06.24.2014 - ARCHIE COMICS PREVIEWS: Jughead and Archie Comics Digest #3, B&V Friends Comics Digest #239, Mega Man #38 and more!

JUGHEAD & ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #3

Jughead’s pining for the coveted “Steadiest Customer Award” spot at Pop’s until he finds out some unfortunate news—he’s NOT Pop’s VIP customer! The mysterious Mr. Milkweed has been visiting the Shoppe by one day more than ol’ Juggie. Now Jughead’s determined to win the top spot any way he can. What will he do? And just who is this Mr. Milkweed? The answers lie in “The Milkweed Lament,” the zany lead story to a hilarious digest!
Script: Craig Boldman
Art: Rex Lindsey, Jim Amash, Jack Morelli, Barry Grossman
Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 6/25
160-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

B&V FRIENDS COMICS DIGEST #239

Girl’s best friend (when it isn’t another girl) is her pet, of course! But what kind of fun can be had when you can’t even bring your best friend to the beach? Betty and Veronica have a big job ahead of them: find out how they can get their pets onto the beach without breaking any rules! Find out if they can pull it off in “Pet’s Rule,” the awesome lead story to this fun-filled digest!
Script: George Gladir
Art: Jeff Shultz, Rich Koslowski, Jack Morelli, Barry Grossman
Cover: Bill Galvan, Bob Smith, Tito Pena
On Sale Date: 6/25
160-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.

 MEGA MAN #38

The epic MEGA MAN / MEGA MAN X crossover event continues in "DAWN OF X" Part Two! We travel one hundred years into Mega Man’s future, where an ancient Wily weapon threatens all defenseless humans!  It’s up to X and Zero to combat the lumbering metal monstrosity! Meanwhile, Emerald Spears terrorist-on-the-run Xander Payne tumbles through time—and sees something that will change him forever! Don't miss the event that everyone will be talking about, featuring brand new cover art from PATRICK "SPAZ" SPAZIANTE and an extra special character-packed collector cover from BEN BATES!
Script: Ian Flynn
Art: Jamal Peppers, Gary Martin, John Workman and Matt Herms
Cover: Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante
Cast Combo Variant Cover: Ben Bates
On Sale: 6/25
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 U.S.

ARCHIE COMICS SPECTACULAR: SUMMER DAZE

School's out for the summer in Riverdale, and the fun is just beginning! Join Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and friends as they go on vacation, go to the beach, work summer jobs . . . and avoid working entirely! This fun, pocket-sized collection features 128 pages of hand-picked, favorite fun in the sun stories, presented in high-quality, bright white paper with a cardstock cover. It’s the perfect book for any summer road trip!
Script: George Gladir, Frank Doyle
Art:  Dan Parent, Dan DeCarlo
Cover: Fernando Ruiz
978-1-619889-00-2
$5.99/$6.99 CAN
4 7/8 x 6 9/16”
Trade Paperback
128 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-sale: 6/25

SONIC / MEGA MAN: WORLDS COLLIDE VOL. 3

The BIGGEST video game crossover event of all time ends here with the stunning conclusion to SONIC/MEGA MAN: Worlds Collide! Dr. Eggman and Dr. Wily are locked inside their flying fortress--the Wily Egg! Inside are all manner of powerful defenses, including Metal Sonic and Bass! Outside is an army--almost every Robot Master ever made! Dr. Light's life is on the line, and two worlds teeter on the edge of destruction! Enter Sonic, Mega Man and an army of their own! Sonic's friends join Proto Man, Rush and Duo in an epic all-out battle to break through to the evil doctors, rewrite two realities, and save their home worlds! Don't miss the third and final act of this epic 12-part Sonic the Hedgehog / Mega Man crossover event--"CHAOS CLASH!" WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE VOLUME THREE collects: Mega Man #27, Sonic the Hedgehog #250-251, and Sonic Universe #54 plus exclusive bonus features you won't find anywhere else!
Script: Ian Flynn
Art: Ben Bates, Gary Martin, Steve Downer, Matt Herms, and Jack Morelli
Cover: Patrick “SPAZ” Spaziante and Ben Hunzeker
978-1-936975-97-6
$11.99/$13.99 CAN
6 5/8 x 10 3/16”
Trade Paperback
104 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-sale: 6/25

06.18.2014 - “30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS – SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014” LIVE STREAM EVENT AND MORE!

