Gearcritech has what seems to be the cover for the Sin City DVD. Apparently it's not a special edition, so we'll hopefully have to wait until Christmas time to bask in all the extras. It goes on sale August 16th.
Spider-Man 3 star Thomas Haden Church has dropped a few hints about which villain he is playing. 'Abysstare' says...
On page 57 of this week's double issue Entertainment Weekly (#826/827):
EW: After reminding the world he could really act in Sideways, the Oscar nominee will play an undisclosed, top secret villain in 2007's Spider-Man 3. How about a hint?
THC: "He's a horse of many colors."
EW: There are horses in Spider-Man?
THC: "Let's just say he's an amorphous collection of protons, electrons, and neutrons, of different colors."
There's some more, but that's the only part with any clues.
Electro? Sandman? Chameleon? What's your opinion on this?
press release:
MMO giant signs deal with Warner Bros to acquire franchises
Following earlier rumours of a deal between Sony Online Entertainment and Warner Bros. Interactive, it's been confirmed that SOE has acquired massively multiplayer online game The Matrix Online.
SOE has also secured licensing rights to develop a DC Comics MMOG for PC and next-generation consoles, featuring classic DC characters such as Batman, Superman Wonder Woman and the Sandman.
"SOE will work closely with Warner Bros. and DC Comics to maintain the authenticity consumers demand from the franchises," said SOE president John Smedley.
"We will also take steps to continue the same high level of service that subscribers have come to expect from The Matrix Online game."
Warner Bros.'s Jason Hall commented: "Our goal is to deliver quality content and consistently advance our key properties within the online games space. We've done just that with The Matrix Online.
"Because of our compelling work in developing and launching that game we can now move it over to the leaders in the MMO space, SOE," he added.
Matrix Online developer Monolith is now rumoured to be stepping away from the MMO genre altogether, preferring to concentrate on single player and small-scale multiplayer titles instead. According to reports, only 26 members of the current Matrix Online team will be retained, with the rest facing redundancy.
The planned DC comics MMO has yet to be titled, but SOE said the game is scheduled for a winter 2007 release.
The move to launch a comic book style MMORPG is not het first obviously, as both Freedom Force and City of Heroes currently offer online multiplayer gameplay as superheroes. Marvel announce that it was developing a game with Vivendi Universal (as part of a 10-year deal with Universal's Vu Games) in September of 2002 that would see release in 2005.
While there's been no official announcement or news of a Marvel/Universal MMORPG, the publisher has been in the news in relation to MMORPG when it sued City of Heroes publisher and producers (Cryptic Studios and NCsoft), claiming that the game maker was allowing and encouraging players to create characters based on copyrighted and trademarked Marvel characters in the game.
While the bulk of that case is still pending, one of Marvel's stated reasons for the action was that by allowing Marvel-based characters to appear in City of Heroes, NCsoft was damaging Marvel's ability to create its own MMORPG, based on its own universe. While NCsoft and Cryptic have vigorously defended their character generation software and pointed to their rules that forbid characters based on third party copyright holders from being used in the game, DC has stayed silent (at least publicly) about the game, and the possiblity of characters based on DC properties being used.
As Marvel has moved, DC may now possibly find itself in a similar position of desiring to "clear the decks" so to speak, and making sure that if any gamers want to experience online "life" as a DCU character, they will have to do it in the official SOE/WB DCU MMORPG.
Cartoon Network has scheduled the "Clash" episode of Justice League Unlimited for Saturday, June 11 at 9 p.m. Captain Marvel, the World's Mightiest Mortal, joins the Justice League as Lex Luthor initiates a new plot. There's also an encore on Sunday, June 12 at 10:30 p.m. Jerry O'Connell supplies the voice of Captain Marvel and Shane Haboucha supplies the voice of Billy Batson.
In conjunction with the Batman Begins movie, the New York Post will be giving away a reprint of Batman #608 on Monday, June 13. The issue, by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, started the 12-part "Hush" storyline.
Check out the press release:
The New York Post will be giving away a free special edition Batman comic book in its papers on Monday, June 13th. The Post is providing its readers with the collectible in anticipation of the hotly awaited theatrical release of “Batman Begins” from Warner Pictures on June 15th.The comic, “BATMAN: HUSH Chapter One: The Ransom”, is an out of print reprint originally published in 2002. This collectible edition will have a specially designed cover made exclusively for the New York Post.
BATMAN # 608 kicked off the bestselling and critically acclaimed “Batman Hush” storyline by writer Jeph Loeb, penciller Jim Lee and inker Scott Williams. In the story, Batman matches wits with his some of his famous villains.
The comic book will be inserted in the Sports Extra and Late City Final Editions of The Post in the tri-state area.
The New York Post, founded by Alexander Hamilton on November 16, 1801, is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the United States and the fastest growing paper in the country.
press release:
JSA #73, the first chapter of the highly anticipated 3-part tale "Black Vengeance" and a tie-in to DAY OF VENGEANCE, has sold out at DC Comics. The issue, written by Geoff Johns with art by Don Kramer & Keith Champagne and a cover by Alex Ross, sold out twelve days after arriving in stores on May 11.
