Avatar Press

We’ve shed some light this month already on Diamond’s “Featured Item” for the month of June, the mind-blowing SUPERGOD graphic novel by Warren Ellis, as well as the spotlighted CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES collection from the mind of David Lapham. Now it’s time to cover the rest!

Your local comic shop has a deadline of tomorrow (Thursday, June 30th) to turn in preorders for Avatar Press items shipping in the month of August, which include all items from the June Previews catalog. Don’t miss out! When you visit your comic shop today to pick up the latest comic book releases (it is, after all, “Comic Book Wednesday”), be sure to check that the store owner has ordered your favorite Avatar comics for you!

Here’s the full line of all Avatar titles from the June Previews catalog, shipping in August:

SUPERGOD Trade Paperback
$17.99, Diamond Item Code: JUN110873

SUPERGOD Hardcover
$27.99, JUN110874

CALIGULA #4 (of 6) Regular Edition
$3.99, JUN110875

CALIGULA #4 (of 6) Wraparound Edition
$3.99, JUN110876

CALIGULA #4 (of 6) Golden Edition
Ask your retailer for pricing! JUN110877

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #1 (of 7) C2E2 Edition
$5.99, JUN110878

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #4 (of 7) Auxiliary Edition
$3.99, JUN110879

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: DEATH VALLEY #1 (of 5) Wondercon Edition
$5.99, JUN110880

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #6 (of 7) Regular Edition
$3.99, JUN110881

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #6 (of 7) Torture Edition
$3.99, JUN110882

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #6 (of 7) Wraparound Edition
$3.99, JUN110883

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #6 (of 7) Red Crossed Edition
Ask your retailer for pricing! JUN110884

CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES Trade Paperback
$19.99, JUN110885

CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES Hardcover
$27.99, JUN110886

CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES Signed Hardcover
$34.99, JUN110887

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: THE LAST BATTLE #6 (of 6) Regular Edition
$3.99, JUN110888

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: THE LAST BATTLE #6 (of 6) Wraparound Edition
$3.99, JUN110889

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: THE LAST BATTLE #6 (of 6) Anti-Christ Edition
Ask your retailer for pricing! JUN110890

CALIGULA #1 (of 6) Wondercon Edition
$5.99, JUN110891

If you check the Diamond Previews catalog for the month of June, you’ll notice that Avatar Press has solicited a brand new graphic novel collection of CROSSED, featuring the first story arc by David Lapham in the CROSSED universe: FAMILY VALUES! The second CROSSED volume includes all seven issues of David Lapham and Javier Barreno’s horror masterpiece, plus a cover gallery which includes each of our highly-coveted and intensely disturbing cover variants.

If you’re unfamiliar with the premise, here’s the copy from our June Previews solicitation:

In one terrifying moment, civilization crumbled. An outbreak of insanity swept across the planet, turning millions of people into the homicidal maniacs known as ?the Crossed.? But from their isolated horse ranch, the Pratt family of North Carolina remain uninfected and defiant. Bonded together as generations of working, living, and learning together, they rely on Joe, the family patriarch, to see them through the apocalypse. But the Pratt family has a deep, dark secret ? one that threatens to tear them apart, even under the constant threat of the murderous hordes. See, some men are turned to Crossed, but others? others are just born evil. Eighteen year-old daughter Adaline will soon discover which breed is worse.

Comic fans know David Lapham as the critically acclaimed creator of the gritty STRAY BULLETS series. In FAMILY VALUES, he delivers a tale so twisted, so shocking, it more than earns its place next to the original runaway bestseller, CROSSED VOLUME 1, by superstar writer Garth Ennis! Also, FAMILY VALUES features the first CROSSED work of Javier Barreno, whose art graces the upcoming completely free CROSSED web comic, WISH YOU WERE HERE!

CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES is available in softcover and hardcover formats, with illustrated covers by Jacen Burrows (NEONOMICON), and also in a special Signed Hardcover autographed by writer David Lapham, limited to just 1000 copies.

CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES Softcover Edition
$19.99, Item Code: JUN110885, ISBN: 1592911242

CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES Hardcover Edition
$27.99, Item Code: JUN110886, ISBN: 1592911250

CROSSED VOL. 2: FAMILY VALUES Signed Hardcover Edition
$34.99, Item Code: JUN110887, ISBN: 1592911269

Avatar Press celebrates the announcement that CROSSED 3D is the top-selling graphic novel for May, beating out other top ten titles such as Star Wars, Batman and Robin, Brightest Day, Green Lantern, and American Vampire.

