Tales From The Inner Sanctum - press release

June 13, 2004, 11:11 pm

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TALENT’S MAGNETIC DRAW ON TALENT

Press Release


There exists a place in the universe that inexplicably draws talent from all corners of the globe. A place visited by the likes of Ashley Wood, Ben Templesmith, Kieron Dwyer, Breehn Burns, Nat Jones, Liam Sharp and many more. The place isn’t a store, or a bar; you can’t drive to it or find it on a map. It’s a website… a message board… all surrounding one person; a man called “The Master of Modern Horror Comics”, Steve Niles.


But this isn’t about Niles, but rather about the message board itself and the talent that visits. Not all of the creators are household names, at least not yet, but all of them deserve to be seen. Over thirty members of the message board have banded together to create something very special. They have put the time, effort and money into creating Tales from the Inner Sanctum, a horror anthology created for the simple purpose of letting these creators tell their stories of chilling terror.

With over 90 pages of story, a cover by Steve Perkins (CSI: Dominos) and an introduction by Steve Niles himself, Tales from the Inner Sanctum is an amazing value at only $6.85. The book goes on sale July 2004 and is available through the Tales from the Inner Sanctum preview site www.matlocktheartist.com/innersantcumanthology as well as through various creators’ sites.

The list of international participants in the book are: Steven Perkins, Paul Tucker, Jared Bivens, Chuck BB, Ben Mears, Mark Matlock, Jason Arthur, Michael May, Josh Medors, Jason Hanley, Ilkka Lesonen, Uraku, Art Grafunkel, Adam Yeater, Brian Anderson, Jessica Hickman, Aaron Weisbrod, Josh Ross, Jim Reddington, John Belkewitch, Oliver Casteneda, Eugene Perez, Toni Caputo, Jim Keplinger, Denis Kroesen, Tim Arney-O’Neil, Owen, Nick Defina, Luca Picciani, Domenic Defina, Eric Darrah and Gavin Spence.

For more information on Tales of the Inner Sanctum, check out the preview site www.matlocktheartist.com/innersantcumanthology or visit the actual Inner Sanctum at www.steveniles.com

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SPIDER INDIA WHAT U THINK

June 23, 2004, 11:42 pm

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TORONTO COMICCON REPORT(PICS)

June 24, 2004, 7:59 am

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WELL what can i say it was an overall cool convention



TOP PICTURE: IS ME WITH the legend Will EISNER we talked about writing in comics and the industry in general about his prestige awards.really nice man.

BOTTOM LEFT:WE HAVE STEVE MCniven the marvel knights 4 artist cool person lives in canada to.

BOTTOM RIGHT: YES CARRY NORD THAT conan artist he signed my books and gave me a nifty conan sketch really cool person.



MR ROB VAN DAM awesome person really nice guy we waited about 4 hrs though which really made lil upset.in the picture is me and lil nicky.



FIRST PICTURE:WE have my favorite zen artist Mr Andy Lee he showed up only on sunday but i got some cool sketches telling me about his sam and twitch project with mcfarlane productions.

SECOND PICTURE:WE HAVE IDW'S OWN Nick Postic And nick Marinkovich these guys made my convention exciting talking about idw and hows its like working for them they gave me an amazing sketch which i'll scan laterbut they made the convention worth while thanx guys and see u in august.

THIRD PICTURE:WE have Pitt Artist DALE KEOWN really cool guy drew me a nifty pitt sketch and telling about some new plans with the character.



FIRST PICTURE:FAN FAVORITE Jimmy Palmiotti this guy makes me laugh everytime i see him hes always in that good mood he signed me some monolith comics and gave me a sketch.

SECOND PICTURE:J.BOONE can't really see the sketch he did for me but its a really nice animated spidey.He was sitting besides images own b.clay moore.

THIRD PICTURE:NICK BRADSHAW the army of darkness artist for devils due he drew me a wikkid ash picture.



FIRST PICTURE:Shiver in the dark Artist stuart sayger really cool guy i honestly enjoy his stuff its really crisp and nicely done picked up the first two issues and getting the third at the august con.visit his website wwww.shiverinthedark.com

SECOND PICTURE: ME AND THE IDW CREW

THIRD PICTURE:AZAD sammy artist from image comics telling me about some and upcoming projects he has planned.

For the final wrap up of this report i'd like to say thanx to paradise for hosting yet another cool con bringing in some cool people and thanx for all the guests whom allowed me to speak with them.And a special thanx to andy lee,nick postic, nick Marinkovich,stuart sayger and little nicky for making the convention a blast

Brubaker & Phillips Set Black Sails @ Idw

September 24, 2004, 12:05 pm

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BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS SET BLACK SAILS @ IDW
Press Release



IDW Publishing is very proud to announce that they are working with Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips to publish their creator-owned miniseries, Black Sails.

Black Sails mixes high adventure and horror in a vampire tale like no other. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the creative team behind the hit comic Sleeper, cast a three-issue tale of mysterious vampire pirates with an intriguing hook: these men are manning the very ship on which Dracula himself once sailed.

In Black Sails, Depression-era coastal towns are terrorized by a mysterious ship that sails only by night, drifting in with the fog, and leaving bloody waters in its wake. Brubaker’s moody and horrific story follows a darker path than readers are accustomed to seeing from him, and Phillips’s textured artwork is again the perfect complement to his prose. The series should hit your port in Spring of 2005.

“Working with Sean has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career, and now to be continuing that partnership on work we own, at a company that I feel puts out some of the most beautiful packages on the shelves, is just perfect,” said Brubaker. “Black Sails is an idea that just hit me out of the blue, and seemed like the perfect way to start a relationship at IDW, bringing what we do to a genre they’ve done very well with, and giving it a twist that I’ve never seen done before. Of course, I immediately sent my idea to Sean, and by way of his acceptance, got back a color rough of his first cover idea.”

Chris Ryall, Editor-in-Chief of IDW Publishing, added that “Ed and Sean are among the best creative teams in comics today, and I couldn’t be happier that they’re bringing a book like Black Sails to IDW. People are really in for a surprise here—this is unlike anything they’ve done before.

Niles & Adams Put On "the Very Big Monster Show" This December

September 24, 2004, 12:08 pm

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by Jonah Weiland, Executive Producer FROM COMIC BOOK RESOURCES
Posted: September 24, 2004

"The Very Big Monster Show" Page 1
Steve Niles has tackled the world of vampires in "30 Days of Night," he's played with zombies in the series "Remains" and he's messed with monsters in the Cal McDonald books. What's his next target going to be? How about the children.

This December sees the release of "The Very Big Monster Show," a 56-page all-ages one-shot from Niles and artist Butch Adams through IDW Publishing. CBR News spoke with Niles at his Los Angeles home Thursday afternoon about what is a decidedly different style of horror story from the writer.

"'The Very Big Monster Show' is about a little kid who discovers the old, classic monsters," said Niles. "They're basically out of work, unemployed and have been run out of town by the new monsters - the bloody, scary, stabbing type of monsters. This kid tries to help them get back on their feet and show them that they're capable of being scary again.

"They've been living in a house together, just hanging out for the past fifty years, doing nothing. So, the kid takes them out to Hollywood."

The young boy's name is Theo and he lives in the town of Creepyville. Every day Theo would walk by a patch of woods, never noticing a large mansion on top of the near by hill where the monsters live. One day he takes notice of their home and that's how he finally meets the monsters of yesterday.


Page 2 Page 8
"This is really light stuff for me," admitted Niles about the all-ages story. "It's literally a little kid trying to teach Frankenstein how to be scary. He runs them through drills like how to pop around a corner, how to break chains, things like that. They'd just forgotten it, got totally lazy and became completely insecure."

Niles wrote the story five or six years ago, well before the success of "30 Days of Night," and originally envisioned "The Very Big Monster Show" as an animated Halloween special for television.

