CAGE HEROES FIGHTING THEIR WAY TO YOU THIS FALL FROM DYNAMITE!
MMA-BASED SUPERHERO SERIES DEVELOPED BY KEVIN EASTMAN
AND MMA MANAGER IAN PARKER LAUNCHING IN NOVEMBER
AND MMA MANAGER IAN PARKER LAUNCHING IN NOVEMBER
July 7, 2015, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite is proud to announce a collaborative agreement with Surge Licensing, Inc., Ian Parker, and Mark Mastrandrea to develop a comic book series based on the brand new property Cage Hero. The four-issue series will debut this November, released monthly as single-issue comics, both digitally and in print, and collected later into trade format. Cage Hero is an all-ages action-adventure series in the tradition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teen Titans, and Karate Kid -- a youth-based Mixed Martial Arts property that inspires health, fitness, skill, and teamwork to become a real hero.
"Dynamite is excited to be bringing this property to the comic book world, and telling its first story with these compelling characters Ian and Kevin have created," says Dynamite CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci. "Cage Hero taps into the continued rising popularity of Mixed Martial Arts, and we think it will find a great audience with those who are fans of the sport."
In Cage Hero, Ryder Stone, a small town middle school student and wrestling star raised by a strict grandfather, finds himself on a path to meet his true destiny when he is recruited to lead a super-powered team of mixed martial artists known as The Cage Heroes! Trained in their own unique martial art disciplines, all connected by a secret past, this new team will need to dig deep within themselves to protect the world from an international evil network known as The Shadow Empire. The race for control of the universe has begun, and evil has the upper hand. With only a handful of teenagers to stand in the way, can they find the hero within and stop them?
"It is time that this generation has its own group of heroes to look up to. We have created that," says Ian Parker. "With the sport of MMA on the rise and superheroes as popular as ever, we have found a fun and inspiring way to combine the two."
Cage Hero was created by MMA Manager/Personality Ian Parker and Mark Mastrandrea. Working closely with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman to craft the characters and world inspired by Ian's own fighting knowledge and experience, and his love for comics. The creative team on the comic book series will include Rik Hoskin scripting, Renato Rei providing the dynamic artwork, and Ross Campbell on colors, with Ian and Kevin personally overseeing all aspects of production.
MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world today. Each MMA event commonly reaches over one million viewers. In the early existence of MMA, it was only a sport that adults could participate in; in this day and age, MMA is taught to men, women, and children. It is primarily taught to children to find their inner strength and to become disciplined at a young age.
"We couldn't be more excited to launch an MMA-inspired comic series with an all-star cast of creators and content developers," says Elan Freedman, Surge Licensing's VP. "The world has seen the magic created through a partnership with Kevin Eastman. Add in the sporting knowledge of Ian and Mark with the publishing prowess of Dynamite, and you have a recipe for success."
Dynamite Entertainment's Cage Hero comic books and graphic novels will be available to consumers through the comic book specialty market, and the graphic novel collection will be available at major bookstore chains, online booksellers, and independent bookstores courtesy of Diamond Book Distributors. Cage Hero comics will also be available for purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital. Fans and retailers are encouraged to follow Dynamite Entertainment and Cage Hero's official social media channel for the latest updates regarding creative teams and release dates.
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About Dynamite Entertainment:
Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Boys, The Shadow, Red Sonja, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, A Game of Thrones,
and more. Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over
3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics
properties), such as Vampirella, Pantha, Evil Ernie, Smiley the Psychotic Button, Chastity, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt.
In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling
comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in
comics and entertainment, including Kevin Smith, Alex Ross, Neil Gaiman,
Andy Diggle, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Jae Lee, Marc Guggenheim, Mike
Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner, Gail Simone,
Steve Niles, James Robinson, and a host of up-and-coming new talent.
Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book
publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim
Krueger's Project Superpowers - have debuted in the Top Ten
lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005, Diamond awarded
the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006
for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011. The
company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards,
including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.
About Cage Hero:
Cage
Hero LLC was started in 2010 by two lifelong friends, Ian Parker and
Mark Mastrandrea. With a deep passion for Mixed Martial Arts, comics,
and sports, they established Cage Hero as an inspirational
brand for MMA fans of all ages. Cage Hero LLC is dedicated to the idea
that inner strength, self-reliance, and a healthy competitive attitude
is what makes dreams come true. Cage Hero LLC has sponsored many UFC
fighters including Chuck Lidell, Cung Le, Luke Rockhold, and UFC
Champion Daniel Cormier, and thus the brand's mantra, "The Hero Comes
from Within™," has been seen by millions of fans, in UFC rings.
Simultaneously while developing Cage Hero, the principals have managed many UFC fighters, including champion Chris Weidman.
About Surge Licensing, Inc.:
Surge is an IP incubator, which identifies IP and grows brands into multi-platformed entertainment and product licensing programs. Through simultaneous merchandise licensing and entertainment development, Surge nurtures brands while maintaining their core value and enhancement of the fan experience. Est. 1986, Surge is a pioneer in developing multi-media strategies to merchandising/licensing, through the targeted marketing of unique/compelling entertainment. Historically, Surge has challenged conventional practices by venturing into non-traditional areas, developing a number of pop culture's great iconic properties, namely Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
abiding respect for Joe Kubert and his legacy as both a pioneering artist and a teacher,” said Todd Hignite,
Comic Art expert and Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “It means a
lot to us to be a part of this project and to do something that benefits
Joe’s school and nurtures the next generation of comic book artists.”
