Monday, August 2, 2010

Next Man at Wowio; Mickey Zenith Approaches


Comici Online At Wowio, Argondezzi Doing Mickey Zenith

Comici Productions online at Wowio.com Illustrator Vince Argondezzi doing new series Mickey Zenith More Next man coming online

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 29, 2010 – The groundbreaker Next Man, an indie favorite, will now be available at Wowio.com, the world's fastest growing outlet for online books and comics. "Wowio has one of the fastest growing inventories of classic book, modern bestsellers, and great comics, and we are happy and proud our products are among them" says Comici creative director Ric Dawson. Artist Vince Argondezzi relates: " I am honored that the Next Man, co- created by talented industry veteran Roger Mc Kenzie and myself, sits along side HG Wells' War of the Worlds, Gray's Anatomy, Top Cow, and Cowboys and Aliens along with so many others at Wowio. This is a great direction Comici is going on, and with the addition of several brand new properties that have been planned for us, along with our creative heritage from Comico and Comic Company A that we with have, there's no stopping Comici!"

Among the new properties that Argondezzi mentions is his new series, Mickey Zenith. "In the planning stages while I spent several years in health care illustration and TV and movie production, Mickey Zenith was one of several projects that I carefully crafted to bring out when the time was right. With the genesis of the online movement in comics, I think Mickey will really shine, since I can take advantage of the incredible production methods and opportunities available."

The first news items and some preliminary artwork for Mickey Zenith and other new projects from Comici are available at Entercomx.com, and will be seen also at other outlets. Dawson adds "We are talking to a variety of fellow professionals about new work and projects, and are anxious to relay the news. You'll be suprised who we're talking with."

The 3 Geeks Return in "Zombies vs Cheerleaders"


Shipping August 4th:

ZOMBIES vs CHEERLEADERS: GEEKTACULAR #1

(W) Rich Koslowski, Steven L. Frank
(A) Rich Koslowski, Jim Kyle, David Namisato
(C) Rich Koslowski

The 3 Geeks are back! Disaster awaits The 3 Geeks as they find themselves at a Cheerleader camp (as Cheerleaders?!!!) infested with Zombies! Laughs and devastation follow. Plus, two killer back-up stories. Covers by Rich Koslowski, Jason Metcalf, Rich Bonk, and Patrick Finch. The back cover is sketch friendly!

32pgs, color, $3.99

(Koslowski = 50%, Metcalf = 20%, Bonk = 20%, Finch = 10%)

**Retailer Incentive: Buy 4 or more copies, get one copy free!**

Olivia Newton-John Joins Female Force to Fight Breast Cancer

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN COMIC BOOK BIOGRAPHY TO SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John survived her battle with breast cancer. Now she's devoted her life to helping other women beat this disease. This makes Newton-John the ideal subject of Bluewater Production's Female Force line of biography comics in which she is working with Bluewater on this venture.

Female Force: Olivia Newton-John will hit comic book shops and online retailers such as Amazon.com in October. The comic will not only trace the four-time Grammy award winner's rise to stardom, it will also generate funds for breast cancer research, with a portion of the book's proceeds going to the “Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre”.

The comic's October release is no coincidence; that month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation's leading breast-cancer awareness group, will provide a breast cancer resource guide with the comic.

“Breast cancer in the beginning that was hard to talk about. So it takes a while before you can put it into a category that you can discuss without becoming emotional” Olivia Newton John said to Bluewater about her coming out publicly about breast cancer.

Newton-John worked with Bluewater and writer Sandra Ruckdeschel on the comic's script. Ruckdeschel said that working on the story was an experience that she'll never forget.

“What I learned most about Olivia Newton-John after researching her life and writing about her is her love for humanity,” Ruckdeschel said. “She has such a huge heart and wants to share that with the rest of the world. Her fight against breast cancer displays that well: She survived her own battle with it and, rather than going on with her life as usual, she took it as a sign that she is meant to help others in their battle with the disease.”

