World's #1 Most Influential Comic Book Blog Launches "Bleeding Cool Magazine 8

WORLD’S # 1 MOST INFLUENTIAL COMIC BOOK BLOG LAUNCHES" BLEEDING COOL MAGAZINE"

Bleeding Cool, the premiere source for breaking news and gossip in the comic book industry (www.bleedingcool.com), will launch its own print magazine beginning in May 2012. Featuring editorial contributions from blog founder Rich Johnston, Bleeding Cool Magazine will debut with an introductory #0 issue in late May, its worldwide in-store release coinciding with the Phoenix Comicon event.

The special introductory #0 issue of Bleeding Cool Magazine features 32 dense pages of coverage, value-priced at $1.49 per copy, and will cover the comic industry’s hottest summer events and blockbuster films. The cover story features the return of Valiant Entertainment, and its regular features will provide ample coverage of all the top publishers, including Dark Horse, DC Comics, Marvel, Image, IDW, Boom, Avatar Press, Top Cow, and more. The full-length regular magazine launch will take place in October, featuring over one hundred pages of insightful features, exclusive content, and investigative reporting.

“Everyone else is going from print to digital, but we're going from digital to print! We’re bucking the trend, zagging when others are zigging,” says Rich Johnston. As a blogger with a substantial and vocal fan base, he quips, “Oh, and I'm looking forward to writing something without having people comment underneath on how awful everything is.”

“Readers expect longer, beefier reads from magazines than they do from the web, and Bleeding Cool will be happy to oblige with good, in-depth pieces amongst all of the usual chaos. I'll certainly relish the extra space for mental legroom,” says Brendon Connelly, who currently contributes the majority of film coverage to the website. Regarding the intended audience, he adds, “There's a lot of different people in and out of comic shops, and there's a lot of different things for those people in our magazine. But Bleeding Cool Magazine won't be just for the comic-reading core; it will be plenty newsstand friendly, too.”

Retailers will have special incentives to stock Bleeding Cool Magazine. Those retailers who stock over fifteen copies will receive an additional 10% discount on their investment, while retailers who order 25 or more copies will see their store promoted online at BleedingCool.com as a “Bleeding Cool Store.” Furthermore, with a cover retail set at $1.49, the price of the introductory magazine is half the cover price of any comic book currently on the market, making it an affordable add-on for comic book consumers.

“Comic book fans need a place where they can find the content you can’t get from a short blurb or blog on the web. Bleeding Cool Magazine will provide features that go deep into the biggest events in comics and give creators a forum to really express inspiration for projects. We’re putting together the essential fan publication that will celebrate comics and all the many facets of collecting,” says William Christensen, the publisher of Bleeding Cool Magazine. “With features that are extensive, creative, and entertaining, we plan to enhance the reading experience for the Bleeding Cool Online fans and really create a magazine that is an essential part of the comic book collecting culture.”

BleedingCool.com hosts over one million site visitors monthly, and has been ranked as the world’s most influential comic book blog by Technorati, the leading search engine for blogs. Bleeding Cool also regularly places within Technorati’s top ten rankings for pop culture and entertainment, and top fifteen for film coverage. The website features regular contributions from Rich Johnston and Brendon Connelly, as well as retailer and comic book creator columns. For more information about Bleeding Cool Magazine, please contact keithdavidsen@bleedingcool.com.

BioWare And Dark Horse Announce Mass Effect 3 In-Game Items

BIOWARE AND DARK HORSE ANNOUNCE MASS EFFECT 3 ­­IN-GAME ITEMS ON PC AND XBOX 360 FOR FANS WHO PURCHASE MASS EFFECT ART BOOK

March 14, MILWAUKIE, OR—BioWare, a label of Electronic Arts, Inc., and Dark Horse Comics revealed today that fans who purchase the digital version of The Art of the Mass Effect Universe through Digital.DarkHorse.com will receive a limited code to unlock a Reinforcement Pack containing in-game items to be used on PC or the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system in the co-op campaign in 2012’s most anticipated game, Mass Effect 3. Showcasing the unique and iconic art featured in the Mass Effect series, The Art of the Mass Effect Universe was released in print and digitally on February 8. Additionally, Mass Effect fans who purchase the digital version of the four-issue comic miniseries Mass Effect: Invasion at the Dark Horse Digital store will also receive a limited code to unlock a Reinforcement Pack.*

