Platinum Studios, Inc. (OTCBB:PDOS), an entertainment company that controls an international library of more than 5,600 comic book characters which it adapts, produces and licenses for all forms of media, today announced that it is in negotiations to acquire WOWIO, LLC, a leading online source for downloading digital books and comics. This acquisition would continue the expansion of Platinum Studios’ global digital media distribution strategy.

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Regardless of what you think of Platinum Studios, you have to admit, it does know how to market and spin itself to megabucks. Cowboys and Aliens, the sci-fi western that finally saw the light of day last year, was sold to Dreamworks to be turned into a major motion picture, after 10 years in on again off again development hell.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Robert Downey Jr. is in negotiations to play the lead in the the flick.

“Cowboys & Aliens” derives from a graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley from an original idea by Rosenberg. The story centers on an Old West battle between the Apache and Western settlers, including a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson (Downey), that is interrupted by a spaceship crashing into the prairie near Silver City, Ariz.

via THR

Variety is reporting Platinum Studios, Top Cow Productions, and Arclight Films are teaming up to bring Top Cow’s popular character Witchblade to the big screen. As odd as the team up sounds, here’s how it breaks down:

• Marc Silvestri and Matt Hawkins of Top Cow and Rich Marincle of Platinum Studios will serve as executive producers
• Gary Hamilton and Nigel Odell from Arclight, and Scot Mitchell Rosenberg of Platinum Studios will produce
• The film will more than likely shoot in Australia beginning in September
• According to the article no director, star, or writer have been attached

With hundreds of issues under the belt, and published in 21 languages and 55 countries, and considering the cult nature the Yancy Butler television series has become, this could be one heck of a movie.

via Variety

Platinum Studios is a silver sponsor for this year’s Free Comic Book Day being held in comic shops and books stores across the country. The company is taking it a step further by helping to get comics in the hands of military personel around the world.

Working with Operation Troop Aid, the companies will send 27,000 comics and graphic novels to troops stationed in Iraq.

In addition to sending comics around the world, Platinum Studios will be distributing a Hero By Night mini-issue, and a sneak peek of Gunplay. DJ Coffman, creator of Hero By Night, and Jorge Vega, creator of Gunplay will also make appearances to sign their issues. Coffman will appear at Larry’s Comics in Lowell, MA from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, while Vega and artist Dominic Vivona will sign at Jetpack Comics in Rochester, NH from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

via Platinum Studios

DreamWorks is at it again, this time snatching up the rights to Atlantis Rising from Platinum Studios. Atlantis Rising is created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg who will act as one of the co-producers for the live action adaptation.

In “Atlantis,” seismic disturbances at sea force world militaries to investigate the deepest part of the world’s ocean, where an underground civilization emerges to wage war with planet Earth.

Ah, I get it now; Spielberg was so happy with War of the Worlds he’s hoping his movie company can hit a home run again with this flick.

The final installment of Atlantis Rising will arrive on store shelves toward the end of the month, no word on when we might see the film in the local theater.

via Hollywood Reporter

The Platinum Comics 2007 Comic Book Challenge is over, and Jorge Vega has come out on top with the western comic Gunplay.

‘Gunplay’ is the haunting, bullet riddled tale of a Buffalo Soldier condemned to roam the Big Empty with a hellish curse slung at his waist: a demonic shooting iron that forces Abner to kill once a day or suffer soul searing pain. His only salvation lies in earning the trust of a boy he’s never met, a boy with an agonizing secret of his own and Abner has just gunned down that boy’s father.

This four issue mini-series invites readers to ride alongside Abner and the boy, revealing how the black cavalryman fell victim to the gun and how an adolescent faith healer brought death to an entire township. Under a scorching western sun, their hostile relationship will be transformed with the boy not only offering companionship to a lonely soul, but providing Abner with the moral compass that will guide his curse, transforming the gunman from desert nightmare to high plains folk hero.

The winner was selected by viewer votes.

via AT&T Blue Room

Platinum Studios and AT&T have announced the field of aspiring comic creators have been narrowed to three. This means the online voting is on for the second annual Platinum Studios’ Comic Book Challenge.

The Finalists

• Jorge Vega from Brockton, Mass., for “Gunplay”
• Shawn Granger from La Verne, Calif., for “Grey Shades”
• Josiah Grahn from Richmond, Ky., for “Banana Barry”

Between now and Sunday August 26, you can visit the AT&T Blue Room (www.attblueroom.com) to check out the work by the creators, view the live pitch, and cast your vote.

“The level of competition has been intense this year,” said Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman of Platinum Studios. “The top 10 entrants should be extremely proud of their accomplishments. We are eagerly awaiting the public vote for the winner of
Platinum Studios’ Comic Book Challenge.”

The winner of the challenge will be announced August 28, with the winner getting his comic book or graphic novel published and premiered at a major Wizard World Convention in 2008.

via Platinum Studios

Their credits include Shrek, Men in Black, Scrubs, and Hero by Night, and they just happen to be the judges for the Platinum Studios’ 2007 Comic Book Challenge presented by AT&T.

Included on the panel are John H. Williams, Donald Faison, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, and D.J. Coffman.

