First of all, a big thanks to everybody who's been helping out the book by sharing our "Open Letter to Comic Shops." The letter is still being retweeted on Twitter (Are YOU following @AwakeningComic yet?!) and finding it's way onto new blogs every day thanks to you, and Alex and I can't thank you all enough. All the emails I've been getting back from shops have been really excited about Awakening and they're glad to have been able to check out the book before ordering it just to stock it (i.e., without a customer request).
Those of you who read the letter might've noticed a little mention about a big October event... The details are still being finalized BUT part of it includes a few comic shop stops for signings and we want to know where YOU want us to go. We have to keep it to the east coast for now, I'm afraid, but we can get as far south as Baltimore pretty easily, depending on how we schedule things. Here's how we're shaping up so far:
Baltimore Comic-Con: 10/10 - 10/11
Brave New Worlds - Philly Fresh, PA - 10/24
??? (It's a secret to everybody) - 10/28
If you want us to pop in to your shop to hang out, sign books, and nerd out, drop me an email at Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com and we'll see what we can do!
Some quick hits:
New interview and Making Of feature with Mr. Alex Eckman-Lawn over at Graphic Novel Reporter!
Great review of Awakening Volume One over at View From Heaven!
A fun interview with yours truly, conducted by Bryn Colvin, writer of the forthcoming Hopeless webcomic (watch this space for details!)
A very kind review over at Comixology
Titanium Rain's first hardcover is now available for pre-order at your local comic shop! Hop in there and demand it!
Places on the interweb you should be:
SpookyChan.com has gone live! Check out the work and news of Chandra Free, creator of Archaia's upcoming The God Machine.
Shadowgirls written by Starkweather: Immortal creator, Dave Rodriguez - awesome webcomic, the #1 Horror Webcomic, in fact, last I'd heard...
Yon Kuma is another sweet webcomic written by another Archaia writer, Josh Hechinger, writer of the very-nearly-released Grave Doug Freshley!
MooreReppion.com, the interweb lair of the wiley and talented John Reppion and Leah Moore, authors of a multitude of great sequential fiction including The Complete Dracula and The Trial of Sherlock Holmes, not to mention Raise the Dead.
Off to fix myself a plate of spaghetti and dive into some ::gasp:: WRITING! With Awakening Volume Two already written and a few other bits already done, what's a guy to work on next? Mystery, Adventure, or Horror? Hmmm...
We love you.
Showing posts with label zombie comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zombie comics. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Please Repost! An Open Letter to Comic Retailers - Awakening Update!
OUR TOP STORY...
So, the book is out - now what? Now, oh loyal readers, we need to keep the momentum going. Reviews and interviews are abound but now we need to show comic shops that there's good reason for them to carry the book in their stores! Below is an open letter to comic retailers which I emailed out to all the shop contacts I could gather online. What we need YOU to do is repost this on blogs and message boards, Twitter a link, send up a smoke signal - get this info to your local shop to help them sell the book. That doesn't mean you should go in and ask for ten copies of the book to be ordered, that's not what this is about. This is about spreading the word about the book and giving retailers the ammunition they need to confidently recommend and sell the book to their customers.
Let's do this thing! Zombie Noir for everybody! Tweet and repost pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaase!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, purveyor of four-color greatness!
My name is Nick Tapalansky and I'm the writer of the recent Archaia release, Awakening (Volume One). Selling comics is a tough business, and nobody knows that as well as you guys. That said, you do it day in and day out and, one better, you do it well. If I can appeal to your generous side for just a minute, I’m hoping you’ll read on and find your free PDF of the 144-page volume, a trailer for the book, and more. I’m putting in some legwork, trying to spread the word about the book’s release (the hardcover was released in July of this year), and let you know how the team behind the book, as well as Archaia, is working to promote the book and push readers into your stores. First though, a little background.
When the first three chapters of Awakening were serialized back in 2007 the series was nominated for four British Eagle Awards including Favourite Newcomer Writer and Favourite New Comic Book. We’ve also received tons of critical praise, including:
- “The coolest and most original zombie piece since The Walking Dead got under way... This is simply gorgeous art that needs to be lived in. It, like any great art, speaks to you immediately and with authority.” - Lee Ferguson, Broken Frontier
- “Derek Peters is where Phillip Marlowe meets George Romero. Awakening will have readers feeling so lonely that they need someone nearby, but so paranoid that they’ll double-check who’s in bed next to them.” - Nick Kelly, Horrorview
- “Awakening may be the indie runaway hit of the year.” – The Geeks of Doom
- "Awakening is the type of storytelling achievement you often find yourself reading in trade format a year after-the-fact, wondering why the hell you didn't hear more about it at the time of its publishing. The type of book that goes on to achieve eventual cult status and terrible film adaptations that wholly miss the point." — Tom Mattson, Newseed Comics
After Archaia underwent a publishing hiatus for most of 2008, we quietly waited with the book until the business end of things was sorted out. By mid 2009 the machine was moving again and Awakening, now a two-volume hardcover series (more on the format shift in a minute), was ready to make its comeback! The book has since been featured on CBR, in Rue Morgue Magazine, and on various comic news and review sites.
Below is the solicitation for the volume, followed by a link to the trailer for the book:
"The once peaceful city of Park Falls has been tainted by a series of gruesome murders and missing persons. Cynthia Ford, well known as the town crazy, comes forward to speak with retired police detective Derrick Peters one January afternoon. She claims to have information about the murders, but does she hold the key to unlocking the mystery or has she truly gone insane?
To Derrick’s disbelief she utters one word:
Zombies.
Unable to ignore Cynthia’s information, though not sharing her beliefs, Derrick and others in the city explore the mystery as weeks turn to months and the death toll rises. Could Cynthia have been right? Follow the first half of Park Falls’s year-long struggle for answers here."
You can view the trailer for the volume here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qJQB68NkP0
So, where do you come in? Like I said in the beginning of this letter, I know how hard it is to sell comics these days (or even books in general). It’s even harder to opt to stock a new title from an unknown creative team when you’ve got some guaranteed sellers you can put in its place. That’s actually why we shifted formats from floppy issues and hardcovers to just hardcovers – how could we ask you to order a fourth issue from a relatively little known book and put it on a shelf in place of, say a Marvel or DC book after we had an 18-month publication hiatus? It wouldn’t make sense. That’s not to say you guys don’t support the indies, far from it, but something like that just seemed like a bit of a stretch, even from our end of the table as creators.
