Review - Fight Club 2

"Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth."

The rules of Fight Club are pretty clear and well-established. There's a honor amongst its members, adhering to the code and maintaining a level of devotion to the cause that rivals many cults and religions. It's a fascinating paradigm and Dark Horse Comics is publishing a further exploration of it in Fight Club 2. The issue is written by Chuck Palahniuk, illustrated by Cameron Stewart, colored by Dave Stewart and lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot.

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Valiant Celebrates 25th Anniversary on Free Comic Book Day

Valiant's got big plans for its 25th anniversary. Aside from all the conventions the publisher is making its presence known at and signing multi-picture deals with companies like Sony, there's still lots to do to celebrate. One of those things is Free Comic Book Day and Valiant's offering will give readers a look at new stories written by Jeff Lemire, Robert Venditti, Matt Kindt, Butch Guice, Diego Bernard, Clay Mann and Rafa Sandoval. Bloodshot, X-O Manowar and the rest of Valiant's fearless heroes are taking center stage for a star-studded, jam-packed anniversary smash celebrating 25 years of Valiant comics.

Lemire teams up with Guice to chronicle the fallout of The Valiant as Bloodshot rises from the ashes. Venditti and Sandoval partner up to throw down the gauntlet in introducing readers to X-O Manowar and a new tale of Dead Hand. Plus Ninjak, Imperium, Divinity, Ivar, Timewalker, Rai, special guests from throughout Valiant's decades-long history and a cavalacade of special surprises.

Full press release below.

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BOOM! Studios Explores a Broken World

Frank J. Barbiere and Christopher Peterson are teaming up to fight crime. Wait, that's not right. They're teaming up to work on a new book for BOOM! Studios. That book is Broken World, exploring the lives of people left behind on the last days of Earth, perfect for fans of Y: The Last Man or The Massive. Broken World #1 arrives in comic shops on June 3rd with a main cover by Peterson under Diamond order code APR151199. Also available in a limited quantity are a 10 Years incentive cover by Frazer Irving and a retailer incentive cover by Christian Ward. The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is May 11th.

“It’s hard not to fall in love with a well-crafted survival story,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “From zombie viruses to post-apocalyptic wastelands, we all love to cheer for the last survivors. For BROKEN WORLD, Frank and Christopher have created an intense, riveting story about a woman who chooses to live on in a world facing an extinction-level event from the stars.”

With a meteor days away from causing an extinction-level event on Earth, time is running out for Elena Marlowe. While most of the planet’s population and her family were approved by the government to escape on one of the giant spaceships headed to another planet, her application was denied due to her mysterious past. With the meteor fast approaching, Elena tries desperately to find a way to fake her way onto the last ship or else be left behind to die with the rest of Earth’s rejected denizens.

Full press release below.

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Review - Mayday #1

"What they never show you...is what happens next."

Not everyone is cut out for the pressure that comes with acting in Los Angeles. The area has a reputation for being chock full of big players, people wanting to be big players and former big players fighting to maintain that former lifestyle. It's nothing if not interesting, but rarely is it ever boring. That's especially true in Mayday #1 from Black Mask Comics. The issue is written by Curt Pires, illustrated by Chris Peterson and colored by Pete Toms.

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Action Lab Promises Free Comic Book Day Action

Action Lab has a lot in store for Free Comics Day. In addition to participating in the big day, the publisher will also be offering up their talent for appearances at various stores throughout the country. Of course, fans can also pick up the Action Lab Free Comic Book Day special, which will feature Hero Cats of Stellar City by Kyle Puttkammer and Marcus Williams.

"We've always looked at Free Comic Book Day as an integral part of community outreach," said Vito Delsante, Associate Director of Marketing. "As a former retailer, Free Comic Book Day was always a hard day to work, but ultimately worth it when you see children of all ages coming up to get comics, for many their first one."

Full press release and appearance schedule below.

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Aspen Comics Announces Free Comic Book Day 2015 Festivities

Aspen Comics plans to follow up a busy April of nearly back-to-back convention appearances with a good showing on Free Comic Book Day on Saturday May 2. The publisher will be offering their FCBD flipbook that boasts two all-new zero issues for Fathom: Blue and Eternal Soulfire, spotlighting new characters within the already familiar universes. Aspen creators and artists will also be attending Free Comic Book Day signings this Saturday at a variety of comic stores from California to New York to Mexico.

Fathom: Blue features a cast of Blue misfits and exiles living in secret on the surface world. Forced into fighting alongside one another against their own kind by the U.S. government, success is betrayal but failure means certain death. Aspen Editor-in-Chief Vince Hernandez writes the series, with Claudio Avella penciling and Erick Arciniega providing colors. Eternal Soulfire stars a powerful but young new magic user named Cassidy, thrust into the world of magic with both wings and a target on her back. The fierce Rahtumi warrior Miya, seeks to protect Cassidy and escape those seeking to kill them and the demons of the past…but that’s easier said than done. Aspen’s Mindfield team J.T. Krul and Alex Konat, is reunited for this new title, with colors by Federico Blee.

Full press release and signing schedule below.

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Review - Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Oz: Reign of the Witch Queen #1

"And this...this is Dorothy Gale: the Hero of Kan'Zaas, Daughter of Zamora and Queen of Oz."

Traveling to Oz certainly isn't easy and it's not for the faint of heart. The kingdom does have a majesty about it, despite the witches, flying monkeys and disembodied being pulling the strings from behind the scenes. In Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Oz: Reign of the Witch Queen #1 from Zenescope Entertainment, the first two are definitely present, while Dorothy replaces the third. The issue is written by Jeff and Kristin Massey, illustrated by Antonio Bifulco, colored by Hedwin Zaldivar and lettered by Ghost Glyph Studios.

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Do Not Talk About Fight Club

The first rule about fight club is that you don't talk about fight club. The second rule about fight club is that you DO NOT talk about fight club. There may be an exception to those two rules, as Dark Horse would likely love nothing more than for fans to talk about Fight Club 2, the upcoming comic. Tyler Durden is nothing short of insane, which means he's breaking both of those rules years after starting Project Mayhem. On May 27, Chuck Palahniuk, Cameron Stewart and Dave Stewart present to readers an even more insane Tyler Durden, living a mundane life. A kid, a wife. Pills to keep his destiny at bay. But it won’t last long, the wife has seen to that. The time has come . . . Rize or Die. What's more is that The Dark Horse Comics Free Comic Book Day Sampler includes a 14-page story that adapts the ending of the Fight Club novel and leads into the upcoming Dark Horse Comics Fight Club 2 comic book series.

“Chuck’s work has only gotten bolder since FIGHT CLUB first took us all by surprise in the mid 1990s,” said Allie. “FIGHT CLUB 2 has been generating international headlines for months, but the sheer amount of mayhem and chaos contained in this comic, along with audacious and profound storytelling, will take people by surprise.”

