Tag Archives: kevin freeman

Action Lab’s Kevin Freeman steps down as President

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ACTIONLAB_LOGOAction Lab Entertainment has announced a change in leadership as it moves into its fifth official year of publication. Kevin Freeman, the current President of Action Lab Entertainment announced he will be stepping down from his position. Freeman will assume a smaller, more specialized role with the company.

Freeman, an 18-year industry veteran, came to ALE as the former managing editor of Ape Entertainment. Kevin then succeeded former Action Lab Entertainment President, Shawn Pryor, in 2013. Freeman is also a professor and serves as chair of the political science and public administration department at University of North Carolina, Pembroke.

On his Facebook page, Freeman said:

Before rumors start flying, it has nothing to do with my relationship with the company or anything else related thereto. The people who run ALE are my treasured brothers and sisters and I have a fabulous rapport with all of them. I am simply wanting to take a step back from the industry in general and pursue other things, including spending more time with my family and perhaps dipping my toes in the creative side of things again.

Current Action Lab Entertainment Creative Director, Dave Dwonch, will succeed Freeman as President. Dwonch is also one of the founders of Action Lab and writer of several series including Vamplets and Cyrus Perkins and the Haunted Taxi.

2016 sees the launch of a company wide event, Actionverse, that brings together many of its superheroes into one comics universe.

Action Lab Entertainment Day at Acme Comics

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ACTIONLAB_LOGOAction Lab Entertainment is proud to announce their first Fan Outreach Event, Action Lab Day! The even is being held with The Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award nominated Acme Comics which is located at 2150 Lawndale Dr, in beautiful  Greensboro, NC. Acme is considered one of the best comics retailers in the country. Their signings and Free Comic Book Day events draw thousands of fans and readers of all ages.

It will also be an opportunity for aspiring creators to meet Action Lab creators and staff and learn hands on keys to creating, promoting and selling their work.

On Saturday, March 29th from 11:00 Am to 5:00 pm, come join Skyward creator Jeremy Dale, Skyward editor and Action Lab marketing director Kelly Dale, Ehmm Theory co-creator and artist Larkin Ford, Action Lab president Kevin Freeman and Ehmm Theory co-creator and writer Brockton McKinney for a day of seminars, signing and sketching, all FREE to the public!*

SEMINARS

WRITERS FORUM with Jeremy Dale & Brockton McKinney, 11:00 AM

  • How to create story outlines, judge pacing and craft a script for an artist!
  • How to connect with an artist or vice verse and how you know you have a good fit!
  • Learn collaborative “Do’s” and “Don’t’s”!

ARTISTS FORUM with Jeremy Dale & Larkin Ford, 1:00 PM

  • How to turn a written script into finished art!
  • How to decide between working with full color and black & white!
  • How to layout a cover to standout on the store shelves!

BUSINESS FORUM with Kelly Dale & Kevin Freeman, 3:00 PM

  • Once you have an idea or finished product, how to market it via social media or conventions to stores and the public!
  • How to present your portfolio or story to a publisher!
  • What constitutes intellectual property and how to protect it!

SIGNING & SKETCHING

  • Kelly Dale & Brockton McKinney – 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  • Jeremy Dale & Larkin Ford – 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

*Each of the three sessions is limited to 10 attendees, so please reserve your spot via Facebook, Twitter or e-mail in advance! Only those seriously interested, please! Just a few spots left so reach us today!

Preview: NFL Rush Zone: Guardians of the Core Super Bowl Edition TPB

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NFL RUSH ZONE: GUARDIANS OF THE CORE SUPER BOWL™ EDITION TPB

Writer(s): Kevin Freeman and David Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Various
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale
80pgs / FC/ 19.95 USD

Collecting the first story arc of the hit NickToons television series! See Ish Taylor and the NFL Guardians as they battle villains and robots of all sorts in an effort to protect the NFL and its fans.

Packed with appearances from a number of NFL superstars, including Roddy White, Philip Rivers, and Calvin Johnson!

nfl rush zone

Preview: NFL Rush Zone Superbowl Special TPB

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NFL RUSH ZONE SUPERBOWL SPECIAL TPB

Writer(s): Kevin Freeman and David Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Various
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale
FC/ 80 pgs./19.95 US
On sale DEC. 4

Collecting the first story arc of the hit NickToons television series! See Ish Taylor and the NFL Guardians as they battle villains and robots of all sorts in an effort to protect the NFL and its fans. Packed with appearances from a number of NFL superstars, including Roddy White, Philip Rivers, and Calvin Johnson!

