Friday, April 30, 2010

Archaia Creators at Free Comic Book Day Events

ARCHAIA ANNOUNCES FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2010 SIGNINGS

EVENTS TAKING PLACE WITH ARCHAIA CREATORS AROUND THE COUNTRY

In celebration and support of Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 1, 2010, in which comic book shops across the country and the world give out free comic books to anyone who comes through their doors, Archaia Entertainment is proud to announce creator appearances at the following locations:

Nichol Ashworth (writer, Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock FCBD flip book)
1 – 3 p.m. ET
Comicopia
464 Commonwealth Ave., #13
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 266-4266, www.comicopia.com

A. David Lewis (writer, Some New Kind of Slaughter, Lone and Level Sands)
Call for hours (ET)
New England Comics (Allston location)
131 Harvard Ave.
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 783-1848, http://www.newenglandcomics.com/

Anthony Coffey and Jesse Labbé (writers/artists, Berona’s War)
10 a.m. -??? CT
Limited quantities of First Edition of Berona’s War: Field Guide will be available
Heroes and Dreams
5352 Highway 25, Suite 1650
Flowood, MS 39232
(601) 992-3100, www.heroesanddreams.com

David Petersen (writer/artist, Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock FCBD flip book)
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. CT
Graham Crackers Comics (Chicago Loop location)
77 E. Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 629-1810, www.grahamcrackers.com

Joshua Hale Fialkov (writer, Tumor)
Jeff Stokely (artist, Fraggle Rock #1)
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT
Comic Bug
1807 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 372-6704, www.thecomicbug.com

Sam Humphries (writer, Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock FCBD flip book)
Jeremy Love (artist, Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock FCBD flip book)
David Lanphear (letterer, Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock FCBD flip book)
Special appearance by Red Fraggle and Karen Prell
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT
Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-7223, www.meltcomics.com

Jake Myler (artist, Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock FCBD flip book)
12 – 3 p.m. PT
Zanadu Comics (Downtown location)
1923 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 443-1316, www.zanaducomics.com


About Archaia
Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. With a slate including the popular Eisner Award-winning title Mouse Guard, as well as Awakening, The Killer, Robotika, Killing Pickman, Artesia, Titanium Rain, The God Machine, Gunnerkrigg Court, Roddenberry Productions’ Days Missing, The Jim Henson Company library, and the Publisher’s latest additions of Lucid and Mr. Murder Is Dead with Before the Door Pictures and Syndrome with Fantasy Prone, Archaia has become synonymous with quality content.

For more information on Archaia or any Archaia titles please visit www.Archaia.com. Archaia can also be found on Facebook (facebook.com/archaiacomics), MySpace (myspace.com/archaiacomics) and Twitter (twitter.com/archaiacomics).

"Red Fraggle" at Meltdown Comics on Free Comic Book Day

LIVE APPEARANCE BY RED FRAGGLE AT MELTDOWN COMICS FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

WHO: Red Fraggle, one of the stars of Jim Henson’s “Fraggle Rock” TV series, along with her puppeteer, Karen Prell.

WHAT: Free Comic Book Day, in which comic shops across the country and the world give away free comics. The event is free and is open to everyone of all ages.

WHEN: Saturday, May 1, 2010, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT

WHERE: Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 851-7223

WHY: Red Fraggle is appearing to celebrate the release and giveaway of ARCHAIA COMICS and THE JIM HENSON COMPANY’s Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock flip book.

Real Gets Rehabilitation

I read Real, Vol. 8

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has an iPhone app).


Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Vampire Beauty Shop

I read How to Seduce a Vampire (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has an iPhone app).  This is a yaoi manga title from June Manga.


Steven Seagle and Kelley Jones' "The Crusades" Reprinted

ON A CRUSADE WITH THE CRUSADES

Steven T. Seagle and Kelley Jones' THE CRUSADES collected for the first time

The Dark Ages begin again in the first-ever collection of the controversial crime series THE CRUSADES, written by Steven T. Seagle (Soul Kiss, it's a bird...) and drawn by Kelley Jones (Sandman, Batman).

The first of two re-mastered volumes, THE CRUSADES Vol. 1: KNIGHT collects THE CRUSADES: URBAN DECREE and THE CRUSADES #1-9.

"This material has been out of print for about a decade, but -- dealing with church scandals, shady land deals, shock media and social justice -- it remains creepily relevant in its themes," says Seagle, "I get asked at every convention if the series will ever be collected, and now I can finally say 'yes' in a big way."

"We've really gone back in and made a great book even better for this edition," adds Kelly Jones, "We've redesigned everything, produced new covers, corrected some typos, heightened the color effects, upgraded the paper -- this quirky book was mostly missed the first time around, but it is not to be missed this time."

"Image is proud to collect THE CRUSADES for the first time," says Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "This is fantastic work by Steve and Kelley Jones that deserves a top flight collection and the vast new audience this two-volume set will attract."

In THE CRUSADES, an enigmatic 11th century Knight has come to render terrible justice on the citizens of 21st century San Francisco. His acts of unspeakable violence spark a firestorm of moral soul-searching in the hearts and minds of the city's most colorful figures. Putting together the pieces of the Knight's mysteriously brutal puzzle is the voluptuous Venus Kostopikas, a fact checker for a dying newspaper who has aspirations to rise above her station and lead her own crusade.

THE CRUSADES Vol. 1: KNIGHT, a full-color 256-page hardcover for $29.99, will be in stores July 4, 2010.


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 four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline 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.

Kody Chamberlain Presents "Sweets"

SWEET ON DARK AND GRITTY CRIME

Newcomer Kody Chamberlain writes and draws SWEETS for Image Comics

Newcomer and Louisiana native Kody Chamberlain makes his Image Comics debut with SWEETS, a five-issue crime drama set in New Orleans shortly before Hurricane Katrina strikes.

