DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES SPIKE SERIES!

JOSS WHEDON’S ANTIHERO VAMPIRE RETURNS!

APRIL 18, MILWAUKIE, OR – Dark Horse Comics announces a brand-new Spike miniseries slated for release this summer!  

Written by Victor Gischler (X-Men, Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth) and drawn by Paul Lee (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Devil’s Footprints), Spike promises to be the series all Joss Whedon fans will be talking about.

Spike ventures off world in his bug ship in order to get away from some personal frustration on terra firma, and winds up sucked into a demonic plot to take advantage of the absence of magic on earth.  

“What I love about working with Dark Horse on Buffy-related material is that they take great care to capture the feel of the characters and stories from the television show, of which I was a huge fan. Getting my hands on the characters I’ve loved so much over the years is a dream come true,” said Gischler. 

Spike #1 will be on sale August 22, 2012!

About Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products

A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox Broadcasting Company, as well as third-party lines. The division is aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top suppliers of primetime entertainment programming to the broadcast networks.

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.

Don Bluth's Dragon's Lair Digital Comic Series Debuts on the App Store

Santa Barbara, Calif. - April 18, 2012 - zuuka Comics, developer of the Cut The Rope digital comic engine, are proud to announce the launch of Don Bluth's Dragon's Lair Comic App for for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, now available on the App Store. The first-ever digitalrelease of Don Bluth's Dragon's Lair Comic series debuts with the original issues No. 1 through No. 6.

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dragons-lair-comics/id500760670?ls=1&mt=8

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yHLKoX4TvQ

Based on the original classic arcade game released in 1983, the Dragon's Lair Comic series is celebrating its launch by offering fans the first issue for free.

"Don Bluth's vision and creative genius with Dragon's Lair set a new standard for animation and since then has entertained millions through video games and graphic novels," said Woody Sears, founder of zuuka. "We are very honored to be bring fans the first-ever digital comic series of such a popular title as Dragon's Lair and know they'll enjoy it just as much as we do."

"We are proud to be associated with zuuka Comics and their line up of digital comic books," responded Don Bluth.

Gary Goldman said, "We hope the fans of comic book stories will enjoy having this series on their Apple mobile devices, the presentation of the Dragon's Lair Comic series looks great!"
Dragon's Lair Comic issue No. 1 begins the adventure with the deadly dragon Singe swearing revenge on Dirk the Daring for killing his offspring as he swoops up Princess Daphne in his razor-sharp claws. Now, armed with his courage and skills, the brave knight must survive the dangers of the Dark Kingdom to save his Princess. It's swordplay, sorcery, dragons, and damsels...plus a pinch of humor. Lead on, adventurer...your quest awaits! Credits: Andy Mangels (writer), Fabio Laguna (pencils/inks), Tony Washington (color) and Don Bluth (cover art - pencil).
Pricing and Availability:
Don Bluth's Dragon's Lair Comic App is available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or atwww.itunes.com/appstore <http://www.itunes.com/appstore> . Issue No. 1 is free, and issues No. 2-6 are available for $1.99 each through In-App Purchase.

Credits:
Writers
Andy Mangels (Chapters 1 - 4)
Ryan Foley (Chapters 5 and 6)
Jimmy PS Hayes (Bonus Story)

Art
Fabio Languna (Trade Covers, All Chapters, Bonus Story and Chapter Covers 2 - 6)
Don Bluth (Chapter Cover 1 and Bonus Story)

Colors
Tony Washington (Trade Cover, Chapters 1 - 3 and Chapter Covers 2 - 4)
Arcana Studio (Chapters 4 - 6)
Val Staples (Chapter Covers 1, 5, and 6)
James Offredi (Bonus Story)
Brian Miller (Bonus Cover Story)

Letters
Bill Tortolini (Chapters 1 - 5)
Ed Dukeshire (Chapter 6 and Bonus Story)

Graphic Design
DMF Comics

About zuuka
zuuka Comics is part of zuuka who publishes iTalk and iStoryTime - an interactive storytelling experience delivered to the convenience of your mobile device - which features a series of illustrated and narrated books created by parents for kids. iStoryTime books have been highlighted in the New York Times, LA Times, CBS Early Show, theiPhoneMom.com, CNET and is decorated with Publisher's Innovation Award, PTPA Media's Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal of Approval, the Children's Technology Review's Editor's Choice Award and Reader's Choice for Best Apps for Kids. With over 100 titles to choose from including favorites such as Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Peter Pan and Binky the Pink Elephant, iStoryTime books are an excellent tool for both educating and entertaining children ages two years and up. These storybooks can be enjoyed in several different modes ranging from automatic to manual, depending upon the development and preferences of the user. For additional information, visit www.iStoryTime.com<http://www.iStoryTime.com> .

