CHEW #12 Has Comic-Con Variant Cover

POYO TAKES A BITE OUT OF COMIC-CON

Image Comics announces Comic-Con variant cover for CHEW #12

Whether he's just the meanest rooster in town or the Devil himself, Poyo deserves all the adoration he gets, including his first convention exclusive cover on CHEW #12 at Comic-Con International 2010!

Limited to 350 copies, you can show your love for Poyo and CHEW by picking up your copy from writer John Layman and artist Rob Guillory at Image Comics booth #2729. Layman and Guillory will also have a very limited number of copies of CHEW: THE OMNIVORE EDITION, which won't be in stores until August 11, 2010.

In CHEW, Tony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he's a hell of a detective-as long as he doesn't mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit and why. He's been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest and most bizarre cases.

This gorgeous oversized OMNIVORE EDITION, loaded with extras, follows Tony for the first ten issues of IGN.com's pick for "Best Indie Series of 2009," and MTV Splash Page's "Best New Series of 2009." Collects the New York Times best sellers "Taster's Choice" and "International Flavor."

CHEW #12: POYO Variant, a 32-page full-color comic featuring a five-color cover of Poyo, will be available at Comic-Con International for $10 at Image Comics booth #2729.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

One Piece Unstoppable 54

I read One Piece, Vol. 54

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has just released the v2.0 of their iPhone app).

Stan Lee in L.A.

COMIC BOOK ICON STAN LEE TO MAKE A LOS ANGELES PERSONAL APPEARANCE TO CELEBRATE HIS NEWEST CO-CREATION ULTIMO

VIZ Media has announced a very special personal appearance by comic book legend Stan Lee on Friday, June 16th at 7:00pm at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles, located at 189 Grove Drive Suite K 30, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Lee is the co-creator of comics’ most iconic superheroes including Spider-Man™, the Fantastic Four™, and the X-Men™. His Barnes & Noble appearance celebrates the release of Volume 2 of his latest co-creation – ULTIMO, and he will be autographing copies of ULTIMO Volumes 1 and 2.

ULTIMO (rated ‘T’ for Teens) is a historic East-meets-West collaboration between Lee and famed Japanese manga creator, Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular SHAMAN KING series. ULTIMO, Volume 2 is available in stores now and is also serialized in VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP Magazine.

VIZ Media will also welcome Stan Lee for a special appearance in the company’s booth #2813 on Saturday, July 24th at Comic-Con International 2010, the nation’s largest comic book convention taking place in San Diego, CA.

The ULTIMO back-story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, who seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? In Volume 2, with girl and money troubles, life is hard enough for high school student Yamato, but then he stumbles upon Ultimo, a peculiar-looking puppet. Things only get stranger when Ultimo awakens and his archenemy, Vice, shows up. Ultimo and Vice are Karakuri Dôji, the mechanical embodiment of pure good and pure evil, devoid of human emotions that can cloud one’s judgment. Their purpose: to battle to the death to prove once and for all whether good or evil is the most powerful force in the universe.

For more information on ULTIMO please visit Ultimo.viz.com or http://www.shonenjump.com/.

TOKYOPOP Partners with Hulu

Press release:

TOKYOPOP Announces Content Partnership Deal with Hulu

Assortment of feature films, reality shows, and motion comics queued for release

TOKYOPOP, the leading proponent of the global manga lifestyle and otaku culture, announced today that they have partnered with Hulu, an online video service that offers hit TV shows, movies and clips at Hulu.com and other online destination sites, to provide a wide array of animated and live-action video content.

The deal is structured to feature TOKYOPOP's long-form content as a high-end viewing experience, with a focus on premieres and exclusive broadcast windows, featuring the debut of the live-action comedy film Van Von Hunter and the premiere of the brand-new reality series America's Greatest Otaku.

"Hulu is the perfect platform for the TOKYOPOP brand," said Stu Levy, TOKYOPOP founder and CEO. "They have created the highest-quality viewing experience on the web and we know that our films and shows are going to shine in that venue."

The TOKYOPOP showpage (http://www.hulu.com/studio/tokyopop) launches with the avant-garde anime feature Spring and Chaos. Spring and Chaos (original Japanese title Kenji no Haru) is the spellbinding animated biography of one of Japan's most beloved poets, Kenji Miyazawa. Directed by anime master Shoji Kawamori (Macross, Escaflowne, Arjuna, Aquarion), Spring and Chaos is an unparalleled visual feast and a touching portrait of a true artistic visionary.

