Todd McFarlane, Curt Schilling, R. A. Salvatore, Ken Rolston, and more celebrate the release of 38 Studios new game at GameStops across the country on February 6, 2012.

Press Release:

The lore of Kingdoms of Amalur spans an epic course of over 10,000 years, with Reckoning capturing a moment in this history and the tale of a singular hero capable of reshaping the fate of the world of Amalur. Every building, tree, and creature has a clear and defined history within this immersive world filled with extraordinary landscapes, mysterious cities, colorful characters, and fantastic creatures.

This mysterious and magical new fantasy world is created by New York Times bestselling author R. A. Salvatore brought to life visually through the trademark style of renowned artist and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and developed under the leadership of Ken Rolston, lead designer of the critically acclaimed RPGs Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Beginning at 11:30 p.m. on February 6, three GameStop stores will open their doors for eager fans who will among the first to get their copies of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning upon its release at midnight on February 7. To mark this occasion the game’s creators will make special appearances and mingle with fans as they count down to the release of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning at the following GameStop locations:

1.Bellingham, MA: Curt Schilling, Founder and Chairman of 38 Studios, three-time World Series champion and life-long videogame fanatic and R.A. Salvatore, Executive Creator of Worlds and 24-time New York Times best-selling author, who crafted the rich lore and stories of the world of Amalur. Curt and R.A. will join fans at the GameStop located in the Stallbrook Marketplace, 258 Hartford Ave, Bellingham, MA 02019

2.Tempe, AZ: Todd McFarlane, Spawn creator and McFarlane Toys founder, who has driven the artistic vision of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Todd will meet fans at the GameStop at the Tempe Marketplace located at 2040 E. Rio Salado Pkwy, Suite 110, Tempe, AZ 85281

3.Cockeysville, MD: Ken Rolston, Internationally Celebrated Game Designer at Big Huge Games will be joined by members of the Big Huge Games development team including Lead Designer Ian Frazier, Art Director Tim Coman, Lead Combat Designer Joe Quadara, and Audio Director Grant Kirkhope. The team from Big Huge Games will join fans at the GameStop located at 10015 York Road, Suite A7, Cockeysville, MD 21030

Emmy Winner and Simpsons Comic Artist Phil Ortiz appears at All About Books and Comics signing autographs and sketching personalized Simpsonized Caricatures on Saturday January 21, 2012 from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Mr. Ortiz is currently the lead pencil animator for the majority of Simpsons Comics from Bongo Comics and has worked for Bongo since 1993.

He has done character art and concept illustrations for the Disney Store and Hanna Barbera and worked for Disney Publishing.

Mr. Ortiz is a cartoon originator and 5 time Emmy winner and we are honored to have him at All About Books and Comics. He will sign autographs (we’ll have plenty of Simpsons Comics on hand) and do personalized Simpsons sketches for $25.00.

All About Books & Comics
5060 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 277-0757

Todd McFarlane speaks at Arizona State University in a roundtable discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility on Sunday, December 11 from 3-6pm! The event is free and open to the public.

Details at the link.

Arizona State University – West Campus
4701 West Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ

Todd McFarlane

Press Release:

What could be better than a stocking full of Spawn and Haunt comics or Walking Dead, sports, and Halo figures? How about one with legendary Todd McFarlane’s signature on it? Stop by and meet the Spawn creator and McFarlane Toys CEO, Todd McFarlane, at his McFarlane store for an exclusive signing on Saturday, December 17th from 1 – 3 PM.

And if getting to meet McFarlane wasn’t awesome enough, the first 100 fans lined up at the door will receive a FREE Halo action figure! So be sure to arrive early for all the fun! Signing will be limited to two items per person.

While you are at the store, don’t forget to take a look around. You’ll find all the latest products from McFarlane Toys, from league-licensed NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL sports figures to the latest Halo series. You can also pick up the new Walking Dead TV Series 1 action figures inspired by the highly-acclaimed AMC television show, The Walking Dead!

The store also carries the season’s most recent collectible toys including Star Wars, Marvel, DC Universe, Justice League, Kill Bill, Dexter, Gears of War, Predator, Nintendo characters, Gremlins, Nightmare before Christmas, Pac Man, Bruce Lee, Lego Mini’s, urban vinyl and blind box figures, bobbleheads, and assorted plush from mainstream to urban.

There are plenty of items for ladies as well, including Rainbow Brite glasses, Wonder Woman Pop! Vinyl, My Little Pony collector edition ponies, Littlest Pet Shop, Hello Kitty and collector Barbies.