Action_Lab_Entertainment_NFL_Rush_Zone_GN-1

SDCC 2013: Action Lab Takes Comic-Con International

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Critically-acclaimed independent publisher Action Lab Entertainment kicks off its 2013-2014 season with a bang at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, held July 17-21 at the San Diego Convention Center.  This marks the company’s second appearance at the show, and this year will be marked with special announcements, exclusive books, and a constant stream of well-respected industry professionals.

Confirmed creators to appear at the Action Lab booth include:

Jeremy Dale (Skyward)
David Dwonch (Ghost Town)
Kevin Freeman (SubCulture)
Tony Guaraldi-Brown (The Final Plague)
Lea Hernandez (The Garlicks)
Jamal Igle (Molly Danger)
Jason Martin (Night of the 80s Undead)
Gayle Middleton (Vamplets)
Mike Norton (Molly Danger Cover Artist)
Stan Yan (SubCulture)

A more detailed guest list, including signing times and additional creators, will be provided as the convention approaches.  The Action Lab booth is located in the Independent Press Pavilion, Table 2202.

In addition to having a number of featured creators, Action Lab will be offering a number of limited-edition convention exclusives available at SDCC.    Among the offerings:

  • A limited edition sneak preview of the upcoming Molly Danger, with two exclusive SDCC covers by fan-favorites Mike Norton and Jamal Igle
  • A limited edition hardcover premier of Vamplets:Nightmare Nursery with exclusive Ghost Pony cover by Gayle Middleton
  • A variant cover of Skyward #1 by Jeremy Dale
  • A white sketch cover of Skyward #2 by Jeremy Dale
  • A special edition of The Garlicks by Lea Hernandez
  • The premier of Bo Plushy Gangsta with special convention-exclusive cover.

Each of these books will be available in limited quantities while supplies last and most can be signed by their respective creators.  All of the books will also be available in a bundle for a total of $75!

Finally, Action Lab, led by President Kevin Freeman, will be hosting its own panel, “What’s New at Action Lab Entertainment,” scheduled for Saturday, July 20th at 6:00 PM in Panel Room 28 D-E.  The Action Lab staff and creators will be there to talk about everything that is in store for Action Lab for the next year–including some big announcements, and to answer all of your questions.  Attendees will receive a special NFL Rush Zone Button which they can redeem for a special prize at the Action Lab table in the convention hall.

Bo Plushy Gansta Molly 2 SDCC Molly SDCC Skyward Blank Skyward SDCC Vamplets SDCC

Action Lab on Free Comic Book Day

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action labNot only does Action Lab have two great releases, their first, for this Saturday’s Free Comic Book Day, but their creators will also be out at local stores to celebrate with fans.

Here’s where you can find them across the country.

Ultimate Comics – Chapel Hill, NC

  • Jeremy Whitley (Princeless, NFL RushZone, Order of Dagonet, GlobWorld)
  • Jason Strutz (Order of Dagonet, Ehmm Theory, GlobWorld)
  • Brockton McKinney (Ehmm Theory)
  • Larkin Ford (Ehmm Theory)

Challengers Comics and Conversation – Chicago, Il

  • Jamal Igle (Molly Danger)

Comic Book Box – Rohnert Park, CA

  • Emily C Martin (Princeless)
  • Brett Grunig (Princeless)
  • Kelly Lawrence (Princeless)
  • Tony Guaraldi-Brown (The Final Plague)

Collectibles Etc – Lexington, KY

  • Shawn Pryor (Exo-1 and the Rock Solid Steelbots)
  • Martheus Wade (Jetta: Legends of the Toshigawa)
  • Janet Stone-Wade (Jetta: Legends of the Toshigawa, Princeless: Short Stories)
  • Tressa Bowling (Princeless: Short Stories)
  • Joe Grahn (Pirate Eye)

Vision of Comics and Cards

  • Kevin Freeman (NFL RushZone, Subculture, GlobWorld)

Acme Comics – Greensboro, NC

  • Jeremy Dale (Skyward)

