Comic book review for Image Comics‘ Jupiter’s Legacy # 1 written by Mark Millar and art by Frank Quitely.

 Mark Millar’s new book looks at the lives of a select group of superhumans from different generations. It’s a story that spans decades from the early 20th century all the way to modern America. It’s so much like our world with only a few major changes, the biggest happens to be that there’s a supergroup looking out for humanity in the form of The Utopian and his group of friends and family, that and their bratty, snotty offsprings.

Storytelling wise Millar is once again on top of his game here. The widescreen effect and approach is still present but there it’s dumbed down to some extent. When it does make an appearance it works so well. Case in point the fight between the older heroes and a would be interstellar invader…

Quitely’s work here is nothing short of beautiful. The women are hot and sexy, the guys are brawny and muscular and the facial expressions are A-Ok. I just hate the main characters as they look like they breezed through an emo guy’s wardrobe. Or maybe that in itself is a reflection of the generational gap that’s being presented in this new title from the same man who wrote drew the interiors for the first arc of Grant Morrison’s ‘Batman and Robin’.

The art here is totally off the roof. We’re bombarded with panel after panel of beautiful landscapes, skanky heroines and old-school greats. There’s one particular panel where the Walter Sampson sends Blackstar’s consciousness on a retreat while the rest of the heroes beat him up physically. The psychic Sampson went on to describe how it took him such a long time to construct the mental image all the while when you look at the panels that follow, you’ll see so much detail and an insane level of clarity in the art.

As expected Millar uses great dialogues between his characters giving them a life of their own. The Utopian for example is very much the stereotypical Superman from his ideals all the way to his arguments with his brother. In fact, I’m actually surprised that there hasn’t been so much expletives here in this new book seeing how Super Crooks and Nemesis had so much.

Overall, the first issue of Jupiter’s Children had lots of everythings. There’s a mysterious origin, cool superpowered fights, lots of tensions between the team and dynamic art. I’ve got nothing to complain with regards to this issue, only hoping that the succeeding ones just top off what’s been done for Jupiter’s Legacy # 1.

Verdict: 10/10

If you’re already looking forward to Warner Bros.‘ upcoming summer blockbuster ‘Pacific Rim‘ then you’ll be happy to know that there’s a prequel graphic novel in the works from Legendary Studios.

The amazing thing about this is that the cover alone is worth something since it’s going to be done by the legendary Alex Ross himself. The prequel chronicles different parts of the ‘Pacific Rim’ universe detailing survivor’s accounts of the Kaiju attacks and the subsequent retaliation.

The story will be supervised by Guillermo Del Toro himself but the stories will be written by Pacific Rim’s writer Travis Beacham. Here’s the official press release which came out during WonderCon 2013:

“Legendary Comics and Pacific Rim director Guillermo del Toro gave WonderCon attendees a surprise treat today as they revealed the cover art for the graphic novel, PACIFIC RIM: TALES FROM YEAR ZERO. The fully-painted cover was created by Alex Ross.

Hitting stores June 5, PACIFIC RIM: TALES FROM YEAR ZERO serves as a prequel to the highly-anticipated motion picture – Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim. Chronicling the very first time Earth is menaced by incredible monsters known as Kaiju, these inhuman beasts rise from the ocean depths and threaten to extinquish all mankind! Witness the race to develop massive robot fighting machines called Jaegers, each one controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. This action-packed book features many of the key characters from the film as we follow them in their early careers. Written by Pacific Rim screenwriter himself, Travis Beacham, and with del Toro’s hands-on supervision, this volume is beautifully illustrated by Sean Chen, Yvel Guichet, and Pericles Junior; inks by Steve Bird and Mark McKenna.”

When it comes to Greg Rucka, I think about girls. It’s not what you think! Because when it comes to him, he has written great books with female characters as protagonists. Some of his works are Whiteout, Queen and Country, The Question: Five Books of Blood, and his superb Batwoman with JH WIlliams III. But since it has been revealed that he’s got a gig with Image Comics, they also revealed his new title ‘Lazarus‘ in which Michael Lark is handling art duties. Lark who has worked with noir type of books, together with Ed Brubaker in Daredevil, and also with Rucka in Gotham Central.