"All there is for Halloween is ['The Simpson's'] 'Treehouse of Horror,' of course, and 'The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' and that's it. There's not a lot of Halloween specials out there."

Artists he discovered on his message boards have illustrated much of the product Niles has written in the last couple of years. For "The Very Big Monster Show," Niles met artist Butch Adams on the Internet, but in a slightly different venue than his previous collaborators.

"I met Butch on eBay," admitted Niles. "I met him because he used to sell his art on eBay. I bought a couple of pieces and we started e-mailing each other back and forth. I asked if he was interested in doing any comic work and one thing led to another. So, it's sort of like all my message board guys, but I met him on eBay!"

Adams is a commercial artist by trade and "The Very Big Monster Show" represents his first, professional comics work.


Page 10 Page 21
"When I met Butch I realized his art was just perfect for ['The Very Big Monster Show']. I handed him the script and decided to do it as a graphic novel."

The story of old monsters being pushed out by the new brings comparisons to the comics industry, where many believe comics, "the old," have been pushed aside by video games, "the new,", but Niles says the story wasn't meant as an allegory when the idea first came to him.

"I think overall it's a shame that kids who liked comics don't like them anymore since they have video games, where all the dialogue and action is done for them. It would be nice if they could also read the comics and expand their imagination a little more.

"It's the same thing with the monsters. Freddy, Jason and all those guys are great. They're scary, really scary, but they're not the only thing. There are still werewolves, vampires and Frankenstein out there who can still be scary."

While "The Very Big Monster Show" is headed for the graphic novel treatment, Niles would still like to see it as an animated special one day and has ideas for other animated projects as well.

"I would love to do some animated horror stuff," said Niles. "I was thinking about it the other day. We've been talking about doing 'Remains' as a feature-film and I started thinking about how great it would be if 'Remains' were animated like 'Akira,' but as a zombie movie. A serious, adult, animated film."

Readers in the Los Angeles area can see art by Butch Adams up close during a gallery showing at the Odditorium in Hollywood on October 1st.

IDW Publishing Presents Eric Red’s Masterwork — Containment

October 27, 2004, 1:45 pm

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Posted: Wednesday, October 27
Posted By: Jason Brice
Print This Item



In Space, You Can’t Stop Zombies, You Can Only Hope To Contain Them

How can you beat zombies in space? How can you top having Eric Red, screenwriter on the horrifying vampire movie Near Dark, creating a comic book where astronauts are millions of miles away in outer space, trying to fight off flesh-eating zombies?

You can’t, so you just sit back and enjoy every creepy moment of it. Eric Red’s Containment is a five-issue miniseries that will join Red, whose past film credits also include The Hitcher and Blue Steel, with noted artist Nick Stakal (Hyde) in a tale that will leave you breathless.

On a manned NASA space ship millions of miles from Earth, a terrifying malfunction occurs in the cryogenic hypersleep pods containing the hibernating astronauts, turning most of the crew into the violently brain-dead. As the handful of surviving astronauts awaken intact from their artificial slumber, they find they must contend with not only murderous zombies but also their own hidden agendas and increasing feelings of isolation and distrust.

“If there’s one thing Eric has done well in his movies, it’s to ratchet up the tension his characters face. And things don’t get much more tense than being trapped on a spaceship with zombies on board,” said IDW Publishing’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall. “Nick really helps communicate every bit of the horror and isolation the astronauts face through his moody, expressive art.”

Eric Red’s Containment is a full-color, 32-page, five-issue miniseries beginning in January 2005.

[IMG]http://img41.exs.cx/img41/9895/containmentpage13.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img98.exs.cx/img98/8050/containmentpg023.jpg[/IMG]

Blood-Stained Sword Drips Red At IDW Publishing

October 27, 2004, 1:49 pm

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Blood-Stained Sword Drips Red At IDW Publishing
Dan Wickline and Ben Templesmith Slash You With Intrigue

San Diego, CA (October 26, 2004) Now and then, the word “innovative” pops up in a press release. Most of the time it’s just hype.

Not this time.

Creators Dan Wickline and Ben Templesmith have combined sci-fi action, technology, and the code of the Samurai to bring the readers Blood-Stained Sword, a film put to print.

In a dark and grim future drunk on high technology, the ways of the past have not been completely forgotten by everyone. Kenji has been trained as a Samurai, sworn to uphold the code of the true warrior. Now he faces the greatest challenge of his life; clearing his father’s name.

He must travel to Seattle, where corporations have replaced clans and greed has won out over honor, to find out the truth behind his father’s
death and bring in those responsible.

About the story’s development, Wickline said, “I’ve always been fascinated with the samurai, not just from a historical point of view, but as a way of life. Their code of honor makes them the perfect protagonist for any story, whether they are on horseback or hover-bike.”

Blood-Stained Sword features 30 Days of Night co-creator Ben Templesmith further expanding his artistic repertoire with this tale of violent
enforcement of the Samurai honor code. The story by Wickline (Metal Hurlant) features cinematic action and the dialogue is crisp and memorable. This book promises to be one of the sleeper hits of the year.

Blood-Stained Sword is a full-color, 48-page one-shot on sale in January 2005.

IDW PUBLISHING is a division of Idea + Design Works, LLC, a revolutionary creative service company with a wide range of clients including The Upper Deck Company, Electronic Arts, Ultima Online, WizKids, Cartoon Network, Sony Online Entertainment, Nickelodeon, and many more. IDW Publishing focuses on a small number of high-quality titles. Among them are CBS’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith's 30 Days of Night and its sequels, Dark Days and Return to Barrow; Ashley Wood's Lore; CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations; Beau Smith's Wynonna Earp; and Steve Niles’ Wake The Dead. Columbia Pictures has optioned the movie rights to 30 Days of Night, with Sam Raimi attached to produce. Konami is producing a video game based on CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations. Dimension Films has optioned the movie rights to Wake The Dead and Hyde. Paramount Pictures has optioned the movie rights to Aleister Arcane.

THE FINAL COMIC CONVENTION REPORT 2004

November 13, 2004, 3:18 pm

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Well its convention report time. Sorry for the delay in this post. I have been busy with school and work down here in Toronto but I’m back to bring you this cool and big update filled with cool pictures from the event. This event took place in the metro convention center this attracting over 30,000 in attendance for all three days setting records as the largest convention yet. This year was spectacular in fact adding to their lineup was the Rue Morgue horror festival with some really cool guests. For more information on guests that were their and past events go to the nifty website I just provided you http://www.hobbystar.com/ComicConToronto/CC_Main.asp

(IMAGE ONE)To the pictures we go and what a way to start with some dedicated fans dressing up in their favorite characters. In this pic we clearly see Jason Spawn with some Pirate guy and some cool monsters with their jaws actually opening and closing.


(IMAGE TWO)Dreamwave Productions always has cool setups at conventions but this year I got a little special treatment as these two ladies escorted me around the booth to look at some new and upcoming projects from Dreamwave you can find more information here http://www.dreamwaveprod.ca/!2K4/index.php?home


(IMAGE THREE)The famous Andy Lee. This guy is always hyper about painting he’s so lighting quick with his hands does a painting in nearly 30 seconds and it comes out amazing I have always been a fan of his work. Its shame that McFarlane Productions had turned down his submission for Case Files he was originally suppose to be on issues after Paul’s Lees arc. In the first picture we see “simplyJd‘s” Mary she’s usually at every Toronto convention supporting. The last pic we see Little Nicky from the Templesmith Forums he’s a massive Andy Lee fan and heavily influenced by his work. Then you got me floating around in the second pic.


(IMAGE FOUR)Next up we have another Toronto based publication company BringhtAnvilStudios.Throughtout the convention these guys were giving out FREE sketches to all their fans this booth attracted a lot of comic book fans. In the first pic we see Marvin Law. In the next pic we See Logan Lubera (Marvel age Spiderman) and Craig Yeung (Marvel Age Spiderman) and lastly we see Valentine De Landro.


