Independent Propaganda

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LOST GIRLS JAN 1ST RELEASE IN THE UK AND EU (AND OTHER TOP SHELF NEWS)
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Hey Comics Fans,

A few cool announcements in Top Shelf land:

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LOST GIRLS FINALLY RELEASED
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPEAN UNION!
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On January 1st, Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie’s LOST GIRLS will finally be
released in the United Kingdom and European Union. FAIR WARNING: Get your
copies quick, as the limited supply will most likely disappear within a few weeks.

LOST GIRLS Cover and Preview Pages Here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=219

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TOP SHELF WEBSITE UPDATED FOR 2008!
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The Top Shelf 2008 Schedule (thru August) has been uploaded to the Top
Shelf website. Check out the completely updated catalog section here:

TOP SHELF CATALOG:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12

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SOLICITED IN THE CURRENT JANUARY DIAMOND PREVIEWS CATALOG
(FOR BOOKS SHIPPING IN MARCH):
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HIERONYMUS B.
by Ulf K.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=604

Top Shelf is proud to be one of the five international publishers
simultaneously releasing HIERONYMUS B., the all-new graphic novel from
the award-winning German cartoonist, Ulf. K. Winner of Max and Moritz Prize
for Best Cartoonist at the International Comic Salon in Erlangen, Ulf K. is
best known for his endearing silent stories, and this graphic novel –
featuring tales of the loveable and humble clerk, Hieronymus B. — will
be sure to charm everyone. Ulf K. has been telling (silent) stories of
Hieromymus B. for ten years now, and it’s time that the American
comics audience got a glimpse of what this amazing cartoonist has been up to.
–
$14.95 (US), 64-page Hardcover, ISBN 978-1-60309-008-7

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NEW RELEASES — IN STORES NOW!
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OWLY (VOL 4): A TIME TO BE BRAVE by Andy Runton
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=18
(Finally — And Well Worth The Wait!)

OWLY (VOL 1): THE WAY HOME [REDESIGNED EDITION] by Andy Runton
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=425
(Gorgeous New Cover & Printed Totally On Recycled Paper!)

ESSEX COUNTY (VOL 2): GHOST STORIES by Jeff Lemire
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=25
(Don’t Skip This One — It’s Absolutely Amazing!)

LOWER REGIONS by Alex Robinson
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=21
(Pure Fun!)

YEARBOOK STORIES: 1976-1978 by Chris Staros
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=5&title=224
(Er-Ahem … All About Chris Staros!)

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AMERICANELF.COM BECOMES FREE!
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James Kochalka’s AmericanElf.com website has been redesigned, and the
full archives of the award-winning daily diary comic strip have been made
free for everyone. Now everyone can get their daily dose of Kochalka (and
all the archives) for free!

http://www.americanelf.com

To celebrate, we’ve made some special deals for the collections of
AMERICAN ELF:
BOOK 1: http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=5&title=393
BOOK 2: http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=5&title=523

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Hope everyone had a good Xmas, and we’re looking forward to seeing
“all y’all” in the New Year!

(Courtesy of Top Shelf)

(Courtesy of IDW)

All-New Speed Racer Series Drives the Iconic Anime Character into Uncharted Territory

IDW Publishing kicks off a brand-new era of Speed Racer with an innovative comic series

San Diego, CA (December 11, 2007)-Fans of the iconic Speed Racer know that the title character can drive-and fast (his car, after all, is named the Mach-5), but fast enough to travel through time?

Perhaps Speed can’t, but his legend is certainly one for the ages. And in January, IDW Publishing will take that concept into overdrive, debuting Speed Racer: Chronicles of the Racer, a monthly miniseries that will expand the decades-old mythos into exciting new directions as it tells the stories of Racers throughout the generations.

“There hasn’t been a Speed Racer in comics at least five years, and we’re taking it in a direction that it has never gone before,” says Chris Ryall, IDW publisher and editor-in-chief. “These stories expand the entire Speed Racer legend. We look at the Speed Racers of the past-incarnations throughout history, from the Roman times to the medieval era, and even the swashbuckling high seas.”