Fans who gain access to the Reinforcement Packs will receive in-game items that can be used in the four-player cooperative multiplayer campaign in Mass Effect 3 on PC or Xbox 360. These packs will include powerful character boosters and the devastatingly lethal Collector Assault Rifle. With deadly efficiency, this special weapon uses the same principles as a human assault rifle, but its organic components set it apart. To learn more about how to obtain and redeem the special item code, visit DarkHorse.com.

Recently named by over 100 outlets around the world as one of the most anticipated games of 2012, including the fan-voted Most Anticipated Game of 2012 award at the Spike TV VGAs, Mass Effect 3 thrusts players into an all-out war to save the galaxy from an ancient alien race known as the Reapers. Players will assume the role of Commander Shepard, a war-torn veteran who’s willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate this nearly unstoppable foe. With a team of elite, battle-hardened soldiers at their side, each player decides how they will take Earth back, from the weapons and abilities they utilize to the relationships they forge or break.

Mass Effect 3 was released on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, and PC in North America on March 6, 2012, and in Europe on March 9, 2012. For more information on Mass Effect 3, please visit MassEffect.com, follow the game on Twitter at twitter.com/masseffect, or “like” the game on Facebook at facebook.com/masseffect.

*Code expires March 31, 2013. Additional restrictions and conditions apply. See MassEffect.com for details.



VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES ACTIVITIES FOR WONDERCON 2012

VIZ Media, returns to WonderCon 2012 as the show comes to Anaheim, CA, March 16th-18th at the Anaheim Convention Center. WonderCon is one of the country's best comics and pop culture conventions. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 206. Complete details on WonderCon are available at: www.comic-con.org/wc.

Throughout the convention, VIZ Media will treat WonderCon attendees to special “test drives” of the company’s new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA digital manga magazine. Drop by the VIZ Media booth, sample the new digital content, and complete a special survey to be entered to win a new Apple iPad 2! The winner will be notified following the show.

Each new digital edition of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA treats manga fans in North America to the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular manga series only two weeks after they debut in Japan’s massively popular WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine. Featured series include BAKUMAN, BLEACH, NARUTO, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, ONE PIECE, and TORIKO. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA is available through an annual membership that provides 52 weeks of access to 48 weekly issues for just $25.99; members also receive an annual collector’s yearbook, collectable YU-GI-OH! game cards four times a year, and access to exclusive content. As a show special, attendees that become new members will receive a special bonus premium (while supplies last).

Celebrate all things SHONEN JUMP at a special SHONEN JUMP Fan Meet-Up on Friday March 16th from 2:30pm - 3:30pm in Room 208 and learn about the benefits of being a WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA member! Grill the WEEKLY SJ ALPHA editors in a live Q&A session! Win prizes at the trivia contest and join in the live fan art jam! Meet editor Urian Brown, the lead hype-man of #TEAMJUMP, specializing in video games, anime, and assorted fun wacky antics. Also meet Misaki Kido, female leader of #TEAMJUMP, and challenge her manga knowledge or ask for advice about your own manga!

Finally, sit in with WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA editor Urian Brown as he joins NAMCO BANDAI Games to celebrate NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations in a special panel discussion on Sunday March, 18th from 4:00pm-5:00pm in Room 207. With over 10 million units of the popular game, based on the smash hit anime/manga series, sold worldwide, all fans of NARUTO are encouraged to attend this celebration of the series. In addition to being treated to an appearance by Production Head Director Hiroshi Matsuyama of CyberConnect 2, fans can enjoy a panel covering the exciting world of NARUTO video games, with a guest host, Urian Brown, master of all things video game-related at WEEKLY SJ ALPHA. Don't miss all of the action happening live on-stage with this exciting and breakthrough game franchise.

For more information on WEEKLY SJ ALPHA and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit SJAlpha.com or VIZManga.com.  



