The Comic Book Gazette

Press Release: Serial Killers' Tales Continued In 'The Roberts' (05.14)

The following is a press release from Image Comics.

13 May 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - For decades, the identities of the Boston Strangler and the Zodiac Killer have been shrouded in mystery. But this August, Image Comics/Shadowline reveals not only the identities of these two prolific killers, but also how they’re spending their golden years of life. THE ROBERTS hits store shelves courtesy of artist Erik Rose and writer Wayne Chinsang.

 

"I admit, I've always had a morbid fascination with serial murderers," said writer Wayne Chinsang, also known to the world by his real name, Justin Shady. “When Denis Rader (BTK) finally got caught in 2005 I remember thinking, ‘What if this guy had never been caught? What would he be like as an eighty-year-old man? Or as a grandfather? How long could someone like him go on living a lie, trying to blend in when he so clearly doesn’t?’ Those thoughts were the start of THE ROBERTS.”

 

But instead of BTK, Chinsang chose two murderers who many believe were never caught: the Boston Strangler and the Zodiac Killer. In THE ROBERTS, the killers find themselves immersed in a world of bingo tournaments and social tea hours as they trade "war stories" about what they refer to as the “Golden Age” of mass murder. But camaraderie can also have a dark side as both men still crave the one thing they feel they’ve missed out on: infamy.

 

THE ROBERTS #1, a two-issue, 48-page, black-and-white mini-series for $5.99, will be in stores August 6th.

 

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The following is a press release from Dark Horse Comics.

From the darkest depths of artistic angst, from the steaming pits of punk-rock putrescence, from the grinding gears of the Kustom Kulture Krypt comes The Workshop of Filthy Creation: The Art of Johnny Ace and Kali Verra. Johnny Ace started his career as an official artist for the late and great Ed “Big Daddy” Roth—custom car builder extraordinaire and creator of the hotrod- culture icon Rat Fink. From his days as an artist for Roth’s studio, veering through the birth of punk poster art, and now surfing on the cutting edge of lowbrow art and the new Kustom Kulture explosion, Johnny Ace and his studio cohort, Kali Verra, have taken art by the throat and taught it a lesson it'll never forget! Eye-wrecking posters, Fink-tastic sculptures, voodoo pin striping, and every manner of doodad, gimcrack, and unholy talisman imaginable are on display in this deluxe, full-color hardback collection. Featuring posters for The Cramps, Electric Frankenstein, Dick Dale, and many more, The Workshop of Filthy Creation proves to be quite the treat for greasers, gearheads, and guitar heroes alike. So adjust the seat, crank the radio, gun the engine, and get ready to blow the doors off the art world as you know it!

“Far from being a dilettante artist who tries on a Rat Fink style like some poofter with the latest fashions, only to discard them when the party’s over, Johnny Ace is a straight-shot of the real stuff, off the cuff and garage-tuff . . .”

—The Pizz

The Workshop of Filthy Creation features 116 full-color pages of illustrations, sculptures, photos, and rock posters that serve as a historical look at one of the most influential art movements from the rubber-burnin’, rock and roll world of Kustom Kulture. Workshop of Filthy Creation will be available on July 16, 2008, for a retail price of $19.95.

The following is a press release from Dark Horse Comics.

"Wahoolazuma! Larry Marder's personal Look-See Show is back on the boards! Beanworld is simply a joyous experience," said editor Diana Schutz, "total eye-candy, and it's good for you, too!"

"When Beanworld was first published, many people said it was ahead of its time," Marder says. "Looking at today's world raised on Pixar, Cartoon Network, and manga, I think it's fair to say that Beanworld's time has come. I'm looking forward to working closely with the team at Dark Horse to introduce the Beanworld to this comics-literate world!"

Look for Beanworld adventures, new and old, in the coming year!

Image Comics First Look! (05.08)

Here is this week's Image Comics previews! As always, we're the first site anywhere to post them. Be back next week for more!

Casanova #14

 

story MATT FRACTION, Art FÁBIO MOON, Cover GABRIEL BÁ

24 PAGES, 2C, $1.99

The second album of CASANOVA comes to an end and you absolutely won't believe it. If Casanova comes back, surely this would be the issue, right? Right? He's gonna come back, isn't he? It's all gonna work out all right, isn't it? At the end of the issue, everything will be beautiful again and nothing will hurt, right? Right? Hello? God? By MATT FRACTION (PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL, THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST) and FABIO MOON (SUGARSHOCK, De:TALES), it's the comic GQ called "Brilliant."

RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

     

     

PVP, Vol. 5: PVP Treks On TPB

 

story SCOTT KURTZ, art & cover SCOTT KURTZ

144 PAGES, BW, $14.99

In this collection of side-splitting strips, Brent and Skull swap bodies, the boss puts everyone through sexual harassment training, the gang travels through time to medieval England... and is somebody PREGNANT?

Collects PvP #25-30

  

  

  

Screamland #3 (Of 5)

 

story HAROLD SIPE, art & cover HECTOR CASANOVA

32 PAGES, FC, $2.99

Now it's time for everyone favorite convention: BAR CON! Carl London, the Wolf-Man, barnstorms the Midwest comic-con scene with third-string aging sci-fi actors in tow. How can one help but party like a rock star at Kansas' PREMIER sports/hotel bar? Hard questions are asked: Does one drink "in character?" If you buy your B-actor idol a drink, MUST he read your fan fiction? At the end of the night, the Wolf-Man faces a foe even his drunken, wolf-y prowess may be unable to defeat!

"Washed-up monster ennui never looked so good" - Joshua W. Cotter

     

  

True Story, Swear To God #11

 

story TOM BELAND, art & cover TOM BELAND

24 PAGES, BW, $3.50

“COUNTDOWN”

How do you plan a wedding when one family lives in Puerto Rico and the other family lives in Napa, California? And what happens when the Happiest Place on Earth wants to make money off your story? Simple. You WHORE your story to them and get married for FREE! A fun-loving issue... and NOBODY DIES!!

     

     

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The following is a press release from Heroic Publishing.

The graphic novel collection of the classic series ALTER EGO, by Roy Thomas and Ron Harris, is now available for downloading in electronic format exclusively from Wowio.com. Alter Ego is a four-issue mini-series, originally published by First Comics, more recently released in a collected graphic novel edition by Heroic Publishing. The series revolves around a teenager named Rob Lindsay, who discovers in the pages of an old comic book a mysterious mask that sends him on a journey into a world where characters from the comics are real.

Both the original Alter Ego series and the graphic novel collection can now be downloaded from Wowio.com, an innovative website that offers an extraordinary variety of literature in electronic format absolutely free. Virtually every issue of each title in Heroic Publishing's library of classic comic books, including issues of FLARE, CHAMPIONS, and LIBERTY GIRL, can now be found on Wowio.com, including several comic books that have yet to be seen in print.

The following is a press release from Radical Publishing.

May 8th, 2008, LOS ANGELES – Radical Publishing, under its imprint Radical Books, is pleased to announce that Yoshitaka Amano will be signing copies of Yoshitaka Amano’s Mateki: The Magic Flute Saturday, July 26th at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con convention. Based on the opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Magic Flute, Yoshitaka Amano presents the story with his own unique vision using 128 pages of original artwork in a full color, oversized, hardcover book, set for release in June, 2008. Mateki: The Magic Flute has never been published outside of Japan leaving Radical Publishing exclusive world-wide rights for this international edition.

“Having Yoshitaka Amano on board for our first book is like a dream come true,” explained Radical Publishing’s President, Barry Levine. “His style is simply amazing.  When Amano showed me the pages for Mateki: The Magic Flute, I knew immediately that this deserved a world wide release and I wanted it to be a part of Radical Books. In addition, the whole Radical team is honored to have Amano stopping by our booth and signing Saturday during the Comic-Con show. We have a huge lineup this year and expect to see more announcements like this in the coming months.”

MATEKI is a beautiful and dark tale of a young man who must put away his flute to become a warrior so he may save his lover from the lord of darkness. Mateki: The Magic Flute is a fantasy story told by an artist known around the world for his work on Vampire Hunter D, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman: The Dream Hunters, and the Final Fantasy games.  In discussing Mateki: The Magic Flute in a recent interview, Amano explained

“The story itself is so well known, I don’t think I need to repeat it here.  What actually attracted me most is the music Mozart wrote.  Even though I knew the story from the accompanied texts, just listening to music gave me an inspiration of making it more like a ballet sequence, without words but the movements of images.”

Edmund Shern of Imaginary Friends Studios provides the English adaptation and the supervision for the design of this magical volume.

