Citizen Press signs national book distribution deal with Partners Publishers Group

JULY 9, 2007 (LOS ANGELES, CA) – Publisher Elizabeth James announced today that Citizen Press has partnered with distributor Partners Publishers Group to bring its brand of “Entertainment for the People” to a bookstore near you. First up on their list… the 2006 cult hit graphic novel JOHNNY REPEAT.

“I’m extremely excited about bringing JOHNNY REPEAT to a broader audience and flattered that a national book distributor of PPG’s caliber is welcoming us into their family with such open arms” said Elizabeth. “With the crossover successes of properties like Heroes, 300 and Sin City, the overall mainstreaming of comic books in general, and a JOHNNY REPEAT sequel on the way, now is the time.”

Established by Sam Speigel in 1997, Partners Publishers Group was created to help independent publishers like Citizen Press overcome the daunting challenges of national bookstore distribution. “Unlike many distributors, PPG does not reject single title author/publishers for that reason alone” said Sam. “Each submission is evaluated on its own merits.”

The first in a series of graphic novels, JOHNNY REPEAT is written by Elizabeth’s husband, creator Jason James (Gotham Girls) and boasts an incredible mix of artists, featuring a wraparound cover by the legendary Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween and NBC’s Heroes), with interior art by Paul Azaceta (Grounded), Fabio Cobiaco (Gunned Down), Bruno D’Angelo (Prey), Mark Dos Santos (Western Tales of Terror), Geof Isherwood (Conan) and Noel Tuazon (Elk’s Run). Released in comic stores in September 2006, JOHNNY REPEAT is a story of second chances that debates the eternal question:

If you woke up one day in your past remembering everything leading up to the present, would you make a new future?

Swirling in a soup of multiple plotlines, mysterious clues, and double-crossing schemes, JOHNNY REPEAT begs multiple readings that often bear completely different interpretations of the same story. “It’s the book that keeps on giving. Like Willy Wonka’s ‘Everlasting Gobstopper’” said Jason. Elizabeth agrees. “When you finally put JOHNNY REPEAT down, we want you to come away knowing that you just got every penny of your hard-earned $12.95. That’s what ‘Entertainment for the People’ is all about.”
JOHNNY REPEAT is a 104-page black-and-white graphic novel with a cover price of $12.95. It is currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, finer book stores and a comic book shop near you (order code: JUL063025). For more information, visit www.citizenpress.net or www.partnerspublishersgroup.com.

Cosmic Noir epic is “Certified Cool” and scheduled to hit stores September 2006

JUNE 28, 2006 (LOS ANGELES, CA) – Citizen Press Publisher Elizabeth James announced that JOHNNY REPEAT, her company’s first dose of Entertainment for the People, has been “Certified Cool” by Diamond Comic Distributors and is now available for pre-order in their July edition of PREVIEWS.  “As a first time publisher, I’m completely blown away by the final product and have no problem telling readers that JOHNNY REPEAT is worth every penny of its $12.95 cover price.”

To back her claim, the publisher has been posting sneak peaks of JOHNNY REPEAT every Monday at www.citizenpress.net and letting the fans decide for themselves.  “Eight weeks.  Eight chapters.  Forty pages of Entertainment for the People risk free!”  Already four chapters in, Elizabeth said her website has witnessed a significant and steady rise in traffic.  “The proof is definitely in the pudding.  This has been a labor of love for the entire JOHNNY REPEAT team, who