Hack Shack Studios on the move in 2006

Hack Shack Studio's Art Thibert and Rich Birdsall, continue their mark of success with a string of great projects and appearances in 2006!

Thibert and Birdsall, who together make-up Hack Shack Studios at Alias Comics, are industry veterans with a combined nearly 30-years of experience! Art has worked on such characters as Superman, The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and X-Men; and currently working on the Teen Titans, The Outsiders, 52, and Infinite Crisis for DC.

And who could forget Thibert and Birdsall's newest creation, CHRONO MECHANICS at Alias Comics?!

CHRONO MECHANICS is the story about the immeasurably huge and ancient machine known as Time and the elite repairmen who maintain it. These Time repairmen are exceptional individuals who are recruited by Chrono, Inc. and pulled from their Timelines to be transformed into Chrono Mechanics. They tackle Time malfunction that disrupts any and all past, present, and future timelines. These books are about Team 9.2 of Sector 7, the most elite Mechanics to ever punch a Time card!

"The series is separated into four books, in a series we like to call 'The Precious Metal Collection'," explains Thibert. "The first book being Platinum, the second Gold, the third Silver, the Fourth Bronze. Attaching a precious metal name to any book is a sure way to add a little excitement."

Fans can read more about Chrono Mechanic's in Thibert's interview with Jen Contino of the Pulse!

Thibert also just completed an interview for "Up, Up, and Away," a documentary on the upcoming "Superman Returns" movie. In the documentary, which will be theatrically released to select theaters alongside the movie, Thibert talks about his past work on the Superman books.

"Working on Superman was definitely a highlight for me," said Thibert of his work on the Man of Steel. "I've always seen Superman as the quintessential superhero and to be part of such a rich history, and with Dan Jurgens, was a blast. I worked on the Death of Superman, the engagement of Lois and Clark, and their wedding."

Fans of Thibert and Birdsall had a chance to catch the duo during their recent appearance at Canada's Calgary Convention on May 5, 2006.

"We're already looking forward to next year's convention," exclaimed Birdsall. "It was hands down the most enjoyable convention experience I've ever had! The passion the convention organizers had for putting together a solid and well-rounded line-up of creators from multiple mediums really showed."

Pure Hero Needs your help

E-mail purehero at daredevil@purehero.com and tell them which design you dig the most . In the subject line #1 (last week's design), #2 (red design), or #3 (original yellow version).












And for you punisher fans!
email pure hero at punisher@purehero.com and let them know if they should

1. Should we make it!

2. Would you like a performance crew tee shirt version?

3) What works, is missing, needs improvement?

Go check out purehero at http://www.Purehero.com for all your superhero needs

MANGA NEWS: Viz partners with US Soccer Federation

VIZ Media partners with the UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION! to
create a A NEW ORIGINAL SPORTS MANGA!

The new original graphic novel, titled NEXT STOP: GERMANY / THE MANGA,
is being written, illustrated, and published by VIZ Media and will be
given away to fans!


Original press release, review and artwork to follow.

Choose Your Side With These Marvel Civil War Banners

Trying to set up the codes so you guys can copy them is not working. IF you want the codes feel free to send me message and I will send it right to you

For months, Marvel has been asking “Whose side are you on?” Well, now it’s decision time.

Marvel has released two Civil War banners that can be posted on your website, in your message board signature, or on your Myspace page. Choose your side in Civil War and prominently display your choice with either a Captain America Anti-Super Hero Registration banner or an Iron Man Pro-Registration banner.

Not only will these banners tell everyone whose side you are on, but they link back to Marvel.com so you can keep abreast of all the latest Civil War news.

The battle lines have been draw and it’s time to take a side. Show your Civil War pride with either a “I’m with Captain America” or “I’m with Iron Man” banner.

Komikwerks launches Blogwerks

Komikwerks unveiled today a new addition to theever-expanding portal for web comics. Blogwerks adds the popularphenomena of blogging to the site, with blogs dedicated to each of itsnumerous online comic strips.

"In the past few years blogging has revolutionized content on theweb," said Director of Web Development Rob M. Worley. "This simple buteffective publishing technology gives everyone a voice. So it was onlynatural that the comics creators at Komikwerks started asking forblogs and we're very excited to be offering them now."

Komikwerks Blogwerks ( http://www.komikwerks.com/blogwerks ) areavailable to all creators contributing to strips on the website. Theblogs will feature behind-the-scenes looks at the development of theonline comics. "But true to the nature of blogging, it'll really be tothe creators to decide what they write about," said Worley.