(IMAGE FIVE)Here are Four Creators I have tremendous respect for their work. First pic we see Lead Heavy Productions chief Skottie Young (Venom, Human Torch) http://www.ledheavy.com/lh03/index.html Next up we have David”Kabuki”Mack.Hes always excited to sign stuff for his loyal fans I talked to him personally about his moving of kabuki to Marvels Icon imprint. He also showed me some really cool sequential pages of the next alchemy issues and some spoiler details .Next up we got Dreamwave creator and President Pat Lee he’s always busy around the Dreamwave booth signing autographs and drawing some cool sketches I managed to squeeze in and grab a Dante sketch from his new book Devil May cry. And lastly Image Comics Azad he’s always one of cool people telling the fans about Sammy his creator owned project and he let me in on few details on his new project with a certain somebody from Image comics.


(IMAGE SIX)Aspen Studios such a great comic publisher on the verge of breaking new ground. Ever since Michael Turner left Top Cow him and Aspen Studios have been overwhelmed with good responses especially here at the con.His booth is usually the busiest of them all. First pic we see Cameron Stewart (Sea Guy) drew me a cool sketch. Then we got M.turner and finally Francis Manapul (Witchblade)



(IMAGE SEVEN)We got some cool people here. First off Steve Niles forums Peter Repovski (FUSED) Drew me a cool cybot sketch its hanging in my room now thank a million Pete! This big mans in comics today the editor in chief for Marvel Comics Joe Quesada. This guy’s lineup was massive as fans started tom lineup 2 hours before he actually arrived. We talked about Daredevil Father and some other books that fans want back on the shelf including Ghostrider.Finaly we have Idw’s Own Nick Postic and Nick Marinkovich these guys made me feel right at home they’re really cool and made you feel comfortable around. They also gave me a really cool sketch and some prints also gave me a couple insider spoiler details in which I can’t spill as of yet but I’ll post some images very soon.


(IMAGE EIGHT)The final Picture but the last is the best for many reasons. This girl is known to be the horror queen of comics and currently resides in the Rue Morgue mansion. That’s Jen Vuckovic One of the Coolest person I have ever met I was also stunned at those really cool tattoos she has very colorful and who ever did them is a really good artist. More information about Rue Morgue horror and the magazine visit http://www.rue-morgue.com/index.php


In an overall conclusion these three days at the convention have been made special by those creators who respect to their fans.It was a really good convention that I enjoyed going to even though the power went out and we had a crime bust but hey its all about fun.
Thanx to all who made it happen and aspecial thanx to those creators who made it a thrill ride.

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IDW PUBLISHES SWALLOW - MODERN ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE IN FEB

December 2, 2004, 4:33 pm

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Press Release



Ashley Wood is one of the most acclaimed illustrators in comic books. His work on Popbot and art books like Grande Fanta have garnered him numerous fans and awards from both the art and comic communities. Now IDW Publishing is very pleased to announce that they will be presenting Swallow: Book One. Swallow is a magazine devoted to modern illustration and the artists that produce it.

The debut issue of Swallow features some of the biggest names in modern illustration, as well as amazing new illustrators you need to discover! The first issue features work by Ash himself, along with George Pratt, Celia Calle, Jeremy Geddes, Phil Hale, Team Kitten, Mike Huddleston, and many more.

“This is the magazine I always want to find when I hit the racks, but don’t,” says Ashley Wood. “Great modern illustrators, extended folios—no single illustrations here! Lots of pictures, that’s what Swallow is about, period!”

Swallow is the perfect opportunity for fans of progressive art to check out lavish artwork that can usually only be found in a gallery. The different styles that are brought together under these two covers will be a feast for the eyes. Ashley Wood’s art has been a cornerstone to the foundation of IDW Publishing’s emphasis on exciting new art styles in the comics world.

Swallow: Book One is a full-color, 120-page magazine on sale in February 2005.

NEW AVENGERS #1 SELLS OUT

December 9, 2004, 7:17 am

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Press Release



NEW AVENGERS SELLS OUT! FIRST ISSUE OF MARVEL’S NEWEST SERIES A HIT WITH FANS AND RETAILERS!

It’s official: Marvel Comics’ The New Avengers #1 has sold out! Diamond Distributors confirms a complete sell-through of the entire first-print run of the House of Ideas’ hot new super-hero series.

The New Avengers spins out of Avengers: Disassembled, the cataclysmic ending to the long-running series. The new title relates the events that bring together a new team of Avengers, comprised of some of Marvel’s most popular characters and foundational heroes: Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Iron Man, Luke Cage, and more.

Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada is jubilant over the news and has specific praise for those who made it happen. “We at Marvel greatly appreciate every single one of you who bought New Avengers #1, fan and retailer alike, and we hope you agree with us that it was one enjoyable read.”

New Avengers writer Brian Michael Bendis and series editor Tom Brevoort were equally happy at hearing the inaugural issue had sold out. “In a million, billion years I could never have hoped for the amazing week we had with the debut of this book,” said Bendis. “I am so proud to be associated with David Finch, Danny Miki, Frank D’Armata, Tom Brevoort, and Andy Schmidt. They gave this book everything they had. My undying thanks to Joe and Dan for going full blast with this and to the creators who came before us who created these amazing characters in the first place.” Brevoort added, “It’s gratifying to know that so many people are interested in New Avengers and what the future holds for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Here’s a hint: Snikt!”

Retailers are also giving the book high marks. Ed Katschke, Manager of Monarch’s Cards & Comic in Toledo, Ohio, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the enthusiasm and sales generated by the first issue. “Most fans from my store are really intrigued by Bendis and Finch’s new direction and are looking forward to the new configuration of the Avengers. At this point, I’m selling nearly 3 times my pre-Bendis numbers on the book and after reading the first issue I’m anticipating a strong sell-through on the proceeding issues,” reports Katschke.

Internet comic book message boards have been buzzing over the introduction of the new all-star Avengers team. Fan Terry Anderson of Lexington, Kentucky was excited by the debut. “I really like the artwork here and the story is intriguing,” he posted. “This new direction was a good opening for me to break into with the Avengers. I'm curious how the new team will operate. And I do like the inclusion of Spidey. He and Cap both are more about heart than their powers. I think it is a good nucleus for a team.”

For those who may have missed out on New Avengers #1, Marvel reminds fans that there will be another printing available next week that offers a Joe Quesada variant cover. The cover features the original sketch, now inked and colored, that served as the inspiration for the first printing’s several alternate covers. In addition to the second printing of #1, there is also a special New Avengers #1 Director’s Cut, featuring the original story plus a bevy of extra goodies.

As always, more exciting information on The New Avengers and the Marvel Universe can be found online at Marvel.Com.

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THE MARVEL UNIVERSE GOES WIRELESS

December 13, 2004, 8:09 am

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Press Release



MFORMA Group, Inc. and leading global entertainment licensing company Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) signed a licensing agreement that will bring Marvel's catalog of world famous entertainment brands to mobile phone users throughout the world. This landmark agreement was announced today by Daniel Kranzler, MFORMA CEO, and Tim Rothwell and Bruno Maglione, presidents, respectively, of Marvel Worldwide Consumer Products and Marvel International.

The agreement calls for MFORMA to publish an extensive portfolio of mobile entertainment products based on many of Marvel's iconic characters as they appear in movies, television, video games and comic books which will be available in all domestic and international territories, except for Japan. As part of the agreement, MFORMA will co-publish selected Marvel-based mobile games with Activision, one of the world's leading video game publishers. Activision brings a rich heritage of developing, publishing, and marketing blockbuster video games based on popular brands, including Marvel's major properties. The MFORMA/Marvel multi-year global product plan identifies mobile entertainment applications of every kind and represents one of the most far-reaching publishing programs seen in the mobile industry.

