"Tori Do: the epic" is the first digital comic book ever to release on
enhanced CD-ROM. The dark techno ambience and drum n bass infused within
this enhanced CD sets the tone for the adventure ahead. It brings the
participant into a twisted icescape of a medievil future. The objective:
to become the omnipresent watcher, observing a young penguin martial
artist as he embarks on a journey beyond the gates that have sheltered
him.
Only a web browser and Real Player are needed to unlock the adventure, and
both are supplied on the multi-platform CD. "Tori Do" is an enhanced CD;
the audio can be played in any standard CD player. Viewing the digital
comic book requires a CD-ROM drive and sound card.
The digital comic was created by pinguino (Dallas) of Penguin Palace, with
musical contributions from RE: (Sacramento), Miguel Q (Dallas), Solo Jr.
(Fort Worth), and Nick B (Fort Worth).
Penguin Palace is the first publisher to bring together underground
musicians, independent comic books, and computer technology, and bind them
together in a standardized creation. Unlike movies, digital comic books
still leave much to the readers imagination, such as voices and movements
between comic book frames. Another "Tori Do" digital comic book is in the
works.
See for details
VIRTEX GOES PLASTIC!
Oktomica Entertainment is proud to announce the first release in a new line
of action figures based on characters appearing in comics published monthly
by Oktomica. Targeted for release in May 1999 is VIRTEX!
THE STORY: Virtex is the story of a lawman patrolling a new frontier called
The Madlands, a place where time has merged into one unpredictable
constant, where dinosaurs are poached by ninjas, and knights of the round
table battle it out with World War 3 infantrymen. Virtex is an officer of
the Justice Cycle Bureau, his mission is to hunt down 8 time-amalgamated
outlaws, and bring them to justice.
THE ACTION FIGURE: Taking collectible action figures to a whole new level,
Oktomica Entertainment introduces Virtex: The Action Figure.
Shipping to comic, hobby and online toy stores in May 1999, is what will be
the most revolutionary new figure to hit the action figure market since the
dawn of Spawn.
Virtex the action figure will have these special features:
Designed by series artist Kano
Detailed sculpting based on Kano's original art
9-points of articulation
6" tall
Quickdraw action
Light-Up Targeting Eye
Innovative Cylinder Packaging
3" high 360-degree rotatable base
Rapid-Fire Gunshot Sound FX Enhancement
Chase Editions - Shadowflage Virtex and Inviso-Virtex
"We are extremely happy with the original prototypes of the Virtex action
figure" says creator and writer Casey Lau. "We think this will introduce a
new level of quality and play value for independent figures and up the ante
for future action figures. Todd McFarlane did it in the sculpting, now
we're doing it with the playability by adding in numerous add-ons that
perhaps for the first time, actually go with the character," Lau continues.
"The sculptor followed Kano's original pencil control art so closely it
looks like it jumped off the page and came to life, which is the highest
compliment I can think of for the quality of the sculpt," Lau states.
"The cool thing is the high play value of the figure. For Virtex we wanted
to make it a toy that everybody would want to buy, not just the collectors.
When you squeeze his legs together his arms go up in a quick draw action
and a his right-eye lights up, just like in the comic!"
"We've packaged Virtex in an Epic Force style pack with a rotatable base
and we've added in a sound chip so that you can make gunshot sound effects
while rotating Virtex on his base."
"We're trying to cram as many cool things into this figure as we can. So
far it looks great and I'm very happy with it, and so will fans of the
comic and fans of good looking action figures!" Lau concludes.
Raving Toy Maniac () will
be doing an exclusive ongoing report on the production of this amazing
figure with monthly updates and photographs starting in February!
Virtex appears in the critically-acclaimed monthly comics series available
monthly at comic shops around the world.
Comments about Virtex the comic:
"Way past original --a 15 out of 10"
David Sinofsky, CBC Webmag
"Virtex #1 look(s) sharp and read very well"
Cliff Biggers, Comic Shop News
"(Virtex is) one of the slickest packages I've seen in a long time. Some
Image/Marvel/DC books don't look this good."
Andrew Dabb, Writer, Happydale, Image Comics
"Where most action-oriented comics go straight for the blood and gore,
Virtex keeps the story in perspective and actually takes a millisecond or
two to develop character as well."
Biff Pow, ActionZine
Rated Virtex the number 9 top comic of 1998!
