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LEGENDS UNITE: KAREEM-ABDUL JABBAR TO PEN THE INTRODUCTION TO Z2 COMICS’ UPCOMING GRAPHIC NOVEL PAYING TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE “BIRD” PARKER

7/31/2020

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Company Announces Introduction for “Chasin’ the Bird:
Charlie Parker in California” Released in Celebration of Bird 100 


“This is not another graphic novel. This is art. Instant classic.”–The GWW
 
“One of the best graphic novels of the year.” – Comic Bookcase
 
9 out of 10 – Newsarama/Games Radar

NEW YORK, NY—In honor of the 100th anniversary of Charlie “Bird” Parker’s birth, the life of the jazz icon will be told in the pages of an upcoming graphic novel to be released by Z2 Comics in late September, now with an introduction by basketball and cultural icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
 
During his short life, Bird changed the course of music. He was a pioneering composer and improviser who ushered in a new era of jazz and influenced subsequent generations of musicians, writers and artists. Music industry legend Quincy Jones once said, “I believe that a hundred years from now, when people look back at the 20th century, they will view Bird, Miles and Dizzy as our Mozart, Bach, Chopin and Tchaikovsky.”
 
Similarly, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s time in the NBA will remain one of the most celebrated eras in the history of the sport itself. Jabbar, a 6x world champion, holds the record as the NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer, boasting 38,387 points in his twenty-year career. Since retiring in 1989, he has gone on to become a celebrated New York Times-best-selling author, filmmaker, ambassador of education, columnist and cultural commentator. As a social justice activist, Kareem was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor by former President Barack Obama. As a student and Jazz historian, Kareem’s voice is the perfect introduction to the world of Charlie Parker in California.
 
“Chasin’ the Bird, a phenomenal graphic novel…becomes an archeological dig into the legend that was Bird—and the man that was Charlie Parker” says Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “What is especially impressive is how Dave Chisholm and Peter Markowski capture in words and art, the spirit of Bird’s music, rooted in the traditions of classic music but reshaped into his own—and their own—personal expression. It is the universal quest each person embarks on to find their unique voice.”
 
This groundbreaking graphic novel tells the story of Bird’s time in L.A. starting in December 1945, where Bird and Dizzy Gillespie brought frenetic sounds of bebop from the East Coast jazz underground to the West Coast for a two-month residency at Billy Berg’s Hollywood jazz club. This marked the beginning of a tumultuous two year-stint for Bird bumming around L.A., showing up at jam sessions, crashing on people’s couches, causing havoc in public places, and recording some of his most groundbreaking tracks, “A Night in Tunisia” and “Ornithology,” as well as “Relaxin’ At Camarillo,” inspired by the end of his time in SoCal at the Camarillo State Hospital. The novel explores Bird’s relationship with the characters and events he encountered during his time in L.A. including recording some of his signature songs with Dial Record founder Ross Russell, a brief but influential stay at the home of famed jazz photographer William Claxton, a party for the ages at the ranch home of artist Jirayr Zorthian, and others who found themselves in the orbit of the jazz genius.
 
“This is one of the greatest projects we have ever had the privilege to be a part of” says publisher Josh Frankel. “The passion that Dave and Peter put into this work is unparalleled, and to add the words of one of the most prolific cultural critics, let alone one of the greatest athletes in history is truly humbling for all of us. We are certain that this is destined to be one of the graphic novels of the year, if not a high watermark for the decade ahead.”
 
Chasin’ The Bird is being released during the centennial of Bird, dubbed Bird 100, as one of the many initiatives celebrating the extraordinary career of the trailblazing jazz icon, including exciting new music releases, festivals and events, prestigious exhibitions, special partnerships, exclusive collectible art, and myriad of independent appreciations and concerts. This special graphic novel, named for Charlie Parker’s 1947 standard, and adapts one of the sunnier, but darker chapters in the life of Bird, and is available for preorder now directly through the Z2 webstore. The deluxe limited edition includes a vinyl 45, and both are released in conjunction with a new album from Verve Records/UMG spanning Bird’s L.A. period. The details of the tracks accompanying the graphic novel, and the upcoming album will be announced soon.  
 

