Indie Comics Magazine Debuts

Indie Comics Magazine Premieres in January Previews

"Indie Comics Magazine is 64 pages of the best story and art from today's independent comic book creators," Editor Gary Scott Beatty announced today. "It's also a valuable resource for anyone interested in the world of independent comics."

Each issue will feature eight full stories from eight different creators, said Beatty. The first issue is scheduled for preorder in Diamond Comic Distributors' January 2011 Previews catalog and is available only through Previews.

"It's important to read done-in-one stories," said Beatty, "to get a feel for what these creators can do." Short biographies and contact information are included with the stories so readers can easily seek out more of the creators' work.

"The sheer number of comic books, graphic novels and online entertainment available today is overwhelming," Beatty explained. "We help readers cut through the reviews and hype to experience these creators raw talent."

Indie Comics Magazine will present a variety of art styles and genres, said Beatty. "Adventure, superhero and ninja tales will appear side-by-side with comedy, romance and mystery. We plan a real variety show format." He laughed. "Just call me the Ed Sullivan of indy publishers."

Indie Comics Magazine is available only through the Previews order magazine at your local comic shop. The first issue premieres January, 2011. Find your local comic shop at 1-888-COMICBOOK (1-888-266- 4226) or online at http://www.comicshoplocator.com/. Information about Indie Comics Magazine is online at http://indiecomicsmagazine.com/.

Image Comics Announces Young Adult Graphic Novel, "Poseurs"

WEST COAST GOSSIP GIRL

Image Comics parties noir with February release of POSEURS

Los Angeles nightlife. It's all Hollywood parties and glitterati, right? The graphic novel POSEURS paints a different picture as it plays with the idea of who's real and who's rented in the LA party scene.

Available this February from Image Comics, POSEURS follows the lives of three distinctly different teenagers as they navigate both the seemingly glamorous and underground party scenes of LA. Traversing all corners of LA, from the graffiti-tagged streets of LA's eastside to the bloated mansions of Bel Air, POSEURS takes a satirical look at the LA party scene through the eyes of three teens who get in over their heads.

Writer Deborah Vankin has the pedigree to back up her tale -- she's covered arts, culture, entertainment, and nightlife in LA for nearly 10 years, writing for publications such as the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and Variety. Rick Mays (KABUKI VOL. 6: SCARAB) brings a pen as sharp as Vankin's wit and experience to the project, perfectly capturing the aesthetic of the LA party scene, whether the pretty dream or the ugly truth.

"It's a young adult novel aimed at teens, but I think older audiences will appreciate the satire that permeates the story. There's a kidnapping, a few shady characters, and some love interest. And it's shot through with photographic and literary references -- so it's fun, but smart, too."

POSEURS OGN (DEC100454), a 152-page black & white graphic novel from Image Comics, will be in stores February 16, 2011.


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 five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound 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 http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Bluewater's Mark Zuckerberg Comic Optioned as a Film

“MARK ZUKERBERG: CREATOR OF FACEBOOK” COMIC BOOK OPTIONED AS AN FILM

 

Hayden 5 Media and Bluewater Productions team up to create the animated film based off the comic book for Mark Zuckerburg: Creator of Facebook.

“When we found out that Bluewater was releasing this comic, we knew we had to get on board,” says Todd Wiseman, President of Hayden 5 Media. “We saw a great opportunity to re-tell the story of Mark Zuckerburg post Social Network in a brighter, animated form that could be enjoyed and understood by a broader audience.”

Much like the technique used in the film A Scanner Darkly, the production of Mark Zuckerburg and The Found will begin with live action filmmaking in a digital medium, followed by the use of interpolated rotoscope. The result will be a cross between real characters and animated surroundings seamlessly integrated for a unique, comic book aesthetic.

The comic book is written by Jerome Maida and drawn by Fritz Saalfeld. It is described as the brains and driving force behind Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has become the youngest billionaire in the history of the planet. As this comic reveals, the road for the success for both his creation and him personally was not preordained nor was it always a smooth ride. He would be tempted with unimaginable amounts of money and have to deal harshly with people along the way - many of whom would later feel betrayed. Read how a young man's frustration with women helped spark an idea that would have him dating Victoria's secret models and how socially inept young man wound up creating a company that has revolutionized the way hundreds of millions of people all over the globe socialize with each other.