At the same time, fans will get their fix of the Speed Racer cast from the present, including favorites like Pops, Chim-Chim and Trixie. The series, Ryall says, will keep the best of the past by holding onto its spirit of adventure and remaining true to the feel of the old show, but with a more modern buff on its classic chassis.

“The series will be firmly rooted in the present, rather than in the 1960s,” Ryall says. “For instance, Speed’s mom will probably have a job outside of the kitchen.”

Handling creative duties will be animation and screenwriter Arie Kaplan, as well as artist Robby Musso, a fan-favorite from his work on one of IDW’s recent adapted-from-animation projects, The Transformers. Artist and IDW founder Alex Garner provides a special painted cover for the first issue, with Musso’s fellow Transformers artist E.J. Su handling a limited-edition retailer incentive cover.

Originally created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida in the 1960s, Speed Racer became one of the first successful anime franchises to cross over into the United States. Now, following IDW’s Speed Racer debut, a live-action movie of the classic cartoon will hit big screens in May 2008 from Warner Bros. Lionsgate has also announced plans for a new animated Speed Racer series, also for 2008, to air on Nickelodeon’s 24-hour cartoon channel Nicktoons.

ABOUT IDW PUBLISHING
IDW PUBLISHING is a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC, a revolutionary creative service company with a wide range of clients. Among its best-selling titles are Hasbro’s THE TRANSFORMERS; Paramount/CBS’s STAR TREK; Fox’s ANGEL; Konami’s METAL GEAR SOLID; and Peter David’s FALLEN ANGEL. IDW’s 30 DAYS OF NIGHT film from Sony Pictures was released in October 2007 and was the #1 movie in its first week of release. IDW has other films in development at Dimension Films and Paramount Pictures as well.

(Courtesy of Moonstone)

Two more new arrivals to toss at ya, plus some cool preorder items as well!

Arrivals:
BUCKAROO BANZAI: Return of the Screw TPB!
This book reprints the 3 issue mini series, plus has all kinds of
bonuses: alternate ending, unused covers, character dossiers, brand new
interview with Banzais creator, production stills
from the never filmed TV movie, etc!

WEREWOLVES: Dead Moon Rising.
All new howling prose stories!
As a special to the Moonstone faithful, if you use the code WWdmr50367
on the order form, you can save 20% off this book! Offer only good
until the end of January!

NEW PREORDERS:
*Capt Action LTD Ed Litho!

*Kolchak LTD Litho!

*Domino Lady: Sex as a Weapon LTD Ed HC!

ON-GOING PREORDERS:
*Doc Savage LTD ED Litho

*Avenger Chronicles LTD ED HC

*Avenger LTD Litho

*Tales of Zorro Ltd Ed HC

*Kolchak Papers Ltd Ed HC

(Courtesy of Moonstone

The Domino Lady:
“Sex as a Weapon”

Story: Nancy Holder, Chuck Dixon, etc.
Edited by: Lori Gentile
Interior Art: Ver Curtis
256pgs, Squarebound, 6” x 9”, $16.95
*(Book Market Ed: cover by Uwe Jarling): ISBN: (10) 1-933076-34-8
(13)978-1-933076-34-8
*(Direct Market Ed: cover by Jeff Butler):
1-933076-39-9/ 978-1-933076-39-3
*HC = $48.95: 1-933076-38-0/ 978-1-933076-38-6

A mystery hero like no other. With the most dangerous weapon of all…

Los Angeles, the 1930’s.
The city of angels. Attracting beautiful people from all over the world with its glitz and glamour. But just beneath the surface is a city stinking of corruption with criminal bosses and politicians squeezing the life out of the city.

Stunned and enraged by the murder of her crusading politician father, beautiful socialite Ellen Patrick becomes determined to bring her father’s killers to justice…at any cost. A talented Berkley graduate, she knows that to truly fight the men who killed her father she must break all the rules. Donning a distinctive white dress and a black domino mask, she becomes The Domino Lady, one of the sexiest –and most elusive—crime fighters of all time.

