CHIMAERA PARTNERS WITH ARCANA AND LAUNCHES NEW HERO UNIVERSE LINE

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Chimaera Studios has entered into a partnership with Arcana Comics to publish a new Chimaera Hero Universe line beginning late 2007 and throughout 2008.

Chimaera is a collective studio of diverse creators headed by President and CEO George T. Singley.

The Chimaera Hero Universe line will begin with Consortium of Justice, a Chimaera Universe Event mini-series by Singley, Jim Mitchel and MarcioTakara that will shape the universe for new and old Chimaera readers alike.

New titles launching following the launch event mini include Singley, Mitchel and Alessandro Ceccarelli’s Blaze Anderson: Cosmonaut!, Singley, Nick Kalapos, Tommy Smith’s The Byzantine, Singley, Kalapos’ Lonebow, Singley, Mitchel, Ben Morse’s Wargod, Singley, Andrew Foley’s Titus, and Singley’s critically-acclaimed Hellhounds, in which the first five issues previously published by Image Comics will be collected in a trade paperback, followed by an all-new Hellhounds series by Singley with art by Michele Bertilorenzi.

“This has been in the works for some time now and we are really excited to be working with George, Chimaera Studios and its creators,” said President of Arcana Sean O’Reilly in a joint statement. “Chimaera Studios houses an extremely talented and professional group of creators, writers, and artists with fantastic stories to tell. The new Chimaera Universe also provides for limitless storylines with interesting Iconic characters. It is truly amazing to see all they have planned out. We are proud to offer our publishing services and represent Chimaera Studios. It’s great that they approached us, it’s an honor.”

“We are happy to call Arcana Comics home,” Singley added. “Sean is doing a great job with Arcana and we are excited to add our Chimaera Universe of titles to such a creator friendly publisher. It feels like a perfect fit. I think fans will be excited and truly enjoy all the new series we have in store for them. We have an amazing group of creators working hard and pouring their hearts into these books. We are really pulling out all the stops for this Universe line and I think it shows.”



Newsarama.com caught up with Singley to find out more about the deal.

Newsarama: Chimaera Studios left Speakeasy Comics in early 2006. Following that, Chimaera partnered with Markosia Enterprises and last year was supposed to be the year of the Chimaera. What happened after that?

George T. Singley: Well, this is after that [laughs] Last year (through now) we published collected trades of many of our titles, Mutation, The Hunger, OBS, Smoke & Mirror as well as mini-series like Done to Death, OBS, Smoke & Mirror, and Silent Ghost, of which the Chimaera artist of Silent Ghost, Brett Weldele, is nominated for an 2007 Eisner Award. So it was a pretty good year all in all.

But with the change in investors at Markosia and the new business model they have injected, which is radically different than the one we signed on with, we just wouldn’t be able to accomplish the things we truly want to do at the scale we want to do them if we stayed with them. We wish them success in whatever they do in the future but it was just time for us to move on, and so we have. And we couldn’t be more excited to see everything coming together now the way it is with our new series line at Arcana!

NRAMA: How did this deal with Arcana come about then?

GTS: Sean is a good friend. We have been talking for sometime now and I expressed an interest in publishing a line of books with him and Arcana. We talked about things in detail. He offered us the services and true support we needed to actually accomplish the goals we have set for our new Chimaera Hero Universe line of books and that was that. Deal done. We have a set schedule for releases as well as how many books to print the first year after the Chimaera Event mini-series and we already have at least two issues of most of them almost completed so we are ahead of schedule and retailers can order with confidence when the solicitations hit Previews.

NRAMA: Brian Augustyn was recently announced as the new Editor-in-Chief of Markosia. What role does he have with Chimaera? And is the issue of a conflict of interest... an issue at all now that Chimaera's officially left Markosia?

GTS: Brian is a great guy and a talented Chimaera creator. He is working on a story for us that has yet to be announced as well as a couple of creator owned projects you should see soon. We couldn’t be happier for Brian that he has been picked up also as an EIC but there is no conflict of interest on our part as far as I am concerned. Brian is a comic industry veteran and knows how to wear two different hats.

NRAMA: Moving on, what's your mission statement this time around?

GTS: Pretty simple - continue to publish interesting and enjoyable books with amazing characters that entertain and excite readers all across the board. I feel so far we are doing a pretty good job and think the readers are really going to enjoy the new Chimaera Universe line and truly appreciate what we are trying to accomplish.

NRAMA: One of the creators in the Chimaera family is Ethen Beavers, who's illustrated Mike Avon Oeming and Daniel Berman's Six, now being developed by Fox as an hour-long series called Them. There's also Joe Abraham (Hero Squared), E.J. Su (Transformers), Eisner-nominated Brett Weldele (The Surrogates), Chris DiBari (Starship Troopers) and the list goes on and on. Is Chimaera looking to recruit new creators? Is Chimaera open for new submissions at this moment?

GTS: I am very proud of all the talented Chimaera creators in our family. All the Chimaera guys you just mentioned are doing incredible work and have even more amazing things to come. Chimaera Studios is always willing to look at submissions from talented, hard working, and professional creators. Usually, it’s more of an exclusive invite to join.

NRAMA: Looking ahead, what else have you got planned? Just how ambitious is this new direction going to be?

GTS: Well, there are a few big things that I have been working on before the Arcana deal [and] I will announce at the appropriate times. As far as the new Chimaera Hero Universe line - besides the books - busts, statues, possible action figures, etc. Pretty ambitious, I guess [laughs]

For more information on the various titles being published by Chimaera Studios, including the Chimaera Hero Universe line, go to www.chimaerastudios.com

For more information on the various titles being published by Arcana Comics, including titles by Chimaera Studios, visit www.arcanastudio.com

[c_andrew_s]

These images look really great!

