Posts Tagged ‘Comics’

Marvel Takes Page out of Disney’s Comic Book and Seeks to Change Distributor

Earlier today Hachette Book Group announced via press release that effective September 1, 2010, it will be handling distribution of Marvel graphic novels which is currently handled through Diamond Book Distributors. Although Marvel has since announced that it intends to [i]extend[/i] the current agreement with sister company Diamond Comics Distributor to continue handling the distribution of Marvel’s more traditional comics form, it does tend to strike a familiar chord such as when parent company Disney handed off its license for comics starring traditional Disney characters in the United States to BOOM! Studios, formerly handled by Diamond sibling Gemstone Publishing.

BOOM! Studios Releases Hardcover Collection of Classic Disney Valentine’s Day Comics

Love stories from the world’s most famous couples — Mickey and Minnie and Donald and Daisy — in some of the greatest (and most painful) romances ever told!  Romantic, suave, debonair- all these words and more have never been used to describe Donald Duck!  Check out how many humiliating ways he can ruin a nice night out with Daisy!  Mickey has better luck, but he’s a hopeless romantic at heart, and everyone knows that’s nothing but trouble…  Featuring the industry’s greatest all-time talents like Carl Barks, Walt Kelly, Daan Jippes, and more on the world’s most well-known characters!

Available now from Amazon.com

Marvel Shareholders Agree to Disney Acquisition

Marvel has just announced that its shareholders have approved the proposed acquisition of the company by The Walt Disney Company at the agreed upon price of approximately $4.3 Billion.

According to its release, Marvel expects the merger to be completed by the close of the market today.

First Look: Character Profiles for Stan Lee’s Time Jumper!

Disney has graciously provided us with the following artwork for the upcoming joint project with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, Time Jumper (see link for more information).

As always, you can click on any thumbnail to see a larger version or click on the PicLens link to start the slideshow. Enjoy, true believers!

Images © Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

[View with PicLens]

Disney Book Group to Publish Original Graphic Novel Based on ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’

LOS ANGELES — Disney Book Group announced today the Prince of Persia graphic novel anthology, the first-ever graphic novel written by the creator of Prince of Persia, Jordan Mechner. Todd McFarlane (Spawn, Spider-man) created exclusive art to be featured on the cover, and interior art will include some of the most talented names in comics.

The 128-page graphic novel, a full-color action-adventure anthology featuring six original stories, is a prequel to “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” the feature film to be released by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films on May 28, 2010. The Prince of Persia graphic novel anthology will publish in April 2010 simultaneously in hardcover and paperback with a 125,000 first print run.

“We are thrilled to publish Jordan Mechner’s book debut,” said Jon Yaged, vice president, U.S. publisher, Disney Book Group. “We have developed a fantastic publishing program for the Prince of Persia film release and this graphic novel is an incredible cornerstone.”

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Wizard Entertainment Announces Anaheim to Get Comic-Con April 16-18, 2010; Tickets On Sale

New York, NY (July 16, 2009) – Gareb Shamus, CEO of New York-based Wizard Entertainment, today announced the launch of the first-ever Anaheim Comic-Con, to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center from April 16-18, 2010.

Richard McWilliam, Upper Deck Chairman/CEO said, “Gareb and I have been friends for many years now, and I’m happy to see him once again back in Southern California. On behalf of myself and Upper Deck, we congratulate Gareb for bringing the fans here another great Comic-Con.”

Upper Deck recently announced a licensing agreement with Marvel Entertainment to create products based on Marvel characters, including Trading Cards, TCGs and Miniatures Games.

Anaheim will be the fifth Comic-Con city for shows produced by Gareb Shamus, joining Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and the recently-purchased Toronto event. Attendees can anticipate the strong caliber lineup of stars and exhibitors that fans across the nation have come to expect.

“We had an outpouring of requests by fans and partners to return to Southern California, and felt that Anaheim was the best place to come back to,” said Shamus. “There is a real desire here for a comic based pop-culture experience, and I feel privileged to get back in touch with our west coast fans in this way. This will truly be an event for families and people of all ages.”

Ahmet Zappa, Publisher of Disney’s Kingdom Comics said, “All of us at Kingdom Comics are thrilled to be working with our friends from Wizard, as they get ready to add the Anaheim Comic-Con to their line-up of spectacular fan events. They have a reputation in the industry for putting on great shows in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, and the Anaheim Comic-Con will bring exciting entertainment to our own backyard.”

Kingdom Comics is developing entertaining new graphic novels, and re-imagining motion pictures from the Disney live-action vaults, and plans to use the Anaheim convention to showcase new projects to the fan community.

For all the information on Anaheim Comic-Con and other Wizard events, visit www.wizardworld.com.

