The Comics Waiting Room Newswire

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Nickelodeon and Dark Horse Graphic Novel, “Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift, Part 1,”

Hits #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List

Marks 5^th Time Dark Horse Avatar Graphic Novels Claim the Top Spot

The Nickelodeon and Dark Horse graphic novel, “Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift, Part 1,” debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Sellers list for the week ending March 8, 2014. Rising above The Walking Dead inspired book, “The Walking Dead Compendium,” this new graphic novel is the ultimate continuation of Avatar and the perfect companion to The Legend of Korra.

This book was written and drawn by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru, in collaboration with Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This same creative team was behind the best-selling “The Promise” and “The Search,” which continue the adventures of Avatar Aang and his friends past the finale of the beloved television series.

In this installment of the on-going story, Aang asks his friends to help him honor an Air Nomad holiday that hasn't been celebrated in over one hundred years. But cryptic visits from the spirit of an earlier Avatar lead Aang to discover a jointly owned Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom refinery operating on land sacred to the Airbenders. Is this the cause of the pollution Aang finds there or is something more mysterious happening?

Past Avatar books to hit the number one spot include, “The Promise” Part 1, 2 and 3 and “The Search” Part 2.

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DEATH RIDES ON THE WIND IN PRETTY DEADLY

DeConnick and Ríos team up for a supernatural Western from Image Comics

Ginny is Death’s daughter, a reaper of vengeance. She rides through the West on a horse made of smoke, her face tattooed with her heritage, and deals in revenge. She is the mysterious, elusive center of PRETTY DEADLY, the first creator-owned comics series by acclaimed writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel, Ghost, Osborn) and artist Emma Ríos (The Amazing Spider-Man, Osborn). The first five issues of the critically acclaimed title will be collected in its first trade paperback volume, THE SHRIKE, in April.

Simultaneously beautiful and savage, PRETTY DEADLY unfolds over the course of an ongoing story that DeConnick and Ríos developed together, creating a world and characters that are entirely their own. At the same time, DeConnick and Ríos say, it’s almost as if PRETTY DEADLY has a will of its own guiding the action.

“The book is absorbing us while breathing on its own,” said Ríos. “Sometimes I feel we are hidden behind a rock, gasping, watching the characters do their things.”

“This book has defied my directives at every turn, but made it up to me in a series of goosebump moments where things came together as if by magic,” said DeConnick.

Having worked together on Marvel’s Osborn, DeConnick and Ríos found common ground in their love of Westerns and Japanese cinema for PRETTY DEADLY. DeConnick was inspired by spaghetti westerns, Japanese “pinky violence” films, and Grimm’s fairy tales, while Ríos found her visual language for the series by absorbing both Westerns and samurai films. Colorist Jordie Bellaire (THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, NOWHERE MEN) maintains the earthy, dusty atmosphere of the art, as well as the magical tone of the story, thanks to a subdued palette punctuated with bursts of vivid color.

“We wanted a very Leone feel to it,” said DeConnick. “As we worked, I felt we were straying from that original notion and though I came to love the direction the book insisted on going, I felt a twinge of grief at the loss of the Leone connection. I don't know why, but I did. Then a friend of mine quoted this Leone line to me: ‘The important thing is to make a different world, to make a world that is not now. A real world, a genuine world, but one that allows myth to live. The myth is everything.’ So in the end, it seems we haven't strayed at all.”

DeConnick and Ríos maintain a PRETTY DEADLY website, where they post images from the creation process, fan art, and answers to reader questions.

PRETTY DEADLY VOLUME ONE: THE SHRIKE by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Ríos, and Jordie Bellaire will be in comic book stores on April 30 and in bookstores on May 13.

ISBN 978-1-60706-962-1
120 pages, full color, paperback
$9.99
Collects PRETTY DEADLY #1-5
Available for pre-order now

Praise for PRETTY DEADLY:

“[Pretty Deadly] brazenly defies conventions of modern American comics while keeping with the traditions of Westerns, Manga, and folklore; it ignores the three-act structure to go back to older forms of storytelling and finds power in them. Dark, alluring, and original, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Ríos’s Pretty Deadly gambles on itself and wins.”