Each issue of the series will feature covers by bestselling artist David Mack. Additionally, issue 1 features previously revealed variant covers by Lee Bermejo, Amanda Connor, Steve Lieber, Cameron Stewart and Chip Zdarsky as well as as-yet-unrevealed variant covers by Joëlle Jones, Paul Pope and Tim Seeley. The series is edited by Scott Allie, Dark Horse Editor-in-Chief. Dark Horse Comics has encouraged fans to further contribute to the mayhem with a guerilla marketing campaign utilizing the phrases "Tyler Durden Lives" and "Rize or Die" in order to win Easton Press limited, leather-bound editions of Palahniuk’s novels Beautiful You, Fight Club and Survivor. Fans are encouraged to e-mail their photos and letters using the phrases "Tyler Durden Lives" and "Rize or Die" to: projectmayhem@darkhorse.com.

Full press release below.

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Vampirella Pitted Against Aliens

If Xenomorphs have one weakness, it's strong-willed women. Vampirella is definitely one such woman, tackling any and all evils with a gleeful abandon. Pitting one against the other leaves an uncertain result, which is why Dynamite Entertainment is teaming up with Dark Horse Comics on a new crossover called Aliens/Vampirella, written by Corinna Bechko.

"I've loved Alien since I first saw it as a kid on a crummy old TV in a well-lit room and got scared half to death anyway," says Bechko. "Now that I have the chance to add a little corner to that universe I couldn't be happier. And pitting such an implacable horror against Vampirella? That's a meeting that definitely produces very fertile story-telling ground. The Alien franchise has always thrived with strong women in the lead. Smart, self-assured Vampirella is a joy to write for, even when she may have met her match."

Vampirella is one of the comic industry's leading ladies, due in no small part to Dynamite Entertainment's stewardship of the character. Dynamite has published two volumes of a monthly series, several miniseries and one-shot specials and crossovers with multimedia brands and comic book peers. For over twenty-five years, Dark Horse Comics has been the comic book home to the Aliens franchise, expanding upon the universe of terror first introduced in the 1979 Ridley Scott-helmed sci-fi/horror masterpiece.

"Aliens / Vampirella continues our string of successful crossovers with Dark Horse Comics. This is an incredible series -- featuring the iconic Vampirella against one of Fox's icons, Aliens -- and we're proud to have Corrina Bechko as the architect," says Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

"When I first heard about the Vampirella / Aliens crossover, I thought to myself, 'How is this going to work?' But then I read Corinna Bechko's outline for the series, and all my doubts were dispelled," says Dark Horse V.P. of Publishing Randy Stradley.

Full press release below.

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Review - The Order of the Forge #1

"Not good? Lying does not become you George. You're a Washington."

George Washington was made the first President of the United States of America for a reason: many viewed him as a competent leader capable of shepherding the fledgling country through even more trying times. Before being the leader though, hew as a rambunctious youth, apt to get in trouble like any other youth. It's a good bet that the trouble he gets into in The Order of the Forge #1 from Dark Horse is a lot different than what's on record. The issue is written by Victor Gischler, illustrated by Tazio Bettin and lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot.

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The Orphan Returns to Earth

You don't stop a good thing...you only make it better. Valiant agrees, as Rai #9 by Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain will be the first issue of The Orphan, an all-new story arc in the series. Rai finds himself exiled from the land he was once sworn to protect…and thrust into the never-before-seen corners of the Valiant Universe of 4001 A.D. for good fun. For the very first time, Rai will finally discover the true fate of the world New Japan left behind...and the Earth of 4001 will be revealed.

"I can safely say that this arc will change everything forever – in regards to how Rai works and the series is structured and everything we've grown accustomed to," writer Matt Kindt told Newsarama. "All the pieces and things we've been laying the ground work for over the last eight issues are going to really start paying off… This year's story is really going to pack an emotional punch and I don't think anyone's really got an idea how far we're going to push things yet. I think readers are going to be pretty shocked with where we're taking this thing."

Broken, beaten, and cast down to Earth, Rai and his allies now find themselves hunted, persecuted, and imprisoned for their failed rebellion against Father. Stranded thousands of miles from his former home, Rai is now more determined than ever to save his friends and bring down New Japan's malevolent ruler once and for all…but how can he do that from Earth? And just what secrets will New Japan's rising son discover as he journeys across the face of a planet scarred by his his nation's ascent to the stars?

Full press release below.

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Ash Pitted Against Vampirella

Ash juggles a job at S-Mart and battling zombies in a faraway land. Vampirella juggles being a vampire with fighting evil. Pitting the two against one another seems a little strange, but Dynamite is doing just that with the July release of Vampirella/Army of Darkness #1, the first issue of a four-issue miniseries written by Mark Rahner and illustrated by Jetrho Morales. The first issue will be offered with multiple collectible covers by industry heavyweights Tim Seeley and Jae Lee, plus a "Cute" variant by Tony Fleecs exclusively available to subscription customers.

"I loved writing Ash in Vampirella / Army of Darkness," says Rahner. "He's the rare combination of completely oblivious buffoon who's also somehow incredibly cool when he has to be. The Vampi stories I've done have been sick satires of other pop culture horror - Buffy, True Blood, and Kolchak in the 100th issue special. I'm excited to write her in more of a straight-ahead (well, mostly) horror-adventure. This Vampirella is less superhero and more occult temptress and monster... and she definitely doesn't belong in 1300 A.D."

The events of Vampirella/Army of Darkness take place during Ash Williams' time trapped in the England of 1300 A.D. When the terrified, primitive screwheads approach the Chosen One with tales of a horrific flying Deadite -- one similar to the one he blasted out of the air when first arrived, but much deadlier -- Ash sets out with his boomstick and chainsaw to protect his adopted people. At the same time, a raven-haired temptress wants to give him some sugar... as his last meal!

"Mark's writing gets better with each series, and we can't wait for fans to see this tale, the two icons meeting and the mayhem that will ensue. This series is full of bloody chainsaws, fanged vixens, demon possessions, and boomsticks aplenty," says Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

Vampirella/Army of Darkness #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' May Previews catalog, coinciding with a release date in July. Full press release below.

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Defense With The BoomStick

(Disclaimer: This post is an ongoing story set in a world where zombies have taken over and people are fighting to survive anyway they can. This is my story of survival)

Year 6. Week 35.

Back on the road.

Staying behind walls and waiting for life to come to you just doesn’t suit me anymore. Living in a zombie world would make you think that staying behind walls and living in fear is the only way to survive. I remember those days of thinking like that. Worried about where my next bit of shelter was going to be; hiding from a pack of zombies and hoping they didn’t see me duck in somewhere. Those days were ones all of us here can remember.

Now look at us.

Venturing out more and more, setting up new outposts and basically taking the fight to the zombies. As I'm speaking there is a group of us currently en route back to northern California to get some supplies and weapons back to them that we took from Texas. After that large-scale battle a couple weeks ago in Salt Lake City, we spent time getting the aftermath cleaned up and resetting up defenses and traps to secure the location.

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Review - Beyond Belief #1

"No need to wait there, leave the door open and find a safe place nearby. Of course I mean a bar, Donna, yes. Goodbye."

If you're afraid of ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night, then living in a haunted house isn't for you. Actually living in a haunted house isn't really for anybody, unless you're Cordelia Chase. Otherwise, you want someone capable of getting the spirits out of the house for a more satisfying living experience. Enter Frank and Sadie Doyle in Beyond Belief #1 from IDW Comics. The issue is written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, penciled by Phil Hester, inked by Eric Gapstur and Mark Stegbauer, colored by John Rauch and lettered by Marshall Dillon.

