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

CAPS Launches Stan & Sharon Sakai Benefit Auction on March 6th

**UPDATE** Auctions begin TODAY on eBay starting at 5PM PST/8PM EST at the link!!

Press Release:

CAPS TO LAUNCH ART AUCTION FEATURING ORIGINAL WORKS BY MATT GROENING, JACK DAVIS, MIKE MIGNOLA, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, ADAM HUGHES AND HUNDREDS MORE TO BENEFIT FELLOW CARTOONIST STAN SAKAI AND FAMILY

On Thursday, March 6, 2014, Southern California’s CAPS, the Comic Art Professional Society, will launch an ongoing series of eBay auctions of original comic art. Its goal is to raise funds for medical care for Sharon Sakai, the wife of respected cartoonist and longtime CAPS member Stan Sakai, creator of the samurai rabbit USAGI YOJIMBO. Sharon has been battling a debilitating brain tumor for some time; after an extended hospital stay and convalescence, she is currently at home, but her condition requires 24-hour care and medicine that costs more than the Sakai’s insurance covers. 100% of the proceeds of these auctions will go directly to Stan and Sharon Sakai to help pay their ongoing medical expenses.

The CAPS auctions will be conducted through eBay.com beginning on Thursday, March 6, with a new set of auctions every following Thursday. Each auction, sold under the seller name of “CAPSauction”, will be ten days in length with twenty to forty items in each set of auctions. The donations of original artwork and collectibles (including newly created art unique to this event, vintage comic book pages, comic strips, illustrations, animation art, limited edition statues, and IDW Artist’s editions books) number over three hundred with new items arriving every day.

Contributors include: Adam Hughes, Alex Maleev, Arthur Adams, Batton Lash, Eric Powell, Jan Duursema, Jerry Ordway, Jordi Bernet, Matt Groening, Michael Allred, Mike Mignola, Paul Gulacy, Sanjuliàn, Scott Shaw!, Jim Steranko, Tim Sale, William Stout, Bill Sienkiewicz, Cameron Stewart, Dan Brereton, Daniel Parsons, Dave Gibbons, Dean Yeagle, Doug Sneyd, Dustin Nguyen, Bill Morrison, Tone Rodriguez, Sergio Aragonés, Fabio Moon, Francisco Francavilla, Gene Ha, Geof Darrow, Gilbert Hernandez, Jack Davis, James O’Barr, Kevin Eastman, Jeff Lemire, Jeff Smith, Kazu Kibuishi, Liam Sharp, Tom Richmond, Michael Jantze, Olivia, Oscar Martin, Paul Chadwick, Richard Corben, Tom Mandrake, Walter Simonson, Charles Vess, Dan Spiegle, J. Scott Campbell and many more.

Many of the pieces featuring Usagi Yojimbo will appear in a new oversized hardcover book from Dark Horse, THE SAKAI PROJECT: ARTISTS CELEBRATE THIRTY YEARS OF USAGI YOJIMBO, which will be released on July 23, 2014. All proceeds from this book will go to Stan and Sharon Sakai. Much of the custom Usagi Yojimbo art created for this book will also be sold as a part of CAPS’ online auctions.

These fund-raising auctions will be promoted through ComicArtFans.com, and the CAPS – COMIC ART PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY Facebook page where you will be able to see updated information such as when certain pieces will be auctioned.

Capullo, Finch, Prado, and Reis Added to Baltimore Comic-Con 2014

Press Release:

Baltimore Comic-Con Announces Banner List of All-Star Artists!

Capullo, Finch, Prado, and Reis Join the 3 Day Party!

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – February 10, 2014 – Year after year, the staff at the Baltimore Comic-Con strives to make our show bigger and better, and our 15th annual event will be no different. The premiere 3-day gala occurs the weekend of September 5-7, 2014!

Our announced guests today are noteworthy for their artistic contributions to the industry, and specifically their recent work at DC Comics.

