PREVIEW FATHOM #4!

Scott Lobdell – Story /
Alex Konat – Art /
Beth Sotelo – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

Over a million species of undersea life forms exist under the surface, some dating back over four hundred million years old. Aspen Matthews, marine-biologist, has researched many of them in her past. Yet, nothing in her education could have prepared her for the recent discovery of the mysterious Church of the Eternal Depths. Along with the help of her new ally Galit, Aspen must prevent this ancient order from exerting their nefarious influence over the rest of the world. Something that will become infinitely more complicated as she discovers the Church has aligned itself with the Japanese government, which has learned to apply all of the technology it has recovered over the years—much of it from none other than the race of the Blue!

USA TODAY HAS SNEAK PEAK OF KIANI #0!

by Brian Truitt of usatoday.com

When last readers saw the Aspen Comics antiheroine Kiani, she was being forcefully dissolved into water by the star of the Fathom series, marine biologist and superheroine Aspen Matthews. How she returns to life and responds to that comes to the fore in the second Fathom: Kiani miniseries, beginning in March with a special zero issue written by Vince Hernandez with art by Oliver Nome.

The late Michael Turner debuted the world of Fathom in 1998 with Aspen Matthews, a girl who is mysteriously drawn to the water and discovers she has powers as well as the fact she's a link between mankind and the world below sea level, where the underwater species of the Blue and the Black exist.

Kiani is a warrior of the Blue — whom Hernandez likens to Joan of Arc but with the coolness of Kate Beckinsale — and this new miniseries featuring the character will reveal how she survived her apparent death and plans to deal with the Blue and the humans, two worlds she feels have betrayed her.

"This series is all about how this brilliant, underwater race of beings are learning to adapt to a world that now knows of their existence — and the conflicts that encompass this discovery," says Hernandez, Aspen's editor in chief.

"She has ceased to doubt or regret her actions and instead is stepping up as a leader of sorts. This time, she won't be ignored as a simple dissident to peace, but revered as a legend by her people. She's very much going to be viewed as a martyr by many of her people who stand with her against peace with the humans."

This new Kiani miniseries will take place under the surface, and there will be new watery locales and character designs from Nome and colorist John Starr, according to Hernandez. A few Fathom characters that have been supporting characters will step into the limelight in this series as well, as the group of dissidents led by Kiani's dad, the villainous Killian, will be choosing sides in the war at hand.

Of course, there is the little matter of Kiani's not-so-lengthy demise. Hernandez says that Aspen won't be appearing in the new miniseries — although events from it will affect the flagship Fathom series — and revenge will be a motivation but not an approach.

While in the past her philosophy has been more simple action and reaction, Kiani will have a new post-death focus.

"She knows what she wants and how to get it, and is driven by her emotion," Hernandez says. "Only now, she's begun to mature and think things out more, which is a dangerous development for her enemies.

"At her core she's just an awesome character that kicks butt while remaining relatable to fans because of the things that have happened to her," he adds. "Even though she's this strikingly beautiful woman with powerful traits, she is also fragile and doubts herself at times. I think your average person can identify with that, making it easier to root for her even if she might be considered one of the 'bad guys.' "

Kiani also has her water-manipulation powers back and more thanks to her resurrection, making her an even more imposing threat to those in her way. However, Hernandez is making an effort to emphasize her more intimate emotions, too.

"There's going to be several moments where I hope readers will feel a strong connection to Kiani even though technically her actions may not be just," he says. "She's an incredibly complex character, and I want to explore all of those facets of her personality, definitely."

Hernandez is planning a third Kiani miniseries to follow the current one. So will this be the Empire Strikes Back of the bunch?

"I hope we sell the same number of units as Star Wars ," he says, laughing. "I can't divulge too much about plans for what happens in volume 3 but I plan for an epic trilogy, minus the Ewoks.

"Well, maybe I'll throw a few in there — they can swim, right?"

COMIC ATTACK REVIEWS HAUNTED CITY #2!

Peter Johnson & Chap Taylor – Story
Michael Ryan – Art /
Kelsey Shannon – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

by Billy Dunleavy for comicattack.net

After issue #1, I thought that Detective Whalen was in some trouble, but after this issue, he’ll be in over his head so far he might not have a head soon. Now he’s not only battling Internal Affairs, but also a city that has erupted with crime and complete anarchy. We see cops clashing with crowds bent on violence and destruction. A lot of the fighting is racially motivated, and it seems that below the surface the cops might be harboring a secret. There is a secret meeting set up with Whalen and his buddy who’s also involved in the drug business. To say that the meeting doesn’t go as planned is an understatement, but Whalen uses his craftiness to elude his pursuers long enough to get into his car and drive off before he loses a limb. What will issue #3 bring? I can’t say for sure, but if it brings it like the first two issues have, then I’m reading it!

Taylor and Johnson have a cool story going here. You have a crime story feeling, and also one of mystery, not to mention the fact that kids are being abducted and killed. There is also the element of dark magic (or Hoodoo) that it seems is at the root of all this, as well. We’ve seen a couple of mysterious characters that have yet to be properly introduced, but it actually just adds to the enigmatic nature of this book. I do hope we get more on these two characters next issue, and also learn about how it ties in with the werewolves that popped up in this issue.

I’ll admit right from the start that I would buy this book just from the cover. I’m a sucker for a werewolf book, and this one was good and had all the other elements I talked about earlier, plus the artist, Michael Ryan, not only did a fantastic job on the “A” cover, but also with the interiors. My favorite scene in the book was when two cops confronted about thirty dudes. The double-page spread was awesome that showed the two cops trying to fight off the entire gang. Bullets flying, lead pipes, and baseball bats swinging, you name it, it was there. Really great job on that front. I honestly can’t wait for the next installment of this book because of the mysterious characters, and the awesome werewolves!   Rating 4/5

INSIDE LOOK: DEAD MAN'S RUN #1!

by Greg Pak for brokenfrontier.com

Inside Look is Broken Frontier's director’s commentary-like feature in which creators take you behind the scenes of one of their latest comics to hit the stands. In this edition: Greg Pak on Dead Man's Run #1.

When Valhalla Entertainment's Ben Roberts called me up a couple of years ago and said "Jailbreak from Hell," I was instantly hooked. So it's a huge thrill this week to be debuting Dead Man's Run #1, a miniseries following a young cartographer as he builds a team of villains and monsters to break his sister out of a maximum security prison that just happens to be Hell itself.

The book was developed with Valhalla's Gale Anne Hurd, the legendary producer of Aliens and The Walking Dead, and the amazing crew at Aspen, including Frank Mastromauro and Vince Hernandez. The brilliant Tony Parker is pencilling and inking the book, with letters by Josh Reed and colors by David Curiel.

Read on for a few thoughts about the creative choices behind these first five pages -- and please feel free to ask your local retailer to hold a copy of the book for you today!

PAGE ONE

We pick up immediately after the events of Dead Man's Run #0, which hit stores back in October. It's always a challenge to figure out how to deal with #0 and #1 issues. Low cost #0 issues are a great way to hook readers into a new storyline. But that leaves you with the challenge of introducing your world again in a new way without treading water with the #1 issue. Our solution was to tell the story of Captain Romero and his journey to Hell in issue #0. Now in issue #1, we start with Romero's death, setting up the introduction of our actual main character, Sam Tinker, who's mentioned on this page.

PAGE TWO

Yes, I'm paid to write. But every once in a while, words fail me, particularly when describing subtle emotional states or expressions. With a couple of tricky panels on this page, I did something ridiculous I'd never tried before -- and took photos of myself trying to replicate the expressions in my head. So here I am trying to show Sam's deadpan surprise in panel 2 and Juniper's wry smile in panel 5.

       

Tony did an amazing job tolerating my craziness and bringing out the awesome in all these pages. Although I'm a little disappointed he didn't give Juniper my stubble.

PAGES THREE AND FOUR

A scene with just two people talking can be incredibly dramatic on a human level. But if you're telling your story visually, it's key to work in some kind of action and movement. Here we have Sam and Juniper in a car, which provides at least a touch of subconscious suspense -- on some level, we're wondering where they're going and if they'll get there.

At the same time, Tony's doing a great job of varying the angles panel-by-panel and moving in closer for more intimate moments, which creates its own sense of movement. And finally, Juniper's passing Sam this old map, which gives us something interesting visually to bring this past they're discussing to life. Great actors are geniuses with prop work -- Marlon Brando with the kitten in The Godfather might be the most classic example. Just the way a character handles an object can reveal something -- I'm a little bit in love with the way Juniper's handing the paper over using two fingers rather than her thumb in the last panel of Page Three. Again, almost on a subconscious level, a little detail like that helps dramatize Juniper's sass and spirit.

It's worth noting that the movement here is pretty minimal and subtle. We certainly could have found bigger ways to put our characters in motion. But storytelling depends a lot on contrast, and the quietness of these moments serves as a set up for...

PAGE FIVE

...the big crash on this page. If we'd spent the previous couple of pages in slam-bang action, this crash might not have had the visceral impact it should.

Tony has fun here with tilting panels for impact. And he does a great job with the tiny emotional moment between Sam and Juniper. The  hope is that by spending a couple of pages watching Sam and Juniper fight and reconcile in jokey brother-sister fashion, we've helped give this moment of crisis some real emotional impact.

Here on page 5 we're also paying off one of the promises on page 1. Romero says he wants Tinker; this crash is the means by which he gets him, as we'll soon see. I think it's valuable to be able to circle something around like that in the first four or five pages; it's like Act One of a screenplay. You want to resolve an element while pumping the story up to the next level.

Many thanks for reading, and please feel free to ping me via Twitter if you have any thoughts or questions about Dead Man's Run.

See you in Hell!

Dead Man's Run #1 by Greg Pak and Tony Parker is out now from Aspen Entertainment.

COMIC BOOK INTERVIEWS DAVID B. SCHWARTZ!

by Scott Johnson of comicbook.com

Considering how reality TV has changed the landscape of television by allowing more viewer participation in shows, one would think that more comic books would have embraced elements of the format. However, there are relatively few comic books over the years that have involved fans through voter participation or contests, but an upcoming comic book from Aspen Comics looks to change that.

When I first heard the concept behind IDOLIZED I was intrigued, but after talking to series creator David B. Schwartz, I went from being intrigued to downright double back-flipping excited. At the forefront, IDOLIZED is utilizing some very innovative and groundbreaking reality TV type gimmicks, such as allowing fans to vote on character designs. But at the core, Schwartz’s description of IDOLIZED paints the picture of a series that is going to be a very well-thought out character piece and highly entertaining read.

With Image Comics’ Meltdown, Schwartz created a brilliant and original take on the superhero medium, and Aspen Comics’ IDOLIZED looks like it will continue in that tradition. IDOLIZED tells the story of a girl with super powers and a dark past, who seeks revenge, and ultimately finds redemption, over the course of competing in a televised super hero competition show. Aspen Comics describes the series as “True Grit meets American Idol…with capes.”

If IDOLIZED isn’t already on your radar, then you owe it to yourself to read Schwartz’ commentary on the series below. I have a feeling that this is a series that will catch a lot of people by surprise, so it’s one of those titles you might want to have your local comic book add to your hold box now, so you don’t miss out when it sells out.

Comicbook.com: Can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with the idea for IDOLIZED?

David B. Schwartz:  First, thanks for taking the time to talk with me!  I’m tremendously excited about IDOLIZED.  It’s really a fun book to write, and I’m looking forward to telling your readers about it.  So, here we go…

As far as the idea for IDOLIZED, ever since the end of my Image Comics series MELTDOWN, people have been asking me if and when I’d be writing another superhero book. I’ve definitely wanted to, as I love the genre, but I really wanted to wait until the right concept struck me. I knew it had to be something unique, compelling, emotional and exciting, and rife with opportunities for social commentary. A tall order.

So, one day several years ago, I was reading an article about the astounding success of the American Idol zeitgeist, and the tremendous amount of drama that the kids on that show go through; the fear, the desperation, the crushing blow of a bad performance, the elation of a great performance, the feeling that their entire future could be riding on every choice they make about their clothing and hair, every word they say, every note they sing.

Love it or hate it, it’s hard to deny that it’s a tremendously pressure-filled, high-stakes situation. And I was thinking, if there was truly a superhero world like the Marvel or DC universes, would there be a show like that, with that level of human drama and intensity, but for superheroes? If so, what would it look like?

Out of that grew the idea of a comic book series about a TV show where super-powered teens and 20-somethings are competing for the ultimate dream-prize: a guaranteed spot in that world’s top super-group, The Powered Protectors.

Guaranteed entry to the Protectors is huge. After all, it wouldn’t be easy to become a legal, sanctioned, paid superhero (as opposed to a mere illegal vigilante). But, if you get to start off by winning “SuperHero Idol?” Well, it’s like you’ve instantly arrived, and can write your own ticket from there on out. The chance of winning offers fame, fortune, massive endorsement deals and, of course, a chance to actually save the world. Kids who dream of being worshipped as the next Superman or Wonder Woman would be falling all over themselves to get on — and perhaps even win — the show.

And, from there, I fleshed out the idea for IDOLIZED as the story of a girl with superpowers and a dark past, who seeks revenge, and ultimately finds redemption, over the course of competing in this televised superhero competition show.

Comicbook.com: You received a great deal of critical acclaim for Meltdown. How is Idolized similar to and/or different from that series?

David B. Schwartz:  I tend to write stories that are very character-driven, that really try to get into the heads of people who are wrestling with internal demons, with intense self-doubts.  In MELTDOWN, it was a character dealing with regret over the choices he had made in his life.  In FATHOM: BLUE DESCENT, another series I did for Aspen, it was a man wrestling with trying to balance his passion for his work with his love for his family.  Here, it’s a girl who’s wrestling with overwhelming anger, and who needs to learn how to let go of her rage.  But, in all cases, they’re stories that are driven by the internal struggles of the main character, and, hopefully, these are struggles that the readers can really identify with, be in some way touched by, and perhaps even see a bit of themselves in.

The other similarity is that both MELTDOWN and IDOLIZED both really play with a lot of the typical superhero tropes, turn them on their ear a bit, and subtly provide commentary on them.  I try to take those tropes, layer them onto a more realistic world, and ask how things would play out if all of this – these costumed, empowered individuals fighting crime – were alive in the real world, and I try to mine both some comedy, and some drama, out of the answer to those questions.

Comicbook.com: Since you work as an entertainment lawyer, have you been able to incorporate your legal knowledge into the scripts for Idolized?

David B. Schwartz:  Not yet on IDOLIZED, but I’ve got several additional series lined up with Aspen after this one, and there are a few of them of them where that legal background is gonna come in very handy.  Stay tuned!

Comicbook.com: Idolized is described as American Idol meets True Grit with capes. The American Idol comparison is obvious, but what will make the series like True Grit?

David B. Schwartz:  Okay – warning – there are “True Grit” spoilers ahead (for those who haven’t seen it)!

It’s the revenge angle that made me draw the comparison to “True Grit”.  “True Grit”, to me, is about a girl who lets her anger get the best of her.  She becomes so consumed with her desire for revenge that it ends up costing her dearly.  She loses her arm, she leads a life of loneliness and despair.

Similarly, our main character, Joule, is desperate for revenge against the super-villain that she feels wronged her.  When she hears about this new “Superhero Idol” show, she thinks that, by winning, she may be able to get close enough to the man who caused her all that anguish that she’d actually be able to exact her ultimate revenge upon him.

We’ll have to see whether she’s able to learn and grow over the course of the series, and to overcome her anger and determination, in a way that the “True Grit” character never really did.  Or, at least, didn’t until it was too late.

Comicbook.com: So the lead character in Idolized is a girl with super-powers and a dark past who goes on a superhero competition show. Can you provide some hints on what her dark past is?

David B. Schwartz:  She went through something pretty horrific as a little kid, which she blames herself for. She’s spent the last decade since then working madly to become a superhero. She’s determined to atone for her failure; to save other lives in order to make up for the lives she let slip away. She’s working day and night at honing her powers. Gaining speed and strength, agility, dexterity. Honing her mind, soaking up information like a sponge. Working one dead-end job after the next, just making enough money to pay for her training. She’s gotten good – really good — but she just can’t get that first lucky break into the business.

Until she decides to audition for Idol. She’s embarrassed to be surrounded by a group of people she assumes are only desperate for fame and fortune. But, she needs to be a hero, needs to win this opportunity to step up and prove herself, shake off her demons. And, as I mentioned before, to get her revenge.

What I love about her is that she’s really a study in contrasts, a person who’s internally at war with herself. She desperately wants to do good things, to help atone for what she sees as the sins of her past, and help change the world. But, at the same time, she’s filled with anger and loathing and wants to kill the man who wronged her. The interplay of those two sides of her — one half wishing to be a do-gooder, the other half ruthlessly seeking to draw blood — gives me a lot to play with, and makes for a great, dramatic character arc over the course of the series.

Comicbook.com: Knowing how the press tends to dig up the dark past of anyone who goes on a reality show, what would lead her to go TV? Wouldn’t she be nervous about her dark past surfacing?

David B. Schwartz:  Yup, that’s definitely something she’s gonna have to deal with.

Overall, we’ll be really taking a deep look at the effect that this process has on the kids who compete on it, the way in which the world reacts to them. We’ll look at the way the producers twist the reality of what these characters are actually doing and saying. We’ll be ruminating on the nature of fame, the public fascination with supposed heroes who they think they know well (but really don’t know at all), the reason people get so obsessed with reality shows, and, perhaps most interestingly, the role that superheroes would play in our lives if they truly existed. And we’ll be doing it all over the course of a thrilling, action-packed, emotional storyline.

Of course, the real question is … how the heck am I gonna fit all of that in??

Comicbook.com: Do the superhero competitors go in front of a panel of judges? If so, are the judges similar to any of the current or former American Idol judges?