A Look at Some of the Disney San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives

From Acme Archives Direct (Booth #: 5429)

What is it: The Princess and the Frog Fine Art Print on Museum Quality Watercolor Paper
Edition Size: 50, hand-numbered and signed by talent from the film
Cost: $79

What is it: TRON Concept Art Print
Edition Size: 82 (as in 1982, the year the film was released)
Cost: $79

From BOOM! Studios (Booth #: 2543)

What is it: Hardcover editions of The Incredibles: Family Matters, Cars: The Rookie and The Muppet Show
Edition Size: 250 each, individually numbered
Cost: $50

What is it: Holofoil cover editions of The Incredibles #1 C & D Covers
Edition Size: 500
Cost: $20

From Mattel (Booth #: 2845)

What is it: CARS Toons Rescue Squad Light-Up 1:55 Scale Mater with Mia and Tia
Edition Size: TBD
Cost: TBD
Note: This item will become available for purchase on mattycollector.com beginning August 3

What is it: Glow-in-the-dark 3 3/4″ movie-accurate Buzz Lightyear
Edition Size: TBD
Cost: TBD
Note: This item will become available for purchase on mattycollector.com beginning August 3. An exclusive chase item will be available only at SDCC

What is it: Medicom Toy Runaway Brain Mickey Mouse Vinyl Collectible Doll
Edition Size: TBD
Cost: $149.99
Note: Available for pre-order at sideshowcollectibles.com

BOOM! Studios Announces Comic-Con Exclusives: Limited Edition Hardcover Editions of Pixar/Muppet Comics

July 15th, 2009 – Los Angeles — BOOM! Studios revealed today that Comic-Con ‘09 exclusive limited edition hardcover collections of their red hot series THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK, THE INCREDIBLES: FAMILY MATTERS and CARS: THE ROOKIE will be offered for sale at limited signing times throughout the week during Comic-Con International at the BOOM! Studios booth (#2543.) THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK’s Roger Langridge, THE INCREDIBLES’ Mark Waid and CARS’ Alan Porter will be doing group signings of these Comic-Con ‘09 Exclusive Hardcovers throughout the week at certain times.

The Comic-Con ‘09 Exclusive Hardcovers of THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK, THE INCREDIBLES: FAMILY MATTERS and CARS: THE ROOKIE will be limited to 250 copies, serially numbered, and contain all four issues of each respective series presented in hardcover for the first time with unique, never-to-be-repeated covers.

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Mickey Comics Get a BOOM! as Gemstone Gets the Boot

As we reported back in February from the New York Comic-Con’s panel with Disney Publishing Worldwide, Gemstone got a poor reception from the audience who felt that the publishing house wasn’t giving Mickey and pals the comic presence they richly deserved. To the panel’s credit, Disney’s response was fair and ambiguous: as long as the relationship was mutually good, it would stay.

Shortly after that, word that Gemstone was losing the franchise starting to spread and Gemstone published a notice on their website stating that the economy has forced them to make cuts which placed the Disney comics in limbo.

Today we get word courtesy of Newsarama that BOOM! Studios has picked up the rights to publish the Disney comics going forward. BOOM!, which has since created the Boom Kids line to handle its incredibly well-received publications based on the Pixar and Muppets properties.

While BOOM! has obtained the rights to re-print the older comics, they will be introducing all new comics featuring Mickey and pals, beginning in September with Disney’s Comics and Stories #699 and Mickey Mouse and Friends #297. BOOM! maintains they do have plans for the classic strips as well.

Another property talked about during the NYCC09 panel was the Disney Classics characters getting comic books as well. With this sort of momentum and success, there’s little doubt that BOOM! may soon be offering comics based on properties such as The Little Mermaid as well.

Courtesy of the Newsarama article, here’s a summary of the first new issue of Mickey Mouse and Friends:

One of the longest-lived, most-successful comic book series in the industry’s history comes to BOOM! and brings a little magic — presenting Wizards of Mickey! Student of the great wizard Grandalf, Mickey Mouse hails from the humble village of Miceland. Allying himself with Donald Duck and his pet dragon named Fafnir, and team mate Goofy, Mickey’s come to the great tournament to get his revenge on Peg Leg Pete, who has stolen the Rain Crystal from Miceland! Join Mickey Mouse and his friends on an epic tale of magic and wonder!

BOOM! Studios Disney Line of Comics Now Available at Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio Store

Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store © Stitch Kingdom. All Rights Reserved.

May 7th, 2009, Los Angeles, CA — Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio Store announced today that the new BOOM! Kids line of Muppet and Disney/Pixar comics will be available to their customers starting immediately! Newsstand editions of THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK, THE INCREDIBLES: FAMILY MATTERS, CARS: THE ROOKIE and all forthcoming Muppet and Disney/Pixar comics will be hitting the shelves each Wednesday as new comics are released!

“We couldn’t be more excited to be the only comics carried at the Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio Store,” said BOOM! Kids editor Paul Morrissey. “I can’t wait to see the fans’ reaction to these great books!”

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