Monday, September 27, 2010

Six Million Dollar Man at Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con

NY Big Apple Comic Con

LEE MAJORS, MARY MCDONNELL, ADAM WEST, "BRADY BUNCH BOYS" AMONG HEADLINERS AT WIZARD WORLD BIG APPLE COMIC CON, OCTOBER 1-2-3 AT MANHATTAN'S PENN PLAZA PAVILION

First Convention Appearance For Majors in 30 years, First for "Bradys" together on East Coast and First for West-Burt Ward in N.Y. in Two Decades; Claudia Christian, Julia Jones And 200+ Celebrity Guests, Leading Comics Artists, Creative Directors To Attend

NEW YORK, September 2010 - Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con, part of North America's largest pop-culture tour, is set for Friday through Sunday, October 1-3, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion in Manhattan. The event, the largest and longest-running Comic Con in New York, will bring together thousands of fans of all ages and plenty of celebrities and industry professionals to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, comics, toys, video gaming, television, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.

Lee Majors, who portrayed iconic characters such as "Steve Austin" in "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Colt Seavers" in "The Fall Guy," two-time Academy Award® nominee Mary McDonnell (PASSION FISH, DANCES WITH WOLVES, as well as "Battlestar Galactica"), Adam West ("Batman," "Family Guy), and Barry Williams, Christopher Knight and Mike Lookinland ("Greg," "Peter" and "Bobby Brady" on "The Brady Bunch") will be among the stars on hand to meet fans, sign autographs and take professional photographs (Photo Ops) with fans.

"From Lee Majors' first convention appearance in 30 years and the first time the 'Brady Boys' have been together on the East Coast, we're always looking to bring unique guests and programming to Wizard World Comic Con," said Gareb Shamus, Wizard Entertainment CEO. "Big Apple Comic Con appeals to fans of all aspects of pop culture, from comics to television to movies to music to toys to video games and more."

It will also mark the first time in nearly 20 years that West and his "Batman" co-star Burt Ward will have appeared together in New York.

Other popular Big Apple Comic Con celebrity guests include Claudia Christian ("Look," "Babylon 5"), Julia Jones (THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, JONAH HEX), Jake Lloyd (STAR WARS: EPISODE I, "The Pretender"), Doug Jones (FANTASTIC FOUR, HELLBOY), Walter Koenig ("Star Trek," "Babylon 5") and other well-known personalities.

Fans can also meet their favorite comic creators and artists, including Mark Millar ("Kick-Ass, "Wanted), Joe Madureira ("Darksiders," "Uncanny X-Men," "Battle Chasers"), Ethan Van Sciver ("Green Lantern," "Superman/Batman"), Greg Horn ("Blackest Night," "Elektra," "Ms. Marvel"), Rob Liefeld ("Deadpool," "Youngblood"), Michael Golden ("Wolverine: First Class," "New Exiles"), Mark Texeira ("Moon Knight," "Ghost Rider"), J.G. Jones ("Final Crisis," "Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia:), Arthur Suydam ("Marvel Zombies," "Batman"), and many other national and local creators.

Children and adult attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite villain, superhero or pop culture personality for the chance to win special prizes in costume contests. Event-goers may also try their hand interactive product exhibits and shop for collectible comics, movie and television memorabilia, toys and games at more than 200 dealer booths.

Special events at Big Apple Comic Con include the "Magic: The Gathering" card game tournament, professional photo opportunities (Photo Ops) with celebrities and others to be announced.

The Penn Plaza Pavilion is located at 401 Seventh Avenue at 33rd St., in the historic Hotel Pennsylvania. Big Apple Comic Con is the fifth stop on Wizard's eight-city 2010 North American tour. Hours are Friday, Oct. 1, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (all times Eastern). Tickets are available in advance or by calling 1-866-882-5860 and online at www.wizardworld.com/bigapple.html at up to a 15% savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are $25; three-day weekend tickets are $45, and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available.


About Wizard Entertainment:
Gareb Shamus founded Wizard Entertainment in 1991. Today, Shamus publishes consumer magazines Wizard, ToyFare, FunFare and numerous books about pop-culture's top talent, comic books and toys. Shamus also produces a North American Comic Con tour. Wizard World Comic Con - The Pop-Culture Capital of the World!