David B. Schwartz:  In terms of telling our story, judges were definitely necessary.  But we do use them sparingly, and hopefully to good effect.  They’re part comic relief, but more a vehicle for moving the story forward.  Eventually, they may help Joule to learn a valuable lesson or two, and they’ll turn out to be much more well-rounded than simple parodies of real-world judges.

Comicbook.com: Is Idolized intended as an ongoing series? Or is there a definite end/conclusion planned for the series?

David B. Schwartz:  There’s an ending, and a very specific arc, that’s planned for this initial IDOLIZED story.  But, if fans really respond well to it, and if sales are strong, then there are a tremendous number of additional IDOLIZED arcs we could continue on to, either as an ongoing or, more likely in additional, separate volumes.  Perhaps we’d have the continuing adventures of Joule, after she’s finished with the show.  Or, we could move on to a new season, with entirely new competitors on the show who wrestle with an entirely different set of inner demons and issues and reasons for desperately wanting fame and fortune.  Or both.  But, in any case, there are certainly a tremendous number of additional IDOLIZED stories I’d be itching to tell.

ASPEN'S
COMIC-CON 2011
LINE-UP!

Press Release

Aspen Comics is arriving at this year's Comic Con in San Diego with their largest-ever assortment of show exclusives and new releases. The publisher is debuting five new mini-series at the show as well as two brand new properties, all at the Aspen Comics Booth #2321.

The Official Aspen Comics Panel for this year's Comic Con will take place on Friday from 12pm-1pm in Room 4. Aspen has several exciting announcements about the future of Aspen Comics, also including the revealing of a brand new original property, paired with one of the industry's most acclaimed writers, and the return of two popular series from the Aspen Universe. A huge assortment of Aspen's creators and a few surprise guests will be on hand at this year's panel to preview the company's future plans.

Aspen and director McG's Wonderland Sound and Vision have teamed up for an all-new original horror concept, Haunted City. The property, created by Chap Taylor, and written by Taylor and Peter Johnson with art by Michael Ryan, is simultaneously being developed into a feature script, a TV pilot, and a multi-platform video game, and will launch at the show with an exclusive Haunted City #0 San Diego Comic Con variant cover.

In addition to Haunted City, Aspen will also be launching their new sci-fi, action-adventure series, Broken Pieces. Created by Aspen's own Mark Roslan and illustrated by newcomer Micah Kaneshiro, look for the special Broken Pieces #0 Talent Caldwell San Diego Comic Con exclusive cover being offered all weekend long.

The full list of Aspen's 2011 Comic Con exclusives and quantities include:
•Broken Pieces #0 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Talent Caldwell & Christina Strain (500 copies)
•Charismagic #2 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Michael Lopez & Emilio Lopez (500 copies)
•Executive Assistant: Iris: #1 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Joe Benitez & Peter Steigerwald (500 copies)
•Executive Assistant: Orchid #1 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Joe Benitez & Peter Steigerwald (500 copies)
•Executive Assistant: Lotus #1 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Joe Benitez & Peter Steigerwald (500 copies)
•Executive Assistant: Violet #1 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Joe Benitez & Peter Steigerwald (500 copies)
•Fathom #1 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald (500 copies)
•Haunted City #0 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Micah Gunnell and Peter Steigerwald (500 copies)
•Lady Mechanika #2 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Joe Benitez and Peter Steigerwald (1000 copies)
•Soulfire #2 SDCC 2011 exclusive cover by Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald (500 copies)

As well as exclusive comics, Aspen will also be releasing the brand new 2011 Michael Turner Sketchbook with new art as well as never before seen sketches and designs from the superstar founder, creator and artist. The Michael Turner Sketchbook will be limited to 1000 copies, and Aspen strongly suggests arriving at the Aspen Comics Booth #2321 early to ensure availability.

The publisher will also be releasing a new line of their industry-leading art prints featuring new cover art from the hottest Aspen titles such as Fathom, Soulfire and Lady Mechanika by such popular artists as Michael Turner, Joe Benitez, Micah Gunnell, and more. Aspen will also be offering a variety of FREE Aspen Comics all weekend long, available only at the Aspen Comics Booth #2321.

For more information on Aspen Comics please check www.aspencomics.com. For more information on the San Diego Comic Con please check www.comic-con.org 

ASPEN JOINS FORCES WITH COMIXOLOGY!

Press Release

New York, NY/Los Angeles, CA - 5/25/11– Aspen Comics is proud to announce the launch of their digital line of comic books on the comiXology platform, allowing consumers worldwide the opportunity to access Aspen's ever expanding library of original properties as well as exclusive digital content on the horizon from the publisher.

"We're excited to finally usher our Aspen line of books into the digital marketplace, and are thrilled to be teaming up with comiXology to make this a reality," said Frank Mastromauro, President of Aspen MLT, Inc. "This will give our fans greater access to our current catalogue of titles, while also providing potential new readers with a wide choice of different avenues to jump into the Aspen Comics universe."

The first wave of the comiXology launch will include 15 titles, including some of Aspen's most popular series, such as Michael Turner's Fathom and Soulfire, the critically acclaimed series Executive Assistant: Iris and Shrugged, and several more available at launch and to be announced. Individual titles from Aspen will be priced on comiXology from $.99 to $2.99 depending on issue size, with over-sized titles priced accordingly, and every introductory zero or preview issue offered for free. Aspen and comiXology will also be offering full series sets of Aspen's various titles for a discounted price.

"We've been working to get Aspen titles onto Comics by comiXology since before we even launched, " said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. "So, it gives us great pleasure to add them to the platform. We are always looking to expand our comic library to give our community more comic titles to enjoy and Aspen will be a great addition."

List of digital Aspen Comics available now:

• Executive Assistant: Iris Preview (Free)
• Executive Assistant: Iris #0 (Free)
• Executive Assistant: Iris #1
• Executive Assistant: Iris #2
• Fathom #0/Preview (Free)
• Fathom #1
• Fathom #2
• Shrugged Beginnings (Free)
• Shrugged #0 (Free)
• Shrugged #1
• Shrugged #2
• Soulfire #0 (Free)
• Soulfire #1
• Soulfire #2

About Aspen Comics

Aspen MLT, Inc. is an entertainment publishing company founded in January 2003 by superstar comic artist Michael Turner. Aspen produces the popular series Fathom, the hit fantasy series Soulfire, the smash hit Lady Mechanika, the acclaimed series Shrugged, as well as new series such as Broken Pieces, Charismagic, Dellec, Executive Assistant: Iris, Mindfield, and The Scourge in association with Valhalla Motion Pictures. As well as publishing their own line of books, Aspen MLT Inc. continually collaborates on the comic industry's most exciting titles including Marvel's Civil War and World War Hulk, and DC Comics' Identity Crisis and Brightest Day events. Aspen has branched into other media forms and continues to do so. Aspen has produced original content and designs for such clients as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, NBC, American Express and more.

About comiXology

Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archaia Entertainment, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment and Image Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which hosts over 9,000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in digital comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace.

ASPEN'S MAGICAL LAUNCHES SELL OUT!

Official Press Release

Aspen Comics is proud to announce the sell-outs at the Diamond level of their first two magical offerings of 2011, Soulfire and Charismagic. Michael Turner's latest volume of the fantasy action-adventure series Soulfire returned on March 9th with the release of Soulfire Volume Three #0, and sold out within days of its release. Series writer J.T. Krul was enthusiastic about the response to the latest offering of Soulfire.

"Now this is the kind of "sellout" you want to be! I am beyond thrilled about the book selling out. If anything, it's a testament to the amazing world Michael Turner created that I have been fortunate enough to live in for the past several years. To everyone who picked it up, thanks for all the support."

In addition to the sell out of Soulfire #0, Aspen is also happy to reveal the sell out of the second printing of the zero issue of their all new dark fantasy series Charismagic. Released in February, Charismagic #0 sold out at the Diamond level before even being released in stores, and the second printing has followed that response by selling out as well before its release. The Second printing of Charismagic #0 will be in stores on March 30th.

Aspen urges fans to check with their local retailers to ensure you get your copies of Charismagic #1, in stores on April 6th, and Michael Turner's Soulfire #1 in stores on April 13th. Also, fans are encouraged to check with their local comic book store as copies of the first printings of Charismagic #0 and Soulfire #0 may still be available at the retail level.

LADY MECHANIKA #1 SELLS OUT!

Joe Benitez – Writer, Art /
Peter Steigerwald – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

Official Press Release

Following on the heels of the sold out second and third printings of Lady Mechanika #0, Aspen Comics is proud to announce Lady Mechanika #1 has also sold out at the Diamond level just days after it's release. Aspen launched the steampunk adventure series Lady Mechanika this past October with the release of the highly anticipated zero issue, and the series has taken off ever since. Series creator Joe Benitez is extremely pleased with the sell out release of the first issue:

"I deeply appreciate all of you who picked up Lady Mechanika #1. I found out today that Lady is going into a second printing. It made me so very proud that we're putting a book out that has so much positive support behind it. To know that people are enjoying the work really makes what we do well worth it and so much more enjoyable. Thank you again."

Lady Mechanika is created, written and drawn by Benitez with colors by Aspen superstar Peter Steigerwald. The thrilling action-adventure features the tale of Lady Mechanika and her search for answers to her true identity, answers which may come with a fatal price—her life. Lady Mechanika #1 was released on December 8th and industry critics have raved it is "absolutely breathtaking," and that "Benitez's vision is so crisp and clear; it sets the book apart and makes it a visual smorgasbord of coolness."

To satisfy fan and retailer demand for the first issue of Lady Mechanika, Aspen is going back to press for a second printing of the red hot Lady Mechanika #1. The second printing will feature a brand new cover by Benitez and Steigerwald and will be available on January 12th. As well, Aspen encourages fans to check with their local comic book shop, as some copies of the first printing of Lady Mechanika #1 may still be available at the retail level.

For more information on Lady Mechanika and Aspen Comics, please check www.AspenComics.com and www.AspenStore.com.

LADY MECHANIKA #0 SELLS OUT!

Official Press Release

Aspen Comics is pleased to announce that Joe Benitez’s all new creator-owned series Lady Mechanika #0 has sold out within just days of its release. In Lady Mechanika, the occult and paranormal occurrences of the period cast a dark shadow over society. However, ‘Lady M’ is clever enough to unlock these mysteries using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry and unconventional, scientific technology. She is part human; part mechanical, yet entirely uncertain of her origin and identity — her true existence. The action-adventure steampunk-infused title is created, written and illustrated by Benitez (Soulfire, Wraithborn) with colors by acclaimed colorist Peter Steigerwald (Soulfire, Brightest Day, Ultimate X).

Benitez,  enthusiastic about the fans’ reaction to the book’s launch, explained  he was pleased to hear that Lady Mechanika #0 had sold out at the Diamond level. "It made me feel that we’re on the right track with this book. I’m extremely thankful to all the retailers and fans out there that took a chance on Lady Mechanika, and I truly appreciate all your support. I’m pumped and ready to deliver the next chapter for you guys.”  

With such a positive response to Lady Mechanika #0, Aspen has decided to go back to press for a second printing of the book to meet retailer demand for additional copies. The second printing of Lady Mechanika #0 will feature an all-new cover by the creative team of Benitez and Steigerwald, and will be in stores November 10th. The new Aspen series will then kick off in December with the release of Lady Mechanika #1 featuring two direct market covers by Benitez and superstar artist J. Scott Campbell.

ASPEN 2010 FAN EXPO EXCLUSIVES REVEALED!

Official Press Release

The Fan Expo 2010 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be Aspen Comics' next stop on their summer convention tour, and the publisher is launching two exciting new series at the show. Aspen's Frank Mastromauro, Peter Steigerwald, Mark Roslan, Joe Benitez, J.T. Krul, Micah Gunnell, and Alex Konat will be on hand at the Aspen Comics Booth all weekend long to meet with fans, sign autographs, and preview Aspen's upcoming titles.

Aspen is excited to launch the latest chapter in the Fathom saga with the release of Fathom: Blue Descent #1, written by David Schwartz with art by Alex Sanchez and John Starr. Fathom: Blue Descent reveals the secrets of Aspen's true childhood, and the deadly events surrounding her parent's struggle to keep their family intact. To celebrate the release of the all-new Fathom mini-series, Aspen is offering a highly limited Canadian National Comic Book Expo 2010 exclusive cover by Fathom creator Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald, limited to 500 copies.

Acclaimed movie producer Gale Anne Hurd brings her frightening vision of terror in the skies above New York City to Aspen Comics in the all-new series, The Scourge. Created by Hurd and written by legendary writer Scott Lobdell, features intense action and horror-driven art by Eric Battle and David Curiel. Aspen is proud to offer an in-your-face Fan Expo exclusive variant cover limited to 500 copies by Battle and Steigerwald.

The Aspen Splash 2010 pinup book, featuring pinups of Aspen's most popular characters by today's preeminent comic book stars, debuts in Canada with an all new Fan Expo exclusive variant of the red hot Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald cover. This moonlit edition will be available all weekend long, only at the Aspen Comics Booth, and is limited to only 1000 copies.

Aspen will also be releasing a new series of their industry-leading art prints featuring all new Fathom, Soulfire, Lady Mechanika covers by Michael Turner, Joe Benitez, Peter Steigerwald and more. The Aspen Tour Print Toronto edition will be available exclusively at the Aspen Comics Booth and is limited to 75 copies. Aspen will also be offering a new classic Fathom print by Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald

On Sunday at 2:30pm, the Official Aspen Comics Panel will take place in Room 104D. The Aspen crew will be on hand to highlight upcoming releases and reveal exciting new projects from Aspen for 2010 and beyond, and answer fans questions.

For more information on Fan Expo 2010 check fanexpocanada.com and for more information on Aspen Comics check aspencomics.com.

PRE-ORDER ASPEN MATTHEWS STATUE!

07/01/10

Aspen is proud to announce the release of their latest statue, Fathom's popular heroine Aspen Matthews, now available for pre-order. Designed by Fathom creator Michael Turner and sculpted and painted by award-winning sculptor Dene Mason, the latest Aspen statue follows an impressive line of full-size statues including the critically-acclaimed Grace and Kiani, previously released by Aspen MLT, Inc., and is the first new Aspen Matthews statue in over ten years.

One of Aspen's most daring and intricate statue designs ever, the Aspen Matthews statue measures over 16" tall with a 10" wide wingspan. The statue was created as the centerpiece to Aspen's previous statue releases, and has already garnered much buzz across the internet after its initial photos were released. The Aspen statue will be offered for a retail price of $299.00.

The production run of the Aspen Matthews statue will be limited to the amount of orders received, and Aspen highly suggests anyone wishing to order the statue to do so as soon as possible to ensure their order is fulfilled. For more information on Aspen MLT, Inc, Fathom, and the Aspen Matthews statue please visit www.AspenComics.com and www.AspenStore.com or inquire with your local comic book retailer.

ASPEN COMICS SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2010 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ANNOUNCED

PRESS RELEASE 07/13/10

Aspen Comics is pleased to announce their schedule of events for the largest gathering of comic book and entertainment fans in North America, San Diego Comic Con International 2010. The Aspen Comics Booth #2321 is the site of Aspen's exciting plans all weekend long including creator appearances and signings, exclusive Comic Con books and sketchbooks, all new art prints, free comic giveaways, and much more.

To commemorate the legacy of their founder Michael Turner, Aspen is releasing a special Michael Turner Sketchbook: "Aspen: The Early Years" jam-packed with 48 pages of many never-before-seen Turner layouts, sketches, popular covers and much more from his early days of Aspen Comic's formation. The Turner sketchbook is limited to only 1,000 editions. Aspen strongly encourages fans to arrive early to pick up their copies as the sketchbooks are expected to sell out.

The Aspen Comics Booth #2321 will be the site of the world premiere of Aspen's newest action-adventure-horror series, The Scourge, at Comic Con 2010. From the mind of renowned filmmaker Gale Anne Hurd and written by Scott Lobdell, with art by Eric Battle, the Scourge is set to infect comic book shelves this Summer and Fall. Aspen is celebrating the release of this brand new series with a pair of special exclusives, a San Diego Comic Con 2010 cover by Eric Battle and Peter Steigerwald limited to 500 copies as well as an even more rare San Diego Comic Con 2010 Sketch Cover Edition limited to only 250 copies.

In addition to the release of The Scourge #0 at the show, Aspen is proud to release the 2010 edition of the popular Aspen Splash swimsuit pinup book featuring Aspen's most popular characters drawn by some of the industry's top talents such as Michael Turner, Joe Benitez, Talent Caldwell, Peter Steigerwald, Micah Gunnell, Nick Bradshaw, Khary Randolph, Siya Oum and many more. The Aspen Splash 2010 San Diego Comic Con 2010 exclusive with an all-new cover by Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald is limited to 1000 copies.

As well as the aforementioned exclusives, Aspen is offering a special Mindfield #2 San Diego Comic Con 2010 edition with a cover by series artist Alex Konat and colors by Peter Steigerwald, limited to 500 copies. Mindfield is Aspen's all new espionage action adventure series by red-hot writer JT Krul and Konat.

To top off this year's San Diego exclusives, Aspen will have available a Soulfire #7 San Diego Comic Con 2010 variant cover by superstar artist Joe Benitez and Peter Steigerwald, limited to 500 copies. Soulfire is written by JT Krul of Green Arrow fame with artwork by Marcus To of DC Comic's popular Red Robin series.

As always, Aspen will be releasing an all-new series of their industry-leading art prints including the popular Aspen Tour Print 2010 San Diego Edition by Joe Benitez and Peter Steigerwald. Aspen will also be releasing a new series of prints including the classic 'Aspen Matthews' poster image by Michael Turner and Steigerwald, the Aspen Splash 2010 San Diego Comic Con cover by Benitez and Steigerwald, and the Soulfire #7 San Diego Comic Con cover by Benitez and Steigerwald.