"New Orleans is a great town for crime comics. It's rich with culture, architecture and all the little details that rarely show through in comic books," says Chamberlain. "I've lived in South Louisiana all my life: I don't have to jump on Google to find tourist photos. The music is my music, and the slang is my slang. Hopefully, that shows through and makes the city come alive for the readers."

"Kody has one of the freshest perspectives I've seen in a while," says Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "His artwork is fantastic, but he's a great writer as well, and SWEETS is going to be the book to read."

SWEETS: A spree killer terrorizes New Orleans days before Hurricane Katrina makes landfall. Detective Curt Delatte just buried his only daughter, and he's in no condition to work. But when the bodies pile up, Delatte masks his grief and joins the hunt through the bowels of the Big Easy. It won't be long until his city---and his evidence---gets washed away.

SWEETS #1, a full-color 32-page comic written and drawn by Kody Chamberlain, will be available for $2.99 and in stores on July 14, 2010. A special preview of SWEETS can be found in CHEW #11, in stores on June 9, 2010.

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 four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline 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.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

B.O.D.Y. Rock

I read B.O.D.Y., Vol. 9

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has an iPhone app).


Wonder Woman's Own Encyclopedia

I received a review copy of The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.


Image Comics Collects All of "Hellcity"

HELL OF A LOT OF HELLCITY

Macon Blair and Joe Flood's HELLCITY gets collected

Crime noir, grotesque horror and pitch-black comedy collide in HELLCITY (THE WHOLE DAMN THING), which collects all three volumes of the HELLCITY trilogy, including never-before-published volumes 2 and 3. Hell has never been so fun!

Written by MACON BLAIR and illustrated by JOE FLOOD, HELLCITY takes all the tropes of hard-boiled detective fiction, from tough guy narration to shadowy, rain slicked streets to mysterious femme fatales and puts them in a blender with Monty Python, Dante's Inferno, and old school Peter Jackson movies. HELLCITY is full of action, gore and dark, dark humor.

"Joe and I are beyond excited that Image is putting out HELLCITY, our baby," emphasizes Blair. "They literally brought it back from the dead."

HELLCITY is a nightmarish slice of urban sprawl, where demons and humans co-exist, albeit miserably. When a human detective is hired to secretly investigate the out-of-character antics of the Boss of Hellcity -- the Devil himself -- he discovers a conspiracy that upends everything he thought he knew and sets off an apocalyptic human/demon race war.

HELLCITY (THE WHOLE DAMN THING), a black-and-white 328-page trade paperback for $24.99, will be available July 21, 2010.


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 four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline 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.

Jane Wiedlin and Bill Morrison Present "Lady Robotika"

ROCK AND ROLL SPACE OPERA

The Go-Go's Jane Wiedlin and Bill Morrison get celestial with LADY ROBOTIKA

JANE WIEDLIN (The Go-Go's) and BILL MORRISON (Bongo Comics) blast off this July with the out-of-this-world space adventure LADY ROBOTIKA from Shadowline and Image Comics. Scribes Wiedlin and Morrison get an assist by TONE RODRIGUEZ (Shadowhawk), who works with Morrison on the art.

"I never meant for it to be like this," exclaims Wiedlin. "One minute I was just another hard-workin' guitar slinger, ripping out power chords while traveling the hinterlands with my band, The Go-Go's. The next, I was blasted into a crazy adventure in Space, with powers far beyond a damn fine F chord and some nice sexy stage banter. But hey, it's a big Universe out there, and someone's got to save it. Guess that someone is ME."

Morrison adds, "I heard someone say 'Lady Robotika is bigger than Jesus!' I certainly didn't say it. I would never say something like that. I'm going to Hell, aren't I?"

"LADY ROBOTIKA is pure rock and roll," says Shadowline Publisher Jim Valentino. "Loud and proud of it! This is the space adventure for rock stars."

In LADY ROBOTIKA, aliens from a distant planet abduct rock star Jane Wiedlin and force her to play a concert for their Earth-obsessed emperor. During the trek back to their planet, the aliens implant Jane's body with nanobots. But their plan to turn her into one of their cyborg slaves backfires when Jane learns to control the nanites within her and becomes the super-powered cyborg liberator, LADY ROBOTIKA!

LADY ROBOTIKA #1, a full-color 32-page comic written by Jane Wiedlin and Bill Morrison with art by Bill Morrison and Tone Rodriquez, will be available for $3.50 in stores July 14, 2010.

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 four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline 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.

Joe Casey and Chris Burnham Present "Officer Downe"

JOE CASEY AND CHRIS BURNHAM GET DOWNE

Forget the Comics Code: Joe Casey and Chris Burnham get violent in OFFICER DOWNE

Writer JOE CASEY (Godland) and artist CHRIS BURNHAM, the team responsible for the cult hit NIXON'S PALS bring a whole new kind of crime comic with OFFICER DOWNE, a one-shot available from Image Comics this July. OFFICER DOWNE features a police officer who won't let anything -- including death -- stop him from taking down the worst criminals in town.

"This book is the antidote for the event comic that takes waaaaaayyy too long to tell too little story -- the "talky" alterna-comic that lacks the proper amount of mayhem -- and any of the company-owned pabulum that they try to pass off as entertainment," exclaims Casey. "You have the right to remain silent... and experience a *true* hero for our times.”

OFFICER DOWNE walks the eternal beat and delivers the eternal beat-down! Much more than man...he is policeman! It's hyper-violence on the mean city streets, from JOE CASEY and CHRIS BURNHAM -- an all-new one-shot in which a lone Badass With A Badge takes on the scourges of the criminal underworld! Not even death itself can stop this powerhouse of justice! Officer Downe is one cop that'll keep coming back for more...even from beyond the grave!

