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BLAM! Ventures Announces Talent Search

January 12, 2006– With the departure this past summer of series artist Lucius Romero, BLAM! Ventures took some time to consider how they wanted to proceed and has now decided to open up the search for who will illustrate the first story from Richard Hatch’s The Great War of Magellan comic.

Any artist up for consideration has big shoes to fill; our last artist was very talented and pushed things to the limit. We are looking for talented, visionary artists to help us break through barriers we haven’t even reached yet in this exciting new universe. You can be an awesome illustrator and a horrible storyteller, conversely you can have strong storytelling abilities and be a shoddy illustrator at best. And we need artists who are strong in the concept department. We’re looking for awesome on all counts, and we’re looking for it times three! That’s right, we are searching for multiple artists to handle a big production schedule next year.

What we are looking for: Versatile artists with strong storytelling skills; a powerful visual style filled with depth, dynamics and verve, and an understanding of the commitment it takes to put out a comic book in today’s market. This is a science fiction/fantasy universe, and we have a lot of tech, futuristic architecture and ships that needs drawing, so you must be able and comfortable with that. Plus, you need to be able to create realistic characters and creatures, and draw likenesses such as series star Richard Hatch. While we are open to artists from anywhere, we would prefer you be local to the NY/NJ/CT/PA area. This is a paid gig!

What we need from you now: Please send along samples of your work. Most important are sequential pages. Pin ups are nice, but tell us nothing of your storytelling ability, the sequential pages will give us a clue as to how you work, and whether we think we can work with you. Please send LINKS ONLY that show 3-5 pages of sequential work. Do not send attachments. There are plenty of artists’ forums out there, and many are free of charge, so there are places online to showcase your work. If you must send us attachments, email us for permission and instructions.

Where to send: All submissions should be emailed to submissions@blamventures.com with the phrase GWOM Artist Search 2006 in the subject line.

The search is on! Submit to us, baby, it’ll be a ride you never forget!

 

BLAM! Comics Reloads

March 22, 2005 - BLAM! Comics, publisher of the upcoming comic book series Richard Hatch’s The Great War of Magellan, is getting a small makeover in the form of a name change. Beginning today they will be known as BLAM! Press.

“While comic books remain our first priority as far as publishing is concerned, it became apparent to us that our interests were broader in general,” says BLAM! editorial director Christian Berntsen. “With an eye towards novels, RPGs, art prints and other outlets, changing the name of the company to BLAM! Press seemed the most sensible thing to do. It keeps the essence of what we’re about.”

One title that will remain unaffected by the change is their Official Great War of Magellan Comics Magazine, which has already seen print under the BLAM! Comics moniker. Creative director Andrew E. C. Gaska explains, “We printed advance copies of The Official Comics Magazine for our debut appearance at MegaCon last month in Orlando, FL. The name doesn’t actually appear on the cover, just the logo. Inside, however, it’s everywhere.”

With potentially enough copies to fill distribution orders, the question of whether or not to release The Official Comics Magazine to the general public invariably came up. “We thought on it, but decided to go ahead and distribute it as is,” Gaska continued with a smile, “We figure that’ll just make it a bit more collectible.”

The www.blamcomics.com domain name will forward directly to the new BLAM! Press site (www.blampress.com) to avoid confusion, as BLAM! Press owns both web addresses.

BLAM! Press was founded by partners Berntsen and Gaska in 2003 to create high quality comics with an emphasis on broadening the comic book audience by bringing a cinematic view to sequential storytelling. In 2004, they signed with Richard Hatch of Battlestar Galactica fame to bring his creator owned property The Great War of Magellan, a sci-fi adventure concept he is currently developing for television, to the comics medium.

On the web: www.blampress.com

 

The Great War Begins in Orlando, FL

February 21, 2005 - BLAM! Comics is pleased to announce the first release in their partnership with The Great War of Magellan creator Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica) and his MerlinQuest Entertainment company: The Official Great War of Magellan Comics Magazine.