Yoshitaka Amano’s Mateki: The Magic Flute is featured in April 2008 Diamond Previews catalogue and will ship in June of this year. Yoshitaka Amano’s Mateki: The Magic Flute has a Diamond order code of APR084071.

Press Release: 'Gemini' And 'Madman' Convention-Exclusives! (05.08)

The following is a press release from Image Comics.

  

8 May 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - Image Comics' Pacific Northwest bred heroes, MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS and GEMINI, celebrate Emerald City Comic Con with exclusive covers not to ever be made available anywhere else!

"Emerald City Comic Con is my hometown convention," GEMINI co-creator and writer Jay Faerber said. "Debuting my newest creation there, with an exclusive cover nonetheless, was too perfect an opportunity to pass up."

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #8 is also a starting point for the veteran hero, as Frank Einstein's backstory acts as a jumping point for readers old and new. To celebrate, the Emerald City Comic Con variant is a throw back for Frank's very first appearance in Caliber's CREATURES FROM THE ID #1. The GEMINI cover, all-new illustration by series co-creator and artist Jon Sommariva, displays the unique dual nature of Faerber's all-new sleeper super-agent. A select few of each cover will be given away at the IMAGE COMICS SHOW, featuring Faerber, WALKING DEAD creator Robert Kirkman and ELEPHANTMEN's Richard Starkings.

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS creator Mike Allred added, "There's a lot of buzz up here in the Pacific Northwest for the Emerald City Comic Con and since I wasn't able to attend this year, I still wanted to do something very special. I hope folks will get a big kick out this."

 

The Emerald City Comic Con will take place May 10th and 11th at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. More information on both covers can be found at the Image Comics booth, #602. In addition, THE IMAGE COMICS SHOW will be on Saturday in Panel Room B from 3-4 PM.

 

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The following is a press release from Silent Devil.

Dracula vs. King Arthur, the critically acclaimed hit graphic novel published by Silent Devil, will now be adapted into a role playing game entitled VAMPIRES vs. KNIGHTS by screenwriter/author Tony DiGerolamo.

Vampires vs. Knights is a d20 role-playing supplement that uses the Dungeons and Dragons system. D&D players will thrill to the campaign set in Arthur's Camelot and specialized weaponry to combat the vampire menace. Other players can actually take up the mantle of a vampire knight and try and extinguish the hope of humanity forever!

DiGerolamo is an old school gamer that has written game material for Kenzer & Company, Goodman Games, West End Games and the Le Games. He also designed his own RPG, Complete Mafia for d20.

 

"Adam Beranek, one of the co-creators of DvKA, and I are thrilled Tony agreed to write the game based on our concept," says screenwriter/graphic novelist Christian Beranek. "Fans will be able to create their own characters and adventures -- there are going to be many awesome battles between knights and vampires for years to come."

Christian Beranek wrote the screenplay for the upcoming Dracula vs. King Arthur movie. Recently he penned the origin of John Doe for the New Line Cinema/Zenescope series Se7en and launched the graphic novel concept Willow Creek. He will be attending the Emerald City Comicon this coming weekend as a guest.

Vampires vs. Knights will be in stores Spring 2009. Christian Beranek and Tony DiGerolamo will personally demo the game a select conventions.

 

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The following is a press release from Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Horse editor Scott Allie reviewed tons of portfolios at the Fifth Annual Stumptown Comics Fest in Portland, OR the weekend of April 26 and 27. He was on a mission to fill the "newbie" slot for the next two months in Myspace Dark Horse Presents.

After a plethora of amazing art pages and mini comics, the decision was made. Dark Horse is proud to announce that Sarah Oleksyk from Porltand, OR and Liz Greenfield from Manchester UK were discovered. Sarah and Liz will now start on their stories for MDHP with Dark Horse editors Scott Allie and Sierra Hahn guiding them through the process.

Sarah Oleksyk has been making an impact on the comics scene in both her hometown of Portland, Maine and her resident town of Portland, Oregon for years. Her hand-silkscreened prints have appeared in galleries and art shows around Portland, OR and her self-published comics Roadside and OK/Not OK have earned her a dedicated following of fans. Currently she is working on her next graphic novel, Ivy, which is in its third issue. Dark Horse is happy to have her as part of the family. You can visit her Myspace page here.

