LIONS TIGERS AND BEARS RETURNS TO IMAGE

**MattBrady** · 09-26-2005, 10:58 AM

With the announcement that it was splitting with Alias, Runemaster Studios together with Image Comics have confirmed for Newsarama that the second volume of the acclaimed Lions, Tigers and Bears by Mike Bullock and Jack Lawrence will be published by Image in early 2006. Dave Lanphear and Ron Marz will return as letterer and editor, respectively.

"There really is no way around it, Lions, Tigers and Bears was always destined to be an Image book," series writer/co-creator Mike Bullock said. "Jack and I are just thrilled that we’ve been given the chance to keep it that way."

Image published the first LT&B miniseries earlier this year (produced by Runemaster and Alias), and saw sold out single issues, but Runemaster moved the property to Alias when the company began publishing its own books. Through Alias, a Lions Tigers and Bears trade was released in summer. While there are reportedly copies of the Alias version of the trade remaining, the first Lions Tigers and Bears release from Image will be a new edition of the first Lions Tigers and Bears trade which will include a new six-page story as well as new pinups. No specific date was given for the release of Lions Tigers and Bears II #1.

"People have asked why I'm happy to be back at Image. My answer? Well, y'know, it's Image," artist and co-creator Jack Lawrence said. "I was 16 when they launched, and the memory of that stands out as a benchmark in my life as a budding comic creator. I devoured everything they put out back then, but if anything, I think now is a more exciting time to be at Image than any other. Professionalism, honesty, and bloody good books. That's all you need, isn't it? And Image has all that in spades."

Image Publisher Erik Larsen: “Readers of all ages have responded positively to Lions, Tigers and Bears. It's fun for young and old. The response to the book has been very heartfelt and enthusiastic. The first chapter of Lions, Tigers and Bears was just the beginning. Readers will be astounded to read the next exciting adventure. It's like nothing else on the stands."

There was no word on Runemaster's The Gimoles, a first issue fo which saw print through Alias, but a second has yet to be released.

Derek Ruiz · 09-26-2005, 11:17 AM

Nice. Welcome back guys.

Tom Daylight · 09-26-2005, 11:27 AM

Fantastic news! A captivating story and some gorgeous artwork have made this one of the strongest books of 2005. I will be delighted to see more of this.

whoME? · 09-26-2005, 11:46 AM

warm fuzzies all over. good for the fine folks at Runemaster. good for Image. and good for me.

yes. warm fuzzies.

ashgray · 09-26-2005, 11:46 AM

Great! Better get it out on a more regular publishing schedule. Sales are picking up but if it dissappears off the racks the few buyers that are out there will give up looking for it. Send stores some flyers they can give out to new readers..Good luck!

Doc Holiday · 09-26-2005, 12:30 PM

Yes, Gimoles I hope will see publication from Image, as well as Penny and Aggie. This was a surprisingly refreshing, up-to-date take on the teen humor genre. Get it oon the stands next to the Archies! Comic Shop distribution isn't enough, for any of these titles.

Trachman · 09-26-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Derek Ruiz
Nice. Welcome back guys.

I'm totally in love with book. Great job!

OZZ13 · 09-26-2005, 01:41 PM

Great news!

Honestly I think this is a good move for Runemaster. I believe you'll have better sales and more exposure at Image.

johnturned51 · 09-26-2005, 01:46 PM

I'd like to say "I told you so". I've only heard good things, and assumed they'd go back to Image. Kudos to them, i hope they do well.

Jason Seaver · 09-26-2005, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
...the first Lions Tigers and Bears release from Image will be a new edition of the first Lions Tigers and Bears trade which will include a new six-page story as well as new pinups.

(naughty words)

BriGuy · 09-26-2005, 02:29 PM

Yeah, now I'm glad I didn't order the trade these last couple days. Man, would I have been ticked...

c_andrew_s · 09-26-2005, 03:27 PM

Good luck, on a great series.

Hope this means that Gimoles will also go to image

chslaw · 09-26-2005, 04:13 PM

I am the attorney Alias. For now, let's just say there are two sides to every story. Runemaster has put out some misleading and defamatory information that will be dealt with accordingly and this purported move to Image is far from a sure thing.

