It’s new comic day tomorrow! What’s everyone looking forward to? Anything stand out?
Around the Tubes
The Beat – Is Ape Entertainment dunzo? – From a friend trying to do business with them, the answer points to yes.
Around the Tubes Reviews
Comic Vine – Batman Beyond 2.0 #12
CBR – Inhumanity: The Superior Spider-Man #1
Talking Comics – Night of the Living Deadpool #1
During New York Comic-Con 2013, Ape Entertainment, publisher of high-quality original graphic novels and comic books, entered into a digital distribution agreement with comiXology, the cloud-based digital comics platform with more than 40,000 comics and graphic novels that have seen over 200 million downloads to date.
Ape Entertainment has carved a significant position as the premiere licensor of content based on wildly popular mobile gaming apps like Pocket God and Temple Run. In addition to the gaming sector, they have been successful with their KiZoic kid’s line of licensed content that runs the gamut from Richie Rich and Strawberry Shortcake to Kung Fu Panda and Puss In Boots.
Ape Entertainment fans across the globe can experience these titles through the power of comiXology’s Guided View and in stunning CMX-HD on compatible iOS and Android devices.
Ape Entertainment today announced in partnership with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization, the release of the first comic book featuring the cast of the beloved children’s show Sesame Street with the first release to coincide with Free Comic Book Day on May 4. The new and original comic book series emphasizes educational and entertaining content for younger readers.
A Free Comic Book Day edition of the standard comic will be made available for free from participating comic retailers. The premier issue of Sesame Street comics will be available in stores nationwide on Wednesday May 1. Produced in full color, the standard Sesame Street comic edition features 5 interlocking covers, which when placed side by side depict an “on the Street” scene featuring Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover and the whole Sesame Street gang. Each of the 5 editions is full color, 28 pages, includes 5 Sesame Street stories and retails for $3.99.
The premier issue also includes the first in a series of “How to Read a Comic” features for parents to help new comic readers. Each “How to Read a Comic” highlights aspects of reading a comic aloud. The first in the series describes how speech bubbles provide the narration and dialogue of the story. The “How to Read a Comic” features will be part of each Sesame Street comics issue and are also available online.
I can’t believe there hasn’t been a regular comic! Congrats to Ape and hopefully this grows the comic market.
Ape Entertainment and Bolt Creative announced that the Pocket God Comics Ghost of Fishmas Past One Shot is available on
the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Visit iTunes to download it. The app has also been upgraded to no longer require the login feature in order to purchase comics in this app.
Hop on board for one wild ride! We finally get a chance to see the world inside Nooby’s head. And you KNOW that’s going to be a party! …That boy ain’t right! You may have noticed Nooby go storming off as Gem Cell Research came to a crashing conclusion. Now we get to see where he went….and WHY. It’s a Trippy Fishmas for sure! Merry Fishmas everybody!
And don’t forget that the Pocket God Comic is updated frequently with all kinds of FREE extras such as The Pygmy Peril newsletter (which includes free Little Green Men comic short stories), and an EXCLUSIVE re-mastered version of the first Pocket God animated short!
Speaking of The Pygmy Peril… Issue #26 just released!!! It’s still free and yet worth TWICE that! It’s got all the standard goofy-goodness you love like the Letter From the Editor, email from fans in Outhouse Input, art from fans in Pretty Pygtures, and of course Dev Corner where we get to hear from various people actually behind the Pocket God game app itself!
Ape Entertainment, in association with independent game developer The Game Bakers, has unleashed a wave of adventure onto the App Store—the Squids Comic App for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Exploring the backstory of the chart-topping game series, “Squids,” the comic app is priced at $.99, which includes the first issue and, for a limited time, the second issue at no additional cost.
Additionally, Squids and Squids Wild West get free updates on the App Store with new content and in particular The Ballad of Clint and Sammo, a mini-comic book in two parts that reveals how the mighty Sammo first crossed path with the most wanted Squids Clint.
As for the comic app, Issue No. 1, entitled Squids: To The Edge of The Sea, dives into the deepest part of the story when our heroes Steev, Clint, and the others investigate the secrets of the missing Winnick to uncover the mystery of the Black Torrent. And what they find kicks off a swashbuckling adventure like none the Seven Kingdoms have ever seen.
But wait, there’s more cephalopod-tastic excitement in Issue No. 2, KA-POW! It’s the continuation to their wall-busting first issue. Did Steev get in over his helmet? Can Clint rally the Squids against their Oozy opponents and save Winnick’s home—and its many secrets—from the grasp of the nefarious Baron? Will anybody be able to catch that book-snatching shrimp? Find out when the action continues in Squids: To The Edge of The Sea #2!
For more information, please visit www.ape-entertainment.com or http://thegamebakers.com/.
