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MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020



THE WALKING DEAD: "LOOK AT THE FLOWERS"

AMC has released images and details from "Look at the Flowers," the episode of The Walking Dead airing on Sunday, March 29.

For video from the episode, CLICK HERE.

Here's how AMC describes the episode:

"Heroes and villains reckon with the aftermath of the Hilltop fire; Eugene takes a group on a journey to meet Stephanie, with the hopes of befriending another civilization."

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.





BOOM! STUDIOS' PANADEMIC RESPONSE

BOOM! Studios has announced the BOOM! Retailer Support Services Program, a set of initiatives effective immediately to aid comic book shops worldwide affected by the current health crisis.

The BOOM! Retailer Support Services Program will initially deliver the following benefits to qualifying accounts pending details being finalized with Diamond Comic Distributors:

* Full Returnability Through June: BOOM! Studios will extend the industryfs best returnability program, the BOOM! Guarantee, by making all items that ship between March 18 through June 24 fully returnable via affidavit in order to allow retailers to order with confidence.

* #BoostYourLCS Paid Promotion: BOOM! Studios will increase targeted advertising and promotion around comic shops, and specifically spotlight stores offering Safe Services (like curbside and mail order options), using the #BoostYourLCS hashtag to reach over 360,000 worldwide.

* Rare Variant Cover Gift Set: BOOM! Studios will offer retailers a direct cash infusion by providing previously released rare and popular variant covers for free to qualifying Diamond accounts in April. These gifts will create an opportunity for retailers to generate additional revenue and promotion at no cost. For retailers who do not normally sell variant covers at an increased price, these can be used to reward loyal pull-box subscribers or used to further incentivize customer engagement as prizes or purchasing rewards.

* Monthly 1-Per Store Variant Covers: BOOM! Studios will provide new, previously unannounced 1-per-store variant every month through December 2020 free to qualifying Diamond accounts. This program will begin with a new 1-per store variant for Faithless II #1 in April, followed by Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #51 in May, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow #1 in June.

* Diamond Summit Variant: BOOM! Studios will deliver our promised free Diamond Summit retailer variant cover for Faithless II #1 to all qualifying stores in April so that retailers donft miss out on this hotly anticipated issue.

* Exclusive Convention Variant Opportunities: BOOM! Studios will offer select variant covers and other items previously planned for 2020 conventions direct to retailers through Diamond, as long as supplies last. Since fans canft go to conventions, wefre bringing the conventions to the fans!

"We are deeply committed to working together hand-in-hand with our retail partners through this period of disruption. BOOM! Studios is proud to take both immediate and long term steps to support those on the front lines of our industry," said Filip Sablik, president of publishing & marketing, BOOM! Studios. "The BOOM! Retailer Support Services Program we've outlined today is just the start of our efforts, which will evolve as we receive more feedback from retailers. We believe publishers should earn their space on our retail partners' shelves and at no time has that belief been more important than now. We invite retailers to participate and share ideas to enhance our efforts together."



AHOY COMICS' PANDEMIC RESPONSE

AHOY Comics has announced that it would delay the publication of two upcoming titles in light of the global pandemic.

The debut issue of Ash & Thorn, a story about a septuagenarian who becomes the reluctant savior of the world, will be delayed from April 1 until April 29. In addition, the release of Billionaire Island #2, the second issue in the darkly satirical series about billionaires escaping to a floating island, will be delayed from April 8 to April 15.

"This is the first time in AHOY's history that a title has been delayed," said editor-in-chief Tom Peyer, "and obviously we're disappointed that our readers will have to wait a little longer to see old ladies kicking apocalyptic ass and billionaires getting their much-deserved comeuppance -- but these are unusual times. We're facing some rocky seas as a community right now, but wefll get through this storm together!"

"To be clear, AHOY is not suspending operations," said freelance ops director Stuart Moore. "We're delaying the launch of Ash & Thorn in order to give this unique new title a chance to find its audience, and we're moving Billionaire Island #2 in order to space out our new releases better. We recognize that some retailers want new product, while others are asking for a slowdown of shipments. That's the needle wefll be threading in the weeks to come."