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KaBOOM! Heads to the Loo in Bravest Warriors: Tales from the Holo John

There's never not an audience for potty humor, especially when it's brazenly entertaining. KaBOOM! is taking that humor to the next level with the May debut of the oversized Bravest Warriors: Tales from the Holo John #1 one-shot, packed with short stories focused on the property's lavatory, the Holo John. Paul Allor, Ryan Ferrier, Kat Leyh, Mad Rupert, Eryk Donovan, Adam Del Re, Jorge Corona and John Omohundro all team up for the new book, promising to offer plenty of laughs for readers.

“I think, deep down, we all wish we had a Holo John,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “But until that technology exists, we’ve enlisted some fantastic talent to showcase the many hilarious adventures that can be had with a holographic toilet. It’s especially exciting to have John Omohundro stepping out of the recording booth to make his comics debut!”

What happens when you flush a pet fish down the Holo John? (Hint: It fantasizes it was a shark instead!) Or what if the Holo John gains sentience and “dreams of electric pee”? All that and more are covered in this collection of short stories about the Bravest Warriors’ out-of-this-world outhouse. Who knew they used their emotions-based powers in the loo, too?

Bravest Warriors: Tales from the Holo John #1 arrives in comic shops on May 27th with a main cover by Jonathan Brandon Sawyer for the price of $4.99 under Diamond order code MAR151109. Also available in a limited quantity is a retailer incentive cover by Artyom Trakhanov. The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is May 4th. Full press release below.

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Red Sonja #1973 One-Shot Celebrates History of Character

Red Sonja has been around for what seems like forever. In reality, she's been around since 1973. This July, Dynamite plans to celebrate her many years of adventuring with Red Sonja #1973, featuring the talents of Roy Thomas, Gail Simone, Luke Lieberman and Eric Trautmann. That group of immense talent will be joined by Cullen Bunn, Dave Acosta and Rich Buckler to offer up a new tale featuring the She-Devil with a Sword as she battles with monsters, rivals, and ne'er-do-wells, stories retro-tinted to capture the flavor of her classic comics era. Roy Thomas, the first writer to ever script the adventures and spoken words of Red Sonja, reflects on the long legacy of the character.

"It's been very gratifying to me to witness the popularity of Red Sonja over the past four decades. It was a lucky day when I read a fan-article about Robert E. Howard that mentioned a story in which one of his historical heroes fought alongside a "Russian hell-cat" or whatever precisely the phrase was (her name wasn't mentioned in the article), so that I obtained a copy of the long out-of-print story from the estate's literary agent, Glenn Lord, and read it: 'The Shadow of the Vulture.' Red Sonya of Rogatine clearly had possibilities as a sometime companion/opponent for Conan in Marvel's Conan the Barbarian comic, so I changed her name to the (to me) slightly more exotic Red Sonja, thereby making her a somewhat new character and adapted 'Shadow' as an issue of Conan. From that time on, she had a life of her own. Barry Windsor-Smith was inspired to do great things with her in the two Conan issues we did together in which she co-starred. Esteban Maroto, over in Spain, couldn't resist giving her a different look, which came to be called 'the iron bikini' after I decided that should be what she wore from then on. John Buscema and Howard Chaykin did a handful of nice stories with her. Frank Thorne came aboard to virtually make her his own. And that was just in the 1970s! I suspect Red Sonja will be around for a long, long time!"

Red Sonja #1973 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' May Previews catalog. Full press release below.

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Review - Apocalyptigirl: An Aria for End Times TPB

"What are you narrating your own life now?"

How will you cope in the apocalypse? Will you have a sporty, survivor look? A faithful pet companion? Maybe all of the above and then some? Apocalyptigirl: An Aria for End Times TPB Dark Horse Comics features a brazen hero with a pet cat and a lot of confidence. The book is written and illustrated by Andrew MacLean.

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Image Comics at C2E2

Image Comics will have a presence at C2E2, taking up residence at Booth 119. The publisher will bring variants of Kaptara #1, Spread #6, God Hates Astronauts #6 and Deadly Class #12, host a few panels and offer up a slew of talent for signings. All you have to do is show up at the right time.

Check out the full signing/panel schedule and press release below.

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Swords of Sorrow Draws in More Characters

Gail Simone isn't quite done with Swords of Sorrow, the crossover of female characters in the Dynamite Universe. No, this summer will see two more entries into the series in Swords of Sorrow: Dejah Thoris and Irene Adler by Leah Moore and Swords of Sorrow: Black Sparrow and Lady Zorro Special by Erica Schultz. One month later, the three-part Swords of Sorrow: Red Sonja / Jungle Girl miniseries will release its first issue, written by Marguerite Bennett. The tie-in storylines, created to explore ideas introduced in Simone's core series, will run concurrently throughout the summer with Swords of Sorrow and additional announced tie-in titles. Artist Jay Anacleto will provide the cover artwork for both Swords of Sorrow: Dejah Thoris & Irene Adler and Swords of Sorrow: Red Sonja/Jungle Girl #1, while artist Joyce Chin is contributing cover artwork to the Swords of Sorrow: Black Sparrow & Lady Zorro Special.

"Gail has brought in incredible creators for the strongest female event of the year. This is the only event that is led by all female writers (Marguerite Bennett, Erica Schultz, Leah Moore, and Nancy A. Collins, just to name a few), and female artists are working on the series, as well -- pencillers, colorists, and cover artists. It's one of our biggest events ever, and an opportunity for fans who want more comics with female voices. We can't wait for readers to check each series out," says Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

In June, Moore returns to Dynamite on Swords of Sorrow: Dejah Thoris & Irene Adler #1, the first chapter in a miniseries illustrated by Francesco Manna. It will reintroduce Adler as a fugitive, a master of disguise, and a femme fatale, but even she is surprised to find herself made bounty hunter, tracking savage foes across the grimy streets of London. Meanwhile, in a far-off world, Princess Dejah Thoris is defending Barsoom against an influx of trespassers and ready to put the guilty to her sword. Also in June, writer Schultz will team with artist Cristhian Crizam Zamora to deliver Swords of Sorrow: Black Sparrow/Lady Zorro, a one-shot special that unites the Western heroine with the shady mercenary first introduced in the pages of The Shadow. In the done-in-one issue, Lady Zorro and The Black Sparrow join forces to fight a wicked prince's Shards of Chaos in a prehistoric land.

In July, Bennett will bring together two of Dynamite's most action-oriented characters in Swords of Sorrow: Red Sonja/Jungle Girl #1, featuring art by Mirka Andolfo. Of the crossover, Bennet says, "Red Sonja / Jungle Girl is pulpy, witty, charming, campy, and packed full of more action than one chainmail bikini can contain. As the Rift begins to set entire worlds crashing into each other, an ice wyrm from far Hyrkanian tears through the portal, raining down destruction the likes of which Jana's jungle has never seen. The once-tropical island is plunged into winter as chaos overtakes the jungle with killing cold. Red Sonja and Jana the Jungle Girl must battle magic, monsters, Mistress Hel, and each other to destroy the cause of the curse and return balance to the world."

"It's very exciting to be able to experiment creatively with characters from different eras and place them in these unusual situations," says Schultz. "This whole crossover runs the gamut of genres, and I think it'll be very exciting for fans."