OFFICER DOWNE, a full-color 48-page one-shot for $4.99, will be in stores July 14, 2010.


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 four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline 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.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Robert Kirkman Comics Reach 75th Issues

INVINCIBLE AND THE WALKING DEAD TURN 75


Image Comics and Robert Kirkman celebrate the 75th issue of INVINCIBLE and THE WALKING DEAD

It may be hard to believe that Invincible has been fighting villains for 75 issues and that Rick Grimes has survived the zombie apocalypse for the same duration, but INVINCIBLE and THE WALKING DEAD turn 75 (issues) in July. Writer ROBERT KIRKMAN is prepared to make them issues to remember!

In INVINCIBLE #75, with art by RYAN OTTLEY, CORY WALKER and FCO PLASCENCIA, Invincible and the Coalition of Planets bring the war to Planet Viltrum! All bets are off as the Coalition forces try to fight their way into the Viltrumite Empire's stronghold. Lives are lost, and the war reaches a turning point. This issue features a special, over-sized main story and an extra special Science Dog back-up story by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker.

In THE WALKING DEAD #75, featuring art by CHARLIE ADLARD, CLIFF RATHBURN and RYAN OTTLEY, lines are crossed, rules are broken and the peace and tranquility of the community are shattered. After months of safety and security, are Rick Grimes and the crew prepared for what they now face? As an added bonus: a very special back-up story drawn by Ryan Ottley in FULL COLOR -- a first for THE WALKING DEAD!

“All I've ever wanted to do in comics is write a long uninterrupted run on a series,” relates Kirkman. “To get to do that on two books makes me feel absurdly fortunate. I feel compelled to repay our fans on both series by doing everything I can to keep these books awesome -- and I believe when readers see these two issues, they'll see that we're doing just that. After all this time, I'm more excited than ever!”

"Invincible and The Walking Dead have become touchstones," says Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "In today's market, it's a rarity for any title to boast better sales at #75 than at #1, but both books continue to broaden their audiences. Robert and his artists have done an amazing job, and we couldn't be more pleased with their continued success."

INVINCIBLE #75, a full-color 48-page cåomic book for $5.99, will be available July 21, 2010. THE WALKING DEAD, a 40-page black and white comic book featuring the first-ever full-color Walking Dead story, will be available for $3.99 on July 14, 2010.

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 four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline 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.

Fantagraphics Books and Rosebud Archives Form Marketing Partnership

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS AND ROSEBUD ARCHIVES ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP, LAUNCHING WEB SALES OF RARE AND BEAUTIFUL CARTOON ART IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS

Fantagraphics Books and Rosebud Archives have announced an agreement to market a wide variety of products related to vintage comics and posters, historical cartoons, advertising images, and illustration. The product lines will include prints, posters, framed art, books, stationery, and a hybrid format called the Rosebud PadFolio. The products are available for sale immediately on Fantagraphics.com:

“We are proud to be allied with Fantagraphics, whose commitment to quality and the advancement of the graphics arts has been notable for decades,” announced Rosebud Archives founding partners Rick Marschall and Jonathan Barli. “Our own commitment to preservation, restoration, and high historical standards are a perfect match with Fantagraphics.”

The core of Rosebud Archives’ image bank is arguably America’s largest private resource of comics-based popular culture, the collection of Rick Marschall, to which is added the collections of Jonathan Barli and several other major sources in the US and in Europe. Barli, veteran proprietor of Digital Funnies, is a specialist in restoration and themed compilations of cartoon art. He is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts.

Rosebud Archives releases will also include collectors’ editions of artwork created for, and featured in, Fantagraphics publications, including The Comics Journal and Nemo magazine. “The availability of Rosebud’s customized art objects is a perfect complement to the Marschall Books imprint we previously announced,” said Fantagraphics President Gary Groth. “Rick Marschall’s imprint will be a series of substantial volumes by individual cartoonists, thematic anthologies, and cultural collections of cartoon-related imagery. Rosebud will produce customized and short-run cartoons in various popular formats, which we’re very happy to provide on our website.”

Rosebud Archives was established in 2009 and has already released several lines of products that reflect the company’s vision. These early releases feature the work of George Herriman, ZIM, and Charles Dana Gibson, cartoon series by Gluyas Williams,; prints of cartoons by Winsor McCay, Harrison Cady, and John T. McCutcheon; and special art by Cliff Sterrett, George McManus, and Milt Gross. Specialty items include a “Krazy Kat” triptych and a Limited Edition portfolio of Marlene Dietrich photographic portraits. Boxed editions of works by great black-and-white cartoonists are issued under Rosebud’s “Shwartz and Weiss” imprint. Stationary items include notecards, postcards, and envelopes. Framed, frame-ready, and gallery-wrapped prints are also offered. The Rosebud Padfolio is a bound portfolio with detachable prints, a uniquely devised format.

Rosebud Archives offers its products on its own website (www.rosebudarchives.com), and has made all products available on the Fantagraphics Books website (www.fantagraphics.com). “A perfect synergy of serving the sophisticated comics connoisseur, and reaching collectors far and wide with proven integrity,” is how Marschall characterized the agreement between the two companies. Fantagraphics’ website offers all its books —by such cartoonists as R. Crumb, George Herriman, Charles Schulz, Hal Foster, Basil Wolvertoon, Gahan Wilson, Steve Ditko, Robert Williams, Daniel Clowes, Jim Woodring, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, and many others— directly to consumers. “We have tried to publish the best cartooning in the world, and Rosebud’s beautifully conceived art objects fits right into our aesthetic,” said Groth.