Back to the point though – it’s hard to make that decision without knowing more about the book. That’s why, below, you’ll find a link to download a PDF of the entire volume for you to read.
(Email Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com with your shop's name and location to receive the PDF!)
The book contains the first five chapters of the series, two more than were serialized, 10-pages of supplemental story material (journal entries and illustrations between each chapter), and pinups from a multitude of artists as chapter breaks. It’s also got a sweet dust jacket and an even sweeter price point: $19.95. If the books had all been serialized, they would’ve cost $17.50 combined cover price – for $2.45 more you get it hardbound, with dust jacket, and 15-pages of supplemental material (the journal entries plus the aforementioned pinups)!
I firmly believe there’s at least one (if not two or three) customer in your shop that would love the hell out of this book and that’s my challenge to you: put this book in that customer’s hand. It’s a sale for you, and another reader for us – we both win.
Got a zombie nut? Tell them it’s a “zombie noir,” a murder mystery with a zombie twist.
Got somebody who’s zombied out? Tell them it’s more about the mystery with an entirely different take on the classic zombie (read the book – it’s true).
Got an indie fan who doesn’t dabble in horror so much? Tell them its existential horror, more about the plight of the characters in the wake of this growing mystery (the noir card helps here too).
Got a genre (horror) fan? Tell them its zombies with a Fell feel.
Got all of the above? Go to town! The best part about it is that everything above about the book is true - you're introducing them to something new and exciting they otherwise might not have known about!
Right now Alex and I, along with Mel Caylo, Archaia’s Marketing Director, are working hard to plan an October event for Awakening.
[Details of event edited for now - details will be emailed along with PDF download link, including info on how we'd like to promote YOUR store! - Nick]
We’ll be supporting the event via online news (Comic Book Resources, Broken Frontier, Comic Monsters, Fangoria.com, etc.), social networking (Twitter, MySpace, Facebook), and the like. Our hope is to move more people into stores rather than ordering online, so if you plan to have a copy or two of the book in stock please let me know after I send you official dates for the event so that I can list your stores name and address in any releases, blogs, etc. relating to the event. We want to make push as successful as possible for you and us, so any support or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We're in this for more than just the one day, so anything we can do to help you sell the book beyond the one-day event, please don't hesitate to mention!
In the interim, you can find out more about the book, including interviews and reviews, and follow us online at the following addresses:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AwakeningComic
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/AwakeningComic
Nick’s Site: http://www.nicktapalansky.com
Alex’s Site: http://www.alexeckmanlawn.com
Thanks for taking the time to read this – I know it was a bit lengthy but I’m hoping with all of this material and information you’ll be able to better sell the book in your store. I’ll be sending out more info about the October event as we’re able to finalize details. Alex and I are always up for store signings, talking at graphic novel reading/creating groups, or any other store events, so please feel free to email if you’d like us to pop in! The east coast, northeast in particular, is where we’re located but we’d be happy to come by around conventions to stores that are out of our relative area so don’t hesitate to ask!
Thanks again!
Best,
Nick Tapalansky
Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com
So, the book is out - now what? Now, oh loyal readers, we need to keep the momentum going. Reviews and interviews are abound but now we need to show comic shops that there's good reason for them to carry the book in their stores! Below is an open letter to comic retailers which I emailed out to all the shop contacts I could gather online. What we need YOU to do is repost this on blogs and message boards, Twitter a link, send up a smoke signal - get this info to your local shop to help them sell the book. That doesn't mean you should go in and ask for ten copies of the book to be ordered, that's not what this is about. This is about spreading the word about the book and giving retailers the ammunition they need to confidently recommend and sell the book to their customers.
Let's do this thing! Zombie Noir for everybody! Tweet and repost pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaase!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, purveyor of four-color greatness!
My name is Nick Tapalansky and I'm the writer of the recent Archaia release, Awakening (Volume One). Selling comics is a tough business, and nobody knows that as well as you guys. That said, you do it day in and day out and, one better, you do it well. If I can appeal to your generous side for just a minute, I’m hoping you’ll read on and find your free PDF of the 144-page volume, a trailer for the book, and more. I’m putting in some legwork, trying to spread the word about the book’s release (the hardcover was released in July of this year), and let you know how the team behind the book, as well as Archaia, is working to promote the book and push readers into your stores. First though, a little background.
When the first three chapters of Awakening were serialized back in 2007 the series was nominated for four British Eagle Awards including Favourite Newcomer Writer and Favourite New Comic Book. We’ve also received tons of critical praise, including:
- “The coolest and most original zombie piece since The Walking Dead got under way... This is simply gorgeous art that needs to be lived in. It, like any great art, speaks to you immediately and with authority.” - Lee Ferguson, Broken Frontier
- “Derek Peters is where Phillip Marlowe meets George Romero. Awakening will have readers feeling so lonely that they need someone nearby, but so paranoid that they’ll double-check who’s in bed next to them.” - Nick Kelly, Horrorview
- “Awakening may be the indie runaway hit of the year.” – The Geeks of Doom
- "Awakening is the type of storytelling achievement you often find yourself reading in trade format a year after-the-fact, wondering why the hell you didn't hear more about it at the time of its publishing. The type of book that goes on to achieve eventual cult status and terrible film adaptations that wholly miss the point." — Tom Mattson, Newseed Comics
After Archaia underwent a publishing hiatus for most of 2008, we quietly waited with the book until the business end of things was sorted out. By mid 2009 the machine was moving again and Awakening, now a two-volume hardcover series (more on the format shift in a minute), was ready to make its comeback! The book has since been featured on CBR, in Rue Morgue Magazine, and on various comic news and review sites.
Below is the solicitation for the volume, followed by a link to the trailer for the book:
"The once peaceful city of Park Falls has been tainted by a series of gruesome murders and missing persons. Cynthia Ford, well known as the town crazy, comes forward to speak with retired police detective Derrick Peters one January afternoon. She claims to have information about the murders, but does she hold the key to unlocking the mystery or has she truly gone insane?
To Derrick’s disbelief she utters one word:
Zombies.
Unable to ignore Cynthia’s information, though not sharing her beliefs, Derrick and others in the city explore the mystery as weeks turn to months and the death toll rises. Could Cynthia have been right? Follow the first half of Park Falls’s year-long struggle for answers here."