Aside from exciting exclusives available for sale, the Aspen Comics Booth #2321 will also be offering a host of free comic giveaways all weekend long. Please stop by the booth to check out Aspen's collection of freebies throughout the show.

The Official Aspen Comics Panel takes place in room 32AB on Friday at the convention and will include most of the Aspen Comics creators and artists including Frank Mastromauro, Peter Steigerwald, Vince Hernandez, Mark Roslan, JT Krul, Scott Lobdell, David Wohl, Joe Benitez, Eric Battle, Micah Gunnell, David Wohl, Alex Konat, Beth Sotelo, Siya Oum, and a few more surprise guests. Aspen is pleased to announce that every person in attendance of The Official Aspen Comics Panel will receive a one-of-a-kind exclusive Scourge #0 Aspen Comics Panel Edition 2010 variant featuring a cover by Mark Roslan, limited to 250 copies. This rare movie poster-inspired convention variant will only be available to panel attendees.

There will be a host of Aspen creators at the Aspen Comics Booth all weekend long from Thursday to Sunday. Please stop by the booth for official creator signing times.

For more information on Comic Con International please see www.comic-con.org and for more information on Aspen Comics please see www.aspencomics.com and www.aspenstore.com.

GRAPHIC POLICY.COM REVIEWS FATHOM, THE SCOURGE, & LADY MECHANIKA!

by Brett of graphicpolicy.com

FATHOM VOLUME FOUR #3

Beautiful artwork, fun story, entertaining characters, that sums up this issue of Fathom which takes Aspen and her team to the Middle East.

A weary and frustrated Aspen arrives in Saudi Arabia at the request of scientists from an international conference of deep-sea researchers, but mostly, looking to avoid the scornful eye of the U.S. Government. However, Aspen soon realizes her refuge from the Americans’ concerns has now become a solution for a new groups’ crisis. At the request of the powers-that-be, she is hesitantly thrust back into the depths to moderate a search for oil reserves that soon turns into a discovery far greater—and potentially far more catastrophic—than what they ever could have anticipated.

The world presented here is pretty cool and unlike anything else I’ve seen. The idea of oil reserves, fine enough, but the way the ocean is presented under the oil is really cool and amazing. This is an untouched world that holds so much possibilities and wonders. The art is amazing and story has me wanting to come back for more. I’m slowly getting into Fathom and the way this issue ends I can’t wait to read the next issue and go back and see what I’ve been missing.

Story: Scott Lobdell Art: Alex Konat Colors: Beth Sotelo

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

LADY MECHANIKA #3

I love, love, love Lady Mechanika. The steampunk world it lays out, the visuals, characters, everything is amazing. This third issue doesn’t disappoint in any way, even coming out with so much expectations from me.

From the imaginative mind of Joe Benitez with colors by the incomparable Peter Steigerwald, comes this all-new, critically acclaimed, supernatural action-adventure series! LADY MECHANIKA’s quest to retrieve the ‘Mechanical Girl’ along with her mysterious maker takes her to the strange and wondrous Cirque du Romani, where she encounters a bizarre—and also dangerous—troupe in search of answers. Along the way, even more shocking clues to the girl’s whereabouts are uncovered, and Mechanika is driven to attend the world famous Mechanicon!

At the heart of it all, the story is a murder mystery with Lady Mechanika attempting to track down another mechanical girl. Instead she stumbles upon a corporate conspiracy in a world I’ve never seen before. The story is cool, but visually the series is amazing. This is unlike anything I’ve seen before and I want more, more, more. It seems to be quite a bit between issues, and that’s the only downside, but when the quality is this good, getting anything makes me happy. I still think steampunk is going to be the next big genre, and Lady Mechanika will be one of the crown jewels leading the way.

Story: Joe Benitez Art: Joe Benitez Colors: Peter Steigerwald

Story: 8.5 Art: 9.25 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

THE SCOURGE #6

I’ve only read this issue and the issue before and this is a comic I want to see as a movie. I also want to read the previous four issues I missed. The comic is a father and son taking on demon like creatures. It’s pretty straightforward, but it’s over the top action fun.

It’s SWAT officer John Griffin’s final stand! He’s New York City’s only hope in avoiding complete annihilation. All he has to do is get past countless bloodthirsty gargoyle-like creatures in an attempt to kill his best friend…and save his son in the process! Take a deep breathe, this is going to be one hell of a last ride!!

It’s really easy, if you like people kicking ass, shooting guns, crazy action like dangling from the Statue of Liberty, all with that infamous countdown until things go boom, this is for you. It’s unrealistic, but that’s what makes the comic so good. This is a big screen action movie in comic form, and I have no idea if they could pull it off as an action movie. It’s good, really good and looks like we’ll see more, which I can only hope. If you haven’t read the previous issues, go grab those and this one, for those that have been reading, you’ll enjoy the ending.

Story: Scott Lobdell Art: Eric Battle

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Graphic Policy was provided with FREE copies for review.

KIANI IS BACK!

by Vaneta Rogers of newsarama.com

In March, Kiani is back.

For Fathom fans, Kiani's return not only brings back a fan-favorite character, but it also gives readers a peek at what's happening with the underwater residents of the universe while the main series concentrates on dry land.

The second volume of the Fathom: Kiani series begins in March with a #0 issue written by Aspen Editor-in-Chief Vince Hernandez. The four-issue volume that follows will feature art by Oliver Nome.

Of course, how Kiani returns is a mystery, since she was killed by Aspen at the end of Fathom Volume 3. But Hernandez promised that readers will get a full explanation, and will see that there were hints early on about how she is able to return.

To find out more about the character's return, we talked to Hernandez, who has a special connection with Kiani.

Newsarama : Vince, the return of Kiani is pretty exciting for Fathom fans. Is this something you've been intending to do for awhile?

Vince Hernandez : Yeah, we wanted to keep focusing on this character because people really love her. We did an original Fathom: Kiani volume 1 about three years ago, and it was well received. People love that character. She's kind of the antithesis to the main character, Aspen Matthews.

Aspen is very strong in her own right. She's been pulled by opposing forces this whole time. But Kiani's the opposite of that. She's very fierce and action-driven.

Those two are the most popular characters in Fathom, so it made sense to continue on with Kiani's journey.

Nrama : But last time we saw Kiani, she was dead, right?

Hernandez : Yep.

Nrama : Is this set in the past?

Hernandez : No, it's not. The last time we saw Kiani, Aspen had actually killed her in the very last issue of Fathom: Volume 3 . Our volume of Kiani doesn't start off right there. But there is an explanation of how she came back. I've always been a person who usually doesn't like seeing a character killed and then being brought back, but we had always planned for Kiani to have that encounter with Aspen then have this kind of rebirth. It plays exactly into the plans we had for her.

Once people read issue #0, they'll know exactly how she came back. Anybody who has read the original Kiani appearances in Dawn of War , in Volume 1 of Kiani , they'll be able to pick up on some of the reasons how she came back. But new readers will also get a full explanation. It's made very clear in the very first issue how she comes back.

Nrama : Fathom was getting a lot of attention for awhile because Megan Fox was attached to the property. But right now, the real news is all this comic material you're releasing. You guys have been producing a lot of Fathom material lately!

Hernandez : Yeah, we're currently in the fourth volume of the regular Fathom series and there have been other mini-series. A lot of people don't realize that, because we've been putting out a lot of Fathom minis and different volumes. We just kind of put our head down and kept putting them out.

We're deep into volume 4 now, and the Kiani storyline runs parallel with that.

While the stuff in Fathom: Volume 4 is very human-oriented with Aspen, this Kiani story is where Fathom fans can get their underwater fix with the characters from the Blue that they enjoy from the first three volumes.

Nrama : How does this volume of Kiani expand upon what we're seeing in Fathom right now? Is it because it's showing what's going on in the underwater world?

Hernandez : Yeah, that's a big part of it. This takes place at an interesting time in the Fathom universe, because the regular Fathom series is more focused on the above-the-surface world. Aspen has gone off on her own, and she's getting into adventures that don't happen under the surface right now. So this is our under-the-surface story that we can tell while the other one's going on.

Kiani focuses more on what's going on with the Blue, which is the underwater race.

Nrama : How would you describe what's going on with the Blue?

Hernandez : Well, Fathom fans will know that Volume 3 ended with a huge war. But the human race and the Blue formed a truce. That sounds great, and sounds like a happy ending. But now we're getting past that and realizing that a lot of the underwater races didn't want this pact. And for them it's a very scary time.

This volume of Kiani is relevant to what's happening in the news today. She's a hero to them because of her resistance to this larger human race that wants to occupy their lands.

I think the themes we're seeing in Kiani are familiar to readers because of the terrorism that's been going on during the past decade in the world.

I hope Fathom fans and even new readers should pick up on that. This is definitely a darker story, and you're going to see a lot of reactions from these races to the wars in the two volumes past.

Nrama : You mentioned earlier that Kiani is very "fierce and action-driven." Is this Kiani volume really action-oriented?

Hernandez : It's got a lot of action, but it's also a character piece. The first volume was definitely character driven.

With Fathom , we tend to focus more on telling the story of the characters with these huge action set pieces built around that. And Kiani's no different.

Nrama : What can you tell me about this new artist?

Hernandez : It's Oliver Nome, who used to work with WildStorm. He's also done a few books with DC, including Mister Terrific .

He also worked for us on Executive Assistant: Lotus , which people loved. Readers just loved his art. And that was a book I wrote, so it naturally fit in my plans to just have Oliver jump onto this and work with me again.

I really wanted somebody on this series that had a love for the characters and the property. And I know, in speaking with Oliver in the past, he's expressed an interest in Fathom .

When I was looking for the artist who would take over for Marcus To after his volume, Oliver was one of the first names that came to mind. And after speaking to him, he was overly excited and really wanted to put in the effort.

A book like this, with underwater scenes and huge levels of details, I really wanted somebody who was going to give 110 percent. And Oliver was perfect.

Nrama : Will there be more Kiani after this four-issue volume?

Hernandez : Yeah, if all goes well, there will be a third volume. We have a trilogy planned for it.

Nrama : Vince, you've been doing a lot of writing. Is this fun for you to get to round out Fathom's world?

Hernandez : Absolutely! As the editor-in-chief, it's like each project's your baby. But Fathom was my original book. When I first started working in comics in 1998, Fathom #2 was the first book that I had ever been a part of. So this book has surrounded my life for the past decade.

I treasure these characters. Kiani especially, because that was the first series I ever wrote, in Kiani: Volume 1 . So, yeah, I'm having a lot of fun. Expanding the universe.

I think that's the biggest misconception people have with Fathom is that they think it's just some underwater girl, like a female Namor or something. And that's not what it's about. It's a huge tale set between humans and the Blue and there are multiple characters that haven't even been explored yet. It's a huge universe that hasn't been explored yet, and I'm having a blast expanding it for our readers.

Nrama : Then to finish up, Vince, as we go into 2012, can you give us a hint of the type of things Aspen is doing next year?

Hernandez : We have a big 2012 planned for the properties. I know a lot of fans have been waiting for news about Fathom outside the print world, and definitely, they should stay tuned because we have some exciting news planned.

NEWSARAMA TALKS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: ASSASSINS!

At New York Comic Con, Aspen Comics announced its first ever ongoing series, Executive Assistant: Assassins.

It's a new direction for the publisher, which previously released staggered volumes of their top series like Soulfire and Fathom, and even those tended to ship sporadically. But that problem with shipping has apparently changed, as Aspen proved over the summer with the weekly crossover Hit List Agenda, which gave readers several Executive Assistant books that shipped on time as scheduled.

The move also furthers Aspen's recent effort to expand its offerings, including a wider variety of genres and formats.

Newsarama: Vince, the Executive Assistant stories have obviously done well for you guys. But why switch to an ongoing format? And why this title and not others from Aspen?

Vince Hernandez: The Executive Assistant property has been great for us. David Wohl, Brad Foxhoven and Michael Turner created not only a wonderful first two volumes containing a rich storyline and a diverse cast of personalities, but also an entire world filled with possibilities for future stories and new characters. We felt it was time to tap into that and explore different takes on the concept.

Executive Assistant: Assassins will allow for that with the ongoing format and the open-ended nature of it. For instance, there are several fan-favorite characters from the first two volumes and the crossover that didn't get as much time in the sun as the primary cast, and this will be an opportunity for fans to see them in more expanded tales and adventures.

The choice to do this particular title at the point is really just a matter of timing in our production schedule. We've discussed the ongoing format plenty of times before for different properties, and actually, there will be more upcoming announcements involving the ongoing format with our other popular titles that I think people are gonna get really excited about.

Nrama: Does this indicate a switch in belief by Aspen? Will we see other titles shipping more regularly? Or is this just a one-time thing?

Hernandez: This doesn't change our belief or game plan because we're always dictated by what we feel is best for the title or story. Generally, our approach is to tell stories that fans can jump into and know there will be an end point at a certain storyline, something to build up to, which fits nicely with releasing them as self-contained volumes. Even within the confines of Executive Assistant: Assassins, there will be story arcs with definitive beginning and end points. The first story arc will be three issues, followed by a two-issue arc with a different EA and a new setting and cast of characters altogether.

Nrama: What excites you about the comic enough that you decided to take it on as writer?

Hernandez: I had just finished writing Executive Assistant: Lotus, which was part of the second volume's "Hit List Agenda" crossover and really loved working in the EA universe and with Wohl as a creator. I felt a strong connection to Lotus and there are so many other characters in the first volumes that I really want to see in future issues, so I figured why not write those stories myself! Fortunately, with the recent success of the "Hit List Agenda", it was an easy pitch to Frank, Peter and of course David to make this a reality.

And beyond just the popularity of the title, I really want to personally work on a series that I can leave a lasting mark on as a writer, and I felt this was a perfect fit. Thankfully they agreed! I've known David for almost 14 years now, and have been working with him daily for the past three on the EA books, so it's almost second nature really to be continuing on with the EA saga.

Nrama: For people who aren't familiar with the Executive Assistant premise, how would you describe the idea behind these comics?

Hernandez: The Executive Assistant property is centered on powerful corporate businessmen or women CEO's who, in order to protect their valuable assets as well as their lives, hire these Executive Assistants to serve as highly-trained, highly skilled subordinates to do their bidding.

But of course, in the dangerous and scandalous world of corporate and global business, this often times involves assassination and other special services outside the law—which an Executive Assistant is more than equipped to handle due to a lifetime of training for the job.

Naturally, this can lead to some very thrilling action, espionage and backstabbing along the way.

Nrama: Who's the focus of the ongoing?

Hernandez: The first three issue story arc is entitled "Life After Death" and will center on Executive Assistant Lily, a popular veteran from the first volume of EA: Iris. Fans will recognize her as the green-haired, go-go dancer assassin who rescued Iris and eventually teamed up with her to help finish off a rather despicable overlord named Shuji.

We pick up our story after these events with a much different Lily. I'll be exploring what life is like AFTER an EA is freed from her respective employer and must learn to adapt to a world and society they have no understanding of. Lily's tale and the start of Executive Assistant: Assassins will focus on some pretty murky subjects like poverty, drug abuse, and of course — murder. Lily is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but those are the types of heroes I absolutely love to take on, with their many shades of grey.

Nrama: If someone's interested in this comic, do they have to read the previous "EA" volumes to catch up? Or are you started fresh with this one?

Hernandez: Executive Assistant: Assassins will be a jumping on point for sure for new readers looking to get into the title, but will also hopefully make them want to go back and explore the first two volumes for bits and pieces that interweave between this series and the Executive Assistant: Iris proper series. I'd like to assure fans, Executive Assistant: Iris will most certainly continue in its own right as David has brilliant future plans for her character and the third volume.

Nrama: Can you tell us anything about the planned art team for the book?

Hernandez: We'll be announcing the art team for the first arc very soon as well as the second arc's team, which is actually already underway on that particular storyline, so EA fans should stay tuned as that news will be on the way shortly! The second arc will actually feature an artist we've been grooming here at our studio for a couple of years now, and I'm really excited for people to see some of the amazing artwork on the way.

Nrama: Is the plan to keep this on a monthly schedule? Aspen has usually done volumes with a break between them. Do you feel good about this ongoing shipping regularly?

Hernandez: Yes, it'll be a monthly release, and I feel very good about the shipping schedule for this project. Fans who followed our summer crossover the Hit List Agenda were treated to a weekly dose of new Executive Assistant books throughout the entire summer, with each issue shipping on time as scheduled. I'm extremely proud of that fact. So I don't anticipate any hitches with Executive Assistant: Assassins . The structure of this series also allows for different art teams for upcoming story arcs so we'll be able to work ahead on certain arcs to ensure a timely arrival of each issue.

Nrama: Anything else you want to tell fans about the comic?

Hernandez: I really hope fans will give Executive Assistant: Assassins a try because we have some exciting, thought-provoking themes and ideas we're bringing to the series in addition to the usual crime, espionage, and female ass-kicking they've come to expect from the Executive Assistant brand, so please give it a try.

HURD TALKS DEAD MAN'S RUN WITH CBR!

by Josie Campbell of comicbookresources.com

This weekend's New York Comic Con was a busy one for "The Walking Dead" and Valhalla Entertainment CEO Gale Anne Hurd. Not only does "The Walking Dead" season two premiere tonight at 9PM on AMC but the #0 issue of "Dead Man's Run," her new comic with writer Greg Pak, artist Tony Parker, and Aspen Comics, is out in time for the convention as well.

Taking a break from her packed New York schedule, Hurd spoke with CBR about both the second season of "The Walking Dead" and "Dead Man's Run," telling CBR that she's already given fellow executive producer and "Walking Dead" comic creator Robert Kirkman a copy of her book.

"Robert and all the people at Aspen and Image [Comics] and Skybound [Entertainment, Kirkman's Image imprint] have been very helpful. It's certainly nice to have their support. It's a world they know as well as anybody," said Hurd.

