Tag Archives: industry news

Visionary Cartoonist Yokoyama Yuichi is Back with PLAZA, a Maniacal Manga Extravaganza!

By Industry News

Bigger, bolder, and louder than ever before, neo-manga artist Yokoyama Yuichi is back with PLAZA! Inspired by Carnaval in Brazil, PLAZA offers a maniacal extravaganza of marching, dancing, leaping, firing, cheering, smashing, and exploding over the course of 225 eye-and-eardrum-confounding pages. Originally published in Japan in 2019, this oversize English edition of PLAZA brings to full, hyper-animated life the spectacular graphic art of this genre-defying work of avant-garde comics.

Yokoyama Yuichi is Japan’s leading creator of avant-garde comics. Born in 1967, he studied painting in art school, then turned to manga in the late 1990s. Characterized by modernist abstraction, sparse dialogue, oversize sound effects, obsessive movement and speed, and a wry sense of humor, Yokoyama’s “neo-manga” cross the boundary between art and comics. Among his many books are New Engineering (2004), Travel (2006), Garden (2007), Outdoors (2009), Baby Boom (2009), World Map Room (2013), Iceland (2016), and Plaza (2019). His works have been extensively translated, and have featured in museum exhibitions in Japan and around the world. He has been nominated for an Eisner award, and is a two-time LA Times Book Prize finalist.

This English-language edition of PLAZA, translated by noted manga scholar Ryan Holmberg, also includes the most extended and informative interview with the artist to date.

PLAZA will be available internationally through Diamond Comics, Diamond UK, and Diamond Book Distribution.

Learn More Here

Art and literature historians of the future will be flabbergasted that Yokoyama Yuichi existed in our time. He is a visionary on the level of William Blake. PLAZA is a parade of invention, set to the beat of turning pages.

— Dash Shaw (Cryptozoo, Discipline)

 

“PLAZA is the purest expression yet of Yokoyama’s unmatched style. A circus for the eyes, this book is a magic trick disguised as a graphic novel, one that reminds us of the medium’s limitless power.“

— Matt Seneca, cartoonist/comics critic

 

A dazzling sensory barrage of speeding lines and swoops! Witness the torrent of joyous spectacle, the inner workings of a cosmic parade machine!

— Lale Westvind, (Grand Electric Thought Power Mother, Grip)

Get Set for Soldier Boy with Dynamite’s The Boys Omnibus

By Industry News, ,

Jensen Ackles reports for duty as Soldier Boy when Season 3 of Amazon Prime’s The Boys returns, and you can prepare your customers for the action with Dynamite Entertainment’s in-stock backlist of Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson’s The Boys.

Solicitation:
Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie, Mother’s Milk, The Frenchman, and The Female are The Boys: A CIA-backed team of very dangerous people, each one dedicated to the struggle against the most dangerous force on Earth – superpower! Some superheroes have to be watched. Some have to be controlled. And some of them – sometimes – need to be taken out of the picture. That’s when you call in The Boys!

VIEW CATALOG HERE

Ready Audiences for Bitter Root Film with In-stock Image Graphic Novels

By Industry News, ,

With the news that acclaimed actor (Watchmen) and director (One Night in Miami) Regina King will direct & produce the film adaptation of Image Comics’ Bitter Root for Legendary Pictures, the series following monster hunters during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s is poised to garner significant mainstream audience attention — and you can be ready to sell them the hit comic behind the movie with Image’s Bitter Root TPs, now in stock at Diamond!

VIEW CATALOG HERE

Chelsea Cain, Lia Miternique & Kate Niemczyk Reunite for the Return of Image’s Man-Eaters

By Industry News,

The original, unstoppable Man-eaters creative team—New York Times bestselling thriller writer Chelsea Cain, Lia Miternique, and Kate Niemczyk—reunites for a new teen tale in Image Comics’ Man-eaters: The Cursed. Adolescents, feminist derring-do, and supernatural hijinks collide in this new five-issue story arc.

Smart, laugh-out-loud funny, provocative, referential, scary, chock-full of ephemera, and compulsively re-readable, Man-eaters: The Cursed delivers the same charm and sharp wit that first enchanted Man-eaters fans and kicks it up a notch.