The comic book hits stores in late December. The suggested retail price (SRP) for the upcoming comic book is $6.99. To make sure you get your copy, contact your local comic book store to pre-order it. To find a comic book store near you go to www.comicshoplocator.com. The comic can be ordered online by clicking here: http://bit.ly/c2IkZN

“This will not be the last retelling of the Marc Zuckerburg story,” says Milos Silber, Executive Producer at Hayden 5 Media. “We're just aware of the profound impact of Facebook, and with over 500 million users, we're bound to have an audience. One that is more willing to watch a shortened, visually captivating summary of this short epic online, or on their favorite network.”

While Hayden 5 Media predicts the film will bring back the same audience intrigued by Social Network, Marc Zuckerburg and The Found will shed new light on the controversial story of the creators life and bring a completely new look and feel than that of the feature film.

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, Betty White, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.

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


About Hayden 5 Media
After graduating Tisch Film School at NYU in the Fall of 2008, Todd Wiseman and Milos Silber started Hayden 5 Media in their East Village apartment with the goal of starting a unique creative production company. Years later, Hayden 5 Media has become a highly sought after production unit based out of their production studio in Chelsea and operating around the country in the fields of film, television, commercials and music videos.

Today, Hayden 5 Media creates commercials in conjunction with major ad agencies and has produced over 20 music videos for artists like Benny Benassi, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Alexa Ray Joel, Trapt, and more. Hayden 5 Media was contracted to produce the first 50 part web series for The Economist, operates the first nationwide Man with a Cam service, and is currently in negotiations on the sale of their first television show to a major network.

Shifting gears to focus on film and television, H5M has compiled its slate for 2011, which includes several feature films, television series, and one-offs that include the historical documentary, The Life of Ty Cobb and the animated short Mark Zuckerburg.

See the work of Hayden 5 Media at http://www.hayden5media.com/.  Contact them at 212-871-9316

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

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

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

For more information, visit http://www.bluewaterprod.com/.

FireBreather Movie and New Comic Get Same Day Release

DOUBLE DOSE OF FIREBREATHER

 

First issue of new FIREBREATHER miniseries gets variant cover from Cartoon Network movie

 

The FIREBREATHER movie debuts on Cartoon Network on November 24, 2010, and FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG #1 is getting both a variant cover and an early release on the same day to celebrate!

Advance reviews for the movie version of the critically acclaimed Image Comics series have been stellar, and HOLMGANG #1 is a great place for new fans to jump onto the series. The variant cover features exclusive artwork from the TV movie and will be in stores November 24 alongside the regular cover.

Teenager Duncan Rosenblatt has a human mother and a giant, city-stomping, kaiju father. He also has all the worries of a normal high schooler, from bullies to girls to fitting in. Written by Phil Hester and drawn by Andy Kuhn, FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG picks up where FIREBREATHER VOL. 2 left off: Duncan deals with not only losing his father but with keeping his father's death a secret, even from his mother. But Duncan's mysterious extended family may not let him keep that secret -- or his life -- much longer.

"We are super excited to have the first issue of our new Firebreather mini-series hit stores the same day the animated film debuts on Cartoon Network," says Kuhn. "The film's director Peter Chung really knocked it out of the park, and the Cartoon Network variant cover is a great looking piece of art that really gives you a vibe of what to expect in the movie. Please watch it, you won't be disappointed, AND buy the comic, because it's insanely awesome!

Hester adds, “I'm excited that people will get a glimpse of the gorgeous treatment Peter Chung and company have worked up for Duncan on this alternate cover. The 24th is a chance for fans new and old to get a double dose of classic and animated Firebreather. The best of both worlds!”

FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG #1 (of 4) (OCT100443), a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores November 24, 2010, with a cover by series artist Andy Kuhn and a variant cover featuring artwork from the Cartoon Network television movie. Catch up on Duncan's adventures with FIREBREATHER VOL. 1: GROWING PAINS ($14.99, APR090360) and FIREBREATHER VOL. 2: ALL THE BEST HEROES ARE ORPHANS ($16.99, AUG082239), available now. Finally, don't miss the FIREBREATHER movie, premiering on Cartoon Network on November 24, 2010!

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound 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 http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Ghost Hunt and the Forgotten Children

I read Ghost Hunt, Volume 11

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

I Reads You Review: NINJA GIRLS, VOL. 4

Creator: Hosana Tanaka; Andria Cheng (translation and adaptation)

Publishing Information: Del Rey Manga, paperback-B&W, 202 pages, $10.99 U.S., $11.99 CAN

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-0-345-51245-1 (ISBN-13)

Rating: “OT” for “Ages 16+”

Ninja Girls is a shonen manga series from creator Hosana Tanaka. It follows the journey of a boyish young man named Raizō and his posse of kunoichi (female ninja) to restore a great family.

The horn growing from Raizō’s forehead marks him as a member of the Katana family. Actually, Raizō is the lost, illegitimate son of the most recent feudal lord of the Katana family, who apparently committed suicide. Kagari, Kisarabi, and Himemaru are three, loyal and sexy female ninja who have come together to protect Raizō. He is their new master, and they are scheming to elevate his status and to return the Katana family to greatness.

As Ninja Girls, Vol. 4 opens, Raizo is having dreams that are either hints at the future or clues about the past… or both. Next, Tsukioka Azami, a demure young woman, suddenly appears and claims to serve the Katana family. She certainly is a whiz at the domestic arts, but Kagari is suspicious of her… or is that jealous of her? When Kagari leaves Raizo and her comrades, it begins an adventurer that will land the entire group in the clutches of Katana family enemy, Kabuki Seigan.

It seems as if Hosana Tanaka is less interested in Ninja Girl’s lead character, Raizō, and more interested in the supporting players, who are very colorful and quite interesting. That’s actually a good thing for the reader when a comic book is filled with characters that are appealing and have engaging back stories. Even the villains are attractive.

The mixture of action and comedy with a healthy dose of character development will keep readers engrossed with Ninja Girls. The intrigue and fanservice will catch any stragglers.

B+

Captain Obese Returns

Press release:

 

We may not like to admit it but there are fat people roaming the earth.

It is true!

They are not just a few pounds overweight, either. These people are huge, three-hundred, four-hundred, even five-hundred pound folks that are so fat they pose a danger to themselves and the people around them.

Every day more of them show up as America struggles with an obesity problem that is epidemic. Over 30% of Americans are obese making the good old USA the fattest country in the world.

So let's not be ignorant. Pretending that fat people don't exist is like pretending that there are no such things as black people, gay people, or women that are more than sex objects.

Fat people are real. Real people with hopes and dreams, fears and joys, loves and hates. Look in the mirror. You may be one.

So please do not get pious and all politically correct when you read the following:

CO2 Comics announces that CAPTAIN OBESE by Don Lomax will be the latest feature added to the popular webcomic site http://www.co2comics.com/!

That's right.

CAPTAIN OBESE is a comic about a morbidly obese superhero that was previously published in the 1980's by Warp Graphics and disappeared from the comics mostly because it is politically incorrect to notice fat people in popular media unless you are trying to shrink them back to normal size.

It is OK for shows like Biggest Loser to capitalize on fat people because it's objective is to get rid of them by teaching them the healthier ways of the thin world.

I'm sorry, but CAPTAIN OBESE is fat and he is making no apologies for his size.

He is fat, proud, and most of all, he is back!

What makes CAPTAIN OBESE special. His creator, Don Lomax.

Don is, without question, graphically and literally, the most brutally honest comic creator I can remember ever seeing in print.

His Harvey nominated Vietnam Journal which is currently published by Transfuzion Publishing and his work on the Marvel comic The 'NAM is testimony to his ability and willingness to tell it like it is. Don lays it out on the page, panel after panel and pulls no punches. Don draws from experience, having served in Vietnam and it shows in the work which is described as the most accurate graphic depiction of the Vietnam War, ever.

Whether it is war comics or the tremendous volume of adult comix that Don has created in his four decades as a comic artist, one thing is certain, Don is not timid when it comes to laying down the ink. His images are exquisitely rendered and often openly raw.

Of all Don Lomax's works, CAPTAIN OBESE may be one of his most tame and easily digested by the faint of heart. That still will not prevent people from being uncomfortable with the idea of a fat guy in long underwear and a cape throwing his weight around for truth, justice, and the American way.

My suggestion to those dissenters, "Get over it!"

There's a new superhero in town, his name is CAPTAIN OBESE, and he is fat.

Too Bad! Go eat a cheeseburger or two.