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Dark Horse Announces New "Conan" Series by Roy Thomas

DARK HORSE CONTINUES CONAN’S EPIC CAREER WITH COMICS LEGEND ROY THOMAS


THE CELEBRATED WRITER RETURNS TO ROBERT E. HOWARD’S CLASSIC HERO WITH CONAN: ROAD OF KINGS; CONAN’S FUTURE TACKLED IN KING CONAN: SCARLET CITADEL

At last weekend’s C2E2 convention, Dark Horse Comics announced that it would continue telling the epic tale of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Cimmerian with the return of legendary writer Roy Thomas. Thomas introduced the comic-reading public to Conan in 1970, when he began the highly successful Conan the Barbarian for Marvel Comics, a title he wrote for ten years. Conan and comics fans will also remember the former Marvel editor in chief’s classic tales from lauded runs as a writer and editor on The Savage Sword of Conan and as the writer of King Conan. Now, in 2010, Thomas returns to the character he helped ingrain into the consciousness of the comics community with Conan: Road of Kings.

“Conan the Cimmerian is one of the most important people in my life—even if he never really existed—and it was a genuine thrill to be asked by Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson to scribe a year’s worth of his darkly epic adventures,” Thomas said.

Continuing where Conan the Cimmerian #25 leaves off, Thomas’s Conan: Road of Kings will tell a twelve-issue epic about the next stage in the adventurous hero’s illustrious life, beginning with a new #1 issue. Featuring art by Mike Hawthorne (Fear Agent), Road of Kings begins this December.

“Conan: Road of Kings picks up the barbarian on the Vilayet Sea, at nearly the easternmost edge of Robert E. Howard’s map of the Hyborian age, and has twelve breathless issues to deliver him—black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand—to the westernmost shores of that age undreamed of,” Thomas continued. “To reach his destination, he must travel the fabled Road of Kings that winds its way through the civilized kingdoms—but along his path lurk inhuman monstrosities, malevolent sorcerers and not a few power-crazed men and women who are determined to see to it that he doesn’t make it.

“Dynamic artist Mike Hawthorne and I intend to make Conan’s westward odyssey a chapter in the Cimmerian’s life that readers won’t soon forget,” Thomas explained. “This will be a quite different take on Conan’s life than the one I pioneered at Marvel in the seventies and the nineties, with new adventures, new antagonists, even new and alternative sides to characters you thought you’d met before.”

The current Conan creative team of writer Tim Truman and artist Tomás Giorello are set to continue their adventures with the Cimmerian, as well. Jumping ahead in Conan’s timeline, King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel features the adventurer years in the future—after he’s become the king of Aquilonia—and adapts one of Robert E. Howard’s original Conan tales. This four-issue miniseries will hit comic shops in early 2011.

Dark Horse Comics is also slated to continue its run of successful Conan reprints with King Conan Volume 1 on sale August 25, The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 8 on sale September 22, and Conan: The Newspaper Strips Volume 1 on sale September 8, all featuring the writing talents of Thomas alongside other greats, like Doug Moench, John Buscema, Gil Kane, Ernie Chan, and more!

Conan, Kull and Solomon Kane are published under license from Conan Properties International LLC, a subsidiary of Paradox Entertainment Inc.

Who Wears the Crown of Love

I read Crown of Love, Vol. 2

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has an iPhone app).


Shadowline and Image Comics to Publish "Fractured Fables" in July

PUTTING FABLES BACK TOGETHER AGAIN


Shadowline and Image Comics release FRACTURED FABLES, a fresh take on fairy tales

Some our most beloved fairy tales get a fresh perspective this July with the release of FRACTURED FABLES, an all-new anthology from Shadowline and Image Comics.

"FRACTURED FABLES is pure labor of love," says Shadowline Publisher Jim Valentino. "This book was meant to happen from the start. The creators who worked on it were so enthusiastic, and we've really got something special in FRACTURED FABLES. This book will introduce a whole new generation of fans to comic books!"

Some of the comic book industry's best and brightest use their talents to produce the kid-friendly anthology FRACTURED FABLES. Featuring a cover by MIKE and LAURA ALLRED and humorous takes on familiar fairy tales, creators include JILL THOMPSON, BRYAN TALBOT, PETER DAVID, BEN TEMPLESMITH, TERRY MOORE, SCOTT MORSE, DOUG TENNAPEL, TED McKEEVER, BILL MORRISON, LARRY MARDER, JIM VALENTINO, PHIL HESTER, SHANNON WHEELER and many more!

FRACTURED FABLES, a 160-page full color hardcover anthology featuring an all-star cast of creators, will be available for $29.99 and in stores July 14, 2010. A free sampling of the delightful tales in FRACTURED FABLES will be available on Free Comic Book Day. Look for it May 1, 2010, at your favorite comic book shop!

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 four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline 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.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Mikansei No. 1 with a Bullet

I read Mikansei No. 1 Volume 1

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has an iPhone app).


VIZ Media Presents "Maoh: Juvenile Remix"

VIZ MEDIA OFFERS A BATTLE OF BRAINS VERSUS BRAWN IN NEW MANGA SERIES MAOH: JUVENILE REMIX

A Boy With A Special Power May Be The Key To Saving A City In A Story Of Courage, Determination And Confrontation

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, brings MAOH: JUVENILE REMIX to North American audiences on May 11th. The new series, by Megumi Osuga and Kotaro Isaka, will be published under the SHONEN SUNDAY imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

In the city of Nekota, where rapid modernization threatens everything the longtime residents hold dear, one young man stands up to oppose the progress. Inukai and his team of vigilantes, known as Grasshopper, protect the citizens from the rising crime wave and the greedy businessmen bent on turning every block into a strip mall. But what is this public hero’s true motive? Is this angelic man really a devil in disguise?