Man-eaters: The Cursed reunites the original Man-eaters creative team for another tale of adolescent feminist derring-do and supernatural hijinks. Maude, now 15, is sent to Craft Camp for the week. It goes south pretty quickly.

Select praise for the Man-eaters series:

“Simply by envisioning teen girls as ferocious beasts, Cain finds a hundred ways to mock our culture’s fear of powerful women.” —NPR

“An even more inspired feminist fable than Mockingbird.” —Entertainment Weekly

“While this unique title will likely appeal to fans of Mockingbird and Women World, it’s also recommended to teens who like their story orders of smart female empowerment to come with a side of satire.” —YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens

“The Image Comics series combines The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat People and a wonderfully wicked sense of humor. Unlike anything else on the stands right now.” —The Hollywood Reporter

“It’s brilliant.” —Kelly Sue DeConnick

“Nails the nuance of being a teenage girl.” —Comicbook.com

“Cain has taken on the best of them and come out swinging because she’s just that damn good.” —Geek.com

“A sharp sense of humor that fuels the book’s momentum and makes it an especially fun read.” —The Onion’s AV Club

“Cain seems to inherently understand what it is that makes comics so great.” —The Seattle Review of Books

Curiosity Ink Media, Dynamite Entertainment Partner to Publish Exciting Slate of New Kids Titles

By Industry News, ,

Dynamite Entertainment, a leading independent publisher of comic books and graphic novels, today announced that it has partnered with Curiosity Ink Media – a producer of original multiplatform entertainment for kids and families – to create books for kids that are rooted in Curiosity’s original intellectual property (IP) as well as titles the company will develop for other brands. The alliance begins in earnest with the first titles slated to hit shelves beginning in spring, 2022 and brings Curiosity, which recently entered into an agreement to be acquired by Grom Social Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: GROM), squarely into the publishing arena. The announcement was made jointly by Dynamite CEO and Publisher, Nick Barrucci and Russell Hicks, Curiosity Ink Media’s Chief Content Officer.

The first two properties to hit shelves will be: Curiosity Books’ “Baldwin’s Big Adventure,” a picture book about an unassuming, but fearless switcher train with a giant heart, and Book-Plus Novelty Formats for preschoolers based on the wildly popular PAW Patrol™produced by Spin Master Entertainment and airing on Nickelodeon.

Following the debut of “Baldwin’s Big Adventure,” a visually rich picture book for preschoolers, and PAW Patrol, in Book-Plus Novelty Format, Dynamite and Curiosity will publish additional titles including entries in the red-hot graphic novel category. Additionally, it was announced that Dynamite will serve as the distributor of record for Curiosity’s wide-ranging catalogue of licensed properties and original content for publishing.

In the partnership, Jon I. Rosenberg who heads publishing for Curiosity, will lead the alliance in cultivating Curiosity’s licensed and original IP (intellectual property) into books and consumer products for today’s kids and families. A veteran publisher who held executive positions at MGM Studios Licensed Publishing Division and Silver Dolphin Books, Rosenberg brings 20+ years of industry experience to the new development initiative before taking the reins at Curiosity Books in 2017.

A proven publisher in adult-targeted comic books and graphic novels, Dynamite is dedicated to serving a variety of consumers through comic and picture book storytelling. Among some of the company’s current offerings for young adults and kids include Nancy Drew, Rainbow Brite, Grumpy Cat, Fruit Ninja and Bob’s Burgers.

“Dynamite publishing is energized by our alliance with Curiosity Books. The best way to grow the industry is to have diverse offerings for younger readers, and then encouraging them to continue to read both our children’s books, and then our comics, and all segments of the industry will grow,” said Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci. “By offering Curiosity’s immersive content alongside our proven portfolio of best-selling properties, Dynamite can embrace a wider fan base with new, premium titles.”

“Locking arms with Dynamite underscores Curiosity’s commitment to premium publishing and our mission to entertain kids through unique immersive storytelling content,” said Rosenberg. “Dynamite shares our vision of promoting reading as one of the joys in life we hope to instill in kids at a young age and embrace as a life-long habit.”

Regina King to Direct Legendary’s Film Adaptation of’Bitter Root’

By Industry News,

According to Deadline, Legendary has announced that Regina King will direct the feature film adaptation of Image Comics’ acclaimed series BITTER ROOT by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene. 

