Hero Initiative Heads to Big WOW! ComicFest 2015

Press Release:

Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that helps comic creators in medical and financial need, will be attending San Jose’s Big WOW! ComicFest on April 18-19th at the San Jose Convention Center, 150 West San Carlos St. in San Jose.

Hero will be at booth #300 on the convention floor, and Hero Initiative Ambassadors on the con floor will collecting for Hero include: Brent Anderson, Dan Brereton, Dave Gibbons, Mick Gray, Rich Koslowski, Joseph Michael Linsner, John Livesay, Bill Morrison, Marat Mychaels, Paolo Rivera, and Chrissie Zullo. Make sure you stop by and do the right thing!

About The Hero Initiative:

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strict to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $700,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

CA – Kingsman Signing

Award-winning and best-selling artist Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen and Kingsman: The Secret Service, appears at Flying Colors Comics on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM! This event is co-hosted by Madefire.

RSVP on Facebook!

Flying Colors Comics
2980 Treat Blvd (at Oak Grove Rd), Concord, CA 94518
(925) 825-5410

Big Wow! ComicFest Returns to San Jose

Press Release:

Big Wow Comic Fest arrives to the San Jose Convention Center on April 18-19, 2015, bringing two days of comic books, art, collectable toys, sci-fi, fantasy, and celebrity FUN! Many of the nation’s best vendors of all things cool and collectible will tempt your wallets with the perfect gifts for geeks, nerds, fans and true collectors, everywhere!

As the original comic-friendly show, we have fantastic comic book creator guests spanning all decades and genres! This year we are pleased to welcome as our Featured Guests:

Jim Steranko (Legendary artist of Captain America & Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD)
Neal Adams (Legendary Illustrator of Superman, Batman, Avengers, X-Men, and lots more)
Dave Gibbons (Co-Creator of the classic comic “Watchman” made into a major Motion Picture)

Fan-Favorites: Art Adams (X-Men, Godzilla, and more), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons, Futurama, Disney Poster Artist), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Herb Trimpe (Co-Creator of Wolverine) and over 75 more confirmed and added to our website!

Meet, get autographs, and learn the secrets of Show Biz from our spectacular CELEBRITY GUESTS:

Tom Felton (Harry Potter’s “Draco Malfoy” and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes)
Daniel Cudmore (X-Men’s “Colossus”, and Twilight’s “Felix”)
Jake Lloyd (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’s “Anakin Skywalker” and Jingle All The Way)

Also appearing will be Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Gary Graham (Alien Nation, Star Trek: Enterprise), George “The Giant” (Big Fish), John Stanley (Creature Features) and more.

Admission is only:

•  1 Day Adult (15 and older) $25.00 and 2 Day Adult $35.00

• 1 Day Child (8-14) $10.00 and 2 Day Child $15.00 Children under 8 are Free!

Save $5.00 off tickets by purchasing them online at www.bigwowcomicfest.com or at participating comic book retailers.

 

NYC – Kingsman: The Secret Service Signing

Artist Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) appears at JHU Comic Books on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at noon for a special signing event of the smash hit comic Kingsman (The Secret Service). 

 

Press Release:

To celebrate the February 13th release of the Fox film, “Kingsman,” JHU Comic Books will be hosting a fantastic signing event! Come meet these two fan-favorite talents and get your books signed!

There will be a limit of 5 items to get signed, per customer, on a first come first serve basis.

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE
Release: February 13, 2015
Action-Thriller
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Screenplay: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, based upon the comic book “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons
Producers: Matthew Vaughn, David Reid, Adam Bohling
Cast: Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Taron Egerton, and Michael Caine

Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

RSVP on Facebook!

JHU Comic Books MANHATTAN
32 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016
(212) 268-7088

UK – Kingsman: The Secret Service Signing

Writer Mark Millar and artist Dave Gibbons will be celebrating the cinema release of Kingsman: The Secret Service with signing of the original Graphic Novel at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 31st January at 1:00pm.

Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

Mark Millar is the award-winning writer/ creator of Wanted and Kick-Ass and worked as an executive producer on their subsequent movie adaptations. He is also the Creative Consultant for Twentieth Century Fox in Los Angeles, overseeing their upcoming Marvel movies. His ten years at Marvel produced Civil War, the biggest-selling series of the decade, and The Ultimates, credited by screen-writer Zak Penn as his inspiration for The Avengers movie. His Millarworld company has expanded in the last few years to include Kick-Ass 2, Hit-Girl, The Secret Service, Nemesis, War Heroes, American Jesus, Supercrooks and Superior. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Glasgow Caledonia University for his services to film and literature.

Dave Gibbons is one of Britain’s finest comic artists, whose most famous work is the multi-award- winning Watchmen. Since then he has drawn series including Batman, Doctor Who and Give Me Liberty, and has written Batman vs. Predator, Green Lantern and World’s Finest, as well as his own graphic novel The Originals.

Due to time restraints, Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons will only be signing copies of Kingsman: The Secret Service graphic novels.