"Nothing like this has ever before been done in mobile," said Daniel Kranzler, MFORMA CEO. "Today, the market and mobile technology has matured to the point that a deal of this magnitude is possible. We have spent the last year expanding and building our global distribution and production capabilities so that we can serve the needs of an entertainment powerhouse like Marvel. Marvel brands routinely turn gold at the box office and in console gaming and they will do the same in mobile around the world-in Europe, North and South America, and most of Asia. We are pleased beyond words to be working with Marvel and Activision on this fantastic and perfectly-timed opportunity to catapult mobile entertainment to mainstream status all over the world."

Marvel's instantly recognizable characters represent one of the world's most powerful brand franchises. The Marvel/MFORMA relationship will bring the entire universe of classic Marvel characters (with the exception of The Punisher family of characters) to hundreds of millions of mobile phone users worldwide. This includes such world renowned heroes as Spider-Man™, X-Men™, Fantastic Four™, Incredible Hulk™, Captain America™, Daredevil™, Iron Man™, Blade™, Ghost Rider™, Elektra™ and many more of Marvel's more than 5,000 characters. The MFORMA/Marvel product lineup runs the full gamut of mobile entertainment products, including action, adventure, RPG and trading card games, images, screensavers, graphics, ring tones, voice tones, mobile greeting cards, mobile comic books, phone functions, virtual character simulations, and community and lifestyle applications.

In addition to distributing the new Marvel content through MFORMA's global network of more than 100 wireless operators in 39 countries, MFORMA will create and host Marvel Mobile, a branded wireless and online website featuring informational, promotional and transactional links to all Marvel Mobile content. Marvel Mobile will have its home on the Internet within www.marvel.com. Subscribers to the Marvel Mobile channel will have access to all Marvel Mobile products, plus unique community applications and features, special collectible items, Marvel news alerts and chat rooms, fan clubs and mobile commerce options that will open up access to all of the activity taking place in the Marvel Universe.

"Mobile is a major new entertainment medium and our objective all along has been to enter this new space on a grand scale with an ambitious partner capable of putting together a holistic program across the various developing technologies and applications in the wireless space. We believe MFORMA is capable of delivering on that objective and we are thrilled to be working with them," commented Tim Rothwell, president of Marvel Worldwide Consumer Products.

Bruno Maglione, president of Marvel International added: "Wireless entertainment has been talked about for several years now, but we have really seen the industry starting to break into the mainstream in this past year and we expect that trend to continue into 2005 and beyond. Accordingly, the timing is right for Marvel to develop its presence in this medium especially as our brands synch perfectly with the most popular emerging applications and the user profile we see developing. With MFORMA as our partner, we expect success for Marvel brands in wireless just as we have achieved in the video game arena."

"Marvel will be a force in mobile, just as they have been a force in every other medium they have entered," said Matt Edelman, MFORMA's SVP of publishing and architect of the deal. "Our existing Marvel-branded mobile offering based on X-Men, which was co-published with Activision, has been very successful and I see that the possibilities of what we can create and deliver based on Marvel's rich, diverse, and fascinating set of characters are endless. The built-in audience is huge and global, and we will provide something for everyone. Our plan is expansive and includes every form of mobile entertainment so we can establish each Marvel property as a mobile franchise in its own right."

Activision and MFORMA will co-publish key titles based on rights Activision had previously acquired from Marvel. The two will jointly publish mobile games based on Spider-Man™, X-Men™, Fantastic Four™ and Iron Man™. The agreement between MFORMA and Activision extends a pre-existing agreement and collaboration that successfully brought Marvel's X-Men to wireless last year in the form of a mobile video game based on the highly successful X-Men movie sequel, "X2" by Twentieth Century Fox. Activision's Marvel-branded video games have proven to be enormously successful, selling more than 15 million copies since 2001.

"Our strategic alliance with Marvel has resulted in some of the most successful Super Hero™ video games ever," said Dave Anderson, senior director of business development, Activision, Inc. "The co-publishing relationship with MFORMA strengthens Activision's commitment to the super hero genre and allows us to continue developing exceptional Marvel-based games for mobile phone users worldwide."

Marvel franchises will have a significant presence in the film and video game worlds well into the future, and MFORMA, Marvel and Activision will collaborate to leverage each and every important media event. The first products to be delivered under the agreement will be a suite of mobile products based on the Blade Trinity film from New Line Cinema, which is to be released in theaters on December 8, 2004. In January 2005, a second suite of products based on the movie Elektra by New Regency/Twentieth Century Fox will be introduced. In the summer, another suite of products based on the upcoming blockbuster "Fantastic Four" from Twentieth Century Fox and a corresponding video game from Activision will join the lineup. Additional titles coming in the near future include products based on Incredible Hulk, to be released in conjunction with a video game from Vivendi Universal Games, and Ultimate Spider-Man, tied into a next-generation video game from Activision. MFORMA and Marvel will collaborate on marketing programs to help promote the availability of Marvel mobile products to consumers worldwide.

"Mobile entertainment has been successful thus far because it has evolved to take advantage of not only the advancing technology of mobile phones, but also the advancing interests of mobile users who are always looking for the next big thing," said Edelman. "Marvel Mobile represents the next big thing and we believe mobile users will love what they find there."

Added Kranzler, "We are pleased to be Marvel's exclusive mobile publishing partner for a majority of its characters, enabling them to have their brands published around the world in all forms of mobile content. We have reached a level of global distribution capability today where it is possible to handle publishing and distribution for Marvel and other global brand holders such as Activision and leading movie studios on a truly global basis."

TODD MCFARLANE PRODUCTIONS FILES FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION

December 18, 2004, 10:10 pm

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TODD McFARLANE PRODUCTIONS FILES CH. 11
According to the AP, Todd McFarlane has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors on Friday, December 17th.

The AP writes: The Tempe, Arizona, company lists a 15 (m) million-dollar claim by former National Hockey League player Tony Twist as its largest creditor.

Last July, a St. Louis jury awarded Twist that money after concluding that McFarlane and his company profited by using Twist's name without permission.

McFarlane gave a New York mob boss character the name Antonio ``Tony Twist'' Twistelli in his Spawn comic books in the early 1990s.

Given McFarlane's major foray into sports, appropriately, ESPN.com has a report up as well, saying that in 2003, the seven businesses that make up McFarlane's business had annual sales exceeding $50 million.

As regular Newsarama readers unfortunatley know by now, Chapter 11 means that the company can continue to operate while it reorganizes its business plan, and is protected from creditors. As with Tampa-based CrossGen earlier this year, McFarlane now must file a plan with the US bankruptcy court which outlines how the company will reorganize, and address creditors' claims.

From ESPN.com: The filing also lists McFarlane's toy company, a related business, as the second-largest creditor, being owed $683,902. Nine contract artists are owed about $60,000 and a collection agency is owed about $7,700."

According to court papers acquired by Newsarama, McFarlane is claiming the total assets of TMP to be between $1 and $10 million, and total debt between $10 and $50 million.

Among the largest unsecured creditors listed by TMP in the filing:

Angel Medina, artist, $3,960.00
Brian Haberlin, artist, $13,600.00
Brian Holgiun, artist, $8,800.00
Comicraft, letterers, $2,200.00
Danny Miki, artist, $4,070.00
Greg Capullo, artist, $18,250.00
Greg Scott, artist, $1,750.00
Jay Fotos, artist, $5,600.00
McFarlane Toys (intercompany debt), $683,901.55
Neil Gaiman, litigation claim, unknown
Tom Orzechowski, artist, $2,200.00
Tony Twist, litigation claim, disputed, $15,000,000.00

The first meeting of creditors is scheduled for January 25th, 2005. Among the filings made by McFarlane's lawyers is a motion to allow McFarlane to continue his appeal process against the $15 million judgement won by Twist.

