ULTIMO Begins

I read ULTIMO, Vol. 1

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Michael Golden at Dallas ComiCon

Press release from Eva Ink:

Dallas ComiCon Kicks Up Great Guest List--Michael Golden Added!


First Appearance in Texas in over 20 years!

Everything IS bigger in Texas!...Or so they say, and considering the line-up at this month's Dallas ComiCon, we sure can't deny that old adage--especially since artist/creator Michael Golden is heading to the Lone Star state for his first appearance there in OVER 20 years.

Scheduled for January 30-31 at the Richardson Civic Center, The Dallas ComiCon is fast becoming a true destination for fans of comics, movies, media and more!

"I am also very happy to be returning to my home state and bringing Michael with me," says Renee Witterstaetter of Eva Ink Publishing. "We're looking forward to showing some new items at the event and meeting some new fans and friends. I should even have a preview copy of Michael's new sketchbook, 'MORE Heroes and Villains.' "

With recent work on "Spiderman," "Hulk," and new pieces coming for "Planet of the Apes," "Mouse Templar," and much more, Michael has long been known for his storytelling work on "Spartan X," "Bucky O'Hare," "The 'Nam," "Micronauts," "G.I. Joe," "Doctor Strange," "Star Wars,"....the list goes on and on! In fact, be looking for announcements about his upcoming storytelling class in the near future--in a city near you.

"I'm designing this course to be relevant for writers, artists or anyone interested in crafting an effective tale," says Golden about the upcoming workshop.

To mark his return to Texas in the meantime, Golden will be available both days of the show to sign, and do limited sketching during convention hours. He'll also be debuting three new art prints added to his portfolio just in time for DCC, as well as showcasing two art books "Excess: The Art of Michael Golden," from Vanguard Productions and "Michael Golden's: Heroes and Villains" sketchbook from Eva Ink Publishing.

Joining Golden at the Dallas ComiCon are talented artists and media guests including: Tim Sale, Adam Hughes, Mark Brooks, Peter Mayhew, Sean Patrick Flanery, Daniel Cudmore, Adam West, Todd Nauck, Pat Broderick, Terry Moore, Jim Mahfood, Mike Huddleston, Tom Feister, Matt Sturges, Brian Denham, John Lucas, Bill Williams, Jaime Mendoza, Tone Rodriquez, Josh Howard, James O'Barr, Cat Staggs, Kerry Gammill, Kez Wilson, Joe Eisma, Brent Peeples, Renee Witterstaetter, Brad W. Foster, Allison Sohn, Dirk Strangely, and many more!

So, be sure to check out Artist Alley, then buy and sell your collectibles in the show's huge exhibitor room loaded with more than 100 tables of comics, posters, cards, movies, t-shirts, and more!

The Richardson Civic Center is located at 411 W. Arapaho Rd. Show hours are Saturday 11-6 and Sunday 12-4.

For more information on the Dallas ComiCon, go to: http://www.scifiexpo.com/DCC/Home.html

For more information on Michael Golden and his work, contact: evaink@aol.com [END]

Gene Roddenberry's Day Missing Goes Digital

Press release from Archaia Entertainment:

ARCHAIA TO DIGITALLY DISTRIBUTE RODDENBERRY'S 'DAYS MISSING' EXCLUSIVELY ON IVERSE COMICS


FANS CAN DOWNLOAD ‘DAYS MISSING’ #1 FOR FREE ON THE iPHONE OR iPOD TOUCH

Expanding their partnerships with proven digital comics distributors to meet the growing demand for more digital content, Archaia and Roddenberry Productions announced that the “digi-bution” of all five issues of last fall’s critically acclaimed, science fiction miniseries Days Missing is now exclusively on iVerse Comics’ free application. Issue #1, written by Phil Hester (Firebreather, The Darkness, Green Arrow) and drawn by Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin, Seven Soldiers of Victory), is currently available for free on the site and issues #2-5 will be available for $1.99 in the coming weeks.