About Don Bluth Films, Inc.
Established in 2000, Don Bluth & Gary Goldman continue their independence with their production company, Don Bluth Films, Inc., developing feature-length properties, short projects and video games.  While at Walt Disney Productions, Bluth and Goldman worked on classic animated features including Robin Hood, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, The Rescuers, Pete's Dragon, The Small One and The Fox and the Hound.  As independent filmmakers Bluth & Goldman have produced a number of hits including: Banjo the Woodpile Cat that started their long career and a legacy of animated films.  Other projects include: The Secret of NIMH, Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Rock-A-Doodle, Thumbelina, Anastasia, Bartok the Magnificent and Titan A. E.  Today Bluth & Goldman are synonymous with traditional animated films, shorts and video games.  These filmmakers continue to develop and create heartwarming stories for everyone.  Currently Producers/Directors Bluth & Goldman have nine new film projects in the works, three scripted and five in various states of creative development.

Moonstone Books

August ’12 releases

Honey West #7

Story: Trina Robbins

Art: Silvestre Szilagyi

Colors:  James Brown

Covers: Marat Mychaels

32pgs, color, $3.99

(Marat cover = 75%, color photo = 15%, b/w Photo cover = 10%, )

Part 2 of 2: MURDER, FORSOOTH -Honey goes undercover in a corset and pushup bra at a Medieval Faire, to find out who’s threatening to kill the May Queen. And when those beauty queens go at it tooth and nail, battling for a prize that could lead to stardom, and when that contest might very well be fixed, woe betide the girl who wins, because her jealous rivals might make sure that it’s adios!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Zombies vs Cheerleaders Presents:

The Misadventures of Becky and Bob #1
(W) Steven L Frank (A) David Namisato, Danielle Gransaull
32pgs, color, $3.99

Straight from the pages of Zombies vs Cheerleaders! Becky is the plucky and caring cheerleader. Bob is the zombie who doesn't want to eat brains, he just wants to fit in and have friends. What sort of craziness do they get into? Check it out in this spectacular first issue! One's hot and the other's a zombie!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FULL MOON: Phases of the Moon

Story: Paul D. Storrie, CJ Henderson, Earl Mac Rauch

Art: Nathan Stockman, Glen Fernandez
Cover: Andy Black

78pgs, PC, $29.99

The only occasion this crazy time-travelling serial killer saga will appear all together in color!

What started with The Spider, Domino Lady, Honey West, Kolchak and others…ends here!

*Plus the unseen final chapter starring SHEENA!

*Plus a recently uncovered BUCKAROO BANZAI part of this tale!

*Plus a never before seen epilogue starring KOLCHAK, as years later he uncovers the even more startling truth behind the lies!

IDW Brings TRANSFORMERS: REGENERATION ONE #81 in July Featuring all new stories by original writers Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman    San Diego, CA (April 17, 2012) – Picking up the story twenty-one years later, IDW Publishing, in association with Hasbro, is pleased to announce TRANSFORMERS: REGENERATION ONE, an all-new monthly series continuing from the original Generation One TRANSFORMERS comics. IDW will kick off the event by offering fans a free TRANSFORMERS: REGENERATION ONE #80.5 for Free Comic Book Day, May 5, 2012, as a Gold Sponsorship comic—then continue with TRANSFORMERS: REGENERATION ONE #81 in July! Writer Simon Furman and legendary TRANSFORMERS artist Andrew Wildman are back to their original roots with all-new stories, beginning with the free TRANSFORMERS: REGENERATION ONE #80.5. Starting after 1991’s TRANSFORMERS #80 comic epic conclusion, the free issue picks up as OPTIMUS PRIME watches over a CYBERTRON that hasn't faced MEGATRON for decades. But that peace shudders to an end and dives headlong into July's new series. “The original TRANSFORMERS saga is back—with a vengeance!” exclaimed Furman, “‘epic’ doesn’t cover it!” TRANSFORMERS: REGENRATION ONE #81 comic will feature many fan-favorite Generation One TRANSFORMERS characters including OPTIMUS PRIME, GRIMLOCK, KUP, HOT ROD, ULTRA MAGNUS and more. “Its always nice to complete unfinished business, even after 20 years,” said Wildman. Artist Stephen Baskerville, the original inker on the classic issues, joins Wildman on interiors as inker, as Wildman also provides eye-catching covers. “TRANSFORMERS: REGENRATION ONE comic is an important book to TRANSFORMERS fans,” IDW Senior Editor John Barber commented, “and expectations are high. Fortunately Simon, Andrew, and Stephen have only gotten better since the last issue!” TRANSFORMERS: REGENERATION ONE #80.5 (Free, 32 pages; full color) will be available on May 5, 2012 as part of Free Comic Book Day.   TRANSFORMERS: REGENERATION ONE #81 ($3.99, 32 pages; full color) will be available in July 2012. Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