Robert Burke Richardson, writer of the popular "Elf Help"(http://www.komikwerks.com/comic_title.php?ti=116 ) comic, has alreadymade good use of his Blogwerks space, with one feature breaking downthe anatomy of a page and another feature previewing upcoming strips.

Blogwerks is built on the foundation of the highly robust, butsometimes overlooked b2evolution (http://www.b2evolution.net )software, which Worley calls, "an outstanding work of open sourcetechnology." The blogs are tightly integrated with Komikwerks onlinecomic strip management.

Additional blogs sections are already being prepped for "GroundedAngel" and "Universal Intergalactic Discovery Company" with many moreplanned to coincide with Komikwerks' ongoing growth.

RIP OFF DEVIL’S DUE PROMOTION ANNOUNCED

Devil's Due asks you the big question.

You don’t HATE good comics do you?!

– In May, Devil’s Due Publishing kicks off a FREE comic book promotion - the Devil’s Due’s RIPPED-OFFer! With so many comics coming out every month from “The Big Two” these days, they can’t all be that great. We know, we read them too. If you bought a “Big Two” book you don’t like, vent your frustration and RIP THE COVER OFF! Send the cover to DDP, and we’ll send you a FREE BOOK. That’s right, a free book! It’s finally your turn to rip them off!

“I came up with this idea a few months ago when stores were beginning to get inundated with a deluge of crossover comics.” said DDP President Josh Blaylock, “This isn’t going to topple any ‘empires’, but it can be a fun way to discover a new comic and vent one’s frustrations at the same time.”

“I just dropped 2 books published by “The Big Two” from my pull box recently. I just wasn’t interested in the stories any more,” began DDP VP of Marketing Susan Bishop. “It’s nice that there’s a place for readers to send these unwanted books and get another title for free!”

To Participate – Send your name, mailing address, email address, a torn-off comic book cover and 3 comic title preferences, if any (visit www.DevilsDue.net to view titles) to: Devil’s Due Publishing, Inc., Attn: Free DDP Comic, 4619 N. Ravenswood #204, Chicago, IL 60640
RULES – The comic cover sent in must have been released in the last 2 months. Covers must be from “The Big Two”. If you don’t know what that means, we’re not going to tell you. Devil’s Due does not guarantee any specific comic title will be sent, regardless of sent choices. No more than one comic per address. Comics will be shipped Media Mail within two weeks after the above is received. Ripped-off covers become property of Devil’s Due and are non-returnable.

Dvd Releases' for May 9th

400 Blows
Andy Griffith Show:Complete Sixth Sea
Assault on Precinct 13 (HD-DVD)
Battle in Heaven
Big Momma's House 2
Cinderella Man (HD-DVD)
Criterion Coll: Late Spring
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist - Season 1
Earthquake
Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete Sixth Season
The Facts of Life - The Complete First & Second Seasons
Fateless
The Golden Girls - The Complete Fifth Season
Grandma's Boy
If Only
Jarhead (HD-DVD)
Life Goes On - The Complete First Season
Masters of Horror - Mick Garris - Chocolate
The Mudge Boy
Munich
Nanny McPhee
The New World
Northern Exposure: The Complete First and Second Seasons
Poseidon Adventure
Puff, Puff, Pass
Rescue Me - The Complete Second Season
Ronin - 2 Disc SE
Rumor Has It
Rumor Has It... (HD-DVD)
Scrubs - The Complete Third Season
Sgt. Bilko - 50th Anniversary Edition
Surrender, Dorothy
Tamara
That '70s Show - Season 4
Towering Inferno
Training Day (HD-DVD)
The West Wing - The Complete Sixth Season

New Civil War Trailer Points Fans to Their Local Comic Shop

To coincide with the release of Civil War #1, Marvel has released an all-new trailer of Marvel’s biggest event ever. And with the unprecedented mainstream media coverage, Marvel wants to lend a hand in helping all of these New Believers find their copy of Civil War and other great Marvel titles by including all pertinent information in this trailer… as well as some new art for our faithful fans.
The new trailer features the comic shop locator info, Civil War Checklist and will be available through Marvel.com as well as Youtube.com so you can share it with friends, post it on your MySpace page, or simply just watch it over and over. To view the trailer, go to here.

