Wednesday, January 06, 2016

CRIMINAL CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A BANG
A special stand-alone with magazine-sized edition

The Eisner Award-winning team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (THE FADE OUT, FATALE, Sleeper) will release a brand-new 64-page one-shot of their acclaimed noir series CRIMINAL in April.
It's been ten years since CRIMINAL launched and to celebrate, Brubaker and Phillips, with acclaimed color artist Elizabeth Breitweiser, are bringing us their darkest and strangest tale yet: a twisted ‘70s noir about a father and son on the run.
“Teeg and Tracy Lawless are our most popular characters, so I knew this Anniversary Special had to showcase their early days,” said Brubaker. “A big part of Criminal is finding new ways into noir stories, and this time we get to see it all from the point of view of a 12-year-old kid forced to help his father, who is a career thief and murderer.”
Known for its creative experimentation, this novella-length CRIMINAL story features a comic-within-the-comic, a bizarre ‘70s-era KUNG FU magazine starring a werewolf.
"Once again I get to try out a new style, after the cartooning of The Last Of The Innocent, and the sword and sorcery of last year's Savage Sword of Criminal,” said Phillips. “This time I get to figure out how to draw a kung-fu werewolf without him looking too silly. Let's hope I can pull it off! Even if I can't, it's great to be back in the Criminal universe again, it's like we've never been away."
This 10th Anniversary Special also comes in a magazine-sized variant featuring the star of the comic-within-the-comic—a perfect companion to last year's SAVAGE SWORD OF CRIMINAL magazine-sized variant.
CRIMINAL: 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL (Diamond code: NOV158430) hits stores Wednesday, April 13th. CRIMINAL: 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL, DEADLY EDITION: MAGAZINE-SIZE VARIANT (Diamond code: NOV158431) will also be available on Wednesday, April 13th. Final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, March 21st.


   



  




 


                     

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.

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

TSURUTA’S “WANDERING ISLAND” FLIES HIGH AT DARK HORSE


The creator of Spirit of Wonder returns!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Comics is thrilled to announce the publication of the first new work by Kenji Tsuruta in English in 20 years: Wandering Island!
Wandering Island is a retro flying adventure in the spirit of Hayao Miyazaki. With eight pages in color, this special edition features an extended wraparound cover with French flaps.
Mikura Amelia is a free-spirited young woman who lives alone with her cat and operates an air delivery service, flying her vintage seaplane to Japan’s small island communities located hundreds of miles out in the Pacific.
When her beloved grandfather passes away, she discovers he left her an undelivered parcel, addressed to an island that doesn’t exist . . . or does it? To answer the question, Mikura flies off in search of the truth behind the Wandering Island!
Wandering Island is in stores July 6, 2016. Preorder your copy today at your local comic shop or through these fine retailers:
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About Kenji Tsuruta
Kenji Tsuruta is a Japanese manga artist. Among his most famous works is the science fiction series Spirit of Wonder, which has been adapted into an anime series and brought him much acclaim. The author lives in Tokyo.
About Dark Horse Comics
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, 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, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X, and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga, and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.
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The ‘Future’ Is June 4, 2016: Five-Time Emmy Award Winner Michael J. Fox, ‘Caroline in the City’ Actress Lea Thompson To Appear At Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia

‘Back to the Future’ Stars To Make First Wizard World Appearances At Pennsylvania Convention Center

Michael J Fox Approved Headshot-333.jpgPHILADELPHIA, January 5, 2016 – Hello, McFly! From the Back to the Future franchise to TV hits like “Family Ties” and “Spin City,” Michael J. Fox has thrilled, touched and moved millions with his performances as well as his commitment to the campaign for increased Parkinson’s disease research. And Lea Thompson , who portrayed Marty’s mother in the trilogy in one of her most memorable roles, has appeared in more than 80 films and TV series. Now fans will have the chance to meet two of the most beloved stars of the past four decades as Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) today announced that Fox and Thompson will attend Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia on Saturday, June 4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Thompson will also appear on Sunday, June 5.

The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native debuted as a professional actor at 15, co-starring in the sitcom “Leo and Me” on CBC. When he was 18, Fox moved to Los Angeles. He had a series of bit parts, including one in “Palmerstown USA” before winning the role of lovable conservative Alex P. Keaton on NBC’s enormously popular “Family Ties” (1982-89). During Fox’s seven years on “Ties,” he earned three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, making him one of the country’s most prominent young actors.

