“FLAME ON” once more! Fantastic Four #600, available today in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app, brings the Human Torch back to the Marvel Universe. But, after his dramatic death, how did this founding member of the FF return? And, when one of their deadliest enemies mounts his greatest assault, will this family reunion be short-lived? The answers arrive in this giant-sized issue—with 100 pages of all-new stories—from writer Jonathan Hickman and some of the most acclaimed artists in comics today, including Steve Epting, Leinil Yu and more! This issue also features covers from the some of the biggest names in comics, including John Romita Jr, Gabriele Dell’Otto, Arthur Adams and Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada!
“As befits the 50th anniversary of the team, this is the biggest Fantastic Four story we’ve ever told, from the scope of the story to the sheer amount of new—and important—stories in this issue.” said Tom Brevoort, Marvel SVP/Executive Editor. “Jonathan Hickman, along with our unrivaled art team, have pulled out all the stops for a story that epitomizes why the Fantastic Four are some of the most important characters in pop culture history. Fantastic Four #600 is going to blow you away!”
Then, next week, the story continues in FF #12, from Hickman and artist Juan Bobillo, as the story you’ve demanded is finally told—learn just how Doctor Doom and the youngest members of the Future Foundation will save us all!
Fantastic Four #1 debuted in 1961, kicking off the “Marvel Age” of comics and dramatically increasing the popularity of super heroes. As the progenitor of Marvel Universe, the Fantastic Four set a new tone for super hero comics with its nuanced characterization, reflection of real world fears and progressive depiction of super heroes. Through the years, the Fantastic Four have been involved in many of comics most important & memorable storylines, from the introduction of Galactus to the chart-topping Civil War and the recent death of the Human Torch, which garnered mainstream media attention worldwide. Earlier this year the group was reinvented as the Future Foundation in the new FF series and has been one of Marvel’s top-selling, most acclaimed launches of the year.
It’s the book that has everyone buzzing—check out Fantastic Four #600, available right now in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app!
FANTASTIC FOUR #600 (SEP110551)
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by STEVE EPTING, LEINIL YU, CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO, FAREL DALRYMPLE & MING DOYLE
Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
ON SALE NOW!
FF #12 (SEP110556)
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by JUAN BOBILLO
Cover by STEVE EPTING
ON SALE – 11/30/11
Archaia Entertainment, Inc., a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher, and Panelfly, Inc., a leader in creating SuperMedia fan experiences, announces the launch of a new cross-platform, multi-media fan experience built around Archaia’s acclaimed prequel anthology, and alongside the theatrical release of Relativity Media’s feature film, IMMORTALS on November 11, 2011. IMMORTALS – Gods and Heroes HD, a new application available initially on Apple’s iPad and iPhone unlocks access to a variety of exclusive Immortals content.
“We are very excited to launch the Immortals Gods and Heroes iPad app with Panelfly ,” said PJ Bickett, CEO of Archaia Entertainment. “In creating the graphic anthology, we wanted to build something unique to compliment the theatrical release, something that would stand head-and-shoulders above traditional graphic novel tie-ins. Working with Panelfly, we have created something extraordinary and immersive that complements the reading experience while supplementing the film itself. We are excited to expand the reach of our content beyond books and film, to delight fans with this new and immersive entry into the Immortals universe.”
The Immortals - Gods and Heroes Fan Experience Includes:
- Access to the complete Graphic Novel
- Ten Prequel Stories setting the stage for the film
- Exclusive Art from an A-list of celebrated comic creators, includng Ben Templesmith, Scott Hampton, Trevor Hairsine, Jock, Dennis Caler, Kevin Colden, Patrick Scherberger, Phil Hester, Steve Ellis, and Rafael Kayanan, one of the principle conceptual designers on the film itself.