Ruckdeschel's script traces Newton-John's career from her starring role alongside John Travolta in the hit musical film Grease to her ode to aerobics, Physical.

“Olivia Newton-John has had an amazing career,” said Darren Davis, founder and president of Bluewater Productions. “Her greatest victory, though, come in 1992, when she survived her battle with breast cancer. We are happy to work with her on this comic and to hopefully play at least a small role in the fight against breast cancer.”

Bluewater Productions publishes a wide range of comics, from superheroes to horror to children's tales to its much-discussed line of biography comics. Past biography comics from Bluewater have focused on the lives of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, George Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Robert Pattinson and Michael Jackson.

Ruckdeschel says that Newton-John is a particularly fitting subject for the Female Force series.

“I idolized Olivia Newton-John before working on this project,” she said. “After learning even more about her I see her for the beautiful human being that she is. That is why she is a valiant subject for the Female Force series.”

For more information on Bluewater Productions, visit the company's Web site at http://www.bluewaterprod.com/.


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

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

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


The Seventh "Flight" Takes Flight

I read Flight Volume Seven

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has apps for the iPhone and Palm smart phone).


Sunday, August 1, 2010

Book Party for "Cover Story" in Seattle


Georgetown Records and Fantagraphics Bookstore Host a Party for “COVER STORY: Odd, Obscure and Outrageous Album Art” on Saturday, August 14.

Spend a hot August night with cool music and art at Georgetown Records and Fantagraphics Bookstore in Seattle. The party celebrates the publication of “COVER STORY Volume Two: Odd, Obscure and Outrageous Album Art” on Saturday August 14 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Contributors Aja West and Cheeba preside over the festivities with a show of album art from the book, a book signing, and a rare combined DJ appearance.

COVER STORY Volume Two: Odd, Obscure and Outrageous Album Art, continues a graphic narration of the vibrant subculture of record collecting through the art of the album cover. This edition examines strange and bizarre record covers from across the country and around the globe, illuminating the imaginative past of twelve-inch masterpieces – sadly absent in this era of digital downloads. Published by Wax Poetics in association with powerHouse Books, this colorful 228 page volume celebrates an eccentric era when artistic visions were often so absurd and grandiose they frequently extended beyond the boundaries of the recording and onto the album covers themselves.

The artwork for the COVER STORY series is selected by the staff of Wax Poeticsmagazine, including Seattle siblings Aja West and Cheeba. Both brothers have colorful backgrounds, recording music together and separately, collaborating with an amazing assortment of players along the way. Both also associated with celebrities early in their careers: Aja as the music assistant to comedian Conan O’Brien and Cheeba with the illustrious Dust Brothers production duo. Their first recording together was a remix for the “Fight Club” film that appeared in the Japanese and European version of the soundtrack. They now play in each other’s projects: Aja’s The Mackrosoft and Cheeba’s Cheebacabra.

First published in December 2001, Brooklyn-born Wax Poetics was originally created for a concentrated market of music aficionados. It has since expanded to make musical anthropologists out of average music listeners - illuminating the dark corners of our sonic past while also striving to give new and innovative artists broad exposure.

Georgetown Records and Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery share retail space at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) Phone 206.658.0110. This event coincides with the lively Georgetown Art Attack featuring free visual and performing arts presentations at several locations throughout the historic industrial arts district.

Waiting for Death

I read Yokan - Premonition (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has apps for the iPhone and Palm smart phones and they're FREE FREE FREE!)


I Reads You August 2010

Welcome to I Reads You, my blog about the things I read (mostly comic books, comics, and related books) and about the things I come across worth reading (mostly about comic books, politics, and entertainment). Sometimes I’ll comment on “real” books and the mass media.

I’m Leroy Douresseaux, and I also have another blog: http://www.negromancer.com/. I also write for the Comic Book Bin, which has apps for the iPhone and Palm smart phones.

All images appearing on this blog are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.