You can view the trailer for the volume here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qJQB68NkP0
So, where do you come in? Like I said in the beginning of this letter, I know how hard it is to sell comics these days (or even books in general). It’s even harder to opt to stock a new title from an unknown creative team when you’ve got some guaranteed sellers you can put in its place. That’s actually why we shifted formats from floppy issues and hardcovers to just hardcovers – how could we ask you to order a fourth issue from a relatively little known book and put it on a shelf in place of, say a Marvel or DC book after we had an 18-month publication hiatus? It wouldn’t make sense. That’s not to say you guys don’t support the indies, far from it, but something like that just seemed like a bit of a stretch, even from our end of the table as creators.
Back to the point though – it’s hard to make that decision without knowing more about the book. That’s why, below, you’ll find a link to download a PDF of the entire volume for you to read.
(Email Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com with your shop's name and location to receive the PDF!)
The book contains the first five chapters of the series, two more than were serialized, 10-pages of supplemental story material (journal entries and illustrations between each chapter), and pinups from a multitude of artists as chapter breaks. It’s also got a sweet dust jacket and an even sweeter price point: $19.95. If the books had all been serialized, they would’ve cost $17.50 combined cover price – for $2.45 more you get it hardbound, with dust jacket, and 15-pages of supplemental material (the journal entries plus the aforementioned pinups)!
I firmly believe there’s at least one (if not two or three) customer in your shop that would love the hell out of this book and that’s my challenge to you: put this book in that customer’s hand. It’s a sale for you, and another reader for us – we both win.
Got a zombie nut? Tell them it’s a “zombie noir,” a murder mystery with a zombie twist.
Got somebody who’s zombied out? Tell them it’s more about the mystery with an entirely different take on the classic zombie (read the book – it’s true).
Got an indie fan who doesn’t dabble in horror so much? Tell them its existential horror, more about the plight of the characters in the wake of this growing mystery (the noir card helps here too).
Got a genre (horror) fan? Tell them its zombies with a Fell feel.
Got all of the above? Go to town! The best part about it is that everything above about the book is true - you're introducing them to something new and exciting they otherwise might not have known about!
Right now Alex and I, along with Mel Caylo, Archaia’s Marketing Director, are working hard to plan an October event for Awakening.
[Details of event edited for now - details will be emailed along with PDF download link, including info on how we'd like to promote YOUR store! - Nick]
We’ll be supporting the event via online news (Comic Book Resources, Broken Frontier, Comic Monsters, Fangoria.com, etc.), social networking (Twitter, MySpace, Facebook), and the like. Our hope is to move more people into stores rather than ordering online, so if you plan to have a copy or two of the book in stock please let me know after I send you official dates for the event so that I can list your stores name and address in any releases, blogs, etc. relating to the event. We want to make push as successful as possible for you and us, so any support or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We're in this for more than just the one day, so anything we can do to help you sell the book beyond the one-day event, please don't hesitate to mention!
In the interim, you can find out more about the book, including interviews and reviews, and follow us online at the following addresses:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AwakeningComic
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/AwakeningComic
Nick’s Site: http://www.nicktapalansky.com
Alex’s Site: http://www.alexeckmanlawn.com
Thanks for taking the time to read this – I know it was a bit lengthy but I’m hoping with all of this material and information you’ll be able to better sell the book in your store. I’ll be sending out more info about the October event as we’re able to finalize details. Alex and I are always up for store signings, talking at graphic novel reading/creating groups, or any other store events, so please feel free to email if you’d like us to pop in! The east coast, northeast in particular, is where we’re located but we’d be happy to come by around conventions to stores that are out of our relative area so don’t hesitate to ask!
Thanks again!
Best,
Nick Tapalansky
Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Awakening Volume One - Out NOW!!!!
OUR TOP STORIES...
Ho. Lee. SHIT! It's out! It's out! It's FUCKING OUT!!!
Sorry, had to freak out for a minute there because it FINALLY happened! Awakening Volume One hit comic shops on Wednesday, 7/22 and hit 'em hard. Shops I've talked to have been selling out and placing re-orders which is the awesome.
I've also heard that folks who ordered from Amazon started receiving books this week. In other words, those of you who were waiting to see if it was the real deal this time before ordering are in for a treat - get thee to your LCS stat! Failing a local comic shop, hit up Amazon and help us speed our way up the bestseller lists there:
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1
As always, your friendly neighborhood Barnes & Noble is able to pre-order for you too.
To everybody who stopped by the booth at San Diego Comic-con, thanks for the love and support! More about the con coming in next week's blog, including pics and anecdotes galore.
SPREADING THE WORD...
Alright kids, listen up: The book is out. The trick now is to make sure EVERYBODY knows. Post the trailer hither and yon, cry forth to the heavens (and to everyone you see on the subway), and recommend it to your friends and loved ones. Especially grandmothers - they dig existential horror and zombie noir. Well, MINE does anyway but she may be partial.
A big part of self-promotion that I think gets overlooked in comics is the library circuit and, with it, reading groups. I'm talking to as many reading group heads and librarians as I can to suggest the book as a monthly selection (for horror, graphic novel, and mystery reading groups) and to make sure a copy is available in any and every library I can get in touch with, but I need your help! If you're following this blog it stands to reason that you dig the book, so do me a favor: check out your local Barnes & Noble, Borders, comic shops, and/or small indy bookshop (my faves) and see what reading groups they have - if they fit with a group which would enjoy Awakening recommend it to them! Likewise, if you frequent a library, whether at a university or just a city or town branch, recommend the book be stocked in their graphic novel section. Heck, show them your copy so they can see how loverly it is!
The short version is that we couldn't have gotten this far without you and any help you can give would be hugely appreciated. To anybody in the Southern New York or Philadelphia, PA areas: feel free to e-mail me if you get any bites at the libraries/reading groups - either Alex or myself (or both) would be happy to stop by and talk about the book, comics, writing, art, or just the weather. You can reach me at Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com
AWAKENING IN THE PRESS...
First of all, if you're not following us on Twitter you're not as cool as your friends! Don't be uncool, follow @AwakeningComic for the latest updates on your favorite comic dudes.
Second of all, if you haven't already checked out http://www.NickTapalansky.com what are you waiting for?!
Now then, on with the show...
More reviews for Volume One are starting to roll in! Below is one from The Quarter Bin which has one of my favorite quotes ever:
"Nick Tapalansky and Alex Eckman-Lawn are the perfect team for Awakening."
