This Saturday, May 4th is Free Comic Book Day! Our offering is the Mouse Guard / Rust Flip Book, which you can pick up for free at your local participating comic book shop! It contains original stories by David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Royden Lepp (Rust); Cory Godbey (Jim Henson’s Labyrinth); Nate Cosby and Chris Eliopoulos (Cow Boy); and Sean Rubin (Bolivar). Plus, there’s an activity page by Yehudi Mercado (Pantalones, TX)! If you live near any of the shops below, you can run into Archaia folk who will be out and about signing for Free Comic Book Day! (All times listed are local.)
CALIFORNIA
4 Color Fantasies
7172 Archibald Ave.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701
(909) 563-8751
11am – 3pm
Archaia will have a table with books for sale, giveaways, and creator signings!
Appearing: 1 – 2pm Tim Beedle (Fraggle Rock); 2 – 3pm Moro Rogers (City in the Desert)
MICHIGAN
Detroit Comics
23333 Woodward Ave.
Ferndale, MI 48220
(248) 548-2669
Appearing: 10am – 12:30pm David Petersen (Mouse Guard)
Green Brain Comics
13210 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, MI 48126
(313) 582-9444
Appearing: 1pm – ? David Petersen (Mouse Guard)
NEW YORK
Midtown Comics (Downtown location)
64 Fulton St.
New York, NY 10038
(800) 411-3341
Appearing: 1 – 3pm Nate Cosby and Chris Eliopoulos (Cow Boy)
SOUTH CAROLINA
Richard’s Comics & Collectables
1214A Laurens Road
Greenville, SC 29607
(864) 271-1104
Appearing: 11am – 1pm Cory Godbey (Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock)
TEXAS
Austin Books and Comics
5002 N. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 454-4197
Appearing: 11am – 3pm Yehudi Mercado (Pantalones, TX)
WASHINGTON
The Comic Stop (Lynwood location)
3333 184th St. SW, Suite G
Lynnwood, WA 98037
(425) 744-2767
Appearing: 11am – 3pm Royden Lepp (Rust)
ARCHAIA PANEL OF THE DAY: RUST
A mysterious boy crashes into Roman’s farm… and he’s not alone… something’s followed him… what on earth is behind the barn? Something making a noise like that can’t be anything good.
Archaia will be exhibiting at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) during the weekend of April 26-28. You can find us at Booth 1019! Confirmed Archaia creators in attendance include:
Andrew E. C. Gaska (writer: Critical Millennium: The Dark Frontier, Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes, Space: 1999: Aftershock and Awe)
Andrew Rostan (writer: An Elegy for Amelia Johnson)
Brent Schoonover (artist: Mr. Murder Is Dead)
Chandra Free (writer/artist: The God Machine, Fraggle Rock)
Charles Soule (writer: Strange Attractors)
Cory Godbey (artist: Fraggle Rock, the upcoming Jim Henson’s Labyrinth and Spera Vol. 3)
David Marquez (artist: Syndrome, Days Missing Vol. 2: Kestus, the upcoming The Joyners in 3D)
David Petersen (writer/artist: Mouse Guard)
Jeremy Bastian (writer/artist: Cursed Pirate Girl)
Ramón Pérez (artist: Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand)
R.J. Ryan (writer: Syndrome, the upcoming The Joyners in 3D)
Royden Lepp (artist/writer: Rust)
Tom Pinchuk (writer: Hybrid Bastards!)
Yehudi Mercado (writer/artist: Pantalones, TX)
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We will also be presenting a panel during C2E2. Please join us!
Sunday, April 28, 1:30 – 2:30p.m., Room W471 Archaia Entertainment Presents: Comics Storytelling and the Lost Art of 3D — Join creators with a special perspective on 3D storytelling in comics for an uncensored discussion of the medium’s benefits and drawbacks, as well as a wide-ranging survey of the highs and lows of 60 years of 3D comics, only at C2E2 2013!
Pioneered by a cabal of industrious creators in the early 1950s, anaglyph 3D comics experienced a boom at roughly the same mid-century moment as 3D movies first appeared in cinemas nationwide. 60 years later, 2012 saw the passing of two of the field’s pioneers: comics legend Joe Kubert, one of the format’s credited inventors, and Ray Zone, the famed conversion artist on the most notable 3D comics of the last 30 years.