- Peel Back Functionality that reveals each stage of art in the creative process
- Contextual Multimedia and video Intergration
- Social Integration and News Feeds for live social commentary
- Ongoing feature updates and new content releases
“Together with Archaia Entertainment, we’re creating a diverse hub of content to deliver a dynamic, fun and truly interactive experience that includes an unprecedented level of engagement for fans” said Ed Lang, CEO of Panelfly. “This experience will continue to live long after the film and act as fan’s digital playground for all things IMMORTALS far into the future. Our team has worked closely with Archaia to develop something truly special. Our passion for delivering immersive fan experiences at home, or on the go continues to grow with this launch, and we look forward to building success together.”
The Gods and Heroes app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes Store on 11/11/11. Archaia and Panelfly will be kicking off the release with a speacial social media camapign and fan engagement contest today. Fans can go to http://www.facebook.com/ImmortalsGraphicNovel for more details.
About Archaia Entertainment
Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Rust, Return of the Dapper Men, Mr. Murder is Dead, Feeding Ground, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Days Missing, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, The Engineer, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels including the newest release, Tale of Sand, the last unpublished original work by Jim Henson. Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year according to Ain’t it Cool News, Graphic Policy, and Comic Related, and was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media. www.archaia.com.
About Panelfly
Panelfly, Inc., is a leader in creating the ultimate digital fan experience. Dubbed “SuperMedia”, our unique transmedia storytelling approach, coupled with deep content discovery, social interactivity, and storefronts re-imagined, Panelfly takes traditional on-screen experiences to a whole new level. Beyond the Internet, Panelfly is driven to deliver the world’s most immersive, interactive digital fanfest, whether at home or on the go. Panelfly - Engage. Explore. Enjoy. For more information, visit www.panelfly.com.
Press Release
Marvel is proud to announce the return of the "Marvel's Greatest Comics" program, spotlighting Marvel's most acclaimed series with new printings of these fan-favorite titles priced at only one dollar each! Returning in March 2011, Marvel's Greatest Comics offers an affordable introduction to some of the hottest selling Marvel Collected editions.
"This program was a huge success last year," said David Gabriel, Marvel Senior Vice-President of Sales & Circulation. "In our ongoing efforts to help retailers we're offering a new group of titles at one dollar that serve as primers for some of our best collections."
These are great items to have on hand all year round, and especially beneficial to have during the annual Free Comic Book Day, taking place May 7th, 2011. For a complete list of books being released for the Marvel's Greatest Comics program, please visit www.marvel.com.
What would you do if you had a family to care for, but everyone from the mob to dirty cops wants you dead?
Writer AJ Lieberman (Cowboy Ninja Viking) and artist Nick Thornborrow (The Anthology Project) ask just this question of the hero of their new graphic novel Term Life, coming in January 2011 from Image Comics.
"Coming off Cowboy Ninja Viking, I wanted to write something a little less... insane," says Lieberman. "And I wanted it to have a lot less Vikings. I'm a huge fan of crime fiction. Term Life is a puzzle -- a bloody, violent puzzle! Our hero is trying to do one very simple thing: stay alive for the next 21 days. But the great thing about crime fiction is that the hero rarely gets what he wants."
"I'd say if you're into Brubaker or Cooke or Lapham, this is right in your wheelhouse. If, on the other hand, you buy your comics for the stunning art, you're in luck. Term Life has that in spades!" Lieberman adds.
Term Life: If Nick Barrow can stay alive for 21 days, he'll die happy. Everyone Nick knows wants him dead: mob bosses, contract killers, and dirty cops. Performing the last act of a desperate man, Nick takes out a million dollar insurance policy on himself, payable to his estranged daughter. The problem? The policy doesn't take effect for 21 days. 21 days? Nick knows he'll be lucky to be alive for 21 hours...
Term Life (NOV100427), a 144-page full-color graphic novel written by AJ Lieberman and drawn by Nick Thornborrow, will be on sale January 12, 2011, for $16.99.
