Debuting April 8, 2015: "Archie's Musical Mess"

ARCHIE'S MUSICAL MESS (DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE)

As the frontman of The Archies, Riverdale’s favorite redhead is definitely a talented singer and guitarist. But when it comes to other instruments, well… In this digital-only book, Archie and his friends try out some new sounds—and don’t always like what they hear! Check out this value-sized collection—but you might wanna wear earplugs when you do it!

Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 4/10
100-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

"The J-Pop Summit" Returns to San Francisco in August 2015

J-POP SUMMIT ANNOUNCES DATES FOR 2015 FESTIVAL THAT WILL OFFER A WIDER ARRAY OF JAPANESE POP CULTURE ATTRACTIONS

The Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event Moves To Historic

Fort Mason And Transitions To A Ticketed Event Offering An Even Wider Variety Of Japanese Film, Food, Fashion, Music And Entertainment

San Francisco, CA – The J-POP SUMMIT, the Japanese pop culture celebration held annually in San Francisco since 2009, has announced that its 7th annual event will take place Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 9th, 2015.

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT kicks off on Friday, August 7th with a very special Friday night premiere event at the historic Castro Theatre in association with the 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco.

This year, the popular Bay Area annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, art, anime, fashion, and film moves from Japantown, where it has been held since 2009, to the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district.

The J-POP SUMMIT also transitions to become a ticketed attraction this year. Tickets will go on-sale on April 10th, 2015. Details and information on featured performers and events will be posted at www.J-POP.com.

Returning as part of the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT will be the 3rd annual Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the only dedicated Japanese film festival held in the Bay Area. The week-long series of live-action and anime film theatrical premieres will be highlighted by special personal appearances by a variety of prominent Japanese directors and actors and kicks off on Friday August 7th with a special opening night premiere event co-presented by J-POP SUMMIT at San Francisco’s landmark Castro Theatre. The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco then runs at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the NEW PEOPLE venue on Post St. in Japantown, from Saturday August 8th until Sunday August 16th. Tickets and additional information will be available at: www.JFFSF.org.

Notable new and returning fan-favorite events for the 2015 J-POP Summit will include:

LIVE MUSIC: Savor a diverse roster of some of Japan’s hottest pop and rock acts LIVE on-stage in special concert performances. This year, an expanded program of artists will perform live on the J-POP SUMMIT indoor stage at Fort Mason. Exclusive autograph and meet-and-greet sessions are also planned. Announcements of featured performers coming very soon!

FASHION: Straight from the streets of Tokyo come the newest and most cutting edge looks by an array of the latest designers. Catch fashion shows and fun contests by Japan’s hottest brands. Also browse a wide variety of products and exclusive designs for sale from many featured Japanese fashion labels. Look for news on the roster of fashion events and featured brands in coming weeks!

FILM PREMIERES: The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will host its opening night premiere event at San Francisco’s celebrated Castro Theatre. Together with NEW PEOPLE Cinema, the Bay Area’s preeminent Japanese film festival will host screenings and receptions featuring popular Japanese actors and directors from Japan’s latest live-action film and anime releases.

INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY: The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT is pleased to present the Bay Area’s very first Japanese IT and Technology-focused showcase event with exhibition, panels and keynote talks. As a trend-setting center of the consumer technology world, San Francisco is the perfect venue to present a variety of pioneers and luminaries at the J-POP SUMMIT including hardware and software, arts and sciences, and entertainment and gaming companies.

TRAVEL: A unique and informative pavilion offers the many sides of Japan to potential travelers. A variety of pop-focused companies will also showcase aspects not normally seen or accessible in traditional tours but of keen interest to many J-POP SUMMIT attendees.

SAKE & JAPANESE FOOD: Let sake flow!! The Sake tasting events that have occurred at previous J-POP SUMMITS transform into the first-ever SAKE SUMMIT, an even larger-scale and more comprehensive event! The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT joins forces with a variety of major sake brands of Japan as well as key players in the sake business in the Bay Area: from distilleries, distributors to retailers. This event will help promote Japanese sake culture to a larger audience and entice more Americans to enjoy Japan’s national spirit. More information will be released in coming weeks!

MANGA & ANIME: Catch insightful discussions and autograph sessions led by a vanguard of Japan’s renowned manga and anime creators. Fans also can atch a wide variety of anime titles at the 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, which will take place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema in Japantown.

POP ART: Take in several Japanese pop art exhibitions that accent the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT. Featured live performance art and other exhibits, as well as autograph sessions by world- renowned artists, will be presented as well as vendors offering handmade arts and crafts.

