Image announces ratings system — UPDATED
Via PR, confirmation that Image is adapting a ratings system based on DC's ratings, which are similar to manga and video game ratings system implemented over the years.
With the death of the Comics Code, publishers are now voluntarily submitting to labeling systems, perhaps reflecting the widening audience for comics in bookstores and chain stores.
The brief PR makes no mention of who will implement these ratings: the creators or someone on the Image staff. WE've fired off an email to Image and will report any responses.
TURF gets deluxe collection
If you enjoyed the Jonathan Ross/Tommy Lee Edwards supernatural '30s gangster romp TURF you will enjoy this deluxe collected edition, out this July. PR below:
Image books sell out from Diamond
Five of this week's Image books have sold out at Diamond and are going back to press. PR below and 2nd printing cover roughs scattered throughout this post. Please note, just because these are sold out at Diamond doesn't mean you can't still buy them in your local comics shop -- according to my email there are many copies available.
Continuing the recent trend of releasing new series to rave reviews and instant sellouts, Image Comics has announced that BLUE ESTATE #1, GREEN WAKE #1, NONPLAYER #1, UNDYING LOVE #1 and the second printing of THE INFINITE VACATION #1 have all sold out at the distributor level and are going back to press.
Image releases Invincible 2012 sneek peek
Image has released this teaser showing a previously unknown character in Mark Grayson's costume. INVINCIBLE is the ongoing superhero comic by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley.
WonderCon 11: Image Comics – #401
Home Team Image has a big line-up of panels and announcements, a Zombie barcrawl, and much more, below:
Chew picked up at Showtime
CHEW, the cibopathic comedy smash comic by John Layman and Rob Guillory has been picked up for development at Showtime, and a script by Terri Hughes Burton and Ron Milbauer has been purchased. It's being planned as a half-hour comedy; Stephen Hopkins will direct as well as executive produce.
Nice art: NONPLAYER by Nate Simpson
Continuing on the whole Image Comics kick we're on, here's a piece on NONPLAYER by Nate Simpson and why it might be the next NIGHTLY NEWS.
Simpson -- not to be confused with Nate Powell or Nate Doyle -- is a relative newcomer to comics, but has a long background as a video game designer.
Image continues to sell out with THE INTREPIDS and CARBON GREY
Another email PR this afternoon from Image Comics, announcing more sellouts and second printings, this time for THE INTREPIDS by Kurtis Wiebe and Scott Kowalchuk and Hoang Nguyen's CARBON GREY. While such press releases have a strong component of sheer hype, and don't necessarily indicate ginormous sales, it's worth noting that we get as many of them from Image these days as from Marvel (DC no longer sends out press releases). Given the recent strengthening of the mid-list, even as the top of the charts shrinks, this could be seen as another example of the increasing democratization of comics sales. We'd also note that both comics sport a a fresher, non-house style look. Maybe there is an audience for something new after all.
Kirkman and Liefeld team for THE INFINITE
Besties Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefeld will team on a new SFish book called THE INFINITE for Kirkman's Skybound imprint at Image, USA Today reports.
Ziggy Marley comic book ad hits Times Square for real
Remember when Mark Millar cleverly used Photoshop to make it look like he was advertising a comic book on a Times Sqaure billboard? Well, something like that actually happened earlier this week when the PR Newswire Bulletin Board ran some press for Marijuanaman, a new comics from Image spotlighting a character created by Ziggy Marley.
Coming Attractions: February 2011
February has only 28 days, but is jam-packed with lots of great graphic novels and related titles!
Warning... looking at what appears so far on BarnesAndNoble.com, the rest of 2011 is going to be just as amazing! Click this link to discover more! (Sweet Kirby Crackle! Corto Maltese, in English, from Rizzoli?!) Better start shopping for bookshelves now.