After only one day, the response to Civil War #1 has been tremendous. "We're overwhelmed by the reaction Civil War has received on its first day, from retailers to long-time fans to those picking up their first comic with Civil War #1," says Publisher Dan Buckley. "This is quite possibly the biggest thing Marvel has ever done and we're glad that everyone who read the first issue is as excited as we are."

Retailers are calling the release day of Civil War #1 the busiest day in comics’ history and report seeing masses of new faces coming in for the politically charged blockbuster that’s proving people are interested in stories relevant to today, and will read them in any form. Especially comics!

“Marvel Comics has a long tradition of delivering must-read summer crossover events, and it looks like they have another winner on their hands with Civil War,” said Diamond Vice President of Sales & Marketing Roger Fletcher. “Marvel’s done a great job of promoting this series to retailers and fans alike, and early reports are indicating strong sell-through on Civil War #1. Congratulations on a job well done!”

Fans new and old are scrambling to get Civil War; even the friends you always wished read comics. What better way to get them started than with the new-reader-friendly runaway success Civil War, and another runaway - X-MEN/RUNAWAYS, the all-new comic handed out this weekend at Free Comic Book Day!

Garney Signs Exclusive and Spidey Faces a War at Home

After the horrific events of Stamford, CT in the pages of Civil War #1, Spider-Man rushes to aid the victims of the tragedy alongside many of Marvel’s heroes in Amazing Spider-Man #532.

Newly signed Marvel exclusive Ron Garney brings you all the Civil War tie-in action along with writer J. Michael Straczynski as Spider-Man stands on the precipice of one of the most life-changing decisions he has ever had to make.
“I feel good about it,” says Ron Garney about his exclusive Marvel contract announcement. “Its nice to come back after a few years, and it feels new again and in a lot of ways it’s a different place to come back to. It’s like your favorite sports team - some different players, same franchise but you love it just the same because the characters are there.”

Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada says of pencil-pushing penciller Garney: “Ron has the weight and heft of a Kirby, the grace and poise of a Ditko, and the soft voice and manners of an Aunt May...we love the guy.”



After pitching in with the relief efforts at the site of the Stamford disaster in Amazing Spider-Man #532, Peter Parker accompanies Tony Stark to Washington once again.

With the Super Hero Registration Act seeming to be a foregone conclusion, Spider-Man makes a decision that will force the heroes of the Marvel Universe to never look at him the same way again.

Shocker Toys debut new Indie Spotlight line

Shocker Toys recently burst into the fully articulated actionfigure game with the announcement of a 7 inch line based on the cult musicphenomenon GWAR. Now, Shocker takes a crack at a line including heroes,fiends, monsters, robots and other characters created by some truly uniqueminds. Welcome to INDIE SPOTLIGHT! Focusing on classic characters as well asunderground favorites and new arrivals to the panels, INDIE SPOTLIGHT willbring these icons of the Independent Comic Universe to comic shops all overthe world and into the homes of the fans who have come to love them. For thefirst time ever, the likes of Witchblade and Grim Jack will stand toe to toewith Scud the Disposable Assassin and Dick Tracy!

Companies who have signed onto Indie Spotlight, pitching some of theircharacters into the line include Top Cow, Classic Media, Image, Troma,AAApop, Blue Water Productions and King Features. Some characters in theIndie Spotlight include Solar:Man of the Atom, Magnus Robot Fighter, DickTracy, Lone Ranger, Jack Staff, Madman, The Atomics, Witchblade, Darkness,Nexus, Shark-Man, The Moth, Retro Rocket, The New Toxic Avenger, ThePhantom, Sachs & Violens, The Wraith, Scud the Disposable Assassin, Isis,VIctoria Secret Service, Judo-Girl, Shadowhawk, OZF5, Grim Jack, FallenAngel, Badger, Cyberforce, Jetcat, Atomic City, Smoke & Mirror and God ofThunder. More companies and licenses will be announced so keep watching!

Indie Spotlight will feature 20+ pts of articulation in every 6 inch scaledfigure. President of Shocker Toys, Geoff Beckett stated "We want you to beable to recreate classic moments from your favorite comics so posability andaccessories are key. Shocker Toys wants to have as close a relationship withthe creators of each character as you have come to have over the years ofreading their books, so our figures will reflect that. We also realize thatIndy Spotlight will create it's own universe as it grows, so look for scaleto play a big part in expressing the diversity from character to characterwith giant robots staring down super powered vixens and over muscledsupermen going toe to toe with sickly, inhuman creatures..we'll have itall!"

For more information, visit Shocker Toys online