“The J-POP SUMMIT has expanded substantially every year since our very first event in 2009 and it has become an important annual showcase for the latest trends in Japanese popular culture,” says Seiji Horibuchi, Chairman of the J-Pop SUMMIT Committee and the founder of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “This year’s move to Fort Mason and the transition to a ticketed event is the next stage in the evolution of the J-POP SUMMIT and it will allow us to develop and present an even higher caliber of attractions and featured performers. Fort Mason’s expansive festival grounds also will provide for increased secure parking, better show management, and an even higher quality experience for attendees. We look forward to announcing this year’s roster of artists, performers and unique attractions over the coming weeks!”


About J-POP SUMMIT
The J-POP SUMMIT is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration held in San Francisco, CA that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows and events, food and spirits, art, and celebrity appearances. In 2014, the two-day event attracted 125,000 attendees. Details on J-POP SUMMIT are available at www.J-POP.com.

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VIZ Media to Begin Publishing Manga Based on "Yo-Kai" Video Game

VIZ MEDIA’S PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT ACQUIRES YO-KAI WATCH MANGA SERIES
Japan’s Massive Hit Action Series About A Boy That Can See Japanese Yo-kai Launches in the U.S. This Fall

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has announced the acquisition of a new manga (graphic novel) property – YO-KAI WATCH.

The supernatural comedy adventure series is inspired by the explosively popular YOKAI WATCH video game created by LEVEL-5 for the Nintendo 3DS and launched to wide acclaim in Japan in 2013. The YO-KAI WATCH manga will be published under the company’s Perfect Square imprint, written and drawn by Noriyuki Konishi under the guidance of the LEVEL-5 team. This September, the phenomenal franchise is finally coming to North America with the launch of the YO-KAI WATCH manga series, fueled as well by the debuts of anime and toy products around the same time.

Yo-kai, inspired by the yokai of Japanese folklore, are not ghosts or monsters or creatures. They can’t be seen by the human eye, but they’re everywhere, and whether they're phantoms or everyday objects discovering their higher purpose, Yo-kai personalities are distinctly humanlike!

The YO-KAI WATCH manga will be rated ‘A’ for All Ages and will be available exclusively in print on a bi-monthly basis. In Japan, the series originally appeared in Coro Coro Comic magazine, published by VIZ Media parent company Shogakukan, and won both the 60th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2015 and the 38th Kodansha Manga Award in the Best Children’s Manga category in 2014.

Nathan Adams is just an average kid until the mysterious Whisper gives him a device that allows him to see what others cannot, Yo-kai of all shapes and forms!  Now, armed with the Yo-kai Watch, Nathan, Whisper and their new invisible friends embark on an all new supernatural adventure!

“The whole YO-KAI WATCH cast of characters, especially Jibanyan, Komansan and Whisper, already have huge followings in Japan, and now North American fans get to join the fun,” says Joel Enos, Senior Editor. “The manga’s a fun and zany take on traditional Japanese Yo-kai, and the watch that lets Nathan see and summon them is especially fun. The series will appeal to readers of all ages!”

YO-KAI WATCH manga artist Noriyuki Konishi hails from Shimabara City, Nagasaki Pref., Japan. He debuted in 1997 with the one-shot title, E-CUFF, which appeared in Monthly Shonen Jump Original. He is also known for manga adaptations of AM Driver and Mushiking: King of the Beetles, along with Saiyuki Hiro Go-Kū Den!, Chōhenshin Gag Gaiden!! Card Warrior Kamen Riders, and Go-Go-Go Saiyuki: Shin Gokūden.

VIZ Media’s pop-culture centric Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering comics, manga, graphic novels and other books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of both young readers and the young at heart.

Additional information on titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

For more information on other manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com

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Call for 28th Annual Harvey Award Nominations

2015 HARVEY NOMINATION BALLOTS AVAILABLE

NOMINATION BALLOTS DUE MAY 11

BALTIMORE, MD -- The Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con are proud to present the official Nomination Ballot for this year's Harvey Awards, honoring work published in the 2014 calendar year. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry's most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art.  The 28th Annual Harvey Awards will be presented Saturday, September 26th, 2015 as part of the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Harvey Awards nomination ballots may now be submitted using an online form.  If you are a comics professional, you can vote online at harveyawards.org/2015-nomination-ballot/.  Ballots are due for submission by Monday, May 11th, 2014.

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit, or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. The Harvey Awards are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. 

We look forward to your participation and input in this process, and we look forward to seeing you at the Baltimore Comic-Con and the Harvey Awards.

