Action Lab at Comic Con international 2014

Action Lab Entertainment at Comic Con International: San Diego 2014. Action Lab creators barnstorm the biggest pop culture show of the year with exclusives, signings and panels. ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT BOOTH #2006 Show Exclusives: Zombie Tramp #1 Dan Mendoza Cover Comic-con Exclusive; Limited to 1000 copies Nutmeg #1 Comic Con Edition; Limited to 1000 Copies Vamplets: The Nightmare Nursery Book Two Comic-Con Exclusive; Limited to 1000 copies SKYWARD #8 Comic -Con Sketch cover edition; Limited to 1000 copies Signing Schedule: Thursday:   Emily Martin (PRINCELESS)   11:00am - 1:00pm                                       Jeremy Dale (SKYWARD) 1:00pm - 3:00pm                                         Ray Height (MIDNIGHT TIGER)    1:00pm - 3:00pm   Friday:  Dave Dwonch (VAMPLETS, DOUBLE JUMPERS)   12:00pm - 1:00pm               Jeremy Dale   (SKYWARD)  2:00pm - 3:00pm                Emily Martin  ( PRINCELESS)    4:00pm - 5:00pm Saturday:  Michael Hunau (CRIMSON SOCIETY)    11:00am - 1:00pm                    Emily Martin  (PRINCELESS)    1:00pm - 2:00pm                    Dan Mendoza (ZOMBIE TRAMP)  2:00pm - 5:00pm                   Ray Height    (MIDNIGHT TIGER)      5:00pm - 6:00pm      Sunday:  Jeremy Dale (SKYWARD) 1:00pm - 3:00pm                                  Ray Height (MIDNIGHT TIGER)    1:00pm - 3:00pm     Action Lab Creators locations Jeremy Dale (SKYWARD): artist alley BB-18 Jamal Igle (MOLLY DANGER): artist alley GG-21 Dave Dwonch( VAMPLETS): small press L-14 Lea Hernandez (THE GARLICKS): AA-19 Jason Martin (ZOMBIE TRAMP): small press L-16 And on Saturday Action Lab staffers Kevin Freeman, David Dwonch, and Jason Martin team up with creators Jamal Igle (Molly Danger), Jeremy Dale (Skyward), and R. A. Height (Midnight Tiger) to discuss recent and future releases of the critically-acclaimed publisher in both their all-ages and mature readers Danger Zone lines, followed by a Q&A session. Saturday July 26, 2014 6:00pm - 7:00pm Room 28DE Comic-Con International: San Diego 2014 takes place July 24-27 and is being held in the San Diego Convention Center located at 111 W. Harbor Drive in San Diego, California.

Straight Forward Reviews : Skyward # 8

Jeremy Dale's adventure epic returns for issue 8.

Writer - Jeremy Dale

Artist - Jeremy Dale 

Publisher - Action Lab

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

Three Rivers is in the sights of an enemy with a powerful army on his side and the ruler of Three Rivers is preparing his own for the attack. In the meantime the Rabites are training and scouting for the attack as well and run into some people usually unlikely to be as deep into the woods as they are.

This issue is certainly building towards something epic and possibly catastrophic in the Skyward universe as there's an underlying tension through the whole issue and quite a big bang at the end.

The story moves at a decent pace this issue and gives enough time for characters personalities to be revealed more. Though the issue is remarkably short.

Art

Jeremy's lines and Kathryn Layno's and Hoyt Silva's colors come together to form some of the most charming and full of personality art I've seen in a while. Where a lot of comics, especially in the big two seem to have some technically great, but very similar, art styles this comic is full of a style that is it's own and easily identifiable.

Verdict

While I loved the art and the story is solid it felt like it ended much too quickly. Understandably it has quite a younger reader fanbase but the rest of the story never insulted the intelligence of the kids and it felt like it could have been the length of a standard comic. But the story is still, as stated before, very solid and the art is wonderful so I give Skyward # 8 a 9 out of 10.