For the most recent event information please visit www.wizardworld.comand become a Big Apple Comic Con Fan on Facebook.

Wizard World Comic Con Tour:
October 1-3, 2010, Big Apple Comic Con, Penn Plaza Pavilion
October 15-17, 2010 - New England Comic Con (Boston) - John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center
November 12-14, 2010 - Austin Comic Con - Austin Convention Center
December 3-5, 2010 - Atlanta Comic Con - Cobb Galleria Centre
March 18-20, 2011 - Toronto Comic Con - Direct Energy Centre
April 29-May 1, 2011 - Anaheim Comic Con - Anaheim Convention Center
May 6-8, 2011 - Wizard World Comic Con NYC (New York) - Penn Plaza Pavilion
June 10-12, 2011 - Philadelphia Comic Con - Pennsylvania Convention Center
August 11-14, 2011 - Chicago Comic Con
TBA - Cincinnati Comic Con
TBA - Cleveland Comic Con
TBA - Nashville Comic Con
TBA - Connecticut Comic Con
TBA - New Jersey Comic Con

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Image Comics Gets Festive with Two Christmas-Themed Comic Books

GETTING IN THE SPIRIT

Image Comics gets ready for the holiday season with superheroes, Santa Claus, and alien invasions!

This December, Image Comics gets festive with the release of DYNAMO 5 HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2010 and SANTA CLAUS VS. THE MARTIANS!

DYNAMO 5 for the Holidays!
It's the holiday season in Tower City, but the Dynamo 5 kids don't get any time off. They're busy tracking down one of Captain Dynamo's old enemies, who has escaped from prison. But is there more to this simple escape than meets the eye?

Written by Jay Faerber, with art by Marcio Takara and a cover by Mahmud A. Asrar and Ron Riley, DYNAMO 5 HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2010 will be in stores December 22, 2010. CHEW artist Rob Guillory provided a special incentive cover as well.

"The Dynamo 5 Holiday Special gives us our first look at how Tower City's resident superheroes celebrate the holidays," explains Faerber. "The kids have to juggle their 'real' families along with their superhero family -- plus they have to make time to track down an old enemy who escaped from prison. In addition to telling a complete stand-alone story, this Holiday Special also lays the groundwork for the big event coming to Dynamo 5 in 2011."

Father Christmas Faces Off Against Space Invaders!
For centuries, one man has patrolled the night, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked, protecting children from all manner of dangers. So, when a mysterious canister falls from the sky and crash lands in the peaceful English countryside, only Father Christmas can put an end to the threat of invasion from the Red Planet!

SANTA CLAUS VS. THE MARTIANS is a four-issue miniseries written by Benito Cereno and drawn by James Harren with covers by Nate Bellegarde. The first issue does on sale December 1, 2010

According to Cereno, "SANTA CLAUS VS. THE MARTIANS takes its inspiration from the high concept of the famously terrible B-movie SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS. Rather than being an adaptation or remake, it uses the basic idea as a springboard for an epic battle that explores the way our culture has looked at the Christmas gift-giver and invaders from space over the course of three centuries. Whatever your favorite bit of the Santa mythology or whatever your preferred form of Martian, chances are good you will see it within the pages of this mini-series!"

Join Image Comics in the holiday spirit with DYNAMO 5 HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2010 (OCT100456; INCV: OCT100457), a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.99 that will be available December 22, 2010, and SANTA CLAUS VS. THE MARTIANS #1 (of 4) (OCT100462), a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.50 that will be in stores December 1, 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/.

Ian Churchill Introduces "Marineman"



THE LURE OF THE SEA
 
Ian Churchill brings his all new series MARINEMAN to Image Comics in December
 
This December will see the release of an all-new Image Comics series chronicling the adventures of a new defender of the oceanic frontier -- MARINEMAN!

Superstar artist Ian Churchill (ELEPHANTMEN, Hulk, Supergirl, Uncanny X-Men) takes on the duties of both artist and writer to bring MARINEMAN to vivid life in this new creator-owned series. The first issue of MARINEMAN will be in stores December 1.

Churchill explains, "When I created MARINEMAN over thirty years ago, I always dreamt that one day I would be lucky enough to write and draw comic books professionally and get the opportunity to bring MARINEMAN to as wide an audience as possible. Thanks to Image Comics, my dream is becoming a reality! I hope everyone takes the plunge and rides the wave with me!"