www.charliebirdparker.com

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About Charlie Parker:
If jazz history can be divided into two epochs — danceable swing and improvisational bebop — then Charlie Parker is the fault line. During his brief but remarkable career, the alto saxophonist nicknamed “Bird” gave jazz lightning tempos, mind-bending chord substitutions, and previously unexplored harmonic depth, paving the way for hard bop, free jazz, fusion and everything after. Miles Davis summed up his accomplishments: “You can tell the history of jazz in four words. Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker.” Parker, who died in 1955 at only 34, was a meteoric musician that burned bright and much too quick. But his legacy more than lives on; it’s jazz scripture. Jack Kerouac called him “as important as Beethoven.” Four of his recordings were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame including albums Charlie Parker With Strings and Jazz At Massey Hall and the songs “Ornithology” and “Billie’s Bounce.” In 1974, he was awarded a posthumous Grammy for Best Performance By A Soloist for “First Recordings.” In 1988, the Clint Eastwood-directed biopic “Bird” brought his story to the silver screen. The U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in his honor in 1995. The Parker composition “Koko” was included in the National Recorded Registry in 2002, declaring the song as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform(s) or reflect(s) life in the United States.” Although his life and career were short, the New Yorker has praised Parker as “one of the wonders of twentieth-century music” and the New York Times deemed him “matchless” and a “bebop exemplar.” Parker’s popularity continues to grow as the world celebrates the 100th birthday in 2020.
 
About Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made a name for himself with his un-blockable Skyhook which helped him become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Kareem’s mantra is: “I can do more than shoot a ball through a hoop, my greatest asset is my mind." Growing up under the two biggest media spotlights in the world (New York and Los Angeles) during the Civil Rights era as quite literally the most visible black man in the country has given Kareem a unique perspective on America’s political and social landscape. This viewpoint has allowed him to make a significant impact in today's political and pop culture.  Kareem is also known as jazz historian with a lifelong love for the music.

About Z2 Comics:
Z2 is the premier destination for top quality music-based comics and graphic novels, having worked across genres to deliver an authentic experience to diverse audiences. Some of the publisher’s best-selling books include Apocrypha: The Legend of BABYMETAL, YUNGBLUD Presents: The Twisted tales of the Ritalin Club and Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel, alongside debut works of graphic fiction by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), DJ Paul Oakenfold, internet sensation Poppy, jazz trumpeter Dave Chisholm and others. Z2’s upcoming works include books created with partnership with The Grateful Dead, Sturgill Simpson and others.
 
About Jampol Artist Management:
Jampol Artist Management, Inc., which has been an effective and discerning steward for such legends as The Doors, Janis Joplin, Ramones, Charlie Parker, Jim Morrison, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Ramone, The Mamas & the Papas and Jefferson Airplane, utilizes all available platforms to connect fans new and old with their clients and provide new avenues for discovery and exploration. JAM Inc.’s work on behalf of its legacy clients includes feature and documentary films; worldwide retail apparel and licensing campaigns; powerful uses in film, TV and other media; innovative use of social media; stage productions, museum exhibitions, books and more.
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Books 9 & 10 of the Dark Shadows Paperback Library Reprint coming soon!

7/31/2020

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Dark Shadows the Complete Paperback Library Reprint #9, “The Foe of Barnabas Collins,”; ISBN978-1-61345-216-5; $14.99; written by Marilyn Ross; paperback; 6 x 9 inches; printed text; archival edition; ninth in a series of 32 novels;
​available in October, 2020.
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The original, classic, Dark Shadows books from the Paperback Library, return with Hermes Press' archival reprint of all 32 titles in the series beginning with the first novel which first saw print in December, 1966.
     The ninth book in this reprint series is titled “The Foe of Barnabas Collins.” Each book in the series was written by William Edward Daniel Ross who used the pen name Marilyn Ross.
Barnabas befriends lovely Paula Jennings right after her marriage to strange, mysterious Christopher Jennings. He feels protective towards the lonely heiress because he suspects Christopher is the werewolf who has been ravaging the countryside. When Christopher is joined by Melissa Henry (the reincarnation of the evil Angelique), Barnabas is certain Paula is in terrible danger.
Barnabas knows he can defeat the evil werewolf. But will his powers be stronger than those of the beautiful – and deadly – Angelique?

