Official Press Release

ARCHAIA ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS WITH PGW
Rising Graphic Novel Publishing Star Finds New Home for Book Trade Market and Beyond

Berkeley, CA (May 23, 2011) –Archaia Entertainment, LLC and Publishers Group West (“PGW”), a Perseus Books Group company, announced today that PGW will begin distributing Archaia titles in the US and Canada beginning June 20, 2011. The deal encompasses all of Archaia’s backlist titles, which include fan-favorites: Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, and The Killer, plus over 40 frontlist titles for the second half of 2011. Included are two major media tie-in releases: the illustrated prose edition of The Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes in July and an original graphic novel anthology to Relativity Media’s Immortals in September.

PJ Bickett, Archaia’s CEO, said, “We are forging powerful partnerships with industry leaders in all aspects of our business, underscoring Archaia’s arrival as a substantial player within the publishing world.  PGW will be a key partner in our success, and with their world-class distribution they will allow Archaia to continue to expand our presence across the book trade, as well as in educational, library and international markets.”

“Archaia is a publisher to be reckoned with. They are consistently developing some of the most beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written titles across genres,” said Kevin Votel, PGW’s Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. “In a short time, they’ve become a leading brand and we’re thrilled to be working with their list.”

About Archaia Entertainment
Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Days Missing, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, Engineer, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels.  Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year according to Ain’t it Cool News, Graphic Policy, and Comic Related, and was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media.

About PGW
PGW, a member of the Perseus Books Group, is a one-stop solution for world English language sales and marketing for independent publishers. Established in 1976, PGW is headquartered in Berkeley, CA, with a national sales office in New York City and a distribution center located in Jackson, TN.

One of the top ten book vendors in the country, PGW represents more than 100 independent publishers, who together are publishing some of the most topical, innovative, literary, and award-winning books available today. Major national and international bestsellers from PGW client publishers include Matterhorn (Atlantic Monthly Press), The Power of Now (New World Library), Strengthsfinder 2.0 (Gallup Press), and the Rick Steves Guidebooks series (Avalon Travel Publishing).

About the Perseus Books Group
The Perseus Books Group is an independent company committed to enabling independent publishers to reach their potential whether those publishers are Perseus-owned, joint ventures or owned by third parties. Member publishing programs include Avalon Travel, Basic Books, Basic Civitas, Da Capo Press, Da Capo Lifelong Books, Running Press, Seal Press, Vanguard Press and Westview Press, as well as partnerships with PublicAffairs and with Nation Books. Through Consortium, Perseus Distribution and Publishers Group West, the Perseus Books Group is the leading provider of sales, marketing, distribution, and digital services to independent publishers.  For more information, visit our websites at www.perseusbooks.com, www.perseusdigital.com/constellation.