ACTION LABS December 2013 Solicitations

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT’S DECEMBER 2013 RELEASES The full slate of books appearing this month in comic shops nationwide. EHMM THEORY #4 (of 4) Writer(s): Brockton McKinney Artist Name(s): Larkin Ford, (colors - Jason Strutz) Cover Artist(s): Larkin Ford The conclusion to the first hit Ehmm Theory arc, Cat, Quantum and Contrition is here! Questions are answered, allegiances are altered, and the series begins its first steps in a bold new direction. PLUS, the debut of Pecker Frank’s latest and most freakish creature: RoBearToPus!  The book AINT COOL NEWS called “Fun, easy to read and crafted for fans who love comics.”You can’t afford to miss this one, folks! FC/ 32 pgs./2.99 US        On sale DEC. 4 FRACTURE #1 Volume 1 ENCORE EDITION Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin Artist Name(s): Chad Cicconi Cover Artist(s): Chad Cicconi Just in time for FRACTURE Volume 2, see where the story began with this encore edition of FRACTURE Volume 1 #1! In the metropolis of Lower Triton, the city’s greatest hero, Virtue, its nastiest villain, Malice, and an everyman named Jeff have something very important in common. They’re all the same guy — and none of them knows it…until now! FC/ 32 pgs./2.99 US        On sale DEC. 4 FRACTURE #1 VOLUME 2 Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin Artist Name(s): Chad Cicconi (p/i), Bill Blankenship (c) Cover Artist(s): Chad Cicconi (p/i), Bill Blankenship (c) Life has been good in Lower Triton since the events of FRACTURE Volume 1. Jeff has suppressed his fractures, taking both the villainous Malice and the heroic Virtue off the table. But the city still has a hero in…Virtue?! Which villain is looking to fill Malice's shoes? Newheroes! New villains! New Fractures! Variant cover by Jamal Igle! FC/ 32 pgs./2.99 US        On sale DEC. 18 NFL RUSH ZONE SUPERBOWL SPECIAL TPB Writer(s): Kevin Freeman and David Dwonch Artist Name(s): Various Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale Collecting the first story arc of the hit NickToons television series! See Ish Taylor and the NFL Guardians as they battle villains and robots of all sorts in an effort to protect the NFL and its fans. Packed with appearances from a number of NFL superstars, including Roddy White, Philip Rivers, and Calvin Johnson! FC/ 80 pgs./19.95 US        On sale DEC. 4 PRINCELESS SHORT STORIES Volume 1 TPB Writer(s): Jeremy Whitley Artist Name(s): Various Cover Artist(s): Emily Martin The first ever collected edition of Princeless short stories is finally available from Action Lab!Want to know more about Bedelia Smith? Curious about what happens to Prince Wilcome after King Ashe throws him in jail? Want to spend more time with the Princesses Ashe? Get all this and more from a variety of hot young artists as we collect the first four issues of short stories from the Eisner-nominated world of Princeless! FC/ 128 pgs./11.99 US        On sale DEC. 18 PRINCELESS#1 ENCORE EDITION Writer(s): Jeremy Whitley Artist Name(s): M. Goodwin Cover Artist(s): M. Goodwin  Now's your chance to experience Adrienne's Eisner-nominated first adventure again or for the first time. Adrienne is determined to save her youngest sister Appalonia, but to do so she's going to have to raid her own family's castle and face the scariest guardian of all -- her father! FC/ 32 pgs./1.00 US        On sale DEC. 11 SKYWARD #5 (ONGOING) Writer(s): Jeremy Dale Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale (p/i)  Steve Downer and Laura Martin (c) Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale NOW AN ONGOING SERIES!   Skerrigan is on the prowl, leaving bodies in his wake as he chases down Quinn--but will he discover the Rabite camp? The highly-acclaimed, all-ages action-fantasy ups the ante as our heroes scramble to escape their fates. Skyward is making waves! Alternate cover by Khary Randolph (Charismagic, TMNT) and Laura Martin (Thor, Authority)! FC/ 32 pgs./2.99 US        On sale DEC. 18 NIGHT OF THE 80’S UNDEAD #3 (0f 3) Writer(s): Jason Martin Artist Name(s): Bill McKay Cover Artist(s): Bill McKay This is it! Our gang of Hollywood teens make their last-ditch effort at escaping the escalating commie zombie cocaine virus that is rapidly spreading to engulf their fellow tinsel-town residents! Can a superstar celebrity's outlandish home offer respite from the pending cold war meltdown? Can anyone survive the Night of the Cokeheads? FC/ 32 pgs./2.99 US        On sale DEC. 11 PIRATE EYE: IRON BARS WRETCHED TALES ONE-SHOT Writer(s): Josiah Grahn Artist Name(s): Carl Yonder Cover Artist(s): Carl Yonder The most hard-boiled pirate detective around finds himself in a jail cell with three criminals and an agenda, but what is it he wants? Only the ensuing battle of wits will reveal his cellmates' secrets - and his own. One thing is certain: not everyone gets a happy ending!  FC/ 32 pgs./2.99 US        On sale DEC. 4