While Hurd's production company, Valhalla, first came up with the idea for "Dead Man's Run," the man bringing it to life is Pak, the Marvel Comics creator behind popular titles "Incredible Hercules" and "Incredible Hulks."

"It's my second [series] with Aspen, the first is still in its run, ''The Scourge,' written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by Eric Battle," added Hurd, touching on the limited series that debuted from Aspen last summer.

The comic is about a man named Sam Tinker who is literally trying to escape from Hell. "It deals with, essentially, a prison break from Hell; our hero finds that he's died and, sadly, hasn't gone to Heaven!" laughed Hurd. More importantly, Sam quickly discovers he is not the only one in Hell. "Unfortunately, his innocent sister has ended up in Hell along with him, so he sets his mind on breaking her out."

Touching on the book's villains, Hurd explained that outside of the regular denizens of Hell, Sam would have to contend with some very dangerous antagonists.

"Hell is populated by the worst criminals and mass murders throughout time. So we get to deal with a whole host of villains and this especially interesting female warden," said Hurd. As for supporting cast, Hurd said that there would be a few key characters popping up in to help or hinder Sam.

"There are a couple of key characters; there's a former prison guard type character who is very significant, as well as the warden. So that's sort of our core," said Hurd.

"One of my executives at Valhalla, Ben Roberts, ['Dead Man's Run' was] something that he was really excited about. We'd been talking about it for a while, and we pitched it to Frank Mastromauro, who's one of the heads of Aspen Comics, and he loved it," said Hurd. Explaining that she had long been a fan of Pak, when Mastromauro asked who Hurd wanted to write the series, the producer had no doubts in her mind.

"I met him a few years ago at New York Comic Con, and we'd been talking for a while about doing something together," said Hurd, saying she and Pak had been talking about collaborating ""almost as long as the "Walking Dead" TV series!"

Though there were no plans to spin the comic off into a television series at the moment, Hurd told CBR she felt the limited series format made for an easier adaptation to the big screen.

"The Walking Dead" makes a fabulous comic book, but as Robert says, it would not have made a very good movie because it's the continuing saga of these survivors, there's no natural ending. So a limited series comic book, which at this point is what "Dead Man's Run" is, might make for a good movie," said Hurd. Though she does feel the characters in "Dead Man's Run" are compelling enough to sustain a television series, Hurd's first concern is publishing the limited series. "You first have to get the comic book right, and then you go from there," she said.

To continue this article, please click here.

CBR TALKS DEAD MAN'S RUN WITH PAK!

by Steve Sunu for comicbookresources.com

At this year's New York Comic Con, Aspen Comics premieres its brand new series "Dead Man's Run" with a special #0 issue. Announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego earlier this year as the newest collaboration between Aspen and Gale Anne Hurd's Valhalla, the Grek Pak-written series features art by Tony Parker and centers around a prison break from Hell and a man who will do anything to save his sister. While the actual #0 issue launches the adventure at comic stores across the nation in November, NYCC attendees can get their hands on the beginning of the tale this weekend.

CBR News spoke with Pak about "Dead Man's Run," the cast of characters that populate the jailbreak and rescue, how his world-building experience working on "Planet Hulk" helped add to the book and why comics are the perfect medium to tell this story.

CBR News: Greg, tell us about "Dead Man's Run." What's the idea behind it and who are the key players?

Greg Pak: It's a prison break from Hell. Literally. Hell is a place on Earth -- specifically, a maximum security prison in the California desert. During the course of our story, a young cartographer will take on all the forces of the underworld to save his sister, the only innocent in Hell.

So far, not much has been revealed about the main character of the book. What can you tell us about him and his support team as they head on their mission?

In issue #0, which hits stores in November, we focus on Captain Frank Romero, a decorated war hero with a dark past who's now the head of security of the Andrew Jackson Maximum Security Prison in Los Olvidados, California. It's a done-in-one tale that establishes the world and ethos of "Dead Man's Run" while setting into motion the catastrophic events that launch our story.

But we'll learn in issue #1 that the true hero of our story is Sam Tinker, the young cartographer who works for the Captain. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but Sam, a guy who's spent most of his adult life trying to stay out of trouble in order to protect his sister Juniper, will end up diving head first in the worst trouble imaginable in order to save her.

The mysterious female Warden is the other major player in the opening chapters of our story -- and her total commitment to her mission may be as tempting as it is terrifying to our heroes.

Fear of spoilers also prevents me from describing the rest of the cast, but I'll just say that Hell is chock full of intriguing sinners of every type from every period of history. Issue #2 may blow a few minds.

What's going on in this world that you've built with Valhalla? How is it different from our own and how did it get to be the way it is?

"Dead Man's Run" takes place in our world, with one key difference: when they die, sinners end up in a maximum security prison buried beneath a giant pyramid in the middle of the California desert. No one can tell you if the cause of all of this is scientific or supernatural, but it's real and it's here and it's not going away, so there's an entire legal and political system set up around this prison, both above and below ground, accompanied by all the idealism and corruption you might expect from any human institution.

One of the characters you're best known for writing, The Hulk, is also in many ways a tough loner with a support crew. How did your experiences working and exploring that type of narrative help inform your work on "Dead Man's Run," if at all?

The experience of creating the world of Sakaar for "Planet Hulk" has definitely prepared me for the world-building aspects of "Dead Man's Run." We're creating what we hope is an entirely new vision of Hell in the book -- something real and relevant, fantastical and horrific all at once. We'll reveal it all bit by bit, but there's a complete vision behind this whole thing, in which every working part makes sense in terms of the Warden's ethos and aims and the upper world's political machinations. So there's a big world coming together here. But at the same time, the real heart of the story focuses on Sam and Juniper and asks big questions about the nature of heroism and the price of a soul. That's another lesson from "Planet Hulk," I suppose -- that all that fantastical world-building only matters if there's a compelling human conflict at the heart of the story.

What are some of the more challenging aspects for you in working on a project like this?

It's always a huge challenge to begin an entirely new story with entirely new characters in comics. But that's exactly what makes this kind of project a huge amount of fun. My big challenge to myself has been to invest each and every scene with a small, real, revelatory moment about one of our key characters. I'm shooting for utterly human, believable drama in the middle of this giant, fantastical action story. Wish me luck!

Could you take us through your creative and/or collaborative process with the folks over at Valhalla and series artist Tony Parker?

I'm kind of in love with everyone working on this book. Valhalla's Ben Roberts is a kind of a genius -- he's the guy who originally had the idea of a prison break from Hell, and I'm just thrilled he lobbed the ball into my court. Gale Anne Hurd, the legendary producer behind Valhalla, is simply brilliant, with a fantastic eye for story and character. I've been talking and emailing with Gale and Ben throughout the process and I'm learning a huge amount from working with them. And Frank Mastromauro and Vince Hernandez and everyone at Aspen know exactly what they're doing and have been sharp and supportive and totally on the ball every step of the way.

Finally, Tony Parker is just a dream -- totally committed to telling the story in the best way possible, with endless ideas and a real love of collaboration. And he's insanely fast. He's inking this thing, too, and I strongly suspect we're not going to miss a single deadline.

What appeals to you about the plot and characters of "Dead Man's Run" as a creator and why do you think it's especially well suited for comics?

One of the big attractions of the story was the chance to work in a fresh genre (for me) in comics. Comics is a fantastic medium for a multitude of genres -- I'm a big supporter of using comics to tell horror stories, romance stories, Westerns, sci-fi tales, fantasy yarns, or anything else that intrepid writers and artists might dare. As a kind of supernatural action story, "Dead Man's Run" is packed full of the kinds of intimate human moments and fantastical action sequences that comics can deliver like nobody's business. So I'm thrilled to be on the job and couldn't be happier watching Tony's amazing pages rolling in.

What excites you the most about getting to write this book?

The thrill of collaborating with folks like Gale, Ben, Frank, Vince and Tony. The ridiculous fun of this kind of world-building. And the chance to fall in love with new characters and really dig into their emotional stories.

This sounds crazy, but I'm loving the rewrites. The notes I've been getting from Ben and Gale and Frank are so good and on point that I can't wait to dig back in and make the scripts better. I'm always looking for new challenges as a writer, for new ways to learn and get better, so collaborators as sharp as this are a dream come true.

DAILY BLAM TALKS DEAD MAN'S RUN!

By Aaron Long for dailyblam.com

This November, author Greg Pak will take readers straight to Hell in DEAD MAN'S RUN from Aspen Comics and Valhalla Entertainment. The series discusses the concept of Hell being used as a prison and one man's quest for freedom.

Straight from the architect's mouth: how would you describe Dead Man's Run ?

" It's a prison break from Hell. Literally. In the middle of the California desert, the world's most secure supermax prison houses the most dangerous criminals ever to walk the Earth. Today, a young cartographer named Sam Tinker finds himself behind bars -- and soon takes on the mysterious Warden and all of her horrific domain in order to save his sister Juniper, the one true innocent in Hell. "

Has the idea for the series been developing for awhile or is it a relatively new concept?

" Ben Roberts, one of the brilliant people working with Gale Ann Hurd at Valhalla Entertainment, came to me almost two years ago and said, "Prison break from Hell." And I said, "Hell, yes!" We've been working on the story with Gale Anne Hurd and Aspen Comics' Frank Mastromauro ever since. I always love it when there's enough time to really develop a comics project. And with folks like Gale, Ben, and Frank in the room, all the right buttons get punched, all the right questions get asked, and all the bright lights shine. It's been a blast. "

It has been mentioned that this series will provide a different interpretation of Hell…what constitutes Hell in Dead Man's Run ?

" Without spoiling too much, Hell is literally a prison where people are incarcerated for the crimes they committed while alive. The Warden thinks of her domain as a place of justice, where the wicked receive precisely, eerily, and often horrifically appropriate punishment for their transgressions. But as we'll discover, part of what makes Hell truly hellish is that it's thoroughly corrupt. The quest for true justice no matter what the cost is a huge theme in the story. "

Can you discuss how the protagonist of the book ends up in Hell?

" Exactly what Sam's sin is will be revealed as the story progresses. I'll just say that once he finds himself down below, he's driven first and foremost by the desire to find and rescue his sister Juniper. But to accomplish his goals, he'll have to join forces with an elite crew of his fellow inmates, who include some of the worst criminals and murderers the human race has produced over the millennia. "

Can you elaborate on the group who are controlling Hell and using it as a prison?

" That would be telling! But all will be revealed during the course of the story -- don't miss a single issue, folks! "

Final thoughts go to you Greg, any other insight about Dead Man's Run that you'd like to pass along?

" The awesome Tony Lee of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" fame is pencilling the book. I couldn't be happier. Tony does an amazing job depicting everyday people realistically in a way that lets you fall in love with them precisely because of the tiny, everyday details that make them live and breathe. At the same time, he's a great worldbuilder and is absolutely eating up the fantastical elements of the story like nobody's business. "

NEWSARAMA TALKS HAUNTED CITY!

By Vaneta Rogers for newsarama.com

With all its modern amenities and towering skyscrapers, it's easy to forget that New York City has a long and difficult history.

But the ghosts who walk its streets and haunt its darkest corners don't forget.

Haunted City, a new comic that explores the Big Apple as the "world's biggest haunted house," is the first comic to emerge from the recently announced partnership between film director McG's production company and Aspen Comics. The story follows a struggling cop who is recruited into a secret police unit that deals with New York's mythical threats.

Co-written by screenwriter Chap Taylor and Supernatural producer Peter Johnson, the Haunted City comic is just the first step in the concept's planned life, as McG hopes to utilize it as a "transmedia" property. The director's production company, Wonderland Sound and Vision, is also developing Haunted City as a feature film script that McG is slated to direct.

The transmedia approach has been somewhat controversial among comic fans in the past, because die-hard readers prefer the comic is the main focus before it's developed elsewhere. But in the modern world of multimedia, endeavors like the Aspen-Wonderland partnership are becoming more common in the world of comics.

While Taylor first came up with the Haunted City concept, Johnson is helping to write the comic after having experience on WildStorm tie-in comics like Supernatural and Chuck . The series kicked off with a #0 issue at Comic-Con International in San Diego, then releases its #1 issue next month.

Newsarama talked with Taylor and Johnson to find out more about the comic's premise, and asked why this idea makes sense not only as a comic, but in more than one medium.

Newsarama : When you first came up with idea for this story, how did it turn into a comic book? And why does the world of comics make sense for what you're portraying in the series as you also develop it for film?

Chap Taylor : We included a short essay in the back of the #0 issue that lays out the chronology of Haunted City 's development. I first envisioned it as a television pilot. Throughout that process, as I went from network to network pitching my idea, it kept getting bigger. Not just bigger in the sense of being a major production, but bigger in conception, bigger in the themes I wanted to address and the stories I wanted to tell.

After the original pilot script didn't sell, I stepped back and really started thinking about Haunted City as an entire universe of stories. Comics seemed like the perfect way to start building a foundation for that universe because they're such a unique medium. You can create images in a comic that would literally cost a billion dollars to execute in a motion picture, but you can also create characters that have the complexity and depth of a novel.

Nrama : Where did the idea behind Haunted City first come from? And how did it evolve?

Taylor : Years ago, I was interested in doing a film about the New York Police Department's Cold Case Squad. I had this image in my head of a group of misfits in the basement of some gothic municipal building, surrounded by mountains of cardboard boxes that contained all of the unsolved crimes of New York City.

Over the years, as the idea developed, I realized that what really appealed to me was the sense that New York was haunted by the history of the people who had passed through, the millions of human beings who left behind the psychic residue of their loves, their hates, their acts of charity and their sins. Once I understood that, I just decided to tell the story as if it were literally true — that New York City wasn't just haunted by the spirits of its past inhabitants, but that it was haunted by spirits, period. if you had to sum Haunted City up in one sentence, it would be, "New York City is the biggest haunted house in the world."

Nrama : Peter, how much did your experience with Supernatural inform the development of Haunted City ?

Peter Johnson : Spending the last seven years producing Supernatural has been kind of an incredible research trip into the rich and deep world of American mythology, urban legends, and scary folklore. On the show, we draw from these real tales that exist, whether told around campfires or passed along through Route-66 America, but we bring them into our contemporary world and hopefully add something new to them.

Chap wanted to do the same thing in Haunted City . So it made the marriage of his approach to storytelling in this universe and my experience with Supernatural and in comics incredibly easy. We see the world of this series exactly the same way.

Nrama : Is the tone similar to Supernatural ?

Johnson : The tone is different in Haunted City . Most obviously, it's urban, compared to the Route 66 roots of Supernatural . Supernatural started off as this great American road trip through the dusty backroads of faded Americana, complete with an old-school muscle car and crunchy hard rock on the stereo. Haunted City has more of an urban, big city grittiness and also weaves a modern crime story into it. I know Chap just said this before, but the tone of it derives from the central concept of treating the world's greatest city as the biggest haunted house in the world.

Nrama : How is the reader introduced to this secret police unit that deals with these mythical threats?

Taylor : We're introduced to the story through the eyes of our protagonist, NYPD detective Tom Whalen. As the story opens, he's in bad shape: corrupt, strung out on drugs and alcohol, with his criminal enemies and internal affairs closing in.

When he has an attack of conscience and tries to back out of a drug deal, he gets shot. He wakes up in Bellevue Hospital with a mysterious cop by his bed who offers him a job in a unit he's never heard of, fighting monsters he doesn't believe exist. Tom becomes the audience's proxy, learning about the mythology of New York and this secret unit that fights to keep the city safe. Hopefully, as Tom is immersed in this hidden universe that co-exists with the modern, secular city, the audience will take the ride with him.

Nrama : Who are some of characters we'll meet, and what are they like?

Taylor : Peter Hopkins is the team leader, a direct descendent of New York's original "Witchfinder General." He's deeply religious in a very black or white, fire-and-brimstone kind of way.

Tom Whalen is obviously a deeply flawed character, struggling to redeem himself.

The female lead is Catherine Gray. She's a nun, a member of a secret order in the Catholic Church called the Order of St. Michael. She's a warrior with a passionate hatred for evil, but we also learn that her mother was just as passionate in her beliefs — she was an IRA fighter in Belfast — and that those beliefs were manipulated by a member of the British Secret Service, ultimately driving Catherine's mother to suicide. Co Catherine secretly hopes that people who have committed terrible sins can be forgiven. She falls somewhere between Peter and Tom on the moral scale.

Nrama : How much historical fact about New York City is mixed in with the fictional stories you're telling?

Taylor : New York is a mythical place in real life. As much as possible, we want to make use of real locations, real stories, real historical personalities. Part of the fun of these kinds of stories is taking a historic event and telling people a different version, implying that history is shaped by hidden forces. In the #0 issue, we reference the fact that the Son of Sam claimed he was driven to kill by a demon. In real life, no one believed him. In the Haunted City universe, maybe he was telling truth.

Nrama : What are your thoughts about developing an idea for multiple media outlets at the same time as its publication as a comic, and why does it make sense for this type of project?

Taylor : Haunted City draws on the combined mythology of humanity. We have an almost unlimited variety of stories to tell. By developing the Haunted City universe across a number of different mediums, we give ourselves the flexibility to match each story with the best possible platform. Some stories have an epic quality and are best served by telling them as a feature film. Some stories have an episodic quality that might work best as a television series. And some stories are darker, or more intimate, and would best be served as a graphic novel or a limited series of webisodes. Our goal is always to choose the medium that best serves the interests of the story and provides the most entertainment for the fans.

Nrama : How are you working with McG's Wonderland Sound and Vision to develop the property along with Aspen as publisher? And what's the relationship between the two entities?

Taylor : Peter Johnson is McG's partner. He runs the day-to-day operations of Wonderland. He was also very close with Michael Turner, who founded Aspen. When I pitched the idea to Peter, he and McG were already talking about starting their own comic imprint. Given peter's relationship with Michael, and with Frank Mastromauro and Peter Steigerwald who started Aspen with Michael, it was the obvious place to go. Even if Peter hadn't had a pre-existing relationship with Aspen, it would have been at the top of our list anyway. Aspen has a reputation for great art and for artistic integrity. They're one of the most respected independent publishers in comics. We feel lucky that they're publishing the Haunted City comic.

