Tuesday, May 31, 2011

VAMPIRE, PA Collected Edition Mini-Preview

The Vampire, PA collected edition hardcover will include four previously unpublished story pages, the original prose short story "Vampire Hunter Dean" that inspired the series (from the anthology Vampires: Dracula and the Undead Legions), character designs and more...

More details soon.















Friday, May 20, 2011

HERO and GEMSTONE OFFER LIMITED EDITION of OVERSTREET #41

What happens when penciler John Romita, Sr., inker Tom Palmer, and colorist Dean White team up and use their powers and Marvel Comics characters for a good cause?

The answer is simple: magic!

Romita, Palmer and White have created The Hero Initiative’s exclusive, limited edition cover for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #41, which will debut at The Hero Initiative booth at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Preview Night, Wednesday, July 20, 2011.

It features Spider-Man, Mary Jane, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, The Thing, Daredevil, Wolverine and Iron Man.

Limited to only 500 copies and available only in hardcover, this edition of the Guide will serve as an important fundraiser for Hero. It carries a $35 retail price.

This marks the second year the Guide has done a limited edition for Hero. Last year, John Romita, Jr.’s recreation of Conan #1 inked by Klaus Janson and colored by White proved to be a nearly immediate sell-out. Given Romita, Sr.’s long association with many of these characters, we’re expecting good things this time around, too.

“When Gemstone Publishing approached us last year at the behest of Steve Geppi about doing the first special fundraiser limited edition in the Guide’s long history, it sounded like a really good idea. Once we actually received copies of the book, we knew it was actually a great idea. I called Gemstone’s J.C. Vaughn and said, ‘I don’t want to say can we do this next year, but… Can we do this next year?’” said Jim McLauchlin, President of The Hero Initiative.

The answer, of course, was yes.

“Raising awareness serves a purpose, but what we really wanted to do was raise money for this great cause,” said Steve Geppi, President and C.E.O. of Gemstone Publishing. “Like last year, I’m very pleased that we are able to donate the full print run of 500 copies to Hero because, also like last year, everyone really came together to help out this great cause. Starting with the awesome creative team, our friends at Marvel, and Quad Graphics, everyone donated their services and just look at the results!”

First published in 1970, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide has been the Bible of serious comic book collectors – and those just starting out – for 41 years. As does every edition, this 41st volume includes all new insights, feature articles, Overstreet Hall of Fame entries, and tons of comic book data along with the most comprehensive listing of comics you’ll find.

“We’re very happy to be able to do this limited edition with Hero,” said author and publisher Robert M. Overstreet. “The reaction to last year’s limited edition was very gratifying, to say the least. Hero helps people who have brought enjoyment to so many, and helping them do that is a tremendous privilege.”

The Hero Initiative Limited Edition Hardcover version of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #41 is scheduled to go on sale at The Hero Initiative booth at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Preview Night, Wednesday, July 20, 2011 and afterward through a limited number of Hero affiliates. This version will be available in hardcover only and is limited to 500 copies. The retail price is $35. Information on special signings during the show will be released at a later date.

The standard editions of the Guide featuring Thor by Walter Simonson and Supergirl and Batgirl by Amanda Conner will also go on sale at the convention and at comic shops everywhere that same day.

FLASHBACK: HERO EDITION of OVERSTREET #40

John Romita, Jr., Klaus Janson and Dean White labored on this killer recreation of Conan The Barbarian #1, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010 just as did The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. This version was limited to 500 hardcover copies with all the proceeds going to The Hero Initiative.

Here's what I had to say at the time about the effort to make this one a reality:

“This was truly a collaborative effort. Mark Huesman, the Guide's Creative Director, suggested the idea of a recreation of Conan The Barbarian #1 for the cover, since that landmark issue is also celebrating its 40th anniversary. Jim McLauchlin and the Hero Initiative secured the services of John Romita, Jr., Klaus Janson, and Dean White to provide the fantastic art.

Since John is exclusive with Marvel, Jim also got Marvel’s permission for him to do the project.

Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson arranged the permission to do the cover with the folks at Conan Properties International, LLC. Angelo Messina at WorldColor [now Quad Graphics] arranged for his company to donate the plate change and the limited edition portion of our print run. If any one of these things hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have been able to do this project in this way.”

And of course none of it would have happened without Steve Geppi giving it the go-ahead or Bob Overstreet starting the Guide 40 years earlier!

FLASHBACK: ANTIQUES for HERO

Other than covering them in Scoop, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and other publications, one of the first things I got to do for The Hero Initiative was donate the Week 33 original art from Antiques: The Comic Strip for a fundraiser auction. Artists Brendon and Brian Fraim and I signed the piece, as did special guest star Stan Lee. My biggest thrill was that Stan did not change my dialogue for him!

Monday, May 16, 2011

SOMETHING COOL BREWING at THE HERO INITIATIVE...

Hero's Jim McLauchlin just posted this image by John Romita, Sr. and Tom Palmer mere minutes ago. I can say without reservation that that for a guy who is "retired," JRSR can still rock the pencils, and we also get to see why Tom Palmer is one of my favorite inkers of all time. Jim also asked folks to guess that this is image is for...






Wednesday, May 11, 2011

ZOMBIE-PROOF T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE



Zombie-Proof t-shirts are now available! Aside from being practical, they're very cool. Stylish even. And doesn't it seem like something you might need?

PREVIEW PAGES from ZOMBIE-PROOF: ZOMBIE ZOO




FROM STOP #2 on FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

From left to right: Jim Shooter, Alan Paperin of The Comic Book Depot, JCV, and Billy Tucci.

It was a great day. Really enjoyed meeting lots of fans and going to three really good comic shops!

Friday, May 06, 2011

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is SATURDAY, MAY 7

Our second edition of THE OVERSTREET GUIDE TO COLLECTING COMICS is Gemstone Publishing's Free Comic Book Day offering. It's great for new collectors and those who are, shall we say, a tad more experienced. Seriously, it's got a little something for everyone.

To find a participating store near you, visit the FCBD website and enter your ZIP Code.

I'll be signing along with JIM SHOOTER and BILLY TUCCI and some surprise guests at three stores on Long Island. Check out the story in Scoop and come see us if you can.

MIGHTY SAMSON #3 On Sale MAY 25