In a rare cross-company promotion, Image’s The Walking Dead #30 will showcase the five-page teaser that Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips created for their new Icon book, Criminal. “Sean and I thought long and hard about how to properly preview the book,” said Brubaker. “And we decided instead of just showing the first 4 or 5 pages, we’d make something different, more like a movie trailer on paper. We’ve previously released it as a downloadable PDF, and the response has been amazing, but actually getting it printed in The Walking Dead while the first issue is being solicited, is beyond great, and Robert Kirkman is my new hero for doing this.”

The Walking Dead is one of Image’s most popular titles, while Criminal will debut this October from Marvel’s creator-owned Icon label, so how did this cross-promotion come about? “Promoting a creator-owned book in this industry is an uphill battle, so when I see a book as good as CRIMINAL come along, I want to do whatever I can to promote it.” said Kirkman, “Image has been kind enough to allow me to do this, we’re all in the business of selling comics, more specifically GOOD comics and I think we all feel there’s room for more of those no matter WHO the publisher is. Plus, now Brubaker and Phillips owe me one.”

Kirkman continued, “I think Criminal is going to be the best work that Sean and Ed have ever done together, and with the work they’ve both been doing the past few years at Marvel, I think they’re hotter than ever so I wanted to get on the Criminal bandwagon early. So when Brubaker kidnapped my little boy, Peter Parker Kirkman, and said he was holding him hostage until I ran their preview, I was like, hey, I would’ve done it anyway, but thanks for the free babysitting.”

And as a bonus, while The Walking Dead is printed in black and white, the Criminal teaser will be printed in full color. “Yeah, like I said, Kirkman, for some reason, is going all out to help us. Considering he’s got one of the most popular creator-owned books on the market, and the way his sales continue to climb each month, I couldn’t be more grateful. This is going to really help us with our launch, because that Walking Dead audience, between fans and retailers, is just the people I think will love Criminal,” says Brubaker.

The Walking Dead #30 will be in stores on August 23rd.

For the past year, readers of ANT have longed to know the truth behind Image's newest superhero. Now, in a series-altering storyline entitled "Nineteen Ninety-Two," all will be revealed.

“This is what the series has been building up to,” said Mario Gully, ANT's artist and creator. “Questions put in place in the opening panels of issue one are finally being answered. Why did Hannah Washington wake up in a mental institution? Who is after her? And the biggest question of all: How did Hannah become Ant? The only place to find out is Ant #10-12!"

Despite his enthusiasm, however, Gully quickly realized he couldn't pull off such a paramount storyline alone.

“Erik Larsen suggested I work with an up-and-coming writer he was working with named Joe Keatinge," Gully explained. "He thought Joe could help me sort through everything I had planned, and after talking with Joe it became obvious he was the one who should be writing the series!”

Image Comics Publisher, Erik Larsen added, “I've been working with Joe for over a year now, helping him hone his craft and all that. Joe is a bundle of energy and he has more ideas than ten writers. He's been chugging away on a top secret project for me, and I thought he'd be a perfect fit for ANT.”

“Whether or not you're already a fan of ANT you'll definitely want to check this out,” says Joe Keatinge. “As the title suggests we're going back to the very beginning of the Image universe to reveal secrets long hidden. In fact, Savage Dragon guest stars in a very big way."

ANT has been a major player in the reemerging Image Universe since its introduction in 2005, utilizing key Image characters like Spawn and Savage Dragon in past story lines. Gully added, “This storyline will be the ultimate celebration of the road I've taken to get here and the trail Image Comics blazed. When we say the book's going through some big changes, we're not joking. Mark my words, by the end of the year everyone will be looking at ANT in a whole different light.”

Mario Gully's last solo issue, #7, is in stores this Wednesday, July 19th. In addition, Gully and Keatinge will be signing throughout the week at the Image booth (2729) during the San Diego Comic Convention. "Nineteen Ninety-Two" will begin in ANT #10, set for an October release.

Top Cow Productions heads to San Diego Comic-Con, with one of it's biggest appearances yet!

Top Cow Productions storms this year's San Diego Comic-Con International, with guest signings, exclusives, sweepstakes, lithographs, giveaways and more at booth #2045!

With an amazing list of guests (Marc Silvestri, Seth Green, David Wohl, and David Nakayama to name a few), Top Cow Productions will also be celebrating the #100 issue of Witchblade, as well hosting the world debut of Revved and The Innocents at Comic-Con! Also at the booth will be a replica Mazda RX-8 from the book Revved on display and sweepstakes to win the actual car from Revved.