"I couldn't be happier," says writer Geoff Johns. "BLACK REIGN was a story we're very proud of, and I'm glad people are jumping on board for the follow-up. Alex's covers for the book have been simply stunning."
Check out the JSA minisite here!
Joining the growing list of INFINITE CRISIS-related projects to go back to press, THE OMAC PROJECT #2 has sold out at DC Comics and will go back to press for a new printing. The issue sold out twelve days before arriving in stores on May 25.THE OMAC PROJECT #2 Second Printing reprints the story by Greg Rucka with art by Jesus Saiz. The new printing features a variant version of the original cover by Ladrönn, with Batman, Sasha Bordeaux and an Omac on the viewscreen.
"I didn't expect this project to be so big," says Saiz. "I only knew the script was very exciting, and I'm glad the readers agree! Thanks to (VP — Executive Editor, DCU) Dan DiDio, (Editor) Joan Hilty, (Assistant Editor) Rachel Gluckstern, Greg and the whole DC crew for giving me the chance to be part of such a project, and of course, to all the readers for supporting it so much. We are nothing without you."
"With reader enthusiasm for THE OMAC PROJECT continuing to grow, we're happy to offer new printing," says Bob Wayne, DC's VP — Sales. "We suggest retailers order this printing now, as well as increasing their orders on upcoming issues."
As always, check out THE OMAC PROJECT minisite here. Click here for the bigger image.
Continuing the positive momentum and growth of its convention business, Wizard Conventions, the country’s foremost authority on everything related to comic books, gaming, anime, toys, collectibles and pop-culture, announced today that its Wizard World Philadelphia pop culture extravaganza attracted 27,000 attendees during its fourth annual visit to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, marking a five percent increase from the previous year. Guest of Honor J. Michael Straczynski (Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-man and Rising Stars) presided over the event that saw fan turnout top last year’s 25,500 attendees - growth attributed to Wizard’s ongoing commitment to providing fans with the ability to get up-close-and-personal with today’s hottest pop culture celebrities and talent.
During the weekend, Wizard - in cooperation with Warner Brothers Studios, DC Comics and IMAX - provided a limited-admission, special advance screening of this summer’s upcoming blockbuster hit, Batman Begins, which had fans buzzing all weekend long. Adding to the excitement of the three-day event, actor Seth Green (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Austin Powers) and colleague Hugh Sterbakov were on hand for a panel and autograph signing session to launch their new Top Cow comic, The Freshman.
Wizard continued to round out its all-star cast with celebrities that included: Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel), Lou Ferrigno (TV's Incredible Hulk), Peter Mayhew (Star Wars/Chewbacca), Kenny Baker (Star Wars/R2-D2), Jeremy Bulloch (Star Wars/Boba Fett), as well as Chris Claremont (writer, Uncanny X-Men, Excalibur), Steranko (Comic Revolutionary) and Carmine Infantino (creator, Batgirl, Silver Age Flash), among others.
“Whether it’s the Batman Begins screening or our Seth Green signing, we believe ‘access’ is the key to keeping fans happy and coming back year after year,” said Gareb Shamus, chairman and CEO of Wizard Conventions. “Considering that attendance has been growing consistently, providing these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities is the least we can do for our devoted fans that have helped to make Wizard World Philadelphia the premiere pop culture event on the east coast.”
Philadelphia’s world famous Geno’s Cheese Steaks donated fifty of their famous sandwiches for Wizard World Philadelphia’s second annual “Captain Cheese Steak” contest. Pennsylvania native Kevin Pasquarelli was crowned 2005’s Captain Cheese Steak, beating out seven other costumed contestants by consuming the most cheese steaks in five minutes to win a custom illustration from famed artist, Skottie Young (Marvel’s Human Touch and Venom books).
Wizard Conventions recently attracted 24,500 to its second-annual Wizard World Los Angeles event, prompting the event’s move to a much larger venue in 2006, the Los Angeles Convention Center. In 2004, Wizard World events drew more than 110,000 attendees, making it the undisputed pop culture draw of its kind in the country.
Nuff Said... Jessica Alba's stunning atire for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. Will this affect the opening sales of the new Fantastic Four movie? Only time will tell.
press release:
Tuesday, Marvel announced a sell-out and new printing of their big summer event. The publisher announced today that House of M #1 is sold-out at Diamond, two weeks before going on-sale June 1st, and that a reprint edition is now being offered.
The House of M #1 Coipel Gatefold Limited Edition will feature a gatefold cover, the House of M poster/”group shot” by series artist Olivier Coipel, at no extra increase in the series’ cover price of $2.99.
The new edition is scheduled to arrive in stores June 29th, one week after House of M #2. Retailers have until Thursday, 6/9 to place orders. Quantities will be limited, however, and in their announcement Marvel encouraged retailers to place orders as soon as possible to ensure getting copies.