Alien Encounters Premieres Tomorrow on SCIENCE

ALIEN ENCOUNTERS PREMIERES TOMORROW ON SCIENCE

--The World Premiere of ALIEN ENCOUNTERS: THE MESSAGE debuts on SCIENCE Tuesday, March 13, at 10:00 PM ET/PT

ALIEN ENCOUNTERS: THE ARRIVAL PREMIERES on Tuesday, March 20 at 10:00 PM ET/PT--

ALIEN ENCOUTNERS brings together renowned experts including Nick Sagan and SETI Institute’s Dr. Jill Tarter to explore how alien life might communicate with Earth. Some of the world’s leading scientists explain the scientific, cultural and psychological effects a first contact with aliens would have on humans. ALIEN ENCOUNTERS is a part of SCIENCE’s Are We Alone? initiative happening the entire month of March.

Episode Descriptions:

Part 1- The Message premieres on Tuesday, March 13 at 10 PM (ET/PT)

Part 2- The Arrival premieres on Tuesday, March 20 at 10 PM (ET/PT)

In two dramatic hours, ALIEN ENCOUNTERS lays out a plausible hypothetical scenario for a first contact event. What would really happen if we got a message from space? How will humans react when we learn that a message from a distant technology or a spacecraft is on its way to Earth? Will humans learn from aliens, or become colonial subjects? Some of the world’s leading astrophysicists, astrobiologists, and sci-fi writers help unravel the scientific, cultural and psychological impact of this world-changing global event. This show is made in cooperation with The SETI Institute which was founded in 1984 and had renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan as one of its Board of Trustee Members. Carl’s son Nick is now following in his father’s footsteps wondering, “How will we meet our galactic neighbors?”

Top Ten Supervillain Performances

If there is one thing we love is supervillains and one thing we love, is when we get the right actors/actress to play some of the most iconic figures in history. So we have develop a list of our top ten supervillains performances. Each day starting today we will reveal number 10 to 1.

#10: Skeletor played by Frank Langella


#9: Catwoman played by Michelle Pfeiffer


PETER PANZERFAUST #2 SELLS OUT

Image Comics/Shadowline series continues success

PETER PANZERFAUST, the Image Comics/Shadowline series that places the classic character Peter Pan in World War II-era France, has sold out of its second issue at the distribution level a week before its in-store date of March 14. It has immediately gone back to press and a second printing (JAN128290) will be in stores the same day as PETER PANZERFAUST #3 (FEB120514), April 11.

The first issue of the series by Kurtis Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins also went into a second printing after an enthuisastic reception by critics, readers, and retailers. The second priting of PETER PANZERFAUST #1 will be in stores on March 21.

After having two issues in a row sell out, PETER PANZERFAUST has been expanded from a five-issue miniseries to an ongoing title, with PETER PANZERFAUST #6 shipping in September.

Wiebe is the writer of several Image series, including GREEN WAKE and the upcoming GRIM LEAPER (May) and DEBRIS (July).

PETER PANZERFAUST is a monthly, full-color comic book series published under Image Comics' Shadowline imprint, available in comic book stores and multiple digital outlets.

ODDITIES' Mid-Season Finale This Saturday on SCIENCE

DON’T MISS ODDITIES’ MID-SEASON FINALE THIS SATURDAY ON SCIENCE

--The Mid-Season Finale of ODDITIES Premieres on SCIENCE

Saturday, March 10, at 9:00 PM ET/PT & 9:30 PM ET/PT--

The third season of ODDITIES takes all the deliciously weird elements from its past two installments and kicks it up a notch. This time, the merchandise gets weirder with some of the most notable pieces, including a two-headed pig, a mummified “member,” an occupied coffin, a prostate warmer and a preserved heart with bullet holes. The visitors this season are also more eccentric than ever – they include a self-admitted evil clown, a burlesque dancer, and viewer favorite Edgar Oliver. Mike, Evan, and Ryan also head out to Los Angeles where they meet like-minded celebrities like Cassandra Peterson and Limp Bizkit guitarist, Wes Borland.