To pay tribute to these lost giants and celebrate the 2013 release of their ambitious, all-3D graphic novel The Joyners in 3D from Archaia, writer R.J. Ryan (Syndrome) and New York Times best-selling illustrator David Marquez (All-New X-Men, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Syndrome) have invited a panel of creatives from across comics to dig deep into the medium’s checkered history of using 3D as a storytelling tool. The multimedia presentation will include big-screen glimpses of comics’ most famous—and most forgettable—3D projects, as well as a brief, exclusive sneak peek at Ryan & Marquez’s epic 3D melodrama, The Joyners in 3D. Moderated by Word Balloon podcast host John Siuntres.
Every panel attendee receives a free pair of 3D glasses and a coupon to receive a copy of the 2012 Free Comic Book Day hardcover at the Archaia booth (while supplies last)!
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Mouse Guard creator David Petersen and Rust creator Royden Lepp will also take part in the Imaginative Sci-Fi Authors of C2E2 Panel!
Saturday, April 27, 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm., Room W475b Joining other science fiction and fantasy authors such as E.B. Hudspeth (The Resurrectionist, Quirk), Jeffrey Brown (Vador and Son, Top Shelf), Brandon Easton (Roboy, Lion Forge), and Rachel Rawlings (The Maurin Kincaide Series), David Petersen and Royden Lepp will talk about their imaginative Sci-Fi and Fantasy graphic novels!
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SIGNING SCHEDULE (Subject to change. Check booth for final times.) Archaia Booth, #1019
FRIDAY, April 26
12:30-1:30 Chandra Free (Table 1), Jeremy Bastian (Table 3)
12:30-2 Charles Soule (Table 2), Royden Lepp (Table 4)
2-3:30 R.J. Ryan, David Marquez (David until 2 only) (Table 3)
3-4 David Petersen (Table 2)
3-4:30 Andrew E. C. Gaska (Table 4)
4-5 Tom Pinchuk (Table 3)
4:30-5:30 Yehudi Mercado (Table 2)
4:30-6 Royden Lepp (Table 1) 5-6:30 Brent Schoonover (Table 4)
5:30-7 Andrew Rostan (Table 3)
6-7 Charles Soule (Table 2)
SATURDAY, April 27
11-12 Jeremy Bastian (Table 2)
11-12:30 Brent Schoonover (Table 1), R.J. Ryan and David Marquez (David until 12 only) (Table 3), Royden Lepp (Table 4)
12:30-1:30 Yehudi Mercado (Table 2)
1-2:30 Chandra Free (Table 1), Ramón Pérez (Table 3)
1-4 Andrew Rostan (Table 4)
2-3 Charles Soule (Table 2)
3-4 David Petersen (Table 3)
3-4:30 Andrew E. C. Gaska (Table 1)
3:30-5 Royden Lepp (Table 2)
4:30-5:30 Cory Godbey (Table 3)
5-6:30 Tom Pinchuk (Table 1)
6-7 Charles Soule (Table 2)
SUNDAY, April 28
11-12:30 Andrew Rostan (Table 1), R.J. Ryan and David Marquez (David until 12 only) (Table 2), Charles Soule (Table 3), Chandra Free (Table 4)
1-2:30 Brent Schoonover (Table 2), Andrew E. C. Gaska (Table 3)
3-4 David Petersen (Table 2), Andrew Rostan (Table 3), Yehudi Mercado (Table 4)
Stuart Warren over at sequart.org had some interesting things to say about Royden Lepp’s RUST.
“With the advent of newer technologies and advanced AI, humans are being systematically phased out from everyday life. This is the machinist’s nightmare: to be replaced by the very things they fabricate and build. What has made humans, thus far, special and intrinsically innovating, is the self-perpetuating idea. As advances in AI are made, however, very soon even this novel ability will be subject to the supremacy of the machine. Naturally, this concept and logical path of development has spilled into the realm of modern combat, and is the subject of debate in Royden Lepp’s Rust, a two part graphic novel featuring the untimely meeting between Roman Taylor and the titular Jet Jones. -”
Check out the rest of the article at the website!
And if you haven’t read it yet, pick up RUST: Visitor in the Field, and RUST:Secrets of the Cell at the Archaia webstore, your local comic shop, or wherever books are sold.
On the afternoon of March 4, the day after Emerald City Comicon, I was tweeted by Royden Lepp, author of one of the coolest graphic novels right now: Rust.
Check it out! You’ll love it. ~
A panel from @RoydenLepp’s RUST story #FCBD

