Press Release
America’s favorite colorful and cuddly Care Bears™ are singing and hugging their way into the world of comic books. Lion Forge Comics obtained licensing rights from AG Properties, the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation, to introduce three new children’s franchises to its diverse comic book catalog. The licensing agreement calls for Lion Forge to write, develop and publish digital and print comics based on the following properties: Care Bears, Madballs and the Disney XD animated series, Packages from Planet X.
The new comics will to be developed under Lion Forge’s all-age’s imprint, ROAR Comics, joining well-known licensed properties Saved By The Bell and Punky Brewster, as well as original young adult titles such as Crystal Cadets and Mer.
“Lion Forge has an excellent reputation in re-imagining classic titles in comic book form,” said Lindsay Martinez, Vice President, Licensing & Business Development, AG Properties. “Their experience and creative mission allow for the opportunity to expand our popular properties into the digital arena while remaining true to our vision for innovative social expression.”
“Our library has grown immensely in the past year bringing a unique selection of comic books to readers of all ages,” said David Steward II, CEO, Lion Forge. “Bringing the lovable characters from Care Bears with the humor and action from Madballs and Packages from Planet X to our collection further diversifies our offerings while teaching and interacting with our younger fans in new, creative ways.”
Lion Forge launched its all-ages imprint, ROAR Comics, in March after gaining licensing rights from NBCUniversal in 2013 for the classic 80s television shows “Knight Rider,” “Saved By the Bell” and “Miami Vice.”
The comic books are planned for release later this year. Digital editions will be available through the Amazon Kindle Bookstore and the Comics Plus app for iOS and Android devices, while print copies will also be for sale in select retail stores.
About Lion Forge Comics
Lion Forge is a St. Louis-based transmedia studio with a focus on digital publishing. With both original and licensed titles, including all-ages books from their ROAR Comics division, Lion Forge brings together the brightest talent to acquire and develop content and character franchises within the comic book, television, film and interactive gaming industries. Lion Forge applies cinematic elements to each property to create compelling, story-driven experiences from start to finish, bringing unique entertainment experiences to both traditional and digital marketplaces. For more information, please visit www.lionforge.com or the Lion Forge Facebook and Twitter pages.
About American Greetings Corporation
For more than 100 years, American Greetings Corporation has been a creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products that assist consumers in enhancing their relationships to create happiness, laughter and love. The Company’s major greeting card lines are American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus, and other paper product offerings include DesignWare party goods and American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-wrap and boxed cards. American Greetings also has one of the largest collections of greetings on the Web, including greeting cards available at Cardstore.com and electronic greeting cards available at AmericanGreetings.com. In addition to its product lines, American Greetings also creates and licenses popular character brands through the AG Properties group. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $2 billion, and its products can be found in retail outlets worldwide. For more information on the Company, visit www.corporate.americangreetings.com.
About AG Properties
AG Properties (AGP) is the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation. Built upon the successful re-launches of Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake licensed products, AGP develops multi-platform campaigns for its properties through digital media, entertainment, marketing and merchandising. In addition to Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake, AGP’s active classic brands include Holly Hobbie and Madballs, as well as new properties Boofle, Packages from Planet X and Twisted Whiskers. Children can experience AGP online at www.agkidzone.com. For more information on AGP, visit www.agpbrands.com.
