 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
    
|
|
Press Room
Disney Publishing Worldwide, a division of the Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), and Gemstone Publishing are pleased to announce the reintroduction of a series of comic books featuring a variety of the most popular Disney characters. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and other Disney favorites will be brought to life in monthly and bi-monthly comic books available to consumers beginning this week.
Gemstone Publishing and Disney Publishing Worldwide plan to bring back a variety of comic books featuring many of the classic Disney characters. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and other Disney favorites will be featured in a series of monthly comic books to be introduced by Gemstone in June 2003. "Walt Disney's Donald Duck Adventures will be the first in a series of 5-1/2" X 7-1/2" 128-page "Take-Along" books that will hit book stores and comic shops in July of this year," announced John Clark, Editor-in-Chief of the new Gemstone Disney comic book line earlier this week. Gemstone Publishing has announced the July release of the first volume in a series of "manga-size" (5.5" x 7.5") full color trade paperbacks featuring the standard Disney characters such as Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Uncle Scrooge. "We are currently on schedule with no hiccups," said John Clark, Gemstone Publishing's editor-in-chief for the Disney comics line. "All titles should release as planned. Our Free Comic Book Day issue of Donald Duck Adventures featuring "Maharajah Donald," will be out May 3, Free Comic Book Day, along with the other free comics. The 64-page prestige books, Uncle Scrooge #319 and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #634, will both ship from the printer in June and will be monthly thereafter. Then our regular, 32-page comics will ship in September and hold to a monthly schedule after that, beginning with Donald Duck #308 and Mickey Mouse and Friends #257. Free Comic Book Day, slated for May 3, 2003, just keeps getting better and better. Gemstone Publishing has announced that it will be reprinting a shoe store giveaway comic from the 1950s that featured the classic Carl Barks story, "Maharajah Donald." In addition to their regular printings, Western Printing used to publish the fantastic Donald Duck stories of Carl Barks in giveaway comics - the most valuable of which is called "Maharajah Donald" - first published in 1947 in Boys and Girls' March of Comics #4 and given away as a shoe store premium. But did you know what the story behind the comic is? The deal was impressive for its scope in packages (it includes periodicals, trade paperbacks, and hardcovers), its scope in editorial material (it includes material from around the world from the past, present, and future), its scope in territory (comic stores around the world will have the right to buy the U.S. editions) and because Geppi has re-assembled the editorial staff from Gladstone for this effort.
After a nearly four-year absence in the U.S., Disney Publishing is re-entering the comic book market through a licensing deal made with Gemstone Publishing. Under the agreement, Gemstone will have access to Disney's classic characters including Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Gemstone also hopes to develop titles including new material that has been produced overseas, said Steve Geppi, president of Gemstone. Diamond President and CEO Steve Geppi and Disney Licensed Publishing (an imprint of Disney's Children's Book Group) have announced plans for Diamond sister company Gemstone Publishing to revive a variety of comic books featuring many of the beloved Disney characters. Gemstone Publishing and Disney Publishing Worldwide plan to bring back a variety of comic books featuring many of the classic Disney characters. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and other Disney favorites will be featured in a series of monthly comic books to be introduced by Gemstone in June 2003.
|
|
