Fox Television Studios Executive Vice President, Scripted Programming, David Madden, announced today that the studio has entered into a development deal with Los Angeles-based Spacedog - a branded entertainment and interactive marketing agency - to co-develop and produce three projects slated for publication as graphic novels, as well as for distribution on television and through other digital entertainment platforms. The graphic novels will be published through Top Cow Comics the publisher with which Spacedog has an imprint deal. The agreement was brokered by IPG's Josh Schechter, who will serve as producer on all three projects. "Revved," the first of these, "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 second property. "Wight and Associates" (working title), tells the story of attorneys at a legendary law firm who have quite literally made a deal with the devil. Gary Randall, with whom Fox TV Studios also has an overall deal, will serve as executive producer on "Wight & Associates."

Madden said, "I'm a longtime comic book/graphic novel fan, so I'm thrilled to be in business with Spacedog and Top Cow. Their projects are smart, inventive and generate enormous attention, and I'm genuinely excited about being able to combine imaginative on-the-page storytelling with the marketing and brand integration opportunities that will turn these stories into successful television. We're working together to develop the kinds of ideas that translate across every distribution channel, from graphic novel to television, to Internet, and to mobile."

It's finally here, a collection of the critically acclaimed ROCKETO series by Frank Espinsoa. Lauded as innovative and ground-breaking, with a unique style, this collection is what you've been waiting for!

ROCKETO, VOL. 1: THE JOURNEY TO THE HIDDEN SEA collects issues #0-6 of the ROCKETO series, which is an adventurous tale of New World mapper Rocketo Garrison and his wild band of misfits. The 256-page book is brimming with extras including Espinosa's conceptual sketches, background information on the New World, pin-ups by some of today’s leading comic book artists and a wonderful introduction (and illustration) by famed artist Alex Ross.

"The trade not only collects up to the mid-way point of the first arc, but also serves as a sneak peak into the rest of the Journeys," explains Espinosa. "There's a wonderful tour of Rocketo's home, Porto Logas, and how its history touches not just this story, but the rest of the adventures."

ROCKETO follows the adventures of Rocketo Garrison, which take place in a mythical future 2,000 years after the world has been destroyed in a catastrophe. The trade paperback tells the story of Rocketo’s idyllic childhood and his early training as an explorer and Mapper. After returning from the deadly Solarium War a broken man, Rocketo Garrison is swept away on a journey to the Hidden Sea, a fabled, dangerous land that may hold the key to undreamed of treasure as well as the truth about an ancient mystery.

The trade paperback also gets you primed and ready to go for the triumphant return of ROCKETO to the shelves with issue #7 this April!

"THE JOURNEY TO THE HIDDEN SEA is just the start of his adventures and is really more about Rocketo himself; it's his inner Hidden Sea we are exploring," said Espinosa. "Issues seven through twelve are much more energetic than the first six, as the bad guy and the hero fight to the end. Mysteries are solved. Friends are made. But in the end it's really about the legacy Rocketo leaves behind."

A 5-page preview of Rocketo #7 has been included with this release for your preview, and you can find more about ROCKETO at Frank's website, www.frankespinosa.com

ROCKETO, VOL. 1: THE JOURNEY TO THE HIDDEN SEA TP (DEC051756) is a 256 page full color trade paperback, on sale now. ROCKETO #7 (FEB061757) is available for advance reorder and will be in-stores in April. Don't miss out!

Image Comics has announced it's complete signing schedule for the upcoming Wizard World Los Angeles convention this weekend, March 17-19, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Another exclusive will be a limited edition signed FRANK CHO print from his upcoming book "Frank Cho: Women."

Highlights include a signing with the creative team behind the upcoming "The Last Christmas" mini-series - co-writers GERRY DUGGAN & BRIAN POSEHN (star of Mr. Show & Comedians of Comedy) and artist RICK REMENDER. There will also be an exclusive poster given out during the signing featuring art by GEOF DARROW.

Top Cow Productions is adding top-flight female creators (awesome) to one of comics' longest-running female character books. And in an unprecedented move in mainstream comics, the entire art team of penciler, inker, and colorist will be composed of women.

Adriana Melo (Star Wars: Empire, Birds of Prey) takes over as the new ongoing artist on Witchblade with July's #99. She'll be joined by inker Mariah Benes (Superman) and colorist Sonia Oback (City of Heroes). Melo and crew will work on Witchblade #100 in conjunction with current Witchblade artist Mike Choi, before taking the reins full time with #101. The new team will also handle art chores on a 4-page original Witchblade story for Image Comics' contribution to Free Comic Book Day.

“It's unprecedented to have three women filling the artistic seats on a mainstream book on an ongoing basis,” said Top Cow Editor-In-Chief Renae Geerlings. “Sonia Oback has been on Witchblade for a few issues, and has blown us away with her work. And when we saw the team of Adriana and Mariah, we knew we had great partners for her.”

