life.  Joe is a regular voice on The Comics Archive podcast and has appeared on TV Times Three and BJ Shea’s Geek Nation.  He likes quiet evenings by the Kindle Fire and long walks through his imagination. 

See what Joe is currently up to via Twitter and Facebook.

ABOUT 1222 STUDIOS

1222 Studios was founded in 2009 by Chris Ullrich and Matt Raub with the express goal of creating new and exciting content such as comic books, web series, TV programs and feature films. It is currently in production on the podcast and website The Flickcast and has several other projects in various stages of development.

For more on 1222 Studios, visit the website or Facebook page.

NEW PEOPLE ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATES GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER RELEASE WITH SPECIAL THEATRICAL FILM SCREENINGS AT S.F. JAPANESE POP CULTURE THEATRE

Exciting Concluding Chapter Of Kinetic Japanese Sci-Fi Film Epic Based On Popular Manga Series Released On DVD/Blu-ray; NEW PEOPLE In San Francisco To Screen GANTZ I and GANTZ II On January 14^th

San Francisco, CA, January 4, 2012– NEW PEOPLE Entertainment celebrates the recently announced release of GANTZ II: Perfect Answer on DVD/Blu-ray with a special series of screenings of the entire GANTZ film saga on Saturday, January 14^th at the S.F. Film Society | NEW PEOPLE Cinema located in San Francisco’s Japantown. Tickets are $10. Additional ticket and film info is available at: www.newpeopleworld.com/films.

GANTZ (Dubbed) 1:00pm

GANTZ II: Perfect Answer (Dubbed) 4:00pm

GANTZ II: Perfect Answer (Subtitled) 7:00pm

All those attending the screenings of GANTZ II: Perfect Answer will receive a free full-color GANTZ poster. A special ticket bundle is also available for $25 (DVD) or $30 (Blu-ray) that includes a movie pass, poster, and either the DVD or Blu-ray release.

How will we face the end? The GANTZ saga meets its ultimate conclusion in GANTZ II: Perfect Answer, which offers an intensely gripping story-line yet to be known to even readers of the original manga series. Determined to resurrect his friends who have died on previous missions, Kei and other members trapped in the world of GANTZ aim to score the 100 points needed to break through and regain their freedom. But with the emergence of a mysterious man investigating the Gantz members, Gantz begins to act up and the next target shocks the members. Some fight for love, some for justice but what will each member sacrifice?

GANTZ and GANTZ II: Perfect Answer are based on a popular manga series created by Hiroya Oku. The ongoing 31-volume sci-fi action epic has sold more than 16 million copies in Japan and is published in North America by Dark Horse Comics. The live-action films star leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City).

Kazunari Ninomiya, best known in America for his role in Clint Eastwood’s 2006 blockbuster, Letters from Iwo Jima, is both an actor and a singer. He is also world-renowned as a member of the Japanese boy band “Arashi,” which topped Japan’s music charts in 2009 with the three best-selling singles.

Kenichi Matsuyama is currently one of the most sought-after actors in Japanese film and he has won several awards including Japanese Academy Awards Best New Actor (2007) and Most Popular Actor (2009). Matsuyama is widely recognized for his part as L in Death Note (2006), Death Note II: the Last Name (2006) and Death Note: L, change the WorLd (2008) and also for his portrayal of Johannes Krauser II in the outlandish rock and roll comedy, Detroit Metal City (2009).

For more information on GANTZ and other NEW PEOPLE Entertainment films, please visit: www.newpeopleent.com.

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Harry Potter star will be Slytherin into town for the Calgary Expo!

(Calgary, AB) Tom Felton, best known as the devious Draco Malfoy in all eight Harry Potter films will be making an appearance at the Calgary Expo April 27-29. Other roles to his credit include Dodge Landon in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Louis Leonowens in Anna and the King opposite Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster and Peagreen Clock in The Borrowers.

