Aside from writing Shi: Poisoned Paradise and other stories (including Shi: Akai, the upcoming Shi: Sempo and my own McCandless & Company), I'm the executive editor for Gemstone Publishing (our best known publication is The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide). I thought you might like to see the press release that went out yesterday. Some of the news sites have already picked up on it.
BELOVED DISNEY CHARACTERS GRACE COMIC BOOK PAGES FOR A NEW GENERATION
Publishers Announce a Revival of Disney Comic Books in the United States
Timonium, MD - December 11, 2002 - Gemstone Publishing and Disney Publishing Worldwide plan to bring back a variety of comic books featuring many of the classic Disney characters. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and other Disney favorites will be featured in a series of monthly comic books to be introduced by Gemstone in June 2003.
The comic books will include classic series such as Uncle Scrooge Adventures, Donald Duck Adventures and Walt Disney Comics and Stories. Gemstone Publishing will introduce two monthly comics starting in the Summer and will follow-up with two additional monthlies later in the year. The comics will be distributed to the comic book specialty market by Diamond Comic Distributors and to traditional book markets throughout the United States and Canada by Diamond Book Distributors.
"There's a legacy of Disney comics that can now be enjoyed by a whole new generation," said Deborah Dugan, president, Disney Publishing Worldwide. "We are pleased to be working with Gemstone to widen the reach of these timeless stories and to keep them alive for all readers to enjoy."
"With the support from Disney Publishing Worldwide, the old gang that has entertained the world for the past seventy-five years will soon return to their comic book roots," said Steve Geppi, Gemstone Publishing president and CEO. "This means that some of us older folks will get another opportunity to be enchanted by the distinctive artistry and humor of Disney comics."
Gemstone has already assembled a team of Disney comic veterans to preserve the quality of these classic comics. The new series of comic books will contain the recognized work of Disney artists William Van Horn, Don Rosa, Daan Jippes, Daniel Branca, Noel Van Horn, Patrick Block, Shelly Block and the legendary Carl Barks, as well as others.
Disney comic book fans can go to
www.gemstonepub.com/Disney and register to receive e-mail news regarding special offers, subscriptions information and contests.
Best known as the home of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Gemstone Publishing was formed by Diamond Comic Distributors President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen A. Geppi as a conduit for his efforts in preserving and promoting the history of the comics medium. Gemstone publishes The Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide, The Big Big Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Hake's Price Guide To Character Toys, The Overstreet Toy Ring Price Guide, The Overstreet Indian Arrowheads Identification and Price Guide, and Comic Book Marketplace, a monthly magazine for comic book collectors. Most recently, Gemstone added Scoop, a free, weekly informational e-mail newsletter, to its list of popular publications.
A subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, (NYSE:DIS), Disney Publishing Worldwide, is the largest children's publisher in the world, with 274 children's magazines and 120 million children's books sold each year. DPW publishes books, magazines and continuity programs in 55 languages in 74 countries, reaching more than 100 million readers each month. Global headquarters are in New York City.