– John Parker, Comics Alliance

“The cycles of life, death, loss, and discovery are played out through this spectral assortment of damaged souls, and the book’s visuals capture that sense of ephemeral doom. Ríos’ art conjures a delicate sort of beauty from darkness both literal and metaphorical, while Jordie Bellaire’s colors bestow even the bloodiest of events with a vicious, violent elegance. It’s rare to see the type of ambition behind a book such as this so artfully executed, but the creators behind Pretty Deadly have concocted an epic that demands to be read.”

– Melissa Grey, IGN

“There's a mythic quality to PRETTY DEADLY. It's so much bigger than the physical space over which its cast is roaming; there are lives and deaths and cosmic purposes at stake, and there's no clear answer to who's good, who's bad, and who's innocent. Kelly Sue DeConnick is proving, issue after issue, what a masterful storyteller she is, architecting a dusty, revenge-y fairy tale that has us hooked.”

– Jen Aprahamian, Comics Vine

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

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

Q&A Sessions With Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Jason Momoa, Sean Astin, Evening Parties, 75^th Anniversary Of Batman, Costume Contests Highlight Programming At Inaugural Wizard World Louisville Comic Con

James Marsters, Summer Glau, Dean Cain, Michael Rooker, Jason David Frank, Other Celebrity Q&A's, Comics Creator Sessions, Film Festival, Marvel Trivia, 'Kids Day' Among Full Three Days Of Panels And Events

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 20, 2014 – Question-and-answer sessions with top celebrities like Matt Smith and Karen Gillan of “Doctor Who,” Jason Momoa, Sean Astin and James Marsters, meet-and-greets, adult and kids costume contests, a discussion on the historic 75^th anniversary of Batman, the Wizard World Film Festival and an array of comics and pop culture themed panels comprise the robust featured programming schedule at the inaugural Wizard World Louisville Comic Con, April 4-6 at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission.

Some of the highlights of the schedule include:

Interactive Q&A sessions with Smith (Sat., 6:15 p.m.), Gillan (Fri., 8:15 p.m.), Momoa (Sat., 1:30 p.m.), Astin (Sat., noon), Marsters (Sat., 1 p.m.), Summer Glau (Sat., 4 p.m.), Dean Cain (Sat., 11:30 a.m.), Michael Rooker (Sat., 3 p.m.), Jason David Frank (Sat., 2:30 p.m.), Manu Bennett (Sun., 1 p.m.) and other celebrities
Informative discussions with noted comics creators Michael Golden (Sun., 11:30 a.m.), Danny Fingeroth and Miles Fuller (Sat., 1 p.m.), Rob Prior (Sat., 2 p.m.) and more
“Batman at 75,” a discussion on the Caped Crusader led by Fingeroth, Fuller and Marco Arnaudo
Evening parties on Friday (“Wizard World Creator Pro Am,” 8:30 p.m.); Saturday (“Wizard World Official After Party,” 8:30 p.m.)
Costume contests for adults (Saturday, 7:15 p.m.) and kids (Sunday, 2:30 p.m.)
The Mighty Marvel Trivia Contest (Friday, 5 p.m.) with experts Fingeroth and Jacob Rougemont
Humorist panel with Kentucky native and Fark.com creator Drew Curtis (Friday 7 p.m.)
Wizard World Comic Con Film Festival, featuring selected shorts and music videos (Fri., Sat.)
Meet-and-greets with Frank (Sat., 11 a.m.; Sun., 11:30 a.m.), (paid events)
Kids Day (Sunday), with an array of kids and family activities designed just for the younger set, highlighted by the Green Ranger Power Hour with Frank (1:30 p.m.)

Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms at the Kentucky International Convention Center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.