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Dark Shadows the Complete Paperback Library Reprint #10, “ The Phantom and Barnabas Collins,”; ISBN978-1-61345-217-2; $14.99; written by Marilyn Ross; paperback; 6 x 9 inches; printed text; archival edition; tenth in a series of 32 novels;
available in November, 2020.
​

The original, classic, Dark Shadows books from the Paperback Library, return with Hermes Press' archival reprint of all 32 titles in the series beginning with the first novel which first saw print in December, 1966.
     The tenth book in this reprint series is titled “The Phantom and Barnabas Collins.” Each book in the series was written by William Edward Daniel Ross who used the pen name Marilyn Ross.
Maggie Evans visits the Collins family graveyard and is transported back in time to the year 1880. There she awakes, an amnesia victim at a Collinwood she barely recognizes. All that seems familiar are the house itself and the family's guest, Barnabas Collins.
Slowly Maggie learns she is trapped in a nightmare. She has fallen into the hands of Dr. Giles Collins, whose mysterious experiments with human blood have already taken several lives. Now she is slated to be his next victim.
Though Maggie is warned by the others that he is a vampire, she turns to Barnabas for help. But Barnabas, too, is in danger from the evil doctor. Will he live long enough to save her?

Find Out More
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Harley Quinn Black + White + Red Chapter Six: “Black, White Knight, and Red”

7/31/2020

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Harley Quinn Black + White + Red Chapter Six:
“Black, White Knight, and Red”

Hammering fans weekly with Harley Quinn stories in the vein of Batman: Black & White, the sixth chapter of Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red has arrived! Sean Murphy, Katana Collins and Matteo Scalera paint Batman: White Knight red in this sixth installment of the fourteen-chapter anthology series, now available on participating digital platforms, including readdc.com, Comixology, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and more!
 
From the pages of Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight, a sneak peek at the upcoming spinoff series Batman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn by Katana Collins and Matteo Scalera! Harley looks back on the night of her first arrest by Batman. In the heat of one of her earliest escapades with the Joker, Harley’s high spirits are tanked and she gets a cold glimpse of the chaos to come when violence escalates and their heist is crashed by Batman and Robin. Forced to save face or take the high road, Harley makes a choice that will cement her unspoken bond with Batman for years to come.
Harley Quinn Black + White + Red Chapter Six by Sean Murphy, Katana Collins and Matteo Scalera, lettered by Andworld Design, is available now, along with previous chapters by
 Stjepan Šejić, Mirka Andolfo, Saladin Ahmed and Javier Rodriguez, 
​Tim Seeley and Juan Ferreyra and Riley Rossmo.
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Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red promo art is by Jorge Jiménez.

DC’s comics are available on participating digital platforms, including readdc.com, Comixology, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, DC UNIVERSE, and more.
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Presenting Funny Creek, A Powerful Story about Childhood Innocence, Violence in Society and Coping with Tragedy

7/30/2020

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ComiXology Originals and Stout Club Entertainment Present Funny Creek, A Powerful and Poignant Story about Childhood Innocence, Violence in Society and Coping with Tragedy. Releasing Weekly this August.
 
July 30, 2020 – New York, NY – Every child loves getting dressed up like their favorite character. But what happens when a child’s admiration for that fictional character goes too far?
 
ComiXology, Amazon’s premier digital comics service, and Stout Club Entertainment present Funny Creek, a 5-issue limited series debuting weekly beginning August 4 about the power of pop culture idols and overcoming guilt. Co-written by Rafael Scavone and Rafael Albuquerque with art by Eduardo Medeiros, colors by Priscilla Tramontano, letters by Bernardo Brice, and edited by Bis Stringer Horne. Funny Creek will be available simultaneously in both English and Portuguese.
 
Funny Creek is the first of four comic books coming out of the comiXology Originals multi-book deal with Stout Club Entertainment. Best known as the Eisner, Harvey and Inkpot Award winning artist for American Vampire, this series marks Albuquerque’s chance to explore a different role: as writer.
 
Set in 1985, young children Lilly and Andy are great friends who both admire the animated wild-west themed TV show Funny Creek. When a terrible tragedy occurs, Lilly finds herself trapped inside her favorite cartoon inhabited by good boys, bad boys and clowns. But the bright world of Funny Creek isn’t as far from the pains of the real world as she had hoped. She joins with Clumsy and Cody to face the devilish villains of Cold Joe and his gang of goons in a showdown in Funny Creek Town. But being a hero isn’t as simple as she thought. As Lilly is pushed deeper into the adventure she is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions—not only inside The Funny Creek show, but also in the real world—and must overcome her troubles and make her way home.
 