Dark Horse also welcomes Holland born Liz Greenfield. Liz currently resides in Manchester UK. As a child she often accompanied her musician parents on tour, and taught herself to read using comic books after emphatically rejecting the idea of elementary school. Her first self-published comic Stuff Sucks launched in December 2004 and is in its second issue. Her fossilized skills include playing the violin, ballet dancing, and at one point, singing vocals in a punk band. Fortunately the desire to make comics has outlived both the mohawk, but not the tutus. Her Myspace can be found here.

MySpace Dark Horse Presents takes its cues from the original Dark Horse Presents, a hard copy comic book published from 1986 to 2000, where high celebrated comics including Frank Miller’s Sin City and Paul Chadwick’s Concrete, made their mark in issues of the anthology and were later spun off into their own standalone comic franchises. Since the launch its in July of 2007, MDHP has featured renowned artists such as Joss Whedon, Steve Niles, Mike Mignola, Tony Millionaire, and Stan Sakai along with “newbies” including Ezra Claytan Daniels, Brian Churilla, Katie Cook, Matt Brenier, Rebecca Sugar, Ilias Kyriazis, Jeff Wamester, and Jason Graham.

Press Release: Hero Anounces ECCC Booth Plans (05.06)

The following is a press release from the Hero Initiative.

LOS ANGELES (May 5, 2008) – Hot on the successful heels of Hero’s Ultimate Spider-Man #100, Hero is proud to showcase the first 50 covers of Hero’s Hulk #1 Project.  Dozens of top-name creators have signed on to illustrate covers, including Emerald City guests such as Herb Trimpe, Tone Rodriguez and David Finch.
 
Along with the covers, Hero has an amazing booth schedule including While Portacio and lunch with the fabulous Dan DiDio on tap so don’t miss the happenings at Booth #808!
 
"The Hero Initiative always brings the 'fun' to fund raising at ECCC," said Jim Demonakos, Emerald City ComiCon Organizer. "This time around, Hero has gone all out by bringing Image Comics co-founder Whilce Portacio, the debut of the "Hulk 100" and the return of the infamous arm-wrestling with Michael Avon Oeming!"
 
BOOTH SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 10 (con hours 10:00-6:00)
10:30-12:00: Whilce Portacio
12:00-1:00: Gail Simone
1:00-2:00: Jeff Parker
2:00-3:00: Mike Choi
3:00-4:00: Jim Cheung
4:30-6:00: Whilce Portacio

Sunday, May 11 (con hours 10:00-5:00)
10:00-12:00: Whilce Portacio
12:00-1:00: Matt Haley
1:00-2:00: Karl Kesel
2:00-3:00: Bill Willingham

WIN LUNCH WITH DAN DIDIO
You can talk about Barry Allen! Alpacas! The DC coffee machine! Final Crisis! Understanding Grant Morrison’s brogue! You name it!  Lunch with Dan Didio will take place on Sunday, May 11 at approximately 1:15 PM and the winner MUST be on-site at con to claim their auction winnings.  Lunch will be at a restaurant near the convention center, and a Hero Initiative representative will be on site to foot the bill.  And YOU get some quality one-on-one time with the current architect of the DC Universe!
 
Go to http://qurls.com?i=33678 to bid NOW!
 
For more information on Emerald City ComiCon, visit http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/.

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The following is a press release from Image Comics.

5 May 2008 (Berkeley, CA) – At at long, ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN creators Jason Howard and Robert Kirkman are giving fans the one thing they've demanded most as THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN goes monthly this July!

"Frankly, I just couldn't stay patient," ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN co-creator and writer Robert Kirkman said. "Over the past year THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN has become one of my favorite books to write and, even more so, seeing the pages pour in from Jason has made me crave MORE! With the impending shocker we've got coming in issue 7, we decided to switch the book from once every sixty days to every thirty! I certainly think folks will be happy with the results."

"The book has really shown it's got legs," Executive Director Eric Stephenson said. "After debuting as part of Image's Free Comic Book Day celebration in 2007 we've seen strong reorder activity and rave reviews. The one complaint often heard is that the six times a year schedule leaves people waiting and waiting – with that corrected, I'm confident this book can soar to the heights of Kirkman's other Image Titles, INVINCIBLE and THE WALKING DEAD."

In addition, THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN VOL. 1 TP has been retooled to match up with the monthly shift, giving readers even more content than before. The new trade paperback will contain issues #1-7, extended to include the shocking revelations of issue 7, and will now lead right into the issue 8, where readers can see the new status-quo in full effect.

