NEWS & RUMORS
3/16/04-Big News story today as Ian Churchill has signed a 2 year exclusive contract with DC comics! Apparently he will be working on something big, but is keeping it hush-hush until DC makes its official announcement. You can read the whole story from Ian's perspective at newsarama by clicking here:
CHURCHILL STORY
The press release reads:
PRESS RELEASE
Acclaimed artist Ian Churchill has signed a two-year exclusive agreement with DC Comics.
"I returned from my two-year world trip to find some unexpected changes in the comic book industry and some great things happening at DC Comics," says Churchill. "Staying in contact with Eddie Berganza during my absence, we started talking on my return about possible projects for me at DC. I'm excited to be in the position to tackle some of the most recognizable icons the industry has to offer and more importantly, I'm passionate about drawing again as a result. Bring it on!"
"I am very excited to have Ian working exclusively here at DC," says Group Editor Eddie Berganza. "His artwork is so dynamic it leaps off the page. Don't take my word for it, just check out the work he did on SUPERMAN #180 where the Man of Steel faced off against Dracula! The detail was amazing and his Lois... wow! His artwork captures the larger-than-life attitude we have going on in the DCU, and Ian's heroes kick major butt!"
Churchill returns to DC as cover artist on OUTSIDERS #12 (MAR040329). This issue is solicited in the March issue of Previews (Volume XIV #3) and is scheduled to arrive in stores on May 19 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.
2/19/04-Big News story today as Ian Churchill makes his return to comics! DC solicits for the month of May lists Ian as the Coven artist to Outsiders #12! Click here for the picture.
6/7/03-Coven Hardcover cancelled. When asked (on the AwesomeArmyOnline newsgroup) about the status of the Coven Hardcover Jimmy Jay had this to say:
As for Hardcovers-
I believe I tackled this somewhere- it could have been on this newgroup, or
on the Millarforums- but the hardcovers havbe been taken off the schedule.
This is entirely due to Arcade switching to a higher quality printer. These
HCs
will be solicited again late in the year, early 2004...
5/27/03-No More Avatar? Recently All the Rage conducted an interview with Rob Liefield (http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/105022345515433.htm) where he revealed that he will no longer be publishing comics through Avatar. Looks like the Coven: Bloodlust series will not see print.
2/22/03-A Coven hardcover in the works? This is taken from Diamond's March order form:
ARCADE COMICS
MAR03 1969 COVEN THE COMPLETE HC ED (C: 4) $39.99
MAR03 1970 COVEN THE COMPLETE HC DLX ED (C: 4) $59.99
I will have more on this next Wednesday when the new Previews comes out. Thanks to Scion09 for spotting this.
2/5/03-***THIS IS ONLY A RUMOR!*** (Taken from http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/97651837528875.htm
Awesome's licensing of Coven to Avatar, shortly after Avengelyne had also made the jump caught some people by surprise. Some had presumed it was a creator owned title, some had heard there was bad feeling toward Liefeld from Churchill and some didn't appreciate the new publisher.
The following message was posted to the AAO2 private egroups forum, which describes itself as "The Awesome meeting place. A forum to discuss the fanzine Supreme, Awesome Army Outpost, and all other Awesome comics. I have had no luck in contacting Ian Churchill and I request that you remember the Rumour Barrier that every reader passes through before reading the column. Do not repeat the following as fact, use your own judgement and bear in mind the politics of spin.
Despite the header, this message was passed on to me by a number of individuals and seems to be going around. Originally posted on the egroup by jimawesome@aol.com on Friday 8th December, it purports to be from Rob Liefeld:
DISCLAIMER!!!! THIS IS NOT INTENDED FOR RELEASE TO THE FAN PRESS! IT IS A PRIVATE COMMUNICATION WITH THE AAO!!!
AAO Group,
Let me address some concerns and opinions you might have. First off, The Coven was by no means the Awesome's flagship title, that would be Supreme and Youngblood. Coven sales were always challenging despite the excellent efforts by Loeb and Churchill. As for loyalty to the comic, its creator, Ian Churchill has not been loyal to the title so I see absolutely no reason to give it special attention. After paying him over $10,000.00 per issue for 4 years, Ian has gone awol and has made no attempt to complete his contract with Awesome/Ripley Inc. Keep in mind he made around $4000.00 per issue at Marvel pre-Awesome and despite the sagging Coven sales and his reluctance to listen to any input from our staff, we continued to pay him the top rate in the industry totalling payment over $250,000.00 for the past 4 years. Do you know how many artists would kill for that paycheck? He has chosen to turn his back on the company that made him rich and has broken his contract with Awesome, a situation that will resolve itself in the very near future.
In regards to Avatar, they have approached a property that I have no immediate plans for with tremendous zeal and enthusiasm. I have seen the entire Al Rio issue and am very impressed. Rio elevated his already exciting pencils to a new level with his first issue, Coven fans should be very pleased. As to your rush to judgement with Avatar, they are attempting to broaden their audience and are being very aggressive in their efforts to aquire existing licences and should be applauded for their vigor in an otherwise depressed marketplace. William is very enthusiastic and is doing a great job assembling talent on these projects. The Dave Finch cover is stunning and just the tip of the iceberg according to Avatar. I have enjoyed the Avengelyne issues so far and look forward to more great efforts from Avatar.
Awesome has a vast library of over 500 characters, we cannot and would not choose to publish all of our titles in the current tumultuous marketplace. Do not kid yourself, the industry is suffering terribly! The honest members of the big 2 companies will concede that this is a trying time for publishers. The numbers continue to sink. Avatar is a good home for Avengelyne and Coven, if you don't care for their other books, don't by them. I certainly don't support the vast majority of Dark Horse, Image and Marvel comics, that doesn't affect my enthusiasm for the titles I favor, don't let it affect yours.
There have been recent rumours that I've received over the weeks that tie in with the above, although I have had no luck verifying them.
One states that "Ian Churchill has not been getting any of his original art back, and is majorly pissed at Rob. The only reason he still works with Rob is a hope that he can get back the rights to Coven." If true, that didn't work out, obviously. Another rumour states that Ian Churchill has returned back to the UK and is involved in legal action over Coven and Coven artwork.
7/29/02-Avatar has plans to bring back Blackmass and Phenomena in a future Coven story. At this time it is unknown what story they will be appearing in or if it will be as part of the team again.
7/29/02-Fantom's skin color change will apparently be addressed in the upcoming Coven: Bloodlust Mini-Series.
7/27/02-The next Coven Mini-series to come out by Avatar will focus primarily on Fantom. Tentively titled Bloodlust. No release date has been made.