McFarlane has also filed a motion for a December 20th hearing on several motions - mostly stays from claims that will allow TMP to continue normal operations while reorganization is in process.

Developing...

Will Eisner pASSES AWAY

January 4, 2005, 6:48 am

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Newsarama has learned that comic legend Will Eisner died due to complications from heart surgery performed on December 22nd. Eisner had undergone quadruple bypass surgery, and was last reported to be recovering well.

Eisner was 87 years old, and was still actively working. His latest graphic novel, The Plot was due to be released later this year.

Newsarama will relay more information as it becomes available

DREAMWAVE CLOSES SHOP

January 4, 2005, 5:27 pm

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Perhaps confirming long-lived rumors of an impending close, official word came today that Dreamwave productions, home to Pat Lee as well as the Transformer license, is closing shop.

The e-mail was sent to various press outlets from a new aol account rather than normal channels for Dreamwave communication. Dreamwave's official website, http://www.dreamwaveprod.ca/ has been shut down.

The release, if true, would come as fairly small surprise to many observers, as the company had reprotedly slowed or stopped paying freelancers (as reported by Rich Johnston in Lying in the Gutters at www.comicbookresources.com), and many Dreamwave staffers and creators, when asked by Newsarama about problems with the company said they were waiting for studio head, Pat Lee to release official word of the shutdown.

Roger Lee, co-founder of Dreamwave, has registered and opened the website, http://www.dreamengine.ca/

The studio was/is due to ship the first issue of its Beast Wars miniseries this month, as well as a relaunch of its Warlands property, as well as continue its ongoing Transformers series.

The press release reads:

Dreamwave Productions announced today that after eight years in the comics industry, four of which they were self-published, they will be ceasing operations.

Established in 1996 by brothers Pat and Roger Lee, Dreamwave infused a stagnant comic book market with art and design that effortlessly combined the then dominant “American” art style with the newly emerging Japanese “Manga” art style. Since then, the company had grown to become one of the comic book industry’s premiere publishers, producing a variety of original titles.

In 2002, Dreamwave firmly established itself in the comic industry as a force to be reckoned with when it launched an all-new Transformers comic’s line. The return of the 80’s icons shattered industry sales records, skyrocketing the book to the number one sales slot for an impressive six months. The Toronto-based company’s other successful licenses included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Duel Masters from Japan, as well as properties like Devil May Cry and Mega Man from video game giant Capcom Entertainment.

President of Dreamwave Productions, Pat Lee stated “there are a number of reasons for my decision to close Dreamwave”, citing that “the shrinking comic book market combined with a weak U.S. dollar and unsustainable monetary commitments has finally proven to be too financially taxing.”

As the only Canadian independent comics publisher, Dreamwave Productions has struggled in recent years to maintain its status within a relentlessly shrinking comic book market. Unfortunately, consistently diminishing sales totals over the last several years have taken their toll on the small publisher and made it impossible to continue.

The specific details for closure have not yet been released but Lee assures both fans and clients alike that “although this is the end of Dreamwave as a comics publisher, I will still be penciling a number of new exciting projects in conjunction with other studios in the upcoming years.”

Newsarama Note: Dreamwave's claim of being the "Canadian independent comics publisher" is somewhat misleading, as Arcana, UDON, and the recently launched Speakeasy are all headquartered in Canada.

ENNIS, CRAIN TAKE ON GHOST RIDER

January 25, 2005, 4:18 pm

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In this week’s Wizard, confirmation is finally made that Ghost Rider will get his wheels back, courtesy of Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain (who will paint the miniseries). The project will take shape as a six issue miniseries coming out through the Marvel Knights imprint, according to the article.

Ghost Rider’s alter ego for the project: Johnny Blaze. Ennis rationale: he’s only ever read the original comics, and has no connection or attachment to Danny Ketch. According to Ennis, the storyline for the miniseries starts in Hell, with Blaze paying for selling his soul (which originally gave him his supernatural powers). In order to escape, Blaze agrees to hunt a runaway demon down on earth, and then becomes embroiled in a plot involving minions and Heaven, Hell, and everywhere in between.

According to the article, the miniseries is slated to launch in September, which, barring any delays, will have the final issue out in February, and a trade either later that month, or in March of 2006. It’s Marvel’s (and DC’s, as many Bat-projects are slated for release this summer) strategy at work again – provide a strong comic book tie-in for movie audiences, as the Ghost Rider movie is slated for a summer, 2006 release.

On the movie front, Ghost Rider is slated to start filming on January 31st, and wrap by early June. According to reports, Sony is looking for the Nicolas Cage starrer to be a summer release. Ghost Rider will be directed by Mark Steven Johnson, who directed Daredevil.

On January 15th, Johnson posted a message on the Super Hero Hype.com message boards, updating readers on the status of the movie, which will film in Melbourne, Australia.

Johnson wrote:

“So, first off. Casting. Mr. Cage will be Johnny Blaze. Take it from me. That's a done deal. And I could not be happier. Nic is in the shape of his life. Lean and mean, like a motorcycle stunt rider should. I've cast a few more parts but I should wait until the official announcements come (very soon)…

"The Budget. Nice to see that we've been "upgraded" from a $40 million dollar movie to a $51 million dollar movie! Maybe that's enough for a Dazzler movie but not for a Ghost Rider movie! Seriously, this is an event movie. And Sony knows how to make them right. Rest assured. That is not the budget. Not by a long shot.

"Johnny vs. Danny. The great thing about making a Ghost Rider movie is that I get to take the best from both the Johnny Blaze and the Danny Ketch versions of the comic. So even though I am telling the Johnny Blaze origin story, there are elements of the Danny Ketch stories that I love and will include in the movie (so don't worry, Flamehead! Your beloved Danny Ketch will be there in spirit!). Caretaker will be there. And Blackheart [already announced as being played by Wes American Beauty Bently]. But so will Mephisto and Roxanne and the Quentin Carnival.

"The script. People have mentioned the old David Goyer draft. Goyer wrote two really interesting versions of a Ghost Rider movie. I'd go to see either one of them. But my version is my own. The script is much closer to the comic. But at the same time, it's much more of a Western. A Supernatural Western is, I think, about the coolest idea ever. The Ghost Rider needs that open road as well as the city. I feel that is what makes him unique -- that he's a rider. Think Mad Max. Unforgiven. We have huge battles in the city but, ultimately, they will end up out in the desert.

"The Hellcycle. Well, it's simply unbelievable. It's sculpt is finished and it went into the molds last week. It's the Chopper from Hell. No doubt about it. This is the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life. The toys and the video game are already in the works and they are going to kick ass!”

Click on the link above for the full post from Johnson. The full article (with a ful page preview of art) about the Marvel Knights miniseries appears in this week’s Wizard #161.

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Beau Smith Leaves Idw Publishing

February 1, 2005, 7:46 am

≫ Next: Arcana's Ant Heads to Image Comics

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Beau Smith has left his position as IDW Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Smith issued a press release announcing the move. According to the release, his prospects seem limited. "I'm a free agent. Freelance," he said. "I'll be gettin' fitted for my blue vest at Wal-Mart this afternoon....It's going to be just like the movie The Magnificient Seven, only without the other six guys and the magnificent part," Smith grumbled as he cut up his IDW credit card.



Those with long memories can be forgiven for being skeptical about Smith's lack of prospects, recalling that his announcement that he was leaving Todd McFarlane Productions a few years back (see "Beau Smith Leaves Todd McFarlane Productions") was followed one day later with the announcement that he was joining IDW (see "Beau Smith Joins IDW"), effectively getting covered in two consecutive news cycles for one job change.
coutesy of Icv2

Arcana's Ant Heads to Image Comics

February 1, 2005, 7:49 am

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GULLY'S ANT MOVES TO IMAGE
by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Ants are creatures of little strength but sometimes, the things that look simple in life can teach us some of the most important lessons. Even though their "brain" is less than one-tenth the size of a pinhead, ants live in highly organized social colonies. Ants are known to be hardworking bugs with a “never say die” attitude.

