Broken Frontier

Passionate comic book devotees vying for a chance to cultivate their own franchise are one step closer to achieving their dream and winning a voice within the industry. Platinum Studios, which is hosting the second annual Comic Book Challenge, and presenting sponsor AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced the top 50 entrants on the AT&T blue room (www.attblueroom.com).

Platinum Studios’ Comic Book Challenge (www.ComicBookChallenge.com) invites aspiring creators to submit original comic book concepts in a head-to-head challenge for a multimedia development and publishing deal that includes multi-platform distribution, as well as the creation of a licensing and merchandising program The deal is a rare opportunity for newcomers to gain entry into a fiercely competitive segment of the entertainment industry. Platinum Studios also plans to develop the property for film and television.

AT&T has inked an agreement to support and advance the contest through 2009. As part of the deal, AT&T will use its expanding in-house creative group to direct, write and produce vignettes and other content that captures key stages of the contest. AT&T then will distribute that content and promote the challenge through its technology and media assets, beginning with the blue room.

“We pounced on this opportunity because of the potential we saw to produce and deliver very distinctive programming,” said Michael Goldfine, head of development and production of AT&T Entertainment Services. “Not only does this contest reach a passionate and unique audience new to AT&T, but the challenge’s premise is ultimately that someone fulfills a lifelong dream. We recognized the chance to help make that process really entertaining and engaging. This is a big step for us as we grow AT&T’s stamp in the entertainment space.”

Beginning today, fans can view the 50 entrants who are advancing in this year’s contest on the Hollywood channel of the AT&T blue room site (www.attblueroom.com/hollywood).

“Given the overwhelming success of last year’s winner, D.J. Coffman, and his creation ‘Hero By Night,’ the ante has been significantly upped for this year’s Comic Book Challenge. This year’s competition has attracted submissions from aspiring creators in more than 21 countries across six continents, all full of fresh thinking and wonderfully creative perspective,” said Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman of Platinum Studios. “AT&T brings multiple distribution platforms to the table that will help us promote Comic Book Challenge in a way that more broadly and deeply showcases the talent of the next generation of comic creators from around the globe.”

Comic Book Challenge has helped Coffman earn fan accolades and winning reviews for the sold-out debut of his graphic novel “Hero By Night.” The story centers on Jack King, a young man who discovers the secret lair of a 1950’s superhero in his new apartment building and must decide whether to use the hero’s source of power to become a superhero himself.

Entries for the 2007 challenge were accepted throughout May. The top 50 entrants unveiled on AT&T blue room hollywood will next pitch their ideas to a panel of industry and Hollywood insiders at a secret location near the 2007 International San Diego Comic-Con — a process that will whittle the field to 10 semifinalists.

Kicking off in late July, the 10 semifinalists will then be narrowed down to three finalists by the general public through an online voting process hosted by the AT&T blue room hollywood site (www.attblueroom.com/hollywood) and www.ComicBookChallenge.com. Once the final three contestants are chosen, fans around the world will be given one more chance to vote for their favorite concept.

The winner of the 2007 Comic Book Challenge will be formally announced in late August, and the winner’s comic book or graphic novel will be published and premiered at a major Wizard World convention in 2008. 

The top 50 advancing thus far include entrants from nine countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, India, Mexico, Romania, Spain and the United States.

AT&T blue room hollywood is part of the AT&T blue room experience, which brings together gaming enthusiasts, music fans, tailgaters and the Hollywood-minded through a single online portal housing AT&T's unique sports, music, gaming and entertainment content.

Launched in October 2006, the AT&T blue room gives fans access to live entertainment, candid interviews, celebrity-athletes and spirited commentary on everything from music to politics to celebrities as part of a strategic initiative to link the AT&T brand to premier communications and entertainment experiences.

Endeavor Agency helped broker the relationship between AT&T and Platinum Studios.