Nrama : What's the experience been like working with Michael Ryan on the concept art and the comic's interiors?

Taylor : Michael Ryan is stone-cold brilliant. From the beginning, we were all on the same page when it came to the tone and visual style. We couldn't be happier with both the art and the working experience.

Nrama : Then to finish up, is there anything else you want to tell potential readers about Haunted City ?

Taylor : They should just know that everyone involved — McG, Peter, myself, Michael Ryan, everyone at Aspen — we all brought our "A" game. There's a lot of comics out there, competing for readers' entertainment dollars. We know times are difficult. Our promise to them is that every time they pick up a Haunted City comic, or buy a ticket to a Haunted City feature, we'll take them away from the challenges and concerns of their daily lives and — for a little while at least — take them someplace they haven't been before to hear a story that will move and entertain them.

We appreciate the support of every single person who buys a Haunted City comic. We promise them the best entertainment we can provide.

AICN INTERVIEWS TAYLOR & JOHNSON!

Russ Sheath here. HAUNTED CITY from Aspen Comics is the latest in a growing trend of collaborations between Hollywood and comic book publishers. McG, director of "Terminator: Salvation", and Peter Johnson, producer of series such as "Chuck", "Nikita", and "Supernatural" launch HAUNTED CITY, a super natural thriller that asks, what if New York City were the biggest haunted house in the world?

McG and Johnson are joined by Chap Taylor, writer of numerous Hollywood screenplays, artist Michael Ryan and publishers Aspen Comics, the home of high concept storytelling. HAUNTED CITY #0, the prelude to the ongoing series that launches in September, hits shelves this week featuring an interview with Taylor, a prelude of the book, with fantastic art by Michael Ryan and a preview of Ryan's designs and sketches. Peter Johnson and Chap Taylor took time out from working on Haunted City to talk to AICN's Russ Sheath about the series.

RUSS SHEATH (RS): HAUNTED CITY IS a super natural thriller set in New York City. Is that a fair assessment of the book's premise, and can you elaborate for us please?

CHAP TAYLOR (CT): Our idea, basically, is that New York City is the biggest haunted house in the world. In the haunted city universe, all of the superstitions of all of the immigrant groups who passed through New York over the last four hundred years are real. So Jewish golems, Irish banshees, voudou zombies just to name a few, all immigrated along with their associated ethnic groups and have been haunting the city ever since.

RS: Your protagonist is a detective, Tom Whalen. Can you tell us a bit about him and how we find him when the story starts?

CT: The other part of our idea is that from the very beginning of New York City, there has been a secret unit of the New York Police Department fighting to keep the city safe. As our story opens, Tom Whalen has no idea that such a unit exists. Tom is a bad cop, corrupt, strung out on drugs and alcohol, and on the day we meet him, he's had an attack of conscience and is trying to extract himself from his agreement with some Korean drug dealers. Part of what haunts Tom is the fact that his father is the most decorated cop in the history of the NYPD. "Iron" Mike Whalen is a legend and his son, Tom, has always lived in his shadow. Making matters worse, Tom knows that in the privacy of his own home, Mike Whalen was a brutal, abusive racist who tormented his wife, Tom's mother. So the combination of living in his father's shadow and knowing that his father's reputation is a lie leaves Tom in pretty bad condition as our story begins.

RS: Can you tell us a little about the origins of HAUNTED CITY and where the idea came from?

CT: I've always been fascinated by the history of New York City. I've lived in and around New York for the last twenty years, but I'm not a native New Yorker. I'm a New Yorker by choice and I've really never stopped seeing the city with the eyes of an immigrant. I've always loved the places in New York where you can feel the presence of past lives - the old bars, old restaurants, old houses of worship - the places where you can almost feel like the past is coexisting in some invisible fashion with the present. When you're walking down one of those winding blocks in the far west village and you're staring up at the old brownstones, if you've maybe had a couple of drinks and the moon is just right, it's easy to imagine that just around the next corner, people might still be living the same kinds of lives they lived when they first immigrated to New York. It's only a short leap of the imagination to pretend that maybe all of the things those early immigrants feared are just around the next corner, too.

RS: Visually and thematically, can you give us some kind of indication of the influences that have helped shape HAUNTED CITY?

CT: Anyone who's familiar with New York will tell you that there are plenty of real life locations that can feel haunted. The New York of the HAUNTED CITY universe just exaggerates what already exists for dramatic effect. We wanted to give people the feeling that up in the penthouses of the buildings they pass every day on their way to work, or down an alley they've never had the courage to enter, strange and mysterious things are happening. That feeling - that evil forces are at work just behind the familiar streetscape of your daily life - is the kind of thrill that we think is important to a story like this. Frankly, it's just human nature to speculate on what may be happening all around you without your knowledge, to wonder if some of the strangers passing you on a crowded streetcorner are secretly monsters. Artistically, our references were a lot of the great vintage photographs of New York that have been taken by artists like Weegee or Bernice Abbot, German expressionism, great old black and white movies like "Angels With Dirty Faces" or the location films that Fox made in the 1940's like "Naked City" or "Kiss Of Death", and all of the classic horror films you would naturally suspect. If you had to sum up our artistic influences in a single reference, it would probably be the front page of a New York tabloid from the early part of the twentieth century, edited by HP Lovecraft, crossed with a German expressionist horror flick.

RS: Similarly can you tell us about some of the films, comics or TV that you are a fan of?

CT:Pretty much the films i just mentioned. I grew up on classic American movies. Anything from John Ford westerns to "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein". I'm a huge fan of all of the classic late sixties, early seventies urban tough guy movies. Anything by Don Siegel or Michael Mann. Francis Coppola. Scorsese. Anything starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin or James Caan. As for television, I think "The Wire" was pretty much the greatest drama ever made, but I'm also a big fan of "30 Rock" and "Modern Family", so draw whateverconclusions you will.

PETER JOHNSON (PJ):I'm a comic fanatic, so everything from SANDMAN to FABLES to Y, THE LAST MAN. And my television producing experience tends to lean toward shows that combine great character stories with high concept or genre concepts – like "Supernatural" and "Chuck".

RS: Can you tease a little as to how the story progresses and the situations that Tom finds himself in?

CT: The zero issue introduces the concept of the series and our protagonist, Tom Whalen. The rest of this five-issue arc will introduce the rest of the unit, introduce the universe of HAUNTED CITY and climax in the solution of their first case – the disappearance of a series of children they ultimately trace to the Morrigan, a creature from ancient Irish mythology. We will be trying to balance the ongoing procedural elements of how the unit works, how they investigate supernatural crimes, with the back stories of the other characters and Tom's ongoing struggle with his father. Tom is also being pursued by NYPD Internal Affairs and by several different criminal groups, so all of that has to be resolved. If we had to pitch you what's coming up, I guess the Hollywood shorthand would be, "‘Men In Black’ meets ‘The Wire’ and they double-date ‘The X-Files’ and ‘The Shield’."

RS: Why New York as your setting?

CT: Our idea is basically that all of man's superstitions and myths are secretly true. To tell that story, you want to be in a city where every kind of human being coexists. New York is already a mythical place. It just made sense to use it as a setting for our own take on everybody's mythology. But we should be clear, we see this as a global franchise. I know that's a loaded word, but honestly, if New York has 400 years of scary stories, London has 2000. Paris has 1500. Cairo has 5000. New York is our initial entry into this universe, but we plan to reveal that all of man's great cities are equally haunted.

RS: Peter, there's clearly a 'supernatural' theme (pun intended) in your work, what's the interest in that world that you keep returning to?

PJ: Ever since "Star Wars" turned my world on its head as a kid, I've been forever drawn to stories that take you into incredible worlds and capture your imagination. In television, I grew up watching "Star Trek" and "The Twilight Zone", and then "The X-Files" became a real inspiration for things I started working on myself. I think "The X-Files" showed me that you can do supernatural stories on a mainstream TV network if the world is sufficiently grounded and the focus is on great characters. Hence my own show, "Supernatural".

RS: Is the series ongoing or limited?

CT: Aspen has committed to a five-issue arc. We certainly hope to keep going as long as people find our stories entertaining. As long as people are buying the books, we'll keep writing them.

RS: The book is being released in association with McG's Wonderland Sound and Vision; can you tell us a little about that collaboration?

CT: From its inception, I envisioned HAUNTED CITY as a universe that spans all different kinds of media. McG is obviously a huge feature director, but he also has a big presence in television and has been looking to expand into comics and video games. For anyone who Doesn't know, Peter's day job is running McG's production company, Wonderland Sound and Vision. Peter has written for Marvel and DC. He and McG were already talking about starting a comics imprint. It just made sense to partner with them. We'll be taking a feature package out to the marketplace in January with McG attached to direct, and then probably a TV pitch. As much as the marketplace has an appetite, we've got stories to sell them.

RS: You've also bought the book to Aspen? What initiated that idea? Why Aspen?

CT: Michael Turner founded Aspen, together with Frank Mastromauro and Peter Steigerwald. He was one of Peter Johnson's good friends. Tragically, Michael passed away a few years ago, but Aspen continues to live up to his standards. They only work with the best artists. They're really good guys to deal with. When Peter and McG decided to make HAUNTED CITY the first issue of Wonderland's comic imprint, it was really the only place we wanted to take it.

PJ: we really didn't want to just make a comic book out of a movie idea. Key to that for us was great art that would bring the idea to life and achieve credibility as a comic first and foremost. And that's what Aspen is great at and known for.

RS: Is the intention to diversify the concept into other media and if so, what it is about comics that make a good ‘proving ground’ for concepts like HAUNTED CITY?

CHAP: I think the average AICN reader has a better than average grasp of the entertainment business. From a business perspective, we wanted to create an underlying intellectual property that we control. We didn't just want to write a screenplay and sell it and have the whole universe taken away from us. We want to keep telling these stories across a bunch of platforms and creating a comic gives us a great launching pad to do that. We also just love the opportunity to tell these stories in the comics arena. It's a particular kind of story-telling, one that Peter has a lot more experience with than I do, but it lets you digress to past events, visually illustrate what characters are thinking and feeling. It's just a very liberating way to communicate with a very passionate audience. No matter what else may happen with the HAUNTED CITY franchise, we never want to stop telling some of our stories in the comic or graphic novel format.

'LADY MECHANIKA' LEADS ASPEN COMICS

By John Geddes for USA Today

There's a very good chance that if you don't currently know who Lady Mechanika is, you soon will. The steampunk hero of one of Aspen Comics' most intriguing new series is set to re-enter the comic world's radar this month with the release of Lady Mechanika issue 2, and fans couldn't be happier.

"We had no idea this character was going to be quite as popular as she has become within the steampunk culture," says Aspen editor in chief Vince Hernandez. "It's great, though — we keep seeing more and more people dressed like her at the bigger events like WonderCon."

For those who aren't familiar with steampunk, it's a sub-genre of science fiction that is typically set in an industrial, steam-powered, Victorian-era world. Imagine Jules Verne's Nautilus submarine being the design standard for all vehicles, weapons and fashion and you'll have a pretty good starting point for the look and feel of this incredibly imaginative world.

"It's one of those genres that didn't really have a (comic book) title to hang its hat on," Hernandez continues. "We hear from fans all the time, telling us how much they love it."

Mechanika's Joe Benitez operates as a triple threat for the title, serving as creator, writer and illustrator on the series. Peter Steigerwald provides his always amazing skills as a colorist. If the story itself weren't so intriguing and well-written, the books would be worth purchasing for the visuals alone. When Benitez flips his creative switch, he's among the best in the comics world when it comes to pure illustration talent.

Hernandez agrees. "Joe's always been on the cusp of being an absolute superstar. He's a rarity in this industry in that his storytelling talent is on par with his art abilities."

"When he has a vision, it's best to just stand back and let him do his thing."

Lady Mechanika follows the story of a mysterious yet beautiful part-human, part-mechanical private investigator who deals with supernatural and occult events, while attempting to solve the mystery of her own origin. A steampunk London provides the stage, with an array of steam-powered machines and metal-heavy weaponry and gadgets filling in the industrialized details.

With the 2010 debut of issues 0 and 1, fans have been clamoring for a Lady Mechanika issue 2 for more than five months. Hernandez acknowledges that a few personal issues got in the way of Benitez putting out the next issue in a more timely manner, but insists the quality of issue 2 is equal to or better than its forerunners. "I'd rather there be a slight delay than put out an inferior product," says Hernandez.

"We originally planned on a six-issue story arc," Hernandez reveals, "but I'd be comfortable saying that we now plan on doing a lot more than that, depending on what Joe wants to do."

Mechanika was spotlighted on the cover of Aspen's annual Free Comic Book Day offering, Worlds of Aspen: 2011. In addition to Benitez's über-cool creation, Hernandez is quick to point out that there are additional titles that Aspen is equally excited about coming up later in 2011.

Two of the company's most popular series to date, Fathom and Soulfire, will continue with volumes four and three, respectively. The company will also unveil new additions to its Executive Assistant series and has announced new titles, Broken Pieces and Haunted City.

Hernandez is the creative force behind his own recently launched series that will see new issues released later this year, as well. Charismagic follows the story of a magician who gets "vanquished to a weird other-world," says Hernandez. "It's kind of a self-indulgent project for me," the creator admits. "I throw everything that I think is cool into it. We got great feedback on issue 1."

In addition to some of the familiar names at work on Aspen titles, the company also continues to attract industry luminaries, such as writer Marc Andreyko, who will be working on an issue of Executive Assistant to be released this August.

Hernandez concedes that the company has been more well-known for its art in the past, but is excited at the prospect of collaborating with writers like Andreyko in order to add some storytelling firepower. "We've reached a point where we're now really starting to get recognized for the quality of the stories that we're creating."

"We don't just want to put out a huge number of titles that don't meet our standards," Hernandez says. "There are so few of us working at Aspen, that we just don't have enough people to put out a huge amount of titles. You're judged by the quality of the titles you put out, and I think we do a great job of making sure that our titles are up to the standards that we've set forth for ourselves."

With Lady Mechanika leading the way in 2011, Aspen titles, with their increasing focus on high-quality storytelling,are sure to be on the must-have list for many comic book fans in the months to come.

WOHL TALKS "HITLIST AGENDA" WITH CBR!

By Steve Suno for comicbookresources.com

An Executive Assistant's job is never done. There are dictations to type, memos to take, phone calls to return and... assassinations to enact? While these may not be the average duties of the modern secretary, it's all in a day's work for Iris, the protagonist of Aspen Comics' "Executive Assistant Iris," heading into her second volume this June beginning with a special zero issue.

In Volume 1, readers were introduced to Iris, Executive Assistant to prominent Chinese businessman Mr. Ching. As an Executive Assistant, Iris has been trained in all the day-to-day duties of a secretary, but is also proficient in the art of assassination. While performing missions for Ching, Iris realized her loyalty did not lie on the side of the angels and began to turn against her employer. Now, with Ching out of the picture and Iris cut loose, her world will exponentially expand with revelations that will bring new light to the world of Executive Assistants.

Expanding Iris' world is writer and series creator David Wohl -- and not only will he expand the world of Executive Assistants with Volume 2, the series will lead into Aspen's big summer event, "The Hitlist Agenda" and a host of new "Executive Assistant" titles. Wohl took time out of his busy schedule to give CBR News the newest developments on "Executive Assistant Iris," the other "Executive Assistant" miniseries, the new big bad in Iris' world and the how it all plays into "The Hitlist Agenda."

CBR News: David, tell us about the new volume of "Executive Assistant Iris." What's the core concept and how does it relate to the events of Volume 1?

David Wohl: In the original series we introduced readers to the world of Executive Assistants, which is a concept that my co-creator Brad Foxhoven and I actually came up with after reading an article in the New York Times. In that article, they talked about how in Asia in the '80s, corporations were growing rapidly, but doing business was a very dangerous thing as businessmen were often killed or kidnapped by unsavory people whom they were doing business with. And they were wary of bringing bodyguards to meetings, because that would seem like they didn't trust the other person. So they began to hire Executive Assistants -- women who were trained as bodyguards, but also skilled as secretaries, who would accompany businessmen to meetings and look unassuming as their assistants, but in reality they could defend their employers if necessary. These people, almost always women, were trained at schools in China that would often take in girls who were orphans, teach them all the skills necessary to be Executive Assistants, and then sell them to rich, corporate buyers.

We thought this was a great premise for a comic, and came to Michael Turner and Aspen who, luckily, liked the concept as well! And we brought in artist extraordinaire Eduardo Francisco, who is on the new series as well! Then we all worked together to create the story of Iris. She is meticulous and deadly, and fiercely loyal to her employer, a Chinese businessman named Ching. Over the course of the story, she realizes that Ching is up to some shenanigans, and she begins to understand that her loyalty is misplaced. She performs a series of hits for Ching, and even woos a co-worker at her employer's request. But when she actually falls for her erstwhile coworker, things begin to fall apart and she ultimately finds herself at odds with her boss. In the end, she prevails (uh, spoiler alert?) but then at the very end of the story, she is attacked by a mysterious assailant.

The new series begins several months later, and over the course of it, as well as the other books connected to "The Hitlist Agenda," we show that the world of the Executive Assistants is MUCH BIGGER than we first realized. There are schools across the world, and Executive Assistants are popping up all over the place, working for corporate bigshots worldwide, as well as gangsters, drug dealers, and even celebrities. In my story, we follow a new Executive Assistant named Actiea, and her employer, a powerful woman named Diane Coverdale. Her husband was recently killed and she feels her life is in danger as well, so she hires Acteia to keep her safe. At first, we're still wondering what happened to Iris. But we quickly learn that Iris has been busy since her disappearance -- and her path will definitely cross Acteia's and Diane's!