SHOUT! FACTORY CELEBRATES THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF TRANSFORMERS
WITH A TREASURE TROVE OF ENTERTAINMENT SPANNING THREE DECADES,
“30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS – SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014”
LIVE STREAM EVENT AND MORE! 

 

Since 1984, the thrills of the TRANSFORMERS saga, the action of epic battles between the AUTOBOTS and the DECEPTICONS, and the memorable ROBOTS IN DISGUISE characters continue to spark the imagination of millions worldwide. The TRANSFORMERS brand is a global pop-culture phenomenon, bringing entertainment and excitement to kids and fans through countless collectible toys, animated series, films, comic books, video games and a convention dedicated to TRANSFORMERS collectors.

In honor of the year-long celebration of the TRANSFORMERS 30th Anniversary, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, salutes the beloved TRANSFORMERS franchise by broadcasting from the floor of BotCon and by placing emphasis behind its uniquely diverse home entertainment offerings of TRANSFORMERS animated series (spanning 1984 – 2013).  As part of the “THRILLING 30” festivities, the multi-faceted campaign from Shout! Factory includes TRANSFORMERS 30th Anniversary branded product highlights, gift-with-purchase ecommerce opportunities, special digital live stream event “30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS –SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014” – featuring TRANSFORMERS series marathon with special coverage from BotCon 2014 – and many more surprises to further engage fans and collectors.

For continuing updates on the TRANSFORMERS 30th Anniversary celebration from Shout! Factory, please follow us on Twitter @ShoutFactory, hashtag #BotCon2014.

“30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS – SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014” DIGITAL LIVE STREAM EVENT
Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, presents “30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS LIVE AT BOTCON 2014,” a three-day digital live stream takeover featuring marathon of TRANSFORMERS series episodes, exclusive digital segments and highlights from BotCon 2014. Viewers can tune in to this special marathon event on Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22, exclusively on www.TF30years.com and Shout! Factory’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/shoutfactory).

The live stream will originate from the BotCon floor at the Pasadena Convention Center.  Viewers and fans are encouraged to share their passion for the TRANSFORMERS via Twitter using the hashtag #TF30years, #BotCon2014 and @shoutfactory.

Content and times are approximate and subject to change.
All times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time).

TUNE-IN to “30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS – SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014” DIGITAL LIVE STREAM EVENT” at www.TF30years.com and Shout! Factory’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/shoutfactory).

Friday, June 20:
11:00 AM           "Triple Changer: From Toy to Comic to Screen"
11:30 AM           The TRANSFORMERS (Generational 1): "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1"
12:00 PM           The TRANSFORMERS (Generational 1): "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2"
12:30 PM           "The Combiner: Forming the TRANSFORMERS Animated Series"
12:45 PM           The TRANSFORMERS (Generational 1): "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3"
1:15 PM              "The Headmasters: Voicing the Robots in Disguise"
1:45 PM              "Into the Creation Matrix: A Conversation with Bob Budiansky"

Saturday, June 21:
10:00 AM           The TRANSFORMERS (Generational 1): "S.O.S. Dinobot"
10:30 AM           Panel: James Roberts Storyteller
10:45 AM           The TRANSFORMERS (Generational 1): "Ghost in the Machine"
11:15 AM           The TRANSFORMERS (Generational 1): "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1"
11:45 PM           The TRANSFORMERS (Generational 1): "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2"
12:00 PM           Panel: Rescue Bots Cast Q&A
12:15 PM           TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "Beast Wars, Part 1"
12:45 PM           "Maximize! Creating a New Breed of Transformer"
1:00 PM              Panel: 2014 Hasbro Toys
1:15 PM              TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "Beast Wars, Part 2"
1:45 PM              "Remembering the Spark"
2:00 PM              TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "The Agenda, Part 1"
2:30 PM              TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "The Agenda, Part 2"
2:45 PM              Panel: Women in Animation
3:00 PM              TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "The Agenda, Part 3"
3:30 PM              TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "Optimal Situation"
3:45 PM              Saturday Highlight Reel