The series follows the Sangerye family. Once known as the greatest monster hunters of all time, they specialized in curing the souls of those infected by hate, but those days are fading. A terrible tragedy has claimed most of the family, leaving the surviving cousins split between curing monsters and killing them. Now, with a new breed of monster loose on the streets of Harlem, the Sangerye family must come together, or watch the human race fall to untold evil.

The acclaimed series received nominations for a 2019 Eisner Award for Best New Series and a 2019 Ringo award for Best Series as well as raving reviews from various sources including Hollywood Reporter, Library Journal, The Washington Post, and more.

Be sure to stock up on the available volumes! BITTER ROOT VOLUME 3 comes out November 2021.

Bitter Root Volume 1

Bitter Root Volume 2

Bitter Root Volume 3

IMAGE COMICS
9781534312128
Available Now!

IMAGE COMICS
9781534316607
Available Now!

IMAGE COMICS
9781534319172
November 2, 2021

Echo Lake Entertainment Signs Mad Cave

By Industry News,

Echo Lake Entertainment has signed the independent comic book and graphic novel publisher Mad Cave. Under the deal, the management and production company will represent Mad Cave’s catalog
of IP for film/TV adaptation, including the library of titles under Mad Cave’s new and inclusive Young Adult imprint, Maverick. Currently, Mad Cave is having great success with their new comic book series Nottingham. In this twisted medieval noir, the Sheriff of Nottingham hunts a serial killer with a penchant for tax collectors. The Sheriff’s investigation makes him the target of England’s most nefarious power-brokers. That’s to say, nothing of the Merry Men, terrorists lurking amongst the trees of Sherwood, led by an enigma known only as “Hood.” The series is heading into its third printing after selling out of the initial two runs.

“With a deep bench of high-quality stories across many genres, Mark and the team at Mad Cave have put together an impressive organization,” said Echo Lake Entertainment’s Mike Marcus. “We are excited to represent them as they create great material for years to come, and we look forward to helping them bring these stories to life in film and TV.” 

“For Mad Cave, it’s an honor to be collaborating with Echo Lake Entertainment,” said Mad Cave CEO/COO Mark London. “Now, our diverse portfolio of over 30 properties will have an experienced and knowledgeable team to support and drive their growth into television, film, and animation. Thanks to the increase in streaming platforms and the world’s insatiable desire for entertainment, we can think of no better partner than Echo Lake to help Mad Cave properties transcend into new forms of media.” 

About Mad Cave
Driven by madness and committed to quality. Mad Cave Studios, established in 2014 by Mark London, provides quality entertainment with a fresh take on an array of genres. From fantasy and action to sci-fi and horror, Mad Cave Studios publishes stories that resonate with unapologetic and authentic audiences. 

About Maverick
Maverick, Mad Cave Studios’ new imprint for young adults, offers engaging and authentic stories for those who think differently, are not afraid to be independent, and fight for who they truly are. With titles that range from slice-of-life stories to urban fantasy and horror, each Maverick graphic novel will be an authentic and inspiring universal story of personal struggle where anyone can find themselves within the pages.

About Echo Lake Entertainment
Echo Lake Entertainment, founded by CEO Doug Mankoff in 1998, is a management, production and finance company based in Beverly Hills, California. The company has produced and financed over forty films, earning 8 Academy Award® nominations and 1 Academy Award® win. Echo Lake’s management division represents established and emerging actors, writers, IP creators and directors from all over the world and is led by former MGM chief Mike Marcus. 

Echo Lake’s television series THE GREAT starring Elle Fanning and Nicolas Hoult has been given a second season by Hulu, and is currently in production in London. Echo Lake recently produced ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES for Netflix. Adapted from the New York Times bestselling book of the same title by Jennifer Niven, the script was written by Niven and Liz Hannah and stars Elle Fanning. The company has numerous TV projects set up at studios and networks. 

‘Shadecraft’ Gets Picked Up By Netflix

By Industry News,
Photo featured on The Hollywood Reporter

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has picked up SHADECRAFT, a new young adult horror tale written by Joe Henderson, illustrated by Lee Garbett, and published by Image Comics.