A full list of Wizard World Louisville Comic Con programming is below; further details on each at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-louisville.html (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change):

Friday, March 28
5:00 – 5:45pm The Mighty Marvel Trivia Contest (Room 208)
5:00 – 8:00pm Wizard World Film Festival (Room 210)
6:00 – 6:45pm Costumes + Playing = Cosplay! So What Does That Actually Mean? (Room 208)
7:00 – 7:30pm Saving The World One Fake News Article At A Time With Drew Curtis (Room 208)
7:30 – 9:00pm Scream At The Screen (Room 208)
8:15 – 9:00pm Time-Traveling With Karen Gillan (Cascade B)
8:30 - 10:30pm Creator Pro Am: Drink And Draw (Maker'S Mark Bourbon House & Lounge, 446 S 4th St.) 21+ Only!

Saturday, March 29
11:00 – 11:45am Jason David Frank Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room 206)
11:00 – 11:45am To Boldly Go: Star Trek: The Next Generation & Anthropology (Room 210)
11:00 – 11:45am The Strange World Of Abstract Comics (Room 213)
11:30 – 12:15pm One-On-One With The Man Of Steel: Dean Cain (Room 208)
12:00 – 12:45pm Out Of The Shire With Sean Astin (Cascade B)
12:00 – 12:45pm Vampire Lore And Other Urban Myths And Legends W/Dr. Rebecca Housel (Room 210)
12:00 – 12:45pm Superheroes, Psychology And Myth (Room 213)
12:30 – 1:15pm Dead Fans Walking (Room 208)
1:00 – 1:45pm One-On-One With James Marsters (Cascade B)
1:00 – 5:15pm The Wizard World Film Festival (Room 210)
1:00 – 1:45pm How To Write Comics With Danny Fingeroth And Miles Fuller (Room 213)
1:30 – 2:15pm One-On-One With A Dothraki Warlord: Jason Momoa (Room 208)
2:00 – 2:45pm How To Survive A Killer Tv Show (Cascade B)
2:00 – 2:45pm Mworld Creation With Rob Prior (Room 213)
2:30 – 3:15pm One-On-One With Jason David Frank: Power Ranger (Room 208)
3:00 – 3:30pm Michael Rooker Vs The Audience (Cascade B)
3:00 – 4:00pm Batman At 75 (Room 213)
4:00 – 4:30pm One-On-One With Summer Glau (Cascade B)
4:00 – 4:45pm All Things Pro Wrestling With Wrestlingaudio.Com (Room 208)
4:00-6:00pm Documentary Screening: “rude Dude: The Steve Rude Story” And Q & A With Director Ian Fischer (Room 213)
5:00 – 5:45pm Bigger On The Inside Doctor Who Fan Panel (Cascade B)
5:00 – 5:30pm One-On-One With Robert Hays (Room 208)
5:30 – 6:15pm Movie Match-Up (Room 210)
5:45 – 6:30pm Grimm Fairy Tales Animated (Room 208)
6:15 – 7:00pm One-On-One With The Doctor: Matt Smith (Cascade B)
7:00-7:45pm How To Roll Winning Numbers (Room 213)
7:15 – 9:15pm Wizard World Costume Contest (Cascade B)
8:30pm – Close Wizard World Official After Party (Howl At The Moon, 434 S 4th St) 21+ Only

Sunday, March 30
11:30 – 12:15pm Jason David Frank Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room 206)
11:30am - 12:15pm Storytelling With Michael Golden (Room 210)
12:00 – 12:45pm Jon Heder Will Blow Your Mind (Room 208)
12:00 – 12:45pm Getting Respect: Comics Go To College(Room 213)
12:30 – 1:15pm Vampire Diaries/Originals Fan Panel (Room 210)
1:00-1:45pm One-On-One With Manu Bennett (Room 208)
1:00-1:45pm Another Kind Of Bat-Man: Comics And Baseball (Room 213)
1:30 – 2:30pm The Green Power Ranger Power Hour (Room 206)
1:30 – 2:15pm Super Power Beat Down (Room 210)
2:00 – 2:45pm One-On-Two With The Boondock Saints (Room 208)
2:00 – 2:45pm The Zombie Genre: Not Dead Yet (Room 213)
2:30 – 3:15pm Wizard World Kids Costume Contest (Room 210)

Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first served basis. We do not clear panel rooms unless you are seated in a section that is marked with a sign at the end of the row reading: ROW WILL BE CLEARED AT THE END OF EACH PANEL

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Louisville Comic Con show hours are Friday, March 28, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, March 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place all three days at the event, with celebrity Q&A's, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contest, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Sunday, March 30, is also Kids Day, with an array of activities and programming specially designed for the younger Wizard World fans.