FCBD Review: SKYWARD/MIDNIGHT TIGER

FCBD: SKYWARD/ MIDNIGHT TIGER
Skyward Story:

 Written by Jeremy Dale
Art by Jeremy Dale, James Rochelle & Hoyt Silva

Midnight Tiger Story:

Written by Ray-Anthony Height & Dewayne Feenstra
Arty by Ray-Anthony Height & Paul Little
Action Labs Entertainment

                Since today is Free Comic Book Day, I was able to get some great FCBD issues. Now, I am gonna just break these down a little different from the normal review because … well, they are special issues that give you a taste.  So, let us begin.

SKYWARD – Dale does some build up to his next story by giving us some history that connects both the Berserkers and Quinn to what will be coming next in the series. We get a bring history as one of the tribe leaders is about to pass away.

MIDNIGHT TIGER –We meet our hero, Gavin, just before he becomes Midnight Tiger. It ends up being an origin story about a teen who enjoys the world’s heroes but still not blind to the everyday struggles of life.

THE WRITING :

                Jeremy Dale brings his A-game as always with Skyward. The legend on how the Berserkers were split into four tribes was gripping and believable. And the narration on how this story was told was powerfully done by Dale.   The plot was good and it was great set up. And while no one really knows Quinn, Dale peaks your interests. And for those fans of Skyward already, you get a glimpse to the past of Quinn’s father.

                The Midnight Tiger side of things really gives a strong ending. We meet our main protagonist, Gavin, who is a hero fanboy.  Yet, for the first time since the first volume of New Warriors back in Marvel (at least with what I read), Height and Feenstra deliver a social conscious hero that remembers that there is more to the world than fighting super villains. That there is still crime on the streets and what are these heroes doing about it.  The dialogue is very authentic and relatable. Height and Feenstra pack action, social consciousness, drama and an origin all in one small story.

                

THE ART:
                Dale’s art is stellar with detailed lines and a great fusion between old school comic artists like Ron Frenz with some modern day sensibilities to make the art style all its own. With Rochelle’s colors and Silva’s color flats, we got a beautifully rendered story.

Height’s art will not be denied. The lines are nice and clean with great shading by Little. Height does good with giving us detail backgrounds and characters … as well as several homages to other more “known” heroes throughout the title. Yet, Height really shows off what he can do and Little just brings it all to life with his colors. A great origin story.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                We got a strong start with a legend told to us by a dying tribe leader. And then we got an origin story of a young hero that already knows there is more to life than fighting super villains. I REALLY enjoyed this issue.   Skyward’s story was good and Midnight Tiger’s was great. I am glad they put these two together for this.

                I give SKYWARD/MIDNIGHT TIGER FCBD ISSUE a whoppin’ 10 …. Out of 10. If you did not get it, RUN to you comic book story right now. 

Comics News: ACTION LAB Free Comic Book Day Tour Adds More Talent

 
 
ACTION LAB FREE COMIC BOOK DAY TOUR ADDS MORE TALENT
Meet your favorite Action Lab/ Action Lab: Danger Zone creators nationwide.


Pittsburgh, PA- Action Lab Entertainment adds even more talent to their Free Comic Book Day appearances. On May 3^rd, 2014 Action lab will be releasing not one but two Free Comic Book Day offerings, SKYWARD/ MIDNIGHT TIGER  and ZOMBIE TRAMP/EHMM THEORY for mature readers. Just added to the list are the talent behind PIRATE EYE, FRACTURE, NUTMEG,SUBCULTURE and NIGHT OF THE 80's UNDEAD:

