BC Refugees Blog

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Fresh news, just released today March 29, 2015!                                                  From the official press release . . . . . . . . . . Announced today at Emerald City Comicon 2015 , Valiant's 25th Anniversary celebration continues with the debut of VALIANT ORIGINS – an all-new web series spotlighting the origins of Valiant's biggest heroes bi-weekly across 10 animated episodes!  Beginning today with release of the first episode, VALIANT ORIGINS: BLOODSHOT , subsequent installments will be made available every other week on Valiant's official YouTube channel .  New to the award-winning world of the Valiant Universe?  Meet the greatest heroes that Valiant has to offer here in VALIANT ORIGINS – ...

  from the official press release . . . . . March 26, 2015, Mt. Laurel, NJ:   Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that Groupees LLC, a unique media and charity bundling site, will host - for the first time ever - a ten-day comic book bundle promotion that allows fans and curious newcomers to purchase over 80 digital Dynamite comics and graphic novels with "Pay What You Want" purchasing power.  A portion of proceeds will be contributed to one of the industry's most important charitable organizations, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.  The bundle promotion will run from Thursday, March 26, through Monday, April 6, on the website Groupees.com.           Through the Groupees program, customers can purchase a bundle of digital comic book and graphic novels for a price they decide.  The first tier of exciting digital content is unlocked with the dollar minimum investment, but consumers can double their take by r...

World War Z  is movie that shouldn’t be any good. The source material was a collection of stories from individual survivors that never intersected, leaving nothing useful to make a movie out of other than the title.  Max Brooks , the author of the original book, is the spoiled rich kid of  Mel Brooks  and insists he created the  modern zombie  and decries anyone else’s work. The movie is  PG-13  which is odd for a zombie movie. Add to all this, the movie being pushed back to do last minute re-shoots to accommodate negative preview reaction. With all this against it, it’s amazing that the movie is actually my favorite of the summer so far. The source material was thrown out to create a totally new story. Max Brooks was passed over for script writing duty with  J. Michael Straczynski  actually writing the first version. The edits that make it PG-13 don’t detract from the story and the re-shoots obviously did what they were designed to d...

from the official press releases . . . . . . . EISNER-NOMINATED CARTOONIST BEN TOWLE'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COMIC COMES TO PRINT PORTLAND, OR March 23rd, 2015 - Oni Press, Portland’s premier independent comic book publisher, announced today Oyster War, a colorful, comedic historical graphic novel by three time Eisner-nominated cartoonist Ben Towle (Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean). Oyster War will release on September 23rd, and will be an SPX debut. In the coastal town of Blood's Haven, the economy runs on oysters.  Oyster farming is one of the most lucrative professions, but also the most dangerous.  Not just from the unforgiving ocean and its watery depths—there are also oyster pirates to worry about! Commander Davidson Bulloch and his motley crew are tasked with capturing these ne'er-do-wells—but they don't know that Treacher Fink, the pirates' leader, possesses a magical artifact that can call forth a legendary spirit with the power to control the sea and e...

  EDITOR’S NOTE:  Use the link below to check out a great write-up on Valiant Comics by Daniel Kibblesmith.  There are some insights into the creative process as well as a good overview of the entire company . . . . . . .   http://www.buzzfeed.com/danielkibblesmith/ninjak#.foBj5b6bqb

from the official press release . . . . . . . . . . . PORTLAND, OR March 21st, 2015 - Oni Press, Portland’s premier independent comic book publisher, announced today Lion of Rora, an original graphic novel by Christos Gage (Netflix’s Daredevil, Avengers Academy, Buffy th e Vampire Slayer Season Nine), Ruth Fletcher Gage (Netflix’s Daredevil, Law and Order: SVU), and Jackie Lewis. Lion of Rora will release on August 5th. Lion of Rora tells the true story of Joshua Janavel and the Waldensians, a persecuted Christian movement in 17th century Italy. Joshua is inspired to lead his people to resist the tyranny of the local duke and fight for their freedom. His tale is one of hope, strength, and unshakable faith. “The Waldensians are Ruth’s ancestors, so the story of Joshua Janavel is a personal and important one to us," said Christos Gage. "But it’s also a universal tale of the struggle for freedom, family and a safe place to call home. Jackie Lewis has done an incredible job c...