“Funny Creek is a very dear project that we’ve been planning for years with Eduardo Medeiros, our longtime friend and partner in the Stout Club,” say writers Rafael Albuquerque & Rafael Scavone. “In many ways, it’s a story about friendship. It’s also a story about growing up in a culture that idolizes violence, a place we all have been as children. It’s a very special project for the three of us, a story we believe needs to be told. So, it’s a pleasure to have it as our debut title on comiXology and Kindle across the globe.”
 
“We’ve wanted to collaborate in a new project for a long time and finally decided on a book aimed for young readers, which is not our comfort zone at all,” says Albuquerque. “While brainstorming ideas, heavy subjects kept coming to our minds, and we decided that we should not avoid, but embrace them—figuring out how an 8-year old kid would deal with things like loss, guilt and grief. That was the path where we found something unique and interesting for both young and mature audiences.”
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Funny Creek deals with the banalization of violence on our society and its potential consequences. Scavone, Albuquerque and Medeiros' simple "cartoon" characters become deeper and more layered than at first sight. It is a powerful and poignant story about childhood innocence, violence in society and how children process trauma and cope with guilt.
 
“Guilt is a tough subject for adults to deal with, but it’s even harder from a child’s point of view,” says Scavone. ”The most beautiful in how children communicate — and the most challenging to someone trying to represent it! — is that it is absolutely simple, and yet so rich in meanings. I faced many of my dilemmas as a young and as an adult Rafael, while writing this story. And each time I see Eduardo’s unique art over my script it gives me a sense of magic and growing up.”
 
“This is a project which I put my heart in,” says Medeiros. “We spent almost three years meeting, exchanging ideas, writing and rewriting to reach what Funny Creek has become. It's a comic that tells a lot about what we believe and I see very clearly each one of us in it. It was and will always be a pleasure to work with my talented friends Rafael Scavone and Rafael Albuquerque and I couldn't be prouder of the final result. Courage, Loyalty and Joy!”
 
Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive content, Funny Creek will be available upon release, at no additional cost, for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited, and for purchase on Kindle and comiXology. Prime Reading offers all Amazon Prime members a rotating selection of thousands of top Kindle books, magazines, short works, comic books, children’s books, and more – all at no additional cost. Kindle Unlimited offers over 1 million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and select current issues of popular magazines for just $9.99 a month with a 30-day free trial at amazon.com/kindleunlimited. ComiXology Unlimited now offers over 25,000 comics, graphic novels and manga for just $5.99 a month with a 60-day free trial at comixology.com/unlimited.
 
For more updates on comiXology Originals, check out http://comixologyoriginals.com.

About the Creative Team:
RAFAEL SCAVONE (writer) started writing comics in 2014. His main works include Wonder Woman, All-Star Batman, Mark Millar’s Hit-Girl and the adaptation of the popular Neil Gaiman tale A Study in Emerald. His creative partnership with Rafael Albuquerque continues in the upcoming Dark Horse’s Hidden Society.
 
RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE (writer) is an Eisner, Harvey and Inkpot Award winner for The New York Times Bestseller American Vampire. He has been working for major comic book publishers in the United States since 2005. Best known for his work on All-Star Batman, Batgirl, Animal Man, Huck, and Eight. His most recent projects include the adaptation of the popular Neil Gaiman tale A Study in Emerald, Mark Millar’s Hit-Girl and Dark Horse’s Hidden Society.
 
EDUARDO MEDEIROS (artist) is a comic book author well known for his acid humor and unique art style. Eduardo has several books published in Brazil and the United States, including: Mondo Urbano (Devir/OniPress), Sopa de Salsicha (Cia das Letras), Marvel Strange Tales (Marvel), Gotham Academy (DC Comics) and Open Bar (Panini Books).
 
About comiXology
ComiXology, an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is a revolutionary, cloud-based digital comics service. With content from over 125 publishers as well as thousands of independent creators from around the world, comiXology provides an unrivaled library of comic books, graphic novels, manga and bandes dessinées. The company’s first-in-class innovations include the exclusive Guided View technology which provides an immersive and cinematic reading experience and a new monthly subscription service. ComiXology is based in New York City, with operations in Seattle and Los Angeles. For more information, visit comixology.com and follow the company on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.
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Engineward #1 Sells Out, Goes Back to Print with New Michael Avon Oeming and Taki Soma Cover

7/30/2020

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Missoula, MT (7/30/2020): Vault Comics is pleased to announce that ENGINEWARD #1 has sold out at the distributor. A second print is in production, with gorgeous new cover art from the legendary team of Michael Avon Oeming and Taki Soma. The second printing is scheduled to hit store shelves this September. 


