Press Release
Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and Skybound, Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics, today announced that Billy Dogma creator Dean Haspiel has drawn the sixth in a yearlong series of Limited Edition Exclusive Variant Covers of The Walking Dead #1 comic, to be provided free to all full-price attendees at the inaugural Wizard World Comic Con Raleigh, March 13-15. Skybound’s The Walking Dead created by Kirkman, the groundbreaking, Eisner Award winning comic book series, continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
The exclusive The Walking Dead #1 edition will be produced in extremely limited quantities and is available at registration to fans at the Raleigh Convention Center only while supplies last. VIP attendees will receive an additional black & white sketch version of the comic.
Emmy award winner and Eisner Award nominee Haspiel created Billy Dogma , illustrated for HBO’s “Bored To Death,” was a Master Artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, is a Yaddo fellow, a playwright of the critically acclaimed “Switch To Kill,” and the co-founder of Hang Dai Editions. Haspiel has written and drawn many superhero comic books, including The Fox, Spider-Man, Batman, X-men, The Fantastic Four, Deadpool, Godzilla, Mars Attacks , and semi-autobiographical collaborations with Harvey Pekar, Jonathan Ames, Inverna Lockpez, and Jonathan Lethem.
The artists for future books will be announced as they are selected. A similar series in 2013 featuring exclusives of The Walking Dead #1 proved to be wildly popular with fans. The full schedule of 2015 Wizard World shows is available at www.wizd.me/PRSchedule2015 .
Stars of “The Walking Dead” TV series scheduled to attend Wizard World Comic Con Raleigh include Soneque Martin-Green (Sasha), Sarah Wayne Callies (Lori Grimes) and Addy Miller (“Teddy Bear Girl”). Other top celebrities on hand include David Tennant (“Doctor Who”), William Shatner (“Star Trek,” “Boston Legal”), Ian Somerhalder (“The Vampire Diaries”), Tyler Hoechlin (“Teen Wolf”), Liam McIntyre (“Spartacus: War of the Damned”), WWE® Diva Eva Marie™, John Schneider (“The Dukes of Hazzard”) and many others.
In addition to Haspiel, Artist Alley in Raleigh will feature Shane Pierce (“Judge Dredd,” “The Other Dead”), Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies,” “Army of Darkness”), Michael Golden (“Batman,” “Spider-Man”), Sandy Jarrell (“Meteor Man,” “Batman ’66”), Tom DeFalco (MARVEL editor), Rob Liefeld (“Deadpool,” “X-Force”) and many others.
Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Comic Con Raleigh show hours are Friday, March 13, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, March 15, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more on the 2015 Wizard World Comic Con Raleigh, visit http://wizd.me/RaleighPR .
About Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman is the creator of many popular comic books, including the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur , and the new exorcism comic, Outcast which was released in June 2014 and recently received a pilot pickup for CINEMAX with Fox International.
Since entering the comics scene with his self-published cult-hit Battle Pope in 2000, the Kentucky native has risen to fame as one of the most successful names in comics and entertainment. In 2008, Kirkman became a partner at Image Comics, and in 2010, he opened Skybound, his own imprint at Image, which publishes his titles as well as other original work.
That same year, Kirkman continued to expand his presence in the entertainment industry, becoming a creator, executive producer and writer on The Walking Dead television show. The show is in production on its fifth season and has become the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time. To date The Walking Dead is the #1 on television among the coveted 18-49 demo.
Kirkman is also slated to executive produce AMC’s upcoming The Walking Dead companion series.
Under the Skybound Entertainment umbrella Kirkman wrapped production on his first feature film, Air, starring The Walking Dead ’s Norman Reedus and Academy Award-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou.
About Skybound Entertainment
Since opening its doors in 2010, Skybound Entertainment has grown into a multiplatform entertainment company. Skybound CEO Robert Kirkman is creator of the award-winning The Walking Dead comic book series, the inspiration for the hit TV show of the same name where he serves as creator and executive producer. To date The Walking Dead is the #1 on television among the coveted 18-49 demo.
Skybound Entertainment and Kirkman just wrapped production on their first feature film, Air, starring The Walking Dead ’s Norman Reedus and Academy Award-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou. The film is slated to be released in the spring of 2015.
Skybound released Kirkman’s new exorcism comic, Outcast , in June 2014 which recently got the green light for a television pilot with CINEMAX and Fox International. Kirkman will serve as creator and executive producer of the series.
Skybound Entertainment and digital entertainment company Maker Studios recently announced a deal for the studio to produce and air four digital series based off Skybound IPs.
Comic book titles published by Skybound include The Walking Dead, the superhero-comic Invincible, all-ages comic Super Dinosaur, the revenge drama Dead Body Road, and heist comic Thief of Thieves .
Skybound also creates a wide range of merchandise, including video games, apparel, board games, and action figures.
For more information, please visit Skybound online at www.skybound.com and www.thewalkingdead.com .
About Wizard World
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A’s, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World also produces socialcon featuring social media stars and will be launching ConTV, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM).
Wizard World 2015 schedule available at: http://wizd.me/PRSchedule2015.