Louisville Comic Con is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor, often stopping by the Show Stage, the ideal place to see and be seen.

For more on the 2014 Wizard World Louisville Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-louisville.html.

About Wizard World:

Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

Wizard World 2014 Schedule
January 24-26 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
February 7-9 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
March 7-9 – Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con
March 28-30 – Wizard World Louisville Comic Con
April 4-6 – Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con
May 2-4 – Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con
May 30-June 1 – Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con
June 19-22 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 1-3 – Wizard World San Antonio Comic Con
August 21-24 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 12-14 – Wizard World Richmond Comic Con
September 26-28 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con
October 2-4 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con
October 31-November 2 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
November 7-9 – Wizard World Tulsa Comic Con
November 21-23 – Wizard World Reno Comic Con

IMAGE COMICS JOINS THE CARTOON ART MUSEUM AS A CORPORATE MEMBER

San Francisco, CA—The Cartoon Art Museum is pleased to welcome Image Comics as its newest corporate member. Founded in 1992, the Berkeley-based publisher spearheaded the creator-owned movement and introduced a number of groundbreaking series including Spawn, Savage Dragon, Saga, and The Walking Dead.

“We’re extremely pleased to welcome Image as a corporate member,” said CAM’s executive director Summerlea Kashar. “We’ve developed a great relationship with them over the years and worked closely with them during our 20th anniversary retrospective of their work. Their latest show of support not only gives CAM a boost, but also rewards their employees with free museum admission and discounts at our bookstore.”

“Image is thrilled to support the Cartoon Art Museum,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “They do a fantastic job of fostering enthusiasm for sequential art and its historical and cultural value here in the Bay Area, and after having such a great experience hosting our Image Expo after party at the museum this past January, we look forward to continuing our partnership into the future."

About CAM’s Corporate Memberships: Designed for businesses both large and small as a way to reward their team members while also giving back to the community, the Cartoon Art Museum’s Corporate Memberships feature free admission for company employees, bookstore discounts, private tours, museum rentals, and advance ticket access to exclusive museum events depending on the level of sponsorship. Basic memberships start at $1,000. Learn more at http://cartoonart.org/join-support/corporate-memberships. For additional information, call 415-227-8666 x300 or email office@cartoonart.org.

Cartoon Art Museum - 655 Mission Street - San Francisco, CA 94105

415-CAR-TOON - www.cartoonart.org

Hours: Tues. Sun. 11:00 - 5:00, Closed Monday

General Admission: $7.00 - Student/Senior:$5.00 - Children 6-12: $3.00 - Members & Children under 6: Free

The Cartoon Art Museum is a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

IDW Sends The Turtles To The Edges Of Time!

Past And Present Collide In New TMNT Mini-Series

San Diego, CA (March 20, 2013) – The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have faced enemies old and new over the years, but this June they will have to battle against time itself to save the day! Another great way to celebrate the Turtles’ 30^th Anniversary, Turtles In Time is an all-new, essential mini-series for fans who just can’t get enough of the heroes in a half shell.

Traveling to the farthest reaches of the

space-time continuum, the Turtles encounter dinosaurs, pirates, samurai warriors — and a bleak future, should they fail on their quest! Written by TMNT scribes Paul Allor (Utrom Empire) and Erik Burnham (Secret History of the Foot Clan), each issue features a time-travelling cover by superstar artist David Petersen (Mouse Guard) and interiors by a rotating lineup of different top artists! Issue #1 kicks off with artwork by fan-favorite Ross Campbell, who will also provide art for the issue’s SUB variant cover.

“I love time travel stories, and I love seeing the Turtles outside of their comfort zone,” says co-writer Burnham. “So basically, this is the most fun I've had in the TMNT sandbox yet!”

