Broken Frontier

Archaia Studios Press (ASP) is proud to announce its publishing of three new titles beginning this fall. THE KILLER (Oct 2006), OKKO (Dec 2006), and THE SECRET HISTORY (Feb 2007) will premier at this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego (July 19 – 23) and will be showcased in the new ASP catalog, available at ASP booth #2006 beginning late on Thursday, July 20. We invite everyone to stop by and see what the publishers of ARTESIA, MOUSE GUARD, THE LONE AND LEVEL SANDS and ROBOTIKA have in store.

“When my partner, Aki, and I first saw these books, we fell in love with them,” said Mark Smylie, publisher at ASP. “We think we found some outstanding books that fans of ASP, new and old alike, will be drawn to.”

THE KILLER (Oct 2006, bi-monthly, $3.95, Matz (writer), Luc Jacamon (artist)) is a hardboiled 10-issue noir series chronicling one man’s journey through some seriously bad mojo. A professional. A man of few scruples, nerves of steel, and a steady trigger finger. A man whose crimes might be catching up with him. A man on the verge of cracking. Mature Readers for graphic violence, nudity and strong sexual content.

OKKO: THE CYCLE OF WATER (Dec 2006, bi-monthly, $3.95, Hub (writer/illustrator)) is a four-issue mini-series launching what will be the first of “Five Cycles.” It is Year 1108 in the official calendar of the Pajan Empire during a turbulent time of struggle and warfare between rival clans. Far from the fields of battle, Okko the ronin heads a small group of demon hunters, wandering the realms of the Empire. He is accompanied by Noburo, a mysterious giant who hides his face behind a red mask, and the whimsical monk Noshin, the saké lover with the power to summon and commune with the spirits of nature. When Tikku’s sister Little Carp is kidnapped by pirates, the young fisherman enlists the group’s help in finding her. But the quest will have a price, and will lead our four heroes much farther afield than they’d ever imagined.... Mature Readers for adult content, graphic violence, and nudity.

THE SECRET HISTORY (Feb 2007, bi-monthly, $5.95, 48 pages, Jean-Pierre Pécau (writer), Igor Kordey, Leo Pilipovic, Goran Sudzuka (illustrators)) is a story told in 7 chapters, each one more intriguing than the last. Four immortal brothers and sisters, four archons, are entrusted with ivory cards in the dawn of prehistory by a dying shaman. They are told never to use the cards together. These archons, four, leap through time, consumed in an epic struggle to influence and shape the history of Western civilization. >From Moses’ challenge to the Pharaoh to the origin of the Grail myth; from the Pope’s extermination of the Cathars to Nostradamus’ travels in Italy; from the Spanish Armada and the Great Fire of London to Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt; and finally to the Angel of Mons appearing over the trenches of World War I: a secret occult history of the world told in seven chapters. Mature Readers for graphic violence and nudity.

Also appearing at ASP’s booth will be:

**Mark Smylie: ASP’s publisher and creator of ARTESIA, Mark will be on hand to discuss the latest series, ARTESIA BESIEGED, plus the Origins Award winner for Role-Playing Game of the Year, ARTESIA: ADVENTURES IN THE KNOWN WORLD.

**David Petersen: The creative genius behind the critically acclaimed MOUSE GUARD, David will be on hand to sign books and draw some of the most beautiful sketches you’ll ever see at Comic-Con.

** Marvin Mann: The artist behind the multiple Harvey Award-nominated THE LONE AND LEVEL SANDS will appear Thurs and Fri. This is the book called a “Stunning display of literary excellence and an artistic tour de force… [It’s] probably the best graphic novel I will ever read.” [Source: Comics Buyer’s Guide #1618]

**Alex Sheikman: The creator behind ROBOTIKA, the world’s first science-fiction-steampunk-sushi-samurai western, will be on hand to discuss his book, sign stuff and talk about the upcoming hardcover collection of the series that received an “A-” from Variety.com’s Tom McLean.