Jackie Croft- NUTMEG
Comic Book University- Indianapolis, IN

Chad Cicconi- FRACTURE
Comic Paradise Plus- Fairmont, WV

Kevin Freeman-SUBCULTURE
Dragon's Lair- Fayetteville, NC

Aimee Hanchey- EHMM THEORY
Samurai Comics- Phoenix, AZ

Carl Yonder- PIRATE EYE
Beyond Comics- Gaithersburg, MD

Bill McKay- NIGHT OF THE 80's UNDEAD
Collector's Corner- Baltimore, MD

They join the already massive list of Action Lab creators who will be appearing at the following locations:

Jeremy and Kelly Dale- SKYWARD
Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find- Charlotte NC

Ray Anthony Height – MIDNIGHT TIGER
(Two appearances)
The Comic Bug- Manhattan Beach, CA
Comics, Toons and Toys- Tustin, CA

Dan Mendoza – ZOMBIE TRAMP
4 Color Fantasies- Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Brockton McKinney, Larkin Ford – EHMM THEORY
Jeremy Whitley- Princeless
Ultimate Comics- Durham, NC
 
Brandon Barrows – JACK HAMMER
Jetpack Comics- Rochester, NY
 
Jamal Igle- MOLLY DANGER
Wild Pig Comics- Kenilworth, NJ
 
Eric Grissom- PLANET GIGANTIC
Comic Book Shop- Wilmington, DE
 
Marc Bertolini- SCUM OF THE EARTH
Gotham Central Comics- Mississauga, ON
 
Michael Hunau- CRIMSON SOCIETY
Earth 2 Comics -Sherman Oaks, CA

James Rochelle-SKYWARD
Comikaze- San Diego, CA
 
 Lea Hernandez – THE GARLICKS
Meltdown Comics- Los Angeles, CA
 
J.D. Arnold- THE FINAL PLAGUE
Comicopolis- Santa Cruz, CA

James Wright-NUTMEG
Geoffrey’s Comics- Gardena, CA
 
All appearances are subject to change.

 For more information, retailers can contact Kelly Dale at kdale@actionlabcomics.com. For press and conventions you can reach Jamal Igle at jigle@actionlabcomics.com.
 
ABOUT ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT- Formed in 2010 with the purpose of pooling their collective talents into a single, powerful entity, the members of Action Lab Entertainment have countless years in multimedia publishing, design, and business.  Their first release, Fracture, was successfully funded through Kickstarter and since then they have continued their mission to produce high quality, genre-spanning entertainment.  Since its formation, the accolades for A.L.E continue to build on a daily basis.  Among its more popular titles are all ages material like the Eisner, Glyph, Shel Dorf Award nominated series PRINCELESS, NFL RUSHZONE (based on the Nickelodeon Television series), Jamal Igle's MOLLY DANGER, Artist/ Writer Jeremy Dale’s hit series SKYWARD, and Gale Middleton’s (My Little Pony, The Littlest Pet Shop) monstrously adorable VAMPLETS. Action Lab’s Mature Readers imprint ACTION LAB DANGER ZONE continues to push the envelope of comics entertainment with titles as varied as EHMM THEORY and Dan Mendoza’s over the top horror-comedy ZOMBIE TRAMP, THE FINAL PLAGUE and BO, PLUSHY GANGSTA.

1st Impressions: SKYWARD # 6

SKYWARD # 6
Written by Jeremy Dale
Art by Jeremy Dale & James Rochelle
Action Lab Entertainment

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                After Jon deals with his humiliation from last issue, Abigail talks with him. As Quinn gets sanctuary from the Rabites, they are suddenly attacked by the assassin known as Skerrigan.

ART:

                Dale and Rochelle do a magnificent job this issue.  Each panel is detailed. Dale does a great job of giving us all kinds of people, creatures and backgrounds, rendering them with style. From Jon’s more skinny form to the Rabite General to Skerrigan, Dale gives us plenty of things and people to look at with different kinds of proportions.  Alongside the vast forests, Dale also does well drawing action as we see our Rabites and Jon face Skerrigan this issue.

                Rochelle’s colors keeps Dale’s work looking vivid and energized. There is beauty with each page and there is a lot of love in this book, from the detail that Dale puts in it. This was a solid issue from this art team.

