Preview: Jirni # 2

JIRNI #2
JT Krul ­ Story / Paolo Pantalena ­ Art / Brett Smith - Colors

Take an incredible JIRNI with Aspen¹s newest hit series!

Discover a whole new world of adventure! As Ara's fortuitous quest
continues, her path is shrouded in mystery. Upon arriving in a remote
village struggling to survive through desperate times, she discovers someone
who might offer answers to the questions that torment her. But as Ara has
learned time and again, nothing shall come easy in this unrelenting world.
Will she have the strength and courage to venture into the pit of darkness
itself to find the truth - not only about her missing mother but about
herself as well?

After years of preparation, creator JT Krul is ready to take you on a JIRNI
unlike any other! Accompanied by the incredible talents of artist Paolo
Pantalena and colorist Brett Smith, this is one JIRNI you won¹t want to
miss!

JIRNI #2 is in stores May 22nd, 2013!

Comic News: Aspen's Jirni Sales Top Selling Non Premier Book

ASPEN’S THIRD “10 FOR 10” RELEASE JIRNI #1 SELLS OVER 35K COPIES

Press Release             

05-08-13

Aspen is pleased to announce that the third release in their ambitious “10 for 10” initiative, Jirni #1, has ordered in excess of over 35,000 copies and is the top-selling non premier book for the month of April, 2013. This is the third release in a row from Aspen Comics to secure the top spot for the Diamond small press rankings following the debuts of Legend of the Shadow Clan #1 and Shrugged #1. Due to the high demand for the issue, the Aspen Reserved Edition covers for the issue are currently sold out at the Diamond level. As a result, the publisher has pledged to offer their own personal quantities of the sold out Reserved Edition covers to help fulfill retailers’ orders. Creator J.T. Krul discusses the successful release of his new series:

"I am thrilled by the tremendous response to the premiere issue of Jirni. Much of the credit goes to Paolo Pantalena and Brett Smith for their incredible job of bringing Jirni's fantastic world to life. I know readers and retailers have hundreds of choices when to it comes to choosing comic books, and I am grateful they have given our book a chance. It only motivates us more. Issue #2 can't get here soon enough. It's only gets better."

Aspen is pricing each debut #1 “10 for 10” issue for the affordable price of only $1 and is also offering other incentives for each release such as original hand-drawn sketch covers, CGC editions, and special retailer incentive covers by popular artists J. Scott Campbell and Eric “Ebas” Basaldua, as well as a Jirni #2 cover by Philip Tan.

Fans and new Aspen readers who add each of the “10 for 10” titles to their comic shop’s local subscription service will be eligible to receive the special Aspen Reserved Edition variant covers. Those fans who collect all ten Aspen Reserved Edition #1 covers will receive a free full-size Aspen “Perfect 10’s” Jam Poster featuring all ten “10 for 10” covers on one image colored by superstar colorist Peter Steigerwald. The Jirni #1 Aspen Reserved Edition cover features artwork by Paolo Pantalena and Steigerwald.

Aspen encourages everyone to check out the release of Jirni #1 for only $1 as well as the second issue on May 22^nd, 2013..

For more information please check the following:

www.aspencomics

www.aspenstore.com

Facebook.com/aspencomics

Facebook.com/jirni

Twitter.com/aspncomics

Instagram: aspencomics

#Aspen10

Aspen MLT, Inc. is an entertainment publishing company founded in January 2003 by superstar comic artist Michael Turner. Priding itself on producing entertainment properties of the highest quality visual and storytelling elements Along with their own successful properties such as Fathom, Soulfire, Executive Assistant: Iris,  Charismagic, Broken Pieces and more. Aspen also collaborates with the comic industry's most successful companies and endeavors including Marvel Comics and DC Entertainment. Aspen has collaborated with Marvel for various hit projects, including cover work for the best-selling events Civil War, World War Hulk, and Ultimatum. Aspen collaborated with DC Comics to provide covers for such best-selling titles as Superman/Batman: The Return of Supergirl, The Justice League of America, and Eisner-nominated covers for the critically acclaimed, best-selling Identity Crisis series. In 2006, Aspen joined forces with television giant NBC to create the online comic adaptations for the hit television series Heroes. In 2012, Aspen teamed up with Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment to produce the horror-adventure series Dead Man’s Run, as well as collaborating with director McG’s Wonderland Sound and Vision to produce the horror comic Haunted City. Aspen also produced the one-of-a-kind Anarchy digital graphic novel for the popular body spray company, Axe. Currently, Aspen is celebrating their tenth anniversary in the industry with their “10 for 10” initiative and more original properties forthcoming later in the year.

Jirni # 1 Review

JIRNI # 1
Written by JT Krul
Art by Paolo Pantalena & Brett Smith
Aspen Comics


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            A young … evish woman and her father are being attacked and we get our first introduction to our main character, Jirni. She seems very crass at first, killing all of the Hrugites, seemingly related to Orcs from the look of them. She then saves the woman. The woman though runs to her father who dies in her arms but not before our heroine tells her that it is usually time to say think for after she killed all the Hrugites.

            We find that our main character is named Ara.  Ara tells a story of the last time she saw her mother, which we find out is who she is looking for. Meanwhile, we meet our antagonist in large fashion as he has a D’jinn kill a group of thieves that were attacking him, his driver and … low and behold … SPOILER, NOT TELLING.

            The book ends with Ara on her own journey but with lots of questions.