For newcomer Mario Gully, he’s never given up on his comic, Ant. In an earlier interview, he said: “I would like to tell all the wishful creators out there reading this thread to fight for what you want. I do possess a little talent but I am four times ambitious than talented. Ambition will get you very far in life. "There are 5,000 would be comic creators that die every year due to procrastination".

”Never give up.”

For Gully, it’s always been his lifelong dream to bring Ant to Image Comics.

And Image took notice.

This September, Ant will debut from the house of new ideas.

“I have been bugging Image for years,” Gully told Newsarama. “My goal has always been to be at Image. I love the company. You can see it in my style of art. I bothered [Image Publisher] Erik [Larsen] until he gave me a chance to prove that I was ready for "prime time" as he calls it. At first on the fence about my ability as a new and young creator in the doors at Image. I had to prove that I was up for the majors. I think I proved it with my new stuff. And that was that.

“Ant did very well at Arcana. I think pretty much all the Ant books are gone. The response of the book overall has been overwhelming. Now that I'm on the best playing field for Ant that could possibly happen. I think things are gonna be even better.”

Ant is an original story about a little girl overcoming obstacles in her life and growing up to become the greatest hero ever. “A real hero,” Gully said. “That started from nothing. Ant is a reflection of my own personal life. I came from nothing. No art background. No history drawing for Marvel under my belt. Just a poor kid with ambition. I created Ant under very hard conditions for hope of a better tomorrow. I wanted to be a comic book artist. That's all. But that was a dream I thought I would have never imagined. Ant is just that.”

Erik Larsen praised the creator and said that Ant is going to be a great book. “There are a number of creators who have, over time, proven through hard work that they are "Image-worthy.

“I saw Ant as a book that was very raw, very rough -- but one with a lot of potential. Mario Gully's work has improved over the years and he has grown a great deal as both a writer and an artist and it simply got to a point where he could no longer be ignored.

“That was what I responded to -- not so much what Ant was but rather what Ant could be. When I talked to Mario about the book, I came to him with a number of concerns and suggestions and Mario surprised me by rattling off a number of changes he wanted to make to his book and before I could say anything, he'd addressed them all. We were really seeing eye-to-eye on this.

“I expect that Ant is really going to turn some heads. Those already familiar with Ant will be surprised to see the new twists being injected into the title and Mario's art has taken a huge leap. He's really at a new level.

“At this point, what I'm looking to see is Ant get integrated into the Image Universe and that's a first step.”

With Ant set firmly in the Image Universe, Gully is excited about the notion of using iconic Image characters in his book. And he gets to do just that in the first few issues of the new volume.

Many have likened Gully’s art to that of former Spawn artist Greg Capullo. And Gully is going to live his dream of not only drawing the Savage Dragon but also Spawn in the new series. “To my delight, Todd McFarlane saw fit to let Mario use Spawn in an upcoming issue,” Larsen said. “It's like a classic old school Image book from the early '90s. Mario's very enthusiastic and he's willing to push things and do what he can to improve.”

“Ant fans will see a Mario Gully they have never seen before,” Gully promised. “Erik has taken me under his wing and is molding me into a better artist. I am very young to comics and having a mentor like The Dragon in my corner is as good as it gets. I'm one of the guys that he is really hands on even though his schedule is so demanding. It's an honor. And I'm treated like family at Image at a very short time. It's crazy.

“The new Ant series takes place a year after Ant #4. Hanna is all grown up and is putting the pieces back together in her life. She woke up in a mental hospital and realized she isn't eight years old anymore. A traumatic event occurs when she was Ant and now she is trying to live up to the hype of being the greatest hero this world has ever known. But she doesn't remember being Ant at all and that is only half of her battles.

“In the first story arc she battles a great enemy of the The Savage Dragon. And Ant goes head to head with the big guy Spawn in issue #3! I can't say more than that right now. This is gonna be a wild ride for Image fans, I assure you that.”

The first Ant series is available in the Ant: Days Like These trade paperback from Arcana Studios. Issue #1 of the new Ant will be available from Image Comics in the July issue of Previews, and will go on sale this September.

Phoenix End Song #2 Goes Back To Press

February 3, 2005, 2:02 pm

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This book just doesn't quit yet another sellout its hot people

Posted: Thursday, February 3
Posted By: Mike Storniolo
Print This Item

Marvel Comics announces that PHOENIX-ENDSONG #2 has completely sold out from Diamond Comics and that backorders once again are mounting, at the same blistering pace as issue #1...and just like that first issue, #2 will return to store shelves in the form of a new Limited Edition Variant.

Says Marvel's Director of Sales, David Gabriel, "This is one of those
series where the story is so compelling, and the illustrations so
stunning, that we couldn't wait for the retailers and fans to see the
book. Now that it's gotten out there and blowing out of stores, it's
confirmed what we've always known internally: we had a phenomenal piece of art on our hands. Prepping variant printings of issue #1, and now issue #2, was an incredibly easy decision."

PHOENIX-ENDSONG is written by award-winning film writer and director Greg Pak, and fully realized on the page with the brilliant art of Greg Land, with inks by Matt Ryan and colors by Justin Ponsor.

Senior Editor Mike Marts couldn't be more proud of the book, "Both
readers and retailers continue to prove there's extreme demand for this series. Hats off to writer Greg Pak and artist Greg Land for delivering yet another sellout issue!" The Limited Edition Variant printing of PHOENIX-ENDSONG #2, featuring a re-colored cover with Phoenix in her green costume, hits stands on 2/23/2005, the same day as issue #3. X-MEN PHOENIX ENDSONG #2 LTD ED VARIANT COVER (DEC048068)

TED MCKEEVER, STEVE NILES ADAPT WAR OF THE WORLDS FOR IDW

February 3, 2005, 9:36 pm

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TED MCKEEVER, STEVE NILES ADAPT WAR OF THE WORLDS FOR IDW
Press Release



Ted McKeever Enlisted for IDW’s Upcoming War Little Book of Horror: The War of the Worlds Will Retell H.G. Wells’s Classic Tale

Following the launch of IDW’s new Little Books of Horror line this March, Frankenstein by Steve Niles and Scott Morse, comes a re-imagining of H.G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds. Joining writer Niles for this special project is artist Ted McKeever (Metropol), who will provide full page spreads and a painted cover to accompany Niles’s prose story.

The Little Book of Horror series presents classic horror tales in a new light, as writer Steve Niles is paired with unique illustrators to re-tell stories that follow the text of the original tales. Up next
will be Niles and artist Richard Sala’s take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but before that book appears, readers will be taken to War.

“This isn’t The War of the Worlds you watched on TV, ” said IDW Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall, “and I guarantee you won’t see Tom Cruise or Dakota Fanning on these pages. This book features all the horror that H.G. Wells brought to bear in his novel, with the bonus of seeing the story beautifully illustrated by the warped mind of Ted McKeever.”

“The idea behind these books was to tell classic horror stories of books and films like you're explaining them to a friend. I call it campfire storytelling,” says Niles. “Short, simple and to the point
with fantastic artwork. I love the three we've assembled so far and I can't wait to watch the library grow.”

Little Book of Horror: The War of the Worlds, a full-color, 48-page, 6” x 9” HC, will be available in July.

BLOODRAYNE: SKIES AFIRE #1 SELLS OUT, 2ND PRINT COMING

February 10, 2005, 1:47 pm

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Press Release



BLOODRAYNE: SKIES AFIRE #1 SELLS OUT, BACK TO PRESS WITH 2ND PRINTING!