The greatest adventurers and detectives of all time join her;
THE PHANTOM,
SHERLOCK HOLMES,
THE BLACK BAT (The original inspiration behind the creation of Batman)
And AIRBOY!

Nine all-new tales of one of the world’s first female masked crime fighters, by Nancy Holder, Chuck Dixon, CJ Henderson, Martin Powell, Ron Fortier, James Chambers, Bobby Nash, Gail McCabe, Lisa Bandemer. Introduction: Mystery Writers of America Raven Award winner Joan Hansen!

** LIMITED ED HC: Exclusive to this edition extras: a sexy romp original Domino Lady story by Lisa Bandemer, a new Domino Lady radio script drama, a hot pin up section, and a photo of the Domino Lady! WOWZA!

Witchblade #112 from Top Cow

(W) Ron Marz (P) Rick Leonardi (I) Kevin Nowlan (Cov) Mike Mayhew

First Born epilogue issue! A new life has entered the world … but that life, as well as the world, might be in more than danger than ever before. Following the shocking events of First Born#3, who will protect Sara’s Pezzini’s baby from agents of the warring Darkness and Angelus? Is rookie Witchblade bearer Dani Baptiste anywhere near ready for the job?

First Born architect Ron Marz (Ion, Samurai: Heaven And Earth) is joined in the final of three very special First Born tie-in issues by the veteran art team of Rick Leonardi (JLA, Superman Returns), Kevin Nowlan (Batman: Black & White, Superman v. Aliens) and cover artist Mike Mayhew (Vampirella, The Pulse).

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 continuing series

(From a TOP COW Comics press release:)

Top Cow & Thunder Creek Launch TopCowGear.com!

Online Apparel Site Promises Huge Selection & High Quality!

July 27th, 2007

San Diego, CA – During their Friday evening panel at Comic-Con International: San Diego, Top Cow Productions Inc. announced a unique apparel venture with mass market manufacturer Thunder Creek. The new licensing deal will mark the creation of a direct-to-consumer online apparel website www.TopCowGear.com.

The website will feature various apparel items including t-shirts, polo shirts, and sweat shirts featuring various Top Cow characters, logos, and properties while giving the consumer the opportunity to customize their clothing item and select from over 100 designs. The clothing will be manufactured, fulfilled, and the site maintained by Thunder Creek, one of the world’s leading mass market manufacturers of t-shirts and other clothing items with clients that include Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and Target, through their OnDemandApparel initiative. Thunder Creek also operates existing apparel websites for Chuck Norris (ChuckNorrisFacts.com) and Deville (DevilleUSA.com). The shirts for the new web site will all be printed on state of the art digital presses and www.TopCowGear.com is expected to go live in early August.

“This deal with Thunder Creek will allow us to offer shirts with more characters and logos then we could ever hope to do with a traditional t-shirt license,” explained Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Top Cow, Filip Sablik, “With tons of designs and shirt options fans will really be able to personalize their shirt for a unique look.”

“Partnering with Top Cow instantly gives the On Demand Apparel™ program a huge boost,” added Mike Horn, Head of Business Development for Thunder Creek. “With the depth of characters and art, and the long history of the brand, Top Cow is a fantastic partner for this product line.”

Additional information regarding Top Cow Gear can be found at www.TopCowGear.com and www.topcow.com.

Top Cow was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri who also co-founded Image Comics in the same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and 2 licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise Witchblade was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, The Darkness was developed into a major next generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and is scheduled for release in June 2007. Wanted is currently in production as a major motion picture from Universal starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, and Angelina Jolie and slated for release in 2008. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and role playing games.
Thunder Creek was founded in 1995 and produces high quality apparel that is sold in a wide variety of retail outlets. Thunder Creek has produced thousands of designs across dozens of properties. Thunder Creek operates a consumer On Demand Apparel™ business at www.SwagDog.com. For more information, visit: www.ThunderCreek.com.

Save 45% on the X-Wing Fighter!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
IN STOCK NOW!

Thank you for making 2007 such a wonderful year. Cheers to you this holiday season.

It’s never too late… wear a cape in 2008!

Benjamin