Will readers get to find out exactly just what happened to Iris in the zero issue or is it more of a slow and steady reveal throughout the series?

Yes, readers will eventually learn exactly what Iris has been up to, as well as some other Executive Assistants whom people may have thought were deceased (hint, hint). There are definitely some surprises in store!

Now that Mr. Ching, the villain of the previous volume, is out of the picture, what can you tell us about the new antagonist?

He's a man named Duncan Villone, and although people don't know it yet, he's intimately connected to the world of Executive Assistants, and has been for a long time. And now that there are schools across the world and the number of Executive Assistants has grown exponentially, he has some interesting plans for them.

Similarly, can readers expect to see any familiar faces come out to play in Volume 2?

Well, there are a number of Executive Assistants whom we've introduced over the course of the first series. Some emerged from the series unscathed and some didn't fare so well after fighting Iris. There will definitely be EAs from both categories in the new series, as well as a bunch of new ones!

"Executive Assistant Iris" is part of Aspen's first event, "The Hitlist Agenda." How does the book connect with the event and what can we expect further down the line?

We have the honor of being the starting-off point for the whole crossover -- first in "Executive Assistant Iris" #0, coming out in June, and then in #1 coming in July. In those 2 issues, we begin to get a sense that Iris is involved in a new scheme that will ultimately expand to include a host of new Executive Assistants -- AND their employers. In this series, and the event itself we see that the stakes are much higher than before. Her old employer Mister Ching was involved in some wrongdoing, but his plans didn't really affect too many people beyond his relationships. This time, Iris' exploits will have an effect on a global level -- something she won't realize for a while...

What kinds of challenges will Iris face during the second volume and beyond moving into "The Hit List Agenda?"

In the first series, Iris was able to learn over the course of the story that she wasn't just a soulless killer. She had a conscience. Once she realized that, she was able to take down her employer even though the odds were stacked against her. This time around, Iris slowly comes to understand that the world she is part of, and the people she encounters within it, are much more formidable and dangerous than she initially suspected. In every issue she will uncover more and more pieces of a puzzle and she'll realize that this time she doesn't have enough power on her own to defeat this enemy. She's going to need some help, but the people she needs help from are just as dangerous to her as the people she needs to fight.

Rumor has it that in addition to "Executive Assistant Iris," there may be some other characters getting introduced in Iris' world in July. Care to comment?

As a matter of fact, we are launching three other mini-series as part of "The Hitlist Agenda" crossover. "Executive Assistant: Lotus," written by Vince Hernandez with art by Oliver Nome, "Executive Assistant: Violet," written by Marc Andreyko with art by Pop Mhan and "Executive Assistant: Orchid," written by Scott Lobdell with art by Micah Gunnell. These books all launch in July, along with Iris, and I must say it has been really fun working with these guys. We bounce ideas around as we work out the whole storyline, and everything is integrated into one storyline that will run right through the summer and finish in my Iris series in the Fall. I haven't worked on a crossover like this since my Top Cow days, when we worked on the "Devil's Reign" crossover with Marvel. But this one is even more ambitious than that, I think.

That said, I will say that this isn't your typical crossover -- we don't force readers to pick up all the issues in order to enjoy the stories. You can read "Iris" or "Lotus" or "Violet" or "Orchid" if you're a fans of any of the creators. You'll definitely get a good read if you pick up any of these individual series. BUT, if you pick them all up, your enjoyment will be enhanced because there is a great story in there that runs across all of the series for the readers who are willing to make that commitment.

As a writer, what appeals to you about Iris as a character? What makes her enjoyable to write?

I've always enjoyed working with Iris because she's smart, meticulous and she kicks a lot of ass. When I work on this book, I get to immerse myself in a world that's just so alive and dynamic -- and different than my own day to day life. It's fun doing the research to make the world believable and interesting, and I love figuring out how Iris gets out of all of the dilemmas that we put her in. Plus, I've always been blessed with the luxury of working with great artists. From Michael Turner on "Witchblade" to Dave Finch on "Aphrodite IX" and Joe Benitez on "Cyblade" and the other Top Cow projects we did together, these guys always did such great work that I would look forward to writing stuff just so I could see them draw it. That's the way I feel when I write "Iris" pages as well, because I feel that I've developed a good rapport with Eduardo Francisco and I really enjoy seeing how he visualizes what I write. It's one of the more fun aspects of the job!

What does the future hold for Iris? Any plans for her beyond Volume 2?

I definitely have some ideas for the next Iris series that will delve deeper into her character and where she came from. Hopefully, if fans enjoy "The Hitlist Agenda" as much as we think they will, we'll be able to keep doing Iris stories for a long time to come!

KRUL TALKS SOULFIRE WITH NEWSARAMA!

By David Pepose for newsarama.com

How did the return of magic go so wrong?

It's a question that J.T. Krul aims to answer with the third volume of Soulfire, his series from Aspen. With the first issue of Volume 3 having recently hit the stands, Krul has returned to the world of dragons, strife and a Chosen One destined to bring back magic to a world that desperately needs it. But the final issue of Volume 2 shows that the Chosen One, a boy named Malakai, isn't always capable of making the right call - his power exploded into a scene of violence, causing his one-time associates to question their very purpose.

With Krul teaming up with artist Jason Fabok on the latest series, we caught up with the writer to fill us in and bring us up to speed, discussing what Soulfire means to him, how a little bit of Stan Lee can be felt even here, and how the most important new faces in the book are going to be returning characters.

Newsarama: J.T., just to start -- you've really had a surge in your career since you started with the Soulfire series five years ago. What's been the appeal of these characters and this world for you, and how do you feel that you have evolved alongside these characters?

J.T. Krul: Aside from Mindfield, I'd say Soulfire is the title I've been most involved with over my career. I came on board toward the beginning of Volume 1 and have been with it ever since. Michael Turner created a great world to play in - it's that simple. I often give the quick pitch as something along the lines of Lord of the Rings meets Blade Runner. The merging of future technology and magic, and more importantly the danger in losing our spirituality in the face of such advancements is a very engaging concept.

I think each book has allowed me to stretch different muscles, whether it be epic action, dark internal strife, or the relationship between people trying to make sense of the changes in the air. It's definitely given me the opportunity to juggle a lot of characters and story threads - which is fun and challenging.

Nrama: For those who are catching up on the previous two volumes of Soulfire, can you bring us up to speed a bit about how the previous arc concluded?

Krul: After Malikai fulfilled his destiny to spark the next age of magic, he thought his work was done, but Grace enlisted him to help stop Rainier again, this time from exploiting the power and magic of the dragons for his own cruel designs. As volume 2 ended, Malikai unleashed his power in ways never seen before. He was severe and brutal, and it scared him. The look on his friends' faces said it all, and he fled - ashamed and confused at what he had done.

That's where we pick up volume 3. Malikai is alone, struggling to come to terms with what he did, while Grace is in the Everlands. Her people are rejoicing the new age of magic, but some see magic's return as a chance to reclaim control - as Onyx surfaces to become a key figure in the future landscape of the Soulfire universe.

Nrama: Bouncing off of that last question, how are our heroes coping after Malikai killed the dragon Marigold? What's going on in their headspace?

Krul: They have definitely been affected by Malikai's actions, but for now we'll be focusing more on Malikai and Grace. Volume 3 is their story for the most part. Although, we'll also be seeing the return of Miya, the amazon warrior from the Chaos Reign miniseries.

Nrama: It seemed like at the end of the last volume of Soulfire, you were weighing about the morality of power, of Malikai struggling to control himself. Will that struggle continue in the latest volume of Soulfire, and if so, any indications on what direction you'll take it?

Krul: Absolutely. Stan Lee said it better than anyone - with great power comes great responsibility. And it's so true for Malikai. He's one of the most powerful magical beings on the planet, but he's still a kid in many ways. He's seen the good and the bad that he can do, but where exactly he'll go has yet to be determined. As for any indications, you'll be seeing a lot of chaos and darkness in this volume, though not quite in the way you might expect.

Nrama: As far as continuing to explore the world of Soulfire, are there any new additions or people we will met that you're excited to see?

Krul: Like I said, the two key new faces are really returning faces - Onyx, Rainier's Sethoru assassin from Volume 1, and Miya from Chaos Reign - both are coming back in a big way and play a major role in the events of Volume 3. In addition, we'll also be seeing some new creatures from the Soulfire universe, which look awesome.

Nrama: Can you tell us a little bit about working with Jason Fabok? What kind of strengths does he bring to the table?

Krul: He's great. One of Aspen Comics' key strengths is its ability to find amazing new talent for their projects. And, Jason is one such artist. He's got a very detailed, textured, and energetic style. It's probably the closest to Michael Turner's look with Volume 1 that the book has ever been - and we're taking full advantage of it. I can promise that Jason is going to blow people away with his art, and it's a name you won't have to remember, because you'll be seeing it for a long, long time.

Nrama: Finally, just to wrap things up -- for those who still aren't sure about about this new volume of Soulfire, what would you say to bring them on board? Or maybe we should ask: Can you tell us anything about how the return of magic went so wrong?

Krul: This volume is all about the action and the epic scope. It's a big, loud, intense story with lost of magic and mystery and creatures that do a hell of a lot more than go bump in the night. Malikai and Grace thought they already faced their greatest challenges before - but they have no idea what is coming their way.

IFANBOY PREVIEWS CHARISMAGIC #1!

Vince Hernandez – Writer /
Khary Randolph – Art /
Emilio Lopez – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Paul Montgomery for ifanboy.com

I've always had a thing for magic--an aversion to balloon animals and invasive clowns with magic quarters of course--but a great appreciation for the craft and presentation of stage magic and the lives of its great practitioners. So I was delighted to read an advance copy of Aspen's Charismagic #1, due out this week. It did a lot to scratch my itch as both a magic fan and even a crime fiction fan.

This is a story of fantasy and mysticism set in the modern world of the grift. Our hero isn't so much a sorcerer as he is a confidence man in a tux. He bumps elbows with Las Vegas showgirls and mysterious men with even more mysterious pasts. And best of all, he's out of his depth. He's poked into a shadowy world with an unsteady wand, and now it's all ready to snowball. This one is well worth your time, but if you need a little more convincing, I share this interview with writer Vince Hernandez.

Peppered throughout is a preview of the first issue, with interior art by Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, and covers by Siya Oum, Khary Randolph and Ale Garza.


iFanboy:   First off, great first issue. I think it's important that I start by asking about your own history with all things mystical. Do you hail from a family of stage magicians or do you simply like to DVR the occasional episode of Mindfreak? What's your interest level and can you make a silver dollar appear from behind my ear?

Vince Hernandez:   Haha, thanks for the kind words, and no, unfortunately I wasn’t raised by a family of stage magicians—although I’m sure the holiday gatherings would’ve been a lot more fun and exciting if that were the case. And actually, I don’t own a DVR or watch Mindfreak because Criss Angel scares me a lot, but I am a big fan of the genre of magic and the craft of magicians.

My interest in wanting to write a story like this stems from a combination of liking big, epic fantasy tales and enjoying the spectacle of the Las Vegas shows and being curious in seeing what it would be like to combine the two. It seemed to me like magician stories were set most of the time as period pieces, such as The Prestige or The Illusionist, or high fantasy such as Harry Potter. So, I was hoping to find a new niche with this story that would allow me to play with some more contemporary themes along the way.

And yes, I can make a silver dollar appear from behind your ear but I had to stop doing that because of the economy and all. It became pricey.

iFanboy:   Tell me about the origins of Charismagic. Where did this project come from?

VH:   When I figured out I wanted to write a modern day magician story, the steps from there came along nicely. I always had a plot in mind revolving around this villain who was persecuted not for what he did per se, but who he was. And once all the major plot points were figured out regarding the story’s major players, the rest flowed together very organically.

After I finished the comic series Soulfire: Shadow Magic and Dellec, a supernatural book I’m very proud of, I was ready to start planning my next writing project. As it turned out, Frank and Peter, Aspen’s co-owners asked what I had in mind for my next project and bam—the wheels were set in motion.

From there, it was a matter of luck and timing that I ran into Khary Randolph, one of my favorite artists walking this planet, and he mentioned that he finally had some time on his schedule to collaborate on something (Yes, I was pestering him steady up until this point at conventions). He brought along his teammate Emilio Lopez and the pair have been a joy to work with. I think it’s safe to say we pretty much talk on a daily basis if not more about the series and what we’re looking to achieve. I feel like they share the same amount of love for the book as I do, so it makes it easy to give them the reigns and let them go wild.

iFanboy:   Though there's obviously supernatural forces at work here, your tuxedoed protagonist Hank identifies himself as an entertainer. Is he more of a showman than a sorcerer? How far out of his depth is this guy when the real, honest to goodness magic materializes?

VH:   Yes, it’s a bit of a running joke we find out between Hank and his mentor, Hector about the ‘entertainer’ line. At the onset of the story, he’s definitely more of an entertainer, but as the story progresses, we learn that he is even further outside his depth than he ever could have imagined. But as well, we discover that all is not as it seems with Hank, and he didn’t make it this far on just his charm and good looks. Readers will really see a huge transformation for Hank throughout the series as he learns more about what exactly is happening around him, and the extent to what he can actually do with his magical abilities.

iFanboy:   I think the first big hook in the story is the emergence of a man from Hank's past. Can you tell us anything more about Hector?

VH:   Hector is Hank’s grounding force, so to speak. Whereas Hank is immersed in the Vegas lifestyle of fame, fortune, and fast women, Hector is his mentor and moral center. But Hector has his own set of skeletons in the closet as well. And his past we’ll come to find out, is a huge key to figuring out what’s going on in the story. So I consider Hector just as important of a lead character as Hank in the grand scheme of things. The relationship between these two magicians, and the generational bond they share is one of the cornerstones of Hank’s motivation throughout his journey.

iFanboy:   Befitting a book in the Aspen comics line, Charismagic also features some gorgeous Las Vegas showgirls/magical assistants courtesy of artist Khary Randolph. How great a role do these assistants play in the story going forward? We know Hank is romantically involved with at least one of them.

VH:   One of them, Alle, who we meet in the opening issue will play a major role going forward. She’s Hank’s girl even though their relationship is flawed, and after the events of issue one, her fate is a huge factor for Hank in deciding his motives. In the first issue, you get the sense that Hank does indeed want to share his inner feelings with Alle, but lacks the willpower to do it. As the story progresses, their relationship is put to the test as they both have their own quests in a way to figure out how to get back to each other. There's a large-scale vanishing act late in the first issue. Is this...rapturous status quo a permanent fixture for the series?

This answer I will leave open-ended and tell you you’ll have to wait and see!

iFanboy:   Let's talk about threats and villains. What can you tell us about Samsun or any other obstacles Hank is set to face in issues to come?

VH:  From the zero and first issues, we’ve explored a lot of Samsun’s origin and motives--and that was by design. I really wanted the major antagonist and crisis to be set forth at the onset of the story so readers would know the immensity of the peril that faced the characters we were set to introduce.

We know that Samsun once lived amongst magical beings but was banished to the Void Realm because of his power. And since he’s essentially been in a magical prison filled with unimaginable nightmare beings for centuries—it’s safe to say he’s fairly pissed off.

However, Samsun is not the only threat our heroes will encounter along the way as we learn early on that creatures of magic are not all friendly!

CBR COVERS ASPEN AT WONDERCON 2011!

By Wilson Trang for comicbookresources.com

Aspen Comics made a splash with their return to WonderCon as the publisher made a number of exclusive announcements and premiers during their spotlight panel.

Colorist Peter Steigerwald opened the presentation in typical Aspen fashion leading a roaring "Aloha" from the Aspen team and the assembled audience as president Frank Mastromauro, who was running late, joined the panel. Alongside Steigerwald was editor-in-chief Vince Hernandez, artist Jason Fabok, colorist Beth Sotelo, writer David Schwartz, writer and director of design and productions Mark Roslan and artist Joe Benitez.

Steigerwald kicked things off with a rundown of several ongoing projects from Aspen, first announcing that Hernandez's creator-owned 'Charismagic' #0 sold out of its first printing and a second printing is coming out is being released alongside issue #1.

Joe Benitez's "Lady Mechanika's" reception has been "overwhelming." According to Mastromauro, "Lady Mechanika" has been a massive success, especially in Borders stores. Issue zero was launched in December, and so far three different printings have sold out. Borders alone reordered the book's second printing with a 50 to 70% increase on the first printing numbers -- and they still sold out. Benitez explained that he has been experiencing a number of personal problems that have slowed the book down, but issue 2 is 99% done.

Mastromauro addressed the issue of delays of "Lady Mechanika" and other titles in an honest fashion, explaining Michael Turner's death resulted in a long-lasting impact on the company, resulting in a necessary change in how they do business. One major problem has been the lack of press from the company resulting in fans not pre-ordering books from stores. In turn, stores are short ordering the books leaving fans without books to buy on Wednesday. Mastromauro promised that these problems are being addressed throughout 2011 as the company gears up for 2012.

Announced last year's 2010 Comic-Con International, "Broken Pieces" will finally be releasing in August of this year. "It's a monster odyssey," explained Roslin, the creator and writer of the series. "The story takes place about 20 years in the future. A massive catastrophe hits the coast of the United States. A biological bomb is destroying the Earth and the government has to find a way to stop it, so they approach a genius husband/wife scientist team. What they have to endure is what the story is about. There are monsters running around and they have to deal with that. It's a crazy, epic story." A preview will be available for this year's Free Comic Book Day

Mastromauro next announced a new book coming out -- "Idolized" is written by "Fathom: Blue Descent" writer David Schwartz and drawn by Michael Gunnell. The series is "along the same lines as 'Fathom,' in the sense that it is a big epic story, yet personal," said Schwartz. "It really centers around a girl overwhelmed by regrets in her life. One major regret is that she wants redemption and revenge. It plays out over a TV show which is not 'American Idol.' It will also be Aspen's first superhero story. It's 'True Grit' meets 'American Idol' meets superheroes."

