Scratch9 to Debut at Comic-Con International

Press release:

All-New Young Readers Comic SCRATCH9 To Debut at Comic-Con

Nine out of Nine Cats Approve of Ape Entertainment/KiZoic title!

Ape Entertainment and KiZoic announced today that the all-new young readers title SCRATCH9 will enjoy an early debut at Comic-Con International in San Diego this week.

Created by writer Rob M. Worley and illustrated by Harvey Award nominee Jason T. Kruse, SCRATCH9 is a four-issue series which features the adventures of a rascally house cat who gains the ability to summon any of his nine lives to his side to aid him in his adventures.

Issue #1 arrives in comic shops this August, but fans who stop by the KiZoic booth (#1703) at the convention will be able to pick up an advance copy of the fun-filled new title, complete with a cover by superstar artist Mike Kunkel.

"SCRATCH9 has been a dream project of mine for so many years. We've gotten such a positive response to the previews and I'm so excited that people will actually be able to see the completed first issue for the first time at Comic-Con," Worley said.

Here's what people are already saying about SCRATCH9:

"An adventure for all ages, Scratch9 is what we need more of in comics." -- Jimmy Palmiotti, writer of Supergirl and Power Girl.

"Scratch9 is a book to get behind not only for its lovable nature but also for its wit and upbeat attitude." -- Avril Brown, Comics Waiting Room

"The art is lively, the characters have a lot of personality, and this looks like it will be a really fun series" - Brigid Alverson, Robot 6 at Comic Book Resources

"Scratch9 Rocks!" -- Art Baltazar, writer and artist of Tiny Titans

"Adult readers will enjoy a level of sophistication that kids won’t realize exists. Kruse’s animation-style art is playful and sweet." -- Karen O’Brien, Comics Buyer’s Guide

"Scratch9 is a perfect 'read-together' comic for both child and parent." -- Eric Anderson, The PullBox.com


Convention Activities:
Worley and Kruse will be signing copies of issue #1 at the KiZoic booth (#1703) on Thursday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Friday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and Saturday from 3:00 pm to 4:15pm. Kruse will also be signing at the booth on Sunday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

The creative team is also conducting a "How To" panel on Saturday at 4:30pm in Room 18

Finally, the New Children's Museum of San Diego is hosting a week-long exhibit of artwork from Ape Entertainment's KiZoic titles, including original art from Scratch9. The museum is located at 200 West Island Avenue, just a few blocks from the convention center and the exhibit is free to anyone carrying a comic-con pass.

Interested readers who can't make it out to this year's Comic-Con are encouraged to ask their local comics retailer to make sure they have copies of the book in August. The Diamond Distribution ordering code is JUN10 0739 (for issue #1) and JUL10 0753 (for issue #2).

For up-to-date information on Scratch9, please visit http://www.scratch9.com/

For more information about Ape Entertainment, please visit http://www.apecomics.com/

Scratch9 Gets New Look

Scratch9 Gets A Wondrous New Look For the 21st Century!

Ape Entertainment and comics creator Rob M. Worley announced today that Scratch, the lead character in the soon-to-be-top-selling-someday comic SCRATCH9 is about to undergo one of the most dramatic changes in his yet-to-be-started publication history.

"When he makes his debut in August, Scratch will be pretty much wearing the same outfit for four full issues," Worley said. "Which is to say, he's completely clothing-free throughout. I mean, he's a cat, so he's kind of resistant to putting on clothes."

Worley continued, "The publishers and I talked it over. Scratch is going to be participating in adventures and antics and tomfoolery --"

"Don't forget hijinks," series artist Jason T. Kruse added.

"Right. Hijinks too," confirmed the writer. "With all that going on we've decided that, after the upcoming mini-series, Scratch will need a wondrous new costume for the 21st century."

The result is a new look designed to be taken seriously as a warrior cat and in partial to answer many cat fans who wonder how he can adventure about with his furry bum showing.

"Besides what cat goes without clothing for his entire career?" Worley asked hypothetically.

"Most of them, actually," Kruse offered.

"So a new costume it is then!" Worley proclaimed.

Scratch's new costume is very versatile. He can open the jacket up for hijinks, or close it up to pass unnoticed as a cat in woman's clothing. The look incorporates the classic design -- he's still completely nude underneath – while adding a tough, elegant, street-fighter look.