Echo 3 Worldwide and Digital Webbing are proud to announce that its first one-shot, BloodRayne: Skies Afire, has sold out from the publisher. To meet demand, the issue will immediately go back to press with BloodRayne: Skies Afire Second Printing (Diamond Item Code: DEC04 8345 F) and features a blueline sketch version of the original cover by Romano Molenaar. This edition also includes 4 pages of behind-the-scenes material which was not in the first printing.

The mysterious Brimstone Society has lurked just outside the fringes of mankind for ages. They keep a tight reign on the horrors of the world, and to accomplish this, they need agents just as horrifying. One of the Society's recruits is Agent BloodRayne--a dhampir. Her father...a powerful vampire. Her mother...a beautiful human. She inherited violence and power from one and compassion from the other. Luckily for the Society, she leans more towards her father's side when dealing with the supernatural threats of the world.

Based on Majesco’s popular video game, the BloodRayne comic books bring readers a darker look at the past. History and horror merge as Agent BloodRayne and the Brimstone Society slice their way through the demons of the night.

“The fan reaction to the first one-shot was simply amazing,” says Echo 3 Worldwide’s Steven O’Connell. “We knew we had a fantastic property featuring a hot, butt-kicking girl, with a throng of devotees, but I’m still surprised the book was able to sell out this quickly.”

“We will overprint the next one-shot, BloodRayne: Seeds of Sin in response to the first one-shots’ sell out,” says O’Connell. “Of course, we are also encouraging retailers to take advantage of this and increase their orders for upcoming issues accordingly.”

BloodRayne: Skies Afire (second printing) written by Steven O’Connell and Jefferey Stevenson, with art by Romano Molenaar, Marco Galli and Blond.

BloodRayne: Seeds of Sin is written by Christina Z (Witchblade, The Darkness) with art by Kody Chamberlain (30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales) and ships end of March/Early April.

ORDERING INFORMATION

--Retailers can order BloodRayne: Skies Afire Second Printing (Diamond Item Code: DEC04 8345 F) or BloodRayne: Seeds of Sin (JAN05 2654) by contacting their Diamond Customer Service Representative

Shaun & Co. Shamble to IDW

February 14, 2005, 6:35 am

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After becoming a cult hit on its theatrical release in the US, and now, seeing wider acceptance and popularity as a DVD, Shaun of the Dead is set to become a comic book in June, courtesy of IDW Publishing.

The four issue miniseries will adapt the movie written by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg (Wright also directed, while Pegg starred as Shaun), expanding on what has already been told with the inclusion of scenes that didn’t make the cut of the film. IDW editor in Chief Chris Ryall will write the miniseries, with art by Zach Howard, with colors by Thompson Knox and covers by Jason Brashill.

"It all started with Ted Adams, out publisher and me, talking about projects with Universal," Ryall told Newsarama when asked how the Shaun ball got rolling. "The Underworld adaptation and subsequent miniseries we did last year was very successful for us, so we wanted to do more. I pushed hard for Shaun, since I loved the movie so much."

Ryall subsequently met with Wright when he was in town, and discusses a potential comic book, and what IDW could do with it. "That meeting went well, and here we are," Ryall said.

All in all, it wasn't that hard of a sell, given that Wright and Pegg are solidly into comics themselves. "I’ve seen Simon praising Robert Kirkman’s great Walking Dead comic in that book’s letters page, and Edgar grew up reading comics, too," Ryall said. "It turns out that British people can read, despite what we were all taught in school. But having both guys be comic guys made it was easy to discuss art styles and what sort of look they wanted for the book."

As for the source material itself, Ryall sees it as a no-brainier in terms of adaptation. "It’s got everything any good piece of entertainment should have—good characters, lots of humor, some violence and some tense scenes… and good use of the C-word, of course. Honestly, even if this comic hadn’t come about, I’d be saying the movie was one of the very best things I saw last year. The dialogue is outstanding, and the relationships between Shaun and his friends and girlfriend are portrayed in a very believable way. It’s just exactly the sort of thing I’d love to see as a comic."

Given its track receod of both film and videogame adaptations IDW has the pattern of producing a comic based on a known property down pat. "once we landed the property, we had to submit samples to Universal as well as to Edgar and Simon. Once they were approved, we were ready to roll. There were some great art samples for the book, but it was Zach who ultimately got the nod. This makes me happy—I met Zach at WizardWorld Chicago last year and instantly loved his stuff. In it, there are echoes of Richard Case, whose work on Doom Patrol was always a favorite of mine—and Mignola and others, and yet his style was also very much his own."

On the writing side, the Shaun miniseries marks Ryall's first comic work for IDW - something he had reconciled within his own mind that would be something small, and that only a few people would see. Lately, however, as the reality of the miniseries is becoming more concrete, the importance of the job at hand has hit him.

"It’s weird—it’s my first comic for IDW, and it’s an adaptation of a movie I loved," Ryall said. "So I feel immense pressure to get this right. So far, it’s been like writing for MoviePoopShoot.com [where Ryall also serves as editor]—like writing in a vacuum where I can pretend that no one’s really reading. Only, now that solicitations will be going around and it’s on the schedule and all of these other things that make it real, yeah, it’s starting to sink in.

"The thing with adaptations is that they seem basic and easy. You just re-write scenes and dialogue that’s already written, right? Except it doesn’t work like that. Some jokes work better visually than they do on paper, and making the action flow from panel to panel and page to page is entirely different than writing scenes for a movie. And Edgar and Simon are allowing me to work in deleted scenes and some bits that never made it into the movie, making this more of a 'director’s cut' than a straight adaptation. So I’ve worked hard to stay true to their movie and also make the book work and stand alone as a comic. It seems to be off to a good start—Simon and Edgar both sent back praise for the script and had no changes. So we’ll see. Ultimately, I want it to add to what they’ve done and offer a bit of a different take than the movie. That and I really don’t want to disappoint fans of the movie."

As Ryall mentioned, while Shaun is at heart, a zombie movie, its humor sets it apart, and that's the trick to making the comic ring true to the film version. "The challenge here is to find the bits that work on the comic page without losing any of the feel that Simon and Edgar brought to the film. I think I’ve struck a nice balance so far—it feels right to me. But of course I’d say that—I wrote it."

As stated, the four issue miniseries will debut in June. "From there," Ryall said, "we’re talking. It gets a little more complicated because while Edgar and Simon trusted me enough to do this adaptation, ultimately, it’s their characters so any sequels or additional stories would be written by them. And with both having upcoming movie gigs, well, we’ll see how that works out. If timing permits, I know we’d love to do more. They did one short Shaun-related story in 2000 A.D., but there are lots more."

VALIANT COMICS RETURNS(possible)

March 13, 2005, 12:56 pm

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TADDEO MAKES A GO AT VALIANT
He tried for the CrossGen Universe, and now, word has come that John Taddeo has had the terms and conditions of his initial offer accepted by the trustee of the Acclaim estate to purchase the rights to the characters of the Valiant Universe.

The auction is currently set for mid-April.

Newsarama readers will recall that former Marvel Marketing Manager and former Tekno Comics staffer John Taddeo popped up most recently in September of last year when he made the initial bid ($500,000) for the assets of CrossGen Entertainment after it had filed for bankruptcy. Taddeo was a “stalking horse” in the bidding process with CrossGen, that is, it was hoped his bid would induce other parties to make their own bids for the CrossGen properties.

Ultimately, Taddeo was outbid, with Disney (through its subsidiary Cal Publishing, Inc.) winning the auction, and purchasing the assets of the company for $1 million.

Acclaim, meanwhile, declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in early September of 2004, citing debts of more than $100 million. Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires the bankrupt party to liquidate all of its assets. An auction of the company’s physical assets (furnishings, videogames, office equipment, etc) was held in early December of last year.