WRITING:

                Dale writes a solid issue. We get some great characterizations from Iwi, Jon, Shura and Quinn this issue. Jon in particular gets spotlight but Dale does a good job of making it flow very naturally instead of feeling heavy handed. Having Skerrigan watch them and chime in on the events occurring was a nice touch as well, giving a bit more personality to the assassin.

                 Dale has the issue flow very naturally as it goes through its main cast. While Tanner and Abigail did not have much to do this issue, Dale gives us plenty of development with the other characters. The plot was simple enough yet Dale shines it with his race of warrior rabbits and Jon taking center stage. The dialogue is solid and believable while Quinn gets a moment this issue. Overall, Dale tells a good story this issue as it sets up for what is to come.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:
                Dale and Rochelle give us a solid issue with action and great character development. It begins to set the stage and we get to learn more about the Rabites.

RATING:

  I give Skyward # 6 a solid 8 … out of 10. Pick it up April 2^nd, 2014.

Preview: SKYWARD # 6

 
SKYWARD #6
Writer(s): Jeremy Dale
Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale
Variant Cover(s): Randy Green


 NOW AN ONGOING SERIES! Skerrigan has uncovered Quinn's hidden sanctuary--
now it's a fight to the finish as Quinn, the Travelers, and the Rabites fight for their lives! Also, is
that an army at Three Rivers' gates? From rising star creator Jeremy Dale (GI Joe, NFL Rush
Zone, Marvel Kapow!), this issue also features a variant cover by Randy Green
(Buffy,Witchblade, Dollz) with Laura Martin (Thor, Authority)! Book hits selves on April 2nd,2014.

Action Lab April 2014 Solicitations

Solicitations: Action Lab Entertainment for April 2014 The following titles will be available for purchase in comic shops everywhere!    Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land #1 Writer(s): Dean Rankine Artist Name(s): Dean Rankine Cover Artist(s): Dean Rankine  Take some time for an adventure to a magical world with two cute bunnies... two foul mouthed, drug using, butt-naked bunnies that go on adorably offensive, insultingly hilarious adventures! Your journey into off-color fun begins here, with this mix of Adventure Time and underground comix! Also available in an alternate classic "RETRO" comic spoof variant cover (limited to 1,000 copies)! 32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC                                    $3.99               JACK HAMMER #4 ( of 4) Writer(s): Brandon Barrows Artist Name(s): Ionic Cover Artist(s): Ionic  The conclusion to the “Political Science” storyline! Jack McGriskin may be down, but he’s not out. The Black Smile is confident he’s won, and that might just give Jack the edge he needs to bring one of Boston’s most-notorious killers to justice at last! But he’ll need a little help--okay, a lot of help--from his friends!  Special "RETRO" Variant cover by Rafer Roberts (limited to 1000 copies)!    32 pgs./All Ages/ FC                                          $2.99 SKYWARD VOL 3: BATTLE AT THREE RIVERS Writer(s): Jeremy Dale Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale Jeremy Dale and Action Lab proudly present the third volume of the runaway hit action-fantasy, Skyward! At last... WAR! Herod's army has reached Three Rivers and its only hope is our small band of heroes... Also: the biggest revelation in the series history! Oh boy, it's a big one. Continuing the fantastic storybook adventure from Jeremy Dale (G.I. Joe, Marvel Kapow!), following the thrilling tale of Quinn and his dog, Jack--- finding a new life amidst the invasion of his homeland. Collects Skyward #7-9! 96 pages/All Ages/FC                           $8.99 VAMPLETS VOL.1: THE NIGHTMARE NURSERY (HC/One-shot) Writer(s): Gayle Middleton and Dave Dwonch Artist Name(s): Amada Coronado (a), Bill Blankenship (c) Cover Artist(s): Amanda Coronado (a), Bill Blankenship (c)  Offered Again! Teenager Destiny Harper is at a crossroad in her life. Graduation is coming, and she has zero prospects for the future. Answering an ad for “The Night Care Nursery” seems like a great idea, until she is magically transported to Gloomvania, where dark creatures lurk the streets, and the world is being mysteriously overrun by baby vampyres called Vamplets! Can Destiny serve her term as Governess of “The Nightmare Nursery” and return home? Fairy tales get a modern update in this coming of age tales of monsters, mayhem, and magic!  48 pgs./All Ages/FC             15.99   VAMPLETS: THE UNDEAD PET SOCIETY #1 (ONGOING) Writer(s): Gayle Middleton and Dave Dwonch Artist Name(s): Amada Coronado (p), David Dwonch (i) Bill Blankenship (c) Cover Artist(s): Amanda Coronado (a), Bill Blankenship (c)  The Legend of the Ghost Pony begins here in this terrifyingly sweet installment from Hasbro designer/illustrator of My Little Pony, Gayle Middleton! Ghost Ponies have been the harbingers of the weird for years. Whenever they appear, creatures near have disappeared, never to return. Where do they come from? What is their terrible secret? And what is the Ghost Pony’s connection to a vampyre baby named Lily Rose Shadowlyn? Find out in this all new adventure! Variant cover by Gayle Middleton herself (limited to 1000 copies!). 32 pgs./All Ages/ FC    $3.99 (regular cover) $4.99 (Gayle Middleton Variant Cover)   ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL.2 #4 (of 4) Writer(s): Dan Mendoza Artist Name(s): Dan Mendoza Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza  Now that Janey and her mysterious new friend Morning have reached their destination, things get even more volatile as a friend from the past comes to visit our Zombie Tramp. Double-crosses, revenge, and the Necronomicon all collide in the conclusion to The Taint Train of Terror! Alternate “risqué” variant cover also available (limited to 1000 copies).

