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The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story gets an Anniversary Edition

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Dark Horse Books presents a new edition of the Eisner, Harvey, and Lambda Literary Award-winning graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle, in The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Anniversary Edition), written by Vivek J. Tiwary, illustrated and colored by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker, and lettered by Steve Dutro.

The Fifth Beatle recounts the true story of visionary Beatles manager Brian Epstein—who engineered Beatlemania, guiding the Beatles from basement gigs to unprecedented international stardom while wrestling with personal demons and the trappings of massive ambition and success. An inspiring human story about chasing your dreams, The Fifth Beatle also reveals an important, unsung chapter in the Beatles’ history.

The anniversary edition features a new cover by Christopher Brunner and Rico Renzi, a new introduction by legendary music manager Kelly Curtis (Pearl Jam), an accompanying musical soundtrack/playlist curated by writer Vivek J. Tiwary, and an expanded sketchbook section including Christopher Brunner and Rico Renzi‘s comments on the new cover. The edition also includes the original introductions from Billy J. Kramer and Andrew Loog Oldham.

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Anniversary Edition) TPB (184 pages, 8 x 12.1875″) arrives in bookstores November 21, 2023 and in comic shops November 22, 2023. It is now available to pre-order for $24.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comic shop and indie bookstore. 

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Anniversary Edition) TPB

Z2 Comics Celebrates 20 Years of Gorillaz with The Gorillaz Art Book with Jamie Hewlett

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The Gorillaz Art Book

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Gorillaz’ eponymous debut album, released in 2001, Gorillaz co-creator and acclaimed artist Jamie Hewlett has invited more than 40 creators to offer new interpretations of 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs in one expansive volume. The first ever Gorillaz Art Book debuts this coming Spring 2022, featuring brand new artwork by Jamie Hewlett and a host of guest contributions from friends and admirers of the band, case bound at 12.6 x 9.2 inches and set across 288 pages of luxury art paper.

Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs, and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle, Gorillaz were formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up the real and digital worlds with their colorful backstory and ground-breaking virtual ways. Based at Kong Studios in West London, the band settled into a life of ongoing musical and artistic innovation with an eye-wateringly exciting roster of collaborators, a list that includes musical legends, geniuses, and future stars.

With this latest Z2 partnership, Hewlett is now expanding the band’s collaborative vision to fellow visual artists in The Gorillaz Art Book.

In addition to Hewlett, contributing artists include:

  • Ana Godis
  • Andre Carrilho
  • Andrew C. Robinson
  • Anna Cattish
  • Ben Bocquelet
  • Brendan McCarthy
  • Chloe Nicolay
  • Craig McCracken
  • Dana Terrace
  • Daniela Uhlig
  • Del the Funky Homosapien
  • EPHK
  • Erik Fountain
  • Glyn Dillon
  • Gregory Hergert
  • Holly Warburton
  • J.A.W. Cooper
  • Jack Black
  • Jared Cody Wolf
  • Jean-Baptiste Mondino
  • Jens Claessens
  • Jeremy Enecio
  • Kerbcrawlerghost
  • Kim Jung Gi
  • Laurie Vincent
  • Little Thunder
  • Marella Moon Albanese
  • Marianna Ignazzi
  • Miss Jisu
  • Nicolas Dehghani
  • Robert Smith
  • Robert Valley
  • Ruffmercy
  • Sainer
  • Tara Billinger
  • Taya Strizhakova
  • Tim McCourt & Max Taylor
  • Valeria Ko
  • Vanesa R. Del Rey
  • Venla Linna
  • Vincent Roucher
  • William Wray 
  • Zeen Chi 

The Gorillaz Art Book will be available this Spring 2022 from participating retailers and can be ordered directly from Z2.

The Fifth Beatle to be a TV Event Series

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The Fifth BeatleAfter being developed for a feature film, The Fifth Beatle: The Story of Brian Epstein is heading to the small screen as a multi-part tv event series. Sonar Entertainment has optioned the rights to Vivek J. Tiwary‘s bestselling graphic novel. Tiwary created it with art from Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker.

Brian Epstein was the manager of The Beatles and part of the driving force that brought the band the stardom. Epstein was also a gay man during a time and in a place where homosexual acts were a felony.

Tiwary had obtained the rights to the John Lennon-Paul McCartney song catalog and they’ll also have access to it for this project. This is the first Beatles-related biopic to secure such rights.