Ando is a high school student who has the power to make others say out loud what he's thinking. In this chaotic city, these two will come together to weave a story of courage, determination and confrontation. But will this be enough to uncover Inukai’s secrets and stop the plot to control the city?

“It’s a cat and mouse chase and battle of wills between two sides with differing ideals as creator Megumi Osuga and Kotaro Isaka set the stage for an engrossing story with MAOH,” says Alexis Kirsch, Editor, VIZ Media. “The new series shows that as crazy as one’s ideas may seem, as long as you believe in yourself and tackle problems head-on, one has the power change the world. This is the perfect addition to our SHONEN SUNDAY library and we are excited to bring this intriguing series to our fans.”

Megumi Osuga made her debut in Shonen Sunday R with the manga series, Tonpachi, and also had a short series called Honou no Ana no Yomi featured in Shonen Sunday Super. MAOH: JUVINILE REMIX launched in Weekly Shonen Sunday in 2007.

Born in 1971 in Chiba Prefecture, Kotaro Isaka is one of the most popular Japanese novelists and has received numerous awards. He has many titles under his belt, and most of them have been turned into live-action movies.

To read free previews of MAOH: JUVENILE REMIX or for more information on other SHONEN SUNDAY series, please visit www.shonensunday.com

Friday, April 23, 2010

Ellen DeGeneres Hardly Seems Worth the Effort - on Either Side

Hunting Lobby Attacks Ellen DeGeneres Comic Publisher for Animal Rights (& Ellen) Support

Million Member US Sportsmen Assn. Outraged by Female Empowerment Issue Featuring Ellen with Proceeds to U.S. Humane Society

When Bluewater Productions president Darren Davis received a call from a Walter “Bud” Pidgeon, president of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, demanding he withdraw the new Female Empowerment: Ellen DeGeneres issue because of her support of the U.S. Human Society, the Washington-based publisher thought it was someone playing a joke. As emails flooded Bluewater's server from USSA's members castigating him for “elevating” gays, supporting “less than acceptable lifestyles”, and for honoring Ellen's request that issue proceeds go the to U.S. Humane Society he quickly discovered Pidgeon was a real person and had in fact called upon his 3 million members to take action against Bluewater.

Bluewater Productions over the last year has been publishing monthly issues individually dedicated to iconic Americans including Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, and most recently talk show host Ellen De Generes as part of a Female Force series. Each issue tells the lifestory of the subject in an entertaining and informative format, focusing on the positive social contributions.

“Being the subject of a Bluewater issue has become quite the celebrity 'get' with the attendant national publicity” said Bluewater publisher Darren Davis. “We hear from A-list publicists every day pitching one celeb or another.” Davis explained that the subject of each issue, if they choose to participate, gets to select a charity and 1/3 of the proceeds go directly to their nonprofit of choice.

“Ellen chose the U.S. Humane Society” said Davis, “an animal rights organization she has supported for years.”

In a letter demanding Davis take immediate action, Pidgeon explained the USSA's objections including the U.S. Humane Society's campaign to ban dove hunting and their seeking regulation of dog breeders. Pidgeon followed up with a release to the group's 3.1 million members asking them to contact DeGeneres and Bluewater ( http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=2403) to share their outrage.

And contact Bluewater the USSA members did. For example, one email expresses outrage for supporting the Humane Society which the write alleges is “Headed by vegans”, and another “I am amazed that a comics publisher would elevate a person of 'DeGenerates' (sic) background …Children are the readers of comics, and they do not need indoctrination into less-than-acceptable lifestyles…”


About Bluewater Productions
Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis” ”Bluewater publishes comic books in partnership with entertainment icon William Shatner (“TekWar Chronicles”), legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen (“Wrath of the Titans,” “Sinbad: Rogue of Mars,” “Jason and the Argonauts,” et al) and celebrated actor Vincent Price (“Vincent Price Presents”), Additionally, Bluewater publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles “Female Force” and “Political Power.”

Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry’s top artists and writers.

Following its commitment to green publishing, Bluewater comic books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. FSC certification guarantees that the paper used in Bluewater books contains fiber from well-managed and responsibility harvested forests that meet strict environmental and socioeconomic standards.

For more information, visit www.bluewaterprod.com.

2010 Eagle Awards Deadline Approaches

2010 EAGLE AWARDS NOMINATIONS TO CLOSE MAY 9


STILL TIME TO SELECT YOUR 2009 FAVOURITES

Nominations for the 2010 Eagle Awards will close May 9th. The top five nominees going through to the voting round will be announced at a press conference being held at 11:00am on Sunday, May 23rd at the Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo.

Attending the event are organiser Cassandra Conroy, Barry Renshaw, Glenn Carter, and special guests who will discuss not only the Eagle Awards but also the next step in the evolution of the medium’s longest running prizes. Considered a major step forward for the industry as a whole the move has already drawn support from numerous luminaries among them Peter Bagge, Karen Berger, Howard Chaykin, Steve Epting, Geoff Johns, Denny O’Neil, Jeff Smith, Bryan Talbot, and Brian Wood.

Hosting the meeting is awards founder Mike Conroy who said “I’m really impressed with what Barry and my daughter have planned, it’s a major step forward for the industry and I believe people will be elated when all is revealed.”

There has been a lot of Internet chatter about the Eagles following their absence last year. Rumours were rife with many opining that the Eagles were either on hiatus or even gone forever. Some went so far to suggest the 2010 awards wouldn’t happen. They were of the opinion that Cassandra’s youth was against her and that the pressure was “just too much”.

‘Anyone that believes I was going in blind and naïve is wrong,’ stated Cassandra. ‘There are numerous reasons why 2009 didn’t happen but the call for nominations generated such small numbers that with all our other problems (including the loss of venue) the whole exercise became futile. Last year was far more of an uphill battle than I’d anticipated. I tried everything as did my father, but even with a lot of support there were just too many things against us.’