"One of the things I always hear about INVINCIBLE is that you need to read the first two volumes to really get into it," noted Kirkman. "It's always bugged me that volume one only collects four issues and the really cool stuff doesn't kick in until the second volume. I was thinking about that when I noticed that the first ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN TP was slated to contain issues 1-4. I knew what was coming up in issue 7 and I saw history repeating itself. Luckily, there was still time to fix it.

"Now when you read the first volume of THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN, you'll get an accurate sense of what the series is about – and you'll see just how dark and dramatic things are going to get. I'm very excited for people to see just what this series is capable of."

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #8, a 32-page full color comic for $2.99, and ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN VOL. 1, a 176-page full color trade paperback for $14.99, will be available July 30th.

The following is a press release from AAM/Markosia.

AAM Markosia are proud to announce that the entire first issue of new series Lazarus: Immortal Coils will be available to preview at the Bristol Comic Expo, May 9th to 11th, 2008.

Shipping to stores in June, and available to order now from Previews, # APR083485, Lazarus: Immortal Coils is about the Biblical figure resurrected, discovers he's an immortal, and demons are on earth plotting to take us over. Fuelled by revenge, Lazarus rushes headlong into a war against a legion of shape-shifting demons that are any and every monster and invading power throughout history.

"Lazarus is a fascinating character," says writer/creator Joseph Gauthier. "He's this important, but largely forgotten person from the bible that people just seem to overlook. Here's a man who was best friends with Jesus, resurrected only to see his friend killed days later. He died, went to hell, and came back. Sprinkle that with the question of his mortality, and how could someone not write about him? Lazarus: Immortal Coils is full of biblical events, but twisted in ways you wouldn't expect."

Vincent S. Moore, columnist for www.comicswaitingroom.com and editor at Astounding and DarkStorm Studios comments: "Lazarus: Immortal Coils is a heady mix of Biblical history, kick-ass art, an eternal mission, revenge, great story, and demons in the guise of men, walking amongst us. Who would have thought that the perfect hero for the 21st Century would come from the 1st? Only Joseph P. Gauthier, one of the freshest voices to enter the comics game in a long time, that's who. Buy the book and get in on the ground floor of the career of the next superstar writer and the newest hero on the block."

The Bristol International Comic Expo 2008 will be held over the weekend of 10th and 11th May 2008 at the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum and the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Bristol, England, with an early bird film night on Friday 9th May. Full details are available on the official website, www.comicexpo.net – including ticket ordering details, just £6 for adults for each day, accompanied children free, ages 12-16 just one pound.

For further information or previews on Lazarus or the Bristol Expo, or requests for interviews with the creators and participants, please email comicexpo@aol.com.

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEWS: 'Megas' and 'Dock Walloper' (05.04)

Here're some exclusive five-page previews of Virgin Comics' Dock Walloper #3 and Megas #4! 'Dock Walloper' is the story of a gangster with an abnormally large right hand, and his best friend, Bunky. 'Megas' takes place in an alternate reaity where the United States is a monarchy, ruled by an elite class called the Megas. Both are on sale May 7.

Look for advance reviews of BOTH these issues later today!

Dock Walloper #3

     

      

Megas #4

     

     

--Editor

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The following is a press release from Top Cow Comics.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., April 30, 2008 – Top Cow Productions Inc. is proud to announce that many of its creators will be participating in Free Comic Book Day (May 3, 2008) by making public appearances at select comic book stores across the country.

Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book shops across North America and aroundmthe world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores. This is the seventh year the event is being held.

“Free Comic Book Day is one of the few days you can count on seeing a lot of families out to the comic book store together,” observed Phil Hester, who writes The Darkness. “Kids mean new readers, if not for a darker book like The Darkness, but at least for comics in general!”

Hester is just one of the many Top Cow creators who will go out on Free Comic Book Day to meet fans. “I’m so proud that many of our writers and artists are helping to create buzz for Free Comic Book Day at their local shops,” said VP of Sales and Marketing Mel Caylo. “We love our fans as much as they love us, plus, this is a great way to earn ourselves some new readers!”

As part of Free Comic Book Day, Top Cow is releasing an eight-page prelude to its big summer event, Broken Trinity, written by Ron Marz (Witchblade, Samurai: Heaven and Earth) and drawn by Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade, First Born). The issue also contains four-page introductions to each of its flagship titles, Witchblade and The Darkness.