Archaia and Comixology are having a sale on All-Ages Comics today through Thursday! Check out these awesome digital comics!
Talking Comics did an awesome podcast where they interviewed Royden Lepp, creator of Rust, about making comics, signing movie deals, and how he created Jet Jones.
Listen to it here!
Jet Jones is back! Royden Lepp’s RUST: SECRETS OF THE CELL arrives in your local comic shop tomorrow!
It’s (almost) here! Rust Volume 2: Secrets of the Cell blasts off to a store near you December 12th.
Today’s a great day for Digital Comics! RUST: SECRETS OF THE CELL Part 4, SPERA Volume 2 Part 4, and SPACE: 1999 AFTERSHOCK & AWE Part 4 are on ComiXology today!

This Digital Wednesday, Archaia and comiXology are teaming up to bring you a big dose of fantasy and adventure! Just like every week, we are bringing your favorite comics in and making them just a click away. Want to read one of our comics before it comes out in print? Well now you can, with Archaia’s Digital First comics, only available at comiXology.
Digital Firsts: Titles That Are Available Digitally Before the Print Edition’s Release.
Rust Vol. 2: Secrets of the Cell, Part 2:
Writer/artist: Royden Lepp
In this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Rust Vol. 1: Visitor in the Field, the dysfunctional Taylor family continues to rebuild their farm lives after the devastating loss of a recent war, and the appearance of the mysterious jetpack-wearing boy, Jet Jones. Jet’s behavior continues to raise youngest brother Oswald’s suspicion, particularly when the appearance of another robot invader puts them all in danger!
In this part 2 of Volume 2, Oswald might finally be figuring out the secrets behind Jet! Little does he know, he’s about to learn a lot more than he planned, not only about Jet, but about the war as well.




Iron: Or, the War After, Part 4:
Writer/artist: Shane-Michael Vidaurri
It is the aftermath of a long war, in a world of constant winter. An intelligence spy from the Resistance—the rabbit, Hardin—steals secret information from a military base of the Regime. His actions set off a chain of events that reverberates through the ranks of both sides, touching everyone from Pavel the crow to Giles the goat, from the highest-ranking officials to the smallest orphaned child. When the snow finally settles, who will be the true patriot and who the true traitor?
In Part 4 of Iron: Or, the War After, Engel convinces James to take the stand against Pavel. James must decide whether to say the words he knows Engel wants him to say or if he should tell the truth. But what will happen to him, and what has happened to his sister? Is there anyone who can help James, or will Engel finally get his way?




Spera, Vol. 2, Part 2:
Writer: Josh Tierney
Artists: Afu Chan, Giannis Milonogiannis, Kyla Vanderklugt, and Timothy Weaver
Lono’s life as a princess consisted of sitting, reading, and dreaming—until the day Pira, princess of a neighboring kingdom, arrived with news of a waking nightmare! With the help of Pira’s best friend—a fire spirit in the form of a dog named Yonder—the princesses now find themselves in a race against evil. The goal: Spera, a magical realm of which the princesses had only ever heard the tallest tales. The prize: their very lives!
In this next installment of Spera Vol. 2, Pira and Lono have lost the monster but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a normal relaxing day in the city…right? Lono and Pira are going to have a harder time than they thought with monsters showing up behind every corner, not that Pira minds. Will Lono ever get her day of relaxation?




Look forward to next week! Archaia and comiXology will team up again to give you more Digital Firsts! Next week we will have space adventures with Space:1999 - Classics Remastered, action-filled adventures with The Dare Detectives! and The Grand Duke, as well as the complete first volume of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller ready to be downloaded.

Can you believe July is almost over? We’ve been trying to make the most of our summer and certainly hope you have, too! This week we have some great digital releases for you guys available at comiXology, from Digital Firsts to completed volumes to some exciting continuations of a few of your favorite Archaia titles!
Digital Firsts: Titles That Are Available Digitally Before the Print Edition’s Release
Rust Vol. 2: Secrets of the Cell #1
Writer/Artist: Royden Lepp
In creator Royden Lepp’s follow-up to his widely popular debut graphic novel, Rust: Visitor in the Field, the adventures of Jet Jones—the mysterious boy with the jet pack—continue.
After a second robot attack on the Taylor farm, Roman’s younger brother Oswald becomes more and more suspicious of Jet’s connection to the robots, while Jet himself tries to connect with the flesh and blood family that has harbored him. What they don’t know is that a new evil may be looming on the horizon. Will they be ready when it comes?


Spera Vol. 2 #1
Writer: Josh Tierney
Artists: Giannis Milonogiannis, Kyla Vanderklugt, Timothy Weaver, and Afu Chan
In this sequel to the critically acclaimed first volume of Spera, exiled princesses Pira and Lono travel to the bustling city of Kotequog to avoid the clutches of Pira’s mother, the Evil Queen. Obtaining jobs as adventurers, the two best friends set out on a series of quests that land them in perhaps more excitement than they’d bargained for. Told in four chapters and a series of stand-alone shorts, each drawn by a different rising talent in comics, Spera: Volume 2 brings the same gorgeous artistry as its debut installment. The series, based off the original webcomic experiment, brings artists together from around the globe to showcase their talents as some of the premier fantasy artists in the industry. Spera will appeal to art lovers and children of all ages, especially fans of The Legend of Korra, Patricia Wrede’s Dealing with Dragons, Disney’s Tangled, and the Flight series.