ENGINEWARD 
​
is a zodiac-inspired, twelve issue science-fantasy comic series written by George Mann, drawn by Joe Eisma, colored by Michael Garland, lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and designed by Tim Daniel.  In ENGINEWARD, Earth is an ancient myth, long forgotten. Now, the god-like Celestials, who embody the surviving zodiac signs, rule with brutal efficiency. When Joss, an Engineward, discovers and reactivates the head of a fossilized Ghoulem, she learns all is not as intended. Her destiny—and the truth about her imperious rulers—lies somewhere far beyond the borders of her shantytown.


ABOUT GEORGE MANN: 
George Mann is a Sunday Times bestselling novelist and scriptwriter. He’s the creator of the supernatural crime series, Wychwood, as well as the popular Newbury & Hobbes and Tales of the Ghost novel series. He’s written for properties such as Star Wars, Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes, Judge Dredd, Warhammer 40,000 and Dark Souls, for publishers including Disney/Lucasfilm, Tor, BBC, IDW, Legendary, Titan, Panini and Audible. George is one half of the creative studio Strange Matter, which he co-formed with Cavan Scott in 2018. He’s currently part of the writers room on a forthcoming genre television show.  
 
ABOUT JOE EISMA: 
Joe Eisma is the artist and co-creator of Morning Glories, the Eisner-nominated and New York Times Bestselling series from Image Comics. Joe has also worked on Existence 3.0, Dynamo 5 and Notorious from Image, and has provided covers for BOOM!, IDW and Valiant Comics.   Recently, Joe has also drawn many comics for Archie Comics, including the popular Riverdale adaptation, as well as, The Flash from DC Comics and Faith from Valiant. A primarily self-taught artist, Joe graduated in 2002 from Baylor University with a degree in film, and went on to study at Southern Methodist University's Guildhall program, where he received a Certificate in Art Creation for Video Games. 

ABOUT VAULT COMICS:
Vault Comics is an independent publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural horror comics, based in Missoula, Montana.
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Kidrobot x Hello Kitty Sports!

7/30/2020

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SHOP NOWNEW

Kidrobot x Hello Kitty SportsPlush, Pins & Patches Available Now at Kidrobot.com Kidrobot and Sanrio® continue their partnership bringing Hello Kitty® to the world of sports and beyond with the new Kidrobot x Hello Kitty Sports Collection featuring plush, pins & patches. Lace-up those high tops, throw on your tracksuit, and get ready to get sporty with Hello Kitty as she competes to take home the GOLD star!
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GET SPORTY
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PATCH UP THAT TRACK SUIT
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KEEP YOUR PIN GAME STONG

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THE HARROWING OF HELL from Iron Circus Comics

7/30/2020

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Those of us who read the Bible and other ancient texts as literature know that these are deeply political works, perhaps none more so than the New Testament with its radical ideology and characters set on upending the status quo (one that has only grown more entrenched over the following millennia).

This is partly what makes the arrival of Evan Dahm’s latest graphic novel from Iron Circus Comics such a joyous occasion. In The Harrowing of Hell, inspired by the Bible’s apocryphal works, Evan has given us back the original revolutionary Jesus of Nazareth in a deep, sometimes unsettling, and ultimately inspiring fable for today. 

But before we get too far down that path, it's worth pointing out how gorgeously illustrated this is — exactly what fans of Evan’s Rice Boy graphic novels have come to expect. His hallmark deep, inky blacks are punctuated with blazing white and nefarious spot reds as Jesus descends into Hell and flashes back to relevant moments and conversations back in the land of the living. It’s a pleasure to read and escalates so fast that you find yourself doubling back to take it all in more slowly, absorbing the slight changes in facial expressions and environments that push the story along. 

