FL – Thanos Rising Signing

Writer Jason Aaron signs at A Comic Shop on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 9:00 pm!

RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

JASON AARON, the writer of THANOS, THOR, and WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN will be at A Comic Shop signing books, eating, and drinking with you in the Geek Easy on Saturday June 1st!

His SCALPED for Vertigo was insanely good and critically acclaimed. His work on Wolverine is my favorite take on Logan. He’s rocking Ragnarok on Thor: God of Thunder. He even co-wrote Avengers vs X-Men!

He’ll sign your books, answer your questions, and drink your beer! So save the date! More will be announced as we get closer!

A Comic Shop
114 S. Semoran Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32792

Steam Engines of Oz Kickstarter Incentives Include an Afternoon in the Arcana Booth at SDCC 2013

Press Release:

THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ Roll Through Kickstarter

Arcana Studio suspends successful ongoing series to distribute next arc in “The Steam Engines of Oz” through Kickstarter.

(Los Angeles, California  May 6, 2013)  Arcana Studio has launched a revolutionary new campaign through KickStarter, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. The Vancouver-based studio is actually suspending its traditional distribution of the title, despite its very successful pre-orders and its incredibly well-received Free Comic Book Day performance, to distribute the next arc through Kickstarter instead.

“After witnessing for myself the huge number of people who turned out on Free Comic Book Day for our project,” says Arcana founder Sean Patrick O’Reilly, “we realized that there was a strong desire for this project, even more than our already great pre-orders had indicated, so we immediately rethought how we were going to get it into people’s hands.  Kickstarter seemed to be the perfect outlet for that.”

Created by O’Reilly (“Clockwork Girl”, “Pixies”) and Erik W Hendrix (“Deadly Harvest”, “The Evil Tree”), with art from Yannis Roumboulias (“Deadly Harvest”) and colors from Chandran (“Intrinsic”), “The Steam Engines of Oz” follows young Victoria Wright, who works beneath the Emerald City, making sure the vast machines below the city keep running. She finds out, however, that her actions, which seem so small, actually have much larger implications.  Along the way, we find out what happened to some of the beloved characters from “The Wizard of Oz” and other stories set in the Land of Oz, as well as meeting new characters.

“We’re crafting the story in such a way that fans of the issues will receive the Kickstarter novel and continue their journey or new fans can jump on directly with the Kickstarter content,” says co-creator Hendrix.  “Seeing how excited people were for our book on Free Comic Book Day, SteamPunk events, and other, traditionally non-comic locations, we knew there had to be a different way to get our book out there to people who already knew about it, and others who just don’t have access to a local store.”

The story that begins in the Free Comic Book Day issue will continue through the already solicited issues 1-3, but then the journey will pick up in the Kickstarter Original Graphic Novel, available exclusively first to those who support and back the project through Arcana’s Kickstarter campaign.

O’Reilly and Hendrix reach out to fans of comic books, steam punk or the wonderful world of Oz, “We could have easily continued this in a more traditional way in print, because the sales were certainly there to justify it, but we wanted to really do it in a new and exciting way, a way that allows us to place it directly in the hands of the people who want it most.”
Arcana is offering a wide variety of awards to backers ranging from digital downloads of the comic to original art from the artist or even space at the Arcana booth at San Diego Comic Con.   Please visit http://kck.st/17HUzbK for all the details and to support Arcana’s efforts and to learn more about Arcana Studio, like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ArcanaStudios.

About Arcana – Arcana owns one of the world’s largest libraries of graphic novels and comics, with over 250 original intellectual properties, hundreds of graphic novels and a treasure trove of thousands of characters. Arcana’s high quality branded entertainment is filled with characters and stories that transcend gender age, cultural and geographic boundaries.  Arcana is also producing feature films such as The Clockwork Girl and Pixies and episodic television series including Kagagi: The Raven. Taking a transmedia approach to brand building and intellectual properties, Arcana’s stories can live successfully on traditional and new media platforms. Arcana Studio Inc. remains independent of major entertainment studio affiliation.  For more information, please visit www.arcana.com.

TX – Chin Music Signing

Horror master writer Steve Niles signs at Austin Books & Comics on Wednesday, May 8th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm for the premiere of his new Image Comics series, Chin Music #1! RSVP on Facebook!

We’re thrilled to welcome back our friend (and recent Austinite) for an evening of gangsters, gore, and guffaws with an appropriate crime noir musical playlist during the signing and The Godfather playing in our Back Issue Room to set the mood.

Mike Zeck to Appear at Wizard World New York City Experience in June 2013

Press Release:

Mike Zeck to Appear at “Wizard New York Experience” in June!

Michael J. Zeck, renowned comic book illustrator and storyteller, is making a rare convention appearance at Wizard World NYC Experience.

