Valkyries Ride into Battle for Alias
-Press Release
February 4, 2006 (San Diego, CA) – Coming this March, Alias Comics and Astounding Studios bring you a new kind of warrior, with VALKYRIES #1, by writer Kevin Grevioux and artist Leonel Castellani.
VALKYRIES is an all-new limited series about a young Valkyrie who doesn't exactly follow "Odinian protocol” when it comes to choosing warriors to enter Valhalla, the Viking heaven.
Typically in Viking lore, only the strong and the brave are allowed into Valhalla's hallowed halls. However, a young Valkyrie named Keldegarde, has a compassion for the least likely individuals to enter the Norse afterlife. She chooses people who are sick and infirmed, and not necessarily the brave and the bold. This attitude and behavior doesn't sit too well with neither her fellow Valkyries, nor the absolute ruler of Asgard, King Odin himself. Odin knows that if Valhalla is filled with unworthy warriors the gods will be poorly prepared when Ragnarok comes and the forces of evil attack. This can't happen if Asgard is to survive.
“Keldegarde is basically the “pariah” of the Valkyries. Here she is a member of a very war-like culture who judges people based on how well they fight and die, and she's advocating compassion and honor on a level they've never seen before.” said Grevioux. “It makes for really good conflict. She's even been known to bring a few dying animals to Valhalla as well.” Grevioux also comments that the story will have a lot of cool elements to it that really make for a fantastic Disney-like epic. It has love, war, death, triumph and disaster. That coupled with familiar Norse characters such as Thor, Loki, Hela and Baldur, Grevioux says, “It should be a fun ride!”
Here's how the publisher describes the issue:
VALKYRIES #1
Written by Kevin Grevioux, with art by Leonel Castellani, Eduardo Lemos, Mauro Vargas, and Javier Tartaglia
From Actor/Screenwriter, and Creator/star of UNDERWORLD, Kevin Grevioux! Keldegarde, a young Valkyrie, finds the heroic in the most unusual places. When she returns to Valhalla with her latest warrior, she unwittingly starts a chain of events that will change the face of Norse mythology forever. The adventure of a lifetime begins here!
-- 32-pages, full color limited quarterly series, $3.50
In addition to the usual pantheon of Norse characters - Odin, Baldur, Loki, Thor, etc. – Grevioux plans to introduce a few new characters to the mythos.
VALKYRIES #1 (order code: JAN062808) is 32-pages of full color action for only $3.50 Even though it's available in March, you can still order your copy today at your local comic book shop!
For more information on VALKYRIES visit Alias Comics on the web at http://www.aliascomics.net or Astounding Studios at http://www.astoundingstudios .com – or visit your local comic book shop!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Christian Bonneray
2220 Robinwood Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43620
or
bonneray3@sbcglobal.net
CRY WOLF -- ONE OF THE BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR 2005
(Toledo, Ohio – January 17, 2006) The prestigious comic book website, The ComicFanatic.com, has christened Cry Wolf as one of the best original graphic novels of 2005. The novel wound up in a three-way tie for the coveted title with two other original novels: Ravenous and Dead West .
“It is indeed an honor to have been selected as one of the best graphic novels of 2005,” said author Doug Crill. “We hope that the Cry Wolf series will continue to be a success with the next three installments.” Book two of the series entitled, “ Ghost of Sijan ,” is slated for a spring 2006 release from publisher Open Book Press of Canada.
According to Crill, Cry Wolf had received several other accolades in 2005. The biggest event came when the book was selected by the University of New Mexico as required reading material for a writing class about the myths and legends of lycanthropy through the ages. Because of this announcement, Cry Wolf and three other books from Open Book Press were chosen to be the exclusive graphic novels of this year's American Music Awards.
In December of 2005, Crill and his novel were the featured guests on Global Talk Radio's -- “A Story to Tell,” hosted by Kevin Dawson. “It has been a very rewarding year for us,” said Crill. Back in 2004, Crill and the book's illustrator, Daniel J. Frey, formed Dark Dance Productions to create a wide range of quality-illustrated material for publication. Currently, book one of Cry Wolf is available online at Amazon.com , BookSurge.com, Open Book Press.com , and a number of other online distributors. It can also be purchased at www.crywolfgraphicnovel.com as well as fine bookstores everywhere.
For more information about Cry Wolf , or to schedule an interview, please contact Christian Bonneray at bonneray3@sbcglobal.net or phone (419) 244-8828. To listen to Mr. Crill's radio interview go to www.globaltalkradio.com .