Episode Descriptions:

Premieres Saturday, March 10, at 9:00 PM ET/PT

“Gurney” - At Obscura Antiques & Oddities, a woman hires Mike and Evan to find vintage autopsy equipment to use with her grandfather’s body. Then Ryan sends shivers down a dark lord’s spine when he suggests a creepy item, and a human pincushion shows his holey side.

Premieres Saturday, March 10, at 9:30 PM ET/PT

“Meat” - At Obscura Antiques & Oddities Mike & Evan deliver fresh eyeballs to a woman who creates art from animal tongues. Evan gets dressed up for a big steampunk party, Mike gets a set of vampire fangs and they get a visit from Brent of the band Mastodon.

AM2 ANNOUNCES DANCE DJ¹S FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 2012 CONVENTION

PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY!  AM2 ANNOUNCES DANCE DJ¹S FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 2012
CONVENTION

An Amazing Line-Up of Fan-Favorite Music DJ¹s Attend and Perform at this
Summer¹s Most Anticipated Anime, Manga and Music Convention this June 15-17,
2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Hilton! Get your Passports
Today and Experience the Difference!


 The fun continues as this summer¹s most anticipated anime, manga and music event, AM2, announces the nightly dance event to be held the evenings June 15 and 16, 2012 starting from 7:00
pm till 2:00 am.  Fan favorite DJ¹s including DJ Sandman, Elvin Ong, Melodic
Verse and Funkmaster Miko will be bringing their incredible mixed beats to
fans dancing the night away!  More info and attendee registration can be
found at www.am2con.org <http://www.am2con.org>

All attendees will be able to attend, FOR FREE, with Passport Holders
receiving preferred ³front of the line² entry. Limited prizes and freebies
will also be given away to Passport holders.

FEATURED LINE-UP

DJ Sandman --  Electro-House / Mash-ups / Trance / Breaks
The deadly DJ Sandman returns to AM2, bringing his specialty of mixing
Hip-Hop, Electronica and Club music to the ever hungry crowds. Spawned from
the bays of San Francisco, his mixes portray his deep appreciation to many
different styles of music

Elvin Ong -- Progressive Techno / Dub-step
Elvin¹s sound has emanated across the globe, spanning across 5 countries
including Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. With original mixes such as
Bruce Lee (BoneBrew's Dead Heroes Remix) and playing at clubs and events all
around the world, Elvin Ong is quickly becoming a crowd favorite.

Melodic Verse --  Techno / House / Trance /
Having fully embraced the future of sound, Melodic Verse has learned to
utilize his skills not only on decks but virtual decks as well. His sounds
include Trance, Techno, and recently Electro House. He's been found randomly
streaming his music online as of late, adding a formindable arsenal of
tracks at his disposal..

Funkmaster Miko -- Asia-pop / Top 40s / Mash-ups
A humble otaku during the day, Funkmaster Miko dons the mantle of DJ at
night, providing an eclectic blend of pop music from the east with popular
tracks from the west.

Toshihiro Kawamoto is currently announced as an AM2 Official Guest of Honor
for 2012.

Attendees can avoid the anticipated huge lines at autographs, premiere
screenings, workshops, main events, concerts and panels by purchasing a
Passport fast pass for the event.  The Passport fast pass will also provide
holders with premier seating options at Main Events and at Concert events as
well as major discounts with theme parks, retailers and local restaurants.
Bypass the lines and get your Passport today and experience the difference!

AM2 current activities include Exhibit Hall, AMV¹s, Arcade, Summer Festival,
Behind the Voice Actors Studio, Masquerade, Dances, Fashion Shows, Table
Top, Console Gaming, Workshops, Panels, Concerts and more!

Follow us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AM2Con

Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/AM2Con



HICKMAN'S THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS EXPLODES ONTO THE SCENE

HICKMAN'S THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS EXPLODES ONTO THE SCENE

First issue sells out, gets second printing

Jonathan Hickman's return to independent comics, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1, drawn by Nick Pitarra and Cris Peter and published by Image Comics, has sold out at the distributor level ahead of its in-store date of March 7. The issue will immediately go back to press and a second printing (JAN128125) will be in stores the same day as THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #2 (FEB120509), April 4.