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Press Release
What if Kirby ("WiK") is an online research and educational resource dedicated to the imagination and genius of Jack Kirby, comic book artist and guiding inspiration of the genre for over six decades. WiK creator Tom Kraft will be scanning new submissions of Kirby original art and signing up new members at Bechara Maalouf's Nostalgic Investments booth #2734 at the New York Comic Con from Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10, 2010 at the Jacob K. Javits Center, 655 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
First launched in 2001, WiK was created for Kirby fans, collectors and historians to see "what if" comic art, originally inked for publication, could be recreated and re-inked by other inkers. These recreations were lightboxed from Jack Kirby's pencil copies onto 2-ply Bristol board then re-inked by some of The King's best inkers, including Mike Royer and Joe Sinnott. Relaunched on August 28, 2010 in celebration of the anniversary of Jack Kirby's 93rd birthday, WiK now has many new features and content to further the site's mission of increasing awareness of who Jack Kirby was and his significance in inventing the comic book genre. The site now contains a large collection of comic book art scans in the gallery section. Built on a database, comic art can be searched by inker, date, period, character, story or almost any criteria to narrow search results. Detailed pages of each page of comic art display the front and also the backs, which in many cases can yield hidden treasures!
Membership is free and provides access to the "Zoom Art" link, higher resolution views of comic art on this site. Members have a membership page, can leave comments and can rate comic art. Audio commentary of some pages is added to provide additional information by historians or collectors. Studying the original art itself is an invaluable tool for historians and art students, and was formerly the privilege of a select few insiders, collectors, and retailers!
Scanned comic art pages on the site are provided by Original Comic Art Dealers and private collectors in an effort to create a permanent, historical archive of all of Kirby's existing comic art. This ongoing effort is part of the Jack Kirby Museum's Original Art Digital Archive.
If you find WiK useful please help support efforts to acquire more scans of Kirby's comic art, hire help, add more functionality and pay hosting costs. Any amount is welcomed! WiK is not a non-profit organization so donations are not tax deductible, but 10% goes to The Jack Kirby Museum to support their educational and research efforts
Press Release
In honor of the 5th Annual New York Comic-Con, comic promoter Susan Soares has announced plans for the company's first appearance as an exhibitor. Soares, who owns SJS Comic Promotions, will be hosting six of her clients, some of whom will be debuting new and exclusive properties. Slated to appear at the SJS booth include:
Dandelion Studios – Based on Cape Cod, Dandelion Studios is a small press publishing company under the direction of Rick Silva and Gynn Stella. Rick is proud to be appearing at NYCC 2010 to debut Stone #1. The 2nd title to be added to the studio’s Quarterstaff Comics imprint, Stone is a tale of ordinary people pressed to do the extraordinary for the sake of their friends and their country. It's the story of a different kind of warrior. The kind you can believe in.
DarkBrain.com - DarkBrain.com is a new web comic studio featuring over 240 pages of free content from 12 different series. Each comic has graphic novel quality art and a great story – plus voice-over narration, original music and user choices and preferences that change the story itself. DarkBrain's publisher, Andrew Zar is eager to spread the word of his exciting venture at NYCC 2010 and will be available all weekend to greet fans.
Fallenmage Productions - Mild telecommunications worker by day, cartoonist by night, Joe McGlone has been drawing since he was a kid and is currently trying to make a stab at it on a professional level. His latest published project is Leaves of Yggdrasil, a modern fantasy about growing up and self-discovery. Joe is also actively working on Beyond the Dark, an epic horror web comic available at www.beyondthedark.com. Joe will be appearing to celebrate the launch of Beyond the Dark on October 4, 2010.
Jolly Rogue Studios - Celebrating his third appearance at New York Comic Con, creator Everett Soares will be signing copies of his nationally distributed graphic novel as well as his first issue of Valendor Chronicles, an anthology of short stories. Everett is also eager to share with attendees his newly-launched web comic, which debuted on September 19, 2010.
Three J Productions - Hailing from West Haven, CT, Three J Productions is the brainchild of creator and publisher, Carl Herring Jr. Making his second appearance at New York Comic Con 2010, Carl is coming with a brand new series launched, The Enforcers. Carl will be appearing with the re-released Issue #0 and Issue #1 of The Enforcers series, as well as his 2009 release, Crime Wave Anthology Vol. 1.