CitC Note: Mike Gagnon from Open Book Press says that Cry Wolf would be good for High School aged young people.
FOR RELEASE ON JANUARY 24 th 2006
Contact:
Chris Campanozzi
P.O. Box 659
Lanoka Harbor , NJ ,
08734
732-269-9086
Open Book Press Graphic Novels Available at Borders
Ann Arbor, MI, January 24th, 2006 – Book retail giant Borders Books and Music has informed young upstart publisher Open Book Press that they will make their current line of graphic novels available to order at the counter of all Borders and Waldenbooks locations throughout the United States.
This announcement is the direct result of the young company's reputation for garnering good press coverage, and dedication to driving sales through multiple channels. Borders has acknowledged these efforts and has agreed to make the books available to order at the counter, and if successful, will result in their books being carried on the shelves.
Open Book Press is encouraging all fans and potential fans in the U.S. to purchase their books by ordering at the counter of their local Borders or Waldenbooks.
The graphic novels currently available to order are:
· Cry Wolf – Winner of the best graphic novel of 2005 from www.thecomicfanatic.com ISBN: 0-9735716-7-5
· Grafenveer Vol.1 – First installment of the medieval tale by Wayne Sanders & Christian N. St. Pierre. ISBN: 0-9735716-3-2
· Monkeys & Midgets – The hilarious all ages comedy by Mike Gagnon and Nelson G. Danielson ISBN: 0-9735716-1-6
· Dreams in Texture – Exquisitely illustrated collection of horror, poetry and fantasy comics by Kevin Clorey and Tom Muzzell. ISBN: 0-9735716-2-4
The children's book “Jessica's Journey” by Jacqueline S. Bruce, also published by Open Book Press will also be made available to order at the counter. Borders is currently continuing to review the extensive list of Open Book press's other books and has expressed interest in arranging authors signing for all of the books in the near future.
More details can be found at: www.openbookpress.com
Degrassi Graphic Novel
Press Release
Over the last five years, Degrassi: The Next Generation has grown into the highest-rated show on The N in the United States. The show's Canadian audience, watching on the CTV Network, is the largest for any homegrown drama. Legions of fans have followed Emma, Paige, Craig, Jimmy, Ellie, Manny and their schoolmates through five exciting years of high school. Every week around the world, teens see themselves and their lives reflected in the dilemmas, dramas, joys and pains of the kids of Degrassi Community School.
But there's so much more that never makes it to the screen. What happens during summer vacation? What about the off-camera, after-school lives of the Degrassi students? What are the characters' home lives really like? What about the weeks that go by in the Degrassi world between one episode and the next? Surely, some good stuff must be going on — and the fans want to know!
Now, DEGRASSI: EXTRA CREDIT graphic novels fill in those gaps! The original storylines in each volume — written by award-winning graphic novel and comic book writer J. Torres in collaboration with the television show's creative staff — pick up where the show left off, expanding on plot elements from Degrassi: The Next Generation and weaving new adventures, challenges and life experiences seamlessly into the DNG story. And the dynamic visuals created by illustrator Ed Northcott will grip readers from the first panel.
“We work tremendously hard to ensure that Degrassi is relevant to the lives of teens,” said Degrassi creator Linda Schuyler, president of Epitome Pictures. “That's why being at the forefront of the English-language manga movement is incredibly exciting — it's an art form that kids everywhere are embracing.” Adds Christopher Jackson of Madison Press Books, “DEGRASSI: EXTRA CREDIT titles will be must-haves, for fans of the show and fans of graphic fiction alike. It's been fantastic to work with Ed, J. and Epitome's DNG writers and to find out just how perfectly suited Degrassi is to this brand of visual storytelling.”
Look for the first two volumes of DEGRASSI: EXTRA CREDIT in stores across North America in October 2006, published by Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster in the United States and Fenn Publishing Co. in Canada.
Toronto-based writer J. Torres is the author of the immensely popular Teen Titans Go monthly comic book for DC Comics. He also writes the quarterly graphic novel series Love as a Foreign Language and contributes to the cartoon Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi, seen on the Cartoon Network. His titles have earned nominations for the prestigious Eisner Award (Alison Dare, 2003) and Harvey Award (Sidekicks, 2001), among others. In 2004 he received two Shuster Award nominations for Outstanding Canadian Writer, and his graphic novella Days Like This was an American Library Association Selection. Torres's other credits include writing for Batman, Black Panther, Rugrats and X-Men comics, for various children's chapter books and activity books, and for magazines including Kayak, Nickelodeon and Whoa.