ART:

            Paolo Pantalena has a very distinct style of his own. And it is rendered extremely well here. Pantalena performs some strong, expressive panel work as we meet our heroine … killing things after a shot of the Hrugites eating that one evish man alive! Yes. That is within the first few pages. The characters look distinct enough. Smith’s colors explode on each page, really making Pantalena’s work stand out.

            There is a strong sense of  mystical worlds being blended to this as we got the Orc inspired Hrugites, the very Arabian inspired heroine and the evish looking people, making a diverse mix that really sets this world apart from others. Pantalena & Smith really bring out this new, interesting world. The somewhat thick inks works for Pantalena’s art where most others, it would fail. While some of the inks seem to bleed a little, that is my only real gripe. A great first showing by Pantalena & Smith.


WRITING:

            JT Krul introduces you to a new world in a fast and exciting pace. There are mysteries to our main heroine and we, as readers, get to learn those secrets with her. Krul gets really sets Ara up as a complicated hero. There is a lot of depth for Ara in this first issue because of  her attitude in the beginning of the issue, to the treatment of her rescuee after the battle with the Hrugites.

            The mysteries behind the D’jinn and main villain made their first appearance impressive, memorable and sets up one of the main plots. The issue was paced well. And while the ending was decent, it felt that the issue stopped more than ended but still Krul really brings his A game this issue.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            Interesting characters, wonderous world, intriguing plot and storyline build a compelling start of Jirni. There doesn’t seem like much in this beginning but she does grow strong. Pantalena and Smith give you a varied, mystical work of Krul’s design with a heroine who is multi-faceted. A strong, new series for Aspen.


RATING:

            Jirni # 1 gets a 8.5 out of 10. Great start. Buy it now.

Comic News: Aspen's Jirni # 1 Have Retailer Exclusive Covers

ASPEN’S JIRNI #1 PERSONALIZED RETAILER EXCLUSIVE COVERS REVEALED

Press Release             

04-16-13

Aspen is pleased to announce that the third release in their ambitious “10 for 10” initiative, Jirni #1 by J.T. Krul, Paolo Pantalena and Brett Smith, has ordered in excess of over 36,000 copies and will feature a large array of retailer exclusive covers personalized for each individual store. Aspen Owner and President Frank Mastromauro discusses:

“To say we're happy with the response to Jirni #1 would be a complete understatement. Though we felt the property would do well, we're thrilled with the amount of feedback and interest we've received on it so far. JT, Paolo and Brett did an amazing job on this book and I cannot wait to hear what the fans think about it. This series marks our highest selling '10 for 10' debut this year, and I don't see that slowing down anytime soon!”

 

Aspen is pricing each debut #1 “10 for 10” issue for the affordable price of only $1 and is also offering other incentives for each release such as original hand-drawn sketch covers, CGC editions, and special retailer incentive covers by popular artists J. Scott Campbell and Eric “Ebas” Basaldua.

Fans and new Aspen readers who add each of the “10 for 10” titles to their comic shop’s local subscription service will be eligible to receive the special Aspen Reserved Edition variant covers. Those fans who collect all ten Aspen Reserved Edition #1 covers will receive a free full-size Aspen “Perfect 10’s” Jam Poster featuring all ten “10 for 10” covers on one image colored by superstar colorist Peter Steigerwald. The Jirni #1 Aspen Reserved Edition cover features artwork by series artist Paolo Pantalena and Steigerwald.

Aspen encourages everyone to check out the release of Jirni #1 for only $1 on April 17^th.

For more information please check the following:

www.aspencomics

www.aspenstore.com

Facebook.com/aspencomics

Facebook.com/jirni

Twitter.com/aspncomics

Instagram: aspencomics

#Aspen10

Aspen MLT, Inc. is an entertainment publishing company founded in January 2003 by superstar comic artist Michael Turner. Priding itself on producing entertainment properties of the highest quality visual and storytelling elements Along with their own successful properties such as Fathom, Soulfire, Executive Assistant: Iris,  Charismagic, Broken Pieces and more. Aspen also collaborates with the comic industry's most successful companies and endeavors including Marvel Comics and DC Entertainment. Aspen has collaborated with Marvel for various hit projects, including cover work for the best-selling events Civil War, World War Hulk, and Ultimatum. Aspen collaborated with DC Comics to provide covers for such best-selling titles as Superman/Batman: The Return of Supergirl, The Justice League of America, and Eisner-nominated covers for the critically acclaimed, best-selling Identity Crisis series. In 2006, Aspen joined forces with television giant NBC to create the online comic adaptations for the hit television series Heroes. In 2012, Aspen teamed up with Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment to produce the horror-adventure series Dead Man’s Run, as well as collaborating with director McG’s Wonderland Sound and Vision to produce the horror comic Haunted City. Aspen also produced the one-of-a-kind Anarchy digital graphic novel for the popular body spray company, Axe. Currently, Aspen is celebrating their tenth anniversary in the industry with their “10 for 10” initiative and more original properties forthcoming later in the year.

Sneak Peak: Jirni # 1

JIRNI #1

J.T. Krul/ Paolo Pantalena/ Brett Smith

Aspen's newest 10 for 10 series debut!

Discover a whole new world of adventure! Trekking through a violent and dangerous frontier of savage barbarians, devious thieves, and wild creatures, a warrior-princess named Ara searches for her mother, who was stolen away from her kingdom by a mysterious sorcerer with the help of his powerful D'jinn. What great and terrible secrets await her in the distant horizon? Prepare to experience an epic tale of fantasy and wonder without boundaries. This is Ara's quest. This is Ara's destiny. This is Ara's ... JIRNI.

32 pages, $1, In stores on April 17.