Upcoming TOKYOPOP offerings on Hulu will include:

· Van Von Hunter:
TOKYOPOP's first live-action feature film is a This is Spinal Tap-style mockumentary set in the exotic world of anime and manga fandom. The movie is directed by producer and TOKYOPOP founder Stu Levy along with Steven Calcote and stars voice actor extraordinaireYuri Lowenthal (Naruto, Ben 10). Van Von Hunter will appear on Hulu in late July after its debut screening at the Fantasia film festival in Montreal on July 17th.

· America's Greatest Otaku:
This 8-episode reality show will take viewers on a whirlwind journey through 20 cities over 8 weeks on TOKYOPOP's groundbreaking bus Tour of North America. America's Greatest Otaku will dive deep into the subculture of the most dedicated anime and manga fans in the country on a search for the #1 fan of all! AGO's world premiere exclusively on Hulu will be late Fall 2010.

· Manga Motion Comics:
A selection of TOKYOPOP's world-class Manga Motion Comics - including several world premieres - will begin showing on Hulu this summer.


About TOKYOPOP
Founded by multi-cultural media visionary Stu Levy, TOKYOPOP is hailed as a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends countless platforms. From the introduction of the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, to the development of its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment, TOKYOPOP has changed the way teens experience pop culture. The company's global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with offices in the UK and Germany, in addition to its Los Angeles and Tokyo operations. With millions of fans logging onto the new social networking site www.TOKYOPOP.com, reading its books, which are licensed in 50 countries in more than 30 languages, and watching its DVDs and television programs, TOKYOPOP's award-winning catalogue of licensed and original properties has made the company a visionary in an ever-growing teen entertainment marketplace. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.

Stan Lee at 2010 Comic-Con International

VIZ MEDIA AND POW! ENTERTAINMENT WELCOME ULTIMO CO-CREATOR STAN LEE FOR A PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT 2010 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL

Legendary Comic Book Creator To Participate In SHONEN JUMP Panel Discussion And A Special In-Booth Signing Session

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), and POW! Entertainment (POW!) are proud to welcome comic book legend Stan Lee for a special signing at the VIZ Media booth #2813 on Saturday, July 24th, at Comic-Con International 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

Stan Lee will appear at the VIZ Media booth at the nation’s largest comic book convention to help celebrate the release of ULTIMO Volume 2. ULTIMO (rated ‘T’ for Teens) is the historic collaboration between Stan Lee and famed Japanese manga creator Hiroyuki Takei, and has been serialized in SHONEN JUMP Magazine since its debut in 2009. Volume 2 is available in stores now. Starting at 4PM on Thursday, July 22nd, and Friday, July 23rd, the first 60 fans to purchase ULTIMO Volume 2 at the VIZ Media booth will receive a ticket to have their copy personally autographed by Mr. Lee on Saturday, July 24th, at 1:15PM.

VIZ Media will also welcome Stan Lee as a special guest at the SHONEN JUMP panel, scheduled for Saturday, July 24th, from 10:30-11:30AM in Room 9.

ULTIMO represents a rare East-meets-West production between comics legend Stan Lee, co-creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man™, the Fantastic Four™, and the X-Men™, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular SHAMAN KING manga series, published in Japan by Shueisha and in North America by VIZ Media.

The ULTIMO back-story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, who seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? In Volume 2, with girl and money troubles, life is hard enough for high school student Yamato, but then he stumbles upon Ultimo, a peculiar-looking puppet. Things only get stranger when Ultimo awakens and his archenemy, Vice, shows up. Ultimo and Vice are Karakuri Dôji, the mechanical embodiment of pure good and pure evil, devoid of human emotions that can cloud one’s judgment. Their purpose: to battle to the death to prove once and for all whether good or evil is the most powerful force in the universe.

For over half a century, Stan Lee has been synonymous with superhero comics. In addition to co-creating countless memorable series and characters, including Spider-Man™, the Incredible Hulk™, and Daredevil™, he served as the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee remains a hugely respected and dynamic figure in the entertainment industry and continues to develop a variety of film, television and video game properties.

“We are extremely honored to have a legend of Stan Lee’s stature as a guest at the VIZ Media booth for a special signing at Comic-Con this year,” says Christopher Boily, SHONEN JUMP Editor-In-Chief. “The groundbreaking collaboration of the ULTIMO manga has been a great success, and we are also extremely excited to welcome Mr. Lee as a guest at this year’s Shonen Jump panel in celebration of the release of Volume 2 of ULTIMO!”