“Spin City” reunited Fox with “Family Ties” creator/executive producer Gary David Goldberg. Together with Bill Lawrence, Goldberg created the series expressly for Fox, establishing it as a joint venture of Dreamworks SKG, Goldberg’s UBU Productions, and Lottery Hill Entertainment (run by Fox and partner Nelle Fortenberry, now a member of the Board of Directors of The Michael J. Fox Foundation).

Fox also had time during his busy TV work to become an international film star, appearing in over a dozen features showcasing his keen ability to shift between comedy and drama. These include the Back to the Future trilogy, The Hard Way, Doc Hollywood, The Secret of My Success, Bright Lights, Big City, Light of Day, Teen Wolf, Casualties of War, Life With Mikey, For Love or Money, The American President, Greedy, The Frighteners, and Mars Attacks!

Though the five-time Emmy Award winner (in addition to the three for “Family Ties,” he also won one for “Spin City” and one for a guest role on “Rescue Me”) would not share the news with the public for another seven years, Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991. Upon disclosing his condition in 1998, he committed himself to the campaign for increased Parkinson’s research. Fox announced his retirement from “Spin City” in January 2000, effective upon the completion of his fourth season and 100th episode. Today the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s drug development in the world, the Foundation has galvanized the search for a cure for Parkinson’s disease, and Michael is widely admired for his tireless work as a patient advocate.

“Michael J. Fox is among the most requested celebrities by our fans, and we couldn’t be more excited that he will make his Wizard World debut at one of our flagship shows, Philadelphia,” said John Macaluso , Wizard World CEO. “His career in film and television has made him a household name and speaks for itself, and his work to benefit Parkinson’s research and to support families battling the disease shows even more the kind of person he is.

“We are also thrilled that he will be paired with his co-star in the trilogy, Lea Thompson,” he added. “Wizard World and its fans will be honored by their presence.”

LeaThompson.jpgIn addition to playing "Lorraine Baines McFly" alongside Fox, Thompson starred in SpaceCamp, Howard The Duck, Dennis The Menace, Some Kind of Wonderful and numerous other hit films. She has guest starred in many TV series, and had success with the NBC situation comedy "Caroline in the City" in the late 1990s before starring in several Broadway plays.

Fox and Thompson join a select group of celebrities already committed to attend Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia, including Norman Reedus ("The Walking Dead," Boondock Saints), Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints , "Dexter"), Billy Martin (Lead Guitarist/Keyboardist - Good Charlotte, Artist - TMNT New Animated Adventures), James Remar (“The Warriors,” “Dexter”) and Jason David Frank ("Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers"), with many more to be announced.

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, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The ninth event currently scheduled on the 2016 Wizard World calendar, Philadelphia show hours are Thursday, June 2, 3-8 p.m.; Friday, June 3, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, June 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more on the 2016 Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia, visit http://wizd.me/PhiladelphiaPR .

About Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD)
Wizard World, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also launched Wizard World Store ( www.shopwizardworld.com), CONtv, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM), and ComicConBox™ ( www.comicconbox.com), a premium subscription-based monthly box service. Fans can interact with Wizard World on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

The Wizard World 2016 schedule is available at: www.wizardworld.com/wizcon.html .

Monday, January 04, 2016

IMAGE COMICS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL WALKING DEAD 1:0000 RETAILER VARIANT
Image Comics/Skybound is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for any comics retailer who orders at least zero copies of THE WALKING DEAD #150.
Participating retailers who meet the minimum of zilch orders will receive one free variant featuring art by series artist, Charlie Adlard.
This very special Retailer Appreciation variant will be a black and white version of Adlard’s Cover A and will grace the cover of the landmark, anniversary issue of THE WALKING DEAD, which will feature 30 pages of pulse-pounding story for only $2.99. In this 150th issue, Rick Grimes finds himself... betrayed.
THE WALKING DEAD #150, Cover A by Adlard & Stewart (Diamond Code: NOV150561*), Cover B sketch variant (Diamond Code: NOV150562*), Cover C by Latour (Diamond Code: OCT158896*), Cover D by Moore (Diamond Code: OCT158897*), Cover E by Ottley (Diamond Code: OCT158898*), and the Retailer Appreciation Cover F by Adlard (Diamond Code: NOV158259) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, January 13th. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, December 21st.
*This cover is fully orderable. 
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.
ABOUT SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT

Founded in 2010, Skybound Entertainment is a multiplatform entertainment company specializing in television, comics, film, digital content, interactive, gaming, and merchandise. The company is led by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and his longtime producing and business partner David Alpert.
LOW BLASTS OFF WITH NEW STORY ARC


Bestselling writer Rick Remender (TOKYO GHOST, BLACK SCIENCE, DEADLY CLASS) and artist Greg Tocchini (THE LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME) will launch a new story arc in their ongoing dark aquatic fantasy LOW this January.