"I am so excited for this story!” added co-writer Allor. “I'm blown away by the artists we have lined up, and I truly think readers are going to love this wild, rip-roaring journey through time."

Like the previous IDW mini-series’ before it, Secret History of the Foot Clan and Utrom Empire, Turtles In Time, will offer a unique story that further enriches the continuity, taking fans deeper into the world of the Turtles in a way only IDW can.

Created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, in 1984 the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles evolved from a cult-hit to a mega-franchise. Appearing in films, television shows, and video games, the Turtles have become a mainstay of comic book culture. Currently appearing in the hit Nickelodeon animated cartoon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, they will also star in the upcoming Paramount feature film TMNT, produced by Michael Bay.

About IDW Publishing

IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; 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, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, and the multiple award-winning Artist's Edition imprint.

IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood's Lore; Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film, Kurtzman/Orci are producing a movie based on Locke & Key at Universal.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

VIZ MEDIA’S PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT DELIVERS ACTION, ADVENTURE AND LOTS OF PIE IN NEW

UGLYDOLL: MY HERO? ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL

Latest Collectible UGLYDOLL Installment Features 10 Full-Color Superhero-Inspired Stories

San Francisco, CA, March 19, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers a whimsical new breed of pop culture champions with the debut of the latest original graphic novel release from the Perfect Square imprint. UGLYDOLL: MY HERO? launches on April 1^st, is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and will carry a print MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

A digital version will also be available beginning on April 1^st for $4.99 U.S. / CAN from the Perfect Square App, which has titles available for the Apple iPad^®and iPad^® Mini. The Perfect Square App is available from the iTunes store. Fans can also find a digital version of the title for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

Do you need a hero? We do too. We want to help, we really do. But after all the suiting up, choosing powers, assembling a super team and rescuing cats from trees, there's no time for pie. And we really like pie. So maybe we're not cut out for saving the world. Don't you agree, Ice-Bat? Oh, wait, he's off defending the Uglyverse. We'll ask him when he's done. Right after we finish dessert.

MY HERO? features 10 full-color stories by veteran UGLYDOLL writer and artists Travis Nichols, Ian McGinty, and Phillip Jacobson. In this new release, Uglydoll co-creator Sun-Min Kim, Theo Ellsworth, renowned pop culture artist/writer Junko Mizuno, and two talented design teams from Japan—MAD BARBARIANS and DEVILROBOTS—also lend their considerable talents.

“Uglydolls may not be the first characters to come to mind when you think of super heroes, but they rise hilariously to the occasion in UGLYDOLL: MY HERO?,” says Traci Todd, Senior Editor, Children’s Publishing, “Frostbite, Ice-Bat's alter-ego, is back, and he's joined by a whole host of Ugly heroes... and anti-heroes. Some of the stories in MY HERO are epic, some are about cookies, but they're all about being true to yourself—the most heroic act of all.”

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim are renowned for creating the world of Uglydoll. Inspired by a love letter David drew for Sun-Min, Uglydoll began as a line of handmade plush dolls and has since grown into an evergreen, multi-million dollar brand loved internationally by fans all ages. Their works can be found around the world, from the MOMA in Tokyo and the Louvré in Paris, to the windows of the Uglydoll shop in Seoul. Based on a vision to build a world that showed the whimsical twists and turns that make people unique, both inside and out, and to demonstrate how “ugly” means unique and celebrating who you are is the new beautiful. This UGLYDOLL comic is also inspired by some of Sun-Min and David’s personal heroes from the pop art and comic art world.

VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering original comics, graphic novels and other books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation.

For more information on UGLYDOLLS, please visit www.uglydolls.com.

