January
17
CBLDF's 'Y' finale fete an instant sell-out
On Feb. 8, MySpace Comic Books and Hollywood comics shop Meltdown will celebrate the finale of the acclaimed Vertigo series "Y: The Last Man" with a special event called "Y: The Last Party," featuring series writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Pia Guerra and special guest Joss Whedon. Proceeds go to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and is sponsored by Vertigo, Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics and Top Cow.
Just hours after announcing the program, the 70 VIP tickets, priced at $100 each, sold out. The VIP tickets include access to a pre-event reception and a limited print of Guerra's artwork signed by both Guerra and Vaughan.
For fans who missed out, 70 "standing room only" tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the event for $25 each and includes access to a keynote speech by "Buffy" creator Whedon and a Q&A panel with Vaughan and Guerra. The org also plans to make video clips of the event available on its MySpace page after the event.
Charles Brownstein, exec director of the CBLDF, was overwhelmed by the response. "This event represents a groundswell of support for the work the Fund does, and it makes a big difference," he wrote by email Thursday afternoon. "We are humbled to see how quickly fans responded to the VIP tickets, and by the level of industry teamwork that went into making this happen. MySpace Comic Books & Meltdown are going the extra distance to make this a very special night for comics. We also owe a debt of gratitude to event sponsors Vertigo, Dark Horse, Image, and Top Cow. I think it's especially cool to see that even though this is a Vertigo book, other publishers are coming forward to support this party as a way to honor Brian & Pia's accomplishment and support the CBLDF. It makes this party much more of a cultural event that embodies the sense of community that the Fund tries to foster, and that MySpace Comic Books works to manifest."
Brownstein says supporters of the org can expect to see more events like this in the future. "It's very important to us that the CBLDF contributes to the cultural life of comics, and hosting events like this are a great way to do that. In 2008, we hope to be able to team up with a wide variety of creators and companies to create unique events that reach our supporters all over the country. There are already a number of exciting things in the pipeline for the Spring, so stay tuned!"
The main project the party will help fund for the CBLDF, which defends the First Amendment rights of the comics industry, remains the case of Georgia comic shop owner Gordon Lee. "The case has been ongoing for three years, and has yet to be completed, because prosecutors have committed several errors that keeps setting it back. Most recently, they caused a mistrial by injecting inadmissible statements into their opening arguments. A day in court for our legal team costs several thousand dollars. This event, and the tremendous support of the comics community that it represents, ensures that we are able to keep up the fight. A full summary of the case to date can be found here."
Brownstein says an event like "Y: The Last Party," which celebrates the completion of a popular series, demonstrates the importance of the fund's mission. "The world would be a poorer place if we couldn't read "The Salon," which we're defending a part of in Georgia, or "Y: The Last Man," because the law prohibited the sale of that sort of material. When you consider that books and art we now revere as classics were banned as immoral or obscene less than 100 years ago, and look at the fights the Fund has waged over our 20 year existence, it's not so hard to imagine that the comics we love may not exist if it weren't for the people and organizations defending the First Amendment. Celebrating great works in comics is affirmation of the need to keep watch on our Freedom of Speech and to vigorously fight for it."
The full press release on the sell out is in the jump.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Y: THE LAST PARTY VIP TICKETS ARE AN INSTANT SELL-OUT!
EVENT TO FEATURE Y: THE LAST MAN CO-CREATORS
BRIAN K. VAUGHAN AND PIA GUERRA
AND SPECIAL GUEST JOSS WHEDON
(THE CREATOR OF BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER)
LOS ANGELES - January 17, 2008 – Mere hours after announcing MySpace Comic Books and Meltdown Comics’ Y: The Last Party, a celebration of Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra's newly completed comic book epic Y: The Last Man, all VIP Tickets for the event have sold out. Standing room door tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis on February 8 at Meltdown in Los Angeles, where Joss Whedon will appear in person to toast Y: The Last Man co-creators Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. All proceeds from this once-in-a-lifetime event will benefit the First Amendment work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF).
