RUNEMASTER STUDIOS LEAVES ALIAS

[MattBrady]

Press Release

Studio Responsible for Lions, Tigers and Bears and The Gimoles Parts Ways With Publisher

Runemaster Studios, Inc. has announced that it is severing ties with Alias Enterprises, effective immediately. Runemaster's partnership with Alias produced the sold-out mini-series Lions, Tigers and Bears, published through Image comics, as well as the debut issue of The Gimoles. The trade paperback collection of Lions, Tigers and Bears, also produced in partnership with Alias, sold out of its initial printing.

“Our relationship with Alias initially seemed like a match made in heaven,” stated Runemaster’s President Mike Bullock. “However, the current direction Alias is pursuing no longer fits with our vision for Runemaster Studios, so we have no choice but to part ways.”

According to Bullock, Runemaster is terminating the licensing agreements for Lions, Tigers and Bears and The Gimoles for cause, due to material breaches committed by Alias.

“It's unfortunate the situation has come to this," Bullock said. “We’ve exhausted every avenue of reconciling our differences with Alias and securing what is owed to us. This is a last resort, but we've been left with no other option."

As for the future of Runemaster’s properties, a new publisher has already been secured for a second Lions, Tigers and Bears mini-series, with the first issue of the series already nearing completion. Fans can expect to see it in stores in early 2006. The Gimoles #2 was delivered to Alias in mid-July for release in August, but has yet to appear in stores. According to Bullock, Runemaster has yet to receive a satisfactory explanation from Alias for the delay, nor has a new release date been established.

"It's frustrating. I'd like to personally apologize to the fans who supported us by picking up the first issue of Gimoles," Bullock said. "This is something that's out of our hands right now, but I promise you, the story will be finished, one way or another."

[whoME?]

i would like to point out that i called this one on the very day Alias announced how many titles it had in the works.

Also that it doesn't suprise me and that as long as Runemaster finds a way to get it's product into my hands i don't give a s**t who publishes it.

All my best to Mike and the gang at Runemaster.

Kevin

[BlueThunderArmy]

Yikes. I'd be interested to hear Alias's side of this, and also learn a bit more about the "material breaches." But then again, I recognize the latter is really none of my business.

[Gransazer]

Larsen should grab these guys toot sweet.

[Bakema NL]

Hmmm, bummer. But I will definitely buy the next installments of Lions, tigers and bears, Gimoles and who knows what more coming from Runemaster.

[Mr Wesley]

Not to be a doomsayer or anything, but over on the Penny and Aggie site, they announced that their 4-issue miniseries was being cancelled as of issue 3.

I hope that, whatever is happening with them, it's only a speed bump, because I've enjoyed a number of their titles so far.

[c_andrew_s]

Too bad; hate to see situations that don't work out.

[kiddo]

Were do you think they are going? Top cow, Speakeasy, Devils Due, Moonstone?

[GeorgeG]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Gimoles # 1 late as well? Now # 2. Not a way to start.

I wouldn't be surprised if LTB gets picked up by Speakeasy.

[BriGuy]

I never even saw the LTB TPB, I hope there's a new printing with the new publisher.

Best of luck to Mike and crew.

[Mike S Miller]

We at Alias are saddened to see this happen. Our relationship with Runemaster was positive overall, and we regret losing them as a client and a partner.

The simple fact of the matter is that both series took a major loss. Gimoles sales were so low that we had no choice but to cancel funding on the project. We gave Runemaster the option of finishing out the series without advanced funding, and were awaiting their response when we read this PR on Newsarama.

There was no material breach of contract.

Obviously we hope for the best for Runemaster and its partners, and good luck to whatever publisher decided to pick them up.

RE: Penny and Aggie, I personally hated to have to cancel that book, but it just came down to numbers, and they graciously understood. We're working on some other avenues of publishing that may allow us to pick it back up in the near future. I'd love to see us continue the series as an ongoing.

[Holelotta]

The big boy pants of business strike again.

[Mike S Miller]

[quote]Originally posted by BriGuy
I never even saw the LTB TPB, I hope there's a new printing with the new publisher. [/QUOTE

The Lions, Tigers and Bears TPB is not sold out. There are plenty left here and in stores now.

Thanks.

[johnturned51]

LTB was already published by Image, i wouldn't be surprised if they got published there again. I mean it did sell-out, theres no reason I can see why they wouldn't.

[whoME?]

Originally posted by Mike S Miller


There was no material breach of contract.

Ah... the he said she said game has begun. This is between Alias and Runemaster. You should both keep it there.

[comicnazi]

Unless they want to be the next Crossgen (R.I.P.) some of these small publishers should really get together. Isn't Alias only at about 0.4% market share right now?? Not a good sign. Either they should join up with Image/DH or form one company with other small publishers like DDP, Speakeasy, Oni, etc. Otherwise they're just a very small blip on the comics landscape. It wouldn't hurt to get some big names on their books too.

