Saturday, 16 January 2010

ORANG UTAN COMICS SWING ACROSS THE POND IN 2010!

UK indie publisher announces big plans for the year ahead!

Orang Utan Comics really stand out from the competition in the small press comics scene.” – Edward Kaye, Hypergeek.

Orang Utan Comics is kicking off the new decade with two exciting new releases and has some huge plans for the year to come. The first of these new releases is the action packed Alpha Gods: Betrayal #1, which picks up where last year’s popular Alpha Gods graphic novel left off. Alpha Gods: Betrayal #1 is full colour and is available via print on demand from IndyPlanet and as a digital download from DriveThru Comics.

The second of their new releases is FTL #4, the latest release in their critically acclaimed anthology series. Building on the tradition of OUC’s Eagle Award nominated anthology, Eleventh Hour, FTL seeks to showcase some of the best new writers and artists currently working in comics. Inside the pages of FTL #4 Josh Wagner and Steve Saunders engage us in an intriguing discussion involving death and art in Salvus; Melissa Hudson takes us back in time as we join Boadicca's rebellion against the Roman Empire; Peter Rogers introduces us to the world of the Fifth Outlaw; and Michael Sacal and Greg Novak round out the issue with their spooky ghost story Witchfinder: Curse of the Poppet. FTL #4 is available via print on demand from IndyPlanet and as a digital download from DriveThru Comics.

Orang Utan Comics are also pleased to announce that both Alpha Gods: Betrayal #1 and FTL #4, along with their complete back catalogue, are now available to order from your local comic shop, through new online distributor ComicsMonkey.

The exciting new developments at Orang Utan Comics don’t stop there. OUC are embracing the digital age of comics by working closely with Robot Comics to bring you Alpha Gods for mobile devices. Following the initial release for Android based mobile phones; Orang Utan Comics are very pleased to announce that the Alpha Gods graphic novel is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch in Apple’s App Store. “We’re really excited about the potential of mobile comics,” said Orang Utan Comics’ Managing Editor, and Alpha Gods creator, Ian Sharman, “we’re hoping it will introduce a whole new audience to what we’re doing, people who wouldn’t normally pick up a print comic and read it.” Robot Comics are working now to adapt Alpha Gods: Betrayal #1 for both Android based devices and the iPhone.

These new releases are just the start of Orang Utan Comics’ big plans for 2010. They also intend to release at least two trade paperbacks this year, the first of which, FTL: Year One, will collect the first year of stories from their anthology series into a single volume. Featuring stories by Dwight L. MacPherson, Ian Sharman, Peter Rogers, Steve Saunders, Melissa Hudson and more, FTL: Year One will be the perfect way for those who’ve yet to sample Orang Utan Comics’ ground breaking anthology to find out what they’ve been missing! Orang Utan Comics hope to follow this up later in the year with the Alpha Gods trade paperback, which will collect the graphic novel and all six issues of Alpha Gods: Betrayal into a single, full colour, 180 page volume.

Finally, Orang Utan Comics are pleased to announce that you will be able to find them at conventions across the UK this year, beginning with the Hi-Ex show in Inverness in March. You’ll also be able to find them at the Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo, the London MCM Expo, and many other shows throughout the year. However, Orang Utan Comics’ plans for 2010 are not limited to their home shores, as they will be taking the big step across the Atlantic Ocean this year and will be attending their first US convention in April. OUC are delighted to announce that they will be attending C2E2 in Chicago from April 16-18 at McCormick Place, Chicago. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this exciting new event,” commented OUC Managing Editor, Ian Sharman, “and I’m really looking forward to finally meeting some of our many US fans.”