Ross and Edwards' "Turf" Sells Out First Issue

TURF #1 SOLD OUT

Second printing of TURF #1 to be available with TURF #2

The first issue of writer Jonathan Ross and artist Tommy Lee Edwards' critically acclaimed miniseries is sold out at the distributor level, and publisher Image Comics is rushing a second printing to press.

"This is so cool!" Ross exclaims. "Hope everyone who bought this debut issue is going to stick with us to the end because we have some insane stuff planned for this book!"

"I am so proud of the work that Jonathan and I have put into TURF and am really glad that the first issue has been received so well," adds Edwards. "Doing a second printing will hopefully ensure that our series gets into enough readers' hands and get them hooked, because the whole thing just gets better and better with each following issue."

Image Publisher Eric Stephenson says, "I'm ecstatic that the first issue of TURF has sold out. Jonathan and Tommy have worked so hard on this book, and they deserve all of the praise they've received for TURF."

TURF: New York, 1929. The height of prohibition. The cops turn a blind eye while the mobs run the city, dealing in guns, girls and illegal liquor. But the arrival of the mysterious Dragonmir Family from Eastern Europe with more of a taste for blood then booze coincides with a series of brutal attacks on the gangsters themselves. As the gangs fall before the fangs, only a handful of mobsters survive. But an unlikely alliance formed between tough guy Eddie Falco and a character from a LONG way from New York City -- a long way from Earth in fact -- offers the humans a glimmer of hope. As the strong willed young reporter Susie Dale from the Gotham Herald tries to survive in the middle of the maelstrom and an ancient prophecy unfolds, no one can guess who's going to win the battle for this particular slice of Turf.

TURF #1 Second Printing, a 32-page full color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores May 19, 2010, the same day as TURF #2 (MAR100405).

Some praise for TURF #1:

"This is a striking debut by Ross into comic book writing! ...Ross and Edwards have created such vibrant characters that they extend past any sort of cliché that they might have otherwise been stuck in. " --Comic Book Resources

"TURF spins a great tale that mixes genres perfectly." --Major Spoilers

"Ross creates a living, breathing world in which fantasy and reality blend together with a true sense depth, and it acts as an anchor for all of the characters and the actions that take place on the page... Don't miss a truly original piece." --Multiversity Comics

"The story suggests it's ready to spring to weird life, which is a good thing for a first issue to do. And perhaps most importantly, the issue took me a lot longer to read than the typical five minutes it takes me to read a comic these days..." --IGN

"Edwards' lines make the NYC of TURF seem very real, it's down and dirty, it's corrupt, but yet he also makes the more fantastical elements feel like they fit. Vampires and Aliens, Edwards makes it all seem like one, very real world." --The Outhouse

"TURF is a hugely impressive debut that, as unlikely as it sounds, may possibly mark the entrance of a major new talent on the scene." --Paradox Comics Group

The Luna Brothers Sheathe "The Sword"

THE FINAL CUT

THE SWORD wraps up with issue #24 and parties on both coasts

The Luna Brothers' critically acclaimed series THE SWORD, published by Image Comics, ends with issue #24, and it will go out with panache at two back-to-back wrap parties in New York City and Los Angeles.

On Thursday, May 13th, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Luna Brothers will appear at MIDTOWN COMICS - Grand Central (459 Lexington Avenue, corner of 45th Street, New York City, NY; www.midtowncomics.com). Then, the Luna Brothers fly to the Left Coast on Friday, May 14, where they will be at GOLDEN APPLE COMICS (7018 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA; www.goldenapplecomics.com) from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. An exclusive SWORD print will be available at both events (limited to 100 copies per event), and the Luna Brothers will be signing at both events. The Golden Apple Comics event will also feature a reading of the script for the final issue.

"We're really excited to celebrate THE SWORD with all of the fans," say the Luna Brothers. "We've spent a little over two years on this series, and the fans have been there every step of the way. We hope that everyone has a great time at these events!"

THE SWORD tells the story of Dara Brighton, a young woman who witnesses the murder of her family at the hands of three very powerful elemental beings who are after a sword in her father's possession. In the aftermath, Dara attains the sword, which gives her incredible abilities beyond her wildest imagination. In THE SWORD #24, Dara Brighton's epic quest for revenge against the three elementals who murdered her family comes to its conclusion.

THE SWORD #24 (MAR100401), a 40-page full color comic book for $4.99, will be in stores May 12, 2010. Also available are THE SWORD: FIRE, collecting issues #1-6; THE SWORD: WATER, collecting issues #7-12; and THE SWORD: EARTH, collecting issues #13-18.

I Reads You Review: FEVERED KISS (Yaoi Novel)

Creators: Arika Kuga with Taishi Zaou (spot illustrations) with Translation by Design (translation)
Publishing Information: DMP/DokiDoki, B&W, paperback, 168 pages, $10.95 (US)
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-56970-091-4 (ISBN-13)

Fevered Kiss is a yaoi novel from writer Arika Kuga with full page illustrations from Taishi Zaou (who also produces work under the name “Mikiyo Tsuda”). This is the story of two young men who fall in love and share hot kisses, but can’t (or won’t) speak what is on their minds in matters of love.

College student Satori Okada is a straight-laced guy, but at an end-of-the-year party, he has more drinks than usual. A night of conversation and friendship turns into morning, when Satori wakes up in bed with fellow student Naotaka Asou. They lovemaking is good, and Satori can’t (or won’t) push Asou away. After that night, however, all Asou wants to do is kiss Satori, and they are the most passionate and fevered kisses Satori has every experienced. But what are Asou’s intentions, Satori wonders? Asou won’t go further than kisses, nor does Asou express his feelings.

Then, Satori discovers two people connected to Asou. One is an apparently jealous former lover named Iizuka Shunpei. The other is a beautiful young woman from another college, Yasumi Takahashi, whom Satori sees with Asou. Will these confused lovers ever learn to talk to each other?

In addition to being a yaoi novel, Fevered Kiss is also a light novel, a form of Japanese novel targeted at teen readers. Light novels are also relatively short (essentially a novella) and come with illustrations. This is definitely yaoi – boys’ love featuring explicit sex between male lovers, and using words, writer Arika Kuga creates love scenes that are as steamy as anything a yaoi manga artist can draw. This novel isn’t light on the bump and grind, but it’s not just about sex. Fevered Kiss is deeply romantic, and Kuga fills it with the kind of romantic melodrama and soap opera conflict that will have readers quickly flipping pages.

Taishi Zaou’s 12 or so illustrations add a nice touch to the book, but while Zaou is quite good at drawing characters, this story doesn’t necessarily need her contributions. Fevered Kiss’ words will get you hot all on their own.

Buy Fevered Kiss (Yaoi Novel)

IDW from Diamond Distributors for April 14 2010

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