The Harveys would not be possible without the generous sponsors of the Awards.  Sponsors for the last year's 2014 Harvey Awards included Presenting Sponsors Cards, Comics & Collectibles and the Baltimore Comic-Con; Gold Sponsors BOOM! Studios and Comic WOW!, Silver Sponsors Akuna Entertainment, ComicMix, Geppi's Entertainment Museum, Insight Studios Group; Painted Visions Comics, Top Shelf Productions, and Valiant; and Gift Bag Sponsors Abrams ComicArts, Archie Comic Publications, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, DC Entertainment, Del Rey Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment, First Second, Popfun Collectibles, and Valiant Entertainment.

Companies and individuals interested in sponsoring the 2015 Harvey Awards may do so by contacting us at harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.

This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 25-27, 2015.  The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 26th.  Additional details about the Harvey Awards and the awards ceremony will be released over the next few months.



About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 28 years, the last 8 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in 22 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals.  For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org


About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 16th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 25-27, 2015. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

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Salt Lake Comic Con Opens in Salt Lake City in September 2015

Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 Warps into Salt Lake City September 24-26

Tickets for the general public are on sale today for Salt Lake Comic Con, taking place on September 24-26, 2015; Producers bringing in guests from Doctor Who, The Vampire Diaries, Power Rangers, The Walking Dead and Mystery Science Theater 3000

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Salt Lake Comic Con (http://saltlakecomiccon.com/) announced initial guests, new features and put tickets on sale for its third annual Salt Lake Comic Con. The record-breaking event takes place September 24-26, 2015 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Salt Lake Comic Con is an epic pop culture and comic convention that brings cosplay, comics, art, sci-fi, anime, fantasy, film and TV, and their associated celebrities, creators and professionals to meet and celebrate with their fans.

    “With such amazing and dedicated fans we are building one of the most popular comic cons in North America. Each event gets more spectacular and we are committed to delivering unique, once-in-a-lifetime memories.”

The first guest announcements include:

•     Ian Somerhalder is best known for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV drama Lost and Damon Salvatore in The CW’s supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries.
•     Alex Kingston is an English actress, best known for her roles as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the NBC drama ER and as River Song in the BBC series Doctor Who.
•     Scott Wilson has more than 50 film credits and starred in AMC's zombie series The Walking Dead, as Hershel, the Greene family patriarch.
•     Austin St. John is best known for his role as Jason Lee Scott, the Red Power Ranger, in the first iteration of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
•     Joel Hodgson is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) and starring in it as Joel Robinson.
•     Jim Butcher is a New York Times best-selling author who is best known for his contemporary fantasy book series The Dresden Files and has written 15 novels set in the Dresden Files universe.
•     Terry Brooks is a fantasy writer best known for crafting the expansive Shannara series. He has written 23 New York Times best-sellers and has over 21 million copies of his books in print.

“We love our fans and want to reward them for their early support,” said Dan Farr, Salt Lake Comic Con Founder and Show Producer. “With such amazing and dedicated fans we are building one of the most popular comic cons in North America. Each event gets more spectacular and we are committed to delivering unique, once-in-a-lifetime memories.”

Tickets are discounted by 15% until the end of April. A three-day Multipass that retails at $60 will be available for $51 through the end of April 2015.

“Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 will be the biggest and most epic convention yet,” said Bryan Brandenburg, Salt Lake Comic Con Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “Today’s guest announcements are the tip of the iceberg with over 200 more to follow. But the real depth of this event is the myriad of features, cosplayers, parties, panels and entertainment that will engage and captivate our fans for three solid days.”

The 2015 Salt Lake Comic Con continues to build and improve features, including:

