Sequart and Respect Films are proud to announce their upcoming documentary about the history of Image Comics! (A Kickstarter campaign has been created to help fund the project.)

Comics in Focus: The Image Revolution will examine one of the most important and daring moves in modern comic book history: Twenty years ago, a group of artists left Marvel Comics to create their own company, a company that continues to influence mainstream comics and culture to this day. Image Comics began as more than just a publisher — it was a response to years of creator mistreatment, and it changed comics forever.

The Image Revolution will tell the amazing story of this from-scratch company, from its founders’ work at Marvel, through Image’s early days, the ups and downs of the ’90s, and the publisher’s new generation of creator-owned properties like The Walking Dead. We will tell this story through new interviews with the people who made it happen. And what better time than during Image’s 20th anniversary to do it?

The film will be produced by the same Sequart / Respect team behind the critically-acclaimed documentaries Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods (now available on DVD) and Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts (out on DVD in mid March).

This will be the second (after Comics in Focus: Chris Claremont’s X-Men) in a new series of documentaries offering in-depth looks at significant works and moments that shaped comics history. These documentaries will be released through direct download and online DVD sales.

We have turned to Kickstarter to help fund this project. This is your chance to support discussion about the merits of comics and to help document stories about the people who have had a part in shaping contemporary pop culture.

Rewards include the documentary as a DVD and / or digital download, a “Thanks” and other credits in the film, and digital access to extra interview footage that won’t be included in the film. Rewards also include books and feature-length films from Sequart's catalog.

For more information, visit the project’s Kickstarter page or its page on Sequart.

DANSE MACABRE

DANCER, a new thriller from Image Comics in May

Alan Fisher lies about his past. He has to. But in DANCER, a new Image Comics series debuting in May, he must confront his past — in a form that has a very familiar face. Unwittingly pulled into the danger of Alan's life is Quinn, a ballerina. Quinn is used to the pain and discipline behind the graceful movement of her dancing, but how will she deal with a life on the run? And will Alan be able to keep them both safe from the most formidable opponent he has ever faced?

Writer Nathan Edmondson (OLYMPUS, WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?) weaves a dark tale of intrigue and pursuit and artist Nic Klein (VIKING) creates a mood of foreboding as Alan and Quinn flee their pursuer through the heavily shadowed streets of Milan.

"Nic and I have sought to evoke the feel and vibe of the classic spy feature--like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold or The Conversation, and tie that into a modern-day thriller comic," said Edmondson. "So DANCER has a spiraling, complex darkness in it punctuated with all the firepower of a high-octane thriller.

"We wanted to offer a book unlike anything we could find on the bookshelves," Edmondson continued, and the character of Quinn is at the heart of that difference. "At the crux of it all is a vibrant, strong-willed ballerina. She ads a visual and psychological motif to the story and it is through her that we can understand the lead characters in this story."

DANCER #1 (MAR120410) is a full-color 32-page comic for $3.50 available for preorder in the March issue of Previews. It will be in comic book stores and digital platforms on May 16. A four-page preview of DANCER #1 ran in USA Today on January 19.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

From the creator of Prime Suspect! "The best UK police drama in years" - The Times (U.K.); "Bravura acting" - The Financial Times (U.K.); "Gripping Lynda La Plante crime thriller" - Daily Record (U.K.); "A cracking plot and a terrific lead character" - The Telegraph (U.K.).

On her first day on the job, rookie detective Anna Travis (Kelly Reilly, Sherlock Holmes) wears the wrong shoes, throws up at a crime scene, and faints at a postmortem. Does she have what it takes to succeed in what is still mostly a man's world? Based on the bestselling novels by Lynda La Plante, this hit British police drama is a "younger, sassier successor to Prime Suspect" (The Telegraph, U.K.). Acclaimed actor Ciarán Hinds (There Will Be Blood, The Debt) is Anna's brusque boss, DCI James Langton, whose interest in his new charge quickly turns personal. NOTE: Contains violence, graphic images, coarse language, and nudity.

On March 6th, Acorn Media is releasing Above Suspicion - Set 1 as a 2-DVD set. You'll get 5 parts with the original 2-episode story, and the 3-episode follow-up story "The Red Dahlia." Running 254 minutes, it's presented in anamorphic widescreen video, English stereo sound, and English subtitles. Bonus material includes Behind-the-scenes segments for both "Above Suspicion" (23 min.) and "The Red Dahlia" (28 min.), plus Cast Interviews, Photo Galleries, and more! Cost is $39.99 SRP in the USA and CA$52.99 SRP in Canada.