Unstoppable Comics - Celebrating his very first convention appearance, creator and publisher Jay Dee Rosario is appearing at the SJS Comic Promotions booth to debut Dragonstorm Issue #0.
In addition to the clients appearing at the SJS Comic Promotions Booth, the comic promoter announced Big Bone Studios, another client of the company, will be appearing at New York Comic-Con. Big Bone Studios is a collaboration of like-minded individuals with a single goal - to create original, high quality, comic art and stories... and to take over the world. To celebrate their first appearance at New York Comic Con, Mike Desjarlais and David House have been working diligently on American Corpse #1. They will be offering a free copy of the Preview Issue to fans who stop by their Small Press Booth #355.
In addition to supporting her clients and meeting fans throughout the weekend, Soares plans to network with media outlets to arrange interviews for her clients. She will also be focused on meeting other creators in the Small Press section of the exhibit floor and Artists Alley. Creators looking to meet with Soares for a consultation can do so by either visiting the SJS Comic Promotions Booth #641 or contact her before the convention via email at susan.soares1971@gmail.com.
ComicsPriceGuide.com, the premiere online comic book price guide, is proud to offer exclusive CPG merchandise through Cafe Press. Show off your support with items such as CPG T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hats, coffee mugs and much more! Don't be the last fan at your local comic shop to be sporting the hottest CGP gear! To check out all the great CGP Merch, simply click on the "CPG Merchandise" tap on the home page or visit our Cafe Press page at http://www.cafepress.com/cpguide.
Press Release
The eagerly-awaited new Manhattan gallery and offices of Heritage Auction Galleries, located at 445 Park Avenue (at 57th Street) is now officially open. The expansion of Heritage, the world's third largest auction house, into the New York City market comes at a time when many major auction firms are contracting. The Dallas-based firm also opened a Beverly Hills, California gallery and salesroom earlier this year.
"The New York City area is home to many of the top collectors and collections, and the center of the art and antique market," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. "It's a perfect fit with our increasingly expanding services, and the best possible place for us to serve the art and high-end collectible needs of our clients. I can think of nowhere else we'd rather be opening a new gallery right now than right in the heart of Manhattan's auction district."
"Heritage is distinguished by its superb sales catalogs, unequalled online resources for buyers and sellers and transparency in how we do business. We have a non-stop auction rotation that features the very best across 30 categories including rare coins, collectibles, fine art, jewelry, comics, movie posters, rare wine, sports memorabilia and much more," said Rohan.
The first auction to take place under the auspices of Heritage Auctions New York City will be the company's October 16, 2010 Signature® Illustration Art Auction at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion (The Ukrainian Institute), 2 East 79th Street. It will feature some of the very best illustration pieces Heritage has ever offered, including works by Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell, Gil Elvgren, J.C. Leyendecker and one of the most iconic pieces of illustration art pieces to come on the market anywhere in years, Garth Williams’ original graphite and ink on paper drawing for the cover of E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, 1952.
One of the most talked about features of Heritage's new Manhattan venue will be the Heritage Window on Park Avenue, which will feature a continually rotating selection from upcoming Heritage auctions, across all of the firm's categories.
Highlights from the inaugural Heritage Window on Park Avenue will include, but are not limited to: Thomas Moran's oil on canvas Venice, Grand Canal, 1903; Howard Terpning's A Winter Trail, 1975; Birger Sandzen’s Rock Mountain Landscape, circa 1920; a very rare copy of a 1939 Detective Comics #27, CGC 7.0, the first appearance of "The Batman," and Garth Williams' aforementioned Charlotte's Web original cover art.
"We expect the Window to become a regular attraction for both collectors and everyday New Yorkers alike," said Rohan.
The offices on Park Avenue at 57th will be open Monday through Friday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Press Release
The largest single collection of Buck Rogers original comic art, prototypes, toys, books, and collectibles, will be coming into the 21st century on August 28, 2010 at Susanin's Auctions in Chicago. This single owner auction is from the collection of Lorraine Dille, the granddaughter of the newspaper magnate John F. Dille.