Additional information on titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

For more information on other manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About UGLYDOLL^® & Pretty Ugly, LLC

The Uglydoll brand was launched in 2002 by Pretty Ugly, LLC with offices in Los Angeles and Green Brook, NJ. The brand is distinguished by David & Sun-Min’s unique aesthetic and voice defining ‘ugly’ as distinctive, different, and good. The award-winning Uglydoll characters appear in a variety of toys, books, apparel, and other licensed products that are available in thousands of stores, worldwide. In its first ten years, Pretty Ugly has produced and sold millions of Uglydoll items. For more information, please visit www.uglydolls.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, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

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FAN EXPO VANCOUVER™ GATHERS GEEKS AND SUPERHEROES
Freddy Krueger to The Walking Dead alum added to the star-studded line-up

Vancouver, BC (March 19, 2014) – FAN EXPO Vancouver™ will mark its third year by delivering a fan-tastic Easter Break escape for geeks and superheroes of all ages. The celebration of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming returns April 18-20, 2014 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

In the wise words of Jedi Master Yoda “Do or do not, there is no try.” At FAN EXPO Vancouver™ fans can 'do' it all: Q&A’s with celebrities and industry pros, sketch duels, photos opportunities with the entire Star Wars 501^st Legion crew, retail and exhibitor areas bursting with rare comics and collectibles to the latest nerd-wear and tech-gear, and gatherings of fellow minded superheroes in and out of disguise (Batman or Bunny costume optional).

“FAN EXPO is the perfect playground for pop culture fans of all ages and this year we made it bigger for Vancouver fans,” says FAN EXPO HQ President, Steve Menzie. "We added 50% more space and a third day so our fans can enjoy even more of the fandom they are so passionate about."

FAN EXPO VANCOUVER™ GUESTS INCLUDE:

KARL URBAN (Almost Human; Star Trek)
STEVEN YEUN (The Walking Dead)
BRUCE CAMPBELL (Army of Darkness; Evil Dead)
ROBERT ENGLUND (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
STEPHEN AMELL (Star of Arrow)
ELIZA DUSHKU (Angel; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Dollhouse)
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO (Breaking Bad; Revolution)
RAY PARK (G.I. Joe; Star Wars Episode I)
CHARISMA CARPENTER (Angel; Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
JON HEDER (Napoleon Dynamite; Blades of Glory)
MICHAEL ROSENBAUM (Smallville)
BRUCE BOXLEITNER (Babylon 5; Tron)
JOHN DE LANCIE (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
MORENA BACCARIN (Serenity/Firefly; Homeland)
TOM FELTON (Harry Potter)
BILLY BOYD (Lord of the Rings)

For the complete list of guests, info and tickets, visit our website at www.fanexpovancouver.com

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FAN EXPO Vancouver™ is a comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event featuring exciting family-friendly activities. 2014 Celebrity Guests include Karl Urban (Star Trek), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Bruce Campbell (Army of Darkness), Stephen Amell (Arrow), Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), and more! FAN EXPO Vancouver™ is now a three-day pop culture extravaganza April 18-20, 2014 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC.

FAN EXPO HQ is the largest entertainment convention group in the country and one of the largest in the world. Collectively it hosts almost 250,000 fans annually at FAN EXPO Canada™, FAN EXPO Vancouver™, FAN EXPO Regina™; Toronto ComiCon, Dallas Comic Con, Dallas Sci-Fi Expo, and Dallas Fan Days presented by FAN EXPO.

BOOM! STUDIOS TAKES OVER THE EMERALD CITY COMICON SKYBRIDGE

March 19, 2014 - Los Angeles, CA - Award-winning comic book publisher BOOM! Studios and its imprints, KaBOOM!, BOOM! Box, and Archaia, announced today it will return to exhibit at Emerald City Comicon (ECCC) 2014, held at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington, on the weekend of March 28-30, 2014.