Sunday, June 22:
9:30 AM            TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "Feral Scream, Part 1"
10:00 AM           Panel: 2014 Live Script Reading
10:15 AM           TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS: "Feral Scream, Part 2"
10:45 AM           TRANSFORMRES BEAST MACHINES: "The Reformatting"
11:00 AM           TRANSFORMERS ARMADA: "First Encounter"
11:30 AM           TRANSFORMERS ENERGON: "Cybertron City"
11:45 AM           TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON: "Fallen"
12:15 PM           TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: "Thrill of the Hunt"
12:45 PM           Panel: Transformers Animated
1:00 PM              TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: "Garbage In, Garbage Out"
1:15 PM              TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: "Garbage In, Garbage Out" with Commentary
1:45 PM              Panel: Transformers Comics: IDW
2:00 PM              TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS: "The Alien Invasion of Griffin Rock"
2:30 PM              TRANSFORMERS PRIME: "One Shall Fall"
2:45 PM              "A Look at Polygon Pictures"
3:00 PM              Panel: Transformers G1 Retrospective
3:15 PM              Sunday Highlight Reel



TRANSFORMERS animated series home entertainment product highlights include:
The TRANSFORMERS: The Complete Series (Generation 1)
TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS
TRANSFORMERS THE JAPANESE COLLECTION
TRANSFORMERS ARMADA: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS ENERGON: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS PRIME Seasons One, Two and Three
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: DARKNESS RISING
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: ONE SHALL STAND
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: ULTIMATE BUMBLEBEE
TRANSFORMERS PRIME:  BEAST HUNTERS – PREDACONS RISING
TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS: GRIFFIN ROCK RESCUE
TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS: ENERGIZE
TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS:  HEROES ON THE SCENE

GIFT-WITH-PURCHASE OPPORTUNITY
*Loyal fans and collectors please take note:
Available while supplies last, receive a limited-edition 18”x24” collector’s poster with any purchase of TRANSFORMERS animated series home entertainment products from ShoutFactory.com

06.11.2014 - DEATHLOK #1 Packs High-Octane Espionage Action This October!

DEATHLOK #1 Packs High-Octane Espionage Action This October!

The Demolisher returns this October for DEATHLOK #1, an all-new series from the critically acclaimed creative team of Nathan Edmondson (Black Widow, The Punisher) and Mike Perkins (Captain America, Stephen King’s The Stand)!

Henry Hayes is a veteran, a single parent, a man who thought he’d left his war behind. But unbeknownst to him, he’s been transformed without his knowledge into the perfect weapon of destruction: Deathlok! Operative, fighter, assassin and more – on the battlefield, he is whatever his handlers need him to be. 

Created by the mysterious Biotek corporation, Hayes is utilized as a deadly weapon rented out to the highest bidder, his memories erased at the close of every mission. As Henry slowly uncovers the truth behind the horrors that were visited upon him, he’ll struggle with the knowledge that he’s been transformed into a weapon of mass destruction – and expose the disturbing legacy of the many Deathloks that came before him.

“In the tradition of ‘The Bourne Identity’, Deathlok will offer a high-intensity thrill ride mixed with a voyage of discovery, as Henry is forced to peel back the onion-skin of his own existence to get to the truth—and to wrest back control of his life from his corporate overseers!,” says Executive Editor Tom Brevoort. “Viewers familiar with the character concept from his appearances on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series ought to feel right at home getting in on the ground floor of this new series with an all new Deathlok.”