About IDW Publishing IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s DOCTOR WHO; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coasts Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, and Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, while Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film. About Hasbro Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company's world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Company’s Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for markets around the world. The Hub TV Network is part of a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), in the U.S. Through the company's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies.” Learn more at www.hasbro.com.  © 2012 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

VIZ MEDIA PROMOTES ALVIN LU TO

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLISHING

San Francisco, CA, April 16, 2012 – VIZ Media, the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, has promoted Alvin Lu to Executive Vice President of Publishing.

“Compelling content has been driving our business for 25 years,” said Ken Sasaki, President and CEO of VIZ Media. “Alvin always made sure VIZ Media had the best manga titles direct from Japan, and his creative instincts are unparalleled in the industry.”

Alvin Lu, who among other accomplishments has overseen the remarkable growth of VIZ Media’s graphic novel publishing line over the years, will head the publishing team. In his new role, he will focus on maintaining VIZ Media’s position as the leading trade graphic novel publisher in North America and taking the program in bold new directions. Lu began his career at VIZ Media in 2000 as the Editor-in-Chief of the critically renowned PULP magazine and has since worked to serve as one of the main bridges between the North American and Japanese publishing industries during the years of manga’s phenomenal growth. More recently he has led VIZ Media’s charge into original graphic novel content and digital delivery.

“Manga is more than a term that translates as ‘comics from Japan’,” said Lu. “It’s a unique art form with its own grammar, history, and pedigree. Increasingly, it’s become a visual language that can be read by young people around the world and a form for young artists to aspire to. I see VIZ Media as being at the heart of the global migration of the language of manga.”

For more information, visit www.viz.com.  

AUCTION HOUSE
PROFILES IN HISTORY
CHOSEN TO SELL THE FABLED
DREIER HOLLYWOOD/POP CULTURE MEMORABILIA
COLLECTION THIS SUMMER

 

LOS ANGELES- APRIL 16-  Profiles in History have been selected to handle the sale of the celebrated Dreier Collection. Due to the size, scope and significance of the Dreier Collection, it will take nearly two years and several auctions to offer all of the material.  The first installment of the Dreier Collection will be sold in July 2012.

Some of the highlights of this historic collection include:

· The most significant Christopher Reeve “Superman” collection in private hands
· Michael Jackson’s signature leather costume from his “Bad” tour
· The most important Willy Wonka collection extant
· Signature Costumes and Props from such legendary films as Star Trek, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, X-Men, Batman, Austin Powers to name a few

According to Joe Maddalena, CEO and President of Profiles in History, the importance of the Dreier Collection cannot be overstated.  “This is a monumental offering, and it is a collection that commands every adjective you can think of – impeccable, amazing, phenomenal, diverse, top quality.  Even the most seasoned collector will be blown away by the collection’s depth, breadth and level of importance.”

“Our family has been honored to house these treasures over the last 15 years, and now it is time to share them with the hobby,” said father and son collectors, Chad and Doug Dreier. “Joe Maddalena and the crew at Profiles In History were clearly the right choice to help us with the collection.”


