Press Release: Valiant Joins SC COMICON 2015

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with X-O MANOWAR's Robert Venditti, Lewis LaRosa, Brian Reber, and More!

Plus: Exclusive Merchandise and a Very Bloodshot Blood Drive!

This March, Valiant is bringing the best reviewed line-up of titles anywhere in comics today to SC ComiCon 2015! On Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd, join Valiant inside the TD Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina for a weekend packed with giveaways, creator signings, exclusive merchandise, and special events you won't find anywhere else!

Visit Valiant at Booth #600 to take home a complete library of trade paperback and hardcover collections for X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Quantum and Woody, and many more of Valiant's top titles! And don't miss an all-star team of X-O Manowar creators, including writer Robert Venditti, cover artist Lewis LaRosa, and colorist Brian Reber, signing an SC ComiCon-exclusive X-O MANOWAR: DEAD HAND print, showcasing LaRosa and Reber's riveting artwork from the series' latest smash-hit story arc. Get it signed at the SC ComiCon merchandise booth on Saturday and Sunday!

But that's not all! Visit the SC ComiCon merchandise booth to grab another Valiant milestone in the making – an SC ComiCon-exclusive t-shirt, featuring all of Valiant's greatest heroes by Eisner Award-nominated superstar Butch Guice!

"Having been a Valiant fan since the inception of the company, I am thrilled to have Valiant have an increased presence at SC Comicon this year!" said Robert Young, the founder of SC ComiCon and founder and owner of Greenville's Borderlands Comics and Games.

Last but not least, SC ComiCon attendees can become the hero behind countless saved lives throughout the weekend by donating blood at the Blood Connection inside the TD Convention Center. Each donor will receive a complimentary BLOODSHOT REBORN t-shirt, featuring the stunning artwork of red-hot artist Mico Suayan, on behalf of Valiant and SC ComiCon.

We'll see you at SC ComiCon!

For tickets, directions, and more, visit SCComiCon.com.

For more information, visit Valiant online at Facebook.com/ValiantComics, ValiantEntertainment.Tumblr.com, Twitter.com/ValiantComics, and ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

Press Release: Team Cul de Sac - The Coffee Cup Challenge

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Team Cul de Sac has been inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and is issuing its own challenge with the Coffee Cup Challenge scheduled for October 8, 2014.  

The Coffee Cup Challenge is simple.  We are asking supporters of Team Cul de Sac and the fight against Parkinson's Disease to give up their daily coffee and donate that amount to Team Cul de Sac. Maybe you're not a coffee drinker, but can't start the day without a nice icy Diet Coke or celebrate Half Price Wine Bottle night at your favorite restaurant on Wednesdays, instead of making those purchases, make a donation! It's a small sacrifice that can make a big difference!

We selected October 8 as our challenge day as it is Richard Thompson's birthday.  What a great way to honor a wonderfully talented man by helping the fight against a devastating disease! 

We hope that you will join us on October 8, but putting the coffee down and clicking on the Team Cul de Sac fundraising page and making a donation.  Share with friends and family that you've taken on the challenge with #CoffeeCupChallenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Press Release: Small Press Expo Announces 2014 Ignatz Award Nominees

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The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce the 2014 nominees for the annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning.

 The Ignatz, named after George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse from his long running comic strip Krazy Kat, recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. The Ignatz Awards are a festival prize, the first of such in the United States comic book industry.

The nominees for the ballot were determined by a panel of five of the best of today’s comic artists, Darryl Ayo, Austin English, Melissa Mendes, Thien Pham and Whit Taylor, with the votes cast for the awards by the attendees during SPX. The Ignatz Awards will be presented at the gala Ignatz Awards ceremony held on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 9:30 P.M.

Additional information on the nominees and previews (as available) can be found at http://www.spxpo.com/ignatz-awards.

Once again we want to thank our our friends at comiXology for sponsoring the Ignatz Awards. Information on comiXology and their self-publishing portal Submit can be found at https://submit.comixology.com.

Additional information on the nominees and previews (as available) can be found at http://www.spxpo.com/2014-ignatz-awards.

 SPX will be held Saturday, September 13 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 14, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $15 for Saturday, $10 for Sunday and $20 for both days.