Ape Entertainment, in partnership with Sirius Entertainment, is proud to announce a new Poison Elves on-going series as the flagship title of Ape
Entertainment’s soon to be launched mature readers label. The new Poison Elves series is not a spin-off, side story or ‘What-If’. This is a continuation of the Drew Hayes Poison Elves series which ended, essentially, with issue #79 published before Mr. Hayes passed away on March 21st, 2007.
Ape Entertainment is well aware of the thousands of fans of Poison Elves who loved its’ creator, Drew Hayes, just as much as they loved his creation. Ape Entertainment understands the gravity of what we are attempting and we have done everything in our power to make sure we are staying true to the heart of the original series.
The creative team behind this series is comprised of people with an intimate understanding of not only the material Mr. Hayes produced but of the man himself. Through exhaustive research of the existing material and with the extensive notes Mr. Hayes left behind for continuation and completion of his epic series, we are creating new works that are absolutely going to thrill readers, new and old.
Drew Hayes’ Poison Elves hits the comic shop shelves on March 20th, 2013. The first issue is 32 pages of glorious black & white comic book art and story, featuring covers by Darick Robertson, Terry Moore, and interior artist, Osvaldo Montpeller. The cover price will be $2.99.
The gold comics have been announced for Free Comic Book Day 2013 which lands on May 4. May the 4th Be With You!!! Check out the offerings below.
KIZOIC PRESENTS: SESAME STREET/STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
(W) Georgia Ball, Jason M. Burns (A/CA) Amy Mebberson
On side one, Elmo, Cookie Monster, The Count and Super Grover teach you about the magic of reading comics! It’s GUARANTEED to chase the clouds away! On side two, join Strawberry Shortcake and friends on 3 berry sweet adventures! Includes “The Blue Flu”, “The Hunt for Blackberry’s Treasure”, and “Blueberry’s Book Tour”.
It’s a bushel of fun!
THE WORLD OF ARCHIE DIGEST
(W/A) Various (CA) TBD
Archie! Betty! Veronica! Jughead! The world’s most famous teenagers for over seven decades are all here in this FREE digest! Packed with non-stop laughs and gaffs that the Riverdale gang is known for, we challenge you to find a Free Comic Book Day offering with more pages than this! The perfect introduction to the world of Archie and friends, this digest is filled with stories from some of the best creators in the business! This is the one to pick up on Free Comic Book Day!
BONGO COMICS FREE-FOR-ALL!
(W/A/CA) Matt Groening, Various
Bongo rings in another Free Comic Book Day with a comical cornucopia of four-color comics and games. First, Bart becomes a model citizen for a day…with disastrous results. Then, Jimbo and the gang escalate and elevate their juvenile delinquency to new heights. Stick around for a bedtime tale with the dim but adorable Li’l Homer and go in search of the Happy Little Elves with Maggie.
KABOOM! SUMMER BLAST
(W/A/CA) Various
An explosion of All-Ages awesomeness from KaBOOM! this Free Comic Book Day! Sure to be one of the most popular offerings this Free Comic Book Day, the KaBOOM! Summer Blast is 48 pages chock-full of the most popular all-ages comics on the stands today! Featuring excerpts from Adventure Time, Peanuts, Regular Show, Bravest Warriors, Garfield, Ice Age and some brand-new surprises, these series will keep readers young and old coming back to your comic shop again and again!
STAR WARS/CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT/AVATAR
(W) Joshua Williamson, Various (A/CA) Ryan Hill, Various
All-Ages Adventure! Star Wars joins fan-favorite villains Darth Vader and Boba Fett! Then explore the upcoming Dark Horse series, Captain Midnight, where the search for the missing superhero is on! And the smash hit Avatar: The Last Airbender follows Mai as she deals with her broken heart…
SUPERMAN SPECIAL EDITION
Sorry, but you’ll have to come back next month for full details!
TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES
(W/A) Various (CA) Dario Brizuela
Jumping from screen to page, it’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles New Animated Adventures! This unique series captures the heart of the smash Nickelodeon television show with brand-new stories. Full of action, excitement and laughs, this is the perfect all-ages comic to get you seeing green!!
THE WALKING DEAD SPECIAL
(W) Robert Kirkman (A/CA) Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn
This special Walking Dead issue contains a new Tyreese short story, a fan-favorite character who just made his television debut in The Walking Dead Season 3! It also reprints short stories featuring Michonne, The Governor and Morgan. This special issue is a must-have for fans of The Walking Dead — as none of these stories will be reprinted in the trade paperbacks!
MARVEL FCBD 2013: CLASSIFIED!
(W/A/CA) TBD
Prepare for an epic that is out of this world as the biggest and best Super Heroes in the Marvel Universe come together for something that will leave fans demanding more! Marvel Comics has something special planned for Free Comic Book Day 2013… but for now it’s CLASSIFIED! Keep checking back to freecomicbookday.com for future updates!