As an accomplished musician, Tom has recorded an album available on iTunes and Amazon.com entitled In Good Hands.

“The Harry Potter books and subsequent films have been pillars of pop culture for well over a decade,” states Event Director Kandrix Foong. “Given our involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s World Wish Day this year, having Tom Felton at our show will be great for children who have grown up watching him play Draco, and for adults who have also come to love the Harry Potter series.”

Family will be a big focus for The Calgary Expo with kids 12 and under getting in free of charge. The convention will also be celebrating The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s World Wish Day on April 29 which will feature a children’s costume contest and programming developed specifically for families and children.

The Calgary Expois a non-profit organization that showcases the incredible talent of comic creators, artists, actors, voice actors, musicians, writers and pop culture icons from all over the world.  Founded in 2006, the convention has grown rapidly having hosted guests from every genre including William Shatner, Twilight’s Peter Facinelli, Star Wars’ Billy Dee Williams, Neville Longbottom actor Matthew Lewis, Owly artist Andy Runton, and Jo Chen, famous cover artist for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8.  The 2011 convention saw 30,000 attendees and is the 2nd largest convention of its kind in all of Canada.

Guests for the 2012 Calgary Expo currently include Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), Amanda Tapping (Stargate: SG-1, Sanctuary), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, 24), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Adam West (original Batman and Family Guy) and voice actor Tara Strong (My Little Pony: Friendship is magic and The Powerpuff Girls), Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Scream 4), Adam Baldwin (Serenity, Firefly, Full Metal Jacket), John Noble (Fringe and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), Jasika Nicole (Fringe), and Dave Prowse (Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange).

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo will be held April 27 – 29, 2012 at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
For more information and tickets, visit our website at www.calgaryexpo.com 

WITCHBLADE'S NEW START

Witchblade Moves to Chicago and Invites New Fans To Join Her

Berkeley, CA – 4 January 2011 – The New Year brings a slew of fresh starts and Witchblade bearer, Sara Pezzini, is no exception. Pezzini will start 2012 in Chicago with a new job and brand new life, thanks to the fresh ongoing creative team of Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name).

Sara Pezzini has always been a born and bred New York City detective, in addition to wielding the ancient Artifacts, the Witchblade. That all changes with WITCHBLADE #151, the first issue by Seeley and Bernard, which finds Pezzini living outside of the Big Apple for the first time in the series history and working as a private detective. The mystery of how and why Sara is in Chicago, as well as what else has changed about her situation, will drive the story and reader interest for the coming year. This issue kicks off the 5-part story arc, entitled “Unbalanced Pieces,” in which Sara must find a way to balance her new role in the Windy City.

"WITCHBLADE is a dream project or me: A great character, an epic art and editorial team, and an important legacy in the history of comic books!" said Seeley. "Top Cow is giving me an awesome opportunity to reintroduce Sara Pezzini to new fans, old readers, and to a whole new setting!"

WITCHBLADE #151 is the first issue in Top Cow’s REBIRTH, an initiative spinning out of the end of the ARTIFACTS event, which concludes in ARTIFACTS #13. REBIRTH will provide ground-level entry points for each of Top Cow’s Universe titles - WITCHBLADE, THE DARKNESS, and ARTIFACTS - and ushers in a bold new age of story-telling to coincide with Top Cow’s 20th Anniversary. In addition to containing the full first story by Seeley and Bernard, the issue will include a five page bridging sequence by Ron Marz (MAGDALENA) and John Tyler Christopher (ARTIFACTS) and an ongoing prose story backup feature by Seeley. 

WITCHBLADE #151 is a 32-page full-color comic with no ads for $2.99, and will be available in comic stores and digitally today. This issue ships with two wraparound covers by regular cover artist Christopher. For more information, please visit www.topcow.com.

ABOUT TOP COW PRODUCTIONS INC. 

Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise,WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008.WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. A second game is slated for release from 2K Games in the Fall of 2011. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

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