“We're thrilled by the enormous response to this party, and committed to making sure that fans aren’t left out in the cold” says CBDLF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. “We will still have standing room door tickets available for the main event on the day of the party, and will also be piping in live audio from the event into the main Meltdown store for those who come but aren't able to get a door ticket. After the Q&A, Brian & Pia will be on hand at the store to mingle with the fans who make the trip as well. We’re committed to making this a special night for the comics community, and are going to do everything we can to make sure that everyone gets a chance to participate.”
For those who are unable to make it to Los Angeles for the party, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s MySpace Profile (www.myspace.com/cbldf) will also offer video excerpts from the party for fans world wide subsequent to the event.
"The response to this party has been overwhelming," Brownstein adds. "We're enormously grateful to all of the Y: The Last Man fans who are supporting the CBLDF at the party. This is going to be a very special night for comics."
Y THE LAST MAN, will conclude on January 30, 2008 with issue sixty. The series and its co-creators, writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Pia Guerra, have received widespread acclaim, in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon and Entertainment Weekly and on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." To celebrate the end of the series, MySpace Comic Books (http://www.myspace.com/comicbooks), the comics community of the world's most popular social network, and Meltdown Comics, the renowned Los Angeles-based comic book shop, have joined forces to host Y: THE LAST PARTY as a benefit for the First Amendment work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund..
Whedon, the famed creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, will kick off the festivities in Meltdown's Hollywood gallery space with a keynote speech in appreciation of the series. Following the speech will be a live Q&A with guests of honor Vaughan & Guerra. There will also be a VIP Reception prior to the event, with Whedon, Vaughan & Guerra, that will include the unveiling of a never-before-seen print by Pia Guerra.
Y: THE LAST PARTY is made possible by the generous support of sponsors from across the comic book industry: Y: The Last Man publisher Vertigo Comics (http://www.myspace.com/vertigocomics); Dark Horse Comics (http://www.myspace.com/darkhorsecomics); Image Comics (http://www.myspace.com/imagecomics); and Top Cow Productions (http://www.myspace.com/topcow).
Capacity for this event is strictly limited to 140 people. VIP reserved seating tickets are sold out. 70 general admission "standing room only" tickets for the event will be $25, and are available on a first-come, first served basis on the day of the event.
More information and updates on Y: The Last Party can be found on the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's MySpace profile (http://www.myspace.com/cbldf).
MySpace Comic Books (http://myspace.com/comicbooks) is a community dedicated to the best in comics, manga, and graphic novels. Launched in March 2007, MySpace Comic Books provides the online community with the latest comic book news and interviews and spotlights the most exciting projects, creators and events in the industry. With more than 154,000 friends, and growing, MySpace continues to see significant interest from its members in the comic book arena.
About the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. They have defended dozens of Free Expression cases in courts across the United States, and led important education initiatives promoting comics literacy and free expression. For additional information, donations, and other inquiries call 800-99-CBLDF or visit http://www.myspace.com/cbldf .
About Meltdown Comics
Meltdown Comics (http://www.myspace.com/meltdowncomics) is the largest comic book shop on the West Coast, located in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. Meltdown opened in 1993 and has since become one the most respected comic book stores in the world. With a sophisticated approach to merchandise and operations – and a reputation for hosting successful events in their Melt Gallery – Meltdown is a must-see pop culture destination in Los Angeles.
About MySpace
MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media Inc., is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends, discovering popular culture, and making a positive impact on the world. By integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities, and member forums, MySpace has created a connected community. As the first ranked web domain in terms of page views*, MySpace is the most widely-used and highly regarded site of its kind and is committed to providing the highest quality member experience. MySpace will continue to innovate with new features that allow its members to express their creativity and share their lives, both online and off. MySpace's international network includes 21 localized community sites in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, Australia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Japan, Brazil and New Zealand. Fox Interactive Media is a division of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS - News, NWS.A )
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