Fans eagerly awaiting DEATHLOK #1 can get their first taste of the new series in the highly anticipated ORIGINAL SINS #1 – featuring the first appearance of Henry Hayes in an all-new story by Edmondson and Perkins. Original Sins #1 is on-sale digitally and in print today!

Hunted across the globe by S.H.I.E.L.D., the one man army will be forced to choose – is he a man, or a machine? Follow the high-octane new title as Deathlok makes his debut today in Original Sins #1 and explodes into his own series this October for DEATHLOK #1.

DEATHLOK #1
Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON
Art by MIKE PERKINS
Cover by MIKE PERKINS
Coming in October!

To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook.

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com

06.10.2014 - ARCHIE COMICS PREVIEWS - ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #251 and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #261

ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #251
Archie’s excited for a day at the carnival with his two best gals… but are they in for a fun ride? Or does Archie’s over-eagerness take the enjoyment out of their summer excursion? It’s no love rollercoaster in “Rights and Wrongs,” the hilarious lead story to a fun-filled digest!
Script: Frank Doyle
Art: Harry Lucey, Bill Yoshida, Barry Grossman
Cover: Jeff Shultz, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale: 6/11
160-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #261
Dive into the action in "Waves of Change" Part Two! Sonic, Amy, and Rotor—in the deep sea and in deeper trouble!  When their new friend Coral has run afoul of her government, will Sonic and the Freedom Fighters stand by her side? Or will they risk becoming fugitives? Then, in “The Light in the Dark,” Sally’s simple raiding plans take a turn for the worse! Featuring new cover art from Sonic comic superstar Ben Bates and a hilarious new "Endless Summer" collector cover by Tracy Yardley and Matt Herms
Script: Ian Flynn, Aleah Baker
Art: Jennifer Hernandez, Evan Stanley, Terry Austin, John Workman and Matt Herms
Cover: Ben Bates
"Endless Summer" Variant Cover: Tracy Yardley and Matt Herms
On Sale: 6/11
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 U.S.

06.09.2014 - SHOUT! FACTORY CELEBRATES THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF TRANSFORMERS

SHOUT! FACTORY CELEBRATES THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF TRANSFORMERS
WITH A TREASURE TROVE OF ENTERTAINMENT SPANNING THREE DECADES,
“30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS – SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014”
LIVE STREAM EVENT AND MORE! 

Since 1984, the thrills of the TRANSFORMERS saga, the action of epic battles between the AUTOBOTS and the DECEPTICONS, and the memorable ROBOTS IN DISGUISE characters continue to spark the imagination of millions worldwide. The TRANSFORMERS brand is a global pop-culture phenomenon, bringing entertainment and excitement to kids and fans through countless collectible toys, animated series, films, comic books, video games and a convention dedicated to TRANSFORMERS collectors.

In honor of the year-long celebration of the TRANSFORMERS 30th Anniversary, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, salutes the beloved TRANSFORMERS franchise by broadcasting from the floor of BotCon and by placing emphasis behind its uniquely diverse home entertainment offerings of TRANSFORMERS animated series (spanning 1984 – 2013).  As part of the “THRILLING 30” festivities, the multi-faceted campaign from Shout! Factory includes TRANSFORMERS 30th Anniversary branded product highlights, gift-with-purchase ecommerce opportunities, special digital live stream event “30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS –SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014” – featuring TRANSFORMERS series marathon with special coverage from BotCon 2014 – and many more surprises to further engage fans and collectors.

For continuing updates on the TRANSFORMERS 30th Anniversary celebration from Shout! Factory, please follow us on Twitter @ShoutFactory, hashtag #BotCon2014.