ABOUT PROFILES IN HISTORY
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the nation's leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts.  Born into a family of antiques dealers in Rhode Island, Joseph "Joe" Maddalena learned early on how to turn his passion of collecting historical autographs into a career. Needing to support himself, Joe turned to his hobby of buying and selling historical documents as a potential way to earn revenue. On weekends he scoured old Hollywood bookstores for letters and rare books. Upon graduation from Pepperdine, Joe pursued his passion to become a full-time dealer of historical documents, and opened his first office in 1985. A lifetime member of the Manuscript Society, Joe is widely recognized as the nation's leading authority on entertainment memorabilia and historical documents. Profiles in History has established itself as the world’s largest auctioneer of original Hollywood memorabilia, having held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia and owning virtually every Guinness Book record prices for original screen-used memorabilia. With an extensive network of dealers, collectors, and institutions, Profiles in History is proud to play an important role in the preservation of motion picture history. Prior Profiles in History Hollywood auctions highlights include the "Cowardly Lion" costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); Steve McQueen's "Michael Delaney" racing suit from Le Mans ($960,000); a Panavision motion picture camera used by George Lucas to film Star Wars ($624,000); a full-scale model T-800 Endoskeleton from Terminator 2: Judgment Day ($488,750); Marilyn Monroe's platinum & diamond wedding band from her marriage to Joe DiMaggio ($504,000); Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds” dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ($356,500); a King Kong 1933 six-sheet movie poster ($345,000); Luke Skywalker’s light saber from Star Wars ($240,000); Margaret Hamilton’s “Wicked Witch” hat from The Wizard Of Oz ($230,000); and The Invisible Man 1933 one-sheet movie poster ($230,000). Most recently from the history-making Debbie Reynolds Auction in June 2011, Profiles in History sold the Marilyn Monroe "Subway" Dress from The Seven Year Itch for $5.52M, the Marilyn Monroe signature red-sequined showgirl gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for $1.44M and the Audrey Hepburn Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady for $4.44M. In addition, Joe Maddalena is the star of SyFy's hit show, Hollywood Treasure. With already 24 episodes aired, Hollywood Treasure is gearing up for an exciting return on May 22, 2012 at 10pm (ET/PT) taking viewers into the fascinating world of showbiz and pop culture memorabilia.

A STRING OF SELL OUTS FOR THIEF OF THIEVES

Robert Kirkman's latest series gets multiple reprints

THIEF OF THIEVES #3, published by Skybound/Image Comics, has sold out at the distributor level just like the second issue. The first issue sold out on the first day of release. A second printing (MAR128105) will be in stores on May 5, the same day as THIEF OF THIEVES #4. 

More and more readers are snatching up this action-packed crime noir, so the first issue has also been returned to print yet again. The third printing of THIEF OF THIEVES #1 (MAR128105) is available for order immediately and will also be stores in stores on May 5.

"We are bringing heist stories to readers with a new twist by showing the humanity of all of the characters, including the criminals," said THIEF OF THIEVES creator/writer Robert Kirkman, "and we couldn't be happier that people seem to be enjoying it as much as we are."

The new ongoing series, written by Robert Kirkman and Nick Spencer with art by Shawn Martinbrough, is a runaway hit, requiring multiple reprints for every issue thus far. Following the announcement last week that AMC will be adapting the series for TV with Kirkman and David Alpert in their same capacity as Executive Producers on THE WALKING DEAD,  and Chic (DEXTER, THE SHIELD) Eglee as Executive Producer and showrunner, orders and anticipation are expected to continue to rise even higher.

THIEF OF THIEVES is about a master thief who leaves behind his life in the high-stakes world of crime to try to return to being a family man. Each 32-page full-color issue is available for purchase and reorder in comic book stores and on multiple digital platforms.

ABOUT ROBERT KIRKMAN

Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago. He's the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, kid-friendly Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011, taking four of the top spots.  He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households.  www.Skybound.com is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles.

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.

Phoenix Comicon reduces pricing for photo ops with actors

Offers jpegs of photos for free

Phoenix - In what is certain to elicit screams of delight from fans, Phoenix Comicon announced a reduction in actor photo pricing at their upcoming 2012 convention.

“The standard retail pricing for a photo op with an actor is thirty to forty dollars, with certain actors charging more,” Convention Director Matt Solberg says, “Following our 2011 convention we took the photo op process in-house which allows us this opportunity to reduce prices for our attendees.” 

A photo op consists of a professionally taken photo between an actor and an attendee. An 8”x10” print is provided to attendees generally two hours after the photo op. 