For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Ignatz Awards coordinator, Eden Miller, at spxignatz@gmail.com or SPX executive director, Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.
For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Outstanding Artist

  • Sam Bosma for Fantasy Basketball
  • Kim Deitch for The Amazing, Enlightening and Absolutely True Adventures of Katherine Whaley
  • Sophie Goldstein for Darwin Carmichael is Going To Hell; Edna II; House of Women
  • Ed Piskor for Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 1
  • Jesse Reklaw for Couch Tag

Outstanding Anthology or Collection

  • Amazing Facts and Beyond by Kevin Huizenga and Dan Zettwoch
  • The End by Anders Nilsen
  • Eye of the Majestic Creature Vol. 2 by Leslie Stein
  • Sock Monkey Treasury by Tony Millionaire
  • QU33R edited by Robert Kirby

Outstanding Graphic Novel

  • The Amazing, Enlightening and Absolutely True Adventures of Katherine Whaley by Kim Deitch
  • The Boxer by Reinhard Kleist
  • Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang
  • This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
  • War of Streets and Houses by Sophie Yanow

Outstanding Story

  • "Brownout Biscuit," Octopus Pie: Dead Forever by Meredith Gran
  • Destination X by John Martz
  • The Grassy Knoll by Nick Drnaso
  • “Jobs,"  Life Zone by Simon Hanselmann
  • “Mom,”  Viewotron #2 by Sam Sharpe

Promising New Talent

  • Luke Howard for Trevor
  • Cathy G. Johnson for Jeremiah; Boy Genius; Until It Runs Clear
  • Nick Offerman for Orange; Onions
  • Keiler Roberts for Powdered Milk
  • Daryl Seitchik for Missy

Outstanding Series

  • The Black Feather Falls by Ellen Lindner
  • Demon by Jason Shiga
  • Powdered Milk by Keiler Roberts
  • Sky in Stereo by Sacha Mardou
  • Towerkind by Kat Verhoeven

Outstanding Comic

  • Blammo #8 by Noah Van Sciver
  • Cosplayers by Dash Shaw
  • It Will All Hurt #2 by Farel Dalrymple
  • Misliving Amended by Adam Buttrick
  • Wicked Chicken Queen by Sam Alden

Outstanding Minicomic

  • The Grassy Knoll by Nick Drnaso
  • House of Women by Sophie Goldstein
  • Never Forgets by Yumi Sakugawa
  • Test Tube #1 by Carlos Gonzalez
  • Up to the Top by Ian Sampson

Outstanding Online Comic

Press Release: Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con

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Nathan Fillion, Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, James Marsters, Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Rooker Headline Celebrity Guests At Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con, May 30 – June 1

Jon Bernthal, Jason David Frank, Robert Knepper, Top Comics Creators Also Among Top Stars At Pop Culture Festival At Georgia World Congress Center

ATLANTA, April 8, 2014 – Nathan Fillion (“Castle,” Serenity), Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, Jon Bernthal and Michael Rooker of “The Walking Dead,” James Marsters (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Torchwood”), Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes,” Rocky Balboa), Darryl McDaniels “D.M.C.” (“Run-D.M.C.”) Jason David Frank (“Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers”), and Robert Knepper (“Prison Break,” Hitman) are among the celebrities scheduled to attend Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con, May 30-June 1 at the Georgia World Congress Center. It is the seventh of 16 events currently scheduled in the 2014 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and will also feature a top-drawer collection of well-known comics artists and writers and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions.

Reedus, Cohan and McDaniels will appear on Saturday and Sunday, May 31-June 1, and Fillion will attend on Saturday only; the others are scheduled for all three days.

Superstar comics creators scheduled to attend include Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”), Jorge Molina (“X-Men,” “Fear Itself”), Jerry Ordway (“Action Comics,” “Avengers”), Ron Garney (“Thor,” “Uncanny X-Force”), Alberto Ponticelli (“Justice League,” “Green Lantern”), Bob Layton (“Iron Man,” “Captain America”), Ethan Van Sciver (“Green Lantern,” “Flash”), John Tyler Christopher (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Secret Warriors”), J.M. DeMatteis (“Justice League Dark,” “Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger”) and many others.