Also announced were "Michael Turner's Fathom" volume four, written by Scott Lobdell, drawn by Alex Konat and colored by Beth Sotelo. Following the success of "Executive Assistant Iris," volume 2 of the series will feature the returning creative team of David Whol and Eduardo Francisco along with three expansion series: "Executive Assistant Lotus," "Executive Assistant Orchid" and "Executive Assistant Violet."

"Even through we've never done any companywide crossovers, it doesn't mean that we can't do a mega-event [based] in one universe," Mastromauro said. "Mike always believed each of the different universes are different. 'Executive Assistant Iris: Hit List Agenda' will start up in July with number zero, and out of that spins three new series. All three will be done by different creative teams and will be released weekly. The first week of each month will start with 'Iris,' followed by 'Orchid' in the second week, and 'Lotus' and 'Violet' in the third and forth."

"Executive Assistant: Orchid" will be written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by Michael Gunnell. "Executive Assistant: Lotus" will be written by Vince Hernandez and drawn by Oliver Nome. "Executive Assistant: Violet" will be written by Marc Andreyko and drawn by Pop Mhan.

Aspen also expanded on the news from an announcement from Friday morning revealing TV and movie director McG will be working Aspen in creating the "Haunted City" series. "Mike [Turner] was really good friends with one of [McG's] show runners. They came to us with this project. It will be a coproduction which us producing a great comic book while they will be developing it for future television or feature film. Not too much has been released, but it'll be a while lot of fun." The series will be centered around New York City and was described as "not a children's story."

Other announcements include the lost issue six of "Dellec" finally coming out this year, "Shrugged" volume 2 will be coming out soon, a non-scheduled and solicited "2011 Splash" will be coming out this year. Outside of Aspen, Mastromauro just finished writing a story for "JLA 80-Page Giant."

Mastromauro also revealed the current statuses of books that are finding their way into film. "We have the rights to the 'Fathom' movie back. It's not with Fox anymore. We are actually working on funding right now to produce the film ourselves. Megan Fox is still attached to the movie. We couldn't be more excited right now. 'Soulfire' had its first script treatment and is going out to directors. 'Mindfield' is being set up with a production house of an actor that wants to be attached to it. We can't talk about a lot of this right now."

At this point, several fans were given the opportunity to ask questions, the first being, "How come there are no crossover books, or it is completely out of the question?" Mastromauro replied, "Mike never really liked the idea of crossovers. He didn't want to ruin the integrity of the characters to have them meet each other. Ever since Aspen was started in '02 and '03, it was just never on our radar. But if 'Hit List Agenda' goes off well, we might have more down the line."

The next was a simple query: "What book are you must excited about?" "I'm most excited about Fathom," Mastromauro said. "It had seemed that this book was cursed. No matter what we did with that title, we could never get it on track, whether we got a new artist or writer. Finally, there will finally be a same team, and [it will be] coming out on time [while remaining] consistent with what Mike did to make the book so special."

The next fan asked what Mastromauro felt was the next big thing to come from Aspen, to which he replied, "Jason Fabok. I think once his new volume of 'Soulfire' gets released, he will be recognized. He is already attached to a upcoming huge project at DC."

The panel ended with Mastromauro promising that Aspen will rectify the mistakes of the previous year of delays and the lack of marketing. "We will be producing more titles this year than we have had in the previous few years combined. This will lead to Aspen having more exposure in the market and, hopefully, more titles in return." Steigerwald ended the panel in the same fashion as he began, leading a loud and rancorous "Aloha" from the crowd.

BLUE DESCENT #2 PREVIEW/ REVIEW!

David Schwartz – Writer /
Alex Sanchez – Art /
John Starr – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Chris Partin for thecomicaddiction.com

What Is It About?
Aspen Matthew's origins have slowly been revealed over, but her true connection to the Blue and the Black has not – until the revelations of this issue.

Thoughts?
When I read comics, I really seem pulled toward the types of comics that are enveloped in a world that allows for an untold amount of storytelling. I think that is one of the reason I enjoy Fathom so much is because there are so many different stories that can be told with the present day material, but with the history behind the present day material as well.

David Schwartz really has a lot of open ground to work in as he looks back at how the Black became more active in the lives of the Blue and how Aspen Matthews ties them together. The Fathom Universe has a large number of major players and it's obvious that Aspen Matthews is the central figure in all of it, but she does not have to be the central figure in the storytelling and Blue Descent is a perfect example. While this is a story about her parents, Aspen is not front and center in this story, and I think new readers who are curious about the Fathom Universe may see this series as something they can try out and get their toes wet.

Last issue we saw Eilah, Aspen's mother, being taken from her bed in the middle of the night by a member of the Black. New readers may be curious about who the Black are and what their ties are with the Blue, and David Schwartz gives you a lot of that information as you read the issue, and it works well within the context of the story. There's nothing worse than an insane amount of narration and explanation that is obviously shoehorned in to a story. Schwartz lays out what the reader needs to know for this particular story and then leaves the rest alone allowing the reader to explore things further if they want more.

This story is pretty clear cut so far, and I'm curious if we're going to get any curveball thrown our way. The beginning of the first issue left me with quiet a few questions that I'm sure will be played out as the story moves forward, and I'm not entirely sure the conclusion is something I can really piece together right now, and that just pulls me in to the story all that much more.

The art in this issue provided by Alex Sanchez, John Starr, and Josh Reed is really good. The story is very serious and has a dark tone to it, as well as being played out in the depths of the ocean and the art reflects that. Aspen MLT has a lot of really talented artists that have a variety of styles amongst them and it always impresses me that the editors find the artists that fit the writer's vision and storytelling. I think the color palette is very moody and really adds to a sense of suspense. This story doesn't have a thriller-esque storyline, but the art almost adds that same feel and it works. While I enjoy a bright and colorful color palette, it just wouldn't work well with this story and I think it would really be distracting to the reader.

The Verdict?
Fathom: Blue Descent #2 is a strong book with a story that really pulls you in emotionally and artwork that continues to show the industry that Aspen MLT is one of the best publishers. I recommend this series to new readers of the Fathom Universe who just want to get a taste of what they can expect. I also recommend they grab everything else, but let's start small and work ourselves up. I also highly recommend this series to the regular Fathom Universe readers because I think you're missing out if you're not reading Blue Descent.

FIRST LOOK: CHARISMAGIC #0!

Vince Hernandez – Writer /
Khary Randolph – Art /
Emilio Lopez – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Sara Lima for comicvine.com

Being the nice folks that they are, Aspen Comics gave Comic Vine the opportunity to be one of the first people to read the first issue of their all new ongoing series 'Charismagic.' After many months of being in production, Aspen's; Charismagic, is finally gearing up for it's release and the issue is set to hit shelves Wednesday, February 9th, 2011. Zero issues generally serve as a prelude to an upcoming series and as an introduction to a new character, story and the universe in which they exist; but are not essential to the reading of the series as a whole. Charismagic is all of these things plus a little bit more.

Written by Vince Hernandez with art by Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, Charismagic deals with a mystical and magical universe that appears to exist parallel to our own. This issue serves not only as a brief introduction into this magical world, but as an introduction to both the story's main protagonists and antagonists as well.

When I first heard about Charismagic, I admit it reminded me a lot of another female magician comic character that I am a fan of. However, upon reading this first issue, I can happily say they are nothing alike! The issue opens with Sudana, a mystical young woman who delivers a warning to two mystical beings disguised as humans. She tells them to be cautious, that an evil being named Samsun had been planning his return. Samsun, considered too deadly to coexist with their kind, had been banished to a dimension called 'The Void.' The writer lays out the story and the characters very eloquently in this first issue, setting up both the main protagonist as the narrator and introducing the villain character and his motive. It is a very well organized book that distinguishes the plot clearly for the reader. Readers will also be introduced to Hank, a self proclaimed charming and seemingly clumsy Las Vegas magician. The story transitions from one scene to the next rather effortlessly, and you get a good grasp of who the characters are for being a first issue.

My only real problem with issue zero of Charismagic is how short it is. Essentially, you are paying a lot of money for an entire comic that is only thirteen pages of story. The rest of the book acts somewhat as an encyclopedia of terms and characters that will appear throughout the series. So, while the introductory issue is good because it is well written and the art is very pretty, these thirteen pages of story could have been the beginning of issue one. I will say this, however, the premise of the story is interesting enough that I will pick up the first issue.

FREE SCOURGE #0 FULL ISSUE ON MTV GEEK!

Scott Lobdell – Writer /
Eric Battle – Art /
David Curiel – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Eric Wright for geek-news.mtv.com

New York City has become "an island of horrors" following the spread of a virus that's turned its residents into a horde of blood-thirsty gargoyles in Aspen Comics' The Scourge from The Walking Dead producer Gale Anne Hurd, writer Scott Lobdell and artist Eric Battle.

We chatted with Eric Battle on the floor of the 2010 New York Comic Con about his work on The Scourge and his big screen hopes for the series.

"It's a lot of monsters and mayhem and excitement," Battle said when asked to describe The Scourge's plot. "My goal is to make each issue more exciting and better looking than the previous, so that when we're done, we have a very nice collection for print."

Gale Anne Hurd, producer of not only the smash-hit AMC adaptation of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead, but also The Terminator, Aliens, Armageddon, The Hulk and many other geeky genre goodies is the driving force behind the series. Her involvement gives Battle high hopes for the possibility of a jump to the big screen. "Her studio is behind this project so we're hoping and looking for it to, once the comic issues are done, for it to hit the screen sometime soon," Battle said.

CHARISMAGIC CREATIVE TEAM TALKS TO COMIC VINE!

Vince Hernandez – Writer /
Khary Randolph – Art /
Emilio Lopez – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Sara Lima for comicvine.com

Comic Vine: The name 'Charismagic' made me think of 'charisma' and 'magic' combined, would you say this is one way to describe your new character? What other words would you use to describe her?

Vince Hernandez:I'm glad you touched on the two names and their meaning because it actually does play into the storyline in a few ways. I would say, while it doesn't reflect on our female heroine, Sudana per se, it does very much reflect on our main male character, Hank Medley. At the outset of the series, Hank is the star of his very own Vegas Magic act called…you guessed it, Charismagic! And while it's the name of his show, it also goes a long way in describing two very important traits of his. When we start the series, Hank is at the top of his game: confident, famous, successful, and yes—very charismatic. But after his world is turned upside down by an event of magic that affects everyone on the planet, he is forced to build himself back up and discover more human abilities he never knew he possessed in order to try and keep from being annihilated himself. So the title really fits him both in a literal and figurative sense for sure. The first act of Charismagic is all about Hank and Sudana's parallel journeys: Hank is human, a man who is an entertainer and magician, but not a person of magic. She is obviously a being of magic, but her lifestyle is the complete opposite of his. When their two paths converge in the story, we begin to highlight the differences between what a human would feel, what a supernatural being would feel, and more. Without a second thought, I would use just one word to describe her: strength. Her entire arc is built on sacrifice...which the readers will come to learn. There were several motivations for coming up with this story. When I was a younger, growing up in Los Angeles, I was no stranger to Las Vegas as it was so close, and I always felt a strong interest in the spectacle and wonder of those Vegas shows. They really are their own form of entertainment unlike anything out there, and the stars of those shows always seemed larger than life to me. I'm a fan of epic fantasy stories with adventure and action, romance and drama. You can fit so many different themes within a fantasy story and weave together multiple story lines into one concept. So I think those two feelings really merged together when I started developing the property. I sought to take this person Hank, who was at the top of his industry, and break him down, then build him back up again. But along the way, I didn't want anything to be predictable with his journey. With the element of magic as a theme, it became easy to do just that. For Sudana, our female lead, her story was one I had envisioned from day one even before Hank's. And we'll see early on that her motives in the story really set the framework for everything in Charismagic. The book is grounded in reality, so our characters are vulnerable and flawed, and this will define their actions. Using this thought process as the backbone, it was easy to get inspired to write the series. And of course, Frank Mastromauro and Peter Steigerwald make it easy for me to get motivated on a project. They've always been two of my biggest supporters and have allowed me the creative freedom to take my ideas and run with them. That level of trust is uncommon in this industry, and once that weight of having to conform to any creative restrictions is lifted off your shoulders, and you know you can tell the story you want to tell—the rest becomes easy.

Comic Vine: What kind of an audience would you say would appreciate these characters?

Vince Hernandez: I feel like there's a little bit of everything in this story for people of all interests and ages. It's a big, expansive magical adventure in structure, but there are also moments of drama and romance, horror and mystery early on. I enjoy poking fun at the magic genre itself, so there are also comedy elements involved in the story. I tried to approach everything in the script with a very realistic and logical tone to it. I asked myself, how would I imagine someone in real life reacting to these absurd situations? So in this way, characters react in more human ways than might be the norm for what's considered a proper story. There are no clear-cut heroes or villains necessarily, which I hope makes them feel more genuine when you read it. The audience will be able to take away what they want from each character and make their own judgment on them. I just let the characters lead their own paths in a way. For instance, in the zero issue, we're introduced to the 'past life' so to speak of who I suppose would be considered the threat of the story, a magical being named Samsun. Soon, we discover what makes him this threat is really a situation he's born with and can't control. And in the story, he's persecuted for this bane of his existence. So in this regard, is he really a bad guy? Or is he a victim of circumstances? I'll let the readers decide.

Comic Vine: How much involvement did you have in the design of the character overall? Did you sit down with artist's Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez for the character's design?

Khary Randolph: Quite a bit. The great thing about working with Vince on this project was, while this is his baby, he was still very receptive to our ideas and designs. He spoils up in a way -- once we got the main concept and his initial thoughts, he really let us go wild and run with it. It's very rare to have that kind of freedom. We were all more or less on the same page from day 1, so for the most part my initial designs (minus some tweaks here and there) are what you seen on the final page. Afterwards, Emilio and I would go over everything and talk color, style, mood, share ideas and spent a lot of time just formulating the look we wanted to achieve. I handpicked Emilio for the job because we have similar sensibilities and I knew he was someone I could really trust to bring out the best in my lineart. Plus he's receptive to the ideas I have (when they're good, anyways).

Emilio Lopez: Personally I didn't have much to do the actual main character designs. Though I did get to design and paint the extra portions in the back of Issue 1. I was part of the correspondence between Khary and Vince wile they were hammering out the details of the characters. As they did this, I did some conceptual color work based on the plot for the series. the conceptual color work was a collection of paintings I did to reflect the mood of a specific portion of the story. I painted them for Vince and Khary to get an idea of where I wanted to go color wise. it also gave them a chance to comment and give suggestions. When the character designs were approved I began to create a pallet for them. Vince already had ideas for what he wanted to see but at the same time was open to new ideas. For the most part my first passes at color for the characters is what ended up in the book. Charismagic is such a great collaborative effort and I consider myself really lucky to be working with Vince and Khary on my first official comic series, they really trust my instincts and abilities.

Vince Hernandez: This is one of the best parts of the Charismagic team in my opinion; we constantly communicate back-and-forth daily with each other on every aspect of the character's development process. Khary and Emilio are so immensely talented and just get what the story is about, and what the character designs call for at any given moment. In the zero issue alone, we're introduced to a wide assortment of characters with different looks and feel. We foreshadow what readers can expect for the rest of the series—which is the unexpected. Hank and Sudana, our lead characters, are introduced in their own respect. And the aforementioned Samsun and his origin are examined. We get a look at a whole array of magical beings in both the present and the past, and we introduce wizards, imprisoned creatures of magic and more. I've always been a fan of big, sweeping prologues that set the stage for everything else in the story to follow and I think we really achieved this in the zero issue. I hope readers will agree.

Comic Vine: The concept of 'magic' in many of Aspen's stories isn't an entirely new concept. Another of Aspen's popular series, SOULFIRE, deals with magic both good and bad. Will we be seeing both good and evil magic in the pages of Charismagic?

Vince Hernandez: Actually, the newest volume of Soulfire premieres in the same month as Charismagic #1 in March so Aspen will be celebrating a magical month! But I'm not concerned with there being any similarities with the two universes. For starters, Soulfire takes place two hundred years in the future and centers on the ongoing struggle between technology and the return of magic. Our story is a present tense tale, with magic already sort of fitting into our society. And about halfway through issue one after something rather cataclysmic happens in Vegas, our story really takes a turn into the more magical, absurd side. So, in this regard, I don't feel there will be many similarities between the two magic-centric stories. There's enough magic to fill a lifetime's worth of stories at Aspen I think :D

Comic Vine: Tell us a little bit about the first issue! Who are the central characters, where does the story take place and what are their motivations? What is Charimagic's biggest challenge in this first issue?

Emilio Lopez: Wow what can I say with out giving anything way. I guess you are in for a ride unlike anything you have seen in comics today. Vince, Khary and I have put a lot of heart into Charismagic to try to make it as fun to work on as it is to read. The biggest challenge? Hmm, nothing comes to mind. Not to sound overconfident but I know Khary's work like the back of my hand. I have worked with Khary for a long time. Ever since we worked in animation and on the "Chaotic" card game. Even when Khary turns on the thunder, it never feels like a burden because it's so fun to work on. He's an incredible artist, a great friend and colleague also, and I try to give him my very best. Plus if I F'ed up I wouldn't hear the end of it ha ha ha!

Khary Randolph: The biggest challenges honestly were the ones we put on ourselves. Both Emilio and I were of the mind that we wanted to create a book that would stand out as something fresh and original on the shelves. Since we both have an animation background, this was an area that we really wanted to explore to create something that doesn't quite look like anything else out there on the market. And we would push each other skill-wise -- every page I'm drawing with the idea that I can't wait to see what Emilio does with it. And every time I get them back I see something I've never seen dude do before -- which makes me work even harder on the next one. And of course, this world that Vince has created is so big that I'm doing everything I can to fully realize it in a way that will make him happy as well. So basically, I'm pushing these guys so they can push me harder. It's kinda messed up, now that I think about it.