Previously in LOW, Stel Caine fought to raise herself from the depths of the sea to set foot on the surface of the Earth, battling all manner of enemies.

In LOW #11, Sisters Tajo and Della Caine return to their family home haunted by ghosts of their past. Do they seek blood or redemption?

“LOW 11 is the beginning of the third story arc and a very new direction for the series. Stel and her crew have made it to the surface and finally get to see what's up there. She's in a very different headspace now, with a new engine pushing her forward, but we've got some pretty devious plans on testing her. At the same time, her daughters Tajo and Della have reunited and are beginning a journey to find their mother. They're both in very different places mentally, and want different things from the reunion,” said Remender. “Greg, Dave McCaig, and Rus Wooton are producing the work of their careers; every page is doused in love. If you haven't been reading the book this is a good time to jump on as we set the stage for an entirely new adventure following the first humans to set foot on the surface of Earth in over 10,000 years.”

LOW #11: SHORE OF THE DYING LIGHT PART 1 Cover A by Greg Tocchini (Diamond code: NOV150511) hits stores Wednesday, January 27th. LOW #11: SHORE OF THE DYING LIGHT PART 1 Cover B by Greg Tocchini (Diamond code: NOV150512) will also be available Wednesday, January 27th. Final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, January 4.


  




 


                     

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.

Gene Luen Yang Named 5th National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, 2016–2017

Yang Champions Diversity in All Forms and Reading for Non-Readers with his Platform, “Reading Without Walls”

New York, NY, January 4, 2016—The Children’s Book Council (CBC), Every Child a Reader (ECAR), and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (CFB) have announced the appointment of Gene Luen Yang, Printz Award winner and two-time National Book Award finalist, as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The program was established by the three organizations in 2008 to highlight the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. Yang will travel nationwide over the course of his two-year term promoting his platform, “Reading Without Walls,” showing kids and teens that reading is a vital part of their lives, and speaking to parents, teachers, librarians—everyone invested in young people’s literacy—about how better to connect with kids and teens and help them love reading. Yang succeeds beloved and esteemed authors Jon Scieszka (2008–2009), Katherine Paterson (2010–2011), Walter Dean Myers (2012–2013), and Kate DiCamillo (2014–2015) in the position. Gene Luen Yang is the first-ever graphic novelist to be named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

The inauguration ceremony, presided by acting Librarian of Congress David S. Mao and featuring both Yang and DiCamillo, will take place on Thursday, January 7 at 11 a.m. in room LJ-119 of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington D.C. The event is open to the public; no tickets are required.

“I’m thrilled and humbled to be appointed National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Reading breaks down the walls that divide us. By reading, we get to know people outside of our own communities. We gain knowledge others don’t expect us to have. We discover new and surprising passions. Reading is critical to our growth, both as individuals and as a society. The Children's Book Council, Every Child a Reader, and Library of Congress all empower people by getting them to read. I'm honored to take up that mission myself and to carry on the amazing work of the ambassadors before me,” said Gene Luen Yang.

“Gene Yang is a talented writer. He is a brilliant artist. His stories are thought-provoking, genre-bending, utterly original examinations of the human heart. In short, Gene Yang is a Renaissance man. I am so honored to pass the torch of this sacred task to Gene. No one is better suited for bringing us all together,” said Kate DiCamillo, two-time Newbery Award winner and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emeritus.

“What an inspired choice the selection committee has made in Gene. He is a brilliant storyteller who makes meaningful and profound connections with readers of all ages. And he has been a de facto ambassador for reading, inclusion, and graphic novels for years. I can’t think of anyone better than Gene to break down the walls stopping people from becoming lifelong lovers of reading,” said Jon Yaged, President & Publisher of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Jon Colman, Executive Director of the CBC added, “We couldn’t be more pleased with the selection of Gene Luen Yang as the next ambassador. He embodies everything that we look for in this position and we can’t think of a more fitting person to be representing young people’s literature over the next two years.”

“We are thrilled that Gene Luen Yang has agreed to be the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature,” said John Y. Cole, director of the Center for the Book, which administers the ambassador program with the Children’s Book Council. “Gene’s message of inclusion and acceptance of all people is especially relevant today. The Library of Congress looks forward to the next two years of Gene’s promotion of reading and literacy among young people.”