Bakema NL · 09-26-2005, 04:22 PM

No matter where it's published, Lions, tigers & bears is a title I will definitely buy.....Gimoles too, great books.
I sure hope things will work out for Alias too and for Runemaster, both have good stuff to offer. What happened is something between these two parties involved, I'm just the guy at the end of the line that wants the cool comics and will buy the cool ones...........keep 'em coming people.

Martin G · 09-26-2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

I am the attorney Alias. For now, let's just say there are two sides to every story. Runemaster has put out some misleading and defamatory information that will be dealt with accordingly and this purported move to Image is far from a sure thing.

I'm sure comic book creators will run to Alias with their projects now.

Vyper · 09-26-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chslaw
I am the attorney Alias. For now, let's just say there are two sides to every story. Runemaster has put out some misleading and defamatory information that will be dealt with accordingly and this purported move to Image is far from a sure thing.

It's hard to take a post like this seriously because the very first thing I notice is the missing word in the introduction. While typos and such are a common enough issue on message boards (I'm as guilty as anyone), statements, articles, and other official posts should at the very least be grammatically correct.

Mike S Miller · 09-26-2005, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin G
I'm sure comic book creators will run to Alias with their projects now.

Exactly what would you prefer us do? This isn't just a creator-owned property that someone brought to us and we published. We FUNDED that book. We have a LOT of time, effort and money invested in it.

Is it our duty to simply stand back and let that kind of investment walk away? That's bad business.

chslaw · 09-26-2005, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin G
I'm sure comic book creators will run to Alias with their projects now.

Nobody ever accused me of being a good typist.

Martin G · 09-26-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Nobody ever accused me of being a good typist.

They probably just didn't have a good lawyer.

Mike S Miller · 09-26-2005, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin G
They probably just didn't have a good lawyer.

Top 10 books:
1- Savage Dragon
2- Invincible
3- Astonishing X-Men
4- New X-Men
5- Batman
6- Superman
7- Teen Titans
8- Vilains United
9- JSA
10- Omac project

Vilains ?

'nuff said.

Martin G · 09-26-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Is it our duty to simply stand back and let that kind of investment walk away? That's bad business.

Of course. I know.
Send the lawyers in. Now THAT'S how you do business.
They'll see the errors of their ways now.

Mike S Miller · 09-26-2005, 06:01 PM

I don't want to get into dirty laundry, but we aren't the ones who got lawyers involved.

OZZ13 · 09-26-2005, 06:25 PM

I just hope this gets resolved in an amicable manner.

I like the Runemaster Properties and I like a couple Alias titles.

EDIT: Just read thru the "Runemaster Splits with Alias" thread and i'm not sure I can support any more books from Alias.

Regulator · 09-26-2005, 06:27 PM

Perhaps not, but is chslaw actually your lawyer? If so, it seems quite lame to have a lawyer posting on a comic book message board. We aren't the ones who would be deciding the case.

Anyway, I'm sure they'll publish at Image for a year and then decide to self-publish again. *yawn* Why do people keep leaving Image and suffering as a result? When is someone going to learn? Maybe in 6 years The Red Star will be up to issue #10 and I can put it with some boring G.I. Joe books.

Doc Holiday · 09-26-2005, 06:35 PM

I imagine we'll be seeing a lot more on this, and a lot of speculation as well, in the days to come. All I iknow is that it is an unfortunate situation, whatever the facts and details. Alias is a promising company; apparently, some of their more promising titles were produced by Runemaster Studios. I hate to see a new company take a blow, and I hate to see some popular, diverse titles stumble in their publication schedule.

On a somewhat different topic, I have a couple of questions for Mr. Miller regarding Alias Comics distribution. I mentioned earlier that Penny and Aggie needs to get on the same shelves as Archie comics. Many of the titles coming from Alias (and Runemaster) seemes to me to be the kind of comics Western/Dell/Gold Key would be publishing today if they were still publishing. Does Alias have a strategy for getting its titles distributed beyond the specialty comic book shop market? Can you get them into supermarkets, big box stores, anf older-fashioned 5&10 cent stores, where they belong?