Mysteries:
Above Suspicion (Series 1, 2009, 2 parts) - For eight years, someone has been murdering women, following the same brutal ritual each time. The most recent victim doesn’t fit the profile, but evidence links her to the others. Travis volunteers to go undercover to crack the case. (114 min.)

The Red Dahlia (Series 2, 2010, 3 parts) - A young woman’s body is found by the Thames, horribly mutilated and drained of blood. It’s exactly like the famously unsolved Black Dahlia murder that happened in Los Angeles—in 1947. When Anna’s senior officer, DCI Morgan, falls ill, Langton steps in to help catch the copycat killer amid the media frenzy. (140 min.)

Above Suspicion debuted in the U.K. in January 2009 with a second series in 2010 and third series in 2011. A fourth series has been commissioned for 2012. It has not aired in the U.S.

EPIX, the premium entertainment service available to subscribers on television, video-on-demand, online and consumer electronic devices delivers another high profile original comedy event in March as comedian Lewis Black marks his return to the premium service. The new special follows up his Grammy winning special, Stark Raving Black, which continues to be a top performing original event on EPIX.

Filmed at Minneapolis' historic State Theatre, In God We Rust features Black's inimitable comedy tirades as he jumps up and down and wags his finger at the absurdities of our lives. With topics taken from the front pages, Black leads the audience on a hilarious, cathartic journey from politics to Valentine's Day to Facebook's popular application, Farmville. "People do this, because really, everybody's always dreamed of having a fake farm," says Black.

"Lewis Black connects with our audience," said EPIX President Mark Greenberg, welcoming the return to EPIX of the bestselling author and The Daily Show contributor. "His last special continues to draw heavy viewership on the network, on demand and online. Now, as EPIX expands to Internet connected devices like Xbox, Roku and others, we are providing fans with even more ways to see him."

"I'm thrilled to be back," Lewis Black added. "I don't claim to understand the technology behind EPIX and all the platforms, but I'm thankful that they do. And I've been told by people barely out of diapers that it's actually not complicated."

In God We Rust joins a growing roster of A-list comedy events on EPIX which include "Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to be Said;" "Louis CK: Hilarious" (nominated for two 2011 Emmy awards); "Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story" (nominated for a 2010 Emmy); Lewis Black's "Stark Raving Black" (which received a Grammy nod) and shows featuring David Cross, Seth MacFarlane, Janeane Garofalo and Kevin Smith. Music related events have included exclusive concerts by Britney Spears, Usher, Bon Jovi, Black Eyed Peas, and Madonna.

For more information about EPIX, go to EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook.

Tessa is seventeen and passionate about life. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, she determines to use every moment, compiling a catalogue of what normal teenager would experience, including losing her virginity and taking drugs. With the help of her friend, she sets the list in motion. And while her parents and brother each deals with their fear of losing her in their own way, Tessa explores a whole new world, determined to live every day as intensely as possible. Falling in love with Adam, her new neighbor, wasn’t on the list, but it proves to be the most exhilarating experience of them all.

Agents J (Smith) and K (Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.

In the new film, Scrat's nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he's been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences -- a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these earth-shattering upheavals, Sid reunites with his long lost family, and the gang encounters a ragtag menagerie of colorful new characters determined to stop them from returning home.

Block to include short-form series that bring the heroes and powers

of the Mighty Marvel Universe to life in new and unexpected ways.

The epic storytelling of Marvel -- full of action, adventure and humor, along with complex, courageous and aspirational characters – will be introduced to a new generation of kids and families through a dedicated programming block, Marvel Universe, premiering SUNDAY, APRIL 1 on Disney XD. The new series, "Ultimate Spider-Man," is written and guided by the most star-studded creative team in Super Hero television history, including some of the most influential names in comic books and pop culture. The programming block will also feature the second season of "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes," and new short-form series that take viewers behind the scenes to meet the creative teams and explore the many facets of the Marvel Universe.

"The Disney XD audience will be thrilled by the excitement and energy of the newest Marvel series. Our dedicated block showcases the relatable characters that have sparked the imaginations of so many people, young and old. The Marvel Universe block's new short-form programs are made with our audience in mind, and are designed to further explore the world of Marvel for fans of all ages. From learning how to draw Marvel heroes to seeing the real science behind the heroes’ cool gadgets, devoted Marvel fans and new fans alike will find the block to be a great destination," said David Levine, Vice President and General Manager, Disney XD.

"The Marvel Universe, which is exploding in theaters, comic books, games and online, bursts onto your TV with the top talent in comics and animation, and the premiere titles Spider-Man and The Avengers! We are bringing the fun, action and adventure known to Marvel fans and families alike. In addition, the never-before-seen animated and live action shorts round out your Sunday morning of can't miss shows in the Mighty Marvel Manner!" exclaimed Jeph Loeb, Marvel's Head of TV.

Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man (who also provides the voice of Stan the Janitor in "Ultimate Spider-Man") said, "It's a thrill to see that the highest standards in story telling are so perfectly exemplified by Spider-Man leaping from the pages of the comic book onto the screen to be enjoyed by a new generation."

The amazing team made up of Marvel's Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada, and Marvel's Head of Television, Jeph Loeb, Supervising Producers/Writers Man of Action (Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, Steven T. Seagle & Duncan Rouleau), Creative Consultant/Writer Paul Dini ("Batman: The Animated Series," "Lost"), and Consulting Producer/Writer Brian Michael Bendis (Marvel's Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series), "Ultimate Spider-Man" marks firsts for one of Marvel's most popular characters the world over. In the storyline, a teenage Peter Parker (voiced by actor Drake Bell) juggles the relatable challenges of high school with the extraordinary challenges of being a Super Hero. Nick Fury (voiced by actor Chi McBride) invites Parker to train with his S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, where Peter's alter-ego, Spider-Man, will join forces with four other teenage Super Heroes - Nova, White Tiger, Power Man and Iron Fist, on the greatest action and adventure ever as they work to become Ultimate Super Heroes!

The premiere episode (11:00 a.m., EST/PST) is entitled "Great Power," and the second episode is "Great Responsibility" (11:30 a.m., EST). The premiere episodes will be available on DisneyXD.com and Comcast platforms via VOD and XfinityTV.com directly following the Sunday, April 1 premiere on Disney XD. On April 2, they will be available on Disney XD Mobile VOD available via AT&T, MetroPCS, MobiTV, Sprint and Verizon; along with iTunes, Xbox Live and Sony Playstation.

Rounding out the Marvel Universe block are exciting new short-form series including (the last three series are hosted by Radio Disney's Morgan Tompkins):

• "Fury Files" - Top-secret access to S.H.I.E.L.D. video dossiers on key Marvel heroes, including Iron Fist, Power Man, Nova and White Tiger and the villains they face, are animated with mix of traditional animation and motion comic art.
• "Marvel Mash-Up"– The Marvel Universe is turned upside down with these hilarious and unexpected takes on iconic Marvel heroes and villains, featuring classic animation edited with a comedic twist.
• "Animated Reality" - Stunt and special effects experts showcase the epic moves of favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Captain America and Spider-Man.
• "What Would It Take?" – Get a glimpse into the science and modern technology required to create the heroes' gadgets, abilities and tech in real life, ranging from Iron Man's jet propulsion boots to Iron Fist's power-packed punch.
• "Master Class" - Marvel's Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada, explains the artistic vision behind Marvel's greatest Super Heroes and shows how artists bring them to life.

"Ultimate Spider-Man" - Executive Producers: Alan Fine ("The Avengers, Iron Man, Thor), Dan Buckley ("The Avengers", "Iron Man"), Joe Quesada (Marvel's Chief Creative Officer), and Jeph Loeb (Marvel's Head of Television) (Smallville, Lost, Heroes, Teen Wolf and Commando); Co-Executive Producers: Stan Lee ("Spider-Man") and Eric Radomski ("Batman Animated", "Spawn"); Supervising Producers: Man of Action Studios' (creators of "Ben 10" and "Generator Rex") Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle; other Supervising Producers: Dana Booton ("The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes") and Cort Lane ("The Super Hero Squad Show"); Creative Consultant (who also wrote the pilot): Paul Dini ("Batman: The Animated Series," "Lost"): Consulting Producer: Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel's Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series). "Ultimate Spider-Man" is produced by Marvel Animation and carries a TV-Y7-FV parental guideline.

"Ultimate Spider-Man" stars Drake Bell ("Drake & Josh") as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chi McBride ("Boston Public") as Nick Fury, Clark Gregg ("Iron Man," "Thor," "The Avengers") as Agent Coulson, JK Simmons ("Spider-Man") as J. Jonah Jameson, Steven Weber ("Wings") as Norman Osborn , Greg Cipes ("Teen Titans, Ben 10") as Danny Rand/Iron Fist, Ogie Banks as Luke Cage/Power Man, Caitlyn Taylor Love ("I'm In The Band") as Ava Ayala/White Tiger, Logan Miller ("I'm In The Band") as Sam Alexander/Nova, Tom Kenny ("SpongeBob SquarePants") as Doctor Octopus, Matt Lanter ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars") as Harry Osborn/Flash Thompson, Tara Strong ("The Fairly Odd Parents") as Mary-Jane Watson, Misty Lee ("Batman: Arkham City") as Aunt May, and recurring guest star Stan Lee ("Spider-Man") as Stan the Janitor.