Comics News: SKYWARD Gets First Trade From Action Lab

 

SKYWARD,The all ages adventure series that has taken the comics industry by storm has made an indelible mark in it's short run. Called "A Winner" by Geeksofdoom.com Action Lab Entertainment, the new gold standard in comic book entertainment is proud to announce the release of SKYWARD: Into The Woods TPB. The trade paperback collects the first 3 issues as well as the Free Comic Book Day story from the critically acclaimed series. Created, written and drawn by Jeremy Dale (NFL:RushZone, G.I.Joe) , Skyward is the story of a young boy named Quinn, The son of a legendary warrior named Corin. Living in the Idyllic countryside with not a care in the world his life is turned upside down when an old friend of his father manages to track them down. Herod has come to recruit Corin back into the king’s army, with the promise of adventure and fame.

But all ends in tragedy.

Now Quinn and his dog Jack are on the run, headlong against a threat more terrible and a world more fantastic than they ever imagined.

SKYWARD: Into the woods is in stores now!

 For more information, retailers can contact Kelly Dale at kdale@actionlabcomics.com. For press and conventions you can reach Jamal Igle at jigle@actionlabcomics.com.

About Action Lab Entertainment
Formed in 2010 with the purpose of pooling their collective talents into a single, powerful entity, the members of Action Lab Entertainment have countless years in multimedia publishing, design, and business.  Their first release, Fracture, was successfully funded through Kickstarter and since then they have continued their mission to produce high quality, genre-spanning entertainment.
Since its formation, the accolades for A.L.E continue to build on a daily basis.  Among its more popular titles are all ages material like the Eisner, Glyph, Shel Dorf Award nominated series PRINCELESS, NFL RUSHZONE (based on the Nickelodeon Television series), Jamal Igle's MOLLY DANGER, Artist/ Writer Jeremy Dale’s hit series SKYWARD,  and Gale Middleton’s (My Little Pony, The Littlest Pet Shop) monstrously adorable VAMPLETS.


