ALIAS COMIC'S EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

In reaction to the lateness and the continued mishandling of certain financial responsibilities, Alias Publisher, Brett Burner, has effectively bought out the partners responsible for these setbacks to instead assume all accounting and production duties internally. In doing so, Alias has gained fundamental control over financial concerns and will now work more efficiently to see a quick turn around of publishing responsibilities. Additionally, certain editorial changes have been made which are designed to lessen production costs, there by increasing the profit potential of each Alias title.

"The problem was that these individuals were acting on their own judgment, making crucial decisions irregardless of our input," said Burner. "We are not, however, looking for a scapegoat. Alias assumes complete responsibility for the late shipping of books which over the past few months has affected the trust of our readership and retailers. Once we recognized the problem, we immediately began a process of removing those responsible, as well as pruning projects that were a financial drain, either by alteration or elimination, which has sadly resulted in the loss of some of our titles; though no studio has moved on without being offered the option to stay undermore equitable terms. Unfortunately, these steps take time and require adegree of silence- which to some can be, and has been, misinterpreted as non-action on our part. We apologize for that confusion, and we hope that fans will now understand the situation we were placed in, and why things happened the way they did.

"Burner hastened to add as well that he still maintains a good relationshipwith his former partners.

While a few creators have parted from the Alias line, the majority has chosen to stay the course, demonstrating their unyielding faith and support for the publisher.

"I have worked with two other publishers - both of which ended up being very unsatisfactory experiences. Because of this, I planned to release SUPERTEEN*TOPIA on my own. But after talking to Alias, their enthusiasm for the project won me over. To date my experience with Alias has been great and, to be very honest, my editor and I have very high expectations in regards to what we consider 'professional behavior'. I think SUPER TEEN*TOPIA has found a great home at Alias," said Alias creator, Kirk Kushin ("SuperTeen*Topia").

Alias writer, Ryan Scott Ottney ("The Legend of Isis"), has been hired as Alias' Communications Coordinator to prepare all internal and external communications, as well as media relations and other matters of communications.

The Communications Coordinator is an administrative position, designed to keep the media and the readers informed on current Alias updates. "We want people to know about all the great things we're doing," said Ottney, "but also in the event of any mishap-even as small as a late shipping book-you're going to hear about that, too. We can't expect people to buy our books if they can't trust us. We've lost some readers because of that already, but we believe we can win them back."

These new changes are only the first in a series of major announcements soonto be released by Alias Comics in the coming weeks and months designed to establish a new direction and a renewed chance at success.

Mike S. Miller, Executive Director and partner, chimed in with this,

"It hasbeen difficult enduring the public speculation about Alias without correcting the matter, but it has been worth it as we've finally gotten Alias back on track and are heading in the direction we should have been going all along. I think patience has paid off better than any amount of bickering ever would have, and that's an important lesson learned from all of this."

It's also extremely important to note that with this move by Burner, Alias has reached another milestone: that of financial independence. Alias Comics is now running completely on generated income, a feat most of the failed comic publishers to whom Alias has so often been compared have never managed to accomplish.

"Is Alias going anywhere?" asked Miller. "Yes, second star to the right,and straight on 'till morning!"