Forbidden Planet London Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

Baltimore Comic-Con Report!

Who watches the Watchmen? A few hundred people at least, all of whom were in line ahead of me at last month’s Baltimore Comic-Con (Sept. 5-7) for Dave Gibbons’s autograph.

Gibbons is, of course, the artist behind Watchmen, the 12-issue miniseries published by DC in the mid-80s. The accolades heaped on Watchmen are as legendary as the series itself. It was the only graphic novel to appear on Time‘s 2005 “100 Greatest Novels” list, and it appeared again in 2009 on the magazine’s “Top 10 Graphic Novels” list. In 2008, Entertainment Weekly ranked Watchmen thirteenth on its list of the best 50 novels printed in the last 25 years, calling it “the greatest superhero story ever told and proof that comics are capable of smart, emotionally resonant narratives.”

I have loved Watchmen since it came out, and when I saw that Gibbons, who lives in the UK, would be in Baltimore, I booked my flight immediately. By “flight,” I mean I got up at 5:00am and drove the six hours from Raleigh, NC, passing through Washington just miles from the White House and getting stuck in horrendous construction-related traffic that even President Obama is, apparently, powerless to prevent. Other great artists and writers were there, including Steve Leialoha, Walter and Louise Simonson, Greg Capullo, David Finch, and Al Milgrom, who does few conventions these days. Denny O’Neil left early due to a family emergency, and the wait for George Perez was four hours (!), according to one woman who endured it.

But Gibbons was, for me, the star of the show. I waited about an hour in his line, and when I got to the table, I found him to be gracious, funny, and down-to-earth. He was impressed by my Graphitti edition Watchmen hardcover (the first graphic novel version of the series) and my Marvel Comics Doctor Who #1 (for the wife, a consecrated Whovian). But he oohed and ahhed—actually, we all did—over something another guy had: the 1994 computer game Beneath a Steel Sky, still in the box. Gibbons did the background art for this game, and he said he had never signed a copy before. Get it on eBay, young man!

The Baltimore Comic-Con has long been a two-day affair. This was its first year spanning a third day, and everyone I talked to thought it a success. Vendors especially were pumped-up because their rate stayed roughly the same despite the extra day. They also praised the convention staff for being responsive and professional. Sales were good, too: one dealer sold an Action Comics #252 (first appearance of Supergirl) for $900.

Dr. Chilton, the captor/tormentor of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, says that Baltimore “can be quite a fun town, if you have the right guide.” The only guide I needed was the folks at this year’s Comic-Con. As you are planning your convention schedule for next year, mark down September 25-27 in Baltimore. It won’t be a baaa-d decision.

They don’t look like minions, but I’ll take their word for it.

Deadpool doing what Deadpool does.

Hello, Walter Simonson!

Hello, Louise Simonson!

Don’t blink. Or wink. Or think about blinking or winking. Especially when drinking.

The line to see Dave Gibbons.

And, finally, Dave Gibbons, holding my newly-signed Watchmen hardcover (which, if it were shirt, I would never wash again).

Hero Initiative Will Have Exclusives, Parties, and Special Guests at SDCC 2014

Press Release:

Hero Initiative at San Diego Comic Con

With Overstreet exclusive and CGC Signings plus two great parties: Stone Brewing’s Hop-con and LA Times Hero Complex!

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 16, 2013) – The Hero Initiative, the charitable organization dedicated to helping veteran comic creators in medical or financial need, is travelling into Comic-Con International in San Diego July 23-27 at the San Diego Convention center. We have exclusives, parties and special guests throughout the weekend at booth #5003 that you will not want to miss!

It’s an anniversary for the Hero Initiative and The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. This year marks the fifth consecutive year Gemstone Publishing and Hero have teamed up to raise money for comic creators in need. Harkening back to the character’s earliest appearances, Wolverine is featured with the Hulk and Wendigo on the cover for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #44 Hero Initiative Edition. Returning even further to Wolverine’s roots, the Hero-exclusive cover is illustrated by Herb Trimpe, who teamed with a pair of superstars, inker Tom Palmer and colorist Laura Martin, for the piece. Gemstone Publishing’s Creative Director Mark Huesman designed the logo and trade dress.

This exclusive, 500-copy, limited hardcover edition will go on sale at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Wednesday, July 23, at our booth. An extremely limited number of copies will be available from Hero’s website and through a select group of participating retailers. There will be no softcover edition of this version, and it will retail for $35.

We hope to see you to kick things off Wednesday night—if you already have your ticket for Hop-Con 2.0: The w00tstout Launch Festival! The great event put on by Stone Brewing Co. is sold out, and features an amazing exclusive w00tstout beer with label drawn by the legendary Dave Gibbons! Make sure and get your tickets early for NEXT year!