After some initial success at small-press publisher FantaCo, Greg Capullo landed work in the 1990s at Marvel Comics on titles such as Quasar, What If..?, and X-Force. Todd MacFarlane approached Capullo to do work for him at Image Comics on MacFarlane’s Spawn, which led to a run on the title, spin-offs, and other notable titles under the Image umbrella including Haunt and Capullo’s The Creech. DC Comics wooed Capullo to take over art duties on Batman during their New 52 relaunch, a run that went on to earn great accolades.

Joining us from Canada, David Finch received recognition for his early work at Top Cow Productions on titles such as Cyberforce, Ascension, and Aphrodite IX. He then went on to spend a number of years at Marvel Comics, working on blockbuster titles including Ultimate X-Men, Avengers (and the relaunched New Avengers), and Moon Knight before jumping into an exclusive contract with DC Comics in 2010 where he flexed his writing muscles as well as his drawing skills on Batman: The Dark Knight. He is currently working on DC’s Forever Evil.

The Brazilian team of Ivan Reis and Joe Prado will also return to the Baltimore Comic-Con in 2014! Reis began his career at Dark Horse with a long run on Ghost and follow-up work on The Mask, Time Cop, and Xena. He has worked on Marvel titles like Avengers, Iron Man, and Defenders, and at DC on Action Comics, Teen Titans, and Superman. Prado’s line work has graced the pages and covers of DC Comics’ Superman, Teen Titans, Birds of Prey, and Rann/Thanagar War. Together, they are currently working on Justice League and Aquaman and The Others, also from DC Comics.

“We love what these gentlemen have brought to the DC Comics Universe, and comics art in general,” commented Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome them back, and we know our fans will be thrilled to hear they’ll be joining us again!”

This year’s previously confirmed guests for the show include: Marty Baumann (Pixar artist); Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl); Dave Bullock (Batman Black and White); Bernard Chang (Green Lantern Corps); Sean Chen (Amazing Spider-Man); Jimmy Cheung (Infinity); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (X-Men: Battle of the Atom); Richard Clark (House of Gold & Bones); Steve Conley (Bloop); Alan Davis (Wolverine); Tommy Lee Edwards (Suicide Risk); Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys); Dave Gibbons (Watchmen); Bryan JL Glass (Mice Templar); Michael Golden (The Ravagers); Cully Hamner (Animal Man); Dean Haspiel (The Fox); Fred Hembeck (Garfield); Adam Hughes (Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan); JG Jones (Green Lantern Corps, Batman Black and White); Justin Jordan (Luther Strode, Green Lantern: New Guardians); Barry Kitson (Empire); Aaron Kuder (Action Comics); David Mack (Shadowman); Kevin Maguire (Guardians of the Galaxy); Alex Maleev (Moon Knight); Ron Marz (Witchblade); Bob McLeod (X-Men: Gold); Tradd Moore (Deadpool Annual); Mark Morales (New Avengers); Dan Parent (Archie, Veronica, Kevin Keller); David Peterson (Mouse Guard); Eric Powell (The Goon); Brian Pulido (Lady Death); Budd Root (Cavewoman); Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man); Andy Smith (Superman #23.1: Bizarro); John K. Snyder III (Zorro Rides Again); Allison Sohn (sketch card artist); Charles Soule (Thunderbolts); Ben Templesmith (The Memory Collectors); Peter Tomasi (Batman and Two-Face); John Totleben (Swamp Thing); Herb Trimpe (GI Joe: A Real American Hero); Billy Tucci (Shi); Rick Veitch (Saga of the Swamp Thing); Matt Wagner (Grendel); Mark Waid (Daredevil); Bill Willingham (Fables); Renee Witterstaetter (Joe Jusko: Maelstrom); and Thom Zahler (My Little Pony).

In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry’s oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 9 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

Baltimore Comic-Con Announces First Appearances for 2014 Guests!

Press Release:

Baltimore Comic-Con Announces First Appearances for 2014 Guests!

Gibbons, Hembeck, Kuder, Maleev, and Totleben Come to Baltimore!

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – February 4, 2014 - Happy 2014 from the Baltimore Comic-Con!  Our show this year will be the 15th annual Baltimore Comic-Con, our premiere 3-day show, and our biggest event ever, which will be held the weekend of September 5-7, 2014!

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