Read the whole review here:
http://thequarterbin.com/?p=7001#more-7001
We also had the great pleasure of meeting Stephanie from ComicMonsters.com after our panel at the con - in her recap of the day she had this to say:
"One of the surprise moments of the day was the Archaia panel. Now that Zachary Quinto, of “Heroes” fame, is involved with the company, HUNDREDS of people were in attendance for the Archaia panel and gathered in the hall to hear about the recently released “Awakening” by Nick Tapalansky and Alex Eckman-Lawn. Here is Nick (left) and Alex (right) looking stoic and thoughtful immediately after handing out issues of “Awakening” to fans and attendees.
As a fan of the story for over a year, it was great to see them get the exposure they deserve. And congratulations to them both for reaching the best-seller list on Amazon.com on their first day of pre-order: #2 for Mystery (Graphic Novel) and #6 Hardcover (Graphic Novel) and even selling out of copies at Wizard World Philadelphia! Way to go, guys!"
You can read her whole recap for Saturday here:
http://www.comicmonsters.com/ftopict-11751.html
Oh! For you art enthusiasts in the world, Alex was interviewed by our pal Patrick McEvoy for his Ninja Mountain podcast while we were all at the show. You can check out the podcast here (Alex starts around 22:50 if you're just in it for his purdy voice).
"I'm gonna get edited out of that entire episode, aren't I?"
http://ninjamountain.blogspot.com/
IN OTHER NEWS...
First, an amazing scientific discovery:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/07/14/oldest-male-organ.html
"Now we've actually found it, a specimen with an undoubted clasper with a knobbly end."
Now, exciting Archaia releases!
Both The God Machine and Starkweather: Immortal are in this month's Previews for an October release! You can wander in to any LCS and tell them you want it but I'll have more exciting means, like pre-order coupons and links to various sites, posted here in the coming days. In the meantime... Just go tell your shop you want 'em, damnit!
LOCAL SIGHTINGS INCLUDE...
SUMMER/FALL!
New York Anime Festival (September 25th - 27th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago)
Baltimore Comic-Con (October 10th and 11th with Archaia)
Albany Comic-Con (November 1st with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)
KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST AWAKENING UPDATES! WE WANT YOU TO JOIN...
Meh, fughedit for now! I appreciate the sign-ups guys, but at present the idea of writing a separate e-mail newsletter containing largely the info your finding here anyway seems a bit silly. I'm gonna take it back to the lab for a bit of reworking and come back strong though so be on the lookout...
Ho. Lee. SHIT! It's out! It's out! It's FUCKING OUT!!!
Sorry, had to freak out for a minute there because it FINALLY happened! Awakening Volume One hit comic shops on Wednesday, 7/22 and hit 'em hard. Shops I've talked to have been selling out and placing re-orders which is the awesome.
I've also heard that folks who ordered from Amazon started receiving books this week. In other words, those of you who were waiting to see if it was the real deal this time before ordering are in for a treat - get thee to your LCS stat! Failing a local comic shop, hit up Amazon and help us speed our way up the bestseller lists there:
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1
As always, your friendly neighborhood Barnes & Noble is able to pre-order for you too.
To everybody who stopped by the booth at San Diego Comic-con, thanks for the love and support! More about the con coming in next week's blog, including pics and anecdotes galore.
SPREADING THE WORD...
Alright kids, listen up: The book is out. The trick now is to make sure EVERYBODY knows. Post the trailer hither and yon, cry forth to the heavens (and to everyone you see on the subway), and recommend it to your friends and loved ones. Especially grandmothers - they dig existential horror and zombie noir. Well, MINE does anyway but she may be partial.
A big part of self-promotion that I think gets overlooked in comics is the library circuit and, with it, reading groups. I'm talking to as many reading group heads and librarians as I can to suggest the book as a monthly selection (for horror, graphic novel, and mystery reading groups) and to make sure a copy is available in any and every library I can get in touch with, but I need your help! If you're following this blog it stands to reason that you dig the book, so do me a favor: check out your local Barnes & Noble, Borders, comic shops, and/or small indy bookshop (my faves) and see what reading groups they have - if they fit with a group which would enjoy Awakening recommend it to them! Likewise, if you frequent a library, whether at a university or just a city or town branch, recommend the book be stocked in their graphic novel section. Heck, show them your copy so they can see how loverly it is!
The short version is that we couldn't have gotten this far without you and any help you can give would be hugely appreciated. To anybody in the Southern New York or Philadelphia, PA areas: feel free to e-mail me if you get any bites at the libraries/reading groups - either Alex or myself (or both) would be happy to stop by and talk about the book, comics, writing, art, or just the weather. You can reach me at Nick.Tapalansky@gmail.com
AWAKENING IN THE PRESS...
First of all, if you're not following us on Twitter you're not as cool as your friends! Don't be uncool, follow @AwakeningComic for the latest updates on your favorite comic dudes.
Second of all, if you haven't already checked out http://www.NickTapalansky.com what are you waiting for?!
Now then, on with the show...
More reviews for Volume One are starting to roll in! Below is one from The Quarter Bin which has one of my favorite quotes ever:
"Nick Tapalansky and Alex Eckman-Lawn are the perfect team for Awakening."
Read the whole review here:
http://thequarterbin.com/?p=7001#more-7001
We also had the great pleasure of meeting Stephanie from ComicMonsters.com after our panel at the con - in her recap of the day she had this to say:
"One of the surprise moments of the day was the Archaia panel. Now that Zachary Quinto, of “Heroes” fame, is involved with the company, HUNDREDS of people were in attendance for the Archaia panel and gathered in the hall to hear about the recently released “Awakening” by Nick Tapalansky and Alex Eckman-Lawn. Here is Nick (left) and Alex (right) looking stoic and thoughtful immediately after handing out issues of “Awakening” to fans and attendees.
As a fan of the story for over a year, it was great to see them get the exposure they deserve. And congratulations to them both for reaching the best-seller list on Amazon.com on their first day of pre-order: #2 for Mystery (Graphic Novel) and #6 Hardcover (Graphic Novel) and even selling out of copies at Wizard World Philadelphia! Way to go, guys!"You can read her whole recap for Saturday here:
http://www.comicmonsters.com/ftopict-11751.html
Oh! For you art enthusiasts in the world, Alex was interviewed by our pal Patrick McEvoy for his Ninja Mountain podcast while we were all at the show. You can check out the podcast here (Alex starts around 22:50 if you're just in it for his purdy voice).