You’ll also find a variety comic books such as Spawn and Haunt, along with novelties items such as retro lunch boxes, mugs, shirts, totes, t-shirts and coffee mugs featuring The Beatles, Elvis, Betty Page, Marilyn Monroe and Wizard of Oz.

The McFarlane toy store is located within the Westgate City Center adjacent to Jobing.com arena. For more information on the signing, or any of the products available, call the McFarlane toy store at (623) 670-5601.

McFarlane Store
9410 W Hanna Dr # A109, Glendale, AZ 85305-3149

Ace Frehley signs at Changing Hands Bookstore on November 15, 2011 at 5pm.

Press Release:

He was just a boy from the Bronx with stars in his eyes. But when he picked up his guitar and painted stars on his face, Ace Frehley transformed into “The Spaceman,” and helped turn KISS into one of the top-selling bands in the world. Now, for the first time, the beloved rock icon reveals his side of the story with no-holds-barred honesty, and no regrets. For KISS fans, Ace offers a rare behind-the-makeup look at the band’s legendary origins and unspoken divisions—Ace and Peter Criss versus Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.

He also reveals the inside story behind his turbulent breakup with KISS, their triumphant reunion a decade later, and his smash solo career. In the end, Ace comes to terms with his highly publicized descent into alcohol, drugs, and self-destruction—ultimately managing to conquer his demons and come out on top.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a booksigning event only. Signing tickets are free when you purchase No Regrets at Changing Hands Bookstore. Sorry, but books purchased elsewhere will not be permitted. (Can’t bring your own popcorn to the movies, or your own beer to a bar, right? Same with books! Thanks for understanding.)

1 TICKET 1 ADMISSION | NO MEMORABILIA | NO PHOTOGRAPHS | NO CAMERAS | NO REGRETS BOOKSIGNING ONLY

Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283

Scott Kolins appears at Atomic Comics on August 14, 2011 from 1-4pm!

Atomic Comics
3155 West Chandler Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226

Press Release:

FOX INVITES FANS TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OF “TERRA NOVA”

“JOURNEY TO TERRA NOVA” INTERACTIVE FAN EXPERIENCE KICKS OFF THURSDAY, JULY 21, AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON AND TRAVELS TO 20 ADDITIONAL MARKETS AROUND THE U.S.

ENTER FOR CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA DURING THE EXPERIENCE OR AT FOX.COM/TERRANOVA/SWEEPSTAKES

“Countdown to TERRA NOVA” Facebook App Launches Friday, July 22

TERRA NOVA Premieres Monday, September 26, on FOX

In celebration of the highly anticipated series premiere of TERRA NOVA, FOX invites fans to embark on a dino-sized interactive adventure. The “Journey to TERRA NOVA” fan experience kicks off Thursday, July 21, at the Comic-Con Interactive Lot at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, and will travel to 20 additional markets around the U.S. this summer and early fall.

This branded, solar-powered bus will house an interactive video green screen, where fans can digitally insert themselves into a scene from the series and then share it with friends via social media outlets by visiting www.journeytoterranova.com. Visitors to the mobile experience can watch an exclusive sneak peek of the show, relax while enjoying a futuristic oxygen bar and receive limited edition TERRA NOVA mini-posters.

Fans can also collect exclusive TERRA NOVA Pilgrimage Badges. These limited-edition badges are available at San Diego Comic-Con and throughout the duration of the tour. Fans can also join in on the fun by checking in to TERRA NOVA via GetGlue to unlock these Pilgrimage Stickers. (Be sure to include #terranova when checking in.) Different stickers will be available each day Thursday through Sunday, and additional badges and stickers will be available throughout the tour this summer and fall.

Visitors to the bus, as well as to www.fox.com/terranova/sweepstakes, who are 18 years of age and over, can enter for a chance to win a trip to Australia, where TERRA NOVA is filmed, as part of National Geographic Channel’s “An Expedition to Another World.” The winner of this 10-day high-adventure trip Down Under could snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, visit historical Aboriginal sites, go whitewater rafting down the Barron River and hike in Kakadu National Park, among other adventures. No purchase necessary. For eligibility requirements, complete rules and more information, visit www.fox.com/terranova/sweepstakes.

Starting this Friday, fans can visit www.facebook.com/TerraNovaonFOX to interact with the “Countdown to TERRA NOVA” Facebook app. This unique countdown experience will feature more than 60 new pieces of original scripted content, one released every day until the series premiere on Monday, Sept. 26. Content includes video newscasts, government propaganda pieces and public service announcements from 2149, as well as prequel video interviews with the Shannon family before they journey across time.