The graphic novel was published in 2013 by Dark Horse Comics.

(via Deadline)

Syco Entertainment & IM Global Partner on The Fifth Beatle Film

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the fifth beatleProlific independent entertainment studio IM Global, acclaimed writer Vivek J. Tiwary and Simon Cowell‘s Syco Entertainment have announced they will partner to co-produce the feature film version of The Fifth Beatle.  The screenplay, written by Tiwary, is an adaptation of  his acclaimed graphic novel based on the life of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein.

The Fifth Beatle is a New York Times #1 best-selling graphic novel that recounts the true story of Brian Epstein, the brilliant visionary who discovered the Beatles in a cellar in Liverpool and guided them to unimaginable success.  But it’s also the story of how Epstein, of whom Paul McCartney said, “if anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian,”  overcame seemingly insurmountable odds and personal demons  while bringing the Beatles to the world’s attention and kicking off a cultural revolution in the process.

Tiwary, Cowell and IM Global Founder and CEO Stuart Ford will serve as producers, and have already secured an unprecedented agreement with Sony/ATV Publishing for the use of Beatles music to be used in the film. IM Global President of Production Matt Jackson, President of IM Global Music David Schulhof, and Syco  Entertainment’s Head of Film Adam Milano will serve as executive producers. The producers also anticipate bringing a director onboard shortly.

Tiwary wrote the graphic novel, which was published by Dark Horse Comics, with art created by award-winning artists Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker. The Fifth Beatle has  won many major literary awards, including the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award (the comics industry’s Academy Award) and two Harvey Awards (the comics industry’s Golden Globes), including Best Original Graphic Album. It was named a Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best LGBT Graphic Novel, and has been added to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Library and Archives Permanent Collection.

This is a bit if a restart for the film which was announced as having director Peyton Reed attached in 2013 and was to begin production in 2014. Casting was reportedly underway at one point.

The graphic novel is a wonderful read, and you can read a review here.

The Fifth Beatle Gets a Paperback Edition

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the fifth beatle paperbackThis October, Dark Horse Comics invites you to experience the award-winning The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story in a whole new format, as the incredible original graphic novel written / produced by Vivek J. Tiwary with art by Andrew C. Robinson, and Kyle Baker, heads to trade paperback for the first time.

This edition of the gorgeous, Eisner Award–winning original graphic novel recounting the untold story of visionary Beatles manager Brian Epstein—who engineered Beatlemania and guided the band from basement gigs to unprecedented international stardom— also includes bonus background material from the sought-after collector’s edition, including a revised sketchbook and Beatles memorabilia bonus section with insights from Vivek Tiwary and Andrew Robinson.

The new paperback edition will also include new art and concept material from artist Kyle Baker, such as the never-before-seen Sgt. Pepper piece pictured here, as well as an excerpt from Vivek Tiwary’s TEDxFultonStreet talk, “The Birth of the Beatles and Impossible Dreams,” and his essay, “The Curtain Rising,” detailing Brian Epstein’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Winner of the Eisner and Harvey Awards, and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best LGBT Graphic Novel, the number-one New York Times bestseller The Fifth Beatle recounts the untold story of visionary Beatles manager Brian Epstein—who created Beatlemania and guided the band from basement gigs to unprecedented international stardom. Paul McCartney said, “If anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian.”

Winner of the Eisner and Harvey Awards, and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best LGBT Graphic Novel, the number-one New York Times bestseller The Fifth Beatle has been added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, and is currently being adapted into a major motion picture. The Fifth Beatle film adaptation, written and produced by Tiwary, is the first-ever feature film about the Beatles to secure music rights to their songs and has been granted unprecedented access to the Lennon/McCartney music catalog. It is scheduled to begin shooting in 2015.

Experience Brian Epstein’s rise with the Beatles for the incredible price of $14.99.

The 7th Sword, Darby Pop’s Third New Series

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From the minds of writer John Raffo and artist Nelson Blake II, Darby Pop Publishing’s The 7th Sword will make its debut this April!

On a planet where explosive weaponry is unusable, Daniel Cray — a Samurai mercenary — stumbles upon the legendary city of ZenZion, a mysterious desert outpost currently under siege from a vicious warlord. The peace-loving citizenry beg Cray to help defend them… forcing Cray to reluctantly draw his deadly “Malathane” sword one last time to battle a relentless army of robots and their savage masters.