Days Missing tells the stories of a mysterious being known as “The Steward.” His ability to literally “fold” days of time has allowed him to secretly remove critical days from our shared history that have forever changed the course of mankind…or so he thinks. In these missing days, The Steward battles Frankenstein, the Spanish conquistadors and artificial life forms, among other history-shaping forces.

Days Missing digital issues #2-5 will each be available for $1.99 and will roll out weekly starting Jan. 27. The schedule is as follows:

Days Missing #2 – Jan. 27
Days Missing #3 – Feb. 3
Days Missing #4 – Feb. 10
Days Missing #5 – Feb. 17

“Archaia is committed to reaching the mass audience with our sophisticated content in multiple formats,” said PJ Bickett, President of Archaia. “With digi-bution, we are able to reach an audience 10 times larger. Now throw in the fact that it is Days Missing, co-developed with Roddenberry Productions, and you have an instant winner!”

“Roddenberry has always been a name associated with technology and innovation. We are thrilled to continue this journey with Archaia and offer fans the opportunity to consume this extraordinary story on a unique digital platform,” said Roddenberry’s Head of Development and Days Missing Creator Trevor Roth.

“Archaia is the perfect kind of publishing partner for iVerse,” said iVerse Media CEO Michael Murphey. “Archaia has a rich and diverse catalog with some amazing properties like Days Missing…which we’re very excited to release on the iPhone.”

The digi-bution of Days Missing will ramp up to the debut of the Days Missing deluxe hardcover ($19.95, 160 pages, ISBN 1-932386-84-X), which will feature a host of extras and back-matter material, including a foreword by the legendary Warren Ellis. It is scheduled to be on sale in comic shops on Feb. 24 and in bookstores on March 2.

Archaia’s digital strategy will continue with the launch of an Archaia Store app at the end of February, powered by iVerse Media. The store will contain a complete list of Archaia’s archived products as well as exclusive digital content. More information to follow soon.

About ‘Days Missing’
Archaia and Roddenberry Productions brought together four all-star creative teams to each work on standalone, reader-friendly issues of Days Missing that tie into the overall mini-series story arc. The writer/artist teams include: Phil Hester (Firebreather, The Darkness, Green Arrow) and Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin, Seven Soldiers of Victory) for issues 1 and 5; David Hine (Batman: Battle for the Cowl) and Chris Burnham (X-Men: Divided We Stand) for issue 2; Ian Edginton (Stormwatch) and Lee Moder (Legion of Super-Heroes) for issue 3; and Matz (The Killer) and Hugo Petrus (Wolverine: First Class) for issue 4. The legendary Dale Keown (The Incredible Hulk, Pitt) provided the main covers to each issue. Blair Butler from G4’s “Fresh Ink Online” said Days Missing was “one of the best things that came out this year” and Aint It Cool News’ Ambush Bug said it “is sci fi at its best and well worth checking out.”

About Archaia Entertainment, LLC
Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. With a slate including such popular Eisner-Award winning titles as Mouse Guard and The Killer, as well as Awakening, Gunnerkrigg Court, Robotika, Killing Pickman, Artesia and the Publisher’s latest additions of Titanium Rain, God Machine, Roddenberry Productions’ Days Missing, The Jim Henson Company library and Mr. Murder Is Dead and Lucid with Before the Door Pictures, Archaia has become synonymous with quality content.

For more information on Archaia or any Archaia titles please visit www.Archaia.com. Archaia can also be found on Facebook (facebook.com/archaiacomics), MySpace (myspace.com/archaiacomics) and Twitter (twitter.com/archaiacomics).

About Roddenberry Productions
Roddenberry Productions is a science-fiction leader with a tradition of groundbreaking entertainment and quality merchandise. Originally founded in 1967 by Gene Roddenberry, the company has since led a steady stable of science fiction successes including Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda and, most notably, the Star Trek brand. Roddenberry Productions continues to produce entertainment for all audiences, employing a viewer-centric creative process and resulting in insightful visions of humanity. Its merchandising business is based on quality and authenticity providing memorabilia for fans in today’s new multimedia generation. Roddenberry Productions has set itself apart by creating content that surpasses mere entertainment; it acknowledges the intelligence of audiences by challenging them to think, question and explore the world, and those potentially beyond.