Full press release below.

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Review - American Nature Presents

"It's payday, sucker!"

As far as comic anthologies go, they can range in tone from dramatic to irreverent. Ones that skew toward the latter are generally entertaining because of how ridiculous they can get and American Nature Presents by Bogus Books is no exception. The anthology features "Mediokrates!" by Ralph Niese, "R.A.D. in Time" by Austin Tinius, Robert Salinas and Antonio Brandao, "Beef Jams and Jr. Duck and Run" by Marc Koprinarov, David Landsberger, Greg Petre and Fake Petre, "Vigilante Girl Gang!" by Benjamin Marra and "The Walking Light: A Witch Gauntlet Tale" by Ze Burnay.

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Aspen Comics Heads to C2E2 with Big Dog Ink

Aspen Comics is hitting C2E2 in a big way this year, making their way to the show with a multi-imprint presence. Aspen Comics will be exhibiting alongside Big Dog Ink at the show, their first since 2012. Aspen president Frank Mastromauro will join Big Dog Ink founder Tom Hutchison, as well as Shahrazad writers Kim Hutchison and Kari Castor, at booth #706. There will also be a handful of Aspen/BDI creators available in Artist’s Alley: V Ken Marion at B11, Jordan Gunderson at K12, Nei Ruffino at P8 and Dirk Manning at H8.

C2E2 marks the premiere of Shahrazad #2, which will not be in stores until May 6th, 2015. Aspen will have a C2E2 exclusive cover for Shahrazad #2 by Ruffino available for purchase at their booth, in addition to a Fathom: Kiani #3 exclusive cover by Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald. These variants will also be available as exclusive full-size art prints, in addition to two Shahrazad #2 prints by J. Scott Campbell and Mike DeBalfo.

Full press release below.

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Dark Horse Celebrates Four Digital Years

Dark Horse is nothing without the fans and the fans are why the publisher is celebrating a four-year anniversary for digital printing. To celebrate the milestone, Dark Horse Comics is offering readers a free comic. Starting Thursday, April 23, Dark Horse will issue a two-dollar credit to all confirmed Dark Horse Digital newsletter subscribers with a registered Dark Horse Digital account. This credit can be used toward downloading a free digital comic or toward the purchase of any bundle or graphic novel.

The very same day, Dark Horse Digital will also be offering 50 percent off all purchases made in the app or through the web store, including thousands of comics, graphic novels, manga, and more! And it doesn’t stop there! Confirmed Dark Horse Digital newsletter subscribers will receive an exclusive coupon for an additional 10 percent off purchases. The newsletter coupon stacks with the web store discount, offering an even greater savings on your entire transaction. Dark Horse will also be giving four lucky winners an iPad mini loaded with Dark Horse digital comics. Dark Horse will randomly pick one winner per day over the course of the weekend. The winners will be given the digital collection of their choosing the following week.

To enter to win, all you need to do is download a comic to your collection and with over fifty free comics to choose from, there is no purchase necessary to be entered to win. The fourth-anniversary sale starts Thursday, April 23, and ends Sunday, April 26, at midnight PST—so head over to Digital.DarkHorse.com today and sign up for a Dark Horse Digital account.

Full press release below.

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Review - The Infinite Loop #1

"We're doing today what someone did yesterday, and another will do tomorrow."

Turn an "8" on it's side and you get the infinity symbol, appropriately named because it never seems to end. In many ways, time is the same way, making the term "infinite loop" applicable to time travel itself. IDW applies the label with gusto in The Infinite Loop #1. The issue is written/lettered by Pierrick Colinet and illustrated/colored by Elsa Charretier.

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Valiant Announces Book of Death: Legends of the Geomancer

The Geomancer is a big part of the Valiant Universe. The character boasts tremendous powers and plays a role in dictating the futures of various big names in the same universe. Now, the publisher wants to give the role even more importance in releasing Book of Death: Legends of the Geomancer, written by Fred Van Lente and illustrated by Juan Jose Ryp. The work is created specifically to promote Valiant's upcoming Book of Death event and will expand the mythology of the newest Geomancer.

"LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER is designed to be something special and something distinct from your typical 'event' tie-in story," added Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. "This is a little known story, the history of which is only known to a select few of the most important players in the Valiant Universe, and it's telling will mirror its method of distribution. This will be a rare series that we hope fans will seek, much as they did decades ago for tales like the original HARBINGER #0."

The Valiant heroes. X-O Manowar. Bloodshot. Ninjak. The Harbinger Renegades. Unity. This is how they lived. This is how they died. Now we know. The Book of the Geomancer has recorded it all. But only a young girl – the last in a line of the enigmatic mystics who protect the Earth known as Geomancers – has seen this future come to pass, from the coming cataclysm to the dawn of the 41st century. Alone with her sworn protector, the Eternal Warrior – a soldier battle-forged across five thousand years of combat – the duo must defy their allies to stop the Dark Age that now threatens to eclipse our world. Together, they are the number one target of every hero and villain on Earth. Either the Eternal Warrior hands her over…or they take him down. But can even he single-handedly protect one child when the entire Valiant Universe wages war against him?

"With LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER, Fred and Juan are crafting a dazzlingly beautiful, action-packed corollary to BOOK OF THE DEATH. This is the story of a character that is not only new to the Valiant Universe, but is also vitally important to its history – Anni, the very first Geomancer," said Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons.

A special, retailer-incentive limited series, all four issues of Book of Death: Legends of the Geomancer will be printed in limited quantities and will only be made available to retailers who qualify based on their orders of Book of Death: #1-4. Fans interested in obtaining this special incentive limited series should contact their local comics retailer to pre-order their copy before the May 28th initial order date for Book of Death #1 (of 4).

Full press release below.

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Earth...The Final Buffet

ComixTribe wants to get great books in the hands of great readers. To that end, they're working hard to bring the four-part science fiction adventure series Exit Generation by Sam Read and Caio Oliveira (with covers by Ramon Villalobos) to the direct market. During an initial self-published release, Exit Generation spawned a strong cult following on the UK independent comic scene. In addition to four covers by Villalobos, the direct market release will feature a special variant, ComixTribe’s first ever set of four connecting covers by Joe Mulvey.

“Both Caio and I are delighted that ComixTribe saw EXIT GENERATION fitting into their excellent slate of titles,” said writer Sam Read. “After the excellent reception for FIND, I’m excited to collaborate with them on taking this series worldwide.”

Set in a near future, where a sudden depopulation of Earth has resulted in a comfortable but dull utopia, EXIT GENERATION follows a bored punk named Jack, who is thrust suddenly into the unlikely role of savior when hungry aliens snatch his nearest and dearest. The first issue of this monthly series lands in comic shops and on Comixology in September.

"With EXIT GENERATION, Sam did just about everything right," said ComixTribe publisher Tyler James. "He put in the work, assembled an incredible team, made a great series, and then went out and sold it one copy at a time. After the surprise sell out success of FIND earlier this year, it was a no-brainer to work with Sam again to bring EXIT GENERATION to the wider audience it deserves."

Full press release below.

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Review - Run Love Kill #1

"I've learned to appreciate the moments alone."