"I'm gonna get edited out of that entire episode, aren't I?"
http://ninjamountain.blogspot.com/
IN OTHER NEWS...
First, an amazing scientific discovery:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/07/14/oldest-male-organ.html
"Now we've actually found it, a specimen with an undoubted clasper with a knobbly end."
Now, exciting Archaia releases!
Both The God Machine and Starkweather: Immortal are in this month's Previews for an October release! You can wander in to any LCS and tell them you want it but I'll have more exciting means, like pre-order coupons and links to various sites, posted here in the coming days. In the meantime... Just go tell your shop you want 'em, damnit!
LOCAL SIGHTINGS INCLUDE...
SUMMER/FALL!
New York Anime Festival (September 25th - 27th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago)
Baltimore Comic-Con (October 10th and 11th with Archaia)
Albany Comic-Con (November 1st with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)
KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST AWAKENING UPDATES! WE WANT YOU TO JOIN...
Meh, fughedit for now! I appreciate the sign-ups guys, but at present the idea of writing a separate e-mail newsletter containing largely the info your finding here anyway seems a bit silly. I'm gonna take it back to the lab for a bit of reworking and come back strong though so be on the lookout...
Monday, July 20, 2009
Awakening Release Countdown: Zero Hour!
Just a short one today, folks. Making some last minute preparations for San Diego (leavin' tomorrow!) but I wanted to make sure you all heard the news...
GET TO YOUR LOCAL COMIC SHOP WEDNESDAY TO GET YOUR COPY OF AWAKENING VOLUME ONE!!
The countdown is OVER and we've FINALLY arrived. Thanks so much to everyone for sticking with us through the roller-coaster getting here. I'm pretty confident it'll go much smoother from here on out.
Be sure to come by booth #2635 and say hello to myself and Alex as well as the rest of the Archaia crew. We'll have Awakening Volume One on hand for you to check out and Alex and I will be happily signing all week (Alex gets in on Friday for all you folks who want to touch true greatness).
Alex and I are also participating on a panel on Saturday, 7/25 with the amazing Chandra Free (The God Machine), Matz (The Killer) and... SPOCK?!
5:30-6:30 Archaia: New Titles— Come hear about the great titles Archaia has in store, including Awakening (with writer Nick Tapalansky and artist Alex Eckman-Lawn), The Killer (with writer Matz), and The God Machine (with creator Chandra Free). Then: You've watched him for three seasons on NBC's Heroes playing Sylar and on the big screen as Spock in the new Star Trek movie, but what do actor Zachary Quinto and his colleagues at media production company Before the Door Pictures have to do with Archaia? Find out exclusively at this panel, which will feature Quinto, Corey Moosa and Neal Dodson of Before the Door Pictures, plus appearances by top-secret special guests with additional announcements! Room 5AB
See you on the left coast, me scallawags. More release news, signings, and all that fun stuff next week.
We love you.
- Nick
www.NickTapalansky.com
GET TO YOUR LOCAL COMIC SHOP WEDNESDAY TO GET YOUR COPY OF AWAKENING VOLUME ONE!!
The countdown is OVER and we've FINALLY arrived. Thanks so much to everyone for sticking with us through the roller-coaster getting here. I'm pretty confident it'll go much smoother from here on out.
Be sure to come by booth #2635 and say hello to myself and Alex as well as the rest of the Archaia crew. We'll have Awakening Volume One on hand for you to check out and Alex and I will be happily signing all week (Alex gets in on Friday for all you folks who want to touch true greatness).
Alex and I are also participating on a panel on Saturday, 7/25 with the amazing Chandra Free (The God Machine), Matz (The Killer) and... SPOCK?!
5:30-6:30 Archaia: New Titles— Come hear about the great titles Archaia has in store, including Awakening (with writer Nick Tapalansky and artist Alex Eckman-Lawn), The Killer (with writer Matz), and The God Machine (with creator Chandra Free). Then: You've watched him for three seasons on NBC's Heroes playing Sylar and on the big screen as Spock in the new Star Trek movie, but what do actor Zachary Quinto and his colleagues at media production company Before the Door Pictures have to do with Archaia? Find out exclusively at this panel, which will feature Quinto, Corey Moosa and Neal Dodson of Before the Door Pictures, plus appearances by top-secret special guests with additional announcements! Room 5AB
See you on the left coast, me scallawags. More release news, signings, and all that fun stuff next week.
We love you.
- Nick
www.NickTapalansky.com
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Advance Copies of Awakening Volume One at WW Philly
That's right. Limited number of advance copies available starting tomorrow. We're at tables 53/54 in Artist Alley.
BE THERE!
Don't forget the Return of Archaia panel from 12pm - 1pm on Saturday too.
Wrrrrd.
BE THERE!
Don't forget the Return of Archaia panel from 12pm - 1pm on Saturday too.
Wrrrrd.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Awakening Pre-Order Initiative: Week Ten
A WORD FROM OUR WRITER...
Yeah, I know, we're a few weeks behind and I lay myself prostrate before you. Slow news weeks for all things Awakening, a trip to Boston, and various other odds and ends have kept me from you but I'm here now, baby. Not much new to report but just you wait - the coming month leading up to our release are gonna be chock full of cool shit.
OUR TOP STORY...
Awakening Volume One. 32% off. DO IT!
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1
Or, if you prefer, you can go in to your local Barnes & Noble and reserve a copy. You know you want to.
AWAKENING IN THE PRESS...
While I don't have any new reviews/interviews to show you just yet, we've got a couple of big things cooking. Keep your eyes on CBR in the coming weeks for a few cool things, not to mention the July issue of the most kick-ass horror mag around. Then there's the ridiculously cool tr... What? I can't talk about that yet? Hmm, alright.
Links and announcements as they come in...
In the meantime, if you haven't already checked this out, head over to Comic Monsters and see a sick Making of Awakening feature Alex put together:
http://www.comicmonsters.com/section-article-252-The_making_of_Awakening_-_by__Alex_Eckman-Lawn.html
And then there are these advance reviews for the book - find out how tits they think we are:
http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2009/03/31/awakening.aspx
http://www.omnicomic.com/2009/04/review-awakening-volume-1.html
LOCAL SIGHTINGS INCLUDE...