BOOM! will have its biggest booth ever at any convention it has exhibited at in a whopping 20 feet x 70 feet space, centrally located in the show on The Skybridge, Booth #1002. An army of BOOM! writers and artists will be appearing either at its booth or in ECCC’s Guest Area. A signing schedule handout will be available at the booth for fans’ convenience. Scheduled to appear are:

Max Bemis (EVIL EMPIRE, POLARITY) - This ticketed signing will be held at the Guest Area. Tickets will be available at the BOOM! booth.
David Petersen (MOUSE GUARD)
Kevin J. Anderson (CLOCKWORK ANGELS)
Mike Kunkel (HEROBEAR AND THE KID)
Claudio Sanchez and Chondra Echert (TRANSLUCID, AMORY WARS)
Paul Jenkins (FAIRY QUEST, DEATHMATCH, REVELATIONS)
Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (ADVENTURE TIME, THE MIDAS FLESH)
Noelle Stevenson (LUMBERJANES, ADVENTURE TIME)
Royden Lepp (RUST)
Kate Leth (ADVENTURE TIME OGN v3: SEEING RED, BRAVEST WARRIORS ANNUAL 2014)
Brian Joines (IMAGINE AGENTS)
Caleb Monroe (STEED AND MRS. PEEL, PEANUTS)
Ed Brisson (SONS OF ANARCHY, ROBOCOP: BETA)
Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (ADVENTURE TIME: THE FLIP SIDE)
Grace Ellis (LUMBERJANES)
Michael Moreci, Riley Rossmo, Tim Daniel, and Colin Lorimer (CURSE)
Mark Miller and Ben Meares (CLIVE BARKER’S NEXT TESTAMENT, HELLRAISER)
Megan Hutchison and Tom Hammock (AN AURORA GRIMEON STORY: WILL O’ THE WISP)
Michael Alan Nelson (DAY MEN, 28 DAYS LATER, PROTOCOL: ORPHANS)

There will also be a few surprise guests throughout the show.

In addition, the BOOM! Studios booth will host sketch artists all weekend, including:

Allison Strejlau (REGULAR SHOW, ADVENTURE TIME)
Brooke Allen (LUMBERJANES)
Ian McGinty (ADVENTURE TIME: CANDY CAPERS)
MAD Rupert (REGULAR SHOW: SKIPS)
Missy Pena (BRAVEST WARRIORS).
Travis Hill (ADVENTURE TIME)

For $20, fans can request and purchase custom sketches to be drawn on blank ADVENTURE TIME Get-A-Sketch covers.

Joining us on The Skybridge occupying in-line booths on either side of the BOOM! booth are Archaia artists David Marquez (THE JOYNERS IN 3D, Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man) and Royden Lepp (RUST), plus BOOM! Studios business partners Mighty Fine and TopatoCo.

BOOM! will have a wide selection of variants available for purchase at its booth (while supplies last), including:

ADVENTURE TIME #25, cover by Ian McGinty ($10, limited to 500 copies)
ADVENTURE TIME VOL. 3 MATHEMATICAL Edition Hardcover, cover by E.K. Weaver ($50, limited to 500 copies)
CLOCKWORK ANGELS #1, cover by Brett Weldele ($10, limited to 500 copies)
CURSE #1, cover by Colin Lorimer ($10, limited to 500 copies)
DAY MEN #3, cover by Robbi Rodriguez ($10, limited to 500 copies)
DEAD LETTERS #1, cover by Ibrahim Moustafa ($10, limited to 500 copies)
EVIL EMPIRE #1, cover by Tyler Crook ($10, limited to 500 copies)
HEROBEAR AND THE KID: SAVING TIME #1, cover by Mike Kunkel ($10, limited to 500 copies)
LUMBERJANES #1, cover by Kate Leth ($10, limited to 500 copies)
THE MIDAS FLESH #1, cover by Chip Zdarsky ($10, limited to 500 copies)
REGULAR SHOW: SKIPS #1, cover by Matthew Waite ($10, limited to 250 copies)
SONS OF ANARCHY #7, cover by Darick Robertson ($10, limited to 500 copies)

The ADVENTURE TIME VOL. 3 ENCHIRIDION EDITION ($75, limited to 500 copies), a leather-bound version sold exclusively at the BOOM! booth at conventions, will debut at Emerald City Comicon and is available during the 2014 convention season while supplies last.

There will also be exciting new merchandise available for purchase, such as an EVIL EMPIRE T-Shirt, a LUMBERJANES tote bag, and a TRANSLUCID print.

For more information on Emerald City Comicon, visit their website at www.emeraldcitycomicon.com.

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

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