•     Best Guest Lineup Ever. Past event successes allows Salt Lake Comic Con to bring in an unprecedented caliber of celebrities.
•     Panel Programming. Film and TV stars, authors, voice actors and pop culture experts will hit the stage with over 200 hours of panel programming. There will be hands on workshops and seminars and the famous Ultimate Xperience will return.
•     Spectacular Cosplay. Look for lots of cosplay attractions, including a lavishly choreographed Cosplay Contest, special events and hands-on workshops to learn the latest cosplay techniques.
•     Super Comic Creator Lineup. Some of the best comic creators will be attending Salt Lake Comic Con. There are many new artists coming this year bringing exciting fan art and merchandise.
•     Celebrity Photo Ops. Don’t miss the chance to have your photo taken with your favorite celebrity by a professional photographer!
•     Celebrity Autographs. You’ll be able to meet your favorite star and get a photograph, book or item autographed.
•     Superhero 5K Run. The 2015 Superhero Run 5K will be held on September 26, 2015. Proceeds will benefit the construction of the new Specialty Hospital of Utah (formerly South Davis Community Hospital). http://saltlakecomiccon.com/superhero-5k-run/
•     Comic Con Features. Worlds collide! When trolls, cosplay groups, time machines, imperial legions and cool cars come together, you have the Features at Salt Lake Comic Con!
•     Expanded Kid Con. Kid Con was hugely popular, and this con will include even more activities and features for children.
•     Tumbleweeds Film Festival. Salt Lake Comic Con is sponsoring Utah Film Center’s children’s film festival taking place September 25-27.
•     Best-Selling Authors. Many best-selling authors will attend the convention this year. They’ll participate in panels, meet fans and sign their books in Author Avenue on the convention floor.
•     Expanded Entertainment. Salt Lake Comic Con has also assembled talented entertainers for what are becoming shows within the show.

Salt Lake Comic Con has broken multiple records, including:

•     The largest first year comic con in North American history.
•     The three most attended conventions ever in the state of Utah.
•     Among the top four attended comic cons in the U.S.
•     The largest comic con in North America per capita.
•     The most popular comic con Facebook page in the world and one of the top two most popular Facebook pages of any kind in Utah.

To buy tickets to September’s Salt Lake Comic Con, go to the Salt Lake Comic Con website. For sponsorships and booths, click here.


ABOUT SALT LAKE COMIC CON:
Salt Lake Comic Con is organized by Dan Farr Productions and is an event and marketing group devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium celebrities and brands in the pop culture arena. DFP is dedicated to producing spectacular celebrations of popular culture that lead the market in providing exceptional and rewarding experiences for our fans, guests, vendors and partners. Find out more at: www.SaltLakeComicCon.com

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Webcomics Update: Grumble #1 Page 23

Page 23 is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbleone023.html

Wizard World Adds Albuquerque to Its 2015 Comic Con Schedule

Wizard World Comic Con Albuquerque Added To Largest Pop Culture Convention Schedule, June 19-21, 2015

Company Acquires Naming Rights for event at Albuquerque Convention Center from Founder Greg Derrick; 27 Shows Now On 2015 Calendar

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB:WIZD) (“Wizard World”) today announced the addition of Wizard World Comic Con Albuquerque to its 2015 schedule, bringing the current number of Wizard World events scheduled this year to 27. Wizard World acquired naming rights to the event, set for June 19-21, 2015, at the Albuquerque Convention Center, from founder and longtime owner Greg Derrick.

    “I am excited Wizard World can continue the tradition of our show”

Celebrity and comics creator guests and other details about the event will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Albuquerque has a vibrant, enthusiastic fan base that we believe will be excited to see us build on what Greg and his team have established,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World CEO. “It is an area we have targeted for some time and we will get to work right away to make Wizard World Comic Con Albuquerque a great experience for fans, celebrities, artists and vendors.”

"I am excited Wizard World can continue the tradition of our show,” said Derrick. “This is a great way for our loyal attendees in the Albuquerque area to celebrate their fandom."

Wizard World Comic Con Albuquerque is one of 12 new shows on the 2015 Wizard World calendar. It will be held concurrently with Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Comic Con Albuquerque show hours are Friday, June 19, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 20, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, June 21, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Wizard World Comic Con Albuquerque is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor.

For more on the 2015 Wizard World Comic Con Albuquerque, visit http://wizd.me/AlbuquerquePR.


About Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB:WIZD)
Wizard World, Inc. (http://www.wizardworld.com) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also launched ConTV, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM). Fans can interact with Wizard World on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

Wizard World 2015 schedule available at: http://wizd.me/PRSchedule2015.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve certain risks and uncertainties. The actual results or outcomes of Wizard World, Inc. may differ materially from those anticipated. Although Wizard World, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any such assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, Wizard World, Inc. can provide no assurance that any of the forward-looking statements contained in this letter will prove to be accurate.

In light of the significant uncertainties and risks inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this letter, such information should not be regarded as a representation by Wizard World, Inc. that its objectives or plans will be achieved. Included in these uncertainties and risks are, among other things, fluctuations in operating results, general economic conditions, uncertainty regarding the results of certain legal proceedings and competition. Forward-looking statements consist of statements other than a recitation of historical fact and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "intend," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "estimate" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Because they are forward-looking, such statements should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties are more fully described in Wizard World, Inc.'s most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading entitled "Risk Factors." Wizard World, Inc. does not undertake an obligation to update publicly any of its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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