Stan Lee and his producing partner Gill Champion’s company, POW! Entertainment (Pinksheets: POWN.PK), worked with VIZ Media parent company Shueisha, and with JEA and Dream Ranch to facilitate the development of ULTIMO. Champion, POW!’s COO and President, says, “Fans won't want to miss Ultimo Volume 2 as more of the mysteries surrounding the Karakuri Dôji are finally explained. The characters that Stan and Hiroyuki Takei have created together are both classic and unique at the same time, with many different aspects that both manga and American comic fans will enjoy!"

For more information on ULTIMO, SHONEN JUMP and VIZ Media please visit www.Ultimo.viz.com or www.shonenjump.com. You can also stay up-to-date on all Shonen Jump happenings by following ShonenJump on Twitter.


About POW! (PURVEYORS OF WONDER) Entertainment, Inc. (OTC: POWN)
An advanced media and entertainment company with a first-look deal with Disney, POW! was founded by Stan Lee, together with award winning producer Gill Champion and intellectual property specialist Arthur Lieberman Esq., to create, produce and license original intellectual properties. POW! specializes in franchises for the entertainment industry, including animation and live-action feature films, plus television, DVDs, video games, merchandising and related ancillary markets, all of which contribute to global expansion. Walt Disney Studios entered into a first-look deal with POW! in 2007. Under the new arrangement, Walt Disney Studios expands that relationship through enhanced rights to the creative output of POW! as well as certain exclusive consulting services. Disney has also taken a 10% equity stake. To find out more, check out http://www.powentertainment.com

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; and website at www.VIZ.com.

Webcomics Auction for Gulf Coast

Web-Comics Auction To Benefit The Gulf Of Mexico

Web-cartoonists from around the country and beyond have answered Carly Monardo's call for original art donations. The donated artwork is being auctioned off on Ebay with 100% of the profits going to The Colbert Nation Gulf Of America Fund, managed by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

The first auctions went live on Monday, July 5th, with new 5 or more artists being added each day. Response has been extremely positive and fans seem enthusiastic to bid on their favorite creators' work. The final set of auctions will launch tomorrow, July 9th (Friday). Each individual auction lasts for a total of 10 days.

Monardo, a color-stylist for Adult Swim's hit series Venture Bros., was inspired to organize the event after seeing how successful her colleague Thomas Bayne's animation auction had been. Bayne's auction (which has already raised thousands of dollars for the Gulf Of America Fund) featured original production drawings from Venture Bros., many signed by creator Jackson Public and members of the show's cast.

The Web-Comics Auction has attracted talents from around the world, including fan-favorites Kate Beaton ("Hark! A Vagrant"), Anthony Clark ("Nedroid"), Christopher Hastings ("The Adventures Of Dr. McNinja), and Michael "Mookie" Terracciano ("Dominic Deegan: Oracle For Hire). There are even contributions from non-cartoonists, such as Brandon Bird, who was recently profiled in Newsweek for his bizarre celebrity portraits.

The official web-site for the auction has a full list of contributors, a schedule with links to each live auction, and links to additional information on the charitable fund the profits will be donated to. It is located at: http://www.lasagnachildren.com/Gulf

Contact:
Carly Monardo, auction organizer
carly.monardo@gmail.com
917-622-0807
http://www.whirringblender.com/

Baltimore Comic-Con Ticket and Hotel Information

Tickets On Sale, Hotel Discounts Available for the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con!

Tickets for the Baltimore Comic-Con, to be held on August 28 and August 29, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center, are now on sale! Many have been asking, and we're pleased to now be able to offer the opportunity to purchase your tickets! To do so on-line, please follow

http://www.ticketmaster.com/Baltimore-Convention-Center-tickets-Baltimore/venue/172201

to purchase your Two-Day, Saturday, or Sunday passes. Tickets can also be purchased in person at Cards, Comics & Collectibles of Reisterstown, MD (100A Chartley Drive, Reisterstown, MD 21136), or at any show or convention at which Cards, Comics & Collectibles is exhibiting. As with years past, we encourage you to purchase tickets ahead of the show so as not to have to wait in the ticket line.

"We've been getting a lot of questions about when tickets would be on sale this year," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Everyone can now solidify their travel plans, and be sure to take advantage of the discounts that the hotels around the Baltimore Convention Center are offering -- just follow the About > Hotels link off of our main webpage for details!"

We are also proud to announce that Archaia Comics and Adhouse Books will be exhibiting at the 2010 convention in addition to the already-announced Boom! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, IDW, Image Comics, Top Cow Productions, and Top Shelf Comix.