Just a somewhat related note....I know of one writer that does one of their titles and they flew him to a few conventions all over the U.S. The flight and hotel bills probably wiped out all the profits on his book so far....a book that doesn't even hit 5000 copies.....not good business sense in my opinion.

[GeorgeG]

Hey Mike, how are the numbers for Alias overall? Are you guys putting out too many books too soon? I mean, this doesn't sound very positive from a new publisher.

[skeletorjr]

Originally posted by whoME?
Ah... the he said she said game has begun. This is between Alias and Runemaster. You should both keep it there.

I appreciate actually hearing from one of the parties involved, myself.

[skottie]

this is where the "Hype Machine" starts to implode on itself.

Books are announced as "Sell Outs", yet reported here as major losses. When a book is announced as a sell out, some people actually will give up on trying to find it, as they think it is ACTUALLY sold out in stores. A sell out announcement is so funny these days in a print to order industry.

I think the announcements should go like this.

"We are proud to announce that we have successfully printed the number of comics that have been ordered, and those comics have been delivered to thier desitination as planned."

We pat ourselves on the back for doing what is the most basic in sales distribution. Funny stuff.

Anyway, I hope the guys land on thier feet. I really enjoyed LTB and hope to see more books like that out there. Good luck!

[Mike S Miller]

Originally posted by GeorgeG
Hey Mike, how are the numbers for Alias overall? Are you guys putting out too many books too soon? I mean, this doesn't sound very positive from a new publisher.

It all depends on the book. Obviously we've had to cancel a couple. But on the other side of the spectrum, Lullaby is doing better numbers with Alias directly than it did going through Image. That is a very good sign.

Ultimately, it sucks to have to cancel anything for any reason. But it has to be done, as is the price of running a business. This isn't going to be the last book we cancel, I'm sure. But we'll do everything we can to keep it from becoming a habit.

[Bakema NL]

Originally posted by comicnazi
Unless they want to be the next Crossgen (R.I.P.) some of these small publishers should really get together. Isn't Alias only at about 0.4% market share right now?? Not a good sign. Either they should join up with Image/DH or form one company with other small publishers like DDP, Speakeasy, Oni, etc. Otherwise they're just a very small blip on the comics landscape. It wouldn't hurt to get some big names on their books too.

Just a somewhat related note....I know of one writer that does one of their titles and they flew him to a few conventions all over the U.S. The flight and hotel bills probably wiped out all the profits on his book so far....a book that doesn't even hit 5000 copies.....not good business sense in my opinion.

No, they shouldn't get some big names on their books, they're just fine right now. They need people checking out their books, there's some fine stuff published there. Everybody is so full of superhero this, superhero that, they suck, some changes have to be made for this industry to survive.....but that's all, almost nobody is putting his money where his mouth is.

[kiddo]

LOL! LOL! OH my God is that funny! You have soooooo hit it on the head. Instead of telling us they sold out they should tell us how many they sold. I think we would be a little less impressed with most of them. LOL! You are one funny person "skotti" keep them coming.

[redragon]

hey... lets stop posting lies shall we. alias never said gimoles sold out...if they did please prove it.

The people who are trying to pile on obviously didnt buy alias books to begin with, and are obviously happy this is happening...how sad for people with attitudes like that...they are really to be pitied...

if this was the big 2 none of these people would be spreading lies.... but then, again its a shame that some people only see the internet as a way to spread techno urban legends/lies...so they probably would thro dirt just to thro it. Are the big 2 completely up front all the time? no, their not, but lets criticize when their is something to criticize. why make up something that an indie company said when they didnt? that sucks big time. yeh this is the usa & you got your freedom to say what crap you want but any decent person should also abide by not posting libelous and slanderous comments...


Best of luck to alias and runemaster...i support both of them and will continue. I think they both put out great products... I also support the big 2 and the 2nd & 3rd level companies as well...

[astronato]

Originally posted by Bakema NL
No, they shouldn't get some big names on their books, they're just fine right now. They need people checking out their books, there's some fine stuff published there. Everybody is so full of superhero this, superhero that, they suck, some changes have to be made for this industry to survive.....but that's all, almost nobody is putting his money where his mouth is.

The man from Amsterdam has it right. They already have good creators. How about comic book buyers trying something new? I see a lot of complaining online about a lack of genre variety in comic books but then when someone like Alias brings that variety, you hardly hear a peep. I guess by diverstity these people mean more mature themes, more gore, more grim and gritty.....more of the same.

I'm getting Isis, Armor Quest, X111 and I bought the Lullaby trade. All of them are very well made. I'll be looking for the Lions, Tigers and Bears trade as well as Judo Girl, the Imaginaries and OZF5.

I wish Alias could get their product to market outside of the comic book shop because kids (actual kids not teenagers) don't go to comic book stores anymore and for good reasons.


I am sorry to see Alias cancel any books or split with Runemaster. I wish luck to them both.

[GeorgeG]

I try a good number of their books; they just need to get the product out when they first solicit it.

And I guess as of now, Mike needs to change that pic in his sig.