Here is a list of Top Cow creators who are scheduled to appear this Saturday, Free Comic Book Day:

Michael Broussard (artist, The Darkness)

Sheldon Mitchell (artist, Freshmen: Summer Vacation Special, X-Men: Messiah CompleX )

Blond (colorist, Freshmen, Witchblade Takeru Manga)

Nei Ruffino (colorist, Witchblade/Devi, Grimm Fairy Tales, Return to Wonderland)

Michael Broussard (artist, The Darkness)

Sheldon Mitchell (artist, Freshmen: Summer Vacation Special, X-Men: Messiah CompleX )

Blond (colorist, Freshmen, Witchblade Takeru Manga)

Nei Ruffino (colorist, Witchblade/Devi, Grimm Fairy Tales, Return to Wonderland)

Tyler Kirkham (artist, Strykeforce, Ultimate Fantastic Four)

Eric Basaldua (artist, Witchblade/Devi, Hunter-Killer)

Rick Basaldua (inker, Witchblade/Devi, Hunter-Killer)

Joshua Hale Fialkov (writer, Pilot Season: Cyblade, Elk’s Run)

Eric Basaldua (artist, Witchblade/Devi, Hunter-Killer)

Rick Basaldua (inker, Witchblade/Devi, Hunter-Killer)

Joshua Hale Fialkov (writer, Pilot Season: Cyblade, Elk’s Run)

Ron Marz (writer, Witchblade, First Born, Broken Trinity)

Phil Hester (writer, The Darkness, Firebreather)

Marc Silvestri (artist, Hunter-Killer, Cyberforce, The Darkness, Witchblade)

Ryan Winn (inker, The Darkness)

David Wohl (writer, Witchblade, Aphrodite IX, The Darkness)

Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Hunter-Killer)

For more information on Free Comic Book Day and to find out which shop near you is participating, visit www.freecomicbookday.com.

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The following is a press release from the Hero Initiative.

MESA, Ariz. – (April 3, 2008) – Atomic Comics, Arizona’s largest independent comic book retailer, will join more than 3,000 comic book retailers across North America in celebration of the Seventh Annual “Free Comic Book Day,” Saturday, May 3.

A tribute to the comic book – an original American art form – Free Comic Book Day serves as a means of introducing comics to new readers while celebrating the independent comic book specialty stores that are so important to keeping the genre alive. As part of the day’s festivities, all four Atomic Comics locations in the Valley will be giving away free comic books from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Comic book fans who visit the Mesa store will have the rare opportunity to come face to face with the original seven artists and ‘founding fathers’ of Image Comics: Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Rob Leifeld, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen and Whilce Portacio.

Considered by many to be mavericks and comic book royalty, the seven men formed Image Comics as a way of gaining ownership and creative control of their work. Collectively, they are responsible for creating some of the most acclaimed comic book characters and storylines including X-Men, Wildcats, Spawn, Spider-Man, Youngblood, ShadowHawk, and Wolverine. While Image Comics is among the four largest comic book publishers in the country, its founders have all moved on with new ventures in the comic book industry. In celebration of Free Comic Book Day, they are reuniting for one day to sign autographs and mingle with Atomic Comics customers.

Additionally, all four stores will have local and national comic book writers and artists on site to meet fans and sign copies of their comic books while Spider-Man makes guest appearances at the chain’s Mesa (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Chandler (6 to 9 p.m.) stores.

“Free Comic Book Day is just about the biggest day of the year for us” says Mike Malve, Atomic Comics owner. “Between the artist line up, Spider-Man and other happenings we have planned, it will be like a mini comic-con.”

Atomic Comics expects to give away thousands of comic books from a selection of 28 different titles including, X-Men , Transformers Animated , Superman , Hellboy , Archie’s Pal Jughead , Marvel Adventures featuring such Marvel classics as Iron Man and Hulk , and many more. From super-heroes and slice-of-life to crime noir, kid-friendly humor and action/adventure, there’s a comic book for everyone.

“Free Comic Book Day is our Open House Day of the year… and we go all out to deliver something special to fans who stop by that day,” says Malve. “They’re a great way to get kids interested in reading, but they’re also a great escape from reality for adults of all ages. Free Comic Book Day is a great opportunity for people to test the waters and see if comics are for them.”

Artists and writers scheduled to appear at Atomic Comics stores from noon to 5 p.m. include:

• Mesa Store – Image Comics’ ‘founding fathers’ Todd McFarlane (arriving at 2:30 p.m.), Jim Lee, Rob Leifeld, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino and Whilce Portacio.
  