Designed to give the readers pertinent background information about the Magellan universe, as well as to whet their appetite for the upcoming comic book series, this special 48 page magazine contains exclusive materials never before seen by the public. Part behind the scenes chronicle, part manifesto of a universe, and all eye popping visual feast, The Official GWoM Comics Magazine provides in depth articles on the making of the original live action trailer and BLAM! Comics’ plans for the series; an interview with Hatch himself on the genesis of the Magellan project and where he wants to go with it; and a script excerpt from the first story. Add to that a plethora of art from talented series illustrator Lucius Romero, and a special pull out section called The Lightjammer’s Guide to the Magellanic Cloud, and you have all you need to know about The Great War of Magellan to prepare you for year one of the comic book series.

And The Official GWoM Comics Magazine is just that: a primer. For several years now, Richard Hatch has been developing The Great War of Magellan with the intention of producing a television series in which he can explore all the theoretical probabilities and possibilities that await mankind’s sojourn into the great unknown. The upcoming Revenant storyline from the first year of The Great War of Magellan comic series will give readers a taste of that.

Tracking events in the thousand years prior to the time frame of his proposed television series, Hatch and co-writers Andrew E. C. Gaska and Christian Berntsen, along with illustrator Romero, will chronicle the adventures of Akillian, the story’s main protagonist. Born with abilities unlike any other human being in the Magellanic Cloud, and an untapped potential even he is unaware of, Akillian has struggled all of his life to find an identity; to find out who he is.

The first year’s story arc, a three part epic entitled Revenant, debuts this Spring with the 32 page one-shot called Act I: Legacy, and finds Akillian back within the galactic fold after a centuries long absence. In Act II: Myth, a 72 page graphic novel event coming this Summer, Akillian journeys to the crossroads world of Kyronis, where a popular Trader bar, the Bladeshaft, is dominated by murmurings of his return by a mysterious old man, and tall tales of his abilities by the ubiquitous traders, criminals and other assorted vermin. At the end of 2005, events culminate with the release of issue one of the miniseries Act III: Fate, as Akillian reestablishes his presence in the Cloud just in time to prevent the trader clans from warring with each other, and hopefully bring them together to stop the return of an ancient foe, the Nephilim. Featuring a diverse cast of supporting characters, and set against the backdrop of a ravaged, yet inspiring universe, The Great War of Magellan promises to bring an epic quality to science fiction comic books not seen in some time.

Those eager to see what this series is all about can head down to Orlando, FL, February 25-27 and check out this year’s MegaCon, co-sponsored by East Coast based publisher BLAM! Comics, where Richard Hatch and BLAM! founders Gaska and Berntsen will make their first joint convention appearance of 2005 to debut this special magazine. After this landmark appearance, the general public will have the opportunity to get their hands on this hot property when it is released through BLAM! Comics publishing partner Vanguard Productions this summer to comic shops across the country. For more information head over to www.gwomcomic.com, and while there, you can sign up for The Great War of Magellan mailing list to receive updates.
On the web: www.blamcomics.com

 

Vanguard Productions Brings Down The Hammer With New Partnership

February 21, 2005 – Vanguard Productions, publisher of art books by such luminaries of the comics field as Carmine Infantino, Steranko and Joe Simon, has entered into an agreement with new independent publisher BLAM! Comics to distribute their catalog of titles through Vanguard’s already established network.

In recent years, Vanguard Productions, under the direction of president and publisher J. David Spurlock, has risen to be the top producer of art books and biographies on comics artists. That success has prompted the launch of a graphic novel line which includes JESSE JAMES by Kubert and Infantino, THE SPIDER by McGregor and Colan, and the hit, NEAL ADAMS MONSTERS. Created in 2003 as an offshoot of their design studio 3p2c.com, BLAM! Comics was co-founded by Andrew E. C. Gaska and Christian Berntsen to bring a cinematic scope to comic books and sequential storytelling, with the intention of reaching a broader and more diverse audience than ever before. While holding fast to the ideal of the old aesthetics, they intend to push onward to an exciting new dynamic in comics; giving the creator the freedom to explore their utmost boundaries, while providing the reader with something to eagerly anticipate.

By being released under the Vanguard banner, fledgling company BLAM! Comics gains an instantly recognizable presence in the direct market, as well as access to the growing graphic novel market in major bookstores. For Vanguard publisher and Space Cowboy creator Spurlock, BLAM! brings an infusion of fresh talent into his already impressive stable of legendary creators.