From the official press release. . . . ALL NEW HOPELESS SAVAGES STORY BY ORIGINAL CREATOR JEN VAN METER, MEREDITH MCCLAREN AND FEATURING CHRISTINE NORRIE PORTLAND, OR March 20th, 2015 - Oni Press, Portland’s premier independent comic book publisher, announced today Hopeless Savages: Break, a new chapter in the Hopeless Savages story, by original series creator Jen Van Meter and artist Meredith McClaren (Hinges), featuring art by original series artist Christine Norrie. Hopeless Savages: Break will release on August 12th, 2015. Hopeless Savages: Break continues the story of fan favorite protagonist Zero and her punk rock family. Zero finds herself in college and thoroughly hating it, though an upcoming tour with her band The Dusted Bunnies promises to rejuvenate her spirits. A rival band threatens to end the tour early, and without her family, Zero is in no position to fight back. Meanwhile, the rest of the Hopeless-Savages are dealing with their own problems, including babies, contrac...

from the official press release . . . . . BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - March 16, 2015 -   Come to Baltimore's Inner Harbor for the 16th annual Baltimore Comic-Con on September 25-27, 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center.  We are excited to welcome to our show returning guests Amanda Conner, Darwyn Cooke, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Frank Tieri. Working in the comics industry since the late 1980s, Amanda Conner got her start working for major publishers like Marvel Comics on Solo Avengers and Excalibur , and Archie Comics on Archie and The Adventures of Bayou Billy .  As her career progressed, she worked for a number of noteworthy titles at smaller comics companies, including Soulsearchers and Company for Claypool and Vengeance of Vampirella at Harris.  She has since had an extensive illustration career, both in and out of comics, and her latest industry work can be seen on DC Comics' Convergence and Convergence: Action Comics covers, and on Harley Quinn , where she is...

EDITOR’S NOTE: Attention Creators, Writers, Artists. Here’s a chance to make your pitch and partner with a great independent comics company . . . .   PORTLAND, OR March 19th, 2015 - Oni Press, Portland’s premier independent comic book publisher, announced today they will begin accepting submissions and pitches in May. Under this policy all writers, artists, cartoonists, and colorists seeking to publish their work with Oni Press will be able to submit their portfolio to the Oni Press editorial team. Oni Press will accept submissions electronically through email.  Creators whose submissions are selected for follow up will be contacted within a designated length of time. Further specific details on the process and where to submit will be released this May. "We are on the hunt for new stories from new creators, featuring characters that reflect the diversity of the world around us," added Editor-in-Chief James Lucas Jones.  "Oni Press has always valued content and execu...

  INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #1 (Image Comics, release date March 18, 2015) Created and written by Gabriel Hardman & Corinna Bechko. Art by Gabriel Hardman. Colors by Jordan Boyd. Design by Dylan Todd. Do you enjoy your space opera spiced with a little politics and revolution?  Then INVISIBLE REPUBLIC may be your escapist ticket to ride. The year is 2843. Thanks to faster than light travel, human civilization has expanded to many planets across the galaxies.  Avalon, a small moon, has recently experienced economic collapse due to the failure of the Malory Regime to maintain power and influence. With no government services or police force, things deteriorate rapidly.  Most citizens, looking for better opportunities, opt to leave via crowded off-world transport. Commonwealth soldiers (of the Republic?) patrol the planet, mainly to ensure an orderly departure and enforce the curfew. Croger Babb, a news reporter who apparently has seen better days, tries to question the...

  EDITOR’S NOTE: It’s been three years since COMIXOLOGY launched SUBMIT, offering small independent press and self-published works via their digital platform.  That announcement occurred at South By Southwest (SXSW) the premier music, film and cultural event held every March in Austin, Texas. For their third appearncement at SXSW, COMIXOLOGY has some big offerings.  We will share that information in a separate article.

          Despite outward appearances and a reputation for dark and gritty crime fiction, you won’t find a nicer, more amiable person in Philadelphia than author Duane Swierczynski.  He visited The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington, Delaware on Sunday afternoon March 8 to sign copies of THE BLACK HOOD from Archie Comics as well as hardback editions of his latest crime novel CANARY . In between the signings he took time to chat with fans and readers of his works, willing to discuss a variety of topics from comics to crime novels, television shows, and the craft of writing.  He had some particularly good advice and words of wisdom to share with this aspiring fiction writer and blogger.          THE BLACK HOOD is the flagship title in Archie’s venture into more mature markets with it’s Dark Circle imprint.  THE BLACK HOOD is definitely worthy of that honor, being the story of a Philadelph...