• Phoenix Store – Mike Kunkel, creator of Herobear and the Kid and head animator for Disney and Cartoon Network, who is currently working on the Shazam miniseries for DC Comics; Madame M; James Owen, Mike Bullock; and Patrick Sherberger
  
• Chandler Store – Skipper Martin; Ryan Cody; Tony Parker; Jonnie Allen; and Ben Glendenning
  
• Paradise Valley Store – Jay Fotos; Daniel Bradford; Jim Hanna; Justin Barrett; and Nathan Morris

In addition to this amazing headline event, both Wizard Magazine and Comic Book Resources will be on hand covering the event for the comic book industry. CBR will even be running a live stream video on their web site so every fan can witness the day’s events. Certified Guarantee Company will also be on hand that day doing live grading and witnessing for people getting their goods signed. CGC will be auctioning off passes to a private party the night of FCBD, where the winners get to hang out with some of the FCBD guests including Jim Lee!

Atomic has also designed two art prints for the occasion. The first represents artwork by all 7 founding fathers of Image comics. This is limited to just 100 pieces and will be a great item to have signed by all 7 Image creators to mark this historic event. The second is a photo print re-enacting the famous “first days of Image Comics” photo that was taken over 16 years ago. Again, only 100 of these will be produced.

The Hero Initiative will be at all four Atomic Comics locations to help with our sketch donation program where the creator sketches drawn that day will have all proceeds split between both Hero and the CBLDF. Hero will have an actual booth at the Mesa Superstore with all kinds of Hero merchandise on display including the Marvel then and Now DVD for only $4.99. These bad boys usually sell at $24.99 so this is an awesome Free Comic Book Day only deal.

Spider-man will be signing autographs at Atomic Comics in Mesa (1120 S. Country Club) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and in Chandler (3155 W. Chandler Blvd.) from 6 to 9 p.m.

“We’ll have an authentic, Sony Pictures-trained Spider-man meeting and greeting our customers,” says Malve. “We give fans the real deal.”

For more information on Free Comic Book Day or for a list of comics being given away, please visit www.freecomicbookday.com or www.atomiccomics.com.

Press Release: 'Seven Samuroid' Available For Download (05.02)

The following is a press release from Heroic Publishing.

By arrangement with Heroic Publishing, Inc., Frank Brunner's classic science fiction graphic novel, SEVEN SAMUROID, is now available for downloading in electronic format exclusively from Wowio.com. Based on the classic movie, Seven Samurai, this classic SF graphic novel from 1984 shows a European influence combined with Japanese culture and an anti-war them that reflects the current situation with America in Iraq today.

SEVEN SAMUROID can be downloaded from Wowio.com as part of the graphic story collection, "Frank Brunner's Seven Samuroid and Other Tales," that includes four additional classic tales by Brunner, including "The Wizard's Venom," "The Duckaneer," "The Reading," and the never-published tale, "The Final Solution."

Wowio.com is an innovative website that offers an extraordinary variety of literature in electronic format absolutely free. Frank Brunner's SEVEN SAMUROID graphic novel is now available for downloading at http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=4342.

Wowio.com also offers virtually every issue of each title in Heroic Publishing's library of classic comic books, including issues of FLARE, CHAMPIONS, and LIBERTY GIRL.

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The following is a press release from BOOM! Studios.

May 1st, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA) -- Summer Interships Available at BOOM! Unpaid, for college credit (must have letter from school). Email resume, cover letter, references, and availability to: interns@boom-studios.com. Photoshop and html skills a plus. Diverse candidates encouraged.

The following is a press release from Radical Publishing.

May 1st, 2008, LOS ANGELES – Marc Patten of Destination Entertainment said, "Shortly after I began publicity for my new sci-fi fantasy adventure series entitled, Khrome with art by Marlin Shoop and Mark Sparacio, a fellow creator brought it to my attention that Radical Comics was producing a series with the same name. I contacted creator Steve Niles to see if we could work something out, and he couldn't have been nicer." Marc went to say, "they agreed to give me back the title Khrome leaving me free and clear to continue using the name I'd created over ten years ago. Radical is producing top quality comics that will put them on the entertainment map. I can't wait to read them."

Set in the not too distant future where imagination is discouraged and religion is outlawed, Radical Comics offers a preview of Steve Niles’ City of Dust in the Free Comic Book Day Imaginary #1. However, when folks open up Imaginary #1, they will see the book under its previous title, Khrome.