The talented and prolific Ed Northcott has made his name creating graphic art for countless role-playing games and their book covers and interiors, including Centauri Knights, Uresia, GURPS and Silver Age Sentinels. Northcott lives in Toronto.
It's important to note that the work shown here will not be published; it was simply material that was developed by Ed Northcott (illustrator), J. Torres (writer), and the Madison Press Books team as proof-of-concept for the graphic novel series.
The cover and inside page feature the Degrassi: The Next Generation character Ellie Nash (the television role is played by Stacey Farber.) As rabid fans of DNG will no doubt know, the artwork here depicts Ellie the way she looked in Season Three of the show. When Volumes 1 and 2 are released in October 2006, fans will find that characters are drawn to more closely resemble their appearances in Season Five of DNG.
January 10, 2006
HUMOR IS REASON GONE MAD.
In the Tradition of The Tick, In Honor of Hong Kong Fui,
In memory of Maxwell smart...
Comes the next in line of the arrogant, not-so-bright Super Egos.
Just around the corner, the next in line of the pompous, not-so-bright heroes is illustrated in the release of the new comic book series The Miscellaneous Adventures of STYKMAN.
On sale date 02/01/2006
Produced by a.k.a. Comics, The Miscellaneous Adventures of STYKMAN is a new 28-32 page, full color bi-monthly comic book series depicting the hilarious exploits of a fledgling hero trying desperately to follow in the footsteps of The Legendary Capt. Buck Nekid . Through bungled crime scenes, botched rescue attempts, and shear dumb luck, our hero wannabe shall prove himself worthy of the global adulation he so richly desires. Created by Jonnie Allan. Issue #1 pits the unlikely hero against the nefarious schemes of the Jolly Roger, head of the Jolly Roger Candy Corporation. Once again The Jolly Roger has attempted to steal the ancient Aztec recipe for the Gumdrop and it is up to STYKMAN (so he thinks) to stop him.
Story and art by Jonnie Allan.
On sale date 02/01/2006
This title will be marketed direct to retailers and will be available countrywide, in Canada, as well as online. Contact your local retailer and tell them to STYK IT!
For additional information and ordering the Miscellaneous Adventures of STYKMAN contact Jonnie Allan at jonnieallan@akacomics.com or visit www.akacomics.com
Preview for issue one is found HERE
Preview for issue two is found HERE
Zoom Suit Issue #1
40 interior pages (60 lb stock)
14 point card stock cover
MetalFX ® Cover & Interior
Covers by Bob Layton, Bill Tucci and Billy Dallas Patton
Written by John Taddeo Penciled by Billy Dallas Patton
Additional art by Kris Justice, Rob Hunter & Alitha Martinez
Finally! The book that will change the face of comics forev . . .How many times have we heard that one?
At last! The story that will have lasting repercussions . . .hmm, probably not.
The Universe will never be the same after . . .uh . . .actually, it will. In fact, it will be exactly the same. That's how comic series work. You put it back the way you found it.
Twelve year old Myles Mason is bummed about not being able to afford a Halloween costume. When suddenly! . . .from the sky an alien armor crashes to earth just a few feet behind him. Hilarity and superhero antics ensue in Zoom Suit, a classical “Ugly Duckling” type story set in a superhero universe. Zoom Suit is The Greatest American Hero meets Cinderella.
Fans can spend hours searching the panels to find the book is loaded with hidden gags, inside jokes, an inter-net challenge and a ton of pop culture references. Zoom Suit is not your ordinary 10 minute read.
Rabbit and Bear Paws
"The 18 th century will never be the same"
"Little Spirit Bear Productions" is a First Nations (Anishinabek, Ojibwa) Multi-Media company that was created in 2005 by Chad Solomon, grandson of a Native Traditional Healer and Justice Activist Art Solomon , to share the humorous adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws.
This fresh and funny comic strip for the young and young at heart is created and drawn with the guidance of his Community Elders in collaboration with writer Christopher Meyer. The first series of comic strips are based upon the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers (wisdom from the Anishinabek community) and are rapidly gaining enthusiastic fans for their vibrant and entertaining images of Native Traditions and Oral History.
