Bleeding Cool: The First Hastings Exclusive Cover - Artifacts #1

Earlier this week, Bleeding Cool broke the story of the plan by multi-media store Hastings to massively increase its presence in the comic book direct market, with 127 stores rolling out with Diamond Comic Distribution accounts. But what sway will they have on the market?

Everyone knows that the bigger comic book retailers can often arrange exclusive covers to comics, only sold in their specific outlets.

So when Hastings have 127 outlets, the only question to be answered is, which comic will be first?

And the answer is Artifacts #1 from Top Cow, Here, exclusively, is the first exclusive comics cover to be sold at Hastings. Whichever one is closest to you.

See the image here.
Source: bleedingcool.com

Nerdage: ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting Nears

Representatives from several top comics publishers will meet with comic-book retailers this week at the ComicsPRO annual members’ meeting in Memphis, Tenn. Representatives from DC Comics, Image, Top Cow, Boom! Studios and more will meet with retailers to discuss concerns and ideas.

The meeting begins with a meet-and-greet Wednesday night, followed by a DC Comics-sponsored day of programming on Thursday. Friday features more presentations and discussion sessions with all publishers, and the meeting wraps up with a breakfast presentation and closing statements on Saturday.

ComicsPRO, the largest organization of direct-market retailers, will honor individuals who help bring comic books to market on Friday night with the first ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award.

Robert Kirkman, creator of “The Walking Dead” and Image Comics partner, is the meeting’s keynote speaker, scheduled to speak on Friday. Image Comics, the industry’s third-largest publisher, is making its only retailer-focused appearance of 2010 at the ComicsPRO meeting.

ComicsPRO has more than 140 members comprising more than 180 storefronts in 36 states and six Canadian provinces. Stay tuned to Nerdage throughout the week for live updates from the ComicsPRO meeting.

Source: NewsOK

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Comic News: Robert Kirkman Will Give Keynote at ComicsPRO 2010

From the official press release:

Image Comics’ makes an exclusive appearance at this year’s ComicsPRO annual meeting, featuring Robert Kirkman!

Many of the nation’s top comic book retailers will converge on Memphis, TN this April for ComicsPRO’s Annual Members Meeting, and WALKING DEAD creator and Image COO Robert Kirkman will be delivering the keynote speech. Image Comics will also be making an exclusive appearance at the 2010 retailer event.

“While reviewing our options for the 2010 calendar, Image Comics has decided to put its focus for retailer events on ComicsPRO,” said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. “We feel the organization does a massive amount of good for the comics industry and with the ever-growing amount of competing events, we felt the need to reaffirm our support for our retail partners by making our appearance at this year’s annual meeting our sole retailer event for 2010.”

ComicsPRO is the only trade organization for Direct Market comic book retailers. Their goals are not that different from trade organizations in other industries: to promote advocacy, education and opportunity for their members. Each annual meeting focuses on the many issues this unified, yet independent retailer organization faces and works towards building a stronger future. In addition to Kirkman, Stephenson and Image PR & Marketing Coordinator Joe Keatinge will also attend. The company’s decision to so strongly support this year’s annual meeting has been met with great enthusiasm by members of ComicsPRO’s Board of Directors.

ComicsPRO President and Flying Colors Comics owner Joe Field added: “When a key supplier like Image Comics decides that their time, energy and focus are best spent meeting with ComicsPRO retailers in Memphis, it highlights the dedication Image has to professional, dedicated comics specialty retailers. We hope more retailers notice this and make plans to join us for the only retailer-directed trade event in the comics’ business.”

“What I admire most about Image Comics is its commitment to creators and their independence,” ComicsPRO Board of Directors member and Comix Experience owner Brian Hibbs said. “It’s amazing to see that same level of commitment and passion being brought to bear for the benefit of the independent comic book retailer as well. This energy and support can’t help but make the best retailer-focused event that much better!”

The ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting is March 24-27th, 2010 at the Hilton Memphis. For more information on the meeting, visit ComicsPRO.