‘But that was last year,” she continued. ‘In our first week of being live for 2010, the volume of nominees was already four times greater than in 2009. With three weeks to go I’m looking to the future not the past!”

To register your nominations log on to http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/nomination.aspx?view=y

For further information/interviews, please contact Cassandra Conroy at: eagleawards@gmail.com


ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s longest established awards. Acknowledged as the pre-eminent international prizes, they have been featured on the covers of leading US and UK titles across the last 34 years ranging from Uncanny X-Men and Swamp Thing to MAD, 2000 AD and Back Issue.

Unique in the comics industry in that they reflect both the professional and the reader’s choice, the Eagle Awards comprise of two distinct stages:

(i) A Nominations Form allows the entire comics community to choose their favourites.

(ii) The top five nominations then appear on the voting form for the readers and fans to choose from, thus focusing the fans with no wasted votes.

Cosmic Times Celebrates Free Comic Book Day 2010

Free Comic Book Day comes to Past Present Future

West Palm Beach comic book shop Past Present Future Comics and Games will be celebrating the uniquely American art form of comic books by giving away FREE comics to everyone who shows up at their store on Saturday May 1st. Hundreds of books will be given away and include titles form the top publishers featuring such characters as Iron Man, Superman, Shrek, GI Joe, Buzz Lightyear and many others. Past Present Future will also be having a store wide sale, a costume contest and other surprises that day.

Beyond offering free comics, Past Present Future will be highlighting local talent and smaller Florida based publishers. In attendance that day will be Martin T. Pierro (publisher/writer), Christopher Faulkner (writer) and Aric Huffes (concept artist) from Lake Worth based publisher Cosmic Times, who will also be offering a free comic (“The Making of Souled”) and will be selling their flagship title “Arthur: The Legend Continues”. Coming in from Orlando will be Larry “Spike” Jarrell, Jeramy Hobbs and Zach Bassett who will be representing What the Flux Comics along with Richard Gaines writer/artist of Belfry Boys. Also coming down from Orlando will be representatives from Ka-Blam Digital Printing: Barry Gregory (who not only co-founded Ka-Blam but also has worked with some of the industries top publishers), Jenni Gregory (writer and illustrator of DreamWalker, Abby's Menagerie, Womblees, and Rok's Keep) and Wayne C Spencer (writer and illustrator of Clock Jumpers). Finally rounding out the group will be local publisher Shannon Vokes who has also published a free comic for the event (“SleepRunners: Conflicted”). The intent is to provide people interested in the publishing and art of comics a chance to learn about that side of the industry and will introduce readers to the world of independently produced comics.

Free Comic Book Day, now in its ninth year was conceived as a way to bring new readers into comics and reach out to those people who may not even be aware that there is a local shop in their area. Over the years the demographic of comic readers has changed and now the once kid-oriented industry offers every type genre for every age group and Free Comic Book Day provides potential readers with a chance to discover what this amazing art form/entertainment has to offer.

Past Present Future (or PPF) has been a comic book “destination” store in Palm Beach County since 1982 and for the last 19 years has been owned and operated by local businessman Mark Gallo (who used to work in the shop for the previous owner). Past Present Future sells hundreds of new comics and trade paperbacks (new issues are released every Wednesday) and has thousands of rare and valuable back issues dating from 1933 to 2010. Beyond comics PPF also sells Role Playing Games, Trading Cards and Trading Card Games, Toys, Statues, Action Figures, Manga, Anime, Memorabilia, Collectibles and much more. PPF is located at 1387 N. Military Trail (where Cherry Road intersects, just south of Okeechobee and north of Belvedere) in West Palm Beach, they are open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Be prepared for a crowd, during all of the festivities for Free Comic Book Day there will also be a Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game tournament being held in the store.

For more information about Free Comic Book Day please visit - www.FreeComicBookDay.com

For more information about Past Present Future please visit - www.PPFcomics.com or call - 561.697.2554

For more information about Cosmic Times please visit - www.CosmicTimes.net or e-mail - Martin@CosmicTimes.net or call - 561.601.4137

For more information about What the Flux Comics please visit - www.WhatTheFluxComics.com

For more information about Ka-Blam Digital Printing please visit - http://www.ka-blam.com/

For more information about Jenni Gregory please visit - www.JenniGregory.com

For more information about Wayne C Spencer please visit - www.SpencerRanch.net

New "Morning Glories" Teaser



An all-new series from Nick Spencer, writer of the critically acclaimed titles FORGETLESS, EXISTENCE 2.0, EXISTENCE 3.0, and SHUDDERTOWN

Alex Zalben Announces Fourth "Thor and the Warriors Four"

Thor and the Warriors Four #4

COVER BY: Gurihiru
WRITER: Alex Zalben
PENCILS:Girihiru
INKS:Collen Coover
GURIHIRU (NAOKO KAWANO)
COLORED BY: COLLEEN ANN COOVER
GURIHIRU (NAOKO KAWANO)
LETTERED BY: COLLEEN ANN COOVER
DAVID L. SHARPE

THE STORY:
Loki: triumphant! Thor: defeated! Power Pack: no more! Exclamations: And questions? Will Power Pack be able to save the life of their grandmother, or will the world be destroyed first? All this, plus a guest appearance by The Pet Avengers, and the moment you didn’t know you were waiting your whole life for: The League of Thors! AND the final chapter of Colleen Coover’s Hercules/Power Pack cross-over. An issue so big, so funny, so awesome, that critics are saying, “This solicit was actually written before the first issue came out, so there’s no press quotes yet!” All Ages …$2.99

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: July 7, 2010

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Another Yaoi Manga Entitled "Love Knot"

I read Love Knot

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has an iPhone app).  This is yaoi manga from BLU.


