NYCC: YOUNG LIT AUTHOR TAMORA PIERCE SIGNS EXCLUSIVELY WITH MARVEL

[MattBrady]

Press Release

Tamora Pierce, author of over twenty novels and self-proclaimed “geek”, has signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Comics.

Best known for her breaking of the male warrior fantasy mold, Pierce has made solid, action-packed adventures for young female readers a reality. Her books have captured the imagination of lovers of the fantastic across the world and rung interesting changes on the classic tales of the hero's journey.

Her fiction titles include ALANNA: THE FIRST ADVENTURE, WILD MAGIC, LADY KNIGHT, STREET MAGIC, TRICKSTER'S QUEEN, THE WILL OF THE EMPRESS, and this fall's TERRIER.

Growing up in Rural Pennsylvania, the proud-to-be-a-hillbilly Pierce devoured fantasy and science fiction novels at a rapid pace, digesting what they offered and then constructing her own worlds of wonder. Encouraged by her father, Pierce dove into writing and strived to correct what she saw as the genre's greatest flaw: the lack of strong female warriors.

Now, she brings her unique voice to the House of Ideas, industry leader Marvel Comics, where she will have access to one of the most finely-tuned fictional universes of all.

“To say that having Tamora at Marvel is a coup for us is to make a pointed understatement,” says Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley. “Her name is synonymous with female-oriented fantasy literature, her works bestsellers, and her fans devoted and illuminated. That she was willing to sit down with us, listen to what we had to offer, is one of the best things that has happened on my watch at Marvel. Tamora’s vision of what fantasy and science fiction can aspire to is nothing short of ground-breaking, and what we look forward to her producing with the House of Ideas is really and truly something to look forward to.”

“Her first project will be WHITE TIGER. Tamora’s going to revisit the concept, linking it to the original Tiger and creating a new female hero with street smarts, guts, and a whole lotta obsession. I hope all Marvel fans will take a look and join us on this new adventure.”

"Working with Marvel is the realization of one of my longest-held dreams," says Pierce. "The first believable kick-butt female heroes I ever encountered were Marvel Comics 1970s Colleen Wing and Misty Knight. Ever since reading the Daughters of the Dragon and discovering how powerful a good female comic hero could be, I've wanted to try my hand at creating for Marvel. Working with my Marvel editor, Ruwan Jayatilleke, I've become convinced that White Tiger is going to very seriously rock!"

WHITE TIGER, as introduced in Brian Michael Bendis’ celebrated DAREDEVIL run, is getting some artistic love, as well. Legendary artist David Mack will be providing painted covers for the series as well as creating the character designs. “I had a blast redesigning the White Tiger character,” says Mack. “One of the charms of working on a Marvel project is the spirit of collaboration involved. I loved working with George Perez’ previous design, and with the suggestions of Tammy and Joe Quesada to make the covers to this series something unique and very special.” To see more of Mack’s designs and work, be sure to visit http://www.davidmack.com.

Pierce will be joined in the White Tiger script writing by her husband, web designer and former Video magazine writer and Computer Game Entertainment editor Tim Liebe. While Liebe is co-writing episodes 3 and 4 of the arc, he and Pierce have worked together on the plot from the beginning to make the story as taut and action-packed as Pierce's books.

"You don't talk about how a person learns to be a superhero," says Pierce. "You have to show her learning how to do it. Most of the time, the price of that learning involves a lot of bruises on somebody."

More NYCC Coverage:

NYCC: State of the Industry Panel

NYCC: Jim Lee on DC's MMO

NYCC: Tamora Pierce Signs with Marvel

NYCC: Mondo Marvel Panel

Newsarama's New York Comic-Con 2006 coverage is brought to you by Marvel Enterprise's & Lions Gate Home Entertainment's ULTIMATE AVENGERS: THE MOVIE, available on DVD and UMD right now

[skinnyboy23]

beautiful cover. this looks amazing. i need a job.

[artiepants]

sounds like a good hire by Marvel!!!

[darrik]

While Liebe is co-writing episodes 3 and 4 of the arc,

Wait, is this a comic or a tv show?

[Skully]

Oh.

thats my only reaction at the moment.

I think I'll wait until I see a finished product first.

[DianaKingston]

Originally posted by darrik
Wait, is this a comic or a tv show?

As if Marvel can tell the difference these days.

[Ace]

The key thing with most of these outside signings to me is whether they actually seem like a fan of the source material or not, and she generally does, so that's a positive sign in my mind, especially if this really is one of her longest held dreams.

[Kevin T. Brown]

Um, who?


If Buckley considers this a "coup", ok.....