Source: Hypergeek

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Waid's Twin Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer Signings

Mark Waid, writer Top Cow Productions’ new Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer, will be hosted for two signings to mark the release of the first issue in the new crossover series on July 29, 2009.

From 11 AM to 1 PM, Waid will be signing comics at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA, and from 5 PM to 7 PM, he will be signing at Brave New World Comics in Newhall, CA.

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Stjepan Sejic Gives Live Art Demo at Meltdown Comics

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that the exciting young artist behind Witchblade, Stjepan Sejic, will be hosting a live art demonstration and signing for fans at Meltdown Comics. Since Witchblade issue #116, Sejic has been leaving readers awe-struck with his beautiful and unique digitally painted artwork. Now, for the first time, fans will get a firsthand look into the artistic craft and process behind his work on the Witchblade series.

Sejic will present his live art demo on Sunday, July 19, at Meltdown Comics from 4:00 P.M to 6:00 P.M. in their popular gallery area. Following the art demo, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Stjepan Sejic will sign his comics including Witchblade, Broken Trinity, First Born, and more. Meltdown Comics (http://www.meltcomics.com) is located at 7522 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 and can be reached at 323-851-7223

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Top Cow Reveals July Retailers and Comic for "Let Us Win YOU Over" Promotion

Top Cow Productions, Inc. revealed today the names of the participating retailers in their “Let Us Win YOU Over” initiative for July and the next free issue in the program – Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1.

The “Let Us Win YOU Over” initiative is a yearlong campaign by Top Cow Productions to give out free copies of its regular comics to potential fans in the U.S. and Canada through participating comic book stores. Each month, a different set of stores, each month a different free comic. The stores vary by geography and demographics. Top Cow has partnered with ComicsPRO to bring this promotion to fans and a portion of July’s retailers are members of ComicsPRO. Top Cow reminds retailers that any direct market retailer with a Diamond account is eligible to participate and should contact their Diamond Customer Service representative for information on signing up.

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Bleeding Cool mentions Stjepan Sejic Live Art event

So I get an email from IDW saying that they will be launching Yoe! Books, a new imprint of books by Craig Yoe, the author of Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman’s Co-Creator Joe Schuster. And the first book from the imprint will be The Art of Ditko, coming this autumn.

No sooner have I read that then Top Cow are going on about Stjepan Sejic, artist of Witchblade doing a Live Art event at Meltdown Comics on W Sunset Boulevard, LA, demonstrating his computer painting techniques, on Sunday July 18th from 4-6pm followed by a signing session.

READ MORE.

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Stjepan Sejic Live Art Demo at Meltdown Comics

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that the exciting young artist behind Witchblade, Stjepan Sejic, will be hosting a live art demonstration and signing for fans at Meltdown Comics. Since Witchblade issue #116, Sejic has been leaving readers awe-struck with his beautiful and unique digitally painted artwork. Now, for the first time, fans will get a firsthand look into the artistic craft and process behind his work on the Witchblade series.

READ MORE.

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Additional photos from Berserker #1 signing

Check out more photos from the Berserker #1 signing at Golden Apple!

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See Photos from the Berserker Launch Parties at Comic Book Resources

Check out tons of photos from both the Golden Apple and Collector's Paradise signings for the release of Berserker #1 on Comic Book Resources Live!

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Milo Ventimiglia had his comic book, Berserker, signing yesterday at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles. I was hoping that I could go, but since I live no where near it, it was pretty much impossible for me to show up.

He was joined by DiVide Pictures partner and co-producer Russ Cundiff, comic series artist Jeremy Haun, Editor-in-Chief of Top Cow Comics Filip Sablik and Golden Apple Comics owner Ryan Liebowitz. It looks like they had a great turn out. But really doesn’t everything Milo does turn to gold? What I have seen of the comic it looks amazing.

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Milo Ventimiglia is Berserker Bold

Heroes hunk Milo Ventimiglia signs copies of his new comic book, Berserker, at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles on Saturday (June 27).

