I think this is a very worth cause, and if you can afford to buy some book or donate to Josh directly, it would be appreciated, I’m sure.

Press Release

July 7th, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA) - Help BOOM! Studios support comic book artist Josh Medors, recently diagnosed with cancer, by ordering the benefit comic book PULP TALES.  This two-fisted one-shot features all-new, action-packed stories by horror master Steve Niles, P.U.N.K.S’ Josh Fialkov and Kody Chamberlain, ’76’s B. Clay Moore & Seth Peck, CAPOTE IN KANSAS’ Chris Samnee,  IN MY LIFETIME’s Tony Fleecs and features covers by Ben Templesmith and Josh Medors. All proceeds from the sale of PULP TALES will go to Josh Medors and his family.

A small advance print run of PULP TALES, which is sure to sell out, will be available at the BOOM! Studios booth (#2543) during San Diego Comic-Con 2008.

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This was announced last weekend at Wizard World Chicago, but I hadn’t gotten around to writing anything about it until the official press release came out.

Press Release

July 1 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - As announced at Wizard World Chicago this weekend, Image Comics Publisher Erik Larsen is stepping down from his current position and will be replaced by Executive Director Eric Stephenson, effective immediately.

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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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Bluewater Productions, Inc presents a unique horror comic that revolves around existing full-scale monster and alien animatronics in the new series titled “Distortions Unlimited.”

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Go Hero and Bluewater Productions are boarding a ship and setting forth to discover all new collectibles of MYTHIC PROPORTIONS! Take up your swords and grab your guns, as you venture into uncharted worlds of fantasy and science fiction, starring the iconic characters of visionary master Ray Harryhausen and the Bluewater universe! The collectibles and apparel are based off of Bluewater’s titles as well as the “Ray Harryhausen Presents” series.

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17 June 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - This upcoming weekend, Charlotte, NC’s HeroesCon once again plays host to Image Comics, with guests and panels galore!

“HeroesCon is a darned fine funnybook show,” Image Comics Publisher Erik Larsen said. “In an age when outside media like movies and video games have taken over most conventions, Shelton Drumm and his dedicated team consistently keep Heroes focused on what matters most to those of us in the world of contemporary pictorial literature - a bona-fide COMIC BOOK convention that’s fun for the whole family!”

In addition to the overwhelming number of Image creators attending, Image will be spotlighted on a total of three panels including the State of the Industry Discussion, Friday at 1:30, featuring Image Comics Publisher Erik Larsen in room 207. Saturday brings Tori Amos’ COMIC BOOK TATTOO panel at 12:00PM and The Image Comics Show at 4:00 PM, both in room 217BCD. This Image Comics Show’s HeroesCon debut  features Erik Larsen, THE WALKING DEAD’s Robert Kirkman, THE NIGHTLY NEWS’ Jonathan Hickman, PERHAPANAUTS’ creators Todd Dezago & Craig Rosseau and a number of announcements, including the first word on Whilce Portacio’s other big project.

HeroesCon will take place June 20-22 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Image Comics can be found at booth 320.

CHARLOTTE, NC (June 16, 2008) When Mike Wieringo abruptly passed away last August, the comics industry lost more than a great artist and creator – it lost a friend. Now, Mike’s family has teamed with the Savannah College of Art and Design to create The Mike Wieringo Scholarship or “The ‘Ringo” to help keep his spirit of generosity alive.

Created by Mike’s brother Matt and his sister-in-law Suzanne, the ‘Ringo is designed to help provide similar help to artists at the Savannah College of Art and Design or SCAD. Domestic and international students with have a minimum 3.0 grade point average who demonstrate financial need and display a serious interest in pursuing comics as a career are eligible. The scholarship will take effect in the artist’s second year of classes, and is renewable for up to two additional years, provided the student continues to meet the criteria.

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Bluewater Productions has announced it has reached an agreement with the Price family to use the famous actor’s likeness and name in a new monthly series called Vincent Price Presents. The ongoing series will feature Price in various roles throughout the stories.

Victoria Price explains the motivation behind the collaboration: “I’m really touched and excited about the series because it will help energize my father’s legacy for a new generation. We’re planning a big celebration for his 100th birthday in 2010, and this comic series fits into those plans perfectly.”

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IDW has announced it has hired Andy Schmidt as the new Senior Editor for the company.

Andy started his comics editing career with Marvel Comics under Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, where he quickly rose from assistant to full editor helming such projects as X-Men, X-Factor, Ms. Marvel, and Annihilation. He left Marvel in June of last year to launch his own successful comics-teaching business called Comics Experience and started freelance writing. His combination of skills makes him the perfect candidate for the Senior Editor position at IDW.

“What started as a casual conversation between Chris Ryall and myself about how we approach editing quickly became a job interview. My background is in editing, writing and teaching and Chris liked that combo—thought I’d bring a different voice to my projects,” Schmidt stated in a prepared statement. “Chris introduced me to Ted Adams and the three of us hit it off. IDW is in the storytelling business and has a rich history of exceptional comics created by exceptional creators. I’m glad to be a part of it!”

via IDW Publishing

NEW YORK –Through a licensing agreement with The Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., Marvel Publishing joins forces this fall with World Fantasy Award-winning writer Stephen King, long acknowledged as the master of modern horror, to bring to life in the graphic fiction format one of the most revered and influential novels ever published: The Stand. A strong influence on every major pop culture genre from Top 40 songs to the hit TV show LOST–this seminal work has been translated into twenty-two languages and has sold more than 4.5 million copies in the U.S. alone since its publication in 1978.

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In the tradition of such famous comic book series and mini-series as John Byrne’s “Superman: the Man of Steel,” Frank Miller’s “Batman: Year One” and Marvel’s “Ultimate” line comes the latest comic book icon to get the “prequel” treatment: Archie! That’s right, now you, the reader can travel back in time with Archie and his friends to their very first year in high school in this five-part epic storyline we’re calling THE FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA!

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Coming out of Book Expo America taking place in Los Angeles, California comes a couple of press releases from Tokyopop about its latest acquisitions aimed at teenagers, and possibly film too.

Press releases follow the jump.

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The Walt Disney Studios has signed a multi-year deal with Ahmet Zappa, Harris Katleman and Christian Beranek to oversee the newly christened Kingdom Comics, an innovative new venture of developing graphic novels to create new film projects for the Studio as well as re-imagining and rejuvenating motion pictures from the Disney live-action Vault, it was announced today by Oren Aviv, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production.

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Word out of H’wood this morning has Bryan K. Vaughan’s Runaways getting the treatment for the big screen. This makes perfect sense as the first series was pretty much self contained from the rest of the M616 making it a tale that can be told without needing appearances by Brad Pitt, Robert Downey, Jr. Sam Jackson, etc.

The good news is Vaughan is penning the adaptation, but the bad news is the film is in pre-production hell with Ant Man as Marvel Studios has yet to announce a start of production or release date. If Marvel wanted to get as much money from the tweeners as possible, they’d ramp this production up quickly and get a team movie out before the Avengers so the company can test the waters, and to rub it in the face of DC/Warner Bros. who have yet to get Justice League out of the starting gate.

So the question is, “Who would you cast in the roles of the Runaways?”

via THR