Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Image Comics to Publish Rian Hughes Strip



GRAPHIC GUARDIAN
 
RIAN HUGHES’ groundbreaking strip for The Guardian collected for the first time this December
 
Celebrated designer and illustrator RIAN HUGHES first explored the possibilities of Adobe Illustrator's vector drawing tools with "On the Line," a unique newspaper strip written by Rick Wright that ran in The Guardian, one of the United Kingdom's largest daily newspapers. This December, the strip gets its first-ever collection with ON THE LINE, a gorgeous new hardcover from Image Comics.

With ON THE LINE, Hughes forged a modern design-savvy approach that still tips the hat to classic UPA cartoons and the angular work of Gene Dietch. Bold, graphic and expressive, this collection brings together every strip for the very first time, including some unpublished rarities, in a neat hardback designed by Hughes in a pocket-sized format.

ON THE LINE (OCT100472), a 48-page black-and-white pocket-sized hardcover collecting celebrated designer Rian Hughes' newspaper strips for The Guardian, will be in stores December 1, 2010, for $12.99. YESTERDAY'S TOMORROWS TP (SEPT100434), a 264-page full-color anthology collecting several stories illustrated by Hughes, will be in stores November 3, 2010.

Some praise for Rian Hughes:
"Rian Hughes, the man who's done more for comic book design than anybody else, ever." - http://www.talkaboutcomics.com/

"One of the most successful and prolific designer/illustrators of the past 20 years" - Roger Sabin, Eye magazine

"Try a death tango in the upper levels of the stratosphere with smoky Cyrillic logos wrapped around your fuselage and raw Letraset moire crackling away in the rearview and then maybe you'll earn my respect the way Rian Hughes earned my respect long ago." - Grant Morrison


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/.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Cross Game x 3

I read Cross Game, Vol. 1

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which as FREE smart phone apps).  This is a mini-omnibus edition that collects the first three volumes of the original Japanese editions in a single volume.


Skullkickers #1 Reprint Selling Out Before Hitting Stores

A HEAD PUNTING KICK-OFF TO A HIT NEW IMAGE SERIES!

Second Printing of SKULLKICKERS #1 blazes through inventory before release, Third Printing on its way

After an early distribution-level sell out of the first printing of SKULLKICKERS #1, additional orders for the second printing have built far quicker than expected and Image Comics has authorized a rush third printing of the hit first issue to meet reorder demand!

SKULLKICKERS #1, written and drawn by newcomers Jim Zubkavich and Edwin Huang respectively, has whipped up excitement among readers of all stripes. The third printing of SKULLKICKERS, with a brand new cover by Chris Stevens and Saejin Oh, will arrive in stores October 27.

"Edwin, Misty and I are all unbelievably thrilled that retailers, readers and reviewers are responding so strongly to the first issue," says Zubkavich "When you launch something new like this, you hope it will connect with an audience. We wanted to make a fun action romp and, from what we're seeing, that's what the market was ready for. Thank you, everyone!"

In SKULLKICKERS, two mercenaries are entangled in a high-class assassination plot, and nothing -- not werewolves, skeletons or black magic -- will stop them from getting paid. If you love fantasy, action-comedy, a touch of black-hearted violence and movies like ARMY OF DARKNESS then SKULLKICKERS is the book for you!

SKULLKICKERS #1 Third Printing (AUG108191), a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores October 27, 2010. SKULLKICKERS #2 (AUG100490) arrives in stores one week earlier, on October 20. Follow the Skullkickers blog at www.skullkickers.com for sneak peeks and more. You can download a free preview of SKULLKICKERS using the Image Comics app from comiXology.


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/.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Orange Planet Concludes

I read Orange Planet 3/4/5

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


New England Comiccon Welcomes Lazerman



LAZERMAN Returns at New England Comiccon!


HBComics™ Debuts Newest Lazerman Story at Wizard’s Inaugural Boston Show


Boston comic creators “HBComics” are set to premiere their newest book, “Lazerman #5” when Wizard World: New England Comiccon rolls into the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on October 15th.


The issue, entitled “Night of the Necrolord, part 1” promises the titular super hero going toe to toe with an army of zombies.