"Nothing says street-fighter to me more than a cat wearing a tiara," exclaimed Kruse.

While modeling the new costume Scratch, the star of the book, seemed at a loss for words and simply lay on the ground moaning piteously.

Accompanying the new look is a SCRATCH9 continuity fix. After four issues things are bound to get a bit confusing for fans. Unchecked cat stories can breed out of control. In fact, the growth in the population of cat stories will rapidly outpace the number of good homes for them.

"Fixing SCRATCH9 is the responsible thing to do," said Worley.

The first issue of SCRATCH9 arrives in comic shops this August! (#JUN10 0739, #JUL10 0753)
For information on spaying and neutering, please visit http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter/

For up-to-date information on Scratch9, please visit http://scratch9.com/

For the latest on Ape Entertainment’s KiZoic line, please visit http://kizoic.com/

For more information about Ape Entertainment, please visit http://apecomics.com/


About Scratch9
Scratch9 is a four-issue comic book series for young readers featuring a cat who gains the ability to summon any of his 9 lives to aid him in his adventures. Created by Rob M. Worley, with artwork by Jason T. Kruse and covers by Mike Kunkel, the comic is published by Ape Entertainment under their KiZoic imprint. The first issue debuts in August!

About Ape Entertainment
Founded in 2003, Ape Entertainment is the brainchild of comics devotees David Hedgecock and Brent Erwin and is home to such popular titles as, GO-GO GORILLA AND THE JUNGLE CREW, SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES, BLACK COAT, ATHENA VOLTAIRE, SULLENGREY and THE TROUBLE WITH KATIE ROGERS. Ape Entertainment is devoted to the production of high-quality original graphic novels, comic books, and illustrated fiction.

Robin Zander of Cheap Trick at Comic-Con International

Cheap Trick Frontman To Sign At Ape Entertainment Booth

Robin Zander on hand at SDCC to support new graphic novel

Robin Zander, lead singer of the seminal American rock band Cheap Trick, will be signing copies of his original graphic novel, The High Priest of Rhythmic Noise, at the Ape Entertainment booth (#2103-05) on Thursday July 22nd from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Premiering at Comic-Con, The High Priest of Rhythmic Noise follows Sam, a pirate radio DJ who lives in the near future where one company runs the entire entertainment industry. Being without a proper license, he is arrested and thrown in jail only to escape and discover that there is more to this company than meets the eye, including the Dream Police, whom he must battle in a last stand of epic proportions.

Formed in 1974, Cheap Trick’s career has spanned more than three decades and countless hit songs, including “Surrender,” “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and “The Flame.” Their latest album, Latest, was released in 2009.

For more information on Ape Entertainment, visit http://www.ape-entertainment.com/.

Jane Wiedlin and Bill Morrison at Comic-Con International for "Lady Robotika"

LADY ROBOTIKA'S JANE WIEDLIN (THE GO-GO'S) AND BILL MORRISON (THE SIMPSONS/FUTURAMA) SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON EVENT SCHEDULE

ANNOUNCING CONVENTION EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED EDITION JIM SILKE COVER PREVIEW!

WHO:
Lady Robotika, the inter-galactic rock 'n roll sexy cyborg heroine, is the brainchild of Jane Wiedlin (legendary guitarist for the Go-Go's) and Bill Morrison (Eisner Award-winning creator behind The Simpsons Comics, Futurama Comics, Roswell, Little Green Man and Heroes Anonymous). The new super-heroine debuted last week to great reviews with Lady Robotika issue #1: Slaveship to the Stars!

Grammy Award-winning album art director and famed comic and pin-up artist Jim Silke (www.jimsilke.com) has created a limited-edition convention-exclusive Lady Robotika cover for Slaveship to the Stars!, available for the first time during San Diego Comic-Con at the Image Comics booth for $10.

WHAT:
Jane Wiedlin, Bill Morrison, and Jim Silke will be attending San Diego Comic-Con, hosting Lady Robotika autographing/meet & greets, attending various parties/events, and closing out the weekend with a bash at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood.

WHEN & WHERE:
Friday, July 23
Jane Wiedlin, Bill Morrison & Jim Silke autograph-signing
11:00am - Noon
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Image Comics booth #2729.