"Orders on House of M #1 continue to pour in to Diamond after record-breaking initial numbers,” said Marvel Director of Sales David Gabriel. “We've exceeded our available copies, so we're thrilled to go back to press for this special printing. We told retailers and fans that there would be copies available on this issue and we are going to live up to that promise."
press release:
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE IS HIS PLAYGROUND! ARTIST ALAN DAVIS SWITCHES GEARS & BRINGS HIS UNCANNY TALENTS TO A FANTASTIC FOUR LIMITED SERIES!
There’s good news and there’s bad news: the bad news is that super-star artist Alan Davis is leaving UNCANNY X-MEN…the good news is that he’s sealing the fates of the Fantastic Four instead!
Heading into a new, shiny future means leaving the group of heroes Davis has enjoyed working with so thoroughly, fan-favorites The X-Men. Alas, the artist puts his patented bright face on the whys and wherefores of the move. “I was playing Scrabble with my Uncle Xander when his pet hamster leapt onto the board and kicked the tiles around. It was weird . . . the letters were rearranged and spelt out 'UNC X QUIT NOW'.
Well, Uncle Xander's pretty self-centered so thought the hamster intended the message for him but I knew it was for me... And you just can't ignore that kind of advice from a literate hamster.”
What is that shiny future, though? What could Alan Davis do to top Wolverine, Cyclops, & Co.? “FANTASTIC FOUR: THE END. Nuff said,” he reports, with appropriate finality. “I'm pretty damn excited about getting to draw the FF again.”Davis is no stranger to dynamic projects in the larger-than-life super-heroic world, having kept up an incredible artistic pace through his professional career, beginning in 1981 with the famous “Marvel UK” imprint of the House of Ideas. He has since gone on to explore every single corner of the Marvel stable of characters and he has gathered a résumé to make others in the comic field green with envy. Davis’ past projects include NEW MUTANTS, EXCALIBUR, UNCANNY X-MEN, CLANDESTINE, FANTASTIC FOUR, AVENGERS, and the adjective-less X-MEN.“Alan Davis has worked on the entire freakin’ Marvel U!” quips Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada. “He’s probably drawn every single one of our characters, from Ant-Man to Zemo and all parts in-between! Figured he liked us so much we better keep him around, keep him off the streets, livin’ clean, working on our premier heroes, the FF, and give somebody else a chance to draw UNCANNY…now if we could only get Alan to stop talking so funny!”
He may talk “funny” but British Isles-born Davis is also characteristically humble about his past work in the four-color medium. “There are odd pages, covers, sequences of storytelling but I've never been totally happy with anything I have worked on. I always hope the next job will be better.”
His inspirations in terms of themes and creators are also incredibly varied. “My favourite character(s) is(are) usually the one(s) I'm working on, having said that, I do have a preference for certain visual incarnations or versions of characters. Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four, Wally Wood or Gene Colan's Daredevil, Gil Kane's Spider-Man, George Tuska's Iron Man, Barry Smith's Conan, John Buscema's Thor, Avengers and Silver Surfer, Neal Adams’ Inhumans and early X-Men and John Byrne on too much to mention.”When asked what being exclusive with industry-leader Marvel Comics means to him, prolific penciller Alan Davis doesn’t mince words: “Regular work in an uncertain world,” sayeth he. All the latest on Alan Davis’ new good works and other upcoming Marvel Comics projects can always be found at www.Marvel.Com .
press release:
Ethan Van Sciver And Famous Faces & Funnies Raise $550 For Make-A-Wish Foundation
On Saturday, May 21, Ethan Van Sciver showed up at Famous Faces & Funnies in Melbourne, Florida to sign comic books and sketch for his fans. He was kind enough to donate an amazing piece of art featuring Hal Jordan that FFF sold raffle tickets for. All the money from the raffle as well as one dollar from each Green Lantern Rebirth # 6 and Green Lantern Secret Files we sold this month is going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Together we were able to raise $550 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Please check out www.Wish.org for more info. Thanks to all our customers who stopped by and made the generous donations and thanks again to Ethan Van Sciver for going above and beyond our expectations.
Rick Shea
Famous Faces & Funnies
Melbourne, FL
press release:
Lying In The Gutters Returns As Comic Book Journalism With Major Alan Moore News For years, Rich Johnston of Lying In The Gutters has claimed he was a rumour columnist, not a journalist.
But after the birth of his firstchild, he's changed his mind.
For six weeks he's running Lying In The Gutters (http://litg.comicbookresources.com) as a piece of comic book journalism before allowing readers to vote on its future.
And in his first column, he reports:
Alan Moore dissassociating himself from the V For Vendetta movie Moore pulling League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen from DC to Top Shelf/Knockabout Alan Moore's new novel, Jerusalem, Alan Moore and Melina Gebbie's engagement
Oh, and the creative team on IDW's Transformers series.