A heavy-hitter in the comics industry, and influencing generations of artists, one would have to argue which of Mike’s series has been the most influential, or which is embossed most deeply in our pop culture:

Zeck’s epic six part story “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” with J.M. Dematteis and Bob McLeod, springs immediately to mind. This groundbreaking series took the Spider-man character to a whole new level, and has been touted by readers as the “Greatest Spider-man story of all time,” in recent polls.

Considered one of “the” Punisher artists, Zeck’s work with writer Steven Grant on the character–collected as “Circle of Blood”–sets the standard for the look and feel of the Punisher and propelled him to flagship character status at Marvel. In fact, along with air-brush artist Phil Zimmelman, Mike has created some of the most recognizable painted images of the Punisher ever made;

The Limited Series “Secret Wars,” set the comic book readership on their ears, and brought a new black-and-white costume design for Spider-man (designed by Zeck) which is still recognizable and indelible to this day. Spider-man wore the costume temporarily, and it still lives on in the form of the super-villain, Venom.

In short, when you stop and think of the t-shirts sporting Zeck images, the homages to his covers, the lineage of his storytelling, you need a long sheet of paper to start writing them down.

Michael J. Zeck it seems, always knew he would work in the arts. Born in Pennsylvania and growing up in South Florida, he later attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, his eye always on working in the sequential art field. He began that career at Charlton Comics with their animation-related line of comics leading to horror titles, later moving on to Marvel Comics. Some of his first work at Marvel included “Master of Kung Fu” and “Captain America,” with many more titles, at numerous companies, to follow from there.

Zeck’s work has graced the pages and covers of “Aquaman,” “Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight,” “Green Lantern,” “G.I. Joe,” “G.I. Joe: Special Missions,” “Lobo,” “Deathstroke The Terminator,” “The Eliminator” and too many titles to mention here.

As part of the VIP package at the NYC Experience to commemorate this rare appearance, Zeck will be promoting his creator-owned project “Damned” (with writer Steven Grant), with a limited edition poster. A new collected edition of the series “Damned” will be published by BOOM! Studios this fall.

For more information on this appearance and Michael J. Zeck contact Eva Ink Artist Group at: evaink@aol.com

NYC – Molly Danger in the Club

Artist Jamal Igle appears on the Comic Book Club with hosts Pete LePage, Justin Tyler, and Alex Zalben on Tuesday May 7, 2013 at 7:00pm! Admission is free!

Press Release:

Join us this tuesday for another incredibly super night of COMIC BOOK CLUB LIVE at Fontana’s! First show of the month after an awesome weekend of Iron Man 3, Free Comic Book Day, and Cinco De Mayo! This week we will be joined by Molly Danger comic artist Jamal Igle… As well as free comics, prizes and the week in geek!

Fontana’s
105 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002

FL – Deadpool Signing

Comedian/writer Brian Posehn signs at Heroes Haven on Saturday May 11th from 1:00 till 3:00 pm!

Press Release: 

Actor, comedian, musician and comic book writer Brian Posehn will be visiting Heroes’ Haven the week after Free Comic Book Day! Right now Brian is known for writing the new DEADPOOL series from MARVEL COMICS and co-wrote the comic book ‘The Last Christmas’ with writer Gerry Duggan, published by Image Comics.

You also know him from shows like Comedy Central’s ‘The Sarah Silverman Program’ or in films like Grind, the 2005 Rob Zombie horror film ‘The Devil’s Rejects’, ‘Sleeping Dogs Lie’ and ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ just to mention a few. In 2006, Relapse Records released his first album, ‘Live In: Nerd Rage’. It includes “Metal by Numbers”, a song mocking bands that term themselves “metal” but are clearly not.

Heroes Haven
4339 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618
813-269-8859

Archaia to Offer Limited Editions of Rubicon at SDCC 2013 and NYCC 2013

Press Release:

ARCHAIA AND METEOR ANNOUNCE ‘RUBICON’ ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL

Akira Kurosawa’s ‘The Seven Samurai’ is reimagined through the lens of the Afghanistan War in this timely story featuring Navy SEAL operators

Los Angeles, CA (April 16, 2013) – Award-winning comic and game publishers Archaia Entertainment and Meteor Entertainment are proud to announce Rubicon, a hardcover, original graphic novel that reimagines one of the greatest movie epics of all time: The Seven Samurai. Developed as an homage to Akira Kurosawa’s peerless masterpiece, Rubicon is the story of a paramilitary SEAL team who defend a remote mountain farming village in Afghanistan from the torment of marauding Taliban. Rubicon blends timely themes of fate, hope, and courage with relentless action into a triumphant tale of honor won with loyalty and death. This powerfully realized book is written by New York Times best-selling graphic novel author and Meteor Entertainment (HAWKEN) president Mark Long (The Silence of Our Friends), from an idea by Oscar®-winning writer/director Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects), and from a story by SEAL Team VI and Red Cell veteran, Dan Capel. It is masterfully composed and illustrated by newcomer Mario Stilla, whose art projects kinetic force and intense emotion. In addition, the book features a Foreword by New York Times best-selling author and the original Commanding Officer of Seal Team VI, Richard Marcinko (Rogue Warrior).