To quote the original post from Diamond Comic Distributors: “David Lapham and Gianluca Pagliarani took Garth Ennis’ (horror) series CROSSED into the third-dimension with CROSSED 3D, an original graphic novel printed in 3-D that shipped with 3-D glasses, giving Avatar Press the best-selling graphic novel to comic shops in May.”

A clear indication of all the hard work and talent placed in the project by Lapham and Pagliarani, the news is spreading like wildfire. Compounded with the current series CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH, the upcoming web comic CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE (crossedcomic.com), and the return of a certain writer named Garth Ennis to the franchise later this year, 2011 is shaping up to be The Year of CROSSED!

Start your engines! Gianluca Pagliarani (CROSSED 3D, IGNITION CITY) illustrated the front cover to Avatar’s CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #2 PHILADELPHIA edition, available exclusively this coming weekend at the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con. This collectible edition is limited to only 850 copies.? Pagliarani’s artwork has never been in such high demand, thanks to his incredible detail on May’s top-selling graphic novel (that’s industry-wide, folks). If you’re headed to Wizard Philly, you’ll want to beat the person next to you with a biker link chain just to get your hands on one!

[Disclaimer: Avatar Press does not actually condone physical violence among convention attendees. We only present such a statement here for humor purposes. If you are not amused, wait there while we get our link chains.]

In other news, the highly-coveted, incredibly valued Avatar V.I.P. Packs and LADY DEATH V.I.P. Packs are still available for order! If you’re headed to Wizard Philly, make sure to place an order for these Packs, which come with or without admission tickets (whichever would be your preference), alongside hundreds of dollars’ worth of Avatar collectible graphic novels, comics, art prints, and more! Check out the details by clicking the link here.

Avatar Press will be making an appearance at two simultaneous conventions next week, running from Friday, June 17th, through Sunday, June 19th. Up in Alberta, Canada, Avatar founder William Christensen will be on-hand at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo alongside Brian Pulido, the creator of LADY DEATH. Meanwhile, in the Northeast, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and GRAVEL writer/artist Mike Wolfer will be the Avatar guest at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con. For each show, Avatar proudly offers V.I.P. Sets that include admission to the convention plus a wealth of graphic novels, rare comics, and merchandise! We’re happy to share the details of these V.I.P. sets with you below.

For the Wizard World Philly show (at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in the heart of the city), we are offering four different options for our V.I.P. sets:

AVATAR PHILADELPHIA V.I.P. SET Options:

• 3-Day Admission Ticket Included, $150.00
• Without Ticket, $115.00

Over $500 worth of ultra-rare Avatar goodies, plus a special signing with writer/artist Mike Wolfer (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, LADY DEATH)! With the Avatar Philadelphia V.I.P. Set, you?ll get five FREAKANGELS Art Prints, five NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Art Prints, a DOKTOR SLEEPLESS Plasma Globe Statue, and an ANNA MERCURY Bust! Plus, you?ll get a whopping ten graphic novels, an instant library of Mike Wolfer goodness! Finally, you?ll receive a rare CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #2 V.I.P. edition comic, limited to only 350 copies!

LADY DEATH PHILADELPHIA V.I.P. SET Options:

• 3-Day Admission Ticket Included, $150.00
• Without Ticket, $115.00

Get ready for $500 worth of LADY DEATH comics and merchandise, alongside a special signing with Mike Wolfer, co-writer of the new LADY DEATH ongoing series! The Lady Death Philadelphia V.I.P. Set includes five gorgeous LADY DEATH Art Prints, the LADY DEATH ORIGINS trade paperback, four Royal Blue editions and four Leather editions of from our LADY DEATH comic book library (some limited to only 100 copies and valued at $75.00 apiece), and a super-rare copy of the LADY DEATH #1 THORNS edition!? For more information on the Avatar or LADY DEATH Philly V.I.P. Sets, or to place an order, please visit our convention site, located here.