If there’s anything more I can say about this announcement, it’s — “CANNOT WAIT“.

SOURCE

Comic Book Review for Invincible # 100 by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley

Invincible hits 100 and thus Robert Kirkman decides to kill a bunch of characters off.  But the title is just the chocolate and there’s certainly a surprise center for this anniversary issue. What it is you have to buy the book to really find out.

Since this is a major action story arc expect tons of bloodshed and gratitious violence here and there. You also have to see that since Mark’s facing off against Dinosaurus who’s a vicious looking humanoid dinosaur with the same genius level intellect as that of Lex Luthor.

The best part of this book is it’s simplicity. Rather than dwindle with all the subplots, Kirkman just dives in to the story and shakes the status quo anew for Invincible and the rest of his awfully huge supporting cast. There are a few twists that I’m sure you’ll enjoy and there’s one big surprise that might catch you guard.

The book is pretty neat however if you’re in this for the action, the punches and the superheroics, I’m afraid you’re a tad late for the party as all that happened a few issues ago. This is the whole meat, the drama and where everything changes. I think the arc title is a rather apt title because aside from the obvious deaths inside the book, it also means that the old Invincible is dead and he’s being replaced by a new and more SUPERIOR Invincible. Oh wait, sorry, wrong book and publisher.

VERDICT: 4.5/5

The art is pretty kick ass and the story doesn’t skip a beat. Would’ve been better if Image decided to publish additional materials and pages for the book rather than spend money on a hundred different covers. Invincible # 100 is also a testament to the return of the 90s whipping boy concept, the foil cover…

Special thanks to Comicx Hub! Get your copy of INVINCIBLE # 100 from COMICX HUB.

Three years after Spider-man joined the Mickey Mouse Club,  Darth Vader is following suit.

The  Walt Disney Company is buying Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in cash and stock.  In a conference call with investors, Disney CEO Robert Iger also announced the release of the seventh installment of the  Star Wars  franchise in 2015.

The sequels will be shown every two to three years after Star Wars 7.  Lucasfilm founder George Lucas will serve as creative consultant to the films.

“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products,” Lucas said in a statement.

Under the terms of the deal, Disney also acquires Lucasfilm’s  animation, visual effects and audio post-production studios.

Impact on Comics

Dark Horse president Mike Richardson assured that the licensed “Star Wars” comics will continue for the “near future.”

“Dark Horse and LucasFilm have a strong partnership which spans over 20 years, and has produced multiple characters and story lines which are now part of the Star Wars lore,” Richardson told Comic Book Resources. ”

‘Star Wars’ will be with us for the near future. Obviously, this deal changes the landscape, so we’ll all have to see what it means for the future.” Dark Horse Comics reassures release of Brian Wood’s Star Wars ongoing series in January 2013.

It is likely that Disney will transfer the licenses of LucasFilm properties to Marvel Comics, the comic book publisher it bought in 2009. Disney moved its properties from BOOM! Studios over to Marvel following its acquisition.

Impact on Games

IGN reports that its video game division LucasArts will continue the development of  Star Wars 1313.

“For the time being all projects are business as usual.  We are excited about all the possibilities that Disney brings,” LucasArts told IGN.

The Hollywood Reporter brings news of a collaborative effort between director and Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA and Grant Morrison to create a film adaptation of Happy!, Morrison’s creator-owned series illustrated by Darick Robertson and published under Image Comics. The film, to be produced by RZA and comics writer Reginald Hudlin, is currently under development, and has yet to be attached to a particular studio. Happy! tells the story of an ex-cop who finds himself in a dangerously precarious situation, with only a tiny blue horse to turn to for help.

This news is quite surprising, as only the first issue of the 4-issue limited series has been released so far. (Read our review HERE!)