In addition to all the events going on at the Top Cow booth, there will also be a Darkness theater at booth #2329, to showcase the upcoming video release of The Darkness, from 2KGames!! This will be a slam dunk, as The Darkness video game is one of the most highly anticipated video games coming out for all new platforms in March!!

With special lithographs, convention exclusives and sneak peaks at the upcoming Top Cow line-up, it's definitely the place to be at this year's Comic-Con!

As announced in January, Frank Frazetta’s legendary creation DEATH DEALER will be coming to Image Comics courtesy of artists Nat Jones (SPAWN, ROB ZOMBIE’S THE NAIL), and Jay Fotos (SPAWN, GIANT MONSTER). However, the art team will be welcoming a new writer onboard the much anticipated project: Joshua Ortega, author of the cult hit ((FREQUENCIES)) and writer for Top Cow’s critically acclaimed series, THE NECROMANCER.

"Joshua Ortega brings a lot of energy of enthusiasm as well as a new voice to the series," says Nat Jones. "Joshua and I have been planning to do project together for years, and the timing just seemed perfect to bring him in on DEATH DEALER. I’m thrilled to have him on board."

"Joshua has an attention to detail that I admire," adds Fotos. "And as Nat said, he also brings great enthusiasm to every project he works on."

"I'm incredibly flattered and very excited that Nat and Jay have asked me to join the project," says Ortega. "It’s truly an honor to be able to work on one of fantasy’s most iconic characters, and I’m really looking forward to giving Frazetta fans and comic fans an epic fantasy story that’s as true to the spirit of the paintings as possible."

Mazda and Spacedog will announce the world debut of the first book in the Revved series of graphic novels at this year’s Comic-Con International – home of North America’s largest comic book and multi-genre convention – in San Diego, CA. Revved, to be published by Top Cow Productions and developed into a television series by Fox Television Studios, is truly ground-breaking due to the level of integration and collaboration from concept to execution between Spacedog, Top Cow and Mazda.

The series of Revved graphic novels “stars” four special vehicles, all of which are made with a piece of the same magical metal found in the Holy Grail, Joan of Arc’s armor and King Arthur’s Excalibur, among other legendary icons. Imbued with the same powers as those great symbols, the cars’ drivers embark on a series of dangerous missions.

The Revved series is also being developed by Fox Television Studios and Spacedog, a branded entertainment and interactive marketing agency, as a brand integrated property for television, the Internet and other distribution channels.

Erik Larsen’s SHE-DRAGON makes her triumphant return this July in a mammoth sized sixty-four page special.

"That’s right: It’s now SIXTY-FOUR BIG PAGES – and we’re not charging you a dollar more," Larsen explained. "Originally I'd planned to cap it out at 40 or even 42 story pages. However, Franchesco! and I couldn’t stop, so we ran out of ample space to show off all the cool behind-the-scenes stuff. With the addition of sixteen sketchbook pages we’re now able to give readers a peek at the hard work we did."

"Don’t say we never gave you anything!" Franchesco! exclaimed.

As if the increased size wasn’t enough, the SHE-DRAGON special now leads directly into SAVAGE DRAGON #128, which features those lovable lawbreakers from Mark Millar and J.G. Jones’ caustic classic WANTED.

"Sometimes things are better with time and this special is no different," said Larsen. "While I’m sorry folks had to wait so darned long, the end result is so much better because of the extra effort. This book is absolutely stunning.”

With the stunning SHE-DRAGON statue slated to come out later this year and rumblings of a follow up miniseries, this looks like a banner year for the green-skinned goddess.

SHE-DRAGON is available for advance re-order. It is now a 64-page full color book with a cover price of $5.99 and will be in stores on July 26th.

A comatose girl. Supernatural criminals. Two cops on the edge. What do they all have in common?

Welcome to the world of THE CROSS BRONX, a brand-new four-issue miniseries by Michael Avon Oeming (co-creator of POWERS) and Ivan Brandon (NYC MECH) that seemlessly mixes police procedure and the supernatural.

The series, which marks Oeming's first large-scale sequential work outside of POWERS in years, follows Detective Rapheal Aponte in the Bronx as he investigates a mysterious gang slaying that quickly brings him face to face with the supernatural in the form of a beautiful ghost named Santaria. Taking out her revenge on the city, Santaria challenges Aponte's faith in the law as it clashes with his faith in God - or lack of it.