SHADECRAFT follows Zadie Lu, a teenager who is afraid of her own shadow. She REALLY should have grown out of by now, right? But something weird is happening in her small town. Zadie could swear the shadows are coming to life. Watching her. Trying to KILL her. But how do you fight something you can’t even touch? And how does all of this tie into her FAMILY, of all things?

Joe Henderson is currently executive producer/co-showrunner of LUCIFER on Netflix. He served as a co-executive producer on WHITE COLLAR, GRACELAND and ALMOST HUMAN. He also acted as a consulting producer on the miniseries 11/22/63. He is currently adapting SKYWARD as a motion picture for Sony, with Brad Peyton (RAMPAGE, SAN ANDREAS) attached to direct.

Lee Garbett is the artist/co-creator of SKYWARD with writer Joe Henderson (showrunner of LUCIFER on NETFLIX). Published by IMAGE COMICS, SKYWARD is currently in development by SONY PICTURES. He has worked for Marvel on LOKI: AGENT OF ASGARD, SPIDER-MAN, DEFENDERS and GHOST RIDER and for DC on LUCIFER, BATMAN, BATGIRL and THE OUTSIDERS. Outside of comics, Lee designs posters, costumes and concept art for films.
 
SHADECRAFT is Henderson and Garbett’s follow-up comic to their Eisner Award-nominated Skyward, which is set up at Sony Pictures and that Henderson adapted. In the development deal, Henderson will co-write the pilot with Georgia Lee, a writer-producer on sci-fi shows The Expanse and The 100. The two will also exec produce. Garbett is attached as a producer.
 
For more information on this series, click here.

ABLAZE to Publish Maria Llovet’s ‘EROS/PSYCHE’

By Industry News

ABLAZE will be publishing Maria Llovet’s latest tender horror romance series EROS/PSYCHE.

La Rosa’s (“The Rose”) is a female boarding school and a paradise for young girls… but only if you follow the rules. Because, if you disobey them, you can end up expelled, or even worse, dead.

Sara and Silje are two students learning the rules of the school, which includes classes by day, and the casting of curses and spells by night. A love develops between the two, which is tender, but threatens to break under the weight of the dark secret society within La Rosa.

Acclaimed creator Maria Llovet (Faithless, Heartbeat, Loud) is a multidisciplinar artist from Barcelona who is passionate about Fashion and Cinema. As a comic author she has published four graphic novels in different countries in Europe and debuted recently in the comic book US market, besides working in several illustration projects. Her style has its roots in the Japanese manga but drinks copiously from European art in general, and from the fashion industry. Her work is also characterized by a great cinematographic influence in its visual narrative. Sex and death are the big two central themes in her work.

Creator Maria Llovet: “I’m really happy that ABLAZE is publishing Eros/Psyche, a book that is very special to me!”

“It has been a true pleasure working with Maria to date.” added Ablaze VP of Creative/Business Development Rich Young. “She’s a hugely talented creator, and I’m very excited to be publishing her work at Ablaze.”

Maria Llovet’s Eros/Psyche will be available everywhere September 2021. For a preview, see below:

‘Department of Truth’ Gets Picked Up for Screen Adaptation

By Industry News

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the hit comic book series from creators James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds has been picked up for television and film. 

Co-founded by Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone, the production company Sister has acquired the rights to the title from Image Comics. 

Tynion is set to co-write the script for the series with search for another co-writer in progress. Both Tynion and Simmonds will be executive producers for the series. 

The Department of Truth follows Cole Turner, a conspiracy enthusiast who discovers that all the conspiracy theories he’s ever researched are true — from the JFK Assassination to Flat Earth Theory and Reptilian Shapeshifters. One organization has been covering them up for generations. What is the deep, dark secret behind the Department of Truth?

Sister is the creator-focused venture that has been involved with shows such as Sky/HBO’s Chernobyl and Sky/AMC’s Gangs of London and has invested in Molly Stern’s publishing initiative Zando, LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s Springhill Entertainment, podcast studio Campside Media and comic and digital publisher AWA Studios. The company has also picked up rights to books such as James McBride’s Deacon King Kong and Lydia Millet’s A Children’s Bible: A Novel.

For more information, read the full exclusive here.