Independent Propaganda

(Courtesy of Boom! Studios)

KODY CHAMBERLAIN’S THE FOUNDATION SELLS OUT!

Strong Word of Mouth Drives Sales of the BOOM! Studios Mini-Series

Some Retailers Report “NORTH WIND” effect

LOS ANGELES- January 28th, 2008 - BOOM! Studios announced today that THE FOUNDATION #1 is completely sold out.

Written by John Rozum with art by Chee, THE FOUNDATION is the creation of Kody Chamberlain, who is most well known from his art duties on PUNKS, TAG, and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT: BLOODSUCKER TALES.

“I’m a big fan of high concepts, especially those that sit right on the edge of what’s possible. When I pitched THE FOUNDATION to Ross [Richie] at BOOM!, he saw the potential in the premise and got behind it one hundred percent,” said creator Kody Chamberlain. “Now, with the first issue selling out, I’m extremely pleased to find readers and retailers responding to the book as well. John Rozum and Chee are doing an amazing job on the first story arc, and I’m thrilled at how it’s all coming together.”

Released on December 12th, 2007, THE FOUNDATION #1 was overshipped to retailers by 20% and received a steady stream of re-orders. While THE FOUNDATION #1 may still be found at direct market retailers, both publisher BOOM! Studios and distributor Diamond Comics have no more copies in stock.

“THE FOUNDATION is a great book with a great hook. Who doesn’t want to read about people trying to stop Nostradamus’ predictions? Combined with strong reviews, this sell out comes as no surprise,” said Ross Richie, co-founder and CEO of BOOM! Studios.

The sell out of THE FOUNDATION #1 follows a series of critical praise for the book since its release, including the following:

“… deserves to be at the top of the pile.” - Newsarama

“…will definitely hook you for the next installment.” - Comics Bulletin

“BOOM! Studios has done it again…” - Eye On Comics

Some retailers reported a rise of interest in THE FOUNDATION #1 that coincided with BOOM! Studios’ historic online and in store simultaneous release of their other series, NORTH WIND, in conjunction with the MySpace Comic Book community.

“I guess what they say is true, a rising tide does lift all ships,” said Chip Mosher, Marketing and Sales Director for BOOM! Studios.

A five-issue miniseries created by Kody Chamberlain, THE FOUNDATION revolves around efforts to stop the unpublished prophecies of Nostradamus from coming to pass. The series is written by John Rozum with art by Chee. Paul Azaceta drew the cover for issue #1.

In June of last year, Paramount Pictures preemptively purchased the film rights to THE FOUNDATION.

BOOM! Studios is working closely with Diamond Comics Distributor and evaluating the demand for a second printing.

About BOOM! Studios

Winner of Wizard Magazine’s “Best New Publisher,” BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects from some of the industry’s biggest talents. Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.

BOOM! Studios co-founder Andrew Cosby’s television series EUREKA recently finished its second season at the Sci-Fi Channel, having launched to impressive ratings this past summer and consistently winning several key demographics on basic cable.  EUREKA is the highest-rated series in the Sci-Fi Channel’s history.

(Courtesy of Boom! Studios)

STEVE NILES INAUGURATES A NEW ERA OF TERROR

WITH THE LAUNCH OF BOOM! STUDIOS’ NEW MONTHLY CTHULHU TALES

Los Angeles - January 22nd, 2008 - Heed the call! Steve Niles inaugurates a new era of terror with the launch of BOOM! Studios’ new monthly anthology, CTHULHU TALES. Edited by Mark Waid, CTHULHU TALES builds on the three best-selling CTHULHU TALES one-shots that BOOM! Studios has published since its inception.

“Making CTHULHU TALES into a monthly anthology featuring my favorite comics writers and artists was a no-brainer decision. Getting Steve Niles–one of comics’ best-known modern horror writers–to kick off the first issue likewise only made sense,” said Mark Waid, BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief.  “And Steve delivered big.”

Steve Niles headlines the first issue, joined with writer Michael Alan Nelson, who is best-known for his work on FALL OF CTHULHU, and Tom Peyer (DC’S FLASH, SPIDER-MAN: HOUSE OF M). Variant covers will ship for each issue, with the first issue sporting covers by Patrick Ballesteros and Mateus Santolouco with the second issue featuring covers by Marco Rudy and Santolouco.  Each month, CTHULHU TALES and its rotating roster of writers will bring cutting-edge tales of the Old One with interior art by modern masters of the macabre.