Rich Johnston intends to continue LITG in this style as long as his readers let him...
press release:
MasterMinds Unlimited Options Animated Feature ‘MasterMinds’ to Morph/DG Spot; Comics Legend Stan Lee to Voice
Up-and-coming animation house MasterMinds Unlimited(www.masterminds.us) has optioned their first property, MasterMinds,as a feature to the Korean 3D animation giant DG Spot and its production arm, Morph Studio LLC. The deal marks DG Spot’s move into original content production with Morph Studio’s representation after years as a production house for TV and video games. Capping the deal,comics legend Stan Lee has agreed to contribute a voice to the project.
MasterMinds is the story of five freakish felons who have only one thing standing between them and global domination – each other! Led by The Maniacal Monocle, their ranks include: mad scientist Doktor Pimento, giant robot CPU-571, mobster Vinnie DiThug and the mutant monkey Gorilla Kang. Doomed by over-complicated plans and ridiculous infighting, they’re driven by the dream of being able to call the shots for just one day.
“Who doesn’t want to rule the world?” asks MasterMinds co-creator Aaron Sowd. “MasterMinds is a story for everyone who ever wished that Wylie E. Coyote would catch the Road Runner. It’s about five guys who stick to their dreams no matter how utterly misguided those dreams really are.”
Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and countless other titles during his legendary tenure as writer and editor at Marvel Comics, will voice a character on the upcoming project. "Face it! We all love to hate a great supervillian,” Lee said. “ That's why artist/writer Aaron Sowd fiendishly created a wild team of truly twisted bad guys, telling his wacky, way-out tales from the villains' point of view. Why didn't I think of that?"
Sowd was an award-winning art director at Stan Lee Media before starting MasterMinds Unlimited with comics writers James Denning and Lance Karutz. Together, they’ve published three stories in anthologiesby Komikwerks (www.komikwerks.com) and created more than twenty original properties.
Soo-Mi Kim, C.E.O and Creative Director with Morph Studio LLC will serve as an executive producer on the upcoming MasterMinds feature.“The animation teams at DG Spot and Morph Studio produce fantastic work,” says Sowd. “But when we talked to Kim, we knew they really go tour mix of slapstick action and character-driven comedy.”
MasterMinds Unlimited manager Dave Alpert, with Circle of Confusion(www.circleofconfusion.com), brought the deal together in conjunction with Komikwerks. MasterMinds debuted in Komikwerk’s first volume of anthology material. Circle of Confusion is well known for bringing smart genre material to feature and television production, while Komikwerks has been a home for online comics since 2000, and features some of the finest artists in the field today.
The most recent Komikwerks volume, Rockets and Robots, featuresanother MasterMinds Unlimited property, Sally Samson, Super Sitter.Two more MasterMinds Unlimited original properties will debut in thesubsequent volume, which will be released in July, at Comic-Con International.
Initial production on MasterMinds will begin this summer. Terms of the deal were not released.
MFORMA Group, Inc. and leading global entertainment licensing company Marvel Enterprises, Inc. signed a licensing agreement that will bring Marvel's catalog of world famous entertainment brands to mobile phone users throughout the world. This landmark agreement was announced today by Daniel Kranzler, MFORMA CEO, and Tim Rothwell and Bruno Maglione, presidents, respectively, of Marvel Worldwide Consumer Products and Marvel International.
The agreement calls for MFORMA to publish an extensive portfolio of mobile entertainment products based on many of Marvel's iconic characters as they appear in movies, television, video games and comic books which will be available in all domestic and international territories, except for Japan. As part of the agreement, MFORMA will co-publish selected Marvel-based mobile games with Activision, one of the world's leading video game publishers. Activision brings a rich heritage of developing, publishing, and marketing blockbuster video games based on popular brands, including Marvel's major properties. The MFORMA/Marvel multi-year global product plan identifies mobile entertainment applications of every kind and represents one of the most far-reaching publishing programs seen in the mobile industry.
"Nothing like this has ever before been done in mobile," said Daniel Kranzler, MFORMA CEO. "Today, the market and mobile technology has matured to the point that a deal of this magnitude is possible. We have spent the last year expanding and building our global distribution and production capabilities so that we can serve the needs of an entertainment powerhouse like Marvel. Marvel brands routinely turn gold at the box office and in console gaming and they will do the same in mobile around the world-in Europe, North and South America, and most of Asia. We are pleased beyond words to be working with Marvel and Activision on this fantastic and perfectly-timed opportunity to catapult mobile entertainment to mainstream status all over the world."
Marvel's instantly recognizable characters represent one of the world's most powerful brand franchises. The Marvel/MFORMA relationship will bring the entire universe of classic Marvel characters (with the exception of The Punisher family of characters) to hundreds of millions of mobile phone users worldwide. This includes such world renowned heroes as Spider-Man , X-Men , Fantastic Four , Incredible Hulk , Captain America , Daredevil , Iron Man , Blade , Ghost Rider , Elektra and many more of Marvel's more than 5,000 characters. The MFORMA/Marvel product lineup runs the full gamut of mobile entertainment products, including action, adventure, RPG and trading card games, images, screensavers, graphics, ring tones, voice tones, mobile greeting cards, mobile comic books, phone functions, virtual character simulations, and community and lifestyle applications.