Chances are the future of humanity will see any remaining survivors "living" in a dystopian society where danger lurks around every corner. At least, that's what many sci-fi stories will have you believe. Run Love Kill #1 from Image Comics isn't one to stray too far from that paradigm. The issue is written by Jon Tsuei and Eric Canete, illustrated by Canete and colored/lettered by Leonardo Olea.

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Molly Danger Book Two Kickstarter Launches

Some people swear the sequel is better than the original. The thing is, that sequel may never see the light of day without some support. Molly Danger Book Two is such a situation and is looking for support in getting itself published. Creator Jamal Igle has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to fund production of the second book. Igle launched the Molly Danger series three years ago with a Kickstarter campaign for the first book, raising $50,000 dollars. Igle is now looking to match the original funding to produce not only the European style graphic album, a massive 9 x12 inch hardcover book, but fund the production of the second full cast audio adaptation.

Molly Danger is the story of Molly, a 10-year-old superhero who has been 10 years old for over two decades. While loved by the public and a virtual star, she’s lived a sheltered and protected life until a new member of her support team, Austin Briggs and his stepson Brian enter her life. The new book picks up 9 months after the first book ended, as the mysterious creator of Molly’s enemies, the Supermechs, returns to wreck havoc in Molly’s hometown of Coopersville N.Y. Igle will once again write and pencil the new book, with inks by Juan Castro. The Audiocomics production will feature a full cast audio production featuring the voices of Robin Miles, William Dufris and Lance Roger Axt and Olivia Duford returning as Molly Danger.

Full press release below.

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Sharknado Takes Aim at Riverdale

Riverdale (not to be confused with Rivendell) hasn't exactly been the safest place lately. Predator showed up, bringing with him his enjoyment of the hunt. On July 22, an adverse weather condition will arrive, as a Sharknado is slated to hit. That's right. This summer, Riverdale will get hit by a swirling bevy of sharks in a new comic written by Anthony C. Ferrante and illustrated by Dan Parent. The "shark-tacular" extra-sized 48-page issue serves as a nice appetizer to Sharknado 3, which debuts on Syfy the same day the book is released in comic shops and digitally: Wednesday, July 22.



"Having a chance to crossover the Archie comics with our Sharknado universe has been a dream come true," Ferrante said. "Riverdale will never be the same and I know fans are going to get a thrill out of seeing Archie, Betty, Veronica and the rest of the gang unleash their inner Fin Shepards."


It's that time of year in Riverdale! The end of the school year. Time for beaches, barbecues, fun in the sun and... SHARKNADOS!?! That's right, get ready as Archie and the gang brave the storm of a tornado full a sharks that riffs off the pop culture phenomenon known as Sharknado! The story unfolds as sharknados are spotted on the “Feast” Coast. Our heroines have to figure out how to get back to Riverdale, where the storm is about to hit next. Soon Archie and the gang go, go, go as they battle the Sharknado-ravaged Riverdale! Who will live? Who will die? Will this take a BITE out of the end-of-the-year prom? Uh....probably!

"I can't tell you the thrill of working on Sharknado. I might be the biggest Sharknado fan, watching multiple airings of the movies, going to theatrical screenings. attending the Riff Trax versions and then buying the DVDs," Parent said. "So to be able to bring Sharknado into the world of Archie is a dream come true. And to be working on it with Sharknado director Anthony C. Ferrante is the icing on the cake! I promise to put my all into this project to make all the Sharknado - and Archie - fans proud!!!"

Full press release below.

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Review - Bloodshot Reborn #1

"Who was Bloodshot? Red eyes. White skin. Guns...lots of guns."

Stripping a character down to its core character tells you everything about them. Batman is a justice seeking detective, Superman is a being using his power for bettering mankind and Wonder Woman is a fierce warrior defending her people. If you take away their abilities, their core personalities still persist. Bloodshot is another character like that--take away the nanites and you've likely still got a man willing to be a hero. In Bloodshot Reborn #1 from Valiant Entertainment, he demonstrates a desire to return to form. The issue is written by Jeff Lemire, illustrated by Mico Suayan, colored by David Baron and lettered by David Lanphear.

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Green River Killer Strikes Again in TPB

October is a month of frights and terrors. Overcast days. Halloween. Terror in all forms, one of which is a trade paperback known as Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case. And in case you're wondering, Jensen just so happens to be the sone of Tom Jensen, the detective on the case. Sure to appeal to fans of True Detective, Green River Killer features a story by Tomorrowland writer Jensen, gorgeous art by Case and is priced at an affordable $19.99.

Throughout the 1980s, the highest priority of Seattle-area police was the apprehension of the Green River Killer, the man responsible for the murders of dozens of women. In 1990, with the body count numbering at least forty-eight, the case was put in the hands of a single detective, Tom Jensen. After twenty years, when the killer was finally captured with the help of DNA technology, Jensen spent 180 days interviewing Gary Leon Ridgway in an effort to learn his most closely held secrets—an epic confrontation with evil that proved as disturbing and surreal as can be imagined.

Full press release below.

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Aspen Comics Headed to Big Wow! ComicFest

Aspen Comics will be up north weekend to exhibit at Big Wow! ComicFest in San Jose, California, April 18th and 19th at booth #601. Coming along for the ride will be Frank Mastromauro, Peter Steigerwald, Siya Oum, Mark Roslan and Heather Finley will be in attendance. The publisher will also have a panel on Saturday, April 18th at noon in Room 230C: The Official Aspen Comics Big Wow! Panel 2015, during which they will detail upcoming releases and unveil never-before-seen art.

Aspen will have a Big Wow! Comicfest exclusive variant cover limited to 200 by Oum, available for their Wednesday release Executive Assistant: Iris Annual #1, which collects three all-new stories in the Executive Assistant universe. As well, there will be three exclusive prints available for purchase among Aspen’s usual selection of industry leading prints: Executive Assistant: Iris by Joe Benitez, The Four Points #1 variant by Khary Randolph and Shahrazad #1 variant by Oum. Limited quantities of all convention exclusives will be available on www.AspenStore.com following the event.

Full press release below.

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Review - Harrow County #1

"The folk of Harrow County put the witch to death...but the witch did not die easily."

Crystal Lake. Elm Street. Haddonfield. These are all locales that boast entities hellbent on inflicting as much pain and misery as possible on their inhabitants with what would seem to be no apparent remorse. Dark Horse Comics has one more locale they'd like to add to the list in Harrow County, introduced to readers in Harrow County #1. The issue is written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Tyler Crook.

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Space Riders Returns for Second Ride

Space Riders #1 seems to be pretty big with readers. It's so big that before it even hit shelves, it managed to sell out at the Diamond Distributor level and on April 1, the issue flew off the shelves. Black Mask pays attention though and they're rushing the first issue back to a second printing. The Space Riders #1 reprint features an all new cover by artist Ralph Niese. It will be on shelves May 13, the same day as issue #2.

If you want to get copies of Space Riders you can make your comic shop clerk's life easier by using the order codes for the books:

Space Riders #1 (2nd Printing)- FEB158576
Space Riders #2 (still available)- FEB151093
Space Riders #3 (still available)- MAR151021
Space Riders #4 (still available)- MAR151021

Full press release below.