Action Lab’s Mature Readers imprint ACTION LAB DANGER ZONE continues to push the envelope of comics entertainment with titles as varied as EHMM THEORY and Dan Mendoza’s over the top horror-comedy ZOMBIE TRAMP, THE FINAL PLAGUE and BO, PLUSHY GANGSTA.

For more information on all of their titles, visit www.Actionlabcomics.com

Comics News: Action Lab Reveals Molly Danger & Vamplets

With the arrival of San Diego Comic Con this week, comic lovers from all spheres are ready to get their hands on all of the new and exclusive books which have come to be a hallmark of the convention. Action Lab is offering a number of unique variant covers for the occasion including covers from Jamal Igle, Mike Norton, and Jeremy Dale. However, the biggest thing Action Lab is offering is an advance look into the pages of it's upcoming titles "Molly Danger" and "Vamplets" with exclusive covers just for the convention.

However, there are millions of people who would love to be at the convention and can not. As such, Action Lab has partnered with Comixology to launch both of our new previews online immediately. If you log into Comixology you can get a digital first look at Molly Danger and Vamplets using their brand new Guided View technology. Even if you can't make the con, this is a chance for any comics fan to get a little piece of comic con and a look at the future of both Action Lab Comics and Comixology.

Both books are available now!

Comic News: Action Lab's SKYWARD Becomes Ongoing Series

Action Lab’s Skyward Becomes Ongoing Series, Features Alternate covers

Action Lab Entertainment is happy to announce that Jeremy Dale’s Skyward will become the first true ongoing title for the independent publisher.  Scheduled to debut at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, Skyward was originally envisioned as a six-issue mini-series, but it was decided, given the grand story that Dale wants to tell with the book, that an ongoing, sequentially-numbered title would be the best option.

In addition, each issue of Skyward, beginning with issue #3, will feature an alternate cover produced by some of the more popular and well-known artists in the industry.  Confirmed guest cover artists include Stephane Roux (Witchblade, Zatanna) for issue 3, Mike Norton (The Answer!, Battlepug)  for issue 4, Khary Randolph (Fanboys vs. Zombies) for issue 5, Randy Green (Teen Titans) for issue 6, Phil Noto (Infinite Horizon) for issue 7, and Chris Giarrusso (G-man, Mini Marvels) for Issue 8.

There are number of other artists already lined up for future issues, including Brandon Peterson, Tim Seely, Todd Nauck, Cully Hamner, Gene Ha, and more.

Issues 1 and 2 will also feature alternate covers, but these will be available only at San Diego Comic Con.  The issue 1 alternate has art by series creator Jeremy Dale, while issue 2’s alternate is a blank white sketch cover.

"I'm thrilled to announce that Skyward, my new creator-owned series, is now ongoing,” says series creator Jeremy Dale.  “We are simply overwhelmed at all the amazing feedback from the fans!  This will allow me to tell more stories with these amazing characters, as well as tell them in the manner they deserve."  Dale adds that, "We have a lot of amazing plans on the horizon for Skyward, and we can't wait to share them with everyone!"

Action Lab President Kevin Freeman added, “We’ve been talking about the idea of adding ongoing series for some time, but it can be difficult for independent publishers to maintain numbers.  But with Jeremy Dale’s Skyward, we see the perfect opportunity not only to break into the ongoing market, but to also showcase a grand story without the confines of compartmentalizing story arcs.  It’s a win-win situation.”

Beginning with issue 3, Skyward, and all Action Lab regular titles, will cost only $2.99, down from $3.99.

Action Lab has published numerous series of some of its titles, most noted being the Eisner-nominated Princeless, which has been released as two four-issue mini-series plus a handful of one-shots and other supplemental stories.  More Princeless stories are on the horizon.

ABOUT ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT
Action Lab Entertainment was founded in 2010 by a group of indie-maverick comic creators with the sole intent to bring the world the most action packed, most thought-provoking, most 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.  Visit their website athttp://www.actionlabcomics.com.