The Incomparable Michael Golden at the Puerto Rico ComiCon

Michael Golden Guest of Honor at Puerto Rico ComiCon This Weekend!

We are pleased to announce that Michael Golden has been named the Artist Guest of Honor for this weekend's premiere comics events in San Juan, PR--The Puerto Rico ComiCon!

"I'm very honored to be invited to attend the show this year," said Michael, "And meet my friends in Puerto Rico. I am also happy to see such a healthy community interested in sequential art here on the island, and meet fans that I haven't met before. That is always gratifying."

Touted for his groundbreaking storytelling and cover construction, Golden is known for his unique art style that a various times seems detailed and at other times seems to be amazingly streamlined--cutting away the excess and maintaining the true essentials of a piece. These techniques, coupled with that signature storytelling construction garner him a legion of devotees that number not only comic readers, but other artists as well.

Co-creator of the X-Men's Rogue character, Golden's work has appeared in the 'Nam, Micronauts, G.I. Joe Yearbook, Dr. Strange, Nightwing, Detective, Heroes for Hire, Exiles, Demon's Regret and Iron Man among much more. Golden, modestly never says which is his own personal favorite project. However, according to one art dealer, "Everybody in the business has been influenced by Golden's Dr. Strange". Michael himself admits that more artists that say he has an influence on their illustration career, do single out that influential project.

Other milestones in Golden's career include the co-creation of Bucky O'Hare, witch led to an animated series and toy line designed by Michael, as well as Spartan X with Editor/Writer Renee Witterstaeter, who is also attending the show this year!

At the show, Mr. Golden will be sketching, signing books, and offering his new art book: "Michael Golden: More Heroes and Villains," to the fans at the PRCC!


The Puerto Rico Comic Con is THE premier entertainment event in Puerto Rico. A two day show with exhibitors and dealers of : Comics, Toys, Anime, Manga, Video games, Strategic and Card games, Movies, etc. This is the biggest comic convention in Puerto Rico, hands down!

Also, the event is a huge Cosplay gathering with hundreds of true fans dressed as their favorite characters. It is an event for the whole family!

When and where is the event?

The PRCC 2010 will on April 24 - 25, 2010 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Doors open at 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturday and from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday.

Other guests joining Michael Golden at the convention include Chaske Spencer of "Twilight" fame, Kamui, Spike Spencer, Renee Witterstaetter, and many more. Past guests include Billy Dee Williams, Jeremy Bulloch, Peter Mayhew, Ray Park, Daniel Logan, Mark Texeira,Vic Mignogna,Kenneth Rokafort, Steve Kelly and Tom Beland, in the shows ever growing list.

For more information on the Puerto Rico ComiCon, visit: www.prcomicon.com

For more information on Michael Golden contact his agent at: evaink@aol.com

Steve Scott at Pittsburgh Comicon to Sketch Away

Artist Steve Scott Steels Up for Pittsburgh Comicon, and Lots of Sketchin'!

Artist Steve Scott is steeling up his sketching chops to a fine pencil point, and heading to the Pittsburgh Comicon this weekend--for his first appearance at the event--joining the fantastic list of guests and activities planned for the long-running show!

Steve’s art could be found in the recent popular Marvel series "X-Men Forever," but you no doubt have seen the work of artist in a variety of projects including the hit TV show, "Smallville."

Steve began his sequential art career at Malibu comics, with his fan-favored and memorable stint on "Razor" for London Night, followed up by work on "New Warriors," "Hourman," and "JLA" for Marvel and DC Comics.

Steve's work has notably appeared in the pages of DC Comics "Shadowpact," "The Creeper," "Batman Legends of the Dark Knight," and "Checkmate." He got a particularly special kick out of bringing to life some of DC Comics strangest characters like Detective Chimp, Rex the Wonder Dog, Rag Man, The Phantom Stranger, and many others. Recent and current projects at Marvel Comics, and DC Comics include working with industry legends Louise Simonson and Chris Claremont on the titles "Magik" and "Exiles," multiple issues of the Marvel Adventures line, "She-Hulk," "Indiana Jones" for Dark Horse and a "Kyle XY" project for Disney/ABC with writer Jeff Parker.

In addition, Steve has the distinction of being the only artist to do comic tie-ins for the "Batman: The Dark Knight " movie. He is one of the select artists whose work hangs in the personal gallery of director George Lucas, as well.

At this, his first appearance at the PCC, Steve will be debuting copies of his new sketchbook, "Steve Scott Sketches," as well as doing original sketches at the show.

Taking place April 23-25th, The Pittsburgh Comicon is held every year at The New Monroeville Exposition Center connected to the Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh. At the Pittsburgh Comicon you'll find a little bit of everything; Movies, Posters, Toys, Statues, Games, Anime, Manga, Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and of course Comics, lots and lots of comics, and the people who make them.

Other guests joining Steve Scott include: Bob Almond, Joe Benitez, Talent Caldwell, Tommy Castillo, Ernie Chan, Jay Fife, Tom Fleming, Dan Fraga, Ron Frenz, Gary Friedrich, Bryan J. L. Glass, Georges Jeanty, Leo Leibelman, David Mack, Chris Moreno, Rudy Nebres, Pat Olliffe, Stuart Sayger, Joe Sinnott, Roy Thomas, Herb Trimpe, Billy Tucci, Neil Volkes, and many more.

For more information on the Pittsburgh Comicom, go to: www.pittsburghcomicon.com

For more information on Steve Scott and his artwork, contact his agent at: evaink@aol.com

Moonstone Books to Release Seventh Issue of "Rotten" in July

MOONSTONE July ’10 Release

ROTTEN #7
Story: Mark Rahner, Robert Horton
Art: Dan Dougherty
32pgs, color, $3.99

Featured in USA Today! With this month’s TPB, this issue marks a GREAT jumping on point!

