Wednesday, January 20, 2010

TV News: THE WALKING DEAD MARCH ON AMC



"Madmen" and "Breaking Bad" Network Greenlights Walking Dead Pilot


Variety reported today that Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's ongoing tale of survival horror in a post-apocalyptic world, THE WALKING DEAD, has been greenlit as a pilot by AMC.

"THE WALKING DEAD's road to the small screen has been a long one, but so far it's looking like the best of all worlds," creator and writer Robert Kirkman said. "Given AMC's track record with shows like 'Madmen' and 'Breaking Bad,' combined with Frank Darabont writing and directing, I couldn't possibly be more excited for this to come together. Having the pilot greenlit is a huge leap forward to this becoming a reality."

THE WALKING DEAD has been published by Image Comics since 2003, with the series' 69th issue due in stores next week. Current plans are for the AMC series to closely adapt the storylines presented in the monthly comics.

In addition to the ongoing com ics series, there are 11 trade paperbacks currently in print, collecting issues 1-66, along with a series of five hardcovers covering #1-60. The first 48 issues have also been collected in two limited edition slipcased hardcovers and a softcover compendium. Across are formats the series remains a sales juggernaut with the title charting on the New York Times' graphic novels bestsellers list numerous times.

"Since its debut in October 2003, THE WALKING DEAD has been nothing short of unstoppable," said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Over the last five years, sales on both the single issues and the trade paperback and hardcover collections have gone from strength to strength, so it's no surprise that THE WALKING DEAD is now poised for success on TV. Everyone at Image is very excited to see this project come to light."

THE WALKING DEAD #69, a 32-page black and white comic priced at $2.99, will be on sale at finer comic book stores everywhere January 27.

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TV News: SUPERNATURAL RETURNS



The CW has released two clips from tomorrow's night return of Supernatural.



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Comic News: THE ULTIMATE SERIAL KILLER COMES TO LIFE



Palmiotti, Gray and Caracuzzo Create Debut Splatterman Graphic Novella in April


Two comic book creators discover what happens when their newest creation becomes all too real in the all-new graphic novella, SPLATTERMAN, by THE PRO and BACK TO BROOKLYN's Jimmy Palmiotti, Jonah Hex's Justin Gray and The Last Resort's Giancarlo Caracuzzo!

"Every creator can tell you their best characters take on a life of their own, and SPLATTERMAN shows how it can happen in the most frightening of ways," Palmiotti explained. "SPLATTERMAN is definitely a worst case situation of life imitating art and we're lucky enough to have an illustrator like Giancarlo who can combine a setting everyone can relate to with a twist everyone can fear."

SPLATTERMAN is the blood soaked story of two comic creators and their ultimate horror character creation gone very bad. After receiving the publishing deal they've long sought after, they soon find a strong enough imagination can be twisted for chilling purposes. For this done-in-one graphic novella that truly lives up to its title, Palmiotti, Gray and Caracuzzo are joined by WANTED's Paul Mounts, letterer Bill Tortolini and famed cover artist Tim Bradstreet.

SPLATTERMAN, a 72-page full color with a cover price of $6.99, will be available for order in the February issue of Previews and goes on sale April 28.

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Comic News: BOOM! STUDIOS' CTHULHU TALES VOL. 2 WINS 2010 GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS AWARD!



BOOM! STUDIOS'
CTHULHU TALES VOL. 2 WINS
2010 GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS
FOR TEENS AWARD


BOOM! Studios is proud to announce that the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) has selected CTHULHU TALES VOL. 2: WHISPER OF THE MIND as one of their 2010 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

This year, YALSA has compiled a list of 73 titles out of 127 official nominations selected from all graphic novels published in the last 16 months. These titles are recommended for readers ages 12 to 18 and are chosen for their ability to "meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens."

"We are ecstatic about this award," says Sales Director Jenny Christopher. "We work our hardest to produce the best stories we can for children, teens and adults and awards like this make it all worth while. From everyone at BOOM! Studios we are proud to say we produce 'Great Graphic Novels for Teens'"

Anyone may view the list of other award recipients at the American Library Association website: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/ggnt10.cfm

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Comic News: THE GOON GOES DIGITAL ON iTUNES TODAY!



ERIC POWELL’S EISNER-WINNING THE GOON RETURNS IN 2010!