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Bloodshot Reborn #1 Leads Valiant's 25th Annivesary

Valiant is taking their books and 25 years of publishing to Calgary (Alberta, Canada) for Calgary Expo 2015. And they'll be bringing the requisite panels, creator signings and convention-only exclusives to booth #908-909. Robert Venditti will be on hand all weekend for signings and he'll be there alongside the debut of the Bloodshot Reborn #1 Calgary Expo/Redd Skull Comics Exclusive Variant, featuring an all-new cover by Raul Allen.

On Sunday, April 19th at 3:15pm in Palomino FG, join a panel of Valiant staff and creators for VALIANT 101: The Story Starts Here – a step-by-step panel presentation detailing the origins of X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Ninjak, Doctor Mirage and more of Valiant’s top heroes and villains. Stop by VALIANT 101 for the ultimate introduction to Valiant's acclaimed universe of characters!

Full press release below.

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Review - The Fox: Fox Hunt #1

"I wake up craving an Ibuprofen the size of a city bus. They should make those. I'd keep them in business."

When you're a superhero, things rarely go as planned. Some superheroes are always at the ready for the unplanned, even going so far as wearing the costume underneath their "normal" clothes. The Fox is one such superhero and he gets another go at the weird in The Fox: Fox Hunt #1 from Dark Circle Comics. The issue is written by Dean Haspiel and Mark Waid, illustrated by Haspiel, colored by Allen Passalaqua and lettered by John Workman.

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Preview - Betty vs. Veronica: Sabotage

Ali vs. Frazier. Superman vs. Lex Luthor. Betty vs. Veronica. All three of those pairings have something in common: a fierce rivalry. The sides in each will go to great lengths to emerge triumphant, but it's the last pairing that could be the most fun. And both Betty and Veronica square off yet again in Betty vs. Veronica Sabotage.

Oh my gosh, it’s a barrage of the best battles of the BFFs! Betty and Veronica are squaring off once again in a mêlée for Archie’s heart! This time, though, the gloves are off and they’re doing anything it takes to win! Get a front row seat as we look at some of the girls’ finest attempts at sabotaging each other. Who will win the war and get the boy? Find out in this mega-sized digital exclusive!

Betty vs. Veronica Sabotage is available digitally now with interiors below.

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Aspen Comics Premieres Executive Assistant: Iris Annual

Annual issues are always celebratory in nature. The first annual issue for a property adds in another layer of joy, one that Aspen Comics is sure to be feeling in spades with the upcoming release of Executive Assistant: Iris Annual #1. Executive Assistant: Iris, created by David Wohl, Michael Turner and Brad Foxhoven centers on a redeemed assassin named Iris and her adventures. Executive Assistant: Iris is the third Aspen series to premiere an annual issue, following flagship titles Fathom and Soulfire.

“When we first created Executive Assistant: Iris, our hope was that we could create an enduring universe where countless Executive Assistants could live their lives, all in their own unique and compelling stories,” says Wohl. “Then, with the advent of Vince Hernandez's Assassins ongoing series, we were introduced to a panoply of interesting characters in interesting and exotic locales. And now, with the release of Aspen's first Executive Assistant: Iris Annual, we have a chance to see some of the top creators in the business showing off their own takes of my favorite creations, along with some special guest stars. This is one book that even I am looking forward to checking out!”

Executive Assistant: Iris Annual #1 contains three all-new stories set in the Executive Assistant universe, written by Wohl, Vince Hernandez and Heather Finley, with art by Randy Green, Beth Sotelo, Tony Parker, JUANCHOo, Michael Shelfer and Stéphan Lemineur. As well, the publisher has included a few introductory pages to the series from the very first volume of Executive Assistant: Iris, written by Wohl. The annual issue features a cover by Joe Benitez, with an exclusive Big Wow! Comicfest variant coming soon from fan favorite Lola XOXO creator Siya Oum. The book is in stores today.

Full press release below.

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Review - The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

"I have the power!"

In 1982, the world was introduced to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. What followed was a cultural sensation that changed the landscape of children’s entertainment forever. Fortunately, Dark Horse has teamed up with Mattel for a comprehensive retrospective chronicling He-Man’s decades-long, epic journey from toy, to television, to film, to a true pop culture phenomenon. The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is chock full of illustrations and insights into that phenomenon.

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Max Bemis Loves 90s in Oh, Killstrike

Comics in the 90s have a certain flair to them. Beside nearly bankrupting the industry through every issue having an almost infinite number of foil variant covers, it saw a pretty interesting boom in new characters and the birth of Image Comics. It was a fun time to be a comic book fan though and Max Bemis is throwing it back old school in Oh, Killstrike. Bemis teams up with artist Logan Faerber for a personal story that combines his deep love of ’90s superhero comics and the anxieties that come with being a new dad in a coming-of-age, twisted buddy comedy.

“When you combine Max’s love letter to ’90s comics with the same deeply personal storytelling that we saw with Polarity, Oh, Killstrike is what you get,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “This is a story that’s hilarious, heartwarming, and will likely put a smile on the face of anybody who loves comics. Logan’s artwork is spectacular—there’s nobody better to bring Killstrike to life. We’re so proud of this series; I genuinely can’t wait for readers to get this into their hands!”

Jared, a new father, fears parenthood. An old comics fan, he turns to them for comfort. But when he unwittingly lets loose his favorite character, Killstrike—a single-minded, vengeance-loving antihero—onto the world, Jared must find a way to send him back before he harms all the people he loves the most. But before that happens, Killstrike leads Jared on a quest of self-discovery to make him realize the kid who loved this character is not the man he has become.

Oh, Killstrike #1 arrives in comic shops on May 20th with a main cover by Faerber for the price of $3.99 under Diamond order code MAR151035. Also available in a limited quantity are a 10 Years incentive cover by Frazer Irving and a retailer incentive cover by Kris Anka. The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is April 27th.

Full press release below.

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Oxymoron: The Loveliest Nightmare Debuts in August

ComixTribe is hard at work, publishing the next big indie thing. Of course, they want you to know about it as well. What is that thing? Well, John Lees, Tyler James and Alex Cormack are teaming up to deliver Oxymoron: The Loveliest Nightmare #1 to tell a cop versus contradiction-obsessed killer thriller in the vein of Hannibal and Se7en. Each issue of the series features a standard cover by Cormack and a variant cover by industry superstars and upcoming talent, including Charles Paul Wilson, III, Iain Laurie Joe Mulvey and more.

"Imagine the Joker came to a Gotham WITHOUT Batman?" offered Lees. "That'll give you a hint of the flavor of this series. While current Oxymoron fans are sure to be on board, The Loveliest Nightmare is very much a Year One style series, and the perfect jumping on point for new readers," said Lees.

The Loveliest Nightmare tells the story of Mary Clark, an afflicted detective suffering from a debilitating chronic illness, and reeling from a demotion back to street cop after her partner’s death. She hates being in uniform, resents her young, wide-eyed partner, and is persona non grata with the rest of the police department. She's sleepwalking, but the Oxymoron case wakes her up. When what appears to be a lone nut job in a mask jumping off a skyscraper turns out to be the opening gambit in a killer’s master plan to cleanse a corrupt city of its many contradictions, Mary sees taking him down as a chance to prove herself and earn back her Detective badge. But once the true severity of the Oxymoron's plan is revealed, she realizes there are much higher stakes than her career in play.