Check this section next week for a special Anime Boston report, especially if you want to know what a Mifa is (trust me - you do.)
Below is a listing of our upcoming convention and panel appearances - more to be added as they're booked.
PRE-RELEASE! (No hardcover, no Alex - just my smiling face supporting my lovely and talented fiance, Jackie Santiago)
Big Apple One-Day Summer Show (June 13th with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)
DEBUT! (First time the hardcover is available folks - get 'em hot off the press and signed by the most daring and debonair comic creators you know)
Wizard World Philly (June 19th to the 21st in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago, Mark Smylie, Kate Glasheen, Dave Rodriguez, and a host of other friends)
Panel Announcement! In addition to debuting Awakening Volume One at Philly, Alex and I will also be taking part in a Return of Archaia panel at the show. It'll be from 12pm-1pm on Saturday, June 20th in room 204A
The Return of Archaia
After a brief hiatus, Archaia, formerly known as Archaia Studios Press, has returned to publishing high-quality, creator-controlled comics, including titles like Mouse Guard, The Killer and Artesia. Join Mark Smylie (publisher of Archaia and writer/artist on Artesia), Nick Tapalansky (writer of Awakening), Alex Eckman-Lawn (artist on Awakening), Kate Glasheen (artist on Hybrid Bastards!) and David Rodriguez (writer of Starkweather: Immortal) for an inside look at Archaia’s returning titles, upcoming books and exciting new projects!
SUMMER/FALL!
Otakon (July 17th - 19th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago, Kate Glasheen, and Dave Rodriguez)
San Diego Comic-Con (July 22nd - 26th with Archaia)
New York Anime Festival (September 25th - 27th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago)
Baltimore Comic-Con (October 10th and 11th with Archaia)
Albany Comic-Con (November 1st with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)
KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST AWAKENING UPDATES! WE WANT YOU TO JOIN...
...our brand spankin' new Awakening mailing list! Sign up and receive release information, special promo news, signing and convention appearance updates and more! Just sling an e-mail* on over to AwakeningComic@gmail.com with the subject "Sign Me Up!" to get started. You'll be happy you did.
First edition due out at the end of June - don't miss out!
*Remember kids, ask a grown up first!
We love you.
Yeah, I know, we're a few weeks behind and I lay myself prostrate before you. Slow news weeks for all things Awakening, a trip to Boston, and various other odds and ends have kept me from you but I'm here now, baby. Not much new to report but just you wait - the coming month leading up to our release are gonna be chock full of cool shit.
OUR TOP STORY...
Awakening Volume One. 32% off. DO IT!
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1
Or, if you prefer, you can go in to your local Barnes & Noble and reserve a copy. You know you want to.
AWAKENING IN THE PRESS...
While I don't have any new reviews/interviews to show you just yet, we've got a couple of big things cooking. Keep your eyes on CBR in the coming weeks for a few cool things, not to mention the July issue of the most kick-ass horror mag around. Then there's the ridiculously cool tr... What? I can't talk about that yet? Hmm, alright.
Links and announcements as they come in...
In the meantime, if you haven't already checked this out, head over to Comic Monsters and see a sick Making of Awakening feature Alex put together:
http://www.comicmonsters.com/section-article-252-The_making_of_Awakening_-_by__Alex_Eckman-Lawn.html
And then there are these advance reviews for the book - find out how tits they think we are:
http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2009/03/31/awakening.aspx
http://www.omnicomic.com/2009/04/review-awakening-volume-1.html
LOCAL SIGHTINGS INCLUDE...
Check this section next week for a special Anime Boston report, especially if you want to know what a Mifa is (trust me - you do.)
Below is a listing of our upcoming convention and panel appearances - more to be added as they're booked.
PRE-RELEASE! (No hardcover, no Alex - just my smiling face supporting my lovely and talented fiance, Jackie Santiago)
Big Apple One-Day Summer Show (June 13th with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)
DEBUT! (First time the hardcover is available folks - get 'em hot off the press and signed by the most daring and debonair comic creators you know)
Wizard World Philly (June 19th to the 21st in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago, Mark Smylie, Kate Glasheen, Dave Rodriguez, and a host of other friends)
Panel Announcement! In addition to debuting Awakening Volume One at Philly, Alex and I will also be taking part in a Return of Archaia panel at the show. It'll be from 12pm-1pm on Saturday, June 20th in room 204A
The Return of Archaia
After a brief hiatus, Archaia, formerly known as Archaia Studios Press, has returned to publishing high-quality, creator-controlled comics, including titles like Mouse Guard, The Killer and Artesia. Join Mark Smylie (publisher of Archaia and writer/artist on Artesia), Nick Tapalansky (writer of Awakening), Alex Eckman-Lawn (artist on Awakening), Kate Glasheen (artist on Hybrid Bastards!) and David Rodriguez (writer of Starkweather: Immortal) for an inside look at Archaia’s returning titles, upcoming books and exciting new projects!
SUMMER/FALL!
Otakon (July 17th - 19th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago, Kate Glasheen, and Dave Rodriguez)
San Diego Comic-Con (July 22nd - 26th with Archaia)
New York Anime Festival (September 25th - 27th in Artist Alley with Jackie Santiago)
Baltimore Comic-Con (October 10th and 11th with Archaia)
Albany Comic-Con (November 1st with Jackie Santiago, Mark Holmes, and Luke Mierisch)
KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST AWAKENING UPDATES! WE WANT YOU TO JOIN...
...our brand spankin' new Awakening mailing list! Sign up and receive release information, special promo news, signing and convention appearance updates and more! Just sling an e-mail* on over to AwakeningComic@gmail.com with the subject "Sign Me Up!" to get started. You'll be happy you did.
First edition due out at the end of June - don't miss out!
*Remember kids, ask a grown up first!
We love you.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Twitter! Amazon.com! Exclamation Points!
That's right folks, you too can now know every shit and sniffle Team Awakening takes thanks to the 140-character messages of Twitter!
http://twitter.com/awakeningcomic
Come follow us on our ridiculous adventures in making comics, keep abreast of our every whim, and (ha! I said aBREAST!) make merry with us.
Now you can say "But moooom, all my friends are doing it!" and mean it!
And of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention yet again that Volume One is available for pre-order at Amazon.com at 32% off! That makes the book a scant $13.57, impossible to pass up (and if you sleep on this discount, you might just find a certain Mr. Eckman-Lawn sitting on your bed in the darkness of night, sucking your breath out as your dreams fade and your heart slows. Save yourself!).