Phoenix Comicon has reduced photo op prices by up to half of last year’s prices, which saw many photo ops priced between thirty and eighty dollars each.  Following is pricing for photo ops at this year’s Phoenix Comicon:

Tony Amendola $15       

Ed Asner $15

Jeremy Bulloch $15

Jon Bernthal $15

Gigi Edgley $15

Colin Ferguson $15

Gil Gerard $15

Erin Gray $15

Vic Mignogna $15

Casper Van Dien $15

Gil Gerard / Erin Gray Duo $25

LeVar Burton $25

Michael Dorn $25

Marina Sirtis $25

                Brent Spiner $25

William Shatner $80       

Patrick Stewart $80

The Captains: William Shatner and Patrick Stewart $160

Star Trek: TNG Cast with Patrick Stewart, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner $175

In addition, Phoenix Comicon will be providing jpegs of these photos free of charge to attendees. According to Solberg, “In the past an attendee had to pay ten or fifteen dollars to have a jpg of the photo sent to them following the convention.  It’s a digital file that has limited to no cost to distribute, and we decided:  Let’s give it away for free.”

Phoenix Comicon is also loosening the rules on photos taken with an actor at their autograph table.  Phoenix Comicon has decided to let each actor determine how they would like to take photos with their fans.  Solberg added, “If an actor wants to give their fans a choice between photos at their table with their own camera or using the professionally staged photo booth, they can do so.”

According to Solberg, Phoenix Comicon continually seeks to make improvements that enhance their attendee and guest experience.  “Back in 2007 we lowered our membership pricing, in 2009 we increased the age from ten to twelve that kids got in for free, and already this year we lowered hotel room rates for families.   These photo op improvements make it more affordable for attendees to meet their favorite actors and purchase a photo that is a cherished memento from their convention experience,” and with a smile Solberg concluded, “And we already know of fans that will be purchasing more photos as a result of the lower prices.”

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture event of the southwest held May 24-27 at the Phoenix Convention Center, Hyatt Regency, and Renaissance Downtown.  For more information check www.phoenixcomicon.com.

BOOM! TOWN BRINGS
DANIEL JOHNSTON TO MOCCA FEST 2012
APRIL 28TH-29TH

  

April 16, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Town will be making its first appearance at The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art’s annual MoCCA Festival, and will feature world-famous underground musician and artist Daniel Johnston with his new graphic novel, SPACE DUCKS: AN INFINITE COMIC BOOK OF MUSICAL GREATNESS. Daniel Johnston will also play a small set at the Museum's benefit party on Saturday night, followed by a one-on-one interview panel at the show on Sunday. He will be joined at the BOOM! Town table by Shannon Wheeler (TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN), Rich Tommaso (PETE AND MIRIAM), as well as artists Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb (ADVENTURE TIME).

A celebrated musician and recording artist with a 30-year career and over 20 albums—including covers by Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips, Tom Waits, Beck, and TV on the Radio—Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston," which won the Sundance Film Festival Director's Award. His drawings and paintings have hung in art galleries and museums across the world, including the Whitney Museum of American Art. Johnston rocketed to global notoriety in the early 1990s when album artwork from his "Hi, How Are You?" record was featured on a t-shirt worn by Kurt Cobain at the height of Nirvana's exploding popularity.

SPACE DUCKS: AN INFINITE COMIC BOOK OF MUSICAL GREATNESS is Johnston’s debut graphic novel from BOOM! Town and Wieden+Kennedy Entertainment. Johnston, a long-time and dedicated fan of comic books, realizes his life-long dream of being a comic book artist with this release. In addition to the graphic novel, a Space Ducks app available through iTunes allows users to play their way through the comic narrative, game by game, chapter by chapter, unlocking animated films and Daniel’s new album as they go.

The BOOM! Town table will feature artists Daniel Johnston (Sunday only), Shannon Wheeler with a brand-new TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN volume, Rich Tommaso (SATCHEL PAIGE: STRIKING OUT JIM CROW), debuting his new OGN PETE AND MIRIAM, as well as KaBOOM! ADVENTURE TIME artists Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb.

The MoCCA Festival 2012 will be Saturday April 28th and Sunday April 29th at the 69th Regiment Armory (68 Lexington Ave New York, NY) and will feature a stellar lineup of BOOM! Town and KaBOOM! creators.

About BOOM! Town
BOOM! Town is the lit comix imprint of the Eisner, Harvey, and "Best Publisher" Award-winning BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com). BOOM! Town recently won the Eisner Award for its first book, Shannon Wheeler’s I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER. BOOM! Studios generates a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid’s series IRREDEEMABLE, new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker, PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and Philip K. Dick’s DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KABOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Roger Langridge’s SNARKED, Cartoon Network's ADVENTURE TIME and Scholastic’s WORDGIRL. 