Among the new titles being produced by BLAM! is the premier series Richard Hatch’s The Great War of Magellan. The Battlestar Galactica star’s first foray into creator-owned comics, GWoM follows the adventures of Akillian, a legendary trader and star mariner whose quest to find out who he truly is will shape the destiny of an entire galaxy: that of the Magellanic Cloud.

Future releases will include titles from BLAM! co-founders Gaska and Berntsen’s 7th Millennium universe, and BLAM! Comics senior illustrator Lucius Romero’s Samurai Groom.

Look for their first cooperative effort, The Official Great War of Magellan Comics Magazine, to be solicited this spring. For more information on Vanguard Productions, go to www.creativemix.com/vanguard; for further details on BLAM! Comics and all of their upcoming projects, visit www.blamcomics.com.

 

Battlestar Galactica’s Richard Hatch Partners with New Comic Book Publisher

September 3, 2004 - BLAM! Comics is pleased to announce a new partnership with actor-writer-producer Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica) and his MerlinQuest Entertainment company to produce a comic book series and line of comic book related ancillary products featuring Hatch’s own creation: The Great War of Magellan.

For several years now, Richard Hatch has been developing The Great War of Magellan with the intention of producing a television series where he can explore all the theoretical probabilities and possibilities that await mankind’s sojourn into the great unknown. In his own words: “The great thinkers, scientist and historians of our time have always attempted to peer over the next horizon to see where we might be going, and I thought that I would springboard from their imaginings to create a heartfelt and inspiring story that would dramatically bring to life theirs and all our diverse insights about the future.”

To this end he has gathered a handpicked team of talented and visionary artists, writers and producers to create promotional trailer to show everyone what he’s talking about. Now he brings his dream closer to realization with the launch of a new ongoing comic book series in the Summer of 2005, the first taste of this epic tale for a curious public. Tracking events about seven hundred years prior to the time frame of his proposed television series, Hatch and co-writers Andrew E. C. Gaska and Christian Berntsen, along with talented newcomer Lucius Romero, will chronicle the adventures of Akillian, the story’s main protagonist.

Through several Great Wars and evolutions the surviving humans of the Magellanic Cloud galaxy have been reduced to only a few known habitable planets and free territories, with many of the survivors living among the ruins of once beautiful cites and in floating habitats hovering above the atmosphere of scorched out planets that can no longer sustain life. Nomadic clans of traders, rogue pilots, and pirate ship captains, along with a group of renegade freedom fighters, fight it out for supremacy of these territories. Set apart from these groups is the war weary trader pilot Akillian, leader of a small band of misfits and orphans, who journeys through the apocalyptic wastelands of the galaxy, searching for his lost family, and a destiny he never imagined. From revelations about his ancient forefathers, the Magellans/Masuri, he discovers the keys to the human race’s survival, and the origins of their greatest foe, the Nephilim. The Great War of Magellan promises to bring an epic quality to science fiction comic books not seen in some time.

“This is a great opportunity for a new company such as ours,” remarked BLAM! editorial director Christian Berntsen, “working with a beloved member of the sci-fi community on a project he feels a white hot passion for — I can’t wait for the fans to see what we have in store for them.”

For those who cannot wait until next Spring, Richard Hatch and the gang at BLAM! will be making the rounds at various conventions during the Fall 2004/Winter 2005 seasons and with a sneak peek at development art from the upcoming series. In addition, BLAM! will be producing two specials in advance of the ongoing series. The first will be offered this fall, a behind the scenes look at the making of the GWoM comic series, featuring exclusive art, story notes from the creative team, and a few surprises available nowhere else. Following that in the winter of 2005 BLAM! will release a special 48 page one-shot comic containing an exclusive convention-only story that sets up the story of Akillian and the Great Magellanic Wars. For those diehard fans really eager to see what this series is all about, head down to Atlanta, GA September 3-6 and check out this year’s Dragon*Con, where Richard Hatch and the entire BLAM! Comics creative team will make their first and only convention appearance together this year.

For more information: please head over to www.3p2c.com/gwom, and sign up for The Great War of Magellan mailing list for updates.