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1
http://twitter.com/awakeningcomic
Come follow us on our ridiculous adventures in making comics, keep abreast of our every whim, and (ha! I said aBREAST!) make merry with us.
Now you can say "But moooom, all my friends are doing it!" and mean it!
And of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention yet again that Volume One is available for pre-order at Amazon.com at 32% off! That makes the book a scant $13.57, impossible to pass up (and if you sleep on this discount, you might just find a certain Mr. Eckman-Lawn sitting on your bed in the darkness of night, sucking your breath out as your dreams fade and your heart slows. Save yourself!).
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-One-Nick-Tapalansky/dp/1932386483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242403586&sr=1-1
Friday, May 1, 2009
Awakening Pre-Order Initiative: Week Five
A bit of a short one today, lads and ladies, as we continue onward. Steady as she goes!
OUR TOP STORY...
It's all official - Archaia is back in action! Check out the interview with PJ Bicket, Mark Smylie, and Steve Christy about the re-launch this June and what's in store for the coming year...
http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20991
Give it a read and get excited, people - we're coming...
IN OTHER NEWS...
Haha! Honestly there isn't much else to report right now. We've got a ton of interviews and reviews on the way in the coming weeks, a badass something-I-can't-mention-yet, and a listing of all our confirmed convention/signing appearances for the rest of the year. I'm thinking next week or the week after should be more eventful so stick around!
SOME LAST MINUTE REMINDERS...
If you haven't already pre-ordered the book, do it now! Get to da choppa! Currently there are two ways you can do this:
- Print out the pre-order coupon below and bring it to your local comic shop to guarantee your copy this June!
- Go to DCBS and order the book through them at 45% off to get yourself an exclusive signed art print! The direct link for Awakening is http://www.dcbservice.com/product.aspx?id=303661#dt.
The print is below, if you're curious...
And maaaaybe you want to add a little something to that order - I'd recommend Perhapanauts: Triangle personally - only $8.99 at DCBS, which means you get both books AND the exclusive signed Awakening art print for the regular cover price of Awakening Volume One! How can you pass that up?!
We love you.
OUR TOP STORY...
It's all official - Archaia is back in action! Check out the interview with PJ Bicket, Mark Smylie, and Steve Christy about the re-launch this June and what's in store for the coming year...
http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20991
Give it a read and get excited, people - we're coming...
IN OTHER NEWS...
Haha! Honestly there isn't much else to report right now. We've got a ton of interviews and reviews on the way in the coming weeks, a badass something-I-can't-mention-yet, and a listing of all our confirmed convention/signing appearances for the rest of the year. I'm thinking next week or the week after should be more eventful so stick around!
SOME LAST MINUTE REMINDERS...
If you haven't already pre-ordered the book, do it now! Get to da choppa! Currently there are two ways you can do this:
- Print out the pre-order coupon below and bring it to your local comic shop to guarantee your copy this June!
- Go to DCBS and order the book through them at 45% off to get yourself an exclusive signed art print! The direct link for Awakening is http://www.dcbservice.com/product.aspx?id=303661#dt.
The print is below, if you're curious...
And maaaaybe you want to add a little something to that order - I'd recommend Perhapanauts: Triangle personally - only $8.99 at DCBS, which means you get both books AND the exclusive signed Awakening art print for the regular cover price of Awakening Volume One! How can you pass that up?!
We love you.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Awakening Pre-Order Initiative: Week Four
Alright sure, it's not Friday - the week got away from me in a hurry. It's gotta be Friday somewhere though, right?
Right?
OUR TOP STORY...
Perapanauts: Triangles (written by my good pal and hetero lifemate Todd Dezago) is out in stores NOW! While it's the third trade in the series, it's actually the first one from the run recently begun at Image and works as a great starting point for new readers!
In fact, you can get it for the ridiculously low price of $8.99 at DCBS! Maybe just add it to your order of, I don't know, AWAKENING VOLUME ONE FOR ONLY $10.97 WITH AN EXCLUSIVE SIGNED ART PRINT!!
Lest ye forget, Alex and I have a two-part back up story debuting in issues 10 and 11 of Perhapanauts later in the summer - this would be an excellent time to jump on and get to know these guys!
Todd also just posted a funny pinup my fiance, the talented Jackie Santiago (http://volatile-tifa.deviantart.com) did for him - behold, THE PERHAPAPALS!
Check out his blog for more about Perhapanauts, Todd, and a wicked cool Friday Trivia contest posted, you guessed it, every Friday.
The Perhapablog!
QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS...
Recently, Alex and I did a great interview over at Omnicomic which I linked to last week (and just now again). A reader left a comment and question up there which I've discussed here briefly in the past but want to bring up again. His questions and comments were:
"So what do I do with my three issues of the Awakening comic book? Now it seems I have to buy the same thing again. And how do I know the second volume will be published, when the comic book version was discontinued?"
I think those are valid concerns and good questions - below is my response:
"Thanks for the comment and double thanks for being one of the pre-hardcover supporters of the book! The decision to go exclusively to two hardcover volumes from floppy issues was based on a number of factors and was made by both Alex and I and Archaia.
For any number of reasons, indie floppy books, especially from smaller publishers which are only just beginning to grow a strong and consistent line, have difficulty finding success in a comic shop. After all, when shelf space is as limited as it is in most shops what are you going to give the slot to - a new, unproven book from a small publisher and a brand new creative team or the 81st tie in to Secret Final Civil Identity Crisis Invasion War? One of them has guaranteed sales. The other is a risk. Unfortunately, it's just smart business on the retailer's end. We bore the brunt of that uphill battle for three issues before Archaia began undergoing its reconstruction and, if not for said reconstruction, would have continued chasing that for seven more issues.
However, between the year-long restructuring (it's complete now and the company is in an excellent position going into the June re-launch) and taking those very obstacles mentioned above into consideration, it didn't seem prudent to return with issue 4 after being absent for a year and a half. Further, releasing in hardcover volumes allows us instant access/exposure to the book trade market (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc) which gives us even more avenues to offer the book. In turn, that gives us a much better chance of putting the book into a reader's hands.