“The reason for the change is simple,” explains, Barry Levine, Radical’s President and Publisher. “Shortly after going to press, Steve Niles contacted me and informed me that someone named Marc Patten had developed his own, different project which also went by the name, Khrome. We both agreed in keeping Philip Khrome as the name for the main character, but would change the title to respect Marc’s work. When Steve came back to me with the new title, City of Dust, I immediately loved it. It fit the theme of the story perfectly.”

Steve Niles adds, "I strongly believe in creator rights, as does Radical, and when push came to shove doing the right thing outweighed anything else. As soon as I heard about the other book I phoned Dave and Barry and we all agreed to change the name. There was no hesitation and I knew I was working with good people."

Set for release in September, 2008 and to be listed in the July edition of Diamond Previews, City of Dust is written by Steve Niles with artwork by Zid of Imaginary Friends Studios and published by Radical Comics. The sci-fi series from the dark mind of the creator of 30 Days of Night comes a story set in the aftermath of our world's collapse. Records show the Earth once known was consumed by religious wars spurred by the suppression of free thought and where creative expression is now viewed as the rot and infestation of the mind. This chilling vision of the future unveils a world where the police now patrol for crimes of the imagination, or Mind Crimes as their called. Those beliefs, along with any tales of false heroes, idols or gods, are illegal. The world is anew and so the enemy adapts. Special detective Philip Khrome doesn't enforce Imagination, instead he works in homicide; that’s where the action is, and he has seen it all before. But criminals evolve and the world is forever changing. When a killing spree hits his department, Khrome finds himself face to face with a perpetrator who has merged reality with superstition. The world everyone is accustomed to is flipped upside down and everything is no longer what it seems.

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Press Release: Beyond #0 To Debut At Emerald Con (05.02)

The following is a press release from Zenescope Entertainment.

The #1 issue of the much anticipated sequel to Zenescope’s smash hit RETURN TO WONDERLAND hits shelves in early July, but fans will not have to wait that long to get a taste of the upcoming series.  Issue #0 of the sequel mini-series, entitled BEYOND WONDERLAND, debuts next weekend at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, WA with an exclusive limited edition cover by the extremely talented David Nakayama (Marvel Adventures, Witchblade).  The art and writing team, which includes Daniel Leister (penciler), Nei Ruffino (letterer), Raven Gregory (writer) and Ralph Tedesco (co-creator/editor), will be on hand all weekend long at Zenescope’s booth #406 to sign copies.

Beyond Wonderland picks up several months after where Return left off.  The story follows the now very jaded Calie Liddle as she attempts to get her life back on track after the tragic events which cost her so much just months earlier. But soon Calie realizes that pieces of Wonderland are somehow entering this world and she knows that she could very well be the only person who has a chance to stop it.

Zenescope will also be participating in the JOSH MEDORS benefit auction at the ECCC.  Zenescope’s Willow Creek artist Josh Medors (Runes of Ragnan, GI Joe & 30 Days Of Night) has been fighting cancer for the past several months and in his time of need, Image Comics and Frazetta Comics have organized an auction at the Emerald City ComiCon with all proceeds going straight to Josh. 

The auction will take place Saturday, May 10th. If you would like to make a PayPal donation, please do so to jmedors1@insight.rr.com.

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Image Comics sent us these previews of their books, on sale next Wednesday! Read on for your FIRST LOOK anywhere on the net at these books!

Dead Space #3

Dynamo 5 Annual #1

Gemini #1

Jack Staff #16

Lucha Libre #4

Pretty Baby Machine #1 (of 3)

Suburban Glamour, Vol. 1

Press Release: JM Dematteis Signing At Meltdown Comics! (05.01)

The following is a rpess release from BOOM! Studios.

April 29th, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA) -- J.M. DeMatteis makes a rare West Coast appearance at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles to celebrate the new BOOM! Studios release of THE STARDUST KID TPB during Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 3rd from noon to 2pm.

Long a fan favorite, DeMatteis is well known for his work on SPIDER-MAN: KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT, MOONSHADOW, BROOKLYN DREAMS, BLOOD: A TALE, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL and ABADAZAD.

The all-ages hit comic series, The STARDUST KID was recently collected into trade paperback by BOOM! Studios. Featuring stunning artwork by Mike Ploog, THE STARDUST K