Entertaining using Traditional Aboriginal values and humour is Chad's goal in creating the characters of Rabbit and Bear Paws . Chad found commercial success in 2003 with the release of two children's fairytales, "Pied Piper" and the "Ten Commandments". Chad became aware that there were few really cool comic book stories for the young people of his own Native community and that many of those representations of the personalities and cultures of the Native people in existing books were often negative stereotypes. With Rabbit and Bear Paws , Chad has succeeded in creating a positive image for Native youth.
Legendary artist Neal Adams ( Batman, X-Men, Dr.Kildare ) had this to say about Chad's approach "We have waited a long time for a comic strip from a North American Indian about North American Indians. It looks like that time has come. Kudos for our brothers."
World-famous cartoonist Lynn Johnston (For Better or for Worse ) calls RABBIT AND BEAR PAW S "funny", with "insights into areas other cartoonists have not yet explored."
Rabbit and Bear Paws is set in 18th Century colonized North America and follows the story of two mischievous Ojibwa brothers as they play pranks and have amazing adventures using a traditional Ojibwa medicine that transforms them into animals for a short time. New episodes of Rabbit and Bear Paws' adventures can be found weekly at www.saymag.com . To read character biographies or to view missed installments, visit www.rabbitandbearpaws.com or vote for your favorite character at www.ayn.ca/AYNHome.aspx . Just scroll down the page to join the journey.
Rabbit and Bear Paws is printed monthly in the community papers of "Anishinabek News" and "Niiji (Friends) Circle".
The Rabbit and Bear Paws graphic novel will be on sale in March 2006, along with a new installment of the comic strip series based on the second of the Seven Grandfathers' teachings. The feedback has been positive about using humor and traditional stories given the state of our crazy modern world and Solomon is determined that his stories and images will be available to everyone. "Everyone who wants to read my stories should have the chance", says Solomon. "I love these characters"! "If my stories make a difference to just one person's self image and self-respect then all these hours of doodling will have been worthwhile!" he laughs.
"I've always remembered what Alwyn Morris, Olympic Mohawk Athlete used to say”, Quote, "If you have it in you to dream, you have it in you to succeed". That is my personal motto and part of the message behind Rabbit and Bear Paws ."
For more information please contact chadsol@gmail.com
This is my press release. I don't mean to blow my own horn, I just find it annoying when I can't find a projects news release on its own site - Scott - January 11, 2006
Elementary School Teacher Launches Comics in the Classroom Website
Superhero ABC, Franklyn Richards, Lions Tigers and Bears, Zoom Suit and Bone Among Early Selections
New Brunswick , Canada , January 5, 2006 – A Canadian elementary school teacher has started a website designed to help fellow teachers and parents choose comics for both eager and reluctant readers K through 8.
Scott Tingley, is the creator of Comics in the Classroom ( www.comicsintheclassroom.net ). Scott, a parent, teacher and a longtime fan of the comics medium is an early years teacher in the New Brunswick ( Canada ) public school system. His goal with Comics in the Classroom is to share the positive experience that he's found using comics to help in the learning process. “I am hoping that my knowledge of differentiated learning and my love of comics will help Comics in the Classroom visitors in the motivating and teaching of the children in your lives”, said Tingley.
Scott's selections run the gamut from ABC books such as Scott McCloud's Superhero ABC's to the older skewing Zoom Suit, aimed squarely at the PSP and X-Box 360 crowd. Between the two, selections include Marvel Entertainment's Franklyn Richards, Lions, Tigers and Bears by Mike Bullock and a perennial seller Jeff Smith's Bone. These and other selections are currently featured on the CITC homepage.
Some choices such as Superhero ABCs are simple. Others such as Lions, Tigers and Bears (an Image comic) or Zoom Suit may not be as obvious. Tingley explains, “The goal of the site is to get kids to read. Comics that have a film, television or video game look such as LT&B and Zoom Suit are great gateway books for reluctant readers.”
Scott expects the site to grow at a rapid pace. “I may be new and small, but I am one of the few sites of this type. The response has been very strong, but we are always looking to recommend publications that we believe are a good fit”, Said Tingley. “But space is filling up. Creators or publishers that would like their books reviewed should send review copies as early as possible”
Tingley's next goal is to find a sponsor to help him spread the word. He plans on offering advertising space sometime during 2006. Parties interested in submitting review copies or sponsorship opportunities should contact Scott Tingley at comicsintheclassroom@gmail.com .