In addition to distributing the new Marvel content through MFORMA's global network of more than 100 wireless operators in 39 countries, MFORMA will create and host Marvel Mobile, a branded wireless and online website featuring informational, promotional and transactional links to all Marvel Mobile content. Marvel Mobile will have its home on the Internet within www.marvel.com. Subscribers to the Marvel Mobile channel will have access to all Marvel Mobile products, plus unique community applications and features, special collectible items, Marvel news alerts and chat rooms, fan clubs and mobile commerce options that will open up access to all of the activity taking place in the Marvel Universe.
"Mobile is a major new entertainment medium and our objective all along has been to enter this new space on a grand scale with an ambitious partner capable of putting together a holistic program across the various developing technologies and applications in the wireless space. We believe MFORMA is capable of delivering on that objective and we are thrilled to be working with them," commented Tim Rothwell, president of Marvel Worldwide Consumer Products.
Bruno Maglione, president of Marvel International added: "Wireless entertainment has been talked about for several years now, but we have really seen the industry starting to break into the mainstream in this past year and we expect that trend to continue into 2005 and beyond. Accordingly, the timing is right for Marvel to develop its presence in this medium especially as our brands synch perfectly with the most popular emerging applications and the user profile we see developing. With MFORMA as our partner, we expect success for Marvel brands in wireless just as we have achieved in the video game arena."
"Marvel will be a force in mobile, just as they have been a force in every other medium they have entered," said Matt Edelman, MFORMA's SVP of publishing and architect of the deal. "Our existing Marvel-branded mobile offering based on X-Men, which was co-published with Activision, has been very successful and I see that the possibilities of what we can create and deliver based on Marvel's rich, diverse, and fascinating set of characters are endless. The built-in audience is huge and global, and we will provide something for everyone. Our plan is expansive and includes every form of mobile entertainment so we can establish each Marvel property as a mobile franchise in its own right."
Activision and MFORMA will co-publish key titles based on rights Activision had previously acquired from Marvel. The two will jointly publish mobile games based on Spider-Man , X-Men , Fantastic Four and Iron Man . The agreement between MFORMA and Activision extends a pre-existing agreement and collaboration that successfully brought Marvel's X-Men to wireless last year in the form of a mobile video game based on the highly successful X-Men movie sequel, "X2" by Twentieth Century Fox. Activision's Marvel-branded video games have proven to be enormously successful, selling more than 15 million copies since 2001.
"Our strategic alliance with Marvel has resulted in some of the most successful Super Hero video games ever," said Dave Anderson, senior director of business development, Activision, Inc. "The co-publishing relationship with MFORMA strengthens Activision's commitment to the super hero genre and allows us to continue developing exceptional Marvel-based games for mobile phone users worldwide."
Marvel franchises will have a significant presence in the film and video game worlds well into the future, and MFORMA, Marvel and Activision will collaborate to leverage each and every important media event. The first products to be delivered under the agreement will be a suite of mobile products based on the Blade Trinity film from New Line Cinema, which is to be released in theaters on December 8, 2004. In January 2005, a second suite of products based on the movie Elektra by New Regency/Twentieth Century Fox will be introduced. In the summer, another suite of products based on the upcoming blockbuster "Fantastic Four" from Twentieth Century Fox and a corresponding video game from Activision will join the lineup. Additional titles coming in the near future include products based on Incredible Hulk, to be released in conjunction with a video game from Vivendi Universal Games, and Ultimate Spider-Man, tied into a next-generation video game from Activision. MFORMA and Marvel will collaborate on marketing programs to help promote the availability of Marvel mobile products to consumers worldwide.
"Mobile entertainment has been successful thus far because it has evolved to take advantage of not only the advancing technology of mobile phones, but also the advancing interests of mobile users who are always looking for the next big thing," said Edelman. "Marvel Mobile represents the next big thing and we believe mobile users will love what they find there."
Added Kranzler, "We are pleased to be Marvel's exclusive mobile publishing partner for a majority of its characters, enabling them to have their brands published around the world in all forms of mobile content. We have reached a level of global distribution capability today where it is possible to handle publishing and distribution for Marvel and other global brand holders such as Activision and leading movie studios on a truly global basis." For additional information visit the Marvel Web site at www.marvel.com and Mforma at www.mforma.com.
. Season One card set now available.
Following it's cancellation three years prior, Family Guy made its return to Fox on May 1. In honor of the miraculous resurrection, Inkworks has released a 72-card set commemorating Family Guy: Season One.