Straight Forward Reviews : Night Of The 80s Undead # 2

The totally 80s and totally coked out violence have come back for another issue! Action Lab Danger Zone is back with the over the top Night of the 80s Undead.

Writer - Jason Martin

Artist - Bill McKay

Publisher - Action Lab

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

Without any spoilers at all, the story can be summed up as carnage and mayhem in the most 80s pop way imaginable. The disaster is spreading and all the characters are doing what they can to survive with varying degrees of success.

The dialog is very smartly written with snark thrown in. So you're getting a comic that's not only clever but will make you laugh, despite the high amounts of gore and violence being thrown at you left and right.

Art

The art in this comic has a charm about it that's reminiscent of cartoons around this time and the 90s as well only much better detailed. The violence has this really meaty look to it where it looks like it really is extreme as the comic is trying to make it. The colors are great in this issue as well. It's something that caught my eye as it is not done in any traditional way and mixes two kinds of medium that creates a sort of gritty effect on the art which is perfect for a horror book.

Verdict

The Night of the 80s Undead is the dream of any old school horror fan and all the 80s references and funny dialog are icing on the cake. With even more delicious, sweet icing with the unique art style this comic boasts. I give Night of the 80s Undead a 9.5 out of 10. Just be sure you can handle the violence and brief nudity.

Comic News: Action Labs Gets Dangerous With DANGER ZONE LINE!

ACTION LAB has now entered the DANGER ZONE!

Action Lab Entertainment formerly announced the formation of their new mature readers imprint entitled, Action Lab: Danger Zone, and now the first books from the new line are making their way to release.

Starting this May, fans can pick up a full line of new creator-owned titles via comic book shops, as well as all major digital providers, bookstores, and anywhere comic books are sold. Each month will see new mature-themed titles debut, showcasing boundary pushing, genre-redefining material suited to today’s contemporary comic book readers. Comic shops can already -order titles such as new ongoing series Ehmm Theory, and Ghost Town, as well as the original graphic novel, The Trip , and four more titles-- the ongoing The Final Plague, Night of the 80’s Undead, the trade paperback collection of Double Jumpers, and the SubCulture Omnibus following for pre-order in June. There will be even more new titles, like the cult hit, Zombie Tramp, to release in the months to come!

With the emphasis on fun no-limits content, titles offered range from comedy, to horror, to science fiction, to whatever creators can dream up!  Danger Zone is the place where anything goes, both for readers and creators. As with any independent publisher, Action Lab is tirelessly working to get this exciting material in front of as many eyes as possible, so be sure to check Danger Zone and these new titles out on the web and in the Diamond Previews catalog when you see them. Fans of genre fiction done right have a new home in…the Danger Zone!

You can see a free PDF sampler for the line now here:

Action Labs Danger Zone Sampler

Be sure to find us on the web:

actionlabcomics.com/danger-zone

facebook.com/ActionLabDangerZone

twitter.com/ActionLabDanger

And ask your retailers to support our line!

Action Lab received two Eisner nominations in 2012 for its critically-acclaimed all-ages comic Princeless, and has been praised for its diverse library of titles, including Pirate Eye, Fracture, and works like the upcoming Skyward and Odin Jones.  Be sure to visit the Action Lab website http://www.actionlabcomics.com for more information, including links to social media outlets and submission information.