“I feel like a lucky, lucky man who's been dropped onto the Isle of Talented Amazon Women,” said ongoing Witchblade writer Ron Marz. “I worked with Adriana on a few Star Wars issues, but the collaboration was too brief by far. I'm really looking forward to her settling in for a good long run on Witchblade, and bringing Mariah and Sonia with her. What more could any man want?"

“And before anybody makes a smart-ass comment about Adriana being hired to draw a female-lead book just because she's a woman, I can tell you she was hired because she's the best artist for the job,” Marz continued. “Her first pages have already proven that."

“Working on Witchblade makes me very happy in that it's one of the few books starring a strong female lead character,” said Adriana Melo. “And having the opportunity to collaborate with Ron Marz again is outstanding. He's a great professional and a fantastic and fun person to work with. Mariah and Sonia are really awesome, too, and I feel blessed to have them on my side.”

Top Cow will soon announce a new project involving artist Mike Choi.

Rosario Dawson, David Atchison and Tony Shasteen announced today that their new comic book miniseries, the OCCULT CRIMES TASKFORCE, will now be published through Image Comics, starting this July!

“We are very excited about our new home. Image Comics and the guys at 12 Gauge are helping us make the book the best it can possibly be. The interest Speakeasy Comics showed in publishing the "O.C.T." was greatly appreciated. However, due to recent changes in their direction, we didn't feel our book fit with them at this time,” said Shasteen.

12 Gauge Comics President Keven Gardner added, “When we found out the "O.C.T." was looking for a home, we jumped at the chance to be involved. We're proud and honored to be a part of what promises to be an industry-expanding event.”

Thanks to his long-standing association, Gardner brought the book to Image Comics, where it was accepted to appear in the July catalog. Gardner added, “Releasing this book in July works out perfectly, as Rosario will be making convention appearances with us to help promote the book. Look for announcements on that front very soon.”

Dawson had this to say: “I'm excited about this adventure we're about to take, and I'm really excited about meeting all the comic fans. I'm also excited to be working on a project that's fun, but not necessarily a film. This is a completely different genre, but is no less interesting.”

The Occult Crimes Taskforce follows the exploits of rookie Detective Sophia Ortiz (modeled after Rosario Dawson), who is recruited into the ranks of a covert police investigation unit established to monitor and control supernatural activity in the Manhattan Underground. The series is co-created by Rosario Dawson, written by David Atchison and illustrated by Tony Shasteen.

A strange visitor arrives on our planet. He is the first super powered being we've ever encountered. And all the cards are stacked against him.

This May, Image Comics proudly presents EMISSARY, the new science fiction thriller from Jim Valentino's Shadowline.

"With EMISSARY, we're stripping the superhero down to its basic core," series creator Valentino says. "Superpowers are so commonplace in the stories we read that we've lost touch of what a radically challenging dilemma the idea can pose. What would happen if tomorrow a super powered being announced his presence by neutralizing every nuclear stockpile in the world -- theirs and ours? And what if this hero came from a minority group? Would he be loved? Hated? Feared? Would he be a savior or a terrorist? EMISSARY explores those questions and more."

EMISSARY is created by Jim Valentino and brought to life by the critically acclaimed Small Gods' team of J.R. Rand (Helios), with art by Juan E. Ferreyra (Rex Mundi) and Clayton Brown.

Top Cow Productions takes its bite out of the big apple at the New York Comic-Con, February 24-26, 2006. The convention takes place at New York City's Jacob Javits Center, where retail giant Midtown Comics will host Top Cow talent and be the exclusive seller of several Top Cow books.

Top Cow's talent roster, appearing at Midtown booth, #317 includes Ron Marz and Stephen Sadowski, the writer/artist team behind Witchblade #94 and #95, catch 'em Saturday, February 25, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM.

Also, a bountiful bevy of four convention-exclusive books will be available from Midtown Comics:
Witchblade #94/95 cover set with bridging artwork by Chris Bachalo, limited to 300 copies
Witchblade #95 variant with a cover by artist Michael Turner, limited to 500 copies
Top Cow 2006 Preview, featuring snippets of Cyberforce #1, Rising Stars: Untouchable #1, and Witchblade #96.

Backbone Entertainment and Image Comics today announced that DEATH, JR. will return to comic book shelves later this year in a second 3-issue, full-color series. The series will feature the return of both Ted Naifeh as illustrator and Gary Whitta as writer.

"The first series of the DJ comic received an unbelievable amount of attention from critics and comic book fans,” says Mike Mika, studio head of Backbone Entertainment’s Emeryville location. “We’re thrilled to have Ted and Gary back on board to further the world of DEATH, JR.”

DEATH, JR. follows the teenage of son of the grim reaper and his band of “unusual” friends as they always seem to find themselves in trouble. The first series of the comic generated impressive sales and attracted the interest of some of the top talent in the industry, such as Mike Mignola, who drew the cover for the trade paperback.

REX MUNDI #17 (JAN061815) ships in March, and then following that, the May-shipping REX MUNDI #18 features a cover by superstar artist HUMBERTO RAMOS (Revelations, Spider-Man).