Then again, in a world where a film sequel for our BFF Mark Millar’s Kick-Ass was announced more than a year before the comics sequel even came out, should we really be shocked?

Any thoughts on this? Feel free to drop us a line in the Comments section!

Reviewing Happy #1 by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson.

” ‘Happy’? What the *hell* is a ‘Happy’, anyway?”

It takes a certain level of appreciation for mind-numbing insanity and seemingly-way-out-of-left-field plot developments to fully enjoy a Grant Morrison story. It thus comes as no surprise that you can get through the first half of Happy #1 and you STILL wouldn’t have a complete idea of what’s going on and what to expect. Published under Image Comics, this creator-owned series is Morrison’s newest work to hit the stands, and would probably be a good choice for people who want to read more from Morrison, but are sick of the standard superhero fare that is currently filling (or should I say, flooding) the market.

In this issue, we are introduced to former police detective Nick Sax, who, under Morrison’s pen, is immediately depicted as both a meticulous planner and a complete asshole. Tough, manipulative, and unbelievably resilient, Sax is one hard-assed protagonist, and this is evident throughout the entire issue. Morrison’s script does not scrimp on the action at all; at times, it actually felt like I was reading a Garth Ennis book.

This comic is full of foul language and gory, disgusting visuals, all masterfully illustrated by Robertson. His detailed style really works well here, striking a good balance between the gritty, pseudo-realistic action sequences and the downright ridiculous appearance of Happy, a tiny blue horse with wings that looks like the illegitimate lovechild of Donkey from Shrek and a character from The Unfunnies.

I don’t want to spoil much about this book – while it’s not exactly something to write home about, it definitely warrants a full read. Let me say this, though: the circumstances surrounding the appearance of Happy in the story will probably leave you scratching your head in bewilderment. Then again, this IS a Morrison story, so it would actually be surprising if everything instantly made sense, right?

Happy #1 is a promising, if not terribly compelling, start to this mini-series. I have a feeling that it’ll get better as the story progresses, given that we’re dealing with a writer who relies heavily on taking seemingly random elements and putting them together to create a fascinating buildup to stories that usually end up blowing your mind.

VERDICT: 3.5/5

As a whole, the book isn’t incredibly gripping or exciting; however, it HAS managed to capture my interest enough to want to find out what happens next.

I suggest you go pick it up now – come on, let’s read something that ISN’T about Batman or Spider-Man for a change.

This review is powered by Comicx Hub! Get your copy of Happy #1 now!

This November, Skybound’s first ever title – WITCH DOCTOR returns this November for Volume 2: Mal Practice! 

Creators Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner respond to your otherworldly emergency with the sequel to the breakout medical horror hit WITCH DOCTOR, from Robert Kirkman’s Skybound imprint at Image Comics.

Occult physician Dr. Vincent Morrow, paramedic Eric Gast and supernatural patient Penny Dreadful return in WITCH DOCTOR: MAL PRACTICE  with a new infusion of tales to captivate and shock you.

Even the world’s leading expert in supernatural disease needs to unwind sometimes. But when Dr. Morrow wakes up with no memory of what (and who!) he did last night, is it a case of partying too hard or something more malignant?

“I’m glad people loved Witch Doctor volume one so much — but we’re barely getting warmed up!” said writer Seifert, adding, “Mal Practice has more monsters, more magic, more medicine and more peril, as Dr. Morrow has to treat a very different patient — himself! And like they say — doctors make the worst patients!”

“This story really ups the stakes and pushes the characters to new levels of desperation — after all, what’s a witch doctor to do when he’s his own best hope to survive?” said artist Ketner. “I’ve been waiting to draw some of the stuff in Mal Practice since the very beginning of Witch Doctor, and I’m relieved that we’re finally taking the bandages off for all to see!”