Saturday, July 24
Jane Wiedlin, Bill Morrison & Jim Silke autograph-signing
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Image Comics booth #2729.

Monday, July 26
Meltdown Comics Annual Comic-Con After-Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
7522 Sunset Blvd. (Hollywood, CA)


About LADY ROBOTIKA
Lady Robotika is a full-color 32-page comic published by Shadowline and Image Comics. Earthly rock star Jane Wiedlin is abducted by a rock 'n roll-loving evil alien emperor and implanted with nanobots meant to enslave her. His plans backfire as our guitar-slinging heroine learns to control the nanites and transforms into the super-powered cyborg galactic liberator Lady Robotika! With sexy sci-fi rock and roll space adventures to ensue...

Hollywood.com on the Comic-Con Blues

"Comic-Con and Superhero Burnout" by Peter Hall

I love Comic-Con. Perhaps that is because I’ve never actually been to Comic-Con. In my mind it is this glorious Geek Mecca where no matter how much of a fanboy you are about a particular comic, film, TV show, game or whatever else you’re into that the rest of the world has yet to catch onto, you can always look to your left and to your right and see someone who is even more passionate about it than you are. Basically, I envision it as some kind of geek orgy where nothing is taboo.

The reality is probably a lot less cheerful. Oh, I’ve no doubt that you’ll always be able to find someone who's even more into the long-forgotten CGI Starship Troopers TV show than you are. I also have no doubt that people are incredibly friendly and that no weird intellectual property fetish can be too taboo. However, I also imagine that after day one, standing around in absurdly long lines so you can be shuffled into an overcrowded conference hall probably begins to grind down the enjoyment of being surrounded by people who are just like you. Plus, there has been a growing concern over the years that the San Diego con has become far too commercial, since all the major movie studios have turned it into their promotional springboard.

Read the rest of the article here.

Warcraft Manga Does Mage Class

I read Warcraft: Mage (World of Warcraft)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has apps for the iPhone and Palm smartphones).

Comici Announces Online Comics Expansion

Press release Comici Studios:

Comici, Comic Company A to expand online, new properties; picks up the eclectic Next Man

Comic Company A, which helped bring the world the independent alternative comic market with it's co- founding and creative contributions to the comic book independents, heralds an additional newer name, Comici, and new projects.

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 16, 2010 – Comic Company A was the only successful publishing and media house to survive from Comico to be carried officially by the worlds major comics distributors, with sellouts like the Next Man Collectors Edition series, and well as the studio's award winning work in the realm of Health Care and Commercial art...making these new first steps now in to the environment of online media is fitting, and the first volly in what will be a wholesale emphasis for development towards the future of this now reinvigorated medium.

Along with a host of other new projects, CCA, Comic Company A, or Comici, as it will in addition now be called officially, is re-releasing several issues from it's controversial , ground breaking hit from the eighties and nineties, The Next Man, co-created by Roger Mc Kenzie (Ghost Rider) and Vince Argondezzi (Health Care Heroes, Infinity Inc) The ecclectic series covered euthinasia, cancer, and other controversial subjects long before it was acceptable in comics; garnering praise as well as criticism from a variety of different sources, because of the subject matter, from veteran award winner Mc Kenzie, as well as a younger artist Argondezzi's experiments with groundbreaking experimental illustration techniques.

As part of the big push of development in the comic and entertainment industry, Comico and Comic Company A helped with a variety of different attempts for creators rights and daring story lines and subject matter. As a co-founder of both companies. Vince Argondezzi finds Next Man a natural fit in the structure of the new oline medium of comics, and the evolution Comic Company A/ Comici is taking.

From a recent national press release:

June 1 2010:  "In the light of America's more recent military conflicts, these storylines and concepts are more important than ever," Argondezzi states. "The super hero has always been a fantastic vehicle, an excellent metaphor for the super heroic efforts and problems that our men and women in the military services have to deal with every day, in war, and after these battles are consumated. Rog and I have used Next Man as an analogy for the journey of these brave folks. It is by their sacrifices and determination that we as artists and free people are given the privilege of exploring the future; it's only through the freedom that they graciously secure for us, can that future and it's positive possibilities also be secure."

As Comici led in the past with contributions to the various independents, and creations like Next Man, so will it lead the way in the future, with clasics from the past and bright new stars for tommorrow.

Stay tuned! [END]