ATHENA VOLTAIRE FLIES TO SEQUENTIAL PULP ON A DARK HORSE

APRIL 13, CHICAGO, IL–From C2E2's Artist Alley E13:  Globetrotting aviatrix Athena Voltaire battles Nazis, occult science, and mythical creatures against the backdrop of the pulp era. And now she’s coming in for a landing with Sequential Pulp Comics. 

Copublishers Sequential Pulp Comics and Dark Horse Comics are pleased to announce their plans for writer/artist Steve Bryant’s 1930s heroine.

“Steve and I share a common love for all things pulp and for telling great stories. His character, Athena Voltaire, could not be a better fit for our line of graphic novels,” said Sequential Pulp president Michael Hudson. “These stories will have a beginning, a middle, and a true end to them, giving the reader a complete and fulfilling experience. The art and the writing are masterful. I can’t wait to see how Steve and his team develop this wonderful property as we move ahead.”

“I can’t think of a better home for Athena Voltaire than the Sequential Pulp imprint. Their commitment to adapting genre classics and creating new pulp icons is second to none,” said Bryant. “To be published through Dark Horse is the cherry on top. Hellboy, B.P.R.D., Buffy, Battlepug—they put out some of the best comics on the stands today. I’m flattered and humbled to see my book added to such a prestigious line!”

Athena Voltaire launched as a part of the Modern Tales family of webcomics in 2002 and was nominated for a Best Digital Comic Eisner Award in 2005. The feature was also included in St. Martin’s The Year’s Best Graphic Novels, Comics and Manga (2004 edition).

In addition to covering representational rights, the exclusive print and digital publishing agreement calls for an omnibus edition containing remastered versions of the previously published Athena Voltaire material followed by new adventures, including two graphic novels and an illustrated prose anthology.

With titles scheduled into 2015 and beyond, Athena Voltaire is sure to continue to please its existing fan base, as well as those who will be coming aboard through this relaunch. Anyone who enjoys pulp, classic adventure stories, and modern comics will fall in love with this heroine who is unlike any other in comics today.

  

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. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in the US, and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of licensed comics material.
 About Sequential Pulp Comics:

Sequential Pulp is a new imprint and production house whose focus is on publishing graphic novels based on classic to neo pulp of all genres. Its books will include both licensed and creator-owned material.

 About Steve Bryant:

Steve Bryant began his comics career with the launch of Athena Voltaire as a webcomic, eventually earning him an Eisner Award nomination in 2005, and a nomination for the Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award in 2007.  Bryant has contributed artwork to publications from Image, IDW, and Ape Entertainment, as well. Outside of comics, Steve has produced illustrations for everything from clip art and greeting cards to theme park design and roleplaying games. 

VIZ MEDIA SERVES UP SPINGTIME SMILES WITH TWO NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL RELEASES FEATURING THE MR. MEN™ AND LITTLE MISSES™!

Beloved Characters Little Miss Sunshine™ And Mr. Bump™ Star In Two New Graphic Novels from VIZ Kids

San Francisco, CA, April 12, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will delight younger readers with a pair of fun new graphic novel releases from the company’s VIZ Kids imprint. MR. BUMP™: LIGHTS, CAMERA, BUMP! and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE™: HERE COMES THE SUN! both debut on April 17^th, are rated ‘A’ for All Ages, and will each carry a MSRP of $6.99 U.S. / $7.99 CAN. The books are recommended for readers ages 6 and older.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE™: HERE COMES THE SUN! and MR. BUMP™: LIGHTS CAMERA BUMP! feature comic book versions of characters from the popular Mr. Men And Little Miss™ series of children’s books, originally created by author Roger Hargreaves in 1971. The loveable Dillydale residents, with names such as Mr. Tickle™ and Mr. Happy™, each have personalities and physical attributes inspired by their names. More than 80 classic Mr. Men And Little Miss™ books have been published in 28 countries and have sold more than 3 million copies in the U.S. alone. Cartoon Network broadcast two seasons of the animated Mr. Men Show between 2008 and 2009, with episodes now available on DVD. The MR. MEN AND LITTLE MISS™ graphic novels created by VIZ Media are the first of their kind.