This new CTHULHU TALES ongoing series marks BOOM! Studios’ second monthly title, fitting perfectly alongside its best-selling monthly, FALL OF CTHULHU.  BOOM! Studios’ horror titles have helped define the company. From its best-selling trio of CTHULHU TALES one-shots which includes CTHULHU TALES, CTHULHU TALES: RISING, CTHULHU TALES: TAINTED to BOOM!’s smash hit ZOMBIE TALES one-shots, BOOM! Studios has been the “go-to” publisher for quality horror.

“We are really excited about doing a new monthly title, and there is no better choice than to make CTHULHU TALES our next big monthly hit. Horror fans in the know have long realized that FALL OF CTHULHU is one of BOOM!’s best and, with the addition of CTHULHU TALES, our horror line just gets that much stronger,” said Chip Mosher, Marketing and Sales Director for BOOM! Studios.

CTHULHU TALES #1 is featured in this month’s January 2008 Diamond Previews catalogue and will ship in March of this year. CTHULHU TALES #1 Cover A has a Diamond Code of JAN083452 and Cover B has a Diamond Code of JAN083453. For those that missed the previous one-shots, CTHULHU TALES, CTHULHU TALES: RISING, and CTHULHU TALES: TAINTED are all offered again in the same Diamond Previews catalogue.

About BOOM! Studios

Winner of Wizard Magazine’s “Best New Publisher,” BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com ) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects from some of the industry’s biggest talents. Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.

BOOM! Studios co-founder Andrew Cosby’s television series EUREKA recently finished its second season at the Sci-Fi Channel, having launched to impressive ratings this past summer and consistently winning several key demographics on basic cable.  EUREKA is the highest-rated series in the Sci-Fi Channel’s history.

(Courtesy of Moonstone)

Hello Everyone!
More new arrivals to toss at ya, plus some cool pre-order items as well!

Arrivals:
1. BUCKAROO BANZAI: Return of the Screw TPB!                                                     
  This reprints the 3 issue mini series, plus
  has all kinds of bonus features: alternate
  ending,unused covers, dossiers, interviews,
  production stills, and more!

2. BUCKAROO BANZAI Ltd Litho
  18 x 24, color, signed by artist Dave Dorman!

3. WEREWOLVES: Dead Moon Rising
  All new howling prose stories!
  As a special to the Moonstone faithful, use the
  code WWdmr50367 on the order form and save
  20% off this book!

4. THE SPIDER Ltd Ed Litho!
  18 24 signed by artist Doug Klauba!

5. SUCKULINA: Vampire Temp!
  Dark humor from a writer of the SIMPSONS!

NEW PREORDERS:
*Capt. Action Ltd Ed Litho!
*Kolchak Ltd Ed Litho!
Domino Lady Ltd Ed HC!

ON-GOING PREORDERS:
*Avenger Chronicles Ltd Ed HC!
*Avenger Ltd Ed Litho!
*Tales of Zorro Ltd Ed HC!
*Kolchak Papers Ltd Ed HC!

Thanks again everyone!

(Courtesy of Illusive Arts)

ILLUSIVE COMICS & GAMES TO HOST SIGNING WITH WRITER OF B.P.R.D. 1946

Santa Clara, CA (January 2008) — Joshua Dysart, the talented writer currently working on B.P.R.D.: 1946, will be signing autographs at Illusive Comics & Games on Wednesday, February 20^th, 2008, from 5 p.m. to close.

B.P.R.D. 1946 is a tale of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense’s earliest days, set not long after Professor Bruttenholm rescued and adopted the infant Hellboy. Published by Dark Horse, Issue #1 of 5 was released earlier this month, and Issue #2 is due to be released on February 13. 

“Bring both of your issues by, or pick them up at the store that day and get some autographin’ done,” says owner Anna Warren.  “Josh will be happy to sign any of his other comics as well.”  

Dysart will also be a guest on Fanboy Planet’s weekly podcast, hosted by Derek McCaw and recorded live at Illusive Comics & Games. 

ABOUT ILLUSIVE COMICS & GAMES

Illusive Comics & Games, located in Santa Clara, Calif., carries an extremely wide variety of independent and mainstream titles, with a large amount of back stock that includes golden and silver age comics. There is an art gallery, gaming area, and plenty of room for signings along side the toys, games and San Jose Sharks memorabilia.