WITCH DOCTOR VOLUME 2: MAL PRACTICE #1 is the first issue of a new six-issue miniseries, with story by Brandon Seifert, art by Lukas Ketner and coloring by Andy Troy, arriving in stores November 28th with 32 pages of gruesome and gory goodness ($2.99/FC/T).

Reading WITCH DOCTOR VOLUME 2: MAL PRACTICE will make you instantly understand why Robert Kirkman picked WITCH DOCTOR as Skybound’s first new original title, and why The A.V. Club diagnosed it “Terrifying, hilarious and above all, smart!” Critics and fans agree, once you’ve been infected by WITCH DOCTOR, there is no cure.

ABOUT ROBERT KIRKMAN
Robert Kirkman’s success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company’s inception twenty years ago and he formed his own imprint there, Skybound, in 2010.  Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and in April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He’s the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC’s The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a  potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. www.Skybound.com is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Who read the first issue of CHEW: Secret Agent Poyo? Please raise your hands (millions of people, including you, raise all right hands). Well for those who haven’t got a copy of the book, here’s the second print:

CHEW: SECRET AGENT POYO, the unlikely story of a cybernetic, kung-fu expert fighting cock, has sold out and will receive a second printing. A one-shot spin-off of the wildly popular, Eisner-Award-winning Image Comics series CHEW by John Layman and Rob Guillory, SECRET AGENT POYO is a full-color comic featuring 22 pages of story and ten pin-ups by some of independent comics’ best artists, including Jim Mahfood, Nick Pitarra, and Ben Templesmith.

Commented writer John Layman, “Secret Agent Poyo is the most important thing to happen to comics in the last three hundred and fifty years, and it’s clear that the public recognizes it for the towering literary achievement that it is.”

The Comic-Con International Exclusive foil-stamped cover edition of the one-shot about the fan-favorite rooster was one of the stars of Image Comics exclusive offerings at Comic-Con International in San Diego. That convention exclusive was limited to 750 copies and will not be reprinted.

The second printing of CHEW: SECRET AGENT POYO will be in stores on August 29 and is available now for pre-order with the Diamond code JUN128113.

With awesome volume ones’ of the heart-touching story of Royden Lepp’s RUST and a peculiar webcomic of Josh Tierney’s SPERA, Archiaia would like to reach out more audiences digitally.

Award-winning graphic novel publisher Archaia Entertainment continues its commitment to Digital First publication, releasing chapters from upcoming books in advance of the print edition through an exclusive partnership with comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform with over 75 million comic downloads to date and a selection of more than 25,000 comics and graphic novels. Today, Archaia Entertainment and comiXology announce the debut of two, new, fan-favorite titles debuting digitally in advance of their hardcover collected print editions.

RUST VOL. 2: SECRETS OF THE CELL is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Rust Vol. 1: Visitor in the Field, the debut graphic novel by Royden Lepp. In this volume, the dysfunctional Taylor family continues to rebuild their farm lives after the devastating loss of a recent war, and the appearance of the mysterious jet pack-wearing boy, Jet Jones. Jet’s behavior continues to raise youngest brother Oswald’s suspicion, particularly when the appearance of another robot invader puts them all in danger! Like its predecessor, Rust Vol. 2 is presented in nostalgic sepia tone to help set the industrial atmosphere of the title. This volume is especially highly anticipated because of the recent announcement that director Joe Cornish (Attack of the Block) has been attached to the Rust film in development at 20th Century Fox. Simon Kinberg (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, X-Men: First Class) is producing and Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada) is scripting.

SPERA VOL. 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed first volume of Spera, which is based off the original webcomic experiment created by Josh Tierney that brings illustrators together from around the globe to showcase their talents as some of the premier fantasy artists in the industry. In this volume, exiled princesses Pira and Lono travel to the bustling city of Kotequog to avoid the clutches of Pira’s mother, the Evil Queen. Obtaining jobs as adventurers, the two best friends set out on a series of quests that land them in perhaps more excitement than they’d bargained for. Told in four chapters and a series of stand-alone shorts, each drawn by a different rising talent in comics, Spera Vol. 2 brings the same gorgeous artistry as its debut installment, featuring the works of Giannis Milonogiannis (Old City Blues), Kyla Vanderklugt (Flight), Timothy Weaver (Chivalrous), and Afu Chan (Spera Vol. 1). Spera will appeal to art lovers and children of all ages, especially fans of The Legend of Korra, Patricia Wrede’s Dealing with Dragons, Disney’s Tangled, and the Flight series.