MR. BUMP™: LIGHTS, CAMERA, BUMP!

Story by Matthew Britton, Art by John Hardman · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages ·

MSRP: $6.99 U.S. / $7.99 CAN · Available April 17^th!  

Mr. Bump is must-see TV! Poopity poop! Mr. Bump is stuck inside his TV! With every change of the channel, he finds himself in the middle of a different show. Whether he's dancing with the Little Misses, surviving on a desert isle, or ghost hunting, Mr. Bump is must-see TV! But will he ever get home again?

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE™: HERE COMES THE SUN!

Story by Michael Kenny, Art by Victoria Maderna · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages ·

MSRP: $6.99 U.S. / $7.99 CAN · Available April 17^th!  

Take a magical musical tour of Dillydale with Little Miss Sunshine™! Good morning, Dillydale! What does Little Miss Sunshine™ do when she finds a bus on her lawn? Leads a singing tour through Dillydale, of course! She's also riding horses, throwing parties and judging Dillydale's favorite talent show, "Dillydale's Got Talent!" Is there anything Little Miss Sunshine™ can't do?

“It’s really exciting to be partnered with such a revered children’s brand as MR. MEN and LITTLE MISS,” says Traci Todd, Senior Editor, Children’s Publishing. “As parents who grew up with the classic books introduce their children to Mr. Happy™, Mr. Tickle™, Mr. Bump™, Little Miss Sunshine™, and the other residents of Dillydale, we hope they’ll find room on their shelves for our new adventures! With bold illustrations and easy-to-read tales, MR. BUMP™: LIGHTS CAMERA BUMP! and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE™: HERE COMES THE SUN! are sure to delight readers of all ages.”

For more information about MR. BUMP™: LIGHTS, CAMERA, BUMP!, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE™: HERE COMES THE SUN, and other VIZ Kids titles, please visit www.VIZKids.com.

ARCHAIA ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE “DIGITAL FIRST” DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH COMIXOLOGY

Multiple Award-winning Graphic Novel Publisher to Debut All-New
Content via comiXology Digital Comics Platform

April 14th, 2012 - Chicago, IL/C2E2 – Eisner Award-winning publisher Archaia Entertainment today announced an exclusive “digital first” and same day as print distribution agreement with comiXology — the world’s largest digital comics platform available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web with over 60 million comic and graphic novel downloads to date — that will see Archaia debuting all-new and previously unreleased content on comiXology. Beginning today, in conjunction with the start of Chicago’s C2E2 ‘12 expo, Archaia will release never-before-available digital materials, with new content to be made available weekly exclusively via comiXology. Brand new and upcoming digital first and same day as print exclusive titles include RUST, a ForeWord Book of the Year finalist currently in pre-production as a feature film at Fox, Ben Caldwell’s DARE DETECTIVES!, Jeremy Bastian’s acclaimed CURSED PIRATE GIRL, and several previously unavailable titles from Archaia’s critically-lauded Jim Henson library, including THE DARK CRYSTAL, THE STORYTELLER, and this year’s multiple-Eisner-Award nominated blockbuster, TALE OF SAND.
In the coming months, Archaia will debut new titles digitally before print with such titles as Yehudi Mercado’s PANTALONES, TX, Charles Soule’s STRANGE ATTRACTORS, Saurav Mohapatra’s MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL, and Andrew Gaska’s revisioning of the classic Sci-Fi series SPACE: 1999.
“MOUSE GUARD has always been a favorite of mine and I had personally quested to bring it to comiXology, but I’ve been blown away by the top quality and wide diversity of Archaia’s titles since we launched,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “So, comiXology offering digital firsts from Archaia excites me on a personal level.”
“We are dedicated to bringing our library of award-winning content into the digital forefront, and comiXology has proven the demand for digital content in the marketplace, providing readers with a simple and immediate means of accessing the latest graphic novel content. We’re excited to offer readers some of our hottest content weeks, and in some cases months, before it sees print.” Says PJ Bickett, CEO of Archaia.
Launching Friday, April 13th, as part of the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), fans new and old will be able to download brand new content via the Comixology storefront, accessible online and via iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web.

About Archaia
Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, The Engineer, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels. Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year according to Ain’t it Cool News, Graphic Policy and Comic Related, and was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations and two Awards for Best Graphic Album and Best Anthology. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media.
About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology — in just five short years — has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform — available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web— comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.