Kit Caoagas, AHOYfs Marketing Associate, said, "Our thoughts are with our retail partners, comic shops, and bookstores as well as our readers during this difficult and strange time. We would especially love to hear from retailers to see what more we can do to support them as we all adapt to this seismic shift in the market and our lives. We'll be working closely with Diamond in the weeks ahead."

"We know that fans will have a lot of questions about what this means moving forward," said AHOY Comics Publisher Hart Seely. "Like the rest of you, we're still working on figuring out what the future looks like. But we also know that wefll all need art and stories and humor now more than ever, so wefre doing our very best to steer this ship through the stormy waters and make sure our readers can continue to expect more from us. After all, those hell-demons and greedy cartoon billionaires aren't going to kick their own asses!"

AHOY Comics also announced today that, effective immediately and for a limited time, all of the company's trade paperback collections, with the exception of Second Coming, will be made available on comiXology for $9.99.

AHOY recently joined the comiXology Unlimited, where for just $5.99 a month with a 60-day free trial at comiXology.com/unlimited, subscribers can read titles like Wrong Earth, Captain Ginger, High Heaven, Snifter of Terror, Planet of the Nerds, Bronze Age Boogie and Hashtag: Danger.



FANTAGRAPHICS' STONE FRUIT

Fantagraphics has announced the summer 2021 publication of Stone Fruit by debut cartoonist Lee Lai.

Here's how Fantagraphics describes the book:

"Bron and Ray are a queer couple who enjoy their role as the fun weirdo aunties for Ray's niece Nessie. Their bi-weekly playdates are little oases of wildness, joy, and ease in daily lives that ping-pong between familial tensions and isolation. As their emotional intimacy erodes, Ray and Bron turn to repair their broken family ties. Taking a leap of faith, each opens up to their respective sister and learns that they have more in common with their siblings than they ever knew. In time, the emptiness they feel after their break-up is supplanted with a deep sisterly love and understanding."

"I've been influenced by books and artists published by Fantagraphics since I was a teen, so it's pretty unreal and amazing to be releasing this debut work with them," Lai said.

"There's a handful of Australian cartoonists now who are part of the Fantagraphics family -- some of us have been close since we were baby artists in Melbourne -- and it's been so cool watching their work grow with support from Fantagraphics. Working on this book has been such an exciting learning curve. I'm stoked to finally be putting it out into the world, and specifically with Fantagraphics."



BRIEFLY

GREEN HORNET IN JUNE: Dynamite Entertainment has announced a June launch for Green Hornet, from writer Scott Lobdell and artist Anthony Marques.

"One of the most fun parts of Green Hornet is the way the character lends itself to any kind of story. Noir. Superhero. Action-Adventure. Buddy Comedy. Sci-Fi. Urban Horror," Lobell said. "We're doing a series that combines all those elements into one epic saga. I think a lot of people are going to put these books down and say 'Damn, they got a lot of story into this issue'"

"The world is going to change for the Green Hornet and Kato in a huge way," Marques said. "Scott has crafted a Green Hornet story unlike any other and I'm so excited to be the one who gets to draw it! Everyone is putting in the work to deliver not only the best Green Hornet series but the best comic series available today."

Covers are by Lee Weeks, Dave Johnson, Mike McKone, Walter Geovaini and Marques.

BOOM! FIRST LOOKS: For covers and five-page preview of King of Nowhere #2, arriving in stores on Wednesday, April 8 from BOOM! Studios, CLICK HERE.



MAY 2020 SOLICITATIONS

Below are solicitations posted for May. Click on the publisher's name for the full listings and check back soon for additional solicitations.

* AHOY COMICS.

* AMIGO COMICS.

* ARCHIE COMICS.

* ASPEN COMICS.

* BOOM! STUDIOS.

* DARK HORSE COMICS.

* DC COMICS.

* IDW PUBLISHING.

* MARVEL COMICS.

* ONI PRESS.

* TITAN COMICS.









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