Vince Hernandez: We tried to set up the zero and first issues to be as thrilling as possible, with a meaty prologue that will give you everything you need to know to get going, but also hit you with enough questions that you'll hopefully to want to read on and discover more. I can't rave enough about how great the artwork is that Khary and Emilio are bringing to the table so I honestly feel that's worth the price of admission alone.

CHARISMAGIC FEATURED IN MAGIC MAGAZINE!

New Aspen Title Featured in October 2010 Issue!

An announcement was made at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego introducing Charismagic, a new comic book from Aspen Comics. The main character is a Las Vegas magician and is inspired by Lance Burton. In the comic, written by Vince Hernandez with art from Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, the Vegas entertainer is revealed to be a magician in the true sense of the word, possessing powerful supernatural abilities.

Click here to visit the MAGIC MAGAZINE site.

NYCC 2010: NEW SOULFIRE & FATHOM LINE-UPS!

By Kevin Mahadeo for comicbookresources.com

As announced at its Saturday afternoon panel at New York Comic-Con, Aspen Comics brings back the magic next summer - both in terms of the latest volume of the magic-centric, future-based series "Soulfire" and in terms of writer JT Krul, who continues his tenure on the signature title.

Created by legendary comic book artist Michael Turner, "Soulfire" began in 2005 as Aspen Comics' first maxi-series and takes place in the distant future on a world where magic long ago vanished. Grace, a beautiful but centuries old survivor of the last Age of Magic, allies herself with the orphan Malikai, who she believes could bring about the return of magic to a world overrun by technology and ruthless corporations. The original volume of "Soulfire" led to a number of spinoff limited series exploring the world's backstory - "Dying of the Light" and "Chaos Reign" - before continuing in the miniseries "New World Order" and "Soulfire" Vol. 2, the majority of which have been written by Krul.

With the second volume of the series currently underway and almost completed, Aspen plans to release the next installment in 2011 with Krul once again behind the wheel and joined by newcomer artist Jay Fabok and John Starr (Mindfield, Brightest Day, Fathom). To read more, click here.

Also announced at the New York Comic-Con panel , Scott Lobdell looks to take the plunge and make a splash at Aspen next year when he launches the fourth volume of the comic company's flagship title, "Fathom."

Originally published by Top Cow Productions as artist Michael Turner's first creator-owned series, "Fathom" restarted in 2003 under Turner's then recently founded comics company named after the title's lead character, Aspen. "Fathom" follows Aspen Matthews, a young woman who possesses powerful water-based abilities and who discovers that she actually descends from two warring races of underwater humanoids known as the Blue and the Black. A number of miniseries and follow up volumes sprung from the original title, exploring various characters from the universe and furthering the adventures of Aspen as she struggled to bring peace between not only her aquatic people, but between them and humans as well.

Lobdell first entered the world of Aspen Comics earlier in 2010 with the limited series "The Scourge" and continues his stay at the comics company with the news of his new writing duties on the upcoming "Fathom" Vol. 4. Joining him will be Alex Konat (Mindfield) and Beth Sotelo (Soulfire, Shrugged). To read more, click here.

SDCC 2010: ASPEN GOES DIGITAL, LAUNCHES NEW TITLES

By Lucas Siegel for newsarama.com

Digital comics are an important part of the comic book world, just one year after the conversation truly began in earnest. Aspen's flagship title, Fathom, will be the first to go digital in an original story made specifically for the web. The story, by Vince Hernandez and artist Siya Oum, will focus on Aspen Matthews dealing with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Aspen is making their first digital effort a charitable one as well; all proceeds from sales of the comic are being donated to the National Wildlife Federation to help those affected by the spill.

They're not only doing original content though. Over the next few months, Aspen will move Fathom, Soulfire, Executive Assisstant: Iris, Shrugged, Mindfield, and Dellec to digital formats, with more to come. No official word on what distribution partner they'll be using yet.

Before getting to their new titles, they announced a push for one of their current ones. Next summer will be the "Summer of the Executive Assistant" with a push and event for the series teased at the show. More Fathom is on the way soon, and the publisher reminded fans of The Scourge, which just launched last week, Mindfield, J.T. Krul's telepathic CIA Agent story, and the upcoming Lady Mechanika.

But what about those four new series? The first is called Charismagic. The series, by Vince Hernandez with art from Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, features a Las Vegas showman who finds himself thrust into a world of "real" magic. The fantasy action-adventure series will launch early 2011, followed by 3 more titles in three more genres. Broken Pieces is next in the Spring, a post-apocalypic series by Mark Roslan. Later in 2011 and into 2012, Peter Steigerwald will launch the interstellar series Zooniverse and Frank Mastromauro will launch another sci-fi series, Sunslashers.

As for the Fathom movie? It's currently a bit stalled, but hasn't entered development hell yet, as the search for talent to make the film happen is still actively on.

JOE BENITEZ TALKS LADY MECHANIKA

By Sara "Babs" Lima for comicvine.com

Comic Vine: You have been working as an artist for Aspen for years, and now you are finally releasing your very own creator title. Has this been a long time coming, something you always wanted to do, or was there any hesitation on your part?

Joe Benitez: Been working with Aspen going on two years now, started late 2008 early 2009. This is actually my second venture into creator-owned territory. I did a title called Wraithborn in 2005 through Wildstorm. I have the rights back for Wraithborn and I intend on telling more of the story in the future. Lady Mechanika will be my first attempt as a writer. As far as any hesitation that might be the only one. I feel I can tell a story and feel I can have interesting back and forth with characters but again I've always had people that were buffers when it came to that. They would tell me if something sucked or didn't work. With Lady I have the last say on what goes so I better make it good. Aside from the writing I've never had any hesitation as far as doing a creator owned book, matter of fact I prefer it. I love working on titles of my own creation. Been doing it since I started my career, I co-created Weapon Zero and Magdalena For Top Cow. I really love the process of creating new characters and new worlds. I love getting bits and pieces of other things and piecing them together in a new way. I would love to spend the rest of my career doing my own comics.

CV: Where did you get the inspiration for Lady Mechanika? How did you come up with the concept?

JB: The Steampunk genre intrigued me for sometime now. Going to cons and watching all these very cool cosplayers decked out in costumes of their own making was fascinating. The more I delved into the culture and did research the more into it I got. Being an artist and creator there is an ocean of possibilities you can do with it. The more I thought about it the more stories would formulate in my head. All I needed was a strong character to be the focal point in my stories in came Lady M. I always had a female in mind as the main protagonist.

CV: What is the title about?

JB: Its about a private investigator in turn of the century Victorian England. She gets hired to investigate cases on the fringe of normal society. Cases others don't want or don't understand. Paranormal, supernatural, anomalies. We also find out that she has no memory of her past and that's part of the reason she is in the kind of work she does. She's in constant search of her origins.

CV: What was the experience of going from being an artist to working as both artist and writer on the title?

JB: Stressful, but enjoyable. It's a different process. I'm used to sitting and talking to someone brainstorming then walking away and having that person type up and make sense out of all we talked about. Now I have to go and do that myself. Its very satisfying when the pieces start to take shape. My only hope is that I can deliver a compelling story with characters you can sympathize with and care for.

CV: How long is the series? Are you looking to make this into an ongoing?

JB: We are aiming for a 6 issue run but if we find an audience expect it to be an on going.

FATHOM: BLUE DESCENT #1 EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW!

David Schwartz – Writer /
Alex Sanchez – Art /
John Starr – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Sara "Babs" Lima for comicvine.com

Next week Aspen Comics plans to release an all new four issue mini- series featuring the publisher's biggest headliner, Aspen Matthews. Fathom: Blue Descent will be written by David Schwartz with art by Alex Sanchez and John Starr. The book will tell the story of Aspen Matthews' childhood, delving further into the history of her parents and their "deadly struggle to keep their family intact."

If I had to guess, I would probably say that the story might take place prior to her parent's murder and may possibly explain the meaning behind it. Why were her parents brutally killed? How did it help to develop her character as a whole? Did it make her stronger? I personally tend to enjoy it any time a creative team wants to take an established character and to delve into their back story and psychology. What about you? Are you looking forward to this new Fathom series?

Fathom: Blue Descent #1 will hit September 1st, 2010.

MINDFIELD #2 REVIEWED!

J.T. Krul – Writer /
Alex Konat – Pencils /
Richard Zajac – Inks /
John Starr – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Noel Bartocci for brokenfrontier.com

Writer JT Krul and artist Alex Konat have a genuinely entertaining spy thriller on their hands and have successfully built upon a solid first issue. With the characters and their abilities firmly established, as well as each member's role, it's time to delve into the more story-driven plot mechanics that this series has in store.

In the previous issue, we only got a taste of the overarching threat, featured mainly in a bookend piece that resulted in a lowly hacker being lethally poisoned. The writer's choice to slowly reveal the coming threat is paying off, providing a suitable level of suspense in a story that could easily become clichéd in less capable hands.

Krul has done a fine job of defining these four main characters to the point that you can see the coming conflicts, strengths, and weaknesses. Not in a bad way, mind you, but more on an anticipatory level. I can't wait to see some of these personalities come to blows. In taking the time to define the protagonists, the shadowy antagonist has become even more dangerous, especially after his reveal. He appears to be an unassuming man whose motives and tactics clash with the sensibilities and core values of at least two of the four member team. His sadistic and apparently telepathic henchmen pose a considerable threat for the other two team members.

At the end of issue one, Connor (our presumed hero) killed a man in the back alley of a nightclub. The side effects of his clinically induced telepathy result in an inability to turn it off, not to mention some very bad trips with reality. Connor sees a man's intentions to rape and murder a girl, not to mention his previous victims. Connor flips and violently confronts the man in an alley. We pick up issue two with Connor being under observation. The suits, not knowing how to deal with his apparent break with reality, come up with a surprise solution that cements this story as being slightly more original than the norm. It's a testament to Krul's knowledge of the genre's structure as well as the real life history of the projects that inspired the series.

Alex Konat's art has become stronger since the last issue. His handle of storytelling is stronger and the effect which he uses to establish the mind reading is a little clearer. Before, it was a drastic change in color scheme and a little chaotic. In this issue, Konat establishes which mind is being read in a crowd and we have a better handle of which mind reader is doing the poking around.

Krul & Konat are working as a wonderful team, crafting a story that's both based in the real world, and indulging in some real fantastical elements. Not unlike a story like Preacher. The properties can't be any more different, but in the aspect of aesthetic, they are quite similar. Both have lived in and expressive characters that are forced to deal with real emotions. The writers have placed emphasis in building that atmosphere.

Because the characters are successful manifestations, no matter what off-the-wall situation you place them in, be it an Irish vampire or telepathic spies on drugs, the audience will continue to trust in these people being people, despite the extraordinary.

Two issues in and Mindfield is proving to be a fun and energetic ride. It continues to surprise me, not always in its story, but in the emotional connection that Krul and company have been able to cultivate in such a short amount of time. This is a good series, happening on the fringe but packing just as much punch per dollar as many of the major publishers' heavy hitters.

Reach back, pick up the first issue, and give this series a chance. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised.

THE SCOURGE #0 REVIEWED!

Scott Lobdell – Writer /
Eric Battle – Art /
David Curiel – Colors /
Josh Reed – Letters

By Mr. Pasty for aintitcoolnews.com

Volunteering to read another "man vs. zombie" comic is like going in for an episiotomy when you're not pregnant. And believe me I really wanted to soil this book with a Diceman-esque rant of all the reasons why Aspen Comics should be blown off the face of the map like that muddy village during the first few minutes of OUTBREAK. Then Scott Lobdell had to go and do a crazy thing like make this book good. Check that, make it great.

SCOURGE #0 is basically the beginning stages of I AM LEGEND – the masterpiece by Richard Matheson, not that urinal cake with the Fresh Prince that was flushed out of the box office via collective indifference. You can tell right from the cover that Lobdell isn't fucking around. I appreciate a terse introduction to my heroes. Believe it or not, I'm capable of connecting the animated dots. It aggravates me when writers feel the need to explain everything in their protagonist's life from DNA up until the opening frame. It's usually handled by some interlude where a bunch of supporting characters talk out loud and reveal major plot points – just in case they conveniently end up inside a comic book.

In SCOURGE, Lobdell doesn't waste anytime setting you up. It's page one, and it's a fucking shitstorm. Our hero, former Marine and NYPD SWAT member John Griffin, is knee deep in colleagues and passer-bys who just so happened to have mutated into killer gargoyles who want to recruit other humans into their bloodthirsty horde by biting or stabbing them. If the humans resist or can't be turned, they get killed. It's basically the formula for Christianity – just not as violent. Well ol' Griff doesn't want to convert so he has to run-and-gun his way to the other side of Manhattan to pick up his son from the theatre before the gargoyles do. And in the process he must also confront an evil so unspeakably horrifying it makes the gargoyles look like something from a Bob Ross painting. Is it the antichrist himself? No, it's his ex-wife, and she wants to know why he can't be a better father to his kid. I'm telling you, folks, this is a white-knuckle tale of survival.

The artwork ain't too shabby either. Colorful but still gritty, I got a kick out of the two dozen or so ways Eric Battle was able to draw Griffin in peril. He's kind of a gentleman's version of Frank Castle. Just as mean, just as dangerous, but carries himself with a little more class and doesn't have to schlep that whole "waaah, my kids are dead" baggage. Yet.

I really enjoyed SCOURGE #0 and I think the title ZERO TO SIXTY is a fitting way to describe this. You hit the ground running on page one and you don't stop until there's nothing left to read. What's causing this pandemic? Will Griffin make it across town before the gargoyles do? Is it already too late? Will his ex-wife get what's coming to her? These are some of the questions that are bound to be answered (amidst the nonstop carnage) in issue # 1. I can't wait to buy it.

SCOTT LOBDELL AND THE SCOURGE!

By Sara "Babs" Lima for comicvine.com

Comic Vine:  Can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with the story?
Scott Lobdell: The idea for the comic came from an amazing and very talented storyteller herself, Gale Anne Hurd. I've worked with her development executive Ben Roberts on other projects, and when he suggested she was looking to develop a comic-to-screen project I jumped at the opportunity. The high concept was, initially, the skies above Manhattan filled with gargoyles! Yep, a hundred million dollar gargoyle movie -- how could I resist?! Then the who, what, where, why and how of it all fell upon me to flesh out the beginning, middle and end of the story. With solely creator owned properties like BALL & CHAIN, HELLHOLE and MANIFEST ETERNITY, I can write up the story and it gets drawn and published. But THE SCOURGE has more of a Hollywood style of comics -- where every word can be picked apart and tweaked by several producers, development execs and, I suspect but can't prove it, the intern! I got a note the other day telling me to please not refer to the gargoyle as an "it." (Who knew gargoyles were so sensitive?!)
 
CV: Where did you draw your inspiration?
SL: Not to get all heavy, but I was in New York City on 9/11 (having flown in on the last plane that was allowed to land that morning!). At one point late in the day I managed to get on a subway that let me off at 4th Street, ten blocks below the cordoned off 14th street and on the other side of the city where my wife and I were going to be staying with friends. Walking across the city that day it really felt like a horror film tries to -- streets empty of people and traffic for blocks at a time, and the people I ran into just sort of stared blankly in the direction of the pyre downtown. There was an occasional siren. When I was writing THE SCOURGE I kept in mind how quickly an entire city can turn upside down on a dime. In this case the outbreak of this pandemic creates a widespread panic as people turn almost instantly into gargoyles. There were notes in the beginning that the chaos was spreading too quickly, but I think we've seen first hand how fast chaos can spread in city that is so jam packed with people. Heroics, yes, certainly... but also chaos.

CV: What is the series about?
SL: Someone accidentally brings what can best be described as a sentient virus from the mountains of Europe to the concrete canyons of Manhattan. Within an impossibly short amount of time, a NYPD SWAT officer is all that stands between this pandemic -- which is turning ordinary people into leathery skinned gargoyles -- and the rest of the world! That is, unless he can somehow stop this outbreak here and now in New York City, it would certainly spread across the globe in a matter of days. All this, and he has to try to get find his estranged son and keep him from succumbing to the virus!

CV: Who are the main characters, setting, time period?
SL: Jon Griffin is the police officer and he's the one we follow throughout. He's a no nonsense guy who isn't given to the dry quips of your average action adventure hero. He's just a cop trained to fight terrorists and bank robbers who suddenly has to duke it out with a city of gargoyles. He winds up partnering with a Persian cab driver named Astor, as well as his son's grade school substitute teacher, Ali. Yeah, it isn't the Legion of Super Heroes but they turn out to be a lot more resourceful than you might imagine. The setting is the aforementioned NYC and it is happening right now! (Quick! Look out your window! In fact -- don't look! Just run for your lives!)

CV: What was it like working with Eric Battle as artist on the book? Did you give him a lot of creative freedom?
SL: As with most artists, I try to give them all the freedom in the world. When you think about how many hours a day an artist has to spend staring at a page he's working on, for months and months in the case of a mini-series, I think an artist will do his best work when he has the freedom to be his most creative. All I really do is indicate the action and images I need to tell the story. Then it is up to the artist to do that and be artsy at the same time. Fortunately for me, Eric Battle is not only artsy, he's dynamic, exciting, dramatic and an awesome story teller! Its been a total joy working with him -- and based on the art it seems he's having a blast too!

CV: The book seems very different than many Aspen titles, is it?
SL: Honestly, I think Aspen is way more diverse than people give it credit for! Yes, the earliest books at the company seemed to focus on this epic adventures of really hot and complex women... but you have one series that spends a lot of time under the ocean, another in search of magic in SOUL FIRE, then you have the comic stylings of SHRUGGED and the religious conspiracy of DELLEC and the world of high finance espionage with EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. Is THE SCOURGE different from all that? Sure, but I think the exciting thing about Aspen is how different it is from itself! Um... you know what I mean!