For the Calgary Expo, Avatar Press will be offering an absolutely amazing V.I.P. Set with an incredible value:

AVATAR CALGARY V.I.P. SET:

• 3-Day Admission Ticket Included, $250.00

Includes an unprecedented $900-worth of ultra-rare LADY DEATH goodies! In addition to a 3-day pass to the show with early access to the show floor, this package is filled with the best in rare LADY DEATH books! Also, all V.I.P. customers get a special signing with Brian Pulido so all their comics can be signed! Alongside a complete set of 22 LADY DEATH comics published by Avatar Press, this V.I.P. Set includes four rare Leather covers and eight ?ber-rare Royal Blue Editions (which only have 100 copies in print and retail for $75.00 each)! To top it off, a Lady Death #5 Calgary VIP, which has never before been offered, is also included!? For more information on the Avatar Calgary V.I.P. Set, or to place an order, please visit our convention site, located here.

We look forward to seeing you at Calgary, Philadelphia, or hopefully a convention near you, very soon!

Friends, Romans, countrymen (and women), lend us your ears!? Avatar Press proudly announces this week’s release of CALIGULA #2, the tale of a mad emperor with a supernatural twist, by no-holds-barred writer David Lapham and artist German Nobile!

In issue #2, following a failed assassination attempt, young Junius finds himself taken in by Caligula and becomes the Emperor?s pet, confidant, whipping boy, lover, apprentice, and biographer.? Junius must play along if he?s to find out the secret behind Caligula?s mysterious supernatural power over life and death.? Virgin blood ceremonies, gladiator fights rigged for added brutality, and dinner parties where guests are randomly slaughtered… is there any limit to Caligula’s depravity?? Can Junius keep his focus and sanity in the face of so much misery and horror?

Join David and German for their plunge into the darkest corners of ancient Rome, available in the following gorgeous cover variants!

CALIGULA #2 Regular Edition
$3.99 retail, Item Code: FEB110784, Cover by Jacen Burrows

CALIGULA #2 Wraparound Edition
$3.99 retail, Item Code: FEB110785, Cover by German Nobile

CALIGULA #2 Golden Retailer Incentive Edition
Ask your retailer for pricing! Item Code: FEB110786, Cover by Jacen Burrows

(And word of advice: never offer your ears to an Avatar staffer, you friends, Romans, and countrymen and women… you never know what might become of them!)

We are proud to announce that Diamond Comics selected Avatar’s upcoming release of the SUPERGOD collected graphic novel as one of its “Featured Items” in the June 2011 Previews catalog. To celebrate this accolade, we present to you this special highlight on the SUPERGOD collection!

SUPERGOD

• Written by Warren Ellis
• Art by Garrie Gastonny
• Covers by Felipe Massafera
• Intended for Mature Audiences
• Format: Full Color, 128 Pages

Praying to be saved by a man who can fly will get you killed! From the mind of Warren Ellis, the creator of TRANSMETROPOLITAN and BLACK SUMMER, comes the most horrifying superhero graphic novel you will ever read! What if the arms race of global superpowers did not yield nuclear stockpiles, but rather messianic beings capable of wondrous miracles and ? when needed ? the ability to unleash the wrath of gods? But when the scientists, generals, and politicians built super-humans to save the planet, no one ever imagined how their heroes would do it ? or even if they?d want to. Behold the apocalyptic tomorrow, when supermen kill us all and end the world just because we wanted to be rescued by human-shaped things from beyond Science itself!

SUPERGOD Softcover Edition

• Diamond Item Code: JUN110873
• ISBN: 978-1-59291-099-1
• Retail Price: $17.99

SUPERGOD Hardcover Edition

• Diamond Item Code: JUN110874
• ISBN: 978-1-59291-100-4
• Retail Price: $27.99

If you want to add this mind-blowing new graphic novel to your Warren Ellis collection, be sure to visit your local comic shop during the month of June and place a pre-order for SUPERGOD!

Crossed: Wish You Were Here is a new Crossed Webcomic featuring all-new material by Simon Spurrier and Javier Barreno updated weekly beginning in October. It will be available each week for free right here on crossedcomic.com, and subsequently collected into print volumes available from comic book retailers everywhere.

There is much, much more on this development over at the Crossed: Wish You Were Here webcomic site and the new headquarters for everything Crossed — crossedcomic.com. You can also follow @crossedcomic on twitter for all the latest developments.