The first chapters of RUST VOL. 2: SECRETS OF THE CELL and SPERA VOL. 2 debut digitally on comiXology on Wednesday, July 25, 2012, available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web, with subsequent chapters releasing every month. The print editions will debut late Fall.

For more information, visit http://www.archaia.com/archaia-titles/rust/ and http://www.archaia.com/archaia-titles/spera/.

About Archaia

Archaia is a multi award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Days Missing, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, The Engineer, Rust, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels. Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year in 2010 according to Ain’t It Cool News, Graphic Policy and Comic Related, and was honored with five 2012 Eisner Awards nominations and three wins for Best New Graphic Album, Best Publication Design, and Best Penciller/Inker. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media.

About comiXology

Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology — in just five short years — has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform — available across iPhone <http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/comics/id303491945?mt=8> , iPad <http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/comics/id303491945?mt=8> , Android <https://market.android.com/details?id=com.iconology.comics> , Kindle Fire <http://blog.comixology.com/2011/11/08/comixology-ships-on-kindle-fire/> and the Web <http://www.comixology.com/> — comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.

If many of you don’t know, Grant Morrison headed over to Image Comics and plans to release creator-owned title – HAPPY!. Interested? Want to know more? Here:

Nick Sax isn’t what you’d call a “winner.” The anti-hero of the new Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson comic mini-series HAPPY! has been fired from the police force, turned on by his own employees in his murder-for-hire business (well, what would you expect?), is constantly drunk, and is waging a hopeless battle against the agonies of eczema. Sax seems beyond redemption, but saviors often take strange forms, and, in his case, it’s the form of a tiny blue, feathered pony named Happy.

Oh, did we forget to mention that? Yes, besides being heavy with violence, profanity, and sex, HAPPY! is also a tribute to the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

“HAPPY! is a story I’ve wanted to write since hit-man Nick Sax and his ‘partner’ Happy the Horse appeared fully-formed in my head two years ago,” said Morrison. In an interview at Newsarama, he described the impetus of its development: “I wanted to do a classic Christmas story – like A Christmas Carol or It’s A Wonderful Life – but with all the junkies, killers and pedophiles which make our modern world so colorful!”

In the same interview, artist Robertson talked a bit about the mysterious, eponymous Happy the Horse, about whom the two creators are being enticingly elusive. “Happy had a complete transformation from the initial drawing to what he became and what he became is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever designed to draw,” said Robertson. “I hope readers will have as much fun with this as I’ve been having.

HAPPY! is Morrison and Robertson’s first Image Comics series. It was announced at this year’s Image Expo in February, which celebrated the independent publisher’s 20th anniversary. Recently, Morrison commented on the experience of working on a creator-owned project.

“As much as I enjoy making monthly superhero books, there’s something very exciting and inspiring about creating a complete, original story from whole cloth and I’m grateful to Image Comics for seeing the potential of this project and giving it a home,” said Morrison. “After a banner year for creativity at the company, Darick and I hope we can round 2012 out on a high note with the most twisted Christmas crime story you’ll ever read.”

HAPPY! #1 will be in stores on September 26 and is available now for pre-order. The four-issue miniseries will culminate with an issue released Christmas week.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Just imagine this article like you are reading any opening text intro of any Star Wars film, and you’ll be fine.

Lucasfilm and its publishing partners announced today a national Star Wars Reads Day to be held this October 6, 2012. Star Wars Reads Day is a multi-publisher initiative that celebrates reading and Star Wars. On October 6, events will take place at hundreds of bookstores and libraries across the United States.