Science fiction meets samurai in this epic seven-issue adventure with covers by Andrew C. Robinson and interior art by Nelson Blake II.

John Raffo is a screenwriter who over the last twenty years has worked on a variety of credited and uncredited projects including Dragon, The Bruce Lee Story, The Relic, and The Interpreter. His original screenplay Renko Vega and the Jennifer Nine appeared on the 2011 Black List.

Review: The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story

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The Fifth BeatleThe Fifth Beatle is the untold true story of Brian Epstein, the visionary manager who discovered and guided the Beatles—from their gigs in a tiny cellar in Liverpool to unprecedented international stardom. Yet more than merely the story of “The Man Who Made The Beatles,” The Fifth Beatle is an uplifting, tragic, and ultimately inspirational human story about the struggle to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Brian Epstein was homosexual when it was a felony to be so in the United Kingdom, Jewish at a time of anti-Semitism, and from Liverpool when it was considered just a dingy port town. He helped spread the Beatles’ message of love to the entire world, yet died painfully lonely at the young age of thirty-two, consumed by staggering ambition and the endless struggles that came with it.

I should start off to say I became a fan of the Beatles later in life and didn’t know at all who Brian Epstein was, so I went into the graphic novel pretty blank in what I could expect and what the story would be about. Writer Vivek Tiwary has put together a masterful and touching story that takes us through history with a narrative that’s not completely shackled by it. And by doing so, he gives us a graphic novel that’s a lesson in business, perseverance and an amazing human interest story that’s tragic and uplifting at the same time. It’s a story of what one person can make happen when they’re determined to do so and that anyone can dream big.

Tiwary pulls off an amazing balance that digs into Epstein’s personal life, mixing it with his experience managing the Beatles. Throughout it tugs at your heart strings while also showing off the excitement of the time and how amazing the Beatles were. While the story makes sure to point out the outsider status Epstein was in his personal life, it at no point becomes preachy, instead it fills you with a sadness over what he must have gone through. It’s a fantastic mix creating an entertaining and insightful historical account.

Joining Tiwary for the graphic novel is Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker on art and both just add to the package contributing amazing art to a story that’s taken too long to tell. The combination of it all is mesmerizing and creates one of the best graphic novels of the year. The choices in color and art style is well thought out adding to the understanding of the time and narrative. It’s truly an amazing thing that’ll have you linger on each page staring at the art long after you’ve finished reading the words.

Both heartbreaking and uplifting, The Fifth Beatle not only reveals an important, unsung chapter in the history of the Beatles—but it will inspire anyone who’s ever dared to believe in a dream. Brian Epstein’s story has been a long time coming, but this is so good, it’s been well worth the wait. This will go down as a must read graphic novel for it’s style and narrative, but also as a must read for Beatles history.

Story: Vivek J. Tiwary Art: Andrew C. Robinson, Kyle Baker
Story: 9.75 Art: 9.75 Overall: 9.75 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

The Fifth Beatle Debuts In Italy in Rolling Stone Magazine!

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Thanks to a collaboration between Dark Horse Comics and Panini Comics, the world premiere of the long-awaited graphic novel written by Vivek J. Tiwary, drawn by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker and dedicated to the manager of the Beatles, Brian Epstein, is arriving in Italy. The Fifth Beatle is the latest addition to the prestigious 9L Panini catalogue and will be released in Italy in partnership with Rolling Stone Italy to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the magazine.

With this joint venture between Panini Comics and Rolling Stone, The Fifth Beatle will be first made available at newsstands in Italy at the beginning of November, three weeks before it is released in other territories. A special Italian version of The Fifth Beatle will be sold bundled with the tenth anniversary special edition of Rolling Stone Italy – the Italian version of the most popular music magazine in the world.

The Fifth Beatle follows the Liverpool quartet from obscurity to the release of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the album that marked a watershed in the history of rock music and established The Beatles as true cultural icons. But The Fifth Beatle is above all the story of a visionary– Brian Epstein, the man who, with his intuitions, led the Fab Four to unprecedented international stardom. A life of triumphs and tragedies, ambitions and fears – Epstein suffered to hide his homosexuality from the world – friendship and loneliness, until his premature death at the age of 32. It is a story full of dreams and music, the greatest music of all time

The Fifth Beatle will be available outside of Italy on November 19th in a hardcover, oversized library format for $19.99. In addition, both a collector’s edition and limited edition hardcover of this groundbreaking graphic novel will also be available, featuring a wraparound, textured cover and a section of bonus materials including Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia, artist sketches, and alternate covers, for $49.99 and $99.99.