Fans who like to get their books signed and authenticated by CGC for Signature Series will definitely want to check out Hero’s exclusive signing with 17 top creators! Hero is the exclusive CGC Signature Series facilitator at the con for Amanda Conner, Chuck Dixon, Kevin Eastman, Dave Gibbons, Sina Grace, Brian Haberlin, Dan Jurgens, Andy Lanning, Ken Lashley, David Lloyd, Ron Marz, Danny Miki, Denny O’Neil, Jimmy Palmiotti, Louis Simonson, Walt Simonson and Chip Zdarsky!

Bring your books to the CGC booth, #901, NO later than Friday, July 25 at 5 p.m. Cost is $38 plus return shipping, and you don’t have to wait in lines!

And some great friends of Hero will be appearing at our booth, #5003, as well. Check out Ken Lashley on Thursday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., and Dan Jurgens on Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. and Denny O’Neil Friday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

About The Hero Initiative

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book artists and craftsmen in need. Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $500,000 to the comics veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.HeroInitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

UK – Chaos City Comics Signing

Dave Gibbons, Monty Nero, Marc Laming, Chris Wildgoose, and Matt Harrower sign at Chaos City Comics on Saturday 12 July at 2:00 pm!

Chaos City Comics
High Street
AL3 4EB London, United Kingdom
44 1727 838719

UK – The Secret Service Signing

Press Release:

DAVE GIBBONS appears to sign THE SECRET SERVICE at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 22nd March from 3:00 – 4:00 pm!

Two masters of the form, Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, have come together to produce this remarkable new graphic novel from Millar and Hollywood director Matthew Vaughn, set in the aftermath of the 2011 riots that fractured London. The film based on the graphic novel, and directed by Vaughn, will be released in UK cinemas in March 2015.

Gary’s life is going nowhere. He lives in public housing with his mother and spends his nights carousing with his friends. But Gary’s Uncle Jack has taken a different path – one of glamour, danger and mystery. When Jack is called upon to get his nephew out of trouble one last time, their lives are going to intersect in a way neither of them could have foreseen. From the creative team of Mark Millar (Kick-Ass), Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) and Matthew Vaughn (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; Snatch; Layer Cake; Stardust; Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class) comes this highly anticipated and superlative work.

Dave Gibbons is one of Britain’s finest comic artists, whose most famous work is the multi-award- winning Watchmen. Since then he has drawn series including Batman, Doctor Who, and Give Me Liberty, and has written Batman vs. Predator, Green Lantern, and World’s Finest, as well as his own graphic novel The Originals.

Forbidden Planet London Megastore
179  Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

IDW Crosses the Pond to London Super Comic Con 2014

Press Release:

The 2014 convention season gets rolling for IDW Publishing this month at the London Super Comic Convention in the U.K.! Bringing their infamous selection of great creator-owned titles, licensed comics, and stunning art books, IDW is excited to kick off their 15^th anniversary year in London!

Throughout the convention you’ll be able to stock up on everything from single issues you might have missed to Artist’s Editions at the IDW booth located in the Central Publisher Spotlight Arena.

Join IDW CCO & Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall and VP of Marketing Dirk Wood at the booth all weekend, and don’t miss their IDW Publishing Panel, featuring Dave Gibbons of Watchmen fame! Among all sorts of other hijinx, the panel will include the grand reveal of pages from IDW’s upcoming Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen: Artifact Edition!

LONDON SUPER COMIC-CON 2014
IDW EVENT SCHEDULE!

Come to IDW’s booth for the greatest mix of creator-owned comics, licensed comics, mind boggling art books and Artist’s Editions you’ll find anywhere! Signings by Stephen Mooney (Half Past Danger) and Vassilis Gogtzilas (The Adventures of Augusta Wind)! Come find an employee at the IDW booth for details! And ask about pre-signed My Little Pony comics from Katie Cook! And check the show’s Portfolio Review schedule, to get your artwork reviewed by Chris Ryall!

SIGNING AT THE IDW BOOTH!

Saturday March 15^th 

14:00 – 15:00  The Adventures of Augusta Wind – Vassilis Gogtzilas

15:00 – 16:00  Half Past Danger – Stephen Mooney

Sunday March 16^th 

12:00 – 13:00  Half Past Danger – Stephen Mooney

14:00 – 15:00 The Adventures of Augusta Wind – Vassilis Gogtzilas

And don’t miss the BIG IDW Panel!

Saturday March 15th 
IDW Invades!
16:00 PM – 16:45 PM, Panel Room 2
Take a behind-the-scenes look at some of the amazing projects coming from IDW in 2014 with your hosts IDW Editor-in-Chief and CCO Chris Ryall, VP of Marketing Dirk Wood, and very special guest Dave Gibbons! With major announcements, an open Q&A, plenty of prizes to win, and a chance to be among the first to hear first-hand what you can expect from IDW this year, this panel cannot be missed!

2014 is set to be a huge year for IDW, come be a part of it starting with London Super Comic-Con!

London Super Comic Convention is taking place on March 15 & 16, at the Excel Centre in London.

www.londonsupercomicconvention.com

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