Acclaim purchased Voyager Communications, Inc., the parent company of Valiant in June of 1994, with hopes to develop the characters and series into a line of successful multi-media properties, first moving them to videogames. Market conditions essentially tanked shortly after the purchase, with Valiant titles taking massive hit, and virtually all being cancelled.

In 1996, Acclaim relaunched a handful of the Valiant characters under the Acclaim Comics Valiant Heroes moniker (aka Valiant Heroes 2 or VH2, the second being a rather unfortunate nickname, as it brought about images of the adult contemporary music channel, VH1), but by the end of 1998, seeing orders drop, Acclaim suspended its comic book line. It resurfaced briefly in 1999 with two titles as well as Unity 2000, which was to jump-start the line again, but in the end, only three of the announced six issues of Unity 2000 were published.

By 2002, Acclaim had relinquished the rights to Magnus, Robot Fighter, Turok and Solar, Man of the Atom to Western Publishing (now controlled by Classic Media) (which has since licensed Magnus to Dark Horse and iBooks), but retained ownership of the remainder of the Valiant characters, including Rai, Ninjak, Archer and Armstrong, Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Dr. Mirage, Eternal Warrior, Quantum and Woody, and others. Obtaining the copyrights to the properties will allow the winning bidder not only to resume exploitation of the characters in various media, but also allow for collection and publication of the original stories.

While Taddeo has remained behind the scenes since leaving the larger scope of comics, but as first reported in last Monday’s Lying in the Gutters, Taddeo is currently making plans to re-enter comics with his Assassination Entertainment.

Currently, the company’s major push is on its superhero title, Zoom Suit, written by Taddeo, with art by Bob Layton, Bart Sears, Billy Tucci, Billy Dallas Patton and Gene Colon. Along with the comic, a 70-minute Zoom Suit animated feature is being created for release in 2006. A 10-minute animated preview for the Zoom Suit. feature can be found at the company’s web site: www.assassinationentertainment.com.

Also, as previously reported, Taddeo, through Assassination Entertainment plans to release the comic series, America: Superpower, based on an idea originally owned by CrossGen Entertainment – and then called American Power.

Originally, the series was to have been written by Chuck Dixon, and illustrated by Greg Land, with a first issue to debut at 2004’s Free Comic Book Day. The comic caused a storm of controversy, mostly readers who found the company’s original cover (an obvious throwback to comic book covers of the World War II era) and solicitation information for the debut issue somewhat…nationocentric. The solicitation read:



Superstar artist Greg Land and master of action Chuck Dixon unleash America's new living weapons in the war against terror! They bomb civilians, hurt innocents, and spread fear. But those that have chosen to inflict pain will reap what they've sown! Now, the world's modern monsters will face a new, devastating and living arsenal! Supported by the technology, muscle and brainpower of the U.S. Armed Forces, the next stage in human evolution will scour the globe and deliver justice! Lock and load for high-stakes, high-explosive military action as the enhanced soldiers code-named Ivictus and Scapel
The new version of the series is to be written by New York Times best-selling author, Steve (Meg, Goliath) Alten, and will be illustrated by Alitha (Iron Man, Marvel Age Fantastic Four) Peter Palmiotti.

No release dates are set yet for either title.

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Welcome to The Official Launch of Nyxxunderground

March 19, 2005, 7:02 pm

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Well folks after long hours and hard work by my team we are Launching Nyxxunderground your source for the scavenged comic news from beyond our reaches.So please feel free to look around and join up on the forums at my humble home.
www.nyxxunderground.com

SEPTAGON STUDIOS SHOW YOUR STUFF CONTEST

April 30, 2007, 8:25 am

≫ Next: Scorn #2 Reviewed By Aint it Cool News

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Winners receive Scorn prize package, and be displayed at Paradise Comicon in Toronto! 



TORONTO, ONTARIO (April 30, 2007) -- Septagon Studios, Inc. announces the June 2007 Paradise Comicon “SHOW YOUR STUFF” Contest, offering creators a chance to have their artwork displayed and viewed by comic book fans and professionals at the best comic show in Toronto!

Septagon Studios is anxiously awaiting your best cover illustrations or sequential. We want to bring artwork of various styles to the largest celebration of comics in Toronto: the Paradise Comicon on June 8-10 at Exhibition Place.

We will be selecting four cover illustrations and four sequential images to be displayed in our portfolio as upcoming talent from within the comic book industry. To enter the contest, simply register at http://forums.septagonstudios.com and post your artwork in the specific threads and forums.


“Septagon Studios wants to be a vehicle for artists and creators to get their work exposed,” said Nick Defina, president and C.E.O. of Septagon Studios, Inc. “We understand how competitive the industry has become; we are here to share that same spotlight as those many artists, and creators who have a passion for art and comic books. Not only is this your chance to showcase your work, it also is an opportunity to show your potential your imagination, and your creativity.”

Creators should read the guidelines before submitting samples. All entries will be based on creativity, originality, and freedom of expression. We encourage all applicants to use their full potential. Feel free to use any type of media to create your artwork – there are no restrictions. A complete list of guidelines can be found at http://forums.septagonstudios.com/viewtopic.php?t=361.

The deadline for submissions is May 25 at midnight EST.

Winners will be chosen one week prior to the event, and two grand prize winners will receive the following:

GRAND PRIZE (2):
- Scorn #1.
- Limited Edition Lithograph.
- Artwork displayed first in its category within the portfolio (Covers/Sequentials).
- Artwork displayed on Septagon Studios Web site.
- Press release and media exposure announcing the winners.

RUNNERS-UP (6):
- Artwork displayed exclusively on the Septagon Studios Web site.
- Artwork displayed randomly in its category within the portfolio for the Comicon. (Covers/Sequentials)

The Paradise Comicon is Toronto’s largest convention that focuses only on comics and sequential art, and has been selected year-after-year by fans and professionals as the best Toronto comic convention! For more details on this year’s Paradise Comicon, visit them online at http://www.torontocomicon.com!

For more information on Septagon Studios, visit their Web site at http://www.septagonstudios.com– and watch your local comic shops for exciting titles to be released soon!

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ABOUT SEPTAGON STUDIOS. INC.:
Imagination. Creativity. Unleashed. For Readers. For Creators. For Everyone.

Septagon Studios, Inc. is a publishing company founded in early 2003 by company President and C.E.O Nicola Defina with his two cousins, Philip Defina (Vice President and Art Director) and Domenic Defina (Art Consultant). Septagon Studios has carefully positioned itself to occupy a historic place in the industry, and combining comic book publishing with creator services is just the start.

Visit Septagon Studios, Inc. online at http://www.septagonstudios.com.

Scorn #2 Reviewed By Aint it Cool News

November 12, 2007, 2:25 pm

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Scorn #2
Septagon Studios
Review By Ambush Bug


The trail of revenge continues with this issue as our hero Michael and his pair of blazing guns continue to seek out targets for his rage. As with issue one, the story is somewhat simple. It’s a revenge tale where someone is wronged and the only solution seems to be a trip down a path of violence. It’s the art that once again impressed me the most here. Philipp Nuendorf knows how to convey mood with his loose detailings and highly textured and layered renderings. There’s something gritty and real that makes this tale much more than simple revenge fiction.

For the full Review please click the link below:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34631#8

ABOUT SEPTAGON STUDIOS. INC.
Imagination. Creativity. Unleashed.
For Readers. For Creators. For Everyone.

Septagon Studios, Inc. is a publishing company founded in early 2003 by company President and C.E.O Nicola Defina with his two cousins, Philip Defina (Vice President and Art Director) and Domenic Defina (Consultant/Art Direction). Septagon Studios has carefully positioned itself to occupy a historic place in the industry, and combining comic book publishing with creator services is just the start.

Visit Septagon Studios, Inc. online at http://www.septagonstudios.com.