Broken Frontier

Dabel Brothers Productions (“DB Pro”) announced today that they have just signed a deal with New York Times Bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton to obtain the exclusive rights to adapt the popular multi-million selling Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels into a monthly comic book series. The deal was negotiated by Hamilton’s agent, Merrilee Heifetz of Writers House, LLC.

The first book in the series, ANITA BLAKE: VAMPIRE HUNTER in GUILTY PLEASURES, will hit shelves in June, 2006, featuring amazing art by a soon-to-be-announced illustrator and a faithful script adaptation by Stacie M. Ritchie that will have fans of the novels savoring the first chapter in Anita Blake’s adventures once again. The adaptation will also be published in two graphic novel volumes, available respectively by January and July, 2007.

Published in 1993 by The Berkley Publishing Group, GUILTY PLEASURES was the first book in Laurell Hamilton's bestselling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series.  This June, Berkley Books will publish DANSE MACABRE, the fourteenth installment in the series.

Hailed by critics as “An R-Rated Buffy” and “Monstrously Entertaining,” the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels have developed an ever-expanding fanbase as each novel outsells the last. In a little over a decade, Laurell K. Hamilton has become one of the foremost writers of vampire fiction, with no signs of slowing down as she becomes a household name.

“Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the most popular authors on the planet right now,” said Ernst Dabel, President of Dabel Brothers Production. “She’s consistently ranked as one of the top-selling writers on Amazon, and her latest books in the Anita Blake series have been smash-hit successes. We’re thrilled to be partnering with her to bring these novels into the graphic medium, and we know that this series will appeal to anyone who is a fan of fantasy, horror, romance, or adventure.”

The premise of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels centers around an alternate reality where the U.S. government has declared the undead as legal beings so that vampires, zombies and werewolves can come out of the shadows as they attempt to co-exist with human society. But there are times when these creatures get out of control, and that is when Anita Blake steps in. Armed to the teeth with specialized weaponry and blessed with the abilities of an “Animator” (a special occupation that involves raising the dead), Anita is a threat to any vampire who gets out of line. But even she is unnerved when a vampire shows up in her office wanting her to help solve a case involving the murder of his fanged brethren. And as Anita descends into the fantastic and strange undead underworld of St. Louis, she finds herself caught in a rapidly unraveling mystery that may claim her own life in the end.

“I'm thrilled to be bringing Anita to a new medium,” said Laurell K. Hamilton, the author of the series. “The Dabel's artwork and attention to detail are what made me say yes to them. With what I have seen so far, I am as excited as any fan to see what comes next!”

ANITA BLAKE: VAMPIRE HUNTER in GUILTY PLEASURES will arrive at comic book retailers and book stores in North America in July, 2006. It will be distributed by Diamond Distributors, INC and featured in the May issue of the Previews catalog. A graphic novel edition collecting the first half of the story will launch by January, 2007.

As production for the comic book charges forward, the Dabel Brothers will continue to release new information and art about ANITA BLAKE: VAMPIRE HUNTER in GUILTY PLEASURES, as well as instructions on how readers can pre-order the first issue from their local comic book store. The best and most up-to-date information will always be available at http://www.dabelbrothers.com.