Each pack contains seven cards and retails for $3.49. Along with Episode Cards highlighting classic moments from the first season, this cool set features a number of randomly-inserted bonus cards. As any collector knows, it's the hidden gems that make a seven-card pack worthwhile. Check out the bonus sets.
Sketch Cards: Fourteen different artists created original hand-drawn sketches for this set. One per box.
Autograph Cards: Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane along with five other cast members signed cards, randomly inserted. Odds of finding Autograph Card unknown.
Griffin Family Photos: This nine-card puzzle reveals a large portrait of the Griffin Family. An additional 99 uncut puzzles are available separately for $69.95 each. 1:11 packs.
Bad Dog: Brian gains the spotlight with six die-cut foil cards showing off the incorrigible hound. 1:17 packs.
Premium Cards: In addition, three box loader "Stewie's Library of World Domination" cards come one per sealed display box and a special case loader "The Peter Principle" card comes one per shipping case.
A complete checklist of cards can be found at Inkworkcards.com.
press release:
Dynamite Entertainment today released images and information concerning more great comics and collectibles featuring the She-Devil with a Sword - Red Sonja!
Shipping in July, The Adventures of Red Sonja Volume 1 is now available for PRE-ORDER from your local comics shop.
"These are the formative tales of the mysterious Red Sonja," explains Dynamite Spokesperson J. Allen. "Featuring the best writers and artists of their day, these are the stories that help set the foundation for the modern version of Red Sonja that we're telling monthly in our new series. This book is a MUST for any fans bookshelf."
THE ADVENTURES OF RED SONJA VOLUME I: SHE-DEVIL WITH A SWORD TPB
$19.99 SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
COVER A: http://www.dynamiteentertainment.co.../p-C103539.html
COVER B: http://www.dynamiteentertainment.co.../p-C103540.html
$19.99 SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
Containing the Red Sonja tales from Marvel Feature #1-7, these tales are where it all begins, and help set the stage for the current Red Sonja series from Dynamite! This is a must-have collection of never-before reprinted material. Plus, this volume will feature covers by legendary artist, Frank Brunner!.
Plus, legendary Red Sonja writer and form Marvel Editor-in-Chief, Roy Thomas, provides an introduction!
Continuing its run of sold-out issues, SUPERMAN #214 has sold out at DC Comics. This issue featured the suspenseful penultimate chapter of the "For Tomorrow" storyline by Brian Azzarello, Jim Lee & Scott Williams.
"Both writer Brian Azzarello and I put in a lot of the proverbial blood, sweat and tears into this project, so it's been especially gratifying to see the excitement for SUPERMAN: FOR TOMORROW build with each consecutive issue," says Lee. "Our hope has always been to challenge readers' perceptions of the Man of Steel while giving them an entertaining story, so I thank the fans and the retailers for their continued support and enthusiasm."
Check out what's happening n the superman titles here.
press release:
NAVARRE CORPORATION ACQUIRES FUNIMATION, AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL UPDATE AND GUIDANCE
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -May 11, 2005 - Navarre Corporation, a leading publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia software products, today announced that it has acquired all general and limited partnership interests in FUNimation Productions, Ltd. and The FUNimation Store, Ltd.
FUNimation, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is recognized as a leading licensor and home video distributor of Japanese animation and entertainment for children and young adults. FUNimation titles include Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Yu Yu Hakusho, Case Closed and Fullmetal Alchemist. FUNimation has enjoyed broadcast success with 15 titles currently airing on networks including Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and PBS Kids. FUNimation leverages its proprietary licensed content into various revenue streams including television broadcast, DVD home video, toys, video games, and trading cards. In addition to the home video distribution and third-party licensing, FUNimation also engages in third-party marketing, sales and distribution agreements with content providers, including 4Kids Entertainment Inc., Nelvana, Alliance Atlantis, Chorion, WGBH, Cookie Jar Group, Porchlight Entertainment and Mainframe Entertainment. Since January 1, 2005, FUNimation has signed product license agreements including Noddy, Winx, Akira Kurosawa's Samurai 7, My Dad the Rock Star, and a co-production agreement with sports icon Tony Hawk.
For the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, FUNimation's audited results included net sales of $63.7 million, $81.6 million and $72.4 million, respectively, and pre-tax income of $24.9 million, $30.5 million and $29.8 million, respectively.
Eric Paulson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The acquisition of FUNimation is an exciting transaction for everyone involved - our customers, our two companies and Navarre's shareholders. The FUNimation transaction validates Navarre's corporate strategy, which focuses on continued growth and content ownership through licensing while continuing to leverage our distribution assets." Mr. Paulson continues, "FUNimation brings a wide assortment of high profile brands, combining home video distribution with exciting broadcast and third-party licensing opportunities. Their relationships with content owners, coupled with their brand development skills provide great opportunities across our entire enterprise. Gen Fukunaga and Daniel Cocanougher, the President and Executive Vice President of FUNimation respectively, add additional depth to Navarre's overall management team and we look forward to their ongoing contribution."