The most interesting thing about HARROWING for someone who isn’t very well-versed in scripture is what it has to say about humanity, who our “enemy” really is, and who are saviors really are (or could be). This feels like myth, echoing back to us from ancient times: opaque, mysterious, and inviting. And this will be a welcome addition to bookshelves for religious experts, as well, or at least those who love alternative takes on Biblical teachings. 
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TITLE: The Harrowing of Hell
WRITER: Evan Dahm 
ILLUSTRATOR: 
Evan Dahm
TRIM: 8 x 10
AGE RANGE: General Adult
GENRE: Religion / Philosophy
SRP: $15
FORMAT: Hardcover
PAGE COUNT: 128
PUB DATE: August 11, 2020
ISBN #:  9781945820441
ITEM CODE: JAN201846
PUBLISHER: Iron Circus Comics
TRADE DISTRIBUTOR: Consortium

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DCeased: Hope at World’s End Chapter Six:“The Siege of Jotunheim"

7/28/2020

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DCeased: Hope at World’s End Chapter Six:
“The Siege of Jotunheim"

The sixth chapter of DCeased: Hope At World’s End has arrived! A new story featuring DCeased: Dead Planet’s Wink and The Aerie, set before the Earth’s surviving population fled to Earth-2, is now available on participating digital platforms, including readdc.com, Comixology, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and more!

Black Adam and his Anti-Life army have arrived at Jotunhueim and a fierce struggle for survival begins! Can the impenetrable fortress hold out until help arrives? Will anyone survive this first battle of the Anti-Life War?!
​
DCeased: Hope At World’s End Chapter Six by Tom Taylor, Renato Guedes and Rex Lokus, lettered by Saida Temofonte, is available now. Chapter Seven, “The Battle of Jotunheim,” will publish on Tuesday August 11.

DC’s comics are available on participating digital platforms, including readdc.com, Comixology, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, DC UNIVERSE, and more.
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They Called Us Enemy and Usagi Yojimbo Win at 32nd Annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards

7/25/2020

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The Industry Recognizes and Celebrates the Talent and Artistry of
George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, Harmony Becker,
Stan Sakai, Scott Dunbier, and Shawn Lee


SAN DIEGO, CA (July 25, 2020) – At last night’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards ceremony, Usagi Yojimbo from IDW Publishing and They Called Us Enemy from IDW imprint Top Shelf Productions received three coveted Eisners, the highest honor in the comics community as voted upon by professional peers.

Winner in the category of “Best Reality-Based Work”, the heartfelt graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker presents Takei’s firsthand account of a childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II.

“What a tremendous honor to be recognized by our peers in the comics industry with this Eisner Award for They Called Us Enemy,” say the creators in a joint statement. “We offer our deep thanks to the judges who nominated this book and everyone that voted. We also owe a special thanks to all the readers, librarians, educators, and shopkeepers that have embraced this story and spread the word. Because of you, the story of the wrongful imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II will be more widely known by future generations, and in that education there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.”

“In times of crisis, it can be tempting to consider books ‘nonessential,’ but that’s when it's most essential to grapple with our history and our values, and to understand how the past still lives with us in the present,” says Top Shelf editor Leigh Walton. “As a young man, George Takei could find nothing in his school textbooks about his family’s imprisonment — now, his Eisner-winning graphic memoir is rapidly becoming adopted as a school text. It’s an honor to join the comics community in celebrating this team’s profound and beautiful achievement.”

Usagi Yojimbo, the beloved epic fantasy by Stan Sakai, claimed two Eisner Awards: Sakai as “Best Letterer” for his work on the monthly full-color Usagi Yojimbo comic book series, and “Best Archival Collection/Project — Comic Books” for Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter Artist Select, a prestige hardcover collecting the seminal tales of the eponymous ronin hero, edited by IDW’s Scott Dunbier.

In response to the “Best Letterer” category win, Sakai says, “Lettering is usually an unrecognized part of the comic creation process, so this award is especially significant. I still do traditional hand lettering as I feel it gives a unique warmth to the storytelling.”

For the “Best Archival Collection/Project — Comic Books” award, Sakai says, “I'm so happy to receive this Eisner Award. Scott Dunbier and the team at IDW did an incredible job. This is a book I am very proud of. Thank you.”

