WIZARD WORLD PHILADELPHIA: ASPEN COMICS PANEL

PHILADELPHIA -- Convention stalwart Aspen Comics staged a panel Saturday afternoon, detailing some of its upcoming projects:

Below are highlights.

* Aspenšs first creator-owned series Iron and the Maiden will launch on "Iron Day," August 1. The series is the brainchild of Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter creator Jason Rubin and features character designs by Joe Madureira and Jeff Matsduda. The book is penciled by Francis Manapul with Joel Gomez and is colored by Danimation. Each book of the four-issue series is 28 pages with behind-the scenes content.

* Aspen Splash 2007 will feature pinups by Aspen artists and guest artists. Michael Turner, Peter Steigerwald, Micah Gunnell, Marcus To, Francis Manapul, Ale Garza, Billy Tan and more will provide their own "Swimsuit Special" take on the unique and diverse Aspen characters, including Soulfire, Fathom and Shrugged.

* Turner has been dealing with his health issues and has recently begun working on Soulfire #8. He will wait until that issue and more are done before determining a release date.

* Aspen will be releasing an Aspen Seasons: Winter 2007. The book will follow the previous incarnations of the compilation, offering an exploration of the Aspen universes.

* Fathom: Kiani will wrap up over the summer with a 40-page #4.

*Shrugged will also be ending this falll with #7 and #8.

*Aspen will continue to produce webcomics for the NBC television show Heroes this summer and fall.