Gen Fukunaga, President of FUNimation Productions Ltd stated, "We are very excited to join the Navarre family. FUNimation will benefit from Navarre's state-of-the-art retail distribution capabilities and Navarre offers FUNimation a capital structure to pursue new product opportunities and business initiatives."
Under the terms of the acquisition, Navarre acquired all general and limited partnership interests of FUNimation for approximately $100,400,000 in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments not to exceed $5.0 million, plus 1,827,486 shares of unregistered Navarre common stock, subject to certain registration rights. Additionally, the sellers could receive up to $17,000,000 in cash to be paid over five-years if FUNimation achieves certain agreed-upon financial targets during that period.
To complete the FUNimation acquisition, Navarre entered into a $165 million credit facility with GE Commercial Finance. This credit facility amends the Company's previously existing lines of credit with GE Commercial Finance. Under this credit facility the Company entered into both a six-year $140 million Term Loan B sub-facility and a five-year revolving sub-facility for up to $25 million. The credit facility is secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of Navarre's assets. This facility is prepayable at any time, at the Company's option.
The entire $140 million of the Term Loan B sub-facility was drawn by the Company at closing to finance the initial cash portion of the FUNimation acquisition and associated expenses, with the remaining balance placed into cash reserves for general corporate purposes. The revolving sub-facility will be available to the Company for its working capital and general corporate needs and at the time of closing was undrawn.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. acted as financial advisor to Navarre Corporation in connection with the transaction, and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. acted as financial advisor to FUNimation.
Fiscal Year 2005 and Fourth Quarter Financial Update
With the previously-announced agreement to purchase the remaining twenty percent (20%) ownership interest of its subsidiary Encore Software from Mike Bell, Navarre will recognize approximately $5.8 million of compensation expense in the recently completed fourth quarter of its 2005 fiscal year. In addition, Navarre will realize approximately $600,000 of expenses related to the FUNimation acquisition and an approximate $700,000 of expenses spent on preparation for Sarbanes Oxley compliance in the fourth quarter that ended March 31, 2005. Due to the above-mentioned items the Company anticipates negative earnings for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2005. Based on preliminary figures the Company also anticipates reporting fiscal year 2005 net sales of approximately $600 million. Additionally, the Company's balance sheet as of March 31, 2005 is anticipated to show approximately $15.0 million in cash, $39.0 million in inventory, $95.0 million in net accounts receivable, $96.0 in accounts payable and that the company was operating without bank debt.
Fiscal Year 2006 Guidance
The company expects the FUNimation transaction to be accretive to its fiscal year 2006 results. FUNimation will contribute approximately 10 months worth of operations to Navarre's fiscal year 2006 consolidated financial results. With the consolidation of FUNimation, the company anticipates fiscal 2006 net sales to be between $710 million to $720 million. After anticipated costs related to the FUNimation integration the Company anticipates fiscal 2006 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") to be between $40 million and $45 million or $1.26 to $1.42 of EBITDA per share fully diluted.
About Navarre Corporation
Navarre Corporation (NASDAQ: NAVR) is a leading publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, CD audio, DVD and VHS video, video games and accessories. Since its founding in 1983, the company has established distribution relationships with customers across a wide spectrum of retail channels which includes mass merchants, discount, wholesale club, office and music superstores, military and e-tailers nationwide. The company currently provides its products to over 18,000 retail and distribution center locations throughout the United States and Canada. Navarre has recently expanded its business to include the licensing and publishing of home entertainment and multimedia content, primarily through the acquisitions of Encore Software, Inc. and BCI Eclipse Company, LLC. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.navarre.com
Safe Harbor
The statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by these sections. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and the actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: the Company's revenues being derived from a small group of customers; the Company's dependence on significant vendors; the Company's dependence upon software developers and manufacturers and popularity of their products; the Company's ability to maintain and grow its exclusive distribution business through agreements with music labels; the Company's dependence upon a key employee and its Founder, namely, Eric H. Paulson, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer; the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified management personnel; uncertain growth in the publishing segment; the acquisition strategy of the Company, including the successful integration of FUNimation, could disrupt other business segments and/or management; the seasonality and variability in the Company's business and that decreased sales during peak season could adversely affect its results of operations; the Company's ability to meet its significant working capital requirements related to distributing products and financing accounts receivable; the Company's ability to avoid excessive inventory return and obsolescence losses; the potential for inventory values to decline; the Company's credit exposure due to reseller arrangements or negative trends which could cause credit loss; the Company's ability to adequately and timely adjust cost structure for decreased demand; the Company's ability to compete effectively in distribution and publishing, which are highly competitive industries; the Company's dependence on third-party shipping of its product; the Company's dependence on information systems; technological developments, particularly in the electronic downloading arena which could adversely impact sales, margins and results of operations; increased counterfeiting or piracy which could negatively affect demand for the Company's products; the Company may not be able to protect its intellectual property; interruption of the Company's business or catastrophic loss at a facility which could curtail or shutdown its business; the potential for future terrorist activities to disrupt operations or harm assets; significant Company stock volatility; the exercise of outstanding warrants and options adversely affecting stock price; the Company's anti-takeover provision, its ability to issue preferred stock and its staggered board may discourage take-over attempts beneficial to shareholders; because the Company does not intend to pay dividends, stock appreciation may yield the only return on an investment in Company stock; and the Company's directors may not be personally liable for certain actions which may discourage shareholder suits against them. A detailed statement of risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in particular the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004. Investors and shareholders are urged to read this document carefully. Investors and shareholders are urged to read this document carefully. The Company can offer no assurances that any projections, assumptions or forecasts made or discussed in this release, "NAVARRE CORPORATION ACQUIRES FUNIMATION, AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL UPDATE AND GUIDANCE", dated May 11, 2005, will be met, and investors should understand the risks of investing solely due to such projections. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release.