“Rubicon is a project of pure passion by the four of us—from Chris’ brilliant idea to approach the Afghan war from a character-driven classic, to Dan’s invaluable insights into the emotions and ethos of tier-one operators, and to Mario’s classically rendered, Kurosawa-esque frames,” described Long. “For me, Rubicon mixes two great passions: to become an uncompromising art-house publisher of free-to-play games and transmedia; and to personally contribute creatively to that goal.”

“We are excited about this timely and relevant story about a mission that could have happened—and maybe did,” related Archaia President & COO Jack Cummins. “This book will appeal to fans of Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker, military gamers, military buffs, past and current members of the military, as well as the public interested in a behind-the-scenes look at how our front-line troops live and die together on behalf of others.”

The Rubicon hardcover graphic novel will also come packed with a pouch envelope containing exclusive artifacts and creative collateral from the world of Rubicon, including a reproduction of the tactical map the team uses, commendations and citations, and private correspondence.

“We weren’t interested in merely spouting generic stats and glossary terms,” explained Joe LeFavi of Quixotic Transmedia, who facilitated the Rubicon deal for Archaia and served as executive editor on the book. “We wanted to dig through the pockets of the soldiers right there in the action, so that you could better understand and appreciate their motivations from a unique and personal place.”

A very special, slipcased limited edition is available for purchase only on Archaia’s webstore (store.archaia.com) and Meteor’s HAWKEN website (playhawken.com/#universe), where collectors receive an additional $10 in Meteor Credits with purchase.

Limited editions will also be available at the Archaia booth at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif. (July 10-14) and New York Comic Con in New York, N.Y. (October 10-13), while supplies last.

Rubicon ($24.95, hardcover, 128 pages, full color, 6.625” x 10.25”) is available for pre-order now at your local comic book shop. To pre-order, provide your retailer with this Diamond Order Code: APR130799. To find your closest comic book shop, visit www.comicshoplocator.com. It is also available for pre-order through the Archaia webstore (store.archaia.com) and wherever books are sold (ISBN: 978-1-936393-97-8).

Archaia and Meteor previously collaborated on the original graphic novel HAWKEN: GENESIS, which is based on Meteor’s free-to-play, online video game, HAWKEN. It is available now in comic book shops and wherever books are sold.

About Archaia Entertainment, LLC

Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 75 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Rust, Cow Boy, Cursed Pirate Girl, Gunnerkrigg Court, and Artesia. Archaia has also published an entire line of graphic novels in partnership with The Jim Henson Company, including the multiple award-winning Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand and such beloved tales as The Dark Crystal, The Storyteller, and Fraggle Rock. Alongside these celebrated titles, Archaia has released English translations of numerous renowned foreign titles to much fanfare, including The Killer, Sergio Toppi’s Sharaz-De, and The Secret History.

In 2012, Archaia was honored with six Harvey Award nominations, two Harvey Awards, six Eisner nominations, and three Eisner Awards (Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand won for Best Graphic Album–New, Best Penciller/Inker, and Best Publication Design). Also in 2012, Archaia earned both Gold and Silver awards from ForeWord Reviews. Archaia was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations and two Eisner Awards for Best Graphic Album and Best Anthology.

In addition to its partnership with The Jim Henson Company, Archaia has forged creative partnerships with storytellers in all facets of the entertainment industry, resulting in print and digital expansions of such noted properties as Bleedout and HAWKEN (video games), Immortals and Planet of the Apes (film), and Space: 1999 (television).

Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation within the creator community for producing meaningful, transformative content, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels.

About Meteor Entertainment™
Based in Seattle, Meteor Entertainment is focused on successfully publishing free-to-play games globally, with an emphasis on compelling content and setting the standard for customer service and community engagement. Meteor Entertainment’s first title, HAWKEN, was developed by Adhesive Games. Download HAWKEN and play it for free at www.playhawken.com.

MA – Usagi Yojimbo & Way of the Ronin Lecture

Stan Sakai appears at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA on Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm! RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

Usagi Yojimbo comic series creator Stan Sakai and video-game company HappyGiant talk about the award-winning comic, new video game, and their creative processes.

*FREE tickets available, while supplies last, on the day of the event at 10 am, in person only, at any MFA ticket desk.  Please note capacity is limited.