Grasscutter Artist Select editor Scott Dunbier adds, “It's an honor to receive this award. I would like to thank Shawn Lee for his inspired design and, of course, the maestro himself, Stan Sakai, whose work is a true inspiration.”
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“Stan Sakai is a legend,” says IDW Editor-In-Chief John Barber. “We couldn’t be happier to have Usagi Yojimbo here at IDW, to see Stan’s extraordinary storytelling work — lettering included — recognized by the Eisner judges, and to witness the work continuing to inspire readers around the world!”

The 2020 Eisner Award judges recognized IDW Publishing and its imprints, Artist’s Editions, EuroComics, Library of American Comics, Sunday Press, Top Shelf, and Yoe Books, with a combined fifteen nods this year (fourteen nominations and one shared nomination), the most nominations for a publisher this year.

IDW Publishing and Top Shelf Productions would like to thank the judges and voters for this year’s awards and are honored to be included among such stellar competition.

___________________________________________________________________

For Further Reading
 
Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 1: Bunraku and Other Stories
FC  •  $19.99 US / $25.99 CAN  •  ISBN 978-1-68405-657-6

Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter Artist Select 
BW  •  $150.00 US / $195.00 CAN  •  ISBN 978-1-68405-660-6
*Available Direct Exclusively from IDW Publishing


They Called Us Enemy
BW  •  $19.99 US / $25.99 CAN  •  ISBN 978-1-60309-450-4

Nos llamaron Enemigo (They Called Us Enemy Spanish Ed.) 
BW  •  $19.99 US / $25.99 CAN  •  ISBN 978-1-60309-483-2

They Called Us Enemy Expanded Ed.
BW  •  $29.99 US / $39.99 CAN  •  ISBN 978-1-60309-470-2
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About IDW Publishing
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Witch Hat Atelier Wins Prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards During Comic-Con International 2020

7/25/2020

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In its first nomination and win, Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama wins a 2020 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Asia
July 25, 2020 – New York, NY / San Diego, CA – First announced during the online award ceremony for the The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards held Friday, July 24, 2020 during Comic-Con International San Diego, Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama, and published by Kodansha USA Publishing, was awarded a 2020 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Asia category!

"Witnessing the spellbinding charm of this manga with universal appeal entrance the world has been enormously gratifying for us at Kodansha USA," said President & CEO Alvin Lu. "This special recognition by the Eisners committee and voters is a great honor. On behalf of the enormously talented Shirahama-sensei, thank you."

Often considered by the comics, manga and graphic novel industry as “the Oscars of Comics,” the Eisner Awards are voted on by industry professionals and given out in more than two-dozen categories each year during Comic-Con International San Diego. This year, Witch Hat Atelier won a 2020 Eisner Award, joining other Kodansha USA Publishing titles who have also received this award in the past including, Tokyo Tarareba Girls by Akiko Higashimura in 2019, and AKIRA by Katsuhiro Otomo in 2018.

Witch Hat Atelier is the beautifully illustrated, all-ages, story about a girl who longs for magic in her life and learns that, on the inside, she already is what she wishes she could be.

In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: she wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch … until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…

Witch Hat Atelier has seen over 2.3 million copies published across 18 countries, and is available to English speaking fans digitally via Amazon Kindle, BookWalker, comiXology, Apple Books, Google Play, Rakuten Kobo, Nook, and izneo, and also available in print, distributed by Penguin Random House.


For more information on this and other Kodansha USA Publishing series please visit: https://kodanshacomics.com/.
About Kamome Shirahama 
Kamome Shirahama debuted as a manga artist with Eniale & Dewiela. And as an illustrator, worked on covers for various DC Comics and Marvel’s Star Wars comics. In 2016, she began serialization of Witch Hat Atelier in the Monthly Morning Two manga magazine published by Kodansha Ltd. This series has been well received by a worldwide audience and has won a number of international awards such as the Japan Expo Award, in France.


About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
Established in New York in 2008, Kodansha USA Publishing (KUP) is a subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher. Its manga imprint is Kodansha Comics, which began by releasing Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira and Shirow Masamune’s The Ghost in the Shell. Today, thanks to hits like Attack on Titan, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Noragami, and FAIRY TAIL, it is now the No. 2 manga publisher in the United States by revenue. VERTICAL, which publishes fan favorite manga titles like Chi’s Sweet Home and BLAME!, as well as the popular MONOGATARI novel series, is also an imprint of KUP. Both Kodansha Comics and VERTICAL are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services. http://www.kodanshacomics.com
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