"We are thrilled to be the caretakers of the Lorraine Dille's collection, and have come to know Buck and his adventures very well," said Susanin's Auctions president, Sean Susanin. Among some of the auctions highlights are original watercolor suggestions for the Buck Rogers Spaceship Theatre at the 1933 Chicago's World Fair, original drawings for the Buck Rogers pistols, as well as prototype watercolors of the Buck Rogers kite. "These drawings show the evolution from the initial concept," said Dille. She goes on to say "Most of these designs developed organically, and this shows their progression."
In 1929, it was John F. Dille who suggested a snappier name for Anthony "Buck" Rogers, and launched the science fiction hero into national syndication, while creating the first example of promotional licensing and merchandising. Lorraine Dille has been the caretaker of this collection since the death of her grandfather in 1957. Said Dille, "When you're a custodian of something like this, your instinct is to hold onto everything. But I came to the conclusion that was wrong. It's important to get this material out, and that is it be distributed in the public eye." She remembers as a child, assembling and painting the balsa wood kits, but never realized what a prolific aspect Buck Rogers would prove to be in her life. She goes on to say "By parting with these pieces, I'm not parting with heritage or memory; I'm spreading the word and making other people happy."
All the historic Buck Rogers memorabilia in the auction can be viewed online at www.susanins.com. Absentee bids are accepted online via their web site, through www.liveauctioneers.com, or by phone. Susanin's Auction is located at 900 S. Clinton Street (at Taylor) in Chicago. Preview for the auction will be open Monday August 23 - Friday August 27, 2010 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Extended viewing will be open until 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 26, 2010. The auction will start at 12:00 noon on August 28, 2010, with the preview will opening at 9:00 am that morning. For more information call Susanin's Auctions at 312-832-9800.
Press Release
In a coup for Marvel Entertainment, Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel TV, revealed the all-star, award-winning creative team for the upcoming Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, premiering on Disney XD. This team includes the most sought-after and acclaimed writers in the comic and television industries, including Eisner & Emmy award-winning scribe Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Lost); Eisner award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man comic series); and the red-hot creative powerhouse Man of Action Studios (creators of hit series Ben 10 and Generator Rex), comprised of lauded creators Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle.
Steering Ultimate Spider-Man as the Creative Consultant, Dini will also write the series pilot; as Supervising Producers, Man of Action Studios will direct the writing staff, generate scripts and story edit; and Bendis, the man who reinvented Spider-Man for a new generation, will oversee the series as Consulting Producer.
"When we first sat down to discuss Ultimate Spider-Man, we put together a wish list of the most exciting talent working in animation who would bring the best voice and creative direction to the show—and I'm proud to say we got them all," said Jeph Loeb. "We want Ultimate Spider-Man to be a showcase for Marvel Animation and Spider-Man is the perfect character to give fans just what they want."
Working in the Marvel Universe for the first time, Dini explained, "As a lifelong fan of the Marvel Universe, I'm excited to tackle these characters in such a bold new series. Ultimate Spider-Man will bring fans a new take on their favorite friendly neighborhood hero—and some surprise cast members—while staying true to what's always made Spidey so popular. We've got a superb creative team assembled with amazing stories to tell and I can't wait for fans to see what we've cooked up."
Bendis echoed those sentiments, exclaiming, "It's Ultimate Spider-Man, the animated series—and it happened in my lifetime! That's just so cool. I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this and here's to Jeph Loeb for putting it all together!"
Equally thrilled to join Ultimate Spider-Man, the Man of Action team explained, "We're looking forward to having a lot of fun working on Spider-Man. They've brought us in to help provide a unique vision for the show while remaining absolutely true to the character, so that's exactly what we'll be doing. Should be a great ride!"
Cort Lane, Vice-President of Animation Production & Development added, "From The Super Hero Squad Show to the upcoming Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Marvel Animation is focused on making the best super hero shows for fans of all ages. Now, with this tremendous talent signed for Ultimate Spider-Man, we're about to give fans super-powered animation like they’ve never seen before."
For more news on Ultimate Spider-Man and all the exciting projects from Marvel Television, stay tuned to www.marvel.com