THE GOON ARRIVES ON THE iPHONE THIS WEEK AND IS BACK IN PRINT
WITH THE ALL-NEW BUZZARD MINISERIES THIS SUMMER


Fans and critics alike rejoiced in 2008, when creator Eric Powell took his redneck zombie noir, The Goon, monthly for an entire calendar year. Following the release of the landmark graphic novel Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker, Powell laid out his most complex story line to date, spanning twelve issues. In 2009, the creator celebrated the tenth anniversary of the title, releasing a special anniversary issue to coincide with a burlesque anniversary party in his honor in Nashville, followed by a special all-silent issue in November. While both were strong standalone issues, the significantly lighter release schedule left fans wondering what’s next for the madcap mercenary.

Now, The Goon goes digital, as both Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker and The Goon #7, which features Hellboy, are made available on the iPhone platform. Chinatown marks Powell’s first self-contained graphic novel, which chronicles the earliest adventures of Goon and his wisecracking sidekick, Franky. After a new figure in the crime scene begins taking out the Goon’s business operations one by one, the Goon’s darkest moment comes back to haunt him, when his mind and body were left scarred . . . and his heart was left black. This new platform promises to expose an all-new readership to comics’ most beloved brute.

Not to worry, however: longtime fans will be rewarded with an all-new spinoff title based around Goon Year’s most notable character, Buzzard. Eric Powell gives one of his most beloved and mysterious characters his own highly anticipated, three-issue miniseries.

Following his brutal showdown with the loathsome Zombie Priest, Buzzard leaves his home, wandering aimlessly until he steps into the shadowy spirit realm of the forest. A dark path leads him to a small village living in fear of a bestial race of savages. More animal than man, these creatures hunt the villagers and drag them from their slumber in the depth of night.

“Buzzard has always been a personal favorite of mine from the Goon cast, and from the amount of requests I’ve gotten to give him his own series, I imagine he’s a favorite of the readers as well,” said Goon creator Eric Powell. “I’m really excited to finally be giving him his own story, along with the revival of Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities!”

For those who missed Goon Year, Dark Horse will be giving this twelve-issue story line the deluxe treatment with the release of Fancy Pants Edition Volume 3: Goon Year on July seventh. Powell’s all-new Buzzard series will arrive on shelves later this fall.

Look for news forthcoming on the return of the Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities short stories—a revival of the series from 2005 that paired Eric Powell with artist Kyle Hotz. The three-issue series will launch later this year.

Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker is available for download today in the iTunes store. For a limited time, this heart-wrenching story is available for the sale price of 1.99. In addition, the celebrated one-shot The Goon #7 is available for free download for the next three days.

For more information, visit www.darkhorse.com/features/mobile.

There has never been a better time to find out what you’ve been missing!

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Toy News: Iron Man 2 Minimates - The Reveal!



Fans all over the world are gearing up for Marvel Studios' next sure-fire blockbuster Iron Man 2 and at Diamond Select Toys we are excited to reveal details surrounding our previously Top Secret Iron Man 2 Minimates! Due in stores this March, two new assortments of Minimates are sure to thrill fans of all ages!

While one particular high-flying armor-clad character will remain hidden until the March release date, we can now reveal the full contents of our upcoming Marvel Minimates Series 35 Assortment and Iron Man 2 Single Pack Minimates Display. Rounding out the cast of Series 35 is the high-tech army builder paired with Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan - Hammer Industries' Hammer Drone! Glimpsed only briefly in the Iron Man 2 trailer, not much is known about the Hammer Drones - except that Iron Man and War Machine will apparently square off against an entire squad of them at some point during the film.



The biggest reveal comes in the form of our Iron Man 2 Single Pack Minimates Display, a special set of individually boxed Iron Man 2 Minimates limited to only 500 cases. This set was under complete lockdown, however now we can reveal the full contents!

Each display will include 12 individually packaged Iron Man 2 Minimates, including:

Air Assault Drone
Ground Assault Drone
Sea Assault Drone
Tactical Assault Drone



Plus limited short-packs found in every case featuring:
Battle Damaged Hammer Drone
Justin Hammer



Styled after the four branches of the US Military, exact how these high-powered armors will come to exist and what their creation means for Iron Man remains to be seen - but we can't wait to find out! Retailers can still order this limited set as part of their January 2010 Previews orders, so if you want these Iron Man 2 exclusives to become a part of your collection make sure you let them know before it's too late!

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