Michael Midas Champion Hits Stores in July

We've all been there before. Children playing on the playground, our crush a few feet away. We desperately try to find the words and confidence to go up to them and say hi. Until we wait too long and a bully moves in and steals the crush from us. What do you do? Naturally, you don a mask and battle evil, pretending that evil is that bully. Who just happens to become your supervillain archnemesis.

Michael Midas Champion recounts this tale, as written by Jordan B. Gorfinkel and illustrated by Scott Benefiel. It's told from the perspective of a grandmother speaking to her grandson and it's really about becoming so dedicated to something that you lose touch of what's really important in your life.

Chris Renaud, director of DESPICABLE ME and DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX, said, “MICHAEL MIDAS CHAMPION delivers a dynamic narrative and spectacular illustration while answering the question, ‘How do you balance a family and superpowers?’ Everyone can recognize their own life in the character of Michael Midas and that’s what makes it fun. I truly enjoyed reading this story.”

Each issue will also showcase an original story cerated by The Troika. The Troika happens to be former Batman editors Gorfinkel, Scott Peterson and Darren Vincenzo, with a little Denny O'Neil sprinkled in for good measure. The first issue ships in July, while each issue will run 48 pages with no ads and in a "Widescreen Comics" landscape format for $4.99.

Full press release below.

BOOM Studios Presents
MICHAEL MIDAS: CHAMPION!
Behind Every Cape And Cowl
There’s A Human Side.

May 23rd, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA – This June, BOOM! Studios is proud to announce MICHAEL MIDAS CHAMPION by Jordan B. Gorfinkel and Scott Benefiel. Wrapping a classic fairy tale in superhero comic book clothing, MICHAEL MIDAS CHAMPION blends the heart of It’s A Wonderful Life, the majesty of The Princess Bride and the thrills of Spider-Man.

MICHAEL MIDAS CHAMPION is the inspirational life story of Michael Midas, who, as told by a grandmother to her grandson, grows from being a boy—dealing with a playground crush stolen from him by a tormenting bully—into a crimson hero who dons a mask and battles evil, particularly the bully of his youth, who has, naturally, become his supervillain arch-nemesis. Through his triumphs and trials, Michael becomes a superhero so dedicated that he loses touch of what’s important in life—his loved ones—puttting them and the whole Earth on a path to complete destruction. But given a rare second chance, can Michael Midas Champion set things right? Will he?

Chris Renaud, director of DESPICABLE ME and DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX, said, “MICHAEL MIDAS CHAMPION delivers a dynamic narrative and spectacular illustration while answering the question, ‘How do you balance a family and superpowers?’ Everyone can recognize their own life in the character of Michael Midas and that’s what makes it fun. I truly enjoyed reading this story.”

MICHAEL MIDAS CHAMPION is a full throttle, heart string tugging, all ages book filled with suspense, action, romance and wonderfully poignant scenes told in a cinematic wide-screen layout. A story that will touch a part of everyone that reads it.

Bonus: each issue also showcases an original short story, created by The Troika, the former Batman editors Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Scott Peterson and Darren Vincenzo, and special guests, including legendary Dark Knight writer/creator Denny O’Neil.

MICHAEL MIDAS CHAMPION will ship this July. This title is a six-issue mini-series which is accessible to all ages. Attention Consumers and Retailers--All six issues of Michael Midas Champion are complete, insuring on-time delivery and low-risk ordering.

Each issue will run 48 pages (with no interior ads) in a unique “Widescreen Comics” landscape format and will carry a $4.99 price point, with a Diamond Comics Distribution Order Code of MAY120978.

About Jordan B. Gorfinkel

Creator/Writer Jordan B. Gorfinkel, a.k.a. “Gorf” is a former Batman editor for DC Comics. Gorf is best known for creating the ambitious and critically/commercially- acclaimed epic Batman: No Man’s Land, as well as conceiving Birds of Prey. Since then, he has founded Avalanche Comics Entertainment which has worked with companies such as Microsoft, TOMS Shoes and Clorox.

“I cooked up Michael Midas Champion with all of my favorite illustrated storytelling ingredients: action, adventure, drama, mythos, suspense, romance, horror, redemption, drool-inducing art and most of all, heart and soul. My fondest hope is that fans will read it and fall in love with comics again like it’s their first time.” —Michael Midas Champion Creator/Writer Jordan B. “Gorf” Gorfinkel.

“It’s been fantastic working with Gorf. He’s seen it all in this industry and it shows in his writing — action, suspense, amazing characters — everything in the world of Michael Midas is fully realized and the final product is a book that’s simply outstanding.” — Adam Staffaroni of BOOM! Studios

About Scott Benefiel

Artist Scott Benefiel renders with a vibrant and dynamic style that captures both American and European aesthetics. He has worked with such publishers as DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, IDW, Disney, Humanoids and others, penciling titles like GHOST, SUPERMAN, JLA, JSA, SILVER SURFER, GHOST/HELLBOY, and more. He is an accomplished artist and designer in the video game industry on titles such as TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTON, THE BOURNE CONSPIRACY, SILENT HILL 5 and more. And he has illustrated for animated television series, including MINORITEAM for Cartoon Network, and the award-winning animated feature ROBOTECH: THE SHADOW CHRONICLES.

About Jonny Rench

Colorist Jonny Rench provided the striking and lush “American Animé”-style Michael Midas Champion coloring before his untimely passing. Jonny was deeply admired for his prolific coloring of the Wildstorm Universe (on tiles such as The Authority, The Programme, Ratchet & Clank and Human Target), as well as his work for Aspen, Dark Horse and Devil’s Due.

About BOOM! Studios
Founded by Ross Richie, 2009 and 2010's “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com/ generates a constellation of Eisner and Harvey Award-winning, bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE, new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker, PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and Philip K. Dick’s DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?. BOOM!’s all ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Roger Langridge’s SNARKED, Cartoon Network's ADVENTURE TIME, and GARFIELD. BOOM!’s lit comix-focused imprint, BOOM! Town, recently won the Eisner Award for its first book, Shannon Wheeler’s I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER.