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Eddie Campbell’s Dapper John available for the iPad – And News On More Titles To Come From Panel Nine!

Panel Nine have released a new app for the iPad – Eddie Campbell’s Dapper John.

When Alan Moore first saw Eddie Campbell’s In the Days of the Ace Rock ’n’ Roll Club in 1982, he wrote, “Eddie Campbell is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting talents, amateur or professional, working in comics at the moment.” It was the start of a beautiful relationship.

Dapper John was an inspiration for John Constantine from Swamp Thing. And it was with Eddie Campbell that Moore created the magnificent From Hell (later adapted by Hollywood with Johnny Depp in the starring role). Campbell, of course, is now recognised as one of the world’s most talented comics artists, with his Alec stories included in the Comics Journal’s list of the 100 most important comics published. His graphic novels The Fate of the Artist, Bacchus, and The Playwright have all drawn great critical acclaim.

The Ace Club stories here follow the lives of a group of teddy boys in Southend in the 1970s – characters who could mythologise their walk down the street before they got to the end of it. The stories are a direct precursor to Campbell’s Alec series and are essential reading for any Campbell fan.

Dapper John: In the Days of the Ace Rock ’n’ Roll Club collects together all the Ace Club stories for the first time and supplements them with:

• previously unpublished colour art by Campbell
• an unpublished crossover strip with Dapper John and a surprise guest
• a survey of the 80s Fast Fiction scene by Campbell with dozens of illustrations
• a look at the ‘teddy boy’ scene in 1970s Southend
• a new introduction by Campbell
• a new interview with Campbell on the creation of the Ace Club stories

Praise for Eddie Campbell:

“Campbell is one of the premier cartoonists of his generation.” — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“No one else in the medium combines emotional truth, literary intelligence, and formal daring with such adroitness and wit.” — BOOKLIST

“There’s no artist working in comics today whose body of work I admire more than Eddie Campbell’s.” — TOM SPURGEON, THE COMICS REPORTER

“Do you need me to tell you how good Eddie Campbell is?” — NEIL GAIMAN

This deluxe app takes advantage of specially designed comics reading software, with super fast and smooth page swiping, Panel and Page modes, bookmarks, visual contents, and more.

 

On top of that there’s more to come from Panel Nine!

Panel Nine will be publishing more in the coming months. We will have two lines:  one which publishes some of  the best comics work already existing work in deluxe digital graphic novels for the iPad, and another which will publish new work that is created with the iPad in mind from the beginning. Our team here in Tokyo has developed what we think is the best graphic novel reader on the market, giving a much better user experience than Comixology and other comics reader platforms.

 

Archaia And Panelfly Partner On ‘Immortals’ Graphic Novel App

ARCHAIA ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH PANELFLY TO CREATE IMMERSIVE DIGITAL FAN EXPERIENCE FOR ‘IMMORTALS’

Panelfly’s SuperMedia Experience To Bring Archaia’s Storied Franchise To Life

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK – November 9, 2011 – Archaia Entertainment, LLC, a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher, and Panelfly, Inc., a leader in creating SuperMedia fan experiences, announces the launch of a new cross-platform, multi-media fan experience built around Archaia’s acclaimed prequel anthology, and alongside the theatrical release of Relativity Media’s feature film,IMMORTALS on November 11, 2011. Immortals:Gods and Heroes HD, a new application available initially on Apple’s iPad and iPhone unlocks access to a variety of exclusive Immortals content.

“We are very excited to launch the Immortals: Gods and Heroes iPad app with Panelfly,” said PJ Bickett, CEO of Archaia Entertainment. “In creating the graphic anthology, we wanted to build something unique to compliment the theatrical release, something that would stand head-and-shoulders above traditional graphic novel tie-ins. Working with Panelfly, we have created something extraordinary and immersive that complements the reading experience while supplementing the film itself. We are excited to expand the reach of our content beyond books and film, to delight fans with this new and immersive entry into the Immortals universe.”

The Immortals: Gods and Heroes Fan Experience Includes:

-       Access to the complete Graphic Novel

-       Ten Prequel Stories setting the stage for the film

-       Exclusive Art from an A-list of celebrated comic creators, includng Ben Templesmith, Scott Hampton, Trevor Hairsine, Jock, Dennis Calero, Kevin Colden, Patrick Scherberger, Phil Hester, Steve Ellis, and Rafael Kayanan, one of the principal conceptual designers on the film itself

-       Peel Back Functionality that reveals each stage of art in the creative process

-       Contextual Multimedia and video Integration

-       Social Integration and News Feeds for live social commentary

-       Ongoing feature updates and new content releases

“Together with Archaia Entertainment, we’re creating a diverse hub of content to deliver a dynamic, fun and truly interactive experience that includes an unprecedented level of engagement for fans” said Ed Lang, CEO of Panelfly. “This experience will continue to live long after the film and act as a fan’s digital playground for all things IMMORTALS far into the future. Our team has worked closely with Archaia to develop something truly special. Our passion for delivering immersive fan experiences at home, or on the go continues to grow with this launch, and we look forward to building success together.”

The Immortals: Gods and Heroes app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes Store on 11/11/11. Archaia and Panelfly will be kicking off the release with a special social media campaign and fan engagement contest today. Fans can go tohttp://www.facebook.com/ImmortalsGraphicNovel for more details.

To watch a teaser of the app, go to http://youtu.be/o7M0N3bMLqY?a.

About Archaia Entertainment

Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Rust, Return of the Dapper Men, Mr. Murder is Dead, Feeding Ground, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Days Missing, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, The Engineer, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels including the newest release, Tale of Sand, the last unpublished original work by Jim Henson. Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year according to Ain’t it Cool News, Graphic Policy, and Comic Related, and was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media.  http://www.archaia.com.

About Panelfly

Panelfly, Inc., is a leader in creating the ultimate digital fan experience. Dubbed “SuperMedia”, our unique transmedia storytelling approach, coupled with deep content discovery, social interactivity, and storefronts re-imagined, Panelfly takes traditional on-screen experiences to a whole new level.   Beyond the Internet, Panelfly is driven to deliver the world’s most immersive, interactive digital fanfest, whether at home or on the go. Panelfly – Engage. Explore. Enjoy.  For more information, visit www.panelfly.com.

Kurt Cobain Graphic Novel on iPad

 

Musicroom are releasing an iPad app about Kurt Cobain. Usually known for sheet music, they have released this as a print version and now digitally!

Kurt Cobain: The Graphic Novel tells Cobain’s life story in comic book form creating a totally unique digital graphic experience, (the book was first issued in print by Omnibus in 2003 and became a bestselling paperback).

Writers Barnaby Legg and Jim McCarthy have used biographical fact interwoven with references to the singer’s tortured self-image from Cobain’s point of view. The vibrant art by Flameboy captures both the subjective dreamscape and the objective reality of a tragic musical legend.

This app takes Cobain’s story and plays it out as a visual depiction of his life. You can browse page by page, or zoom in and work your way through frame by frame. From the luminous colours of an idyllic childhood through the flamboyant hues of success and stardom, Cobain’s story inevitably declines into a much darker palette. The script draws from the singer’s tortured self-image as well as straightforward biographical fact so that the tone of the app fluctuates between subjective dream-state and objective reality.

For his 14th birthday, Cobain’s uncle gave him the option of a guitar or a bicycle as a gift; Cobain chose the guitar. Cobain formed Nirvana in 1987 and within two years, the band became a fixture of the burgeoning Seattle grunge scene. In 1991, the arrival of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit marked the beginning of a dramatic shift of popular rock music away from the dominant genres of the 1980s.

During the last years of his life, Cobain struggled with drug addiction and the massive success of Nirvana with his underground roots. He also felt persecuted by the media.

On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead in his home in Seattle, the victim of what was officially ruled a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. In ensuing years, the circumstances of his death became a topic of fascination and debate.

Kurt Cobain – The Graphic Novel for iPad is priced at £3.99. More info here

Review: Green River Killer: A True Detective Story

The story of one of America’s most notorious killers is revealed in this true-crime comic unlike any other!

Throughout the 1980s, the highest priority of Seattle-area police was the apprehension of the Green River Killer, the man responsible for the murders of dozens of women. In 1990, with the body count numbering at least forty-eight, the case was put in the hands of a single detective, Tom Jensen. After twenty years, when the killer was finally captured with the help of DNA technology, Jensen spent 180 days interviewing Gary Leon Ridgway in an effort to learn his most closely held secrets–an epic confrontation with evil that proved as disturbing and surreal as can be imagined.

Written by Jensen’s own son, acclaimed entertainment writer Jeff Jensen, Green River Killer: A True Detective Storypresents the ultimate insider’s account of America’s most prolific serial killer.

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This is not an easy going read. Dark, emotional and sinister, I would recommend you are suitably prepared!

I had heard of The Green River Killer, from true life detective TV shows, but nothing you give you would the emotional connection with the detectives as you would read in this story.

Released in hard cover from the end of August, this title is now slated for a digital release in October.

The story of the Green River Killer is probably well known to most serial killer buffs and the story makes interesting reading even if you read it on Wikipedia.

This is the story from the point of view of Tom Jenson – the lead detective who was involved in the hunt and trial of the killer. This is an emotional story, showing and telling you the thoughts and feelings of those involved. This isn’t a procedural story.

There are some excellent pacing parts in this story, with flashbacks and flash forwards which add to and don’t detract from the rhythm of the story.

These are interspersed with family occasions and family grief of those involved with the results of the serial killer.

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The black and white art adds to the biographical feel of the title with some excellent scenes showing a range of emotions in this – frustration, relief and sadness. I sometimes find black and white titles to be hard to read (I can be lazy!) but this art adds to the effect given in the writing and makes it a real page turner.

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It was only when I got the end of the title that I realized that this was written by the Detective’s son, and that hit me on a whole new level, especially at the end!

This is how crime comics should be, giving a real insight to the others involved – I would recommend any detective fan to read this title.

NBM & TWP Interactive Release 1st Interactive Graphic Novel

Phil Yeh’s “Dinosaurs Across America” teaches geography the fun way.

Patrick Rabbit and his Dino friends presenting America’s 50 states in “Dinosaurs Across America” are
now enjoyable on the iPad and as an E-book in a fully interactive version that may very well be the first
interactive graphic novel ever published.
This book has been a successful fun tool for kids to learn about US Geography for years as a comic book
Phil sold at his numerous appearances around schools and libraries across the country advocating for
literacy through comics. NBM then contracted with Yeh to do the full color hardcover graphic novel
which has gone to press 3 times with over 15,000 sold. It’s a Library Media Connection Editor’s Choice
and has received many great reviews.
And now, thanks to TWP Digital Solution -interactive digital book product by print management
specialist Tien Wah Press (TWP)-  it comes to iPad screens as well as an e-book for PC. This interactive
version has Patrick and his friends bring the reader on board a cool spaceship where one can read the
first introductory pages and then into a special room where one can zoom in on details for each state,
click on a puzzle map to place all the states where they belong and when clicking on each state, see the
panel for that state as seen on the print version with Patrick and friends telling the reader some fun and
important facts about it. There is also a timeline you can click to see when each state joined the union.
Patrick and friends can be moved all around and played with by kids as they enjoy their experience
either on the iPad or their PC.
We’re all pretty ignorant when it comes to geography, these comics have made it easy and fun for kids
to learn the facts about all 50 states. Now the interactive version makes it even more engaging and
engrossing.
“This is part of NBM’s fairly aggressive move into e-books for its graphic novels and reorientation we’ll
be making more announcements about soon. Comics and graphic novels will always be in print, they’re
too tactile and collectible not to be, but electronic versions are fun too. In this case, we see a fascinating
magnification of the effect comics can have at making learning fun” said NBM Publisher Terry Nantier.
“We are delighted to offer NBM a digital solution for this title as an extension to our print capabilities.
This showcases our ability to use superior technology to deliver content in a truly engaging manner
across multiple platforms and devices. Through TWP Digital Solution, we’ve taken Dinosaurs Across
America to another level while preserving the integrity of Phil Yeh’s great work.” said Mr Yoichi
Sanada, Managing Director of TWP.
It is available as an app for iPad for $9.99 at:
and as an e-book at the Koobits store http://www.koobits.com/books.aspx?bk=1182
and wherever e-books are sold
For further information contact our publicist Stefan Blitz : NBMPubPR@gmail.com

IDW: Dead Space Salvage on iPad

DEAD SPACE SALVAGE iPadEA Comics’ DEAD SPACE SALVAGE is now available in the Apple App Store.

The USG Ishimura, the most famous of the Planetcracker class starships, is flung from orbit around Aegis VII after the disastrous events of Dead Space. It is lost somewhere in deep space, and both the Government and a powerful religious sect called “Unitology” believe it may still hold the Red Marker, an alien artifact that promises great power for either side, and both will stop at nothing to reach it first! This all-new Dead Space graphic novel picks up where the fan-favorite game leaves off!

Based on the exciting universe created in the Visceral Games critically acclaimed video game franchise Dead Space TM, DEAD SPACE SALVAGE features the writing of award-winning author Antony Johnston and the unique visual style of fantasy and science fiction artist Christopher Shy.

The iPad Digital Graphic Novel is available for $7.99 here.

Or get DEAD SPACE SALVAGE for all your Apple devices through the free IDW Comics storefront here.

IDW: Dead Space Salvage Digital Graphic Novel Live Today!

Introducing the latest in IDW Publishing’s line of Digital Graphic Novels, EA Comics’ Dead Space Salvage arrives in the Apple App Store today!

The USG Ishimura, the most famous of the Planetcracker class starships, is flung from orbit around Aegis VII after the disastrous events of Dead Space. It is lost somewhere in deep space, and both the Government and a powerful religious sect called “Unitology” believe it may still hold the Red Marker, an alien artifact that promises great power for either side, and both will stop at nothing to reach it first! This all-new Dead Space graphic novel picks up where the fan-favorite game leaves off!


Based on the exciting universe created in the Visceral Games critically acclaimed video game franchise Dead Space TM, Dead Space Salvage features the writing of award-winning author Antony Johnston and the unique visual style of fantasy and science fiction artist Christopher Shy.

The iPad Digital Graphic Novel is available for $7.99 here: http://itunes.com/apps/idwpublishing/deadspacesalvage

Or, if you are a fan of our IDW Comics app for all iOS devices, you’ll find Dead Space Salvage in our storefront here: http://itunes.com/apps/idwpublishing/idwcomics

Mirabilis graphic novel released as iPad app

DownTheTubes.net has the following report about a new graphic novel for the iPad.

Mirabilis: Year of Wonders, a graphic novel by Dave Morrisand Leo Hartas first seen in The DFC comic launched in the App Store for iPad this week.

Mirabilis is a fantasy adventure story for young adults which opens New Year’s Day 1901, when a green comet appears in the sky. As it gets bigger, the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Soon there are mermaids in the Thames, elves in Parliament and a dragon roosting on Big Ben. But then the comet rounds the sun and starts to fade. Will the world be able to go back to a life without magic?

The full-colour graphic novel was originally serialized in The DFC, the weekly print comic published by Random House UK, who financed the production. Mirabilis is the first of the DFC strips (which include Mezolith,Mo-Bot High and Monkey Nuts) to appear on iPad.

The iPad app comprises the first 200-page season in what Morris and Hartas plan as a four-book epic.

“iPad is a game changer for graphic novels,” says Mirabilis writer Dave Morris, a former number one UK best-selling author. “Go into most bookshops in Britain, you’ll be lucky to find the graphic novel section. Even in the US, they’re mostly just available in hobby stores. Yet suddenly the graphic novel market is worldwide, portable, affordable, open to everybody.”

“As soon as we saw the iPad we knew we had to release Mirabilis on this platform first,” adds Leo Hartas, the story’s co-creator and illustrator. “The quality is better than print. The colours have to be seen to be believed.”

Despite their obvious (and deserved) enthusiasm for the iPad, Dave and Leo aren’t leaving print behind. Hardcover volumes of the Winter story will be published by Print Media Productions next year, and serialized print editions are in negotiation for India and the United States.

•  Mirabilis on iTunes

• Learn more at www.mirabilis-yearofwonders.com

Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer

Words by Van Jenson
Art by Dustin Higgins
Publisher – SLG

 

This isn’t the Disney Pinocchio…
When I tell people about this graphic novel, they say “heh, what’s he do, use his nose?”
And I say yes!
This simple premise works by the art and the story telling. Gepetto is dead, killed by vampires, Pinocchio (with some help) hunts them. He tells a lie and his nose grows, breaking it off he stabs the vampires.
In this story Pinocchio has grown older, more mature – from his previously documented adventures. Some of those are referenced here.

The story moves on in a fast pace, which made the 126 pages fly by!
Although the ending was a little predictable, it was still dramatic and it the right tone.
The art was in black and white, and this in no way detracts from the story – I often find that b&w can either be too crowded or too sparse (the eye is lazy) not here – the vampires are nasty, and Pinocchio is young by body, but still showing a sadness.

This comic gets 5 Stars and can be downloaded for £2.99 from the Comixology App for the iPhone.