The acclaimed zombie Western epic with the topical bite returns! Agent Wade is fully recovered, lethal and armed with new tricks as he travels to an undead outbreak in the Pacific Northwest. But who could be prepared for the species he encounters?

Agent Flynn looks for answers at a Chicago university where a hate-monger is whipping up a crowd against a new concept called "evolution." Oh, and the making of sausages is involved. NO ADS- ALL STORY!

**RETAILER INCENTIVE: for every 4 copies purchased, receive one FREE!

Wrestler and Comic Book Artist Jerry "The King" Lawler Covers First "WWE Heroes"

Jerry 'The King' Lawler draws exclusive WWE comic cover

To celebrate the launch of Titan Publishing's WWE Heroes comic series, an exclusive cover drawn by WWE legend Jerry 'The King' Lawler has been released.

This special cover, which features WWE Superstars Triple H® and Undertaker®, is available to order exclusively at the WWE.com official shop.

To many devoted fans, the name Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler evokes the wide array of wrestling feats that turned him into an American legend. Lawler is synonymous with wrestling, having won in excess of 140 championships during his career as well as being inducted into the WWE® Hall of Fame in 2007. Currently he is the commentating voice of WWE's ‘Raw' weekly TV show.

More recently, however, Lawler has been flexing his artistic muscle and designing artwork for comics. In 2007, Lawler provided a cover for the comic book series ‘Headlocked' and earlier this year teamed up with writer/director Kevin Smith, to help revitalise the iconic comic figure, ‘The Green Hornet.’

Ned Hartley, editor of WWE Heroes comic, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler contributing a cover to our WWE Heroes comic. It’s been amazing to discover the not-so-hidden talents of those involved in the WWE, especially when they produce awesome art like this.”

WWE Heroes #1 with exclusive Jerry Lawler drawn cover is available to order at:

http://www.wweshop.com/item/wwe-heroes-comic-book-series-1--jerry-lawler-drawn-cover/NewReleases/77-00121

For a sneak peek at the new WWE Heroes comic check out this trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzY9cN9ee24

For more information on WWE Heroes comic, visit:
http://www.wwecomics.com/
http://twitter.com/wwecomics
http://www.facebook.com/WWEComics

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Bluewater Productions Adds Taylor Swift to "Fame" Series

SUPERSTAR TAYLOR SWIFT MAKES THE PAGES OF HER OWN COMIC BOOK IN JULY.


To say that Taylor Swift is riding a winning streak is an understatement. The singer/songwriter was named Billboard Magazine's Artist of the Year in 2009. She began her 2010 by winning the Grammy for Album of the Year for her sophomore album, Fearless. That album has spent more time at number-one on the Billboard charts than has any other album since 2000.

And now, the talented musician is slated to become a comic-book hero. Swift will become the latest celebrity immortalized in sequential form when her biography comic, Fame: Taylor Swift hits comic shops this July.

The comic, by Bluewater Productions, will trace Swift's rise from young singer/songwriter to mega-selling recording artist. It also chronicles her unwavering commitment to pushing herself. After all, this is a performer who began writing songs at the age of 10. Just one year later, she traveled to Nashville, determined to break into the country music scene.

Swift distributed her demo tape to every label in town, and received no offers. Of course, all that would change quickly. In 2006, she debuted with her self-titled album, and Swift's life has never been the same.

CW Cooke and PR McCormack teamed up to write the Swift bio comic, while artist Erick Adrian Marquez handled the pencils. The comic features two covers, one by Marquez and a second by JuanMar Studios. This 32-page comic will retail for $3.99.

"Learning about Taylor's life from the beginning until now made her feel like more than just the next big thing, it made me see the pop icon as a human being." Said writer CW Cooke.

Artist Marquez said he was impressed while reading the script to Swift's comic at the dedication the young artist showed even as a child.

“I really appreciate Swift's - and her parent's - drive from such a young age to be successful based on her creativity and talent,” Marquez said.

Fame: Taylor Swift is the latest biography comic from Bluewater Productions. Though the independent comic company publishes comics in every genre - superhero, fantasy, adventure and young adult - it has received significant media attention for its biography comics, which have feature such high-profile subjects as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Colin Powell. The company's Fame line will feature Lady GaGa, 50 Cent, Robert Pattinson and soccer star David Beckham.

“We've found a niche with our bio comics,” said Darren G. Davis, president and founder of Bluewater Productions. “Our success with this comics shows that there is a much wider audience for sequential storytelling than many thought. These readers are simply looking for something other than superheroes or horror. With our bio comics, we strive to bring these new readers evenhanded, well-researched looks at some of their favorite celebrities.”

Readers can advance order Fame: Taylor Swift at Amazon.com or by calling their local comic shop. They can also order Fame: Lady GaGa and Fame: Robert Pattinson, both due out in May, in the same way.

For more information on Bluewater Productions and its entire line of comics, visit www.bluewaterprod.com.


About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis” ”Bluewater publishes comic books in partnership with entertainment icon William Shatner (“TekWar Chronicles”), legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen (“Wrath of the Titans,” “Sinbad: Rogue of Mars,” “Jason and the Argonauts,” et al) and celebrated actor Vincent Price (“Vincent Price Presents”), Additionally, Bluewater publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles “Female Force” and “Political Power.”

Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers.

Following its commitment to green publishing, Bluewater comic books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. FSC certification guarantees that the paper used in Bluewater books contains fiber from well-managed and responsibility harvested forests that meet strict environmental and socioeconomic standards.

For more information, visit www.bluewaterprod.com.