[GeorgeTSingley]

Also visit the brand new (still being completed) Chimaera Studios Forum and chat with all the Chimaera creators, see exclusive upcoming project artwork, and discuss all things Chimaera and comics…

http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

there will also be a huge website update within the next couple of weeks...new and exciting stuff to see...thanks for your support guys!

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com

[Mike Bullock]

More Ethan Beavers art is always a good thing.

Best of luck to all involved.

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by c_andrew_s

These images look really great!

Thanks buddy! We will be slipping preview art out on and off over the next few months...the guys are really tearing it up and can't wait for you to see what they are doing!

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by Mike Bullock

More Ethan Beavers art is always a good thing.

Best of luck to all involved.

Thanks for the kind words Mike...you rock! Yea Ethen's stuff is amazing...don't worry you'll be seeing more of his work very soon

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[Andrew Foley]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Singley, Andrew Foley’s Lonebow, a

Actually, the miniseries I've been working on for Chimaera is TITUS: HEROIC FAILURE.

Because the titles I'm working on is a matter of critical importance to all Newsarama readers. Honest. It really is.

A

[KyleV]

You know, I actually miss the good old days of indie superhero universes. I know that's it's probably risky putting out anything remotely close to superheroes or the like with Marvel and DC striving to drive out the little guy, but I remember the days of Comico and Innovation and to a lesser extent First, when there really was an alternative to the big two.

Are the books going to be in B&W? I miss those, too.

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by KyleV

You know, I actually miss the good old days of indie superhero universes. I know that's it's probably risky putting out anything remotely close to superheroes or the like with Marvel and DC striving to drive out the little guy, but I remember the days of Comico and Innovation and to a lesser extent First, when there really was an alternative to the big two.

Are the books going to be in B&W? I miss those, too.

The books will be in color, my friend. And I truly hope you enjoy the Chimaera Hero Universe as much as you have the ones you mentioned above.

Best,
George
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[Matt Spatola]

So is George attached to every project? His name is listed by everything announced.

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by Matt Spatola

So is George attached to every project? His name is listed by everything announced.

That would be a yes. I'm a busy man.

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[cap infinity]

I'm anxious for more information on Blaze Anderson: Cosmonaut!

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by cap infinity

I'm anxious for more information on Blaze Anderson: Cosmonaut!

Don't worry buddy...we'll be putting up some more preview artwork on the messageboard and website soon! You don't wanna miss it...it's great stuff

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[Barry Strange]

It's been quite some time since we've had a new superhero universe to enjoy (something that is not based on existing characters within another universe, such as the Ultimate and All-Star books).

I am looking forward to seeing these...

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by Barry Strange

It's been quite some time since we've had a new superhero universe to enjoy (something that is not based on existing characters within another universe, such as the Ultimate and All-Star books).

I am looking forward to seeing these...

Thanks Barry...glad to have you on board buddy! I hope you enjoy the new Chimaera Hero Universe...we're pulling out all the stops!

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[Del Gorky]

Well, this really left me underwhelmed. I think I could build a better "universe" just by selecting a handful of Image Superhero titles like Invincible, Noble Causes, Witchblade, and Savage Dragon.

Wow, this stuff really makes me miss the overall quality of the Valiant line and even the Malibu Ultraverse which featured several solid series like Hardcase, Nightman, the impeccable Firearm, and the pretty decent Prime and Mantra, and I had a soft spot for The Solution. For that matter, Crossgen's offerings seem far superior to this company's as well.

[DavidWRyan]

George! Welcome to Arcana! Excellent! Oh this is gonna be good! lol

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by Del Gorky

Well, this really left me underwhelmed. I think I could build a better "universe" just by selecting a handful of Image Superhero titles like Invincible, Noble Causes, Witchblade, and Savage Dragon.

Wow, this stuff really makes me miss the overall quality of the Valiant line and even the Malibu Ultraverse which featured several solid series like Hardcase, Nightman, the impeccable Firearm, and the pretty decent Prime and Mantra, and I had a soft spot for The Solution. For that matter, Crossgen's offerings seem far superior to this company's as well.

Yay! Our first negative poster!!! It wouldn't be a true Newsarama thread without one I suppose.

I'm glad that you took the time to read the books you're knocking on and actually have an educated opinion on the subject...oh wait you couldn't have yet...because they aren't out.
Oh well...better go get started building that cohesive Image universe you can build better.

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by DavidWRyan

George! Welcome to Arcana! Excellent! Oh this is gonna be good! lol

Hey David! Thanks buddy...hope all is well with you. For those of you who don't know David is doing a huge indy crossover book next year called War of the Independents...check it out when you can. Good stuff.

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[DavidWRyan]

You probably don't know yet George but before any of your books come out they are preceeded by an entire set of foil embossed tarding cards with matching binders. Because THAT defines a sucessful comic universe. Didn't you know that?!?! Sheez! lol

[BriGuy]

Best of luck on the new Hero Universe!

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by DavidWRyan

You probably don't know yet George but before any of your books come out they are preceeded by an entire set of foil embossed tarding cards with matching binders. Because THAT defines a sucessful comic universe. Didn't you know that?!?! Sheez! lol

Oh Geez...I totally forgot about that...sigh...oh well there goes that then. lol

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by BriGuy

Best of luck on the new Hero Universe!

Hey BriGuy! Thanks buddy...hope you check it out and dig it!

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/

[GenerallZodd]

Good luck on the comics.

[GeorgeTSingley]

Originally Posted by GenerallZodd

Good luck on the comics.

Thank you General sir!

Best,
George T Singley
Chimaera Studios
www.chimaerastudios.com
http://chimaerastudios.freeforums.org/