Joining our already spectacular list of comic book professional guests, we are happy to announce the following additions: Dave Aikins (SpongeBob Squarepants), Van Jensen (Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer), Norman Lee (New Mutants), Joe Linsner (Dawn: Not To Touch The Earth), Clay Mann (X-Men Legacy), Pop Mhan (Ender's Game: Mazer In Prison), Sean Murphy (Joe the Barbarian), Paul D. Storrie (Twilight Crusade: Gabriel), Timothy Truman (Conan the Cimmerian), and Kelly Yates (Doctor Who: 2010 Annual).

Guests previously announced include: Mike and Laura Allred (Madman), Sergio Aragones (Groo), Ivan Brandon (Nemesis: The Imposters), Tom Brevoort (Executive Editor, Marvel Comics), Jim Calafiore (Secret Six), Eric Canete (New Avengers: Luke Cage), Bernard Chang (Prince of Persia), Howard Chaykin (Black Kiss), Sean Chen (Nova), Cliff Chiang (Greendale), Mark Chiarello (Editor, DC Comics), Frank Cho (Ultimate Comics New Ultimates), Mike Choi (X-Force), Steve Conley (Star Trek Omnibus: The Original Series), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Dan DiDio - Sunday only (The Outsiders, Co-Publisher, DC Comics), Al Feldstein (MAD Magazine), Francesco Francavilla (The Green Hornet: Year One), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Wednesday Comics), Ron Garney (Wolverine: Weapon X), Sterling Gates (Supergirl), Bryan J.L. Glass (Mice Templar), Michael Golden (Marvel 1602: Spider-Man), Cully Hamner (Detective Comics), Dean Haspiel (ACT-I-VATE), Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four), Greg Horn (Green Lantern), Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman), Jamal Igle (Supergirl), Georges Jeanty (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Geoff Johns - Sunday only (Blackest Night, Chief Creative Officer, DC Comics), J.G. Jones (DC Universe Legacies), Denis Kitchen (Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen), Barry Kitson (Iron Man 2 Prequel), Rich Koslowski (BB Wolf and the 3 LPs), Greg LaRocque (The Exiled), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Steve Lieber (Underground), Luna Brothers (The Sword), David Mack (Kabuki), Laura Martin (Girl Comics), Ron Marz (Witchblade), Todd McFarlane - Saturday only (Spawn), Mark McKenna (Banana Tail), Mike McKone (Avengers Academy), Bob McLeod (New Mutants Forever), Terry Moore (Echo, SiP), Mark Morales (Siege), Chris Moreno (Toy Story), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Phil Noto (Avengers: The Origin), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), Jeff Parker (Thunderbolts), Lauren Perry (Blank-ees), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate Extinction), Chris Pitzer (Publisher, Adhouse Books), Paul Pope (Wednesday Comics), Eric Powell (The Goon), Jack Purcell (Gotham City Sirens), Mike Raicht (The Stuff of Legend), Tom Raney (Black Widow: Deadly Origin), Chris Roberson (I, Zombi), James Robinson (Justice League of America), Budd Root (Cavewoman), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Marvel Her-Oes), Stephane Roux (Zatanna), Jim Rugg (Afrodisiac), Tim Sale courtesy of Hero Initiative (Captain America White), Ian Sattler (Editor, DC Comics), Stuart Sayger (Bram Stoker's Death Ship), Bob Schreck (Jurassic Park), Jim Shooter (Magnus, Robot Fighter), Louise Simonson (X-Factor Forever), Walter Simonson (Thor), Andy Smith (WildC.A.T.S.), John K. Snyder III (The A-Team: Shotgun Wedding), Allison Sohn (Star Wars sketchcard artist), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Brian Stelfreeze (The Authority: The Lost Year), Karl Story (Zatanna), Billy Tan (Shadowland), Ben Templesmith sponsored by Laughing Ogre Comics (Choker), Mark Texeira (X-Men: Origins), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Billy Tucci (Shi), Dexter Vines (Ultimate Avengers), Neil Vokes (Superman Adventures), Doug Wagner (World of Warcraft: Horde), Matt Wagner (The Green Hornet: Year One), Mark Waid (Irredeemable, Editor-in-Chief, Boom! Studios), Marv Wolfman (New Teen Titans), John Workman (Heavy Metal), Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing), and Chrissie Zullo (Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love).

In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website (http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/baltimorecomics), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/baltimorecomiccon), MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/baltimorecomics), and ComicSpace (http://www.comicspace.com/baltimorecomicon) pages.

This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 28th.


Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries

About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 11th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 5 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.