"I could not be more excited for this series to drop," says Oxymoron creator and series co-writer James. "Last year, the John Lees made the comic industry stand up and take notice with AND THEN EMILY WAS GONE. His work on this series is equally brilliant. But the real breakout star here is Alex Cormack, who has taken his storytelling to the next level. Alex's linework, paired with the lush colors of Jules Rivera make this one of the most beautifully horrifying books ComixTribe has released yet. You see what I did there?"

Full press release below.

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Review - Sage Escape: Equinox #1

"A final conflict plays out in a war between the Salesman Assassin Empire and the Human Resistance."

Will humanity be able to fend off a galactic incursion by another race? Or will it simply falter in the face of such opposition? Primal Archetype thinks it has the answers in Sage Escape: Equinox #1. The issue is written by Damian S. Simankowicz and lettered by Primal Archetype.

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Planetes Returns to Shelves

It's been a decades since 2005. The iPhone was yet to be released, Feel Good Inc. was one of the top songs and makoto Yukimura's Planetes was on bookshelves. A lot's changed since then, one of those things being in December, Planetes makes a return to bookshelves, courtesy of Dark Horse Comics. The entire story is collected in two omnibus editions from the original files, complete with bonus color pages, with over 500 pages for only $19.99. Preorder Planetes Volume 1 today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound or your local comic shop.

“Planetes is one of the series that made me a manga fan, at once startlingly realistic in its scientific detail, moving in its relatable human drama, and hilarious in the personalities of its diverse cast of astronauts,” said Planetes editor Brendan Wright. “I was saddened to think it might fade from American comics shops after Tokyopop’s demise, so it’s a joy and an honor to reintroduce it at Dark Horse in the edition I’d want as a fan, with superior source materials and all the color pages included.”

In the 2070s, increased interplanetary travel has led to crisis-level amounts of dangerous space debris, and someone has to clean it up. Planetes follows the space-garbage crew of aspiring explorer Hachimaki, mourning Yuri, and secretive Fee. A two-time recipient of the Seiun Award, Japan’s highest honor for science fiction, Planetes grants a whole new generation a chance to journey to the far reaches of the universe.

Full press release below.

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Valiant Introduces Book of Death

If someone told you that 2015 would feature the death of Ninjak, the final fate of Bloodshot, the redemption of Toyo Harada, the next bearer of the X-O Manowar armor revealed and the rise of new heroes and villains in the Valiant universe, you might be a little suspect. After all, that's a slew of crazy happenings planned for the Valiant Universe in general, let alone in one summer. Turns out though, that summer 2015 will see all that and a bit more, as Valiant launches Book of Death #1 starting in July. Featuring the talents of Robert Gill and Doug Braithwaite, Book of Death #1 will be joined by four standalone one-shots as a new Geomancer emerges to build a bridge to the future of the Valiant Universe.

"In the tradition of Valiant's original RAI #0, BOOK OF DEATH is going to reveal glimpses of the future of the Valiant Universe and, with it, many of the monumental events and occurrences that our heroes will face," said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. "Major characters will die, while others will be introduced for the very first time. The loves, the losses, and the betrayals that await our biggest characters…it all starts here. For the Geomancer, this future has already happened and, in each issue, we will see more of the events that shaped her life revealed. BOOK OF DEATH will have an immediate impact on not only the stories that follow it in 2015, but on the next decade of the Valiant Universe as well."

The Valiant heroes. X-O Manowar. Bloodshot. Ninjak. The Harbinger Renegades. Unity. This is how they lived. This is how they died. Now we know. The Book of the Geomancer has recorded it all. But only a young girl – the last in a line of the enigmatic mystics who protect the Earth known as Geomancers – has seen this future come to pass, from the coming cataclysm to the dawn of the 41st century. Alone with her sworn protector, the Eternal Warrior – a soldier battle-forged across five thousand years of combat – the duo must defy their allies to stop the Dark Age that now threatens to eclipse our world. Together, they are the number one target of every hero and villain on Earth. Either the Eternal Warrior hands her over…or they take him down. But can even he single-handedly protect one child when the entire Valiant Universe wages war against him?

"In just a short time, I think Valiant has built a reputation for creating some of the most well-received comic book events in the industry today. HARBINGER WARS… UNITY… ARMOR HUNTERS… THE VALIANT… These are all stories have been huge hits with fans, retailers and critics alike, but BOOK OF DEATH might just be the biggest, most game-changing event we've attempted to date," said Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons. "Much of the conversation at the Valiant creative retreats helped formalize the ideas behind BOOK OF DEATH and hammer out the colossal impact that the Eternal Warrior and new Geomancer will soon have on the landscape of the Valiant Universe. BOOK OF DEATH will be the ultimate peek at the future of the Valiant Universe and it's only fitting that we bring as many major Valiant creators into the mix as possible."

Full press release below.

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Defense With The BoomStick

(Disclaimer: This post is an ongoing story set in a world where zombies have taken over and people are fighting to survive anyway they can. This is my story of survival)

Year 6. Week 33.

Toys that can cause some massive destruction are always a good thing. For us having drones and plenty of big bombs attached to them makes a hell of a difference.

Let me go over the last 18 hours around here. It starts off with us pulling our convoy in to the Salt Lake City outpost. As we were unloading everything and getting a convoy ready to head out and back to Kansas City, word came down that there was a large horde of zombies heading our way from the direction we just came from. And this outpost is not as sufficiently manned as it should be after a convoy left a few days ago to head towards northern California outpost. So now we're under-supported with a horde of zombies ready to make us their next meal.

We managed to get one of the trailers hooked up to power and got a drone in the air, loaded down with all the missiles it could carry. Seeing that drone taking off felt good, but couldn’t just stand around gawking had other work to do. There were the smaller drones that could be controlled by handhelds loaded up with a few bombs and set them off in the air as well.

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Review - The Four Points #1

"In recent years, these unexplained phenomena became more prevalent. Worse, more malevolent."

A new evil requires a new approach. That approach may require new teammates, which is part of the beauty of a team-up comic. Aspen Comics wants to offer up a new team-up series in The Four Points #1. The issue is written by Scott Lobdell, penciled by Jordan Gunderson, inked by John Ercek and Mark Roslan, colored by Valentina Pinto and lettered by Josh Reed.

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TOI Soldier Project Helps Veterans

It's no secret that war is difficult. The men and women who offer their lives for defense of their beliefs are truly courageous, yet many of them returning from war do so with physical and mental difficulties. Creator/CEO of the TOI Soldier Project Heraclio Aguilar joined the Army and--after ending his military career--earned his AA in Business Administration and a BS in Graphic Design. He's leveraging all of the above to launch the TOI Soldier Project.

"I hope that The TOI Soldier Project can be a place that family members can get to know their Veterans again," said Aguilar, "so that our friends can understand our struggle and to open up a communication line between all veterans and civilians."

The TOI Soldier Project will be a multimedia universe where Combat Veterans will be able to deal with their PTSD issues within a safe environment. His plan is to create an avatar for each of his clients. Through this project, Heraclio wishes to share the real war stories for everyone to experience together, through graphic novels, animations and video games. In order to grow the idea of TOI Soldier Project, Heraclio needs to raise around $50,000 from external sources. He has recently started an Indiegogo campaign with this objective set to end June 1, 2015. Funds received via Indiegogo will be spent on hiring an illustrator, a colorist, character, and environment artist.