Participating publishing partners include Abrams, Chronicle Books, Dark Horse, Del Rey, DK, Scholastic, Titan Magazines, and Workman. Officially participating bookstores and libraries will receive a Star Wars event kit (free of charge). The kit includes: an exclusive Star Wars Reads promotional item (25-50 per event); raffle prizes; promotional giveaways; a packet of event ideas, reproducible activity sheets and trivia; and more. The events will have the PR and marketing support of the eight participating publishers and Lucasfilm.

If your store or library would like to participate in Star Wars Reads Day on October 6, please sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/swrd2012

ABOUT ABRAMS: Founded by Harry N. Abrams in 1949, ABRAMS is the preeminent publisher of high quality art and illustrated books. Now a subsidiary of La Martinière Groupe, ABRAMS is the publisher of bestsellers such as the wildly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney and The Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger, the award-winning cookbooks of Alton Brown, and the stunning photography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s Earth from Above. ABRAMS publishes books in the areas of art, photography, cooking, interior design, craft, fashion, sports, pop culture, as well as children’s books and general interest. The company’s imprints include Abrams; Abrams Appleseed; Abrams ComicArts; Abrams Image; Abrams Books for Young Readers; Amulet Books; Stewart, Tabori & Chang; and STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books.

ABOUT CHRONICLE BOOKS One of the most admired and respected publishing companies in the U.S., Chronicle Books was founded in 1967 and over the years has developed a reputation for award-winning, innovative books. Recognized as one of the 50 best small companies to work for in the U.S. (and the only independent publisher to receive this award), the company continues to challenge conventional publishing wisdom, setting trends in both subject and format, maintaining a list that includes much admired illustrated books and gift products in design, art, architecture, photography, food, lifestyle, pop culture, and acclaimed children’s titles. Chronicle Books’ objective is to create and distribute exceptional publishing that’s instantly recognizable for its spirit, creativity, and value. For more information about Chronicle Books, visit www.chroniclebooks.com.

ABOUT DARK HORSE: Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, including The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics.

ABOUT DEL REY BOOKS: Del Rey Books (http://www.delreybooks.com) was founded in 1977 as an imprint of Ballantine Books, a division of the Random House Publishing Group, under the guidance of the renowned Judy-Lynn del Rey and her husband, Lester del Rey. Del Rey publishes the best of modern fantasy, science fiction, and alternate history.

ABOUT DK: DK Publishing is the New York Times bestselling publisher known for its distinctive, highly visual books, ebooks and apps that inform, inspire and entertain readers of all ages. DK also publishes the award-winning Eyewitness series for children and Eyewitness Travel Guides. Alpha Books, BradyGames and Rough Guides are also available from DK, a division of Penguin Group. http://us.dk.com

ABOUT SCHOLASTIC: Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children’s books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company’s Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

ABOUT TITAN MAGAZINES: Titan Magazines is the largest and most experienced publisher of licensed entertainment magazines and comics in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Licensing partners include: Aardman – ABC – BBC – Bongo – CBS – DC – Disney – Hasbro – LucasFilm – MGM – NBC – Nickelodeon – Paramount – Twentieth Century Fox – WWE – Mattel. For more information, visit: http://titanmagazines.com/

ABOUT WORKMAN: Workman Publishing Company, a medium-sized independent publisher, is the creator of award-winning calendars, cookbooks, parenting/pregnancy guides, and fun, educational children’s titles, as well as gardening, humor, self-help, and business books. From our What to Expect series and Page-A-Day Calendars to the iconic 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and Gallop!, the one-of-a-kind, moving picture book for kids, our products inspire readers and other publishers alike. The Workman Publishing Company also includes Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Artisan, HighBridge Audio, Storey Publishing and Timber Press. In addition, Workman is the distributor for Black Dog & Leventhal, Greenwich Workshop Press Fearless Critic Media, and The Experiment.

Lucasfilm, STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.