DANGER ZONE TITLES:

EHMM THEORY 1 - ongoing bi-monthly (series of mini-series)

Writer - Brockton McKinney, Artist - Larkin Ford, Colorist - Jason Strutz

28 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - Gabriel Ehmm has awoken to a world where zombie 'little people' rise from graves, someone calling himself Saint Peter offers bargains, and his pet kitten can now talk. Connected by blood and straddling the afterlife, Gabe and Mr. Whispers (the aforementioned talking cat) begin a universe-spanning adventure in the first issue of this mind-bending and genre-blending new series.

Publication: May 2013

Diamond Order Code: MAR130763

GHOST TOWN 1 - ongoing bi-monthly (series of mini-series)

Writer - Dave Dwonch (Double Jumpers), Artist - Justin Greenwood (Resurection, Wasteland), Colorist - Brian Dyck

32 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - Moments after scientists create a time machine, terrorists steal and weaponize the device, sending bombs into the future. Las Vegas evaporates in flame as the terrorists reveal their future target: Washington DC. Now, the FBI must find the terrorists before the capital becomes a Ghost Town. The clock is ticking.

Publication: May 2013

Diamond Order Code: MAR130765

THE TRIP - original graphic novel

Writer - Jesse Grillo, Artist - David Brame, Colorist - Heather Breckel

96 pages, full color, $14.95, mature readers

Synopsis - A group of college kids on a desert-baked road trip take a Native American drug that unlocks their deepest fears. Now, if a teenager and his grandfather from the local reservation can’t find them in time, they’re going to have to face their own personal terrors, or be consumed by them! The Trip is an Indian drug fueled ride into horror!!

Publication: May 2013

Diamond Order Code: MAR130764

THE FINAL PLAGUE 1 - ongoing bi-monthly (series of mini-series)

Writer – JD Arnold, Artist – Tony Guaraldi-Brown

28 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - The Final Plague has begun, and with it mankind's final hours. Can a rural Iowan family survive the initial onslaught of crazed, rabid animals, presumably the product of a mutated super-virus? Or will they succumb to the plague that threatens to end all life as we know it?

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130759

NIGHT OF THE 80’S UNDEAD 1 - bi-monthly 3 issue mini-series

Writer – Jason Martin, Artist – Bill McKay

28 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - It's 1986, and Russia's last ditch cold war effort is to strike at our American excess lifestyle with bio-engineered Colombian cocaine. What happens when two girls out for a good time cross paths with a huge celebrity party hyped up on commie zombie blow?!?! Radical undead action man! Totally!!

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130760

DOUBLE JUMPERS – trade paperback

Writer – Dave Dwonch, Artist – Bill Blankenship

104 pages, full color, $14.95, mature readers

Synopsis - The cult hit of 2012 is finally collected! After Jason and his team of programmers get stuck in their virtual reality game, Dungeon Lords, they must find a way back to the real world. Unbeknownst to them, the fantasy characters they inhabit have taken control of their bodies… and now wizards and warriors run free in Las Vegas!

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130763

SUBCULTURE OMBIMUS

Writer – Kevin Freeman, Artist – Stan Yan

344 pages, b&w (sc), spot color (hc), $24.99 (sc), $39.99 (hc), mature readers

Synopsis - Everything SubCulture in one book!  Join Jason, Arthur, Noel and the entire Kingdom Comix crew as they live--and enjoy--the geek life in this funny and poignant look at fanboy (and fangirl) culture.  This 344-page tome collects the critically-acclaimed four-issue mini-series plus all 501 webcomics published between 2008 and 2012.  Also includes dozens of strips from guest artists, pinups, and behind-the-scenes features.  Also comes in a limited edition hardcover!

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130761 (sc); APR 130762 (hc)

ABOUT ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT

Action Lab Entertainment was founded in 2010 by a group of independent comic creators with the sole intent to bring the world the most action packed, thought-provoking, entertaining comics available, thereby ushering in a new age of world peace under the dominating, yet benign control of the Action Lab. Action Lab Entertainment is the public front for all the activities of the Action Lab and its members. Although most of the Action Lab’s activities remain classified, Action Lab Entertainment can disclose that two of its many functions are the marketing of comic books through various sales outlets, and the expansion of their domination into other mediums.