More more information on Virtex and Oktomica, please check out our web-site at:
Chicago Fundraiser for:
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Chicago's NOWtheatre will present a special performance of its new play,
"Signal to Noise," as a joint benefit for the Comic Book Legal Defense
Fund and for the non-profit theatre group. "Signal to Noise" is adapted
for the stage from Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean's ground-breaking graphic
novel. Gaiman himself will introduce the performance and attend a
reception before the show. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization protecting the
First Amendment rights of the comics community.
The benefit performance of "Signal to Noise" takes place on Saturday,
February 6 at 8:00 pm at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater, 2257 North
Lincoln Avenue. A private reception with Gaiman and the authors of the
play will precede the performance at 6:00 pm. This reception is limited
to ticket holders only. Gaiman will also be on hand for questions
following the performance. Tickets for the evening cost $40 and are
available at the Victory Gardens Theatre box-office by calling
1-773-871-3000.
"I come from a country where free speech is something you must work
for," said Gaiman. "I do these things to raise money for the CBLDF
whenever I can, because I can. I wish we didn't need the CBLDF, and
everyone would let everyone else get on with the business of making,
reading, buying and selling comics without hindrance. But we don't live
in a perfect world. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is more important
now than ever before."
Gaiman, who first attracted critical acclaim for his graphic novels and
comic series "Sandman," has seen his unique vision successfully
translated for film, television, and two best-selling novels. Gaiman has
won the prestigious World Fantasy Award and is noted in "The Dictionary
of Literary Biography" as "one of the top ten post-modern writers" in
America. "Signal to Noise," first published in 1992, is one of Gaiman's
early collaborations with artist Dave McKean, whose striking work in
paint, ink, collage, and sculpture also graced the covers of all
seventy-five issues of "Sandman."
"Signal to Noise" has been adapted for the stage by Robert Tooms and
Marc Rosenbush, who also directs. True to Gaiman's original, the play
presents a richly textured, intensely theatrical experience with
something for everyone: paper storms, flagellants, numerology,
star-crossed lovers, a slightly mad hunchback, the Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse, giant puppets, and more.
The story revolves around a dying filmmaker's final project. In the
film-within-a-play, a group of people in 999 AD wait for the end of the
world. The filmmaker knows he won't live to make the film, but he writes
anyway, filling his last days with the one activity that gives joy and
meaning to the time he has left. Awaiting the inevitable, his thoughts
and feelings are echoed and illumined by the fears of his characters as
they count the hours until the Millennium's end and the coming of the
Apocalypse.
Proceeds from the performance will benefit the non-profit Comic Book
Legal Defense Fund, which since 1988 has protected the First Amendment
rights of creators, publishers, and retailers in the comics community.
Guided by the principle that comics should be afforded the same
Constitutional protection as film, literature, and other media, the CBLDF
has successfully funded the defense of more than a dozen artists,
publishers, and specialty retailers. As a creator of comics for mature
readers, Gaiman knows well the common misconceptions which often make the
medium an easy target for censors, crusading reporters, and grandstanding
politicians.
The benefit performance is made possible through the generous assistance
of Neil Gaiman, the NOWtheatre group, Dark Horse Comics, and the
nationally-known Chicago area bookstores, Stars Our Destination and
Chicago Comics.
The stage adaptation of "Signal to Noise" stars award-winning actor
William J. Norris, a veteran of hundreds of Chicago productions, best
known for having played Scrooge for twelve years in the Goodman Theatre's
annual production of "A Christmas Carol." He is supported by a large
ensemble cast that features some of Chicago's finest actors, including
Mary Zentmyer, Peter Toran, David Skidmore, Michael McAlister, Jane
deLaubenfels, Ann Marie Hieman, Glenn Fahlstrom, Bill Ryan, Matt Diehl,
Melissa Van Kersen, Cathleen Sperling, Robert Hungerford, Mary Kathryn
Bessinger, Robert Buscemi, and Mark Mysliwiec.
Director Marc Rosenbush is NOWtheatre's Artistic Director. He
co-produced the acclaimed "Buckets O' Beckett" festival (for which his
production of "Endgame" was named as one of Chicago's "Top Five Plays of
1996"); and was a 1997 finalist for the prestigious NEA/TCG Career
Development Program for Directors. The production team includes Robert
G. Smith (set and lighting design), Kevin Geiger (lighting design), Stacy
Ellen Rich (costume design), Lindsay Jones (original music and sound
design), and Cynthia Orthal (giant puppets). The play opens on February
4 and runs until March 14, with regular performances Wednesday through
Sunday.
For more information contact:
Chris Bleistein at The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
1-800-99-CBLDF cbldf@compuserve.com