The 31-year-old co-producer was accompanied by his fellow DiVide Pictures partner and co-producer Russ Cundiff, comic series artist Jeremy Haun, Editor-in-Chief of Top Cow Comics Filip Sablik and Golden Apple Comics owner Ryan Liebowitz.

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Dale Keown's "Berserker" #1 - Rage Edition

Top Cow Productions has provided CBR with a look at the limited edition "Rage Edition" of Dale Keown's cover artwork for "Berserker" #1. Written by Rick Loverd with art by Jeremy Haun, this version of "Berserker" #1 will be available exclusively at the official series launch parties at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles, CA and Collector's Paradise in Winnetka, CA, where Haun and series producers Milo Ventimiglia & Russ Cundiff will be on hand to sign copies.

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Top Cow Announces Berserker #1 Back-to-Back Launch Parties

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that fans of Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia will get to meet and greet the actor/producer during the last weekend of June at two separate Los Angeles area comic book stores. Ventimiglia will be promoting the release of Berserker #1, a comic book published by Top Cow Productions, Inc. in conjunction with Ventimiglia’s production company, DiVide Pictures.

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Blog@Newsarama Filip Sablik: “My First Time”

First memories are a powerful thing. Your first kiss, your first time driving, your first R-rated movie, the first time you saw your future wife/husband, and so many, many more. For those of us that love comics, we have memories tied into our love of the medium. The first comic we read, the first time a story or piece of art moved us, our first comic convention, the first creator we met in person, and so many, many more first memories. The one I want to talk about today is my first signing event.

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Top Cow's Sablik Turns to Retail

As part of the promotion for the current Top Cow Productions crossover with Marvel Comics, Fusion #1, Top Cow’s Publisher, Filip Sablik, spent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 working the register at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA. The popular location for new comic books and other character items is owned by Edward Greenberg.

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Filip Sablik Signing This Wednesday, Promotes Fusion #1, Checks Out Your Doodles

The Top Cow Productions/Marvel Comics crossover comic Fusion arrives this week, and Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik is going to promote the event by signing copies at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA.

From the press release:

The publisher is teaming with the popular Los Angeles area retailer to hand sell copies of the three issue limited series directly to fans. Beginning at 11am on Wednesday, May 13th, Sablik will act as a regular sales associate, ringing up customers, making recommendations, and following store owner Edward Greenberg’s every order. Additionally, the publisher will offer portfolio reviews to aspiring artists visiting the store.

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Top Cow Releases May's "Let Us Win You Over" Participants, Preview Art

Top Cow Productions, Inc. revealed today the names of the participating retailers in their “Let Us Win YOU Over” initiative for May and the next free issue in the program - The Darkness #77.

The “Let Us Win YOU Over” initiative is a yearlong campaign by Top Cow Productions to give out free copies of its regular comics to potential fans in the U.S. and Canada through participating comic book stores. Each month, a different set of stores, each month a different free comic. The stores vary by geography and demographics. Top Cow has partnered with ComicsPRO to bring this promotion to fans and the majority of May’s retailers are members of ComicsPRO.

READ MORE.

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

Here's a sketch from Free Comic Book Day of Wolverine facing off with Sabertooth.

If you have some time this Wednesday and live in the LA area, I encourage you to come out and see me at Collector's Paradise in Winnetka, CA. I'll be working the counter, my first time working retail at a comic shop and promoting the release of Fusion #1. I'll also be giving portfolio reviews and signing for anyone who wants my worthless John Hancock. Stop on in!

This is Sketch #057.

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Top Cow Publisher Demoted To Working Retail

As part of the promotion for the Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Marvel Comics crossover, Fusion #1, Publisher Filip Sablik will spend this Wednesday, May 13th behind the counter at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA. The publisher is teaming with the popular Los Angeles area retailer to hand sell copies of the three issue limited series directly to fans. Beginning at 11am on Wednesday, May 13th, Sablik will act as a regular sales associate, ringing up customers, making recommendations, and following store owner Edward Greenberg’s every order. Additionally, the publisher will offer portfolio reviews to aspiring artists visiting the store.

READ MORE.

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