FanExpo Canada 2013: Tiwary’s Fifth Beatle To Feature Forwards By Two Music Legends!

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The anticipation around The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story continues to grow and Dark Horse has announced the involvement of music legends Billy J. Kramer and Andrew Loog Oldham lending their words and support to this remarkable piece of graphic literature chronicling the life of Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein. Billy J. Kramer was managed by Epstein in the 1960’s and had a string of hits including “Do You Want to Know a Secret?”, “Bad to Me”, and “Little Children”; and Andrew Loog Oldham was The Beatles’ publicist in 1963 before he went on to discover, produce and manage The Rolling Stones. Today, Kramer continues to record and release albums, and Oldham is a bestselling author and broadcast personality.

More than merely the story of “The Man Who Made the Beatles,” The Fifth Beatle is an uplifting, tragic, and ultimately inspirational human story about the desire to leave behind a legacy, amidst the struggle to overcome crushing personal obstacles and insurmountable odds. Written by multiple Tony Award–winning producer Vivek J. Tiwary and painted by fanboy favorite Andrew C. Robinson The Fifth Beatle will be released on November 19.

The standard hardcover edition will be available for $19.99 in an oversized library format. Both a collector’s-edition and limited edition hardcover of this groundbreaking graphic novel will also be available, featuring a wraparound, textured cover and a section of bonus materials including Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia, artist sketches, and alternate covers, for $49.99 and $99.99.

Tiwary will be signing limited prints of The Fifth Beatle at FanExpo in Toronto, Ontario this Friday & Saturday, August 23rd & 24th at the Dark Horse booth #856.

the fifth beatle

The Fifth Beatle To Be Published In Three Stunning Editions!

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Ever since its announcement last fall, there has been buzz about The Fifth Beatle. Written by multiple Tony Award–winning producer Vivek J. Tiwary, The Fifth Beatle, chronicling the life of the Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, will officially be released on November 19.

The Fifth Beatle, from M Press Books, a division of Dark Horse Comics, recounts the untold true story of Epstein, the visionary manager who discovered and guided the Beatles to unprecedented international stardom—yet died painfully lonely at the young age of thirty-two. More than merely the story of “The Man Who Made the Beatles,” The Fifth Beatle is an uplifting, tragic, and ultimately inspirational human story about the desire to leave behind a legacy, amidst the struggle to overcome crushing personal obstacles and insurmountable odds.

This marks the first full-length graphic novel painted by Andrew C. Robinson. The book also features a special section paying homage to the 1960s Beatles cartoons, lovingly drawn by multiple Eisner and Harvey Award–winning cartoonist Kyle Baker.

Tiwary is also set to write and produce a feature-film adaptation of his graphic novel. Tiwary has signed a deal with Sony/ATV (who control the Lennon/McCartney music catalog) which gives him unprecedented access to Beatles songs for the film.

There will be three editions of the graphic novel.

The standard hardcover edition will be available for $19.99 in an oversized library format. A collector’s-edition hardcover of this groundbreaking graphic novel will also be available, featuring a wraparound, textured cover and a section of bonus materials including Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia, artist sketches, and alternate covers, for $49.99.

The limited edition (1,500 copies) features a tip-in sheet signed by creators Vivek J. Tiwary, Andrew C. Robinson, and Kyle Baker, along with a twenty-four-page bonus section including rare Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia and behind-the-scenes sketches, a unique, textured cover, and a special slipcase, for $99.99.

Tiwary will be signing limited prints of The Fifth Beatle at BookExpo America in New York City this Saturday, June 8th at the Dark Horse booth #1003 at 11 a.m.

Additionally both Tiwary and artist Andrew Robinson will be delivering a panel presentation at HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC on June 9th titled: Comics of the Fab Four: The Fifth Beatle and Beyond. The panel begins promptly at 11:30 a.m.

“The Beatles will be bigger than Elvis!”—Brian Epstein, 1961

The Fifth Beatle © 2012 Tiwary Entertainment Group Ltd.