      A very exclusive vehicle was parked outside the entrance to Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, Delaware yesterday.  It was all part of the celebration for the release date of NINJAK #1, which dropped into comics stores on Wednesday, March 11.         It turned out to be a better-than-average new release Wednesday for the CBH store as well, with copies of Ninjak and other Valiant titles being picked up.  Many new readers to the Valiant line received their introduction and recommendations via Captain Blue Hen staff as well as Valiant Marketing Representative Matt Klein.           Above photos: Front and rear views of the customized Valiant vehicle. Photo, far right:  Aspiring actor Mike Clarke fails his one and only audition for the BLOODSHOT movie, when it becomes easily apparent that he bears no physical resemblance whatsoever to the title character. ...

from the official press release . . . . . BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - March 11, 2015 -   The Baltimore Comic-Con returns to Baltimore's beautiful Inner Harbor on September 25-27, 2015 for their 16th annual show.  Come to the Baltimore Convention Center this fall to meet returning guests Cully Hamner, Dean Haspiel, Klaus Janson, and Seth Kushner. One of the founding members of Gaijin Studios, Cully Hamner has worked for every major publisher in the comics industry (and many minor ones) since his debut at DC Comics in 1992, where he provided art duties on Green Lantern: Mosaic .  He later went on to make a name for himself working on DC's Blue Beetle and Black Lightning: Year One , and his comic, Red was adapted as a major motion picture.  Recently, you can find his art on Valiant's The Delinquents variant covers and DC's Convergence: The Question, as well as a Superman: Man of Steel statue design. Emmy Award winner and Harvey and Eisner Award nominee  Dean H...

  EDITORS’ NOTE: Captain Blue Hen Comics at 280 E. Main St., Newark Delaware (302-737-3434) will be hosting a NINJAK #1 release party with Valiant marketing staff on site from 3-8 p.m. tomorrow March 11, 2015.  As a service to our readers, we review an advance copy of NINJAK #1.  We endorse it and suggest you pick up a copy tomorrow. It’s the best version of Ninjak to date!                       NINJAK #1  (Valiant, release date March 11, 2015)  Matt Kindt, writer.  Clay Mann, pencils.  Seth Mann, inks.  Ulises Arreola, colors.  Dave Sharpe, letters.  Covers by Larosa, Mann, Reber, Johnson, Sauvage, Hairsine and Muller.  LOST FILES back-up feature: Matt Kindt, writer. Butch Guice, artist.  Ulises Arreola, colors.  Dave Sharpe, letters.               ...

(New York, NY and Beijing, China, March 9, 2015) – Valiant Entertainment – the award-winning comic book publisher with a library of more than 2,000 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman, Archer & Armstrong, and more – and DMG Entertainment, the Beijing-based leader in global entertainment, today announced a new partnership to span motion pictures, television, publishing, and licensing that will culminate in the big screen debut of Valiant’s universe of characters in theaters around the world. In conjunction with this new partnership, DMG has made an eight-figure (USD) series C round of equity investment into Valiant, which the company will use to further its efforts in international publishing, film, television, licensing and beyond. DMG has dedicated an additional nine-figures (USD) of film financing capital toward the production of theatrical films and television programs based on Valiant's library of iconic superhero characters. In total, the n...

EDITOR’ NOTES:  Noted comics and fiction author Duane Swierczynski will be signing both THE BLACK HOOD from Archie Comics as well as his latest novel, CANARY, at THE COMIC BOOK SHOP at 1855 Marsh Road in Wilmington, DE on Sunday, March 8 from 12-3 p.m.  I greatly enjoyed his work on BLOODSHOT and HARBINGER WARS for Valiant and those reviews can be found in our 2014 and 2013 archives. As a public service to our readers, we explore some of his later works here . . . . . . . . EX-CON #1-5  (Dynamite Entertainment, five issue mini-series) Written by Duane Swierczynski.  Illustrated by Ken Burns.  Colored by Aikau Oliva.  Lettered by Rob Steen.            In contrast to his work on X at Dark Horse Comics , EX-CON is a straightforward crime story.  Sure, there are some gun fights and fisticuffs and brawls.  But they seem relatively mild by comparison to the blood, brutality, mutilation, severed limb...