press release:
Devil's Due announces fan & retailer G.I. Joe contests.
Begins spring, culminates in July with release of G.I. JOE: AMERICA’S ELITE
To amp up the excitement for the new G.I. JOE: AMERICA’S ELITE series, Devil’s Due Publishing (DDP) introduces a variety of contests to fans and retailers alike. Beginning this spring and running through the summer, DDP and G.I. JOE, under license from the Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual development arm of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), are bringing the nation together in a number of extraordinary events: fans can enter the G.I. JOE Biggest Fan Contest; retailers can shoot for the Best DDP Retailer Display Contest and participate in G.I. JOE Day on July 4, celebrating the launch of G.I. JOE: AMERICA’S ELITE.
In G.I. JOE: AMERICA’S ELITE, a year has passed since the events of G.I. JOE #43. The world has grown even more chaotic, and when a tragedy of mythic proportions is visited upon Chicago, the President must summon the country’s greatest warrior to lead a new G.I. JOE team. Who will make the cut to be on the new JOE team? And what of Cobra? It all begins in June with the release of G.I. JOE: AMERICA’S ELITE #0 priced at 25¢. Issue #1 follows in July with a $2.95 cover price.
“We’re so excited about G.I. JOE: AMERICA’S ELITE we thought getting fans and retailers involved was the perfect way to get everyone into the fun and excitement,” said Josh Blaylock, President of DDP. “It’s a great time for G.I. JOE fans old and new to experience the launch of something special.”
The contests break down as follows:
**The Biggest G.I. JOE Fan Contest. That’s all there is to it. Prove to DDP that YOU are the biggest G.I. JOE fan and win a lifetime subscription to DDP’s G.I. JOE comic book series—the only person to have a DDP subscription of this kind! The sky is the limit, so what are you going to do? Submit materials via email or mail by July 31. Winners will be announced Aug 8 on DDP’s website. Individual entries only. No groups, clubs, etc.
** The Best DDP Retailer Display Contest. Create the best DDP and G.I. JOE display in your store and win a DDP creator signing and pizza party. We’ll help you promote the event and provide DDP products and merchandise prize packages! Just submit photos (including store front and display), display description and store info to DDP by June 30, 2005. Winners will be announced July 5 at midnight on DDP’s web site.
**G.I. JOE Day. Host a G.I. JOE Day at your store on July 4! Retailer participants receive bag stuffers, New G.I. JOE Con Exclusives, signed merchandise, a G.I. JOE product pack (from DDP and other JOE licensees). DDP’s web site will give tips to help retailers promote the day. Retailers can receive additional discounts and any photos of the day submitted to DDP will be printed in issues of G.I. JOE.
More information on the contests will be posted to DDP's website, http://www.devilsdue.net/ , in the next few weeks. Retailers may visit http://www.devilsdue.net/retailers.
Devil's Due. Reminding everyone that pop culture IS our culture.
ABOUT DEVIL'S DUE PUBLISHING (DDP)
Devil's Due Publishing was formed in 1999 as both a commercial art studio and a small press comic book publisher. DDP's first breakout success was 2001's revamp of G.I. JOE, returning the long-lost 1980s characters to comics. Fans bought over 100,000 copies per month, immediately propelling G.I. JOE to the top of the charts. Today, DDP's lineup includes Army of Darkness, Street Fighter, Hack/Slash and the Aftermath universe, a new imprint featuring super-powered heroes in titles like Defex, Breakdown, Blade of Kumori and Infantry.
ABOUT THE HASBRO PROPERTIES GROUP
The Hasbro Properties Group (HPG), the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc., (NYSE:HAS), translates one of the industry’s richest portfolios of brands into a world of fun and excitement for children and adults globally. Through a host of publishing, lifestyle and entertainment platforms, HPG is able to surround fans worldwide with consumer products that expand Hasbro’s core brands, such as TRANSFORMERS, DUEL MASTERS, MY LITTLE PONY, MONOPOLY and CANDY LAND, beyond the toy and game aisle, creating rich lifestyle experiences.
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