Comic Ink – Dublin, CA

  • Dave Dwonch (NFL RushZone, Ghost Town, Double Jumpers, Back in the Day)
  • Bill Blankenship (Double Jumpers)

Pittsburgh Comics – Mcmurray, PA

  • Chad Cicconi (Fracture, NFL RushZone)

Jetpack Comics – Rochester, NH

  • Brandon Barrows (Jack Hammer)

Comicopolis – Santa Cruz, CA

  • Johnnie JD Arnold (The Final Plague)

Comic Book University – Indianapolis, IN

  • Jackie Crofts (Princeless: Tales of Girls Who Rock)

Comics and More – Plymouth Meeting, PA

  • Laura Guzzo (Princeless Short Stories)

SLG Boutiki – San Jose, CA

  • John “Super Ugly” Williams (Monsters are Just Like Us)

Cambridge Comic Arts Festival – Cambridge, Ontario

  • Adriana Blake (Princeless: Tales of the Family Ashe)

Action Lab Names Kevin Freeman New President of Action Lab Entertainment

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Effective October 1, 2012, Kevin Freeman has been named the new President of Action Lab Entertainment.  He replaces Shawn Pryor, who has served as President since the publisher’s inception in 2010.

Pryor will remain an integral part of the Action Lab team.  He will focus his efforts on building the digital side of comic production and serve as the primary contact to ComiXology, Comics Plus, Graphic.ly, and other digital outlets for Action Lab’s wide range of titles.  He’ll also serve as Action Lab’s web admin and be a facilitator for special projects.

In the almost two years that Pryor served as president, Action Lab went from a small unknown publisher to an award-nominated, and award winning, company.

“An administrative shift was needed to ensure that the future of Action Lab was maintained as it continues to grow,” explained Pryor.  “As we expand, our staff needs to expand as well.  We need to be able to spread out responsibilities, and that’s where Freeman comes in.  Now is the time to let someone else take the company further.”

Freeman brings with him a myriad of editorial and administrative experience, having served as the Managing Editor for comics publisher Ape Entertainment from 2005 to 2012.  He also served as interim Editor-in-Chief at Ape in 2009.  He joined the Action Lab team as Managing Editor in June 2012.

“I’m really excited to serve as Action Lab’s new president, and humbled that they are giving me this opportunity,” said Freeman.  “The upside of this company is limitless.  Given our early success, our recent acquisition of the Vamplets license, and a number of other huge projects that we can’t talk about yet, Action Lab is going to be on the publishing map for years to come.  We are doing amazing work here.”

Action Lab received two Eisner nominations in 2012 for its critically-acclaimed all-ages comic Princeless, and has been praised for its diverse library of titles, including Double Jumpers, Fracture, and The Order of Dagonet.

SubCulture Webstrip to End in October

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Kevin Freeman and Stan Yan, the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed webcomic SubCulture, have decided to end production of the comic with Strip #501, which is scheduled to post on October 11, 2012.  SubCulture began as a four-issue comic book mini-series published by Ape Entertainment in 2007, and continued as a webcomic beginning in February 2008, where it updates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

SubCulture is a critical yet funny look at geek culture, poking satirical fun at everything from comic books to video games to role playing, from Star Trek to Star Wars, while still being endearing to all of these endeavors.

“Stan [Yan] and I both decided that all good things must come to an end,” said writer Freeman.  “We’ve had a great run, but both of us have other projects and endeavors that we want to pursue, some of which you will be hearing about very soon.”

Yan noted that the duo still has plans to publish Volume Four of the webcomics in trade paperback form, which would complete the run.  The volume will be twice the size of the previous three volumes.  There is also talk on creating an “omnibus” edition that would collect not only the complete webcomic run, but also include the original comic book series.

Both creators wanted to let everyone know that the website will remain online, and that the blog section will be updated from time to time with news related to both the webcomic and the creators.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean that there will never be another SubCulture story,” Freeman added.  “There are lots of stories yet to tell, and we are certainly open to the idea of starting again if the demand warrents it.  Fornow, however, we want to try other things and work on other projects.  But SubCulture is always in the back of our minds.”

You can read all 490 in-print webstrips, plus follow the last twelve, at http://www.subculturecomic.com.