The MFA has partnered with comic book creator Stan Sakai and video game company HappyGiant (in association with Dark Horse Comics) to develop in-game content for a special free version of its new video game based on the comic book Usagi Yojimbo: Way of the Ronin.  It is the first video game in 25 years featuring characters from the award-winning Usagi Yojimbo (“Rabbit Bodyguard”) comic book series, an epic saga about a masterless samurai (ronin) rabbit living at the turn of 17th-century Japan. Players who visit the MFA’s exhibition “Samurai!” gain access to a special passcode that will allow them to unlock a special level of the game.

About Stan Sakai:

Stan Sakai was born in Japan and, after spending much of his life in Hawaii, is currently based in Pasadena, California. In 1984, he created the saga of Usagi Yojimbo, a comic book inspired by the life of the famous 17th-century samurai, Miyamoto Musashi.  Usagi Yojimbo has earned four Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, a National Cartoonists Society Award, an American Library Association Award, and a Parent’s Choice Award. Usagi lives without a master during an age of unrest and political intrigue, wandering the land on a musha shugyo (warrior’s pilgrimage) and occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. His stories include many references to Japanese history and folklore, and the architecture, clothes, weapons, and other objects are faithfully drawn to Edo period (1603–1867) style. Usagi Yojimbo is heavily influenced by Japanese cinema and has included references to the work of Akira Kurosawa (the title of the series is derived from Kurosawa’s 1960 film Yojimbo) and to icons of popular Japanese cinema such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Zatoichi, and Godzilla.

About HappyGiant:

Video-game creator HappyGiant, a Massachusetts-based company, was founded by veterans of the George Lucas Companies, Pileated Pictures, and Atari.  HappyGiant projects include high-profile work for Hasbro, Jay-Z, and its own app Dolphin Paradise: Wild Friends.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Avenue of the Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5523
617-267-9300

CA – The Walking Dead 100 Exhibit

Sina Grace, Todd Nauck, and Jason Reeves appear at the Gusford Gallery on Friday May 31, 2013 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM!

Press Release:

Robert Kirkman’s Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, celebrated its 100th issue last July and the issue became the top-selling comic book of 2012. Last year, Skybound and The Hero Initiative gave the comic industry’s leading artists and visionaries over 100 blank covered issues of The Walking Dead #100 to create a set of remarkable artwork originals to commemorate this special issue of the groundbreaking Skybound/Image Comics series. Regular The Walking Dead series artist Charlie Adlard is among the contributors and now, for the first and last time ever, all 106 of the original sketch covers will be on display together — but for one night only. All of the artists came together to benefit The Hero Initiative, the comic book industry’s non-profit corporation helping comic creators in need. While The Walking Dead continues to break records in every form of media, it all started with the comic book and that will be celebrated at this special gallery show and auction.

To enhance the experience for attendees, The Walking Dead #100 original sketch cover artists Sina Grace (Not My Bag), Todd Nauck (Invincible Universe), and Jason Reeves (F-OO Fighters) will be in attendance to answer questions about their covers.

On Friday, May 31 at GUSFORD | los angeles from 6:00 – 9:00 PM, 7016 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, all comic fans are welcome to witness history in the making and in some cases, take a piece of it home. In addition to the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing all The Walking Dead #100 original sketch covers together for the first time ever, four covers will also be auctioned to benefit the industry’s favorite charity at the same time. Two covers will be auctioned via eBay during the course of the event, and attendees can bid via their own mobile devices. Another cover will be auctioned live, on-site for attendees. And in an unprecedented move, a fourth cover will be created live that night by artist Todd Nauck for auction during the event. All attendees at the GUSFORD event can watch Nauck, a comic master, live at work during the event as he creates the final and 106th original sketch cover.

The remainder of the covers will be auctioned off via eBay starting June 4.

Amazingly enough, there is no cost to attend this comic lover’s dream event. It’s free and open to the public but if you feel like more celebrating, there will also be a cash bar in place and zombie-styled treats courtesy of event collaborator and neighboring shop, Golden Apple Comics. We want you to save your money to bid on the covers instead of an entrance fee. The event is a gift from GUSFORD | los angeles and Skybound to benefit The Hero Initiative and the fine work they do as the first-ever federally chartered non-profit corporation dedicated to helping comic legends in need and providing a safety net for them.

For information on the event and auction, please visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626/676-6354. You can always find information for everything related to The Walking Dead at www.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com

 

 

Scene on the Web Weekly: April 29 – May 5, 2013

Mattel and NECA preview some SDCC exclusives, we get a look at the Pacific Rim footage from WonderCon, Some geeky girls get fed up and angry, and lots more.

Scene on the Web Weekly: April 29 – May 5, 2013

Storified by Convention Scene· Wed, May 01 2013 05:51:17

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