“Lazerman's battle against the undead will be right at home alongside the horror styled events at New England Comiccon, (which include) a screening of footage from AMC's THE WALKING DEAD, and Buffy event boasting 7 stars from the show!” said Chris Hebert, at the HBComics’ Myspace blog. ”I don’t think we could have planned a better environment for Lazerman to make his triumphant return.”


Alan And Chris Hebert, the creative team behind the book (Known in some circles simpely as “The Hebert Brothers”) will be in artist’s alley at the New England Comiccon from October 15-17, where the new book will be available.


The issue is also the first Lazerman title the company has released since finishing up the character’s introduction story with “Lazerman #4” last year. The Hebert Brothers promise the issue will serve not only as a continuation of the broader story, but as a great entry point into the series.


Lazerman™ is the story of an awkward comic book geek who, in a bizarre twist of fate, ends up with super-powers of his very own. The title follows Lazerman’s adventures as he learns how to be a super hero, while lovingly satirizing the super hero genre.



About HBComics™:

HBComics™ is an independent comic book publisher, founded by two brothers from Boston. More information on the company, or the titles being produced, can be found at http://www.hbcomics.com/

Bluewater Announces More Comics to Radio

COLONIAL RADIO THEATRE EXPANDS THE BLUEWATER RADIO PROGRAM LINE-UP WITH “WAR OF THE ELEMENTALS” & QUARTERMAIN”

Months ago Bluewater announced that both Logan's Run and Vincent Price Presents are becoming radio shows! Colonial Radio Theater on the Air announced today that they have entered into an agreement with the comic book publishers Bluewater Productions to also produce "War of the Elementals" & “Quatermain”.

Explained producer Jerry Robbins: ""I am very excited to get the chance to record this amazing graphic novel as a radio drama. We had a hit with our production of the original KING SOLOMON'S MINES in 2008, and this story is every bit as exciting and adventurous. I can't wait to get it into production!"

As for WAR OF THE ELEMENTALS Robbins continued, "The cover art alone on this story grabbed me! How great a concept is this!? The Royal Flying Corps' 5th Squadron is fighting in WWI when they are suddenly transported to a world dominated by giant flying bat-creatures! This is the stuff that makes for fantastic radio theater! We get letters and emails from kids who are just discovering our shows and they rave about how much fun they are, and how much they enjoy them. Radio drama has been around for many, many years - and it is great when kids are discovering it for the first time. They are forced to use their imagination. No movie can ever capture the world that you create in the theater of your own mind - we supply the sound to your minds picture, and the combination is unbeatable. I think WAR OF THE ELEMENTALS is one of those stories that is going to be incredible as a radio adventure! "

Both are based off the comic book series from Bluewater Productions. War of the Elementals was written by Scott Davis and Quatermain the graphic novel is out in the Fall and written by Clay and Susan Griffith. To pre-order it go to Amazon: http://amzn.to/cREdOu
Celebrating it's 15th year, the award winning Colonial Radio Theatre on the Air's goal is to resurrect an old medium - making it modern and relevant - in a new and unique way for people to enjoy. With people's busy schedules keeping them on the road and limiting their time to read, "This is the future," said Vander Berg, "audio drama is the next wave."

More information can be obtained by visiting http://www.colonialradio.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.
For more information, visit www.bluewaterprod.com.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Image Comics Collects Tank Girl One-Shots



DARK, DIRTY & HAIRY
Image Comics collects strange and interesting TANK GIRL one-shots this December
Gas up the tank, put your panties on your head, and hold on for dear life -- everyone's favorite postapocalyptic trouble maker gets a brand new stellar collection this December in TANK GIRL: WE HATE TANK GIRL from Image Comics!
Written by character co-creator Alan Martin and illustrated by impresario Rufus Dayglo, WE HATE TANK GIRL will be in stores December 1.
In TANK GIRL: WE HATE TANK GIRL, the Image Comics TANK GIRL one shots -- DARK NUGGETS, DIRTY HELMETS and HAIRY HEROES -- get collected with a bonanza of stories, posters, prose and extras. Featuring tales from Tank Girl's past, present and future, and including the long-awaited CUT N' DRESS BOOGA! Collected here for the first time, with never-before-seen bonus story, "Small Unit." An unmissable must for Tank Girl fans of all hairstyles.
TANK GIRL: WE HATE TANK GIRL (OCT100485), a 96-page full-color trade paperback for $9.99, 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/.