In the vein of "High Plains Drifter" and "Taxi Driver," THE CROSS BRONX delves into two worlds; one is the dark side of the Supernatual and the other is the dark side of Crime Noir. Dodging bullets and curses, THE CROSS BRONX will take you down some very unexpected and dangerous streets of the real life Bronx.

"I'm very enthusiastic about CROSS BRONX," says Oeming. "It is the first thing I'm co-writing as I'm also illustrating it, which has been a refreshing mix for me. I think any fan of POWERS or FELL will really dig what we're doing with this book."

Along with handling the art chores, Oeming is also co-writing the book with Ivan Brandon, one of the creators of the critically acclaimed NYC MECH. The two of them found common ground with THE CROSS BRONX.

"It should be clear by now that I'm a little obsessed with the intricacies of the street-level crime world," explains Brandon. "And Mike's fascination with the city itself, with the tiny details that make up an authentic Bronx environment, have made this a dream project across the board. Visually, this is Mike at his absolute peak. The level of craft he's bringing to this really surpasses any of the work he's done in comics at any point in his career. Every new page is darker and more phenomenal than the last. Writing for him on this could not be more daunting or more fulfilling."

Guns will fire, people will die, prayers and curses will both be answered in THE CROSS BRONX.

THE CROSS BRONX is a four-issue full-color miniseries debuting in September. It is available for order in the July Previews catalog and is scheduled to be in-stores on September 13th.

There are a million stories in the naked city and they always start with a dame. So it is with SAM NOIR: SAMURAI DETECTIVE. Created by Manny Trembley and Eric A. Anderson, popular creators of the online mega-hit, Panda Xpress [www.pandaxpress.com], SAM NOIR: SAMURAI DETECTIVE mixes classic gumshoe fiction with the Samurai Bushido code and a heavy dose of off- kilter humor to create something unique in comics.

Said Shadowline President, Jim Valentino, "We wanted something different for our first black-and-white book and SAM NOIR: SAMURAI DETECTIVE definitely is. Gorgeous art mixed with a fun and engaging story that combines several genres in a way never quite seen before!"

The three-issue finite series is Trembley and Anderson's first foray into printed comics and they couldn't be more excited. "The idea for Sam Noir was created approximately 6 years ago," says Trembley. "Publishing a comic has been a dream for 15 years and realizing this character in print is a geeky dream come true. This book is my kind of perfect balance between art that I love to make and goofy humor that appeals to me. Telling this story is extremely satisfying, and we’re very proud to be a part of Shadowline!"

SAM NOIR: SAMURAI DETECTIVE debuts in September with a $2.99 price tag from Image Comics/Shadowline.

This August, Frank Cho and Image Comics are bringing a whole lot of Brandy for their fans. It all kicks off with LIBERTY MEADOWS: COVER GIRL, a 128-page full-color hardcover that will retail for $24.99.

For the first time, every single one of Frank Cho's covers for LIBERTY MEADOWS – from the single issues to the trade paperbacks - and then some – is collected in one deluxe hardcover!

"I'm pretty excited about this book," says Cho. "It's great to have all my Liberty Meadows covers and pin-ups in one fat volume since even I'm missing some of the early issues."

LIBERTY MEADOWS: COVER GIRL features an all-new cover, plus a behind- the-scenes look at the development of some of your favorite images of Brandy and the gang, from rough sketch to full color.

"People will be amazed how much color adds to the art," added Cho. "Brett Evans has been doing amazing color jobs on my covers for years."

Need more Brandy? Fans will be treated to the first-ever LIBERTY MEADOWS t-shirt offered by Image Comics, featuring Brandy in a cheerleaders uniform along with fan-favorites Ralph & Leslie.

Plus, to make sure all the adventures of Brandy and the crew from LIBERTY MEADOWS are readily available, Image Comics is going back to press on LIBERTY MEADOWS, BOOK 3: SUMMER OF LOVE TP. This collection of issues #19-27 features completely re-mastered and uncensored strips, plus extensive sketch and illustration sections.

LIBERTY MEADOWS: COVER GIRL HC (JUN061687) is a 128-page full-color hardcover retailing for $24.99.

LIBERTY MEADOWS, BOOK 3: SUMMER OF LOVE TP (NEW PRINTING, JUN061689) is a 144-page black and white softcover retailing for $14.99

The LIBERTY MEADOWS T-SHIRT is available in five sizes - Small (JUN061699), Medium (JUN061700), Large (JUN061701), XL (JUN061702) and XXL (JUN061703). S-XL $16.99, XXL - $17.99.