About iVerse Media, LLC
iVerse Media, LLC is a digital distributor of comic books for mobile platforms. Established in 2008, iVerse has quickly emerged as an innovator and leader in the mobile publishing field. Partnerships with high-profile brands like Archie Comics, and leading industry publishers like IDW Publishing (”Star Trek”), BOOM! Studios (”Farscape”), Ardden Entertainment (”Flash Gordon”), Red 5 Comics (”Atomic Robo”), Ape Entertainment (”Super Human Resources”), and many more have made it possible for iVerse to surpass one million downloads in under 9 months of releasing content into the iPhone App Store. iVerse is principally located in Waco, Texas. [END]

StarCraft School of Hard Knocks

I read StarCraft: Ghost Academy Volume 1

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  I really enjoyed the OEL manga from TOKYOPOP.

NEWAVE Mini Comics Anthology Party at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery

Press release from Fantagraphics Books:

NEWAVE! Mini Comics at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery


Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to host an exhibition and publication party for NEWAVE! The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s on Saturday, January 30 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This event promises to be both entertaining and enlightening. The public is invited to join us for this festive reunion of influential independent cartoonists.

Self published mini comics in the 1970s and 1980s were the direct descendants of the Underground Comix movement of the 1960s hippie era. Early practitioners photocopied, stapled and distributed their miniature zines at comic book conventions and emerging comic book specialty shops. The immediacy and independence of these publications gave rise to today’s popular alternative comics movement.

Mini comics creator Michael Dowers, former publisher of Starhead Comix and editor at Fantagraphics Books, compiled this impressive anthology. Included are interviews and commentary by the artists as well as the rare mini comics themselves.

The exhibition will feature original art and graphics by underground mini comix pioneers Jaimie Alder, Jim Blanchard, Wayne Gibson, David Lasky, Wayno, Steve Willis, Dennis Worden, and XNO. NEWAVE editor Michael Dowers will produce and distribute a mini comic on site. A comix jam by contributing artists will be accompanied by music from local indie rock band “iji.”

Don’t miss this splendid occasion on Saturday, January 30. Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street at Airport Way in the heart of Georgetown.


Listing Information:
NEWAVE! Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s exhibition and publication party.

Featuring Jaimie Alder, Jim Blanchard, Wayne Gibson, David Lasky, Wayno, Steve Willis, Dennis Worden, XNO. Mini comic demonstration and giveaway by Michael Dowers. Music by iji.

Saturday, January 30, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA 206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. [END]

AAM/Markosia Gives Up More Info on "The Dark"

Press release from AAM/Markosia:

MARKOSIA CELEBRATES LAUNCH OF “THE DARK” WITH PRIZE DRAW FOR FOLLOWERS

Markosia Enterprises solicited the much anticipated original graphic novel “The Dark” in the January 2010 edition of Diamond Comic Distribution's “Previews” catalogue. 100 pages in length, the graphic novel contains the complete story as devised by UK scribe Chris Lynch and US based artist Rick Lundeen and has already attracted praise from both reviewers and podcasters.

As well as providing readers with an extended eighteen page free preview, Markosia today launched a Twitter based campaign to spread the word about The Dark and offered loyal followers the chance to win a copy of the book signed by author Chris Lynch and artist Rick Lundeen. All you have to do to enter is tweet the URL: http://www.thedarkcomicbook.com before January 31st 2010. Full terms and conditions of the prize draw can be found on the website: http://www.thedarkcomicbook.com

THE DARK: DIAMOND ORDER CODE: JAN100699

What are people saying about “The Dark?”:

"a great, fast read" Barry Nugent, Author of Fallen Heroes and Presenter of Geek Syndicate

"the fight scenes had a real sense of danger whilst the opening panels ... had a genuine feel of desperation, of regret" Escape from Tomorrow

"The Dark #1 is another great comic title that I enjoyed immensely. I give it my highest recommendations and urge readers to buy it as soon as it becomes available." Hypergeek

"By the end of the book everything I thought I knew had been turned on it's head and I was totally sucked in." Gavin Jones, Sidekick Cast

"we're pleased to report it's some of Chris Lynch's best work to date, complemented by some suitably moody art from Lundeen. The story is complex but well realized, with plenty to get you thinking and wondering just what will happen next." Down the Tubes

WHAT IS “THE DARK?”