“The best part about this year’s panel for Platinum Studios’ 2007 Comic Book Challenge is that we’re truly a group of fans ‘moonlighting’ as Hollywood insiders,” said Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman and CEO of Platinum Studios. “Donald, John and I all grew up reading and enjoying the genre, and that’s what we’ll be looking for from these Top 50 entrants who have made it to the pitch phase of the Comic Book Challenge.”

Next week at the San Diego Comic Con (July 25 - 29), the top 50 entrants to the Platinum Studios’ 2007 Comic Book Challenge will present their concepts to the panel. The winner will be announced in August.

via Platinum Studios

It’s all about who you know, right? Or is it all about who you can blackmail? Or could it be it’s all about who you sleep with? The answer might surprise you.

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You may remember the brouhaha surrounding the Platinum Studios plot to get Cowboys and Aliens to hit the number one spot several months ago, as a way of generating interest among the “Hollywood Elite” to pick the property for a film development deal.

Well apparently it worked! Variety is reporting DreamWorks and Universal Pictures have joined forces to turn the comic into a movie.

Imagine partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard will produce along with Platinum Studios chairman-CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Ervin Rustemagic and Rich Marincic co-produce.

Script will be written by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby.

While a lot of people in the industry called foul (or is it fowl?) on the whole “Rise to Number One Scheme”, Platinum was able to pull it off and made the deal they were looking for. I did read the first issue - it wasn’t the best piece of comic work out there, but it was enjoyable for what it was. And, remember Rosenberg is the one that brought the indie comic Men In Black to the big screen, and it was a huge success. We’ll continue to follow the story and the backlash this report is sure to generate over the next couple of years.

via Variety

Platinum Studios has announced the top 50 entrants for its second annual Comic Book Challenge.

Entries for the 2007 challenge were accepted throughout May. The top 50 entrants unveiled on AT&T blue room hollywood will next pitch their ideas to a panel of industry and Hollywood insiders at a secret location near the 2007 International San Diego Comic-Con — a process that will whittle the field to 10 semifinalists.

Kicking off in late July, the 10 semifinalists will then be narrowed down to three finalists by the general public through an online voting process hosted by the AT&T blue room hollywood site (www.attblueroom.com/hollywood) and www.ComicBookChallenge.com. Once the final three contestants are chosen, fans around the world will be given one more chance to vote for their favorite concept.

The winner of the 2007 Comic Book Challenge will be formally announced in late August, and the winner’s comic book or graphic novel will be published and premiered at a major Wizard World convention in 2008.

We’ve got the complete list after the jump.

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Platinum Studios has Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles shipping in August. There are only three titles this month, with one new series, and two ongoing.

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As we reported earlier, Platinum Studios is searching for aspiring comic book writers and artists, and today the company has announced prizes for the top 50 entrants.  Topping the list are ten copies of Toon Boom Studio Express, Studio and Solo.  If you haven’t heard of Toon Boom software before, believe me it rocks.  In my other life covering the animation world, I’ve reported on Toon Boom products since its first release, and for those wanting to do their own animated series, this is a fairly inexpensive product to use.

Also joining the prize list is Planetwide Media’s Comic Book Creator Software for the Top 50 finalists, and Wacom who is awarding the Top 3 finalists with Intuos 3 tablets.

Sounds like a great group of prizes for those who enter the contest.  Remember you only have until Thursday May 31st, 2007 to enter.

For more information, be sure to visit www.comicbookchallenge.com and the Platinum Studios website.

It is rare that publishers of any type accept unsolicited character and story ideas, but Platinum Studios has announced the 2007 Comic Book Challenge is now under way.  This is a yearly contest sponsored by the company targeted specifically at aspiring comic book writers and artists.

The top 50 entrants will be invited to pitch their concepts live to a celebrity panel of industry and Hollywood insiders at the San Diego Comic-Con, with the winner getting a publishing deal for print, online, mobile, and licensing of merchandise.  The company also claims it will help with the development of the property for film and television.

Lat year’s wnner was DJ Coffman and his Hero By Night, which is actually a pretty good read if you have flipped through it at your local shop.

If you are interested, please read the rules carefully and submit your great concepts by May 31, 2007.

via Platinum Studios

Platinum Comics has sent Major Spoilers cover images and solicitation information for titles shipping July 2007.

KISS 4K #3

writer: Ricky Sprague
art and color: Daniel Campos and Kevin Crossley
cover: Rodolfo Migliari

When the Kiss 4K team, Demon, Starchild, King of All Beasts, Celestial, and Wicked Lester are attacked by the mad Dr. Magus and his army of knights on horseback, they must learn to use recently discovered powers or be destroyed. Plus, the Destroyer Cult makes a deal with Unholy to destroy our heroes.

And lookee here! This issue’s cover is part of a series of interlocking covers that grace KISS 4K #2-#5! Collect ‘em all!

Full color - 32 pages - $2.99

WHO IS…RODOLFO MIGLIARI? Rodolfo Migliari, the Pride of Argentina, is a classically trained painter whose gorgeous covers have graced such comics as Wanted, Elektra, Freshmen, Star Wars and more!

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