Full press release below.

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Archaia and Macrocosm Bring Steampunk to Monthly Comics with Lantern City

One of Archaia latest forays into top-quality works is a partnership with Macrocosm Entertainment. That partnership will come to fruition in May with the debut of Lantern City, a new ongoing comic series created by Trevor Crafts, Bruce Boxleitner and Matthew Daley. Written by Daley and Paul Jenkins and illustrated by Carlos Magno, Lantern City combines the imagination-rich world of steampunk with an espionage thriller, while posing the question: How far will a person go to protect the ones they love? The series marks Archaia’s first ongoing series since the debut of The Secret History in 2007. The Lantern City comic series is the newest extension of a larger transmedia universe. An illustrated novel, Rise (also available as an app), was published, and a television show is in active development.

“The world of Lantern City is massive, and we’re incredibly excited to be diving in,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Whether you’re a longtime fan of steampunk or are just now discovering it, there’s something here for you, from the richly detailed world Carlos has drawn to the characters who are desperately trying to protect their loved ones.”

In the Lantern City comic series, Sander Jorve just wants to keep his wife and son safe. Living in the brutalized lower class of Lantern City means living in near constant darkness, the enormous walls of the city always looming overhead, while the upper class enjoys the elevated, interconnected towers and airships above. When Sander’s brother-in-law, the persuasive activist Kendal, convinces him to infiltrate the brutal ranks of the Guard, he’s set on a dangerous path that will test his abilities and beliefs, all in the name of making a difference for his family and his caste.

“It has been fantastic to see the world of Lantern City come to life” said Macrocosm CEO and Lantern City Creator Trevor Crafts. “We have the most loyal fans, and we are all so happy to be able to have them get their hands on Issue #1! Seeing is believing and what they will see will blow their minds!”

Lantern City #1 arrives in comic shops on May 13th with a main cover by Benjamin Carré for the price of $3.99 under Diamond order code MAR151070. Also available in a limited quantity are a Jackpot Variant by series artist Carlos Magno, a 10 Years Anniversary incentive cover by Ben Caldwell (1 for every 10 copies ordered) and a retailer incentive cover by Dave Dorman (1 for every 20 copies ordered). Also just added are a 10K Variant cover by Bagus Hutomo (1 in 10 intermix) and a FOC variant cover by Brett Weldele, which can be ordered in any quantity by the FOC date. The Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is April 20.

Full press release below.

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Lackluster World Seeks Non-Lackluster Kickstarter

Kickstarter is nothing if not harrowing. There are some projects that take off like a rocket and there are others that take quite a bit longer. It's a process that's both thrilling and depressing at times. When it works though, it's a boon for creators; creators such as Eric Adams and his new graphic novel Lackluster World. Lackluster World is a dark satire about an albino man using vandalism and journalism to manipulate his world all while trying to evade his fanatically religious siblings.

Adams' Kickstarter campaign for the 380-page hardcover "Director's Cut" edition of his graphic novel, Lackluster W0rld, runs through April 17, 2015. Adams is the co-founder or Narrier, a publishing and distribution company focusing on post-genre entertainment. He's the creator of the award-winning, creator-owned graphic novel, Lackluster World and other comics including Pecking Order, Rumspringa and Goodbye Weather. For more information, please visit www.narrier.com.

Full, self-deprecating press release below.

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Review - Sleepy Hollow: Origins #1

"Your bravery will ever honor the Crane family name!"

Sleepy Hollow is pretty much a success. The show doesn't apologize for being outlandish and even recognizes that it thrives on situations and characters whose union seems completely eccentric. It makes for pretty entertaining television though, so learning more about the characters will only add to that enjoyment. BOOM! Studios is doing just that in Sleepy Hollow: Origins #1. The issue is written by Mike Johnson, illustrated by Matias Bergara, colored by Tamra Bonvillain and lettered by Jim Campbell.

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Dynamite Partners With StoryBundle

StoryBundle is a literature bundling site big on indie authors. Dynamite Entertainment is a publisher big on publishing quality comics. Pair the two together and what do you get? A first-time partnership that will allow readers to purchase almost 100 digital Dynamite comics and graphic novels with "Pay What You Want" purchasing power beginning at $5.00. A portion of proceeds will be contributed to two very important charitable organizations: the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Girls Write Now. The bundle promotion will begin Wednesday, April 8th, on the website StoryBundle.com.

Jason Chen, founder and CEO of StoryBundle, says, "We're thrilled to partner with Dynamite for our first (of many) comic bundles. StoryBundle has featured all types of genres before, from mystery to sci-fi to gaming to fantasy and romance, so one filled with comics and graphic novel collections seems like a natural next step. Dynamite's also presented us with a great opportunity to introduce our readers to their series by including the first issues (along with collections), which makes for the most natural entry-point to be able to understand and enjoy all these wonderful titles."

StoryBundle will offer a fixed set of Dynamite comic books, graphic novel collections, and art books in a bundle, available only for a limited time. Fans and newcomers will decide their own value for each bundle. Bonus books are unlocked when the purchaser achieves certain bonus thresholds. StoryBundle has already sold hundreds of thousands of books through its popular horror, fantasy, video game and sci-fi book bundles, and for the first time ever, welcomes its huge audience to experience the four-color adventures of Dynamite digital comics.

The Dynamite Bundle includes the following collections, comprising over 2,800 pages of comic book storytelling:

Amanda Hocking's The Hollows: A Hollowland Graphic Novel
The Art of Ramona Fradon
The Complete Alice in Wonderland
Jim Butcher's Dresden Files: War Cry
Gail Simone's Red Sonja Vol. 1: The Queen of Plagues
Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure (by Bill Willingham)
Legends of Red Sonja
Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson: Moon Called Vol. 1
Project Superpowers Vol. 1
Red Sonja Unchained
Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword Omnibus Vol. 1
The Essential Painkiller Jane
Vampirella Vol. 1: Our Lady of Shadows by Nancy A. Collins

In addition to the graphic novel collections and art book, Dynamite will give readers a taste of several new releases with single comic book issues, including:

A Game of Thrones #1
Bob's Burgers #1
The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood #1 - #5
Jungle Girl: Season Three #1
Lady Rawhide/Lady Zorro #1
Project Superpowers: Blackcross #1
Reanimator #1

"We're proud to partner with Jason Chen and his team at StoryBundle," says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. "The bundle platform is growing by leaps and bounds, tapping into a diverse audience with diverse interests. StoryBundle services a large prose-loving community, one that - by its nature - is drawn to unique voices and innovative concepts. Through their website, Dynamite has a tremendous opportunity to reach out to an untapped audience and impress them with a different form of storytelling than they may be used to. This is a termendous opportunity to grow the comics market. In preparing this bundle, Jason made us aware that one of the charities that StoryBundle benefits is Girls Write Now, an organization that matches young women, those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with an interest in writing, with professional women writers. We've included many stories written by celebrated female authors (and featuring strong female characters) in our bundle as a part of the combined effort to support women writers. It's a win/win for everyone: readers, writers, charities, and industry."

Full press release below.

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