The National Ambassador is selected for: his or her contributions to young people’s literature, the ability to relate to kids and teens, and a dedication to fostering children’s literacy as a whole. The selection is based on recommendations from a CBC-ECAR-CFB-appointed committee comprising educators, librarians, booksellers, and children’s literature experts.


The members of the selection committee for the 2016–2017 ambassadorship were:
●     Betsy Bird, Collection Development Manager of Evanston Public Library
●     Shelley M. Diaz, Senior Editor, Reviews at School Library Journal
●     Kate DiCamillo, Newbery Medal–winning author, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, 2014-15
●     Jonathan Hunt, Coordinator of Library Media Services at the San Diego County Office of Education
●     Kimberly L. Jones, Store Manager at Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
●     Deborah Taylor, Coordinator of School and Student Services at Enoch Pratt Free Library
●     Lisa Von Drasek, Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at University of Minnesota Libraries

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program is administered by Every Child a Reader. Financial support for the National Ambassador Program in 2016 is provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Penguin Young Readers Group, Random House Children’s Books, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation.

For more information about the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, visit read.gov/cfb/ambassador/.

About Gene Luen Yang
Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade; he began making comics professionally over fifteen years ago. In 2006, his graphic novel American Born Chinese (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/First Second Books) became the first graphic novel to be a finalist for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album. In 2013, Boxers & Saints (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/First Second Books), his two-volume graphic novel about the Boxer Rebellion, was a National Book Award finalist and won the L.A. Times Book Prize. Gene has also won an Eisner for The Eternal Smile, a collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim. He is the author of the Secret Coders series (with artist Mike Holmes) and has written for the hit comics Avatar: The Last Airbender and Superman. Yang lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Learn more at geneyang.com.

About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council, established in 1945, is the nonprofit trade association of children’s book publishers in North America, dedicated to supporting the industry and promoting children’s books and reading. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and collaborations with other national organizations. Please visit cbcbooks.org for more information.

About Every Child a Reader (ECAR)
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children. ECAR administers programs including Children’s Book Week, the annual celebration of books and reading, and the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens of all ages; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Program. Please visit cbcbooks.org/about/every-child-a-reader/ for more information.

About the Library of Congress and the Center for the Book (CFB)
Since its creation by Congress in 1977 to “stimulate public interest in books and reading,” the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress has become a major national force for reading and literacy promotion. A public-private partnership, it sponsors educational programs that reach readers of all ages, nationally and internationally. The Center provides leadership for affiliated state centers for the book (including the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and nonprofit reading promotion partners and plays a key role in the Library’s annual National Book Festival. It also oversees the Library’s Read.gov website and administers the Library’s Young Readers Center and its Poetry and Literature Center. Visit Read.gov/cfb to learn more.
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT AND DARK HORSE DIGITAL
SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER WITH LINE-WIDE 99 CENT SALE

All Dynamite Entertainment Digital Issues On-Sale for
a Limited Time


December 31, 2015, Mt. Laurel, NJ: 'Twas the week after Christmas, and all through the store, all Dynamite titles on sale for $.99, and not a penny more! Dynamite Entertainment and Dark Horse Digital give digital comics readers over 1,000 reasons to be thankful, with the announcement of a line-wide sale.

With the holiday season in full swing and new devices in the hands of thousands of comics and pop culture fans of all ages, Dark Horse Digital will offer ALL Dynamite single issues in their digital storefront for just 99 cents! There has never been a better time to fill all those holes in your digital bookshelf!

Dynamite Entertainment offers fan favorites like Vampirella and Red Sonja, Preacher creator Garth Ennis' A Train Called Love, multimedia blockbusters James Bond and Army of Darkness, and internet sensation Grumpy Cat! All of these and hundreds of other titles will be available for less than a dollar for a full week!

"As we close out 2015, we wanted to create a promotion that would allow fans to try more Dynamite titles and expand our readership, and worked with Dark Horse to create this promotion" says Dynamite CEO Nick Barrucci. The timing is perfect as many comic fans have new devices thanks to the holidays, great for reading digital comics."

Visit digital.darkhorse.com today to browse hundreds of value-priced digital comics from Dynamite Entertainment!



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.