Other notable celebrities on the Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con roster include the Boondock Saints trio of Sean Patrick Flanery, David Della Rocco, Clifton Collins Jr. (Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, Star Trek), J. August Richards (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Angel”), Sara Underwood (“Attack of the Show,” Epic Movie) and Brian Muir (sculptor, Star Wars, Alien).

In addition, all Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con VIP attendees will receive an exclusive variant cover of Marvel's “Amazing Spider-Man #1,” drawn by Christopher, at registration.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con show hours are Friday, May 30, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, May 31, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place all three days at the event, with celebrity Q&A's, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contest, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Sunday, June 1, is also Kids Day, with an array of activities and programming specially designed for the younger Wizard World fans.

Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor, often stopping by the Show Stage, the ideal place to see and be seen.

For more on the 2014 Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con, visit www.wizardworld.com/home-atlanta.html.

VALIANT Plans Star-Studded Anniversary Celebration for X-O MANOWAR #25

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– with ROBERT VENDITTI, BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, JUSTIN JORDAN, PETER MILLIGAN and More!

XO25.jpg

Valiant is proud to announce that it is pulling out all the stops for X-O Manowar #25 – the publisher's first 48-page anniversary spectacular from ongoing series creators Robert Venditti and Diego Bernard, and an all-star cast of special guests including Bryan Hitch, J.G. Jones, Justin Jordan, Peter Milligan, Rafer Roberts, and more!

Before X-O Manowar steps front and center for the Armor Hunters crossover event beginning in June, he'll be celebrating 25 chart-topping, critically acclaimed issues with a special oversized anniversary issue, bursting with all-new content from the top creators in comics today, including:

  • ARMOR HUNTERS: PART ZERO by ROBERT VENDITTI (Green Lantern, The Flash) & DIEGO BERNARD (Eternal Warrior)
  • THE ORIGIN OF X-O MANOWAR retold by ROBERT VENDITTI (Green Lantern, The Flash) & J.G. JONES (Before Watchmen: Comedian, Final Crisis)
  • Plus: all-new tales of X-O Manowar by PETER MILLIGAN (X-Force), BRYAN HITCH (The Ultimates), JUSTIN JORDAN (Dead Body Road), RAFER ROBERTS (Carpool Buddies of Doom), and more special surprise guests!

Whether you've been reading X-O Manowar since issue #1 or you have yet to pick up your first issue, X-O Manowar #25 is a can't-miss comic book event celebrating the character's past and future with a spectacular array of brand new stories! Featuring stunning shelf covers by JELENA-KEVIC DJURDJEVIC (Thor) and BRYAN HITCH (Age of Ultron), X-O Manowar #25 will also feature an Armors Variant spotlighting the different incarnations of the X-O Manowar armor throughout the ages by artist ARTURO LOZZI (Bloodshot); as well as Valiant's very first throwback cover by Valiant icon SEAN CHEN (Iron Man); and an iconic, fully painted variant cover by superstar artist TERRY DODSON (X-Men) – his first piece for Valiant!

"X-O Manowar #1 was the first issue of a monthly comic book series that I’d ever written, so I didn't know what to expect. I hoped I’d at least make it a year, and I really hoped I’d make it two.  So to be at #25 now, and to be planning far beyond, I feel very fortunate," said series writer Robert Venditti.

"When X-O Manowar #1 by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord hit shelves in 2012, it didn't just mark the return of one of the greatest characters in comics – it also marked the return of Valiant," said Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons. "Now, with our biggest story yet – Armor Hunters – just over the horizon, X-O Manowar #25 is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the incredible work that Robert, Cary, Lee Garbett, Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Gaudiano, Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic and Diego Bernard have accomplished."

"We're overjoyed to be celebrating our first major anniversary with X-O Manowar #25, and we're packing this issue to capacity to make sure it's the must-read milestone that this series deserves. With the Armor Hunters crossover event about to come crashing down on Aric of Dacia's world, summer 2014 is going to be the summer of X-O Manowar – and issue #25 is the perfect place to jump on board," said Valiant CEO and Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.

Since debuting in the pages of X-O Manowar #1 in 1992, X-O Manowar has sold more than 8 million copies and featured work by a distinguished roster of comics luminaries including current Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada, former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, and comics legends Barry Windsor-Smith and Bob Layton.

