IDW’s True Blood Series Featured on Front Page of USA Today’s Life Section

IDW Publishing’s Gem of the Month in May PREVIEWS was, unsurprisingly, the much-anticipated True Blood, a series closely tied to HBO’s Emmy Award-winning show from creator Alan Ball. With Ball co-writing the story with David Tischman and Mariah Huehner and art by David Messina, it should also come as no surprise that this new comic is receiving a great deal of media attention. 

A story entitled “‘Blood’ seeps from books to TV and, now, comics” dominated the front page of USA Today’s Life section on May 13. In addition to the piece touching on the six issue series and its connection to the HBO show – which can be read online at usatoday.com, the print edition also showed one of the first issue’s covers and an interior page from Messina. 

HBO is also running a full 10-page preview of issue one at their True Blood Facebook page, so you and your customers can get a good look at the first issue as you're both weighing your ordering decisions. 

If all this weren’t enough, creator Alan Ball has also been extremely vocal in his support of his comic since it was first announced.  

"I am very excited to be introducing the True Blood comic book series," stated Ball.  "These graphic novels are a great companion to the series and we are pleased that the popularity of the show is allowing it to branch out into different mediums." 

Check out his promotional video:

The comic series will explore the ongoing adventures of telepathic heroine Sookie Stackhouse, her vampire lover Bill Compton, best friend Tara Thornton, enigmatic and ancient vampire sheriff Eric Northman, loyal boss Sam Merlotte, brother Jason Stackhouse, perpetual-virgin vampire Jessica, and the flamboyant cook/drug dealer Lafayette Reynolds.

In the first storyline, Sookie and the rest of the Bon Temps find themselves waiting in Merlotte's bar for a strangely portentous raging storm to subside.  Soon, they discover they've been trapped by an entity that feeds off of raw emotions and begins killing off the patrons one by one until his hunger is sated.

MARVEL AVENGER'S DAY PARTY UPDATE!

Marvel is releasing Atlas #1 and the first issue of the rebooted Avengers, and to celebrate 1up Collectibles is hosting a party on Wednesday May 19. The Avengers, known as "Earth's Mightiest Heroes," first appeared in 1963, and was relaunched three times before Bendis' new issue, which being what Marvel is calling a new "Heroic Age." Agents of Atlas started as a team in 1978, popped up again in Avengers Forever (1998), and Parker wrote their 2006 limited series.

Join us at 516 Penn Avenue for these special AVENGERS DAY PARTY DEALS:

• AVENGERS #1 will be specially priced at 50% OFF, or only 2 DOLLARS!
• Take 25% OFF all AVENGER CHARACTERS' STATUES & ACTION FIGURES.
• From Wednesday, May 19th through Saturday, May 23rd, ALL GRAPHIC NOVELS WITH THE WORD "AVENGERS" IN THE TITLE WILL BE 30% OFF! (This will include Special Orders)
• Enter drawings for limited rare Variant Cover copies of AVENGERS #1! 

Duels of the Planeswalkers expansion pack 2 set to hit Xbox Live Arcade

Wizards of the Coast has just released a press release stating that the latest expansion pack for Magic: the Gathering Duels of the Planeswalker will be available to purchase and download from the Xbox Live Arcade on May 12.

The long awaited second expansion to Duels of the Planeswalkers will offer both Magic: the Gathering players and videogame enthusiasts a chance to "play with new decks, experience never-before-seen challenges, and battle new adversaries".

Featured in the second expansion to Duels of the Planeswalkers for Xbox 360 is "new downloadable content [that] will allow players to battle the ancient vampire Sorin Markov," in addition to the following:

·         Three new playable decks, including Nicol Bolas’ “Eons of Evil” Planeswalker deck.

·         Three new unlackable cards for each of the eight original decks plus the three decks from the first Duels of th ePlaneswalkers expansion.

·         Five new puzzling challenge levels

·         Three new achievements.

·         Host migration for multiplayer.

Additionally, on Friday May 14th from 6 to 8 PM, players can "check out Frag Doll Friday and take down these well known girl-gamers as they test out the new expansion."  For more details on Frag Doll Friday, go here.

The Duels of the Planeswalkers second expansion is priced at 400 Microsoft Points. ESRB Rating: TEEN with Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violent References.

For more information on Duels of the Planeswalkers, go here www. duelsoftheplaneswalkers.com.

Marvel's AVENGERS DAY PARTY set for Wednesday, May 19th!

To kick off the relaunch of Marvel's flagship title the AVENGERS, 1up Collectibles and Marvel Comics are joining force to usher in The Heroic Age on the release day of superstar creative team Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita Jr.’s AVENGERS #1, Wednesday, May 19th!


Join us at 516 Penn Avenue for these special AVENGERS DAY PARTY DEALS:

• AVENGERS #1 will be specially priced at 50% OFF, or only 2 DOLLARS! That's right, give this new AVENGERS #1 a shot for a measly TWO WASHINGTONS! We think you'll like it!
• From Wednesday, May 19th through Saturday, May 23rd, ALL GRAPHIC NOVELS WITH THE WORD "AVENGERS" IN THE TITLE WILL BE 30% OFF! (This will include Special Orders)
• Take 25% OFF all AVENGER CHARACTERS' STATUES & ACTION FIGURES.
• Enter drawings for limited rare Variant Cover copies of AVENGERS #1! (One entry per day per person, from May 19th through May 23rd please!)
• Stay tuned for more exciting offers!

Spotlight in DC Comics

This week may prove to be the biggest week since we've opened our doors. There are a ton of completely awesome new releases including Grant Morrison’s Return of Bruce Wayne and Superman War of the Supermen.  For a complete list of all the DC titles on shelves May 12 simply go to comixology.

Batman Return of Bruce Wayne #1 (of 6) Grant Morrison (w), Chris Sprouse (a)

The most anticipated series of 2010 is here! Superstar writer Grant Morrison tackles his most ambitious project to date with THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, a special six-part series that chronicles the return of the original man behind Batman's cape and cowl!

Birds of Prey #1 Brightest Day Tie-In Gail Simone (w), Ed Benes (a)

They’re back!  And we are talking about both the Birds of Prey and their creative team of Simone and Benes.  Oracle, Huntress, Black Canary and Lady Blackhawk all return to Gotham.  Fun, fun, fun.

Justice League Generation Lost #1 Brightest Day Tie-In Keith Giffen, Judd Winick (w), Aaron Lopresti (a)

Spinning out of BRIGHTEST DAY, DC's new biweekly event begins here! Someone is targeting the old members of the defunct Justice League International. Now, surviving members Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Fire and Ice have to figure out what unseen mastermind is threatening to destroy the entire Super Hero community! There are no gray areas here – it's black and white and red with blood all over for this lost generation of Super Heroes as original JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL writer Keith Giffen is joined by superstar scribe Judd Winick (BATMAN, GREEN ARROW) for a new era in excitement!

Superman War of the Supermen #2 Sterling Gates, James Robinson (w), Eduardo Pansica, Wayne Faucher (a)

The Battle for Mars! With Superman having left the Kryptonian military to try to stop the war, General Zod needs a new Commander El – enter Supergirl! As Zod's army gets closer to Earth, the battlefield shifts to Mars where Superman must confront his cousin! Neither wants to fight, but both will do what they must for the sake of what they think is right! Meanwhile, Superboy knows what he must do to stop this war – even if it means becoming hated by both planets!

Superboy Boy of Steel Hardcover Geoff Johns (w), Francis Manapul (a)

Superboy is back — and can't wait to jump back into his life in these tales from ADVENTURE COMICS #0-3 and 5-6, plus a tale from SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2009. But which life will it be? Conner makes a beeline for the greatest place on Earth: Smallville. While Conner reunites with his former girlfriend, Wonder Girl, Lex Luthor and Brainiac form a partnership that will cause havoc throughout the DC Universe.

Tom Tom Turns to the Dark Side

How was your morning drive? Well here's something that makes the future of commuting a little brighter (... or darker). TomTom has announced that the voices of your favorite Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader, are now available for your GPS! Here's a video of Darth Vader's "out-takes." ♪Dum, dum, dum, dum-da-dun, dum-da-dun.♪
Check out the video clip here on you tube.

Archie Comics Introduces First Openly Gay Character

New York, NY (April 22, 2010): Archie Comics, home of the famous Riverdale High students Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie and Jughead, is about to welcome a new classmate this fall! On September 1st, Kevin Keller, Archie Comics’ first openly gay character, will be welcomed into the town of Riverdale. “The introduction of Kevin is just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive. Archie’s hometown of Riverdale has always been a safe world for everyone. It just makes sense to have an openly gay character in Archie comic books,” stated Archie Comics Co-CEO, Jon Goldwater.

Veronica #202 features the full-issue story, “Isn’t it Bromantic?” that introduces Kevin, Archie Comics’ first openly gay character. Kevin Keller is the new hunk in town and Veronica just has to have him. After Kevin defeats Jughead in a burger-eating contest at Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe, she desperately latches onto him. Mayhem and hilarity ensue as Kevin desperately attempts to let Veronica down easy and her flirtations only become increasingly persistent. 

In addition to the new ongoing achievements at Archie Comics – the #4 iPad book app and most downloaded comics on iTunes, the launch of Stan Lee Comics, Archie’s Red Circle superheroes at DC, and exciting new partnerships with Abrams, Dark Horse and IDW – the introduction of Kevin as an openly gay character is part of the commitment to keep Archie properties reflective of the current world of teens and teen media.

Kevin arrives in Veronica #202’s “Isn’t it Bromantic?” this September, at 1up Collectibles on 9/1/2010.