[bizarrolike]

Originally posted by Kevin T. Brown
Um, who?


If Buckley considers this a "coup", ok.....

Given the persons resume and accolades,it is. Their are people outside of comics who are succesful

[Punchy]

Originally posted by Kevin T. Brown
Um, who?


If Buckley considers this a "coup", ok.....

Because new talent in the comics industry is a bad thing!

[bizarrolike]

Originally posted by Punchy
Because new talent in the comics industry is a bad thing!

yeah that geoff johns and allan heinberg guys came from outside and boy they haven't done anything.

[FatFreeMilk]

Meow.


Fat Free Milk!

[Punchy]

Originally posted by bizarrolike
yeah that geoff johns and allan heinberg guys came from outside and boy they haven't done anything.

Yeah, and they're stopping people from inside comics from getting Gigs, I mean, Bendis never does anything!

[Kurt Busiek]

Originally posted by bizarrolike
Given the persons resume and accolades,it is. Their are people outside of comics who are succesful

I'm a major Tamora Pierce fan. Her books -- particularly the Tortall books -- are great. All my nieces and nephews are nuts for her stuff too (as is my mother, come to think of it), so I think this is a very good way for Marvel to reach out to readers that aren't in the field yet.

Plus, she writes kickass female characters, so it all sounds great.

kdb

[bizarrolike]

Originally posted by Kurt Busiek
I'm a major Tamora Pierce fan. Her books -- particularly the Tortall books -- are great. All my nieces and nephews are nuts for her stuff too (as is my mother, come to think of it), so I think this is a very good way for Marvel to reach out to readers that aren't in the field yet.

Plus, she writes kickass female characters, so it all sounds great.

kdb

Thanx for adding your input mr. busiek,it's good to hear proffesional opinions on the matter.

[Alexandre Grati]

Originally posted by Kurt Busiek
I'm a major Tamora Pierce fan. Her books -- particularly the Tortall books -- are great. All my nieces and nephews are nuts for her stuff too (as is my mother, come to think of it), so I think this is a very good way for Marvel to reach out to readers that aren't in the field yet.

Plus, she writes kickass female characters, so it all sounds great.

kdb

Is it in bad Fanboy rampage to say? "Kurt Busiek Wins!"

[motteditor]

Can we get JK Rowling next? I think I've heard Pierce's name, but I suspect I'm a little old for her audience. Maybe I'll take a look next time I'm in a bookstore. Anyone know where she grew up? I've gotten to know a decent chunk of rural Pennsylvania since I've lived here.

[Goodhomerjay]

White Tiger huh? Interesting choice from Marvel. I just hope this doesn't turn out in a kiddie version of her...

[talkback]

Her books are quite good and very popular with young female readers. I think she has something to proove, but they've done a good job bringing in novelists and tv people recently, so i hope this goes well too.

Her Tortall books are good and getting better. The trickster books were fantastic. She writes great action and believable and strong female heroes.

[TCJohnson]

Originally posted by Kevin T. Brown
Um, who?


If Buckley considers this a "coup", ok.....

I don't think you and I are the target reading audience for her books.


I think this is great, however. As Mr Busiek said, this seems like a good attampt at getting people outside of comics interested. I also applaud getting more female creators in the field and, possibly, creating books that are not aimed at white male readers.

I will be picking up the first three issues to see how it is.

[bizarrolike]

Hey it's another latina sister getting a shot aside from arana so I am so glad Marvel is giving a diverse charactor a shot.

[Kolimar]

Sounds like they've got a winner. She has a good creative partner in Mack but I'd like to know who the penciller is going to be. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it all turns out.

[RedRonin]

I'm all for anything that can give us some strong female characters.

I look forward to reading this series. Not to mention those pretty covers.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Punchy
Because new talent in the comics industry is a bad thing!

Nice way to twist the meaning Kevin's post. New talent is always welcome when it's a real one. But a "coup" only happens when you take away something that somebody else has or desperately wants. She's not exactly one of the biggest names ever, she wasn't writing comics exclusively or otherwise for anyone else and no one was fighting to get her first as far as we know so it's not a coup. Buckley exaggerated. It's one of the things we've come to expect in the last few years but we don't have to like it or even accept it.

[OCM]

Strike 1: I don't like Hillbillies!

More serious strike against this book: I've never forgiven Marvel/hack writer Bendis for the AWFUL death that Hector got in DD! And people think Hawkeye's "Not like this!" death was bad! Least he died trying to be heroic! Pshaw!

I won't be giving this a chance. Even if it were drawn by the three artists I give anything a chance on! (Used to be 4, but Fisher ummm well y'know.)