Steve "MARINEMAN" Ocean is a marine biologist and TV presenter -- a man blessed with good looks, a good job, a good circle of friends and a life many would aspire to. But Steve Ocean also has a secret -- a secret, which, if revealed, could have perilous consequences for Ocean and everyone in his life. With underwater action and adventure all the way, MARINEMAN may just turn out to be the comic book you didn't know you were missing!

MARINEMAN #1 (OCT100442), a 32-page full-color comic book written and drawn by Ian Churchill and released by Image Comics, will be on sale for $3.99 on December 1, 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/.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Mice Templar Launches Third Volume in December



A MID-WINTER NIGHT'S DREAM
 
Award-winning series THE MICE TEMPLAR continues in December with third volume
 
The two-time Harvey Award-winning and critically praised series THE MICE TEMPLAR starts a new chapter this December with THE MICE TEMPLAR VOL. 3 #1.

Co-written by Bryan JL Glass (Thor: First Thunder, Valkyrie) and Michael Avon Oeming (Powers, Thor: Blood Oath), THE MICE TEMPLAR VOL. 3 picks up after the gripping events of the second volume, making it a perfect place for new readers to pick up the series. Oeming, Victor Santos and Veronica Gandini continue to provide striking art for the series.

"Volume Three is a perfect opportunity for new readers to join in on the unfolding action and drama," says Glass. "The saga of Karic has come to an end, and now the Dark Lands prepare for war in the wake of his audacious exploits at the end of DESTINY! The scattered Templar exiles join forces with the female Maeven archers to defend against growing oppression from the rat army, and their alliance with the Mortair, sisterhood of assassins!"

THE MICE TEMPLAR continues with a perfect starting point for new readers! Karic has accomplished his goal-the rescue of his family from captivity-but their freedom has come with a terrible price. Karic now lies comatose, his spirit lost to a realm of nightmare. Yet Cassius risks all for the young mouse who restored his faith, even death at the blade of his old Templar rival Ronan. Meanwhile, the druids and the rat army unleash a new wave of tyranny in retaliation for Karic's audacious attack. Only the heroic Maeven archers can stand against the Mortair, the deadly sisterhood of rat assassins!

THE MICE TEMPLAR VOL. 3 #1, a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores December 22, 2010. You can catch up with the series by picking up THE MICE TEMPLAR VOL. 1 (HC: AUG082241; TP: APR090362), THE MICE TEMPLAR VOL. 2.1 (TP: APR100431), and THE MICE TEMPLAR VOL. 2.2 (HC: MAY100456; TP: JUL100417, in stores November 17, 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/.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Joe Murray Offers Advice

I read Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web, and Short Film

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has a new Android app).  This is guide to creating animation and selling it from Joe Murray, the Emmy Award-winning creator of Rocko's Modern Life and Camp Lazlo.



Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Morning Glories #1 Gets Fourth Printing

GLORY DAYS

MORNING GLORIES #1 sells out for third time, fourth printing on the way

MORNING GLORIES #1 has done it a third time, with another distribution level sellout, and to meet continued demand, it's going back to press for a fourth and final printing! This new printing will feature an all-new cover by interior artist Joe Eisma.

MORNING GLORIES is written by Nick Spencer, the burgeoning creative mastermind behind FORGETLESS, EXISTENCE 2.0 and 3.0, and SHUDDERTOWN. Eisma pencils and inks the series, and Rodin Esquejo provides the gorgeous covers.

Shadowline Publisher and Image partner Jim Valentino exclaims, "We are completely blown away and eternally grateful to the fans and retailers who have made this the biggest hit in Shadowline history!"

MORNING GLORIES: Morning Glory Academy is one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country. But behind its hallowed doors, something sinister and deadly lurks. When six brilliant but troubled new students arrive, they find themselves trapped and desperately seeking answers in a place where nothing is what it seems to be!

MORNING GLORIES #1 Fourth Printing (AUG108116), a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.50, will be in stores October 20, 2010. The second printing of MORNING GLORIES #2 (AUG108012) will be in stores September 29, 2010. MORNING GLORIES #3 (AUG100483) will be in stores October 20, which means retailers still have time to increase orders of the third issue of this unstoppable series.


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/.