Broken Frontier

Gigantic Graphic Novels has just signed an exclusive deal with Publishers Group West (PGW) for distribution to bookstores, libraries and specialty markets.  For the direct comic market Gigantic will still be distributed through Diamond, FM International, Cold Cut and Bulldog.

Gigantic, formed by writer Rick Spears will be releasing its first book, the collected trade edition of Teenagers From Mars (TFM) by Spears and artist Rob G. to the direct market in February and to the book market in March through Publishers Group West.

“PGW is the largest distributor of independent publishers in North America.  They have fantastic experience with graphic novels and we are thrilled to be working with them,” said Spears about the deal.  “We’ve had great success with both comic and non-comic book readers with the TFM comic and we are very excited to have the collected TFM trade edition now available to booksellers.  Where people had to fight to find copies of the comic before now, with PGW they will be able to find the trade in any of the major book chains, online at Amazon or even at their local specialty bookstore.”

Karen Cross, Executive Vice President of Marketing for PGW had this to say on the deal, “We're pleased to welcome Gigantic Graphic Novels to our list of distinguished distribution clients. We look forward to working with them to build strong brand awareness and sales of their titles in the years to come.”

For those new to the TFM series, Teenagers From Mars is about kids getting in trouble and falling in love.  It’s about a rolled up comic book stuffed in one back pocket with a still warm slingshot crammed in the other.  It’s about making comics dangerous again.  TFM is the story of Macon, a young comic book artist, who is targeted by the local censors for obscenity, so he targets back.  With the help of Max, a grave robbing thirteen-year-old, and Madison, the strong and independent punk beauty, he forms the world’s first comic book liberation army.

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In 2001, writer Rick (Detective Comics) Spears and artist Rob (The Couriers) G. unleashed Teenagers From Mars on the unsuspecting world.  Now the complete hit series is being collected into one volume by GIGANTIC Graphic Novels.

First some history, straight out of the gate the Teenagers From Mars series racked up critical success and won the endorsements of many comic book pros.  People like Larry Young, publisher of AIT/Planet Lar, sang the book’s praises, “Man, I liked this comic.  And so will you…Here’s an auspicious debut book by a couple of guys who didn’t listen to the naysayers telling them that no one would care about their little comic book confection.  They just went ahead and did it.  I love that.”  Dave Sim, creator of the long running comic book Cerebus, proclaimed, “This is one of the best “inside comics” comics I’ve seen.”  The internet also buzzed with love for the series from Comic Book Resources and Newsarama, to Variety.com.  Ain’t It Cool News stated, “Teenagers From Mars is by far the best comic currently being published.  If you're not reading TFM, what the hell is wrong with you?”  As word spread, the fans responded and the issues vanished from store shelves.  “The quality of Teenagers From Mars is undeniable.  My staff and myself have had astounding success introducing the title to new readers,” said James Sime, owner of The ISOTOPE in San Francisco, where Teenagers From Mars routinely outsells big titles like Batman and X-men.  “I had no doubt that sales were going to be astounding.  Even so, I was shocked to see the numbers the book actually did at my store,” stated Sime.

For those new to the series, “Teenagers From Mars is a story about kids getting in trouble and falling in love.  It’s about a rolled up comic book stuffed in one back pocket with a still warm slingshot crammed in the other.  It’s about making comics dangerous again”, explains Spears.  He continues, “It’s about this kid, Macon, a young comic book artist, who is targeted by the local censors for obscenity, so he targets back.  With the help of Max, a grave robbing thirteen-year-old, and Madison, the strong and independent punk beauty, he forms the world’s first comic book liberation army.”

Now, all the impossible to find issues are being collected into one giant 272 page volume to be published by GIGANTIC Graphic Novels.  “This is how it was meant to be read,” said Spears.  “Just one massive, blood splattered tale of romance, vandalism and comics.”

TEENAGERS FROM MARS, a 272 page black and white graphic novel with a full-color cover, will be available from GIGANTIC Graphic Novels February 2005 at the finest comic shops for $19.95.