As for buying the same thing again - yes and no (and isn't that the very nature of a collected edition release?). Sure the first three issues are included, but so are 10-pages of supplemental material that are story based and deal heavily with the time between events in the issues, as well as five brand new pinups from fantastic artists. In addition to that you get two more chapters and, if you order through DCBS, you're getting all this in a 144-page hardcover volume (with dust jacket) AND an exclusive signed print for just $10.97 - that should ease any pain of the money previously spent on issues.
I don't control the fates, the winds, or the fickle publishing industry so no, I can't guarantee beyond any horrifying doubt that Volume Two is coming. I can tell you that Archaia is an incredibly strong company, that the book is written and artwork has begun, and that we're on track to put it out in June of 2010. The surest way to make certain it DOES come out isn't to second guess it but to support the book - even if the very worst happens and Archaia isn't around in a year, strong sales would make certain another publisher would happily snap the book up for the final volume.
And hang on to those issues - supporting the book is one way to guarantee that those limited copies of issues 1 - 3 in the market might actually be worth more than cover price some day! :)"
The bottom line is that Alex and I are doing everything in our collective powers to make sure you're getting a great book and that you'll get another one a year from now. And then an entirely different story a year after that, one with nothing to do with zombies. And another book a year after that. And so on...
SOMETHING TO HOLD YOU OVER...
Last week you got a pinup from the amazing Patrick McEvoy which is being included in the Volume One hardcover. This week, I thought maybe you'd like a look at some actual pages you may not have seen yet...
SOME LAST MINUTE REMINDERS...
If you haven't already pre-ordered the book, do it now! Get to da choppa! Currently there are two ways you can do this:
- Print out the pre-order coupon below and bring it to your local comic shop to guarantee your copy this June!
- Go to DCBS and order the book through them at 45% off to get yourself an exclusive signed art print! The direct link for Awakening is http://www.dcbservice.com/product.aspx?id=303661#dt.
The print is below, if you're curious...
We'll have links to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. once they update the listing.
We love you.
Right?
OUR TOP STORY...
Perapanauts: Triangles (written by my good pal and hetero lifemate Todd Dezago) is out in stores NOW! While it's the third trade in the series, it's actually the first one from the run recently begun at Image and works as a great starting point for new readers!
In fact, you can get it for the ridiculously low price of $8.99 at DCBS! Maybe just add it to your order of, I don't know, AWAKENING VOLUME ONE FOR ONLY $10.97 WITH AN EXCLUSIVE SIGNED ART PRINT!!
Lest ye forget, Alex and I have a two-part back up story debuting in issues 10 and 11 of Perhapanauts later in the summer - this would be an excellent time to jump on and get to know these guys!
Todd also just posted a funny pinup my fiance, the talented Jackie Santiago (http://volatile-tifa.deviantart.com) did for him - behold, THE PERHAPAPALS!
Check out his blog for more about Perhapanauts, Todd, and a wicked cool Friday Trivia contest posted, you guessed it, every Friday.
The Perhapablog!
QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS...
Recently, Alex and I did a great interview over at Omnicomic which I linked to last week (and just now again). A reader left a comment and question up there which I've discussed here briefly in the past but want to bring up again. His questions and comments were:
"So what do I do with my three issues of the Awakening comic book? Now it seems I have to buy the same thing again. And how do I know the second volume will be published, when the comic book version was discontinued?"
I think those are valid concerns and good questions - below is my response:
"Thanks for the comment and double thanks for being one of the pre-hardcover supporters of the book! The decision to go exclusively to two hardcover volumes from floppy issues was based on a number of factors and was made by both Alex and I and Archaia.
For any number of reasons, indie floppy books, especially from smaller publishers which are only just beginning to grow a strong and consistent line, have difficulty finding success in a comic shop. After all, when shelf space is as limited as it is in most shops what are you going to give the slot to - a new, unproven book from a small publisher and a brand new creative team or the 81st tie in to Secret Final Civil Identity Crisis Invasion War? One of them has guaranteed sales. The other is a risk. Unfortunately, it's just smart business on the retailer's end. We bore the brunt of that uphill battle for three issues before Archaia began undergoing its reconstruction and, if not for said reconstruction, would have continued chasing that for seven more issues.
However, between the year-long restructuring (it's complete now and the company is in an excellent position going into the June re-launch) and taking those very obstacles mentioned above into consideration, it didn't seem prudent to return with issue 4 after being absent for a year and a half. Further, releasing in hardcover volumes allows us instant access/exposure to the book trade market (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc) which gives us even more avenues to offer the book. In turn, that gives us a much better chance of putting the book into a reader's hands.
As for buying the same thing again - yes and no (and isn't that the very nature of a collected edition release?). Sure the first three issues are included, but so are 10-pages of supplemental material that are story based and deal heavily with the time between events in the issues, as well as five brand new pinups from fantastic artists. In addition to that you get two more chapters and, if you order through DCBS, you're getting all this in a 144-page hardcover volume (with dust jacket) AND an exclusive signed print for just $10.97 - that should ease any pain of the money previously spent on issues.
I don't control the fates, the winds, or the fickle publishing industry so no, I can't guarantee beyond any horrifying doubt that Volume Two is coming. I can tell you that Archaia is an incredibly strong company, that the book is written and artwork has begun, and that we're on track to put it out in June of 2010. The surest way to make certain it DOES come out isn't to second guess it but to support the book - even if the very worst happens and Archaia isn't around in a year, strong sales would make certain another publisher would happily snap the book up for the final volume.
And hang on to those issues - supporting the book is one way to guarantee that those limited copies of issues 1 - 3 in the market might actually be worth more than cover price some day! :)"
The bottom line is that Alex and I are doing everything in our collective powers to make sure you're getting a great book and that you'll get another one a year from now. And then an entirely different story a year after that, one with nothing to do with zombies. And another book a year after that. And so on...
SOMETHING TO HOLD YOU OVER...
Last week you got a pinup from the amazing Patrick McEvoy which is being included in the Volume One hardcover. This week, I thought maybe you'd like a look at some actual pages you may not have seen yet...
SOME LAST MINUTE REMINDERS...
If you haven't already pre-ordered the book, do it now! Get to da choppa! Currently there are two ways you can do this:
- Print out the pre-order coupon below and bring it to your local comic shop to guarantee your copy this June!
- Go to DCBS and order the book through them at 45% off to get yourself an exclusive signed art print! The direct link for Awakening is http://www.dcbservice.com/product.aspx?id=303661#dt.
The print is below, if you're curious...
We'll have links to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. once they update the listing.
We love you.
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