TRANSFORMERS animated series home entertainment product highlights include:
The TRANSFORMERS: The Complete Series (Generational 1)
TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS
TRANSFORMERS THE JAPANESE COLLECTION
TRANSFORMERS ARMADA: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS ENERGON: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TRANSFORMERS PRIME Seasons One, Two and Three
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: DARKNESS RISING
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: ONE SHALL STAND
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: ULTIMATE BUMBLEBEE
TRANSFORMERS PRIME:  BEAST HUNTERS – PREDACONS RISING
TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS: GRIFFIN ROCK RESCUE
TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS: ENERGIZE
TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS:  HEROES ON THE SCENE

GIFT-WITH-PURCHASE OPPORTUNITY
*Loyal fans and collectors please take note:
Available while supplies last, receive a limited-edition 18”x24” collector’s poster with any purchase of TRANSFORMERS animated series home entertainment products from ShoutFactory.com

“30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS – SHOUT! FACTORY LIVE AT BOTCON 2014” DIGITAL LIVE STREAM EVENT
Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, presents “30 YEARS IN 3 DAYS LIVE AT BOTCON 2014,” a three-day digital live stream takeover featuring marathon of TRANSFORMERS series episodes, exclusive digital segments and highlights from BotCon 2014. Viewers can tune in to this special marathon event on Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22, exclusively on www.TF30years.com and Shout! Factory’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/shoutfactory).

The live stream will originate from the BotCon floor at the Pasadena Convention Center.  Viewers and fans are encouraged to share their passion for the TRANSFORMERS via Twitter using the hashtag #TF30years, #BotCon2014 and @shoutfactory.

About Hasbro Studios
Hasbro Studios is the Los Angeles-based entertainment division of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS). The studio is responsible for entertainment brand-driven storytelling for the company across television, film, commercial productions and short-form. It develops, produces and distributes TV shows based on Hasbro's world class brands, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and FAMILY GAME NIGHT. Many of these shows air on the Hub Network, a U.S. television network for kids and their families, that is a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK). Hasbro Studios shows can also be seen on networks in more than 180 territories globally.  Since its formation in 2009, the studio has received seven Daytime Emmy wins and 16 nominations.  On the film side, the studio is developing and producing a number of features based on Hasbro's brands, including TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION (Paramount), G.I. JOE 3 (Paramount) and CANDY LAND (Sony).  The studio team also oversees the production of commercials that feature Hasbro's brands as well production of short-form content that can be seen on all of the major digital and social media platforms globally.

About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD and Blu-Ray™ offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials in lavish packages crammed with extras.  Shout’s audio division boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations.  In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast digital distribution network which delivers video and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America.  Shout! Factory also owns and operates Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, HighTone Records and Video Time Machine. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention.  Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com

06.03.2014 - WORLD OF ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #40 and SONIC UNIVERSE #64 PREVIEW

 
WORLD OF ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #40
Archie’s been commanded from on high (aka his parents) to do some outside chores. This doesn’t go over too well with Veronica, who Archie had to break his plans with. But no chores means no allowance which means no date! When she decides to go out with Reggie instead, will Archie be the better man? Or will he skip out on his responsibilities to win her over? Find out in “Job Well Done” the lead story to this fun-filled digest!

Script: Frank Doyle
Art: Harry Lucey, Marty Epp, Barry Grossman
Cover: Jeff Shultz, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale: 6/4
160-page, full color comic
$3.99 US.



SONIC UNIVERSE #64
Knuckles and the Chaotix are back in action! "The Great Chaos Caper" Part Two: It’s hijinks and high explosives galore with Knuckles caught in the middle of all the action!  The Chaotix and the Hooligans are falling all over each other to get to a Chaos Emerald – the key to saving (or dooming) the world!  It’s up to Knuckles to power through the madness and complete his own mission and, in his travels, you’ll never believe who he finds! Featuring new cover art from Tracy Yardley and a rad red SEGA Variant cover!

Script: Ian Flynn
Art: Tracy Yardley, Jim Amash, Jack Morelli and Matt Herms
Cover: Tracy Yardley
Game Art Variant Cover Art provided by SEGA
On Sale: 6/4
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US.