Iron: Or, the War After #3
Writer/Artist: S.M. Vidaurri
Download and enjoy the third chapter of the beautiful work that is Iron: Or, The War After.
It is the aftermath of a long war, in a world of constant winter. An intelligence spy from the Resistance—the rabbit, Hardin—steals secret information from a military base of the Regime. His actions set off a chain of events that reverberate through the ranks of both sides, touching everyone from Pavel the crow to Giles the goat, from the highest-ranking officials to the smallest orphaned child. When the snow finally settles, who will be the true patriot and who the true traitor?
In this spellbinding, beautifully illustrated anthropomorphic tale, the actions of a spy set off a chain reaction that affects both sides of the struggle, making each animal question their loyalty to their side.


Other Archaia Digital Releases
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol. 1, complete
Writers: Brian Holguin and Brian Froud
Artists: Alex Sheikman, Lizzy John, and Brian Froud
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol. 1 is an original graphic novel set 1,000 years before the crystal cracked, before the world of Thra fell to strife and destruction. Original Dark Crystal movie concept designer Brian Froud plots, provides the cover, designs characters, and art directs this beautiful story. This complete edition contains bonus material.
Rust Vol. 1: Visitor in the Field, complete
Writer/Artist: Royden Lepp
This complete adventure can finally be found on comiXology! Rust is a high-octane adventure set in the prairie lands of an unknown time. Life on the Taylor family farm was difficult enough before Jet Jones crashes into the barn, chased by a giant decommissioned war robot! Oldest son Roman Taylor struggles to keep his family’s small farm afloat as the area heals from a devastating world war. While the rest of his family may not trust the mysterious boy with the jetpack, Roman believes the secrets of Jet’s past may be the key to their survival. Contains bonus material.
Spera Vol. 1, complete
Writer: Josh Tierney
Artists: Emily Carroll, Afu Chan, Hwei Lin Lim, Olivier Pichard and Kyla Vanderklugt
Lono’s life as a princess consisted of sitting, reading, and dreaming—until the day Pira, princess of a neighboring kingdom, arrived with news of a waking nightmare! With the help of Pira’s best friend—a fire spirit in the form of a dog named Yonder—the princesses now find themselves in a race against evil. The goal: Spera, a magical realm of which the princesses had only ever heard the tallest tales. The prize: their very lives!
Spera: Vol. 1 is illustrated by Kyla Vanderklugt, Hwei, Emily Carroll, Olivier Pichard and Afu Chan, and also includes short comics by Jordyn F. Bochon, Cécile Brun, Luke Pearson, Leela Wagner and Matt Marblo.
That’s all for this week! Check back next week for more new releases, including the complete versions of Black Charity, Everlast, and Hopeless, Maine!
The big week has finally begun. As you make your final plans for the convention (picking out the panels you want to hit up, highlighting the booths you will visit on your map, and whose signatures you will be hunting for), make sure you take note of the Archaia Entertainment booth’s location.

We are in booth #2635, located on the east side of the Exhibit Hall. You can find the full map on SDCC’s website.
Also, don’t leave home without reading our signing schedule to know when Archaia creators, artists, and writers will be there.
And of course, take note of our panels:
Archaia Presents: How to Effectively Pitch A Story
Thursday, 7/12/12, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Room 32AB
Archaia editors and creators offer their advice on how to better pitch a story. In this interactive panel, 9 volunteers will be put into 3 teams to come up with a pitch in 15 minutes. The winning team with the best pitch will get a prize pack of Archaia hardcover books.
Archaia Presents: Transmedia in Graphic Novel Publishing
Friday, 7/13/12, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Room 23ABC
Get the scoop on Archaia’s latest projects that break the barriers between media, such as graphic novels, video games, and films. This panel will feature titles like Hawken, the prequel to the story of a free-to-play mech first-person-shooter; Cyborg 009, a new interpretation of Shotaro Ishinomori’s groundbreaking manga; and, Space: 1999: Aftershock and Awe, the first of a series of hardcover graphic novels based on the late 1970s sci-fi TV series.
Archaia Presents: How to Tell a Better Story Through World-Building
Saturday, 7/14/12, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Room 9
Hear established graphic novel creators talk about how world-building strengthens storytelling through character development, settings and environment, choosing the right era, etc. Also, see some rarely seen sketch art, concept designs, and models during the presentation. Presenters will include David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), and Royden Lepp (Rust).
For more info, click here.
Also stop by our booth, #2635, for some free give-a-ways, signings, and convention-only sales on our hardcover books. There will be some great deals and even better comics!