THE SMURFS
(W/A) Peyo, Various (CA) Peyo
The Smurfs return to Free Comic Book Day with two stories never-before-seen in the U.S.! Gargamel has tormented the Smurfs time and time again, always vowing his revenge on the small creatures. But what happens when he is forced to tangle with someone bigger than him — a nasty Ogre? Find out in “The Ogre and the Smurfs!” Also featuring comics from two of the hottest new Papercutz series, Annoying Orange and Ariol, a new series from Emmanuel Guibert!
SPONGEBOB COMICS FREESTYLE FUNNIES
(W) Derek Drymon, Maris Wicks (A) Graham Annable, Various
United Plankton brings you a completely original collection of SpongeBob comics for FCBD 2013. In “Paint Misbehavin'” Squidward teaches SpongeBob and Patrick how to paint realistically — but how did they learn to bring their painted creations to life? Then in “Day of the Free Comic” SpongeBob must foil Plankton’s latest plan: invading the Krusty Krab inside a…giveaway comic book! Will funny books ever be the same? And: Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy take on a new villain: the sultry Catfishstress. All this plus facts about the colorful cuttlefish, a fill-in comic, and a preview of this summer’s SpongeBob superhero-themed annual!
IT’S THE UGLY DOLL COMIC & OTHER STUFF
(W) David Horvath & Various (A) James Kolchaka & Various
Say, Friend. Do you need a hero? Then this comic isn’t for you. (Though being Ugly IS a super power — “ugly” means unique!) Do you need a cookie? Then this is your book! Join OX, Wage, Babo, Ice-Bat and all their friends in the Uglydolls’ first-ever comic book adventure! The Uglydolls may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but they sure will eat your candy! And don’t miss the bonus features from other famous members of the VIZ Kids family!
Ape Entertainment, in partnership with Imangi Studios and Dimension Brand Group, announced that the Temple Run Comic App is now 
available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Based on the self-titled smash-hit game, the Temple Run Comic App is $.99, which includes the first issue and, for a limited time, the second issue at no additional cost. Both action-packed issues are chocked full of adventure, suspense, and ancient mystery.
What are the temples? What are the secrets of the golden idols? What exactly are the demon monkey creatures? All these secrets and more are revealed as the Temple Run world comes to life. Fans begin the adventure with Guy Dangerous as he and a band of adventurers go in search of a lost Incan city and the treasure it holds. But when Guy comes face to face with a mysterious golden idol, they may get more than they bargained for.
Issue No. 2 begins after Guy Dangerous and a group of explorers discovers a lost Incan city and, hidden deep inside, a mysterious golden idol while searching for a missing archeologist. The moment Guy touches the idol, they are transported to an ancient temple in a mysterious land … and they’re not alone. Now Guy and his fellow adventurers must race to escape the deadly traps and hordes of ravenous demon monkeys they encounter at every turn. Can Guy and his friends survive long enough to get home? Or better yet, will they survive at all?
A full-color comic book series is available in print as well at local comic shops.
Comics publisher Ape Entertainment and digital comics company iVerse Media jointly announced that content produced and marketed under the Ape Entertainment and KiZoic imprints will now be available digitally on the Comics Plus platform as part of an exclusive partnership.
Though iVerse and Ape Entertainment have collaborated for years, this marks the first time that Ape has entered into an exclusive arrangement for digital distribution.
Current plans call for Temple Run to make its Comic Plus debut first, followed by Squids and then Fruit Ninja. Future titles and release plans will be announced soon.
An Ape Entertainment/iVerse collaboration that’s already borne fruit is the Dreamworks Comics app, currently available from the App Store. It features all of the Ape Dreamworks comics, including Shrek, The Penguins of Madagascar, Madagascar 3, Kung Fu Panda and Puss in Boots. Future plans call for a comic prequel to Rise of the Guardians, scheduled for release on October 17, 2012.
Ape Entertainment and Bolt Creative announced today that Pocket God Comics issue No. 17 is now available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad
and iPod touch. In part three of Gem Cell Research, the tribes may or may not survive the Seaweed Monster. And with the girls’ regeneration gem still busted, they are all out of second chances.
This drives Sun and Ooga to train both tribes in what to do in an emergency because we all know there is going to be another one of those sooner or later. Meanwhile, Klik and Teela work to fix the girls’ gem. And it’s looking pretty good too, but can they fix the broken gem before someone dies of a broken heart? This issue promises fans the most shocking and unexpected ending of any issue so far! And if fans are shocked and amazed by that, just wait until they see what we have in mind for parts 4 & 5!
Based on Pocket God, one of the best-selling iPhone apps of all-time, the full-color digital comic book series is one of the most successful digital comics to-date. The comics are available on the App Store via iVerse Media, a digital distribution partner of Ape Entertainment.
The Pocket God Comics App is available for $.99 USD from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.