Dynamite Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dynamitecomics
Dynamite Twitter: http://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
Dynamite Official Website: http://www.dynamite.com/
Comic Shop Locator Service: 1-888-comicbook, or visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com/



About Dark Horse Comics:

Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, 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, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X, and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga, and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world's leading entertainment publishers.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

MONSTRESS CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
First and second issues of new dark fantasy series from Liu and Takeda fast-tracked for third and second printings


New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men, Black Widow) and artist Sana Takeda (X-23, Ms. Marvel) launched their new fantasy adventure to early critical acclaim and have taken the comics industry by storm. Image Comics is pleased to announce that issues #1 and #2 are being fast-tracked for third and second printings, respectively, to keep up with the high customer demand.

Vox.com calls MONSTRESS “a world that is as heinous as it is dazzling” while The Hollywood Reporter says it is “full of hidden depths.” The Onion’s A.V. Club calls attention to a “sense of in-between-ness—the book neither traditionally Western nor manga, paced like a novel but drawn like a comic—[that] makes for an incredibly intriguing read.”

Steampunk meets Kaiju in MONSTRESS, an original fantasy epic for mature readers. Young Maika risks everything to control her psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, placing her in the center of a devastating war between human and otherworldly forces. “Watching a series like Monstress come to life is one of the best parts of publishing comics,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Marjorie and Sana are both amazing talents and everyone here is so excited that all their hard work is resulting such a warm response from fans around the world.”

MONSTRESS #1 and #2 remain available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.

MONSTRESS #1, third printing (Diamond Code NOV158340) and MONSTRESS #2, second printing (Diamond Code NOV158341) will arrive in stores on Wednesday, January 27th. Final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, January 4th.

MONSTRESS #3 (Diamond Code NOV150620) hits stores on Wednesday, January 20th.

    



ABOUT MARJORIE LIU

New York Times
bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.
 
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steampunk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.

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.
Christmas Comes Twice This Year!
BOOM! Studios Announces a
Second Printing for 'Klaus' #2

 
Klaus #2 2nd Print
Klaus #2 2nd Printing Cover by David Rubín
 
December 29,  2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Looks like there was one more present left under the Christmas tree! BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce that the second issue of Klaus, their hit original comic series by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora that details the epic origin of the one and only Santa Claus, has sold out through its first printing at the distributor level. The publisher has rushed to a second printing to fill demand.
 
Klaus #2 second print ships with a new cover by David Rubín (The Fiction) and carries a retail price of $3.99 under Diamond Code NOV158280. Orders close on January 4th, and copies are anticipated to be in stores on January 20th.
 
Set in a dark fantastic past of myth and magic, Klaus tells the story of how Santa Claus really came to be. Where did he begin? What was he like when he was young? And what happens when he faces his greatest challenge? Drawing on Santa Claus’ wilder roots in Viking lore and Siberian shamanism—taking in the creepier side of Christmas, and characters like the sinister Krampus—Klaus is “Santa Claus: Year One.” In issue #2, as the downtrodden people of the twon of Grimsvig struggle under totalitarian rule, Klaus stealthily evades the guard and slips magical, living toys into the poorest of homes to lift their spirits.
 
Praise for Klaus #2:
 
“...a great read, and its skillful reworking of myth is for all seasons.” - Comic Book Resources
 
“The combination of the book's violent action and the utter innocence and nobility of Klaus' quest make for a memorable combination.” - IGN
 
“...an intriguing concept that delivers a fun story, with some darker undertones.” - Comic Vine
 
“...effectively mixes classic fairy tales with modern grit to create a fitting holiday treat…” - Pop Matters
 
“...this is a story that is easy to get on board with and is shaping up to be a great run.” - Big Glasgow Comic Page

Comic book fans should bear in mind that first printings of Klaus #2 may still be found at the local comic shop nearest you. Not sure where your nearest comic retailer is? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

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ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS
Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates New York Times best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic books and graphic novels. BOOM! Studios is comprised of four distinct imprints: the "Studios" imprint is home to The Woods, Grant Morrison's Klaus, and Big Trouble in Little China; imprint "BOOM! Box" publishes Lumberjanes, Steve Jackson Games' Munchkin, and Giant Days; All-Ages imprint "KaBOOM!" publishes Charles Schulz’ Peanuts; Jim Davis’ Garfield; and Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. And the "Archaia" imprint is home to Mouse Guard, Cow Boy, and numerous Jim Henson Company properties. Since 2013, BOOM! Studios has had a unique first-look feature film relationship with 20th Century Fox and since August 2014 BOOM! has had a similar first-look relationship with Fox' television studio to develop properties for the small screen.