Branded “The Dark Knight meets The Matrix” by reviewers, The Dark is the story of Daniel Abbot, a brilliant young scientist on the fringes of the establishment and the creator of Memetech - a technology that encodes information and memories into a liquid form, allowing anyone to “drink” the information. Terrified that his invention will be used for military purposes he decides to destroy his research, but not before he takes one last trip ... with disastrous results.

Two years on, and the Memetech genie is out of the bottle. Abbot, having perfected his own version of the technology, fights a one-man war against the spread of his own invention and the collapse of our information culture in the guise of “The Dark”. Aided by an artificial intelligence nicknamed Howard Hughes, Abbott creates “The Baffler” – a coat made of Memetech that gives his the edge over his enemies. Capable of injecting information directly into this brain and firing Memetech flechettes to hit others with bursts of pure information, The Baffler is both weapon and disguise in Daniel Abbot's war against his own creation.

When The Dark uncovers a plot to set off Memetech bombs across the whole of the city Dante, filling the air with liquid information and creating a new society of his enemy's devising, The Dark is plunged into a desperate race against time against his own technology.

But, not everything is what is seems.

Who is the new and mysterious enemy who seems to know The Dark's every move? How did the Memetech, thought destroyed, reappear? Why can't Daniel wake his wife and son? And why is everyone else in Dante named after an English poet? Mixing high octane super-hero action with hard science-fiction in a world of overlapping realities and fantasies, the story offers the reader the opportunity to solve the mystery of just what is real in the world of The Dark before even the hero can.

Chris Lynch on hidden messages in “The Dark.” “We've hidden lots of coded messages throughout the book,” explains Lynch, “Both in the dialogue and in the artwork. From the symbol on The Dark's chest to adverts in the background, everything is there for a reason. Hopefully people will get a kick out of trying to solve the mystery, or at least from looking back after they've read the book for the first time to find all the clues they missed. Either way, we wanted to create something with enough depth to bring people back to re-read the story time and again.”


About AAM Markosia:
Launched in 2005 AAM Markosia has been a leader in the independent publishing field, with titles such as Starship Troopers, Kong: King of Skull Island, The Boy Who Made Silence, Midnight Kiss, Hope Falls, The Lexian Chronicles and many more. 2008 marked their most ambitious campaign to date as the company debuted a range of new titles, with many more exciting and innovative titles to follow in 2009/10. In addition, AAM Markosia has and will be exhibiting at many conventions around the globe, including New York Comic Con, San Diego Comicon, Angouleme, The Birmingham International Comics Show and the Bristol Comic Expo.

About Rick Lundeen:
Rick Lundeen lives in the western suburbs outside of Chicago with his wife and kids and has been drawing storyboards for advertising agencies for over 20 years. He's also been reading comics for over 30 years and producing and publishing comics for more than 15. The only thing he somewhat knows how to do is draw. Period. Examples of what he does can be found at the following sites: http://www.comicspace.com/rickjlundeen/, http://www.edseyart.com/, and http://www.epochkblamm.com/ [END]

Alex Zalben Writing Thor, Power Pack Miniseries

From Alex Zalben and Marvel Comics:

Thor and the Warriors Four #1

COVER BY: Gurihiru
WRITER: Alex Zalben
PENCILS: Gurihiru
INKS: Array

THE STORY: It all starts here! Power Pack’s biggest adventure ever begins, as they desperately search for the only person who can save the life of their grandmother – THE MIGHTY THOR! But first, they’re going to need to get to Asgard, and that means joining forces with Frog Thor...And THE PET AVENGERS! An epic tale that starts with a book of myths and ends with the destruction of the entire world, this is a journey into mystery that will leave Power Pack changed – forever! All Ages …$2.99

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: April 7, 2010

Alex Zalben interviews can be found at Newsarama and Marvel.com. [END]