April
19
NYCC: BET does 'Panther' toon; T'POP adds color
Black Entertainment Television has set an animated series based on Marvel's "The Black Panther." The Panther was the first black superhero, first appearing in 1966's Fantastic Four #52, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He's been an on-again, off-again member of the The Avengers, and starred in two solo comic series in the past decade. Here's the PR description:
THE BLACK PANTHER – From Marvel Comics®, who brought the world Spider-Man, X-Men, the Fantastic Four and Iron Man, comes a primetime animated series featuring the first Black superhero. A wise and just African warrior king. A technologically advanced superhero with a proud past. BET presents THE BLACK PANTHER. PREMIERING Q1 2009
In other news, TOKYOPOP has announced a new graphic novel line, called — shockingly — TOKYOPOP Graphic Novels, that will bring full-color GNs from around the world to the U.S. The line will launch next February. Full PR details, including launch titles, in the jump.
Manga Giant Extends Publishing Portfolio
with Launch of Colorful New Line of International BooksTOKYOPOP GRAPHIC NOVELS
The Best In Color Graphic Novels From Around The Globe—Now Available For The First Time Ever In North America!
New York Comic-Con, New York (April 19, 2008)― Leading manga publisher and youth-oriented brand TOKYOPOP is pleased to unveil the latest addition to its rapidly growing publishing family - TOKYOPOP Graphic Novels. For years, European and Asian publishers have produced captivating, inspiring, and stunning full-color graphic novels that have not found a home on North American shores—until now. Beginning in February 2009, TOKYOPOP will cross the color barrier to publish a truly unique selection of rich, inventive, and stunningly original full-color graphic novels from some of the world’s most talented artists and writers.
According to TOKYOPOP Publisher Mike Kiley, "The new TOKYOPOP Graphic Novels line represents a natural evolution for us as we continue to offer the coolest stuff on the planet to readers around the world. Our launch titles have been selected to build a bridge between the manga and graphic novel audiences. This is a major initiative for us and we will not only be announcing more acquisitions in the near future but will also have some very exciting news about original TOKYOPOP projects that will appear in this new oversized format."
In a word from TOKYOPOP Senior Editor Bryce Coleman, "There has been a wealth of truly amazing stuff published around the world, and I think people are going to be amazed at the diverse line up we're coming out with in these graphic novels. From the gorgeous, painterly work of up-and-coming star, Benjamin, to the rich, animation-like epic world of Luuna, these books will all be as stunning to look at as they will be satisfying to read."
About the Launch Titles:
ORANGE (February 2009)
By: Benjamin
Licensed from Xiao Pan (China)
$14.99; 1 volume; 128 pp; 7.228" x 10"
A heartbreaking tale of a young woman attempting to understand the bewildering world around her… The luscious art of Benjamin heightens the intensity of this profoundly moving tale of sorrow and loss.
PIXIE (February 2009)
By: Mathieu Mariolle and Aurore
Licensed from Delcourt (France).
$12.99; 3 volumes, 112 pp; 7.228" x 10"
Pixie embarks on captivating adventures far and wide in this ethereal and mesmerizing fantastic voyage that stretches the limits of imagination.
LUUNA (March 2009)
By: Didier Crisse, Nicolas Keramidas
Licensed from Soleil (France).
$12.99; 3 volumes, 112 pp; 7.228" x 10
On the night of her initiation into her North American Indian tribe, young Luuna discovers she must confront an ancient curse that will change her forever. This haunting coming-of-age story is filled with deep pathos and stunning artwork that brings an unforgettable legend to life.
About TOKYOPOP
Founded by multi-cultural media visionary Stu Levy,TOKYOPOP is hailed as a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends countless platforms. From the introduction of the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, to the development of its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment, TOKYOPOP has changed the way teens experience pop culture. The company’s global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with offices in the UK and Germany and partnerships in Australia and China, in addition to its original Los Angeles and Tokyo operations. With millions of fans logging onto the new social networking site www.TOKYOPOP.com, reading its books, which are licensed in more than 40 countries and 30 languages, and watching its DVDs and television programs, TOKYOPOP’s award-winning catalogue of licensed and original properties has made the company a visionary in an ever-growing teen entertainment marketplace. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.
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Part of me is a fan of the character of the Black Panther. He's got a rich history and the fact he isn't from America is a big deal for the comic book industry and it's about time the guy got his own show.
On the other hand, I have a weird feeling BET picked this up because it has the word 'Black' in it and not because of it's rich history. In fact, compared to most of its lineup, the Black Panther is very much someone who is his own person and away from the typical black stereotype.
So I'll keep an eye out, definatly. This year's NYCC was a very exciting time for anyone who's a fan of comics and comic book films so I'm looking forward to Black Panther.
Posted by: Eoin | April 21, 2008 at 06:36 AM