Two decades later, as the first title of Valiant's 2012 relaunch, the all-new X-O Manowar #1 by Robert Venditti and Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord became one of the year's highest selling debut issues, warranting four sold-out printings. In the two years since, the series has continued to accrue critical and commercial accolades, including "Best Revival of 2012" by The Onion/A.V. Club, "Best Ongoing Series" by Ain't It Cool News, and a 2012 Diamond Gem Award nomination for Best Comic Book of the Year.

This May, find out why Valiant's X-O Manowar is a legend in the making, only in X-O Manowar #25 – a milestone 48-page celebration from a colossal cast of all-star talents!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

 For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

X-O MANOWAR #25 (OVERSIZED ANNIVERSARY ISSUE)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with PETER MILLIGAN, JUSTIN JORDAN, and MORE!
Art by DIEGO BERNARD with J.G. JONES, BRYAN HITCH, RAFER ROBERTS and MORE!
Covers by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC and BRYAN HITCH
Armors Variant by ARTURO LOZZI
Throwback Variant by SEAN CHEN
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON
$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
COMING IN MAY!

ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (OF 4)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
COMING IN JUNE!

Press Release: JAMES ASMUS and TOM FOWLER Bring on QUANTUM AND WOODY #1 in July!

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Press Release: JAMES ASMUS and TOM FOWLER Bring on QUANTUM AND WOODY #1 in July!

Once upon a time, Eric and Woody Henderson were inseparable. Adopted brothers. Best friends. Brilliant minds. Years later, they are estranged siblings, petty rivals, and washed-up failures. But when their father’s murder leads them into the throes of a life-altering scientific accident, Eric and Woody will find themselves with a whole new purpose – and a perfectly legitimate reason to wear costumes and fight crime. Go big or go home, folks! Quantum and Woody are coming! And the action-packed, zeitgeist-shredding exploitation stunt comic you demanded is here at last. 

Read More

Press Release: Klang! QUANTUM & WOODY Are At It Again – Only on comiXology!

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The world’s worst superhero team is headed to comiXology! Valiant is proud to announce that the complete run of one of comics’ all-time legendary series, Quantum & Woody, will be re-released this October on comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform with over 100 million comic and graphic novel downloads to date. This Wednesday, October 24th, look for the first 12 issues of Christopher Priest and M.D. “Doc” Bright’s award-winning sensation, beginning with Quantum & Woody #1 for FREE on the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, and the Web! The remaining issues of the series will follow the next week on October 31st.

“With few exceptions, Quantum & Woody are characters that we get asked about in just about every interview, in every piece of fan mail, at every convention, and just about everywhere in between. This is a series that has gained a die-hard following unlike any other in comics. Now, for everyone that never had a chance to jump into Priest and Bright’s  subversive, envelope-pushing, and outright hilarious tribute to the superhero genre, we promise, it will have been well worth the wait.” said Valiant Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.

“Plus, there is a goat with a cape,” he added. “Win-win, if you ask me.”
 
Quantum and Woody are the world’s worst superhero team! Eric Henderson is a decorated Army tactical officer. Each move he makes is planned with precision. Woody Van Chelton is a goofy white guy, who’s idea of detective work is hanging a suspect out a window. Investigating the suspicious deaths of their fathers, they become victims of a high-tech industrial accident that turns their bodies into pure energy. The metal gauntlets they each wear must be slammed together every 24 hours to reset their energy matrix – or their atoms will break apart. Eric adopts the codename “Quantum” to find his father’s killer. Woody wants avenge his father’s death too, but he’ll stick with Woody. Can they solve the mystery without strangling each other – or destroying the world?
 
Featuring classic work from the creators of immortal runs on Deadpool, Captain America, Iron Man, The Ray and more, and including rarely seen work by Keith Giffen (Justice League) and Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), discover why this is the series that has earned a legion of fans the world over when Quantum & Woody return this October, only on comiXology!
 
Quantum & Woody Release Dates:
  • October 24th: Quantum & Woody #1-12 – including Quantum & Woody #1 for FREE
  • October 31st: Quantum & Woody #0, #13-21, #32 and Quantum & Woody Special: GOAT – H.A.E.D.U.S. #1