Hickman previously created the Image comics THE RED WING, RED MASS FOR MARS, PAX ROMANA, and THE NIGHTLY NEWS, and his series SECRET will debut with Image on April 11. In THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, he creates an alternate history in which the the U.S. government's development of an atomic bomb is a front for bringing together the world's brightest minds for something even more dangerous. The Second World War rages underground in ways the public can never imagine, and the men of The Manhattan Projects are the United States' last and best defense against the supernatural forces of the Axis powers.

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS is a monthly, full-color comic book, available in comic book stores and multiple digital platforms.

The Sabertooth Vampire Sinks His Teeth Into Dark Horse Presents

THE SABERTOOTH VAMPIRE SINKS HIS TEETH INTO DARK HORSE PRESENTS!

March 7, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Comics announces the latest character to be added to its flagship anthology, Dark Horse Presents: the Sabertooth Vampire!

Penned by Mike Russell (SabertoothVampire.com), The Sabertooth Vampire is a webcomic about a tiny vampire hampered by his giant fangs. Will he pull his teeth out of the ground long enough to actually bite someone? Probably not.

“One of the first books that got me into comics in the nineties was the original black-and-white Dark Horse Presents—back when it was serializing stuff like Sin City and The One Trick Rip-Off and Hellboy: The Wolves of Saint August,” said Russell. “So as you can imagine, getting to submit a few strips for DHP was a huge moment for me personally as well as professionally.”

Russell has collected The Sabertooth Vampire in two self-published minicomics: the 28-page Beware the Sabre-Toothed Vampire and the 56-page Sabertooth Vampire Unleashed. The strips frequently contradict themselves as Russell dives into the Sabertooth Vampire’s personal life—his awkward teenage years, his stints as King Arthur and a caveman, his solo dance parties, his run-ins with Abbott and Costello and assorted angry mobs, and his awkward trip around the world after someone mistakes him for a garden gnome.

“Porting my webcomic over to DHP was an awesome experience for three very specific reasons,” said Russell. “One, I got to add color to the strip, with the help of ace cartoonist/colorist/brother-in-arms Bill Mudron. Two, I received some first-class professional editing from Scott Allie and Daniel Chabon. And three, I swung for the fences and asked if I could draw a crossover strip where the Sabertooth Vampire fought one particular world-famous Dark Horse character, and to my delighted surprise, that character’s creator said yes.”

Said Russell, “The Sabertooth Vampire is basically a ‘Road Runner’ riff on a single tragic idea: The dental feature that defines him as a vampire keeps him from being an effective vampire. Also he turns into a really pathetic bat.”

Look for The Sabertooth Vampire in Dark Horse Presents #12 and #14, on sale May 23 and July 18, 2012!

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, 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 like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, Will Eisner, and best-selling prose author Janet Evanovich, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and the Occultist. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan the Barbarian, Mass Effect, Serenity, and Domo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the United States and is recognized as both an innovator in the cause of creator rights and the comics industry’s leading publisher of licensed material.










George Lucas Brings the Force to the Season Finale of 'Prophets of Science Fiction' on SCIENCE


GEORGE LUCAS BRINGS THE FORCE TO THE SEASON FINALE OF
PROPHETS OF SCIENCE FICTION ON SCIENCE
--A New Episode of PROPHETS OF SCIENCE FICTION Premieres on SCIENCE
Wednesday, March 7, at 10:00 PM ET/PT--
Ridley Scott, the creative genius behind several Hollywood blockbuster films such as “Alien,” “Blade Runner” and “Gladiator,” returns to SCIENCE this February with the remaining four episodes of the critically acclaimed PROPHETS OF SCIENCE FICTION. Through the series, Scott explores the connections between science fiction and science fact. He takes us into the world of the creative minds that have inspired researchers seeking mankind’s next transformative discovery. From Isaac Asimov, to Jules Verne, to Robert Heinlein, to George Lucas, Scott explores how science fiction can become a reality. This week, peek into the mind of George Lucas, the man behind Star Wars.
Episode Description:
Season Finale: George Lucas
Can our thoughts change the world? Is the ‘Force’ a remarkable prediction of the mind’s ability to shape reality beyond the walls of our bodies? Star Wars visionary George Lucas imagined sci-fi wonders that have inspired real world scientists to conquer the impossible and redefine the potential of humanity itself.