Following Comic-Con, the “Journey to TERRA NOVA” mobile experience will depart on a two-month tour across the continental U.S., stopping at the following markets (specific locations to be announced):

City Date

San Diego, CA                                    Thursday, July 21 – Sunday, July 24

Las Vegas, NV                                    Tuesday, July 26

San Francisco, CA                             Wednesday, Aug. 3

Los Angeles, CA                                 Friday, Aug. 5 – Wednesday, Aug. 10

Phoenix, AZ                                        Friday, Aug. 12

Dallas, TX                                           Tuesday, Aug. 16 – Wednesday, Aug. 17

Houston, TX                                        Thursday, Aug. 18

New Orleans, LA                                Saturday, Aug. 20

Chicago, IL                                          Wednesday, Aug. 24

St. Louis, MO                                      Friday, Aug. 26

Nashville, TN                                      Sunday, Aug. 28

Orlando, FL                                         Thursday, Sept. 1

Atlanta, GA                                         Monday, Sept. 5

Charlotte, NC                                      Thursday, Sept. 8

Cincinnati, OH                                    Monday, Sept. 12

Pittsburgh, PA                                     Wednesday, Sept. 14

Washington, D.C.                                Saturday, Sept. 17

Baltimore, MD                                     Sunday, Sept. 18

Boston, MA                                         Wednesday, Sept. 21

Philadelphia, PA                                  Friday, Sept. 23

New York, NY                                     Saturday, Sept. 24 – Monday, Sept. 26

Travel back in time for the special two-hour debut event of TERRA NOVA on Monday, Sept. 26 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), and catch the series’ time period premiere Monday, Oct. 3 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The ambitious series follows the Shannons, an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. Become a fan of TERRA NOVA on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/terranovaonfox and follow the series on Twitter at @terranovaonfox.

TERRA NOVA is produced by 20^th Century Fox Television, Chernin Entertainment, DreamWorks Television and Kapital Entertainment. Peter Chernin, Steven Spielberg, René Echevarria, Brannon Braga, Aaron Kaplan, Katherine Pope, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Jon Cassar, Craig Silverstein and Kelly Marcel serve as executive producers. Alex Graves serves as executive producer and directed the series premiere.

Marat Mychaels signs at Atomic Comics in Mesa, AZ on Wednesday March 30th from 1-5pm.

Atomic Comics
1120 South Country Club #106, Mesa, AZ

Jonathan Hickman and friends appear at Atomic Comics locations to celebrate the launch of FF #1 on Wed. Mach 23rd!

Artists scheduled to appear:
Mesa:
Benjamin Glendenning 9a-2p
Brandon James 2p-9p

Phoenix/PV:
Sam Laggren 10a-3p
Justin Miller 1p-5p
Frank Jordan 3p-7p

Phoenix/Metrocenter:
April Reyna 10a-2p
Cierra Wiley 2p-9p

Chandler:
Patrick Scherberger 10a-2p
JP Manz 3:30p-7:30p

Sketches from these local artists with a purchase of the blank cover variant AND a $5.00 donation to the Hero Initiative.

Press Release:

Make Way For Some Comic Book Super Stars!

Jim Calafiore and Ethan Van Sciver to attend Phoenix Comicon 2011

JANUARY 1, 2011 Phoenix, AZ: Comic book pencillers and inkers Jim Calafiore and Ethan Van Sciver are among many of the guests who are to be present at Phoenix Comicon 2011. Jim Calafiore is known for his work on Marvel Comics Exiles, and DC Comics’ Aquaman. Ethan Van Sciver is best known for illustrating a number of titles including Green Lantern, New X-Men, and The Flash: Rebirth.

Jim Calafiore broke in to comics in 1989 at independent publisher Caliber Press before finding work at Marvel and DC. After

working on Marvel’s Exiles for the last few years, in 2007 he moved to DC to contribute to Countdown. He is currently having fun playing in the Bat-Universe, drawing Gotham Underground and Batgirl for DC Comics.

“Since Jim first started, he has drawn just about every character he could hope to. Amazing!” said Matt Solberg, Convention Direcor.

Returning to Phoenix Comicon next year is Ethan Van Sciver, who is known for a number of comics and illustrations throughout the years. Most notably New X-Men and Green Lantern. Van Sciver is well known for his realistic and “eye popping” artwork.

“It’s great to have him back for another year!” said Jillian Squires, Marketing Director.

Phoenix Comicon is the signature pop culture event of the southwest, presenting guests and programming for hobbyists by attracting the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, tv, and gaming industries. Entering its tenth year, Phoenix Comicon is expected to draw over 20,000 attendees to its May 26-29, 2011 convention held at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix.

For more information, please visit www.phoenixcomicon.com