Illusive Comics is the only female-owned comic shop in Santa Clara County. Owner Anna Warren is also co-owner of Illusive Arts Entertainment, a small press publishing company based in the Bay Area that produces the critically acclaimed comics Dorothy and Tony Loco.

For more information about Illusive Comics & Games, visit www.illusivecomics.com.

For more information about Illusive Arts Entertainment, visit www.illusivearts.com.

For more information about Fanboy Planet, visit www.fanboyplanet.com

(Courtesy of TOP COW)

The Darkness # 2

(W) Phil Hester         (A) Michael Broussard         (Cov) Dale Keown, Stjepan Sejic

Following the stunning events of the spectacular first issue, writer Phil Hester (Superman: Confidential, Green Arrow) and new talent Michael Broussard (Unholy Union) introduce the sensual and mysterious Eve into the world of The Darkness! And as Jackie takes on the rebels he finds there may be more to them than meets the eye. Will Jackie’s time in paradise be short lived?

Cover A – Dale Keown

Cover B – Stjepan Sejic

Full Color       32 pages        $2.99              ongoing series

Welcome to the Tall Tales of Vishnu Sharma                                       (Courtesy of Virgin Comics)

Who is Vishnu Sharma and what sorts of tall tales is he telling? That’s a good question, and one that provokes many different answers. The Tall Tales of Vishnu Sharma: Panchatantra is the latest series from our Shakti imprint, spotlighting the best of India. Created by two of Indian comics’ most promising comic talents, Samit Basu (Devi) and Ashish Padlekar (Walk In), Tall Tales mines the stories of the Panchatantra—India’s precursor to Aesop’s Fables.

But this ain’t your Mother Goose’s story. In these tall tales, the characters of antiquity are being exterminated by other creations of fiction whose strength lies in their mass-market appeal, and whose bloodlust for the rebel Panchatantra characters is as real as the paper this is printed on. The fable-characters’ great hope is the titular Vishnu Sharma, descendant of the first Panchatantra storyteller, but a total child of his time. He’s too busy playing in online tournaments to worry about fighting storybook wars. But when a none-too-fictional talking Lion, Monkey and Bull arrive at his doorstep, Vishnu must choose between following in his ancestors’ footsteps by protecting the tales of the Panchatantra, or silently standing by as they disappear into storybook history.

Fantasy? Sure. Fiction? Not entirely. Around the world, the indigenous mythologies of great cultures are being forgotten. In Mexico and Brazil, Ethiopia and Norway, in China and in India, the effort to maintain our cultural identity in an increasingly integrated world has become a great struggle. The stories of our ancestors are dying out as younger generations are seduced by the Pokemons, the Harry Potters and the Samurai Jacks that are, for better or worse, becoming our new planetary myths. Tall Tales reclaims these stories by giving them a booming voice. So be it the wit of the Monkey, the might of the Bull or the ROAR of the Lion, The Tall Tales of Vishnu Sharma: Panchatantra is bringing the battle to us. And like Vishnu, it’ll be up to you to decide what you’re willing to fight for…. See you on the inside.

– The Chief
& the Virgin Comics Editorial Team

Check out the sneak peek to Issue #1: http://www.virgincomics.com/talltales.html

(Courtesy of Red 5 Comics)==================================
ABYSS #4
Written by Kevin Rubio
Pencils and Cover by Lucas Marangon
Inks by Nick Schley
Colors by Andrew Dalhouse

Eric, Arrow and Shaafte find Abyss’ secret lair, the kidnapped Quiver, and the ultimate target the super-villain’s plan… the San Simian Superhero Con.  Only by becoming bad guys can the the good guys stop the bad guys who look like good guys – while the fate of 100,000 fans hangs in the balance.

From the creator of the parody film web phenomenon, “TROOPS”.

32 pages, $2.95, April 23, 2008NEOZOIC #4
Written by Paul Ens
Art by J. Korim
Colors by Jessie Lam

The walls of Monanti city are smashed, and the lives of millions are trampled beneath the feet of relentless dinosaurs. The Predator Defense League tries to stem the tide. The King finds his family kidnapped.

But is Lilli to blame? When both father and mentor turn their backs on her, the emotional show-down turns deadly.

32 pages, $2.95, April 30, 2008