Justice League Doom Review




Vandal Savage steals confidential files Batman has compiled on the members of the Justice League, and learns all their weaknesses.

Director:

Lauren Montgomery

Writers:
Dwayne McDuffie, Mark Waid (comic book story) Stars:






Cover of JLA Tower of Babel (2001) Trade Paperback





JLA Covers 43-46 Tower of Babel

Summary:
Tower of Babel" deals with Batman's perceived betrayal to the superhuman community by keeping records concerning the strengths and weaknesses of his allies in the JLA, including plans to neutralise his allies in a fight. His files are stolen by Ra's al Ghul, who uses them to defeat the League through a coordinated attack to prevent them from interfering with his latest scheme.

Check out Justice League Doom and Tower of Babel!

First Look At The Incredible Hulk #50


RED HULK SMASH! Hey guys here is a first look at the upcoming Incredible Hulk #50. 
The stakes grow even higher, as a mysterious figure lurks in the shadows waiting to destroy Red Hulk and his fellow comrades! Will Red Hulk’s might be enough to match ghoulish malevolent magic? Can the help of Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Daredevil and more aid Thunderbolt Ross? Find out in the bonus-sized issue- Hulk #50, hitting comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this April!











Japanese Live Game Sensation: The Real Escape Comes To San Francisco In March


Hey San Fran Otakus you might want to check out this really cool event. Read the information below. 

NEW PEOPLE invites visitors to become amateur detectives for a very special event as it welcomes the first-ever U.S. installment of “The Real Escape Game: The Escape From The Werewolf Village,” beginning Friday, March 23rd thru Sunday March, 25th.  NEW PEOPLE is located in San Francisco’s Japantown at 1746 Post St.

“The Real Escape Game” is an inventive live game event originally created in Japan that requires players to cooperate and use their detective skills to solve multiple mysteries to locate a hidden key in order to escape from a locked room within a limited time.

The U.S. edition, “The Escape From The Werewolf Village,” will be staged inside the 3rd Floor SUPERFROG Gallery at NEW PEOPLE, which will be remade as a mysterious village beset by fierce werewolves! As villagers disappear one by one, players must cooperate and use their deductive skills to gather clues and escape before the werewolves attack! The game setting will be accentuated with the use of actors, music, sound effects and lighting elements to add ambiance and immerse players in the environment. Check out the official web site at: http://realescapegame.com/; Facebook news and updates at: www.facebook.com/RealEscapeGame.

NEW PEOPLE Game Times For “The Real Escape Game”

Friday, March 23rd: 6pm, 9pm
Saturday, March 24th: 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Sunday, March 25th: 11am, 2pm, 5pm

Advanced tickets are now available for $20.00; Tickets at the door are $25.00. Each game session lasts about 90 minutes. Advance tickets and complete game details are available at: http://www.newpeopleworld.com/2012/01/18/come-play-real-escape-game/

**Note: The Game puzzles require no special skills or knowledge to solve; all puzzles can be solved with use of intuitive logic and deductive reasoning. All aspects of The Game will be conducted in English.

“The Real Escape Game” was first played in Tokyo in 2007 and more than 100,000 participants have played in multiple cities across Japan, China, and Singapore. Over 2,300 sessions have been staged to-date with as many as 10,000 participants taking part simultaneously. The Game was recently played by several hundred participants at massive arena venues including the Tokyo Dome and the city’s Jingu Baseball Stadium.

More information on NEW PEOPLE is available at: www.NEWPEOPLEWORLD.com



Star Wars - Dawn Of the Jedi 0 and 1 To Be Reprinted

STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI #0 AND #1

TO BE REPRINTED FOLLOWING RETAIL

SELLOUT!

MARCH 5, MILWAUKIE, OR—Retailers around the country are sold out of the first two issues of Dark Horse’s recently launched Star Wars series, the highly anticipated Dawn of the Jedi!

It was announced today, following an outcry from retailers and fans alike, that the company will reprint both of these landmark issues in limited quantities, to be shipped from Diamond on March 7, with an on-sale date of March 21.

Reuniting the powerhouse creative team of John Ostrander and Jan Duursema, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi offers fans their first look at the Star Wars of 25,000 years ago—before there were lightsabers, when the ties to the Force were new, and before the Jedi spread out into the galaxy. It began with the mysterious pyramid ships—the Tho Yor—scattered to the eight corners of the galaxy, and ended with the establishment of an Order that would change the universe forever.

Praise for Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #0:

“This issue is jam-packed for an issue 0. A great deal of back-story is presented in this starting point for the very early days of the Jedi.”—Technorati

“If you’re planning on picking up the Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi series, I highly recommend you pick up Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #0. The amount of information that you get, coupled by the amazing artwork is worth it alone, but add on the fact that it was very enjoyable to read, makes it a must buy.”—Comic Book Critic

Praise for Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #1:

“This is just the start of a new chapter of the Star Wars saga, and the journey of the Jedi (or in this case the JE’DAII). John Ostrander’s story is both engaging and interesting and by the time you reach the final panel of the book, you will be ready for issue #2. If you are new to the ‘Star Wars Expanded Universe’ or have a budding Star Wars fan you want to read more, put this Dark Horse book in their hands.”—ScienceFiction.com

“Expanded Universe fans are going to LOVE this series, and will find this introduction issue to be their highlight of comic book reading for the month—no doubts. General Star Wars fans will also find it enjoyable; and other comic fans may find it worth a glance. This may be clearly aimed at Star Wars nerds, but it may just be one of the best comic book series set in the galaxy far, far away ever to have been published.”—Geeks of Doom

Retailers: Order codes can be found below and are also featured in today’s edition of Diamond Daily!

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #0

7 61568 20342 4 00012

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #1

7 61568 20342 4 00112





Dark Horse Comes To KOBO

DARK HORSE COMES TO KOBO!
THE COMPANY MAKES DIGITAL LIBRARY OF GRAPHIC NOVELS AVAILABLE ON THE KOBO VOX eREADER!

MARCH 5, MILWAUKIE, OR—–Dark Horse continues to make headlines today, with news that the company’s best-selling titles are going beyond the iOS platform! Now, the largest independent publisher of graphic novels is pleased to announce a partnership with the top-selling eReading company, Kobo, to offer a library of nearly 100 titles available from Kobo.com to be read on the Kobo Vox eReader! This move follows an incredibly successful year of distributing titles digitally through Dark Horse’s proprietary iOS app, and corresponding digital storefront at Digital.DarkHorse.com.

“Kobo is the perfect partner for Dark Horse, because like us, they established themselves on the basis of innovation,” said Matt Parkinson, Dark Horse’s senior director of Marketing. “We couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of reaching new readers around the world with what we still believe to be some of the most exciting and dynamic storytelling the comics medium has to offer.”

“All of us at Kobo are thrilled to be adding Dark Horse’s amazing titles to our library,” said Michael Tamblyn, Kobo’s EVP of Content, Sales, and Merchandising. “Based on strong visual storytelling, comics are a great fit for the e-reading industry. This partnership truly marks a continuation of Kobo’s ‘Read Freely’ philosophy, where we’re dedicated to providing a world-class catalog of titles suitable for any market.”

The recently released Kobo Vox represents a new kind of eReader. Not only can book lovers read their favorite books, magazines, and newspapers in vivid color, but they also can connect with other readers to share their favorite passages via Facebook.

As of today, Kobo users can now read their favorite Dark Horse titles, including Mass Effect, Star Wars, Serenity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Sin City, and more, on their Kobo Vox e-reader anytime, anyplace. Look for Dark Horse comics and graphic novels available now at kobobooks.com/darkhorse, with new titles to be added every month!

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit ComicShopLocator.com.

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, 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 like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, Will Eisner, and best-selling prose author Janet Evanovich, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and the Occultist. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan the Barbarian, Mass Effect, Serenity, and Domo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the United States and is recognized as both an innovator in the cause of creator rights and the comics industry’s leading publisher of licensed material.

About Kobo, Inc.

Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s fastest-growing eReading services offering more than 2.5 million eBooks, magazines and newspapers– and counting. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo has built an open-standards platform to provide consumers with a choice when reading. Inspired by a “Read Freely” philosophy and a passion for innovation, Kobo has expanded to nearly 200 countries, where millions of consumers have access to localized eBook catalogues and award-winning eReaders, like the Kobo Touch. With top-ranked eReading applications for Apple, BlackBerry, Android, and Windows products, Kobo allows consumers to make eReading social through Facebook Timeline and Reading Life, an industry-first social experience that lets users to earn awards for time spent reading and encouraging others to join in. Headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten, Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains across the globe.

For more information, visit www.kobo.com.


Dark Horse Graphic Novels Available on NOOK by Barnes and Noble

DARK HORSE GRAPHIC NOVELS NOW AVAILABLE ON NOOK® BY BARNES & NOBLE

MARCH 5, MILWAUKIE, OR—Just under a year after the launch of Dark Horse’s digital initiative, it is announced today that the company has expanded the number of platforms on which comics fans can access their favorite Dark Horse titles! After an incredibly successful first year of Dark Horse’s proprietary iOS app and digital storefront, Dark Horse is proud to partner with Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media, and educational products, to make a library of titles available on Barnes & Noble’s award-winning NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color™.

Dark Horse digital graphic novels are now available for purchase in the NOOK Comics™ store, featuring over 100 of the company’s top titles, like Mass Effect, Hellboy, Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity, Sin City, and more!

“Making our content available on new platforms outside of the Apple iOS is an incredibly exciting proposition,” said Matt Parkinson, Dark Horse’s senior director of Marketing. “As we move into new areas and new devices, we look forward to the opportunity to find new readers. I can’t think of a better partner than Barnes & Noble, the leading retailer of digital content and media and the folks behind the number-one chain of bookstores in the country.”

“Barnes & Noble is committed to offering customers a broad array of digital comics and graphic novels. We’re excited to bring NOOK customers Dark Horse’s fan favorite digital collection of graphic novels,” said Theresa Horner, vice president of digital content for Barnes & Noble. “The high resolution of our VividView color touchscreen makes the action virtually jump off the page, and takes these graphic novels to a whole new level of entertainment.”

Starting today, the world’s Dark Horse graphic novels arrive on NOOK! Experience NOOK at any Barnes & Noble bookstore or at Nook.com. Look for more and more titles to be added every month!

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit ComicShopLocator.com.



Nicki Minaj Explains 'Harajuku Barbie" ... I think?

So! Of course being all Lolita and stuff, on a typical dress down day, my style looks more Harajuku ... Simply put, I just dress how I feel ... HOWEVER, the combination of dressing how I feel with ruffle & bow accents AND being black puts me in this wretched "Barbie" category that Nikki Minaj lovingly flaunts.

NO! this is not a post of hating on her. But, sweet baby Jesus! I'm not Barbie. I'm me ... I get up, I want to wear stripes with ruffle bloomers, leg warmers, cool kicks, a svelte tee ... all topped off with a few bows & some blush & wig or not, this equals Barbie (go figure!). Since I have these random moments where dressed full Lolita I want to yell "I'M NOT YOUR EFFIN' BARBIE!" I decided to go on a Nikki Minaj fashion dig. Not surprising, most of it is *meh* BUT there is a video where she (kinda) explains her Harajuku Barbie concept. In my opinion, she fell short with her explaination of Harajuku fashion so here's a HARAJUKU FASHION GUIDE ;-D

Now! After watching this and checking in with the fashion guide, I'd LOVE to hear what my Lolitas and Harajuku fashion lovers everywhere feel. What types of responses do you get when in public? Ever have any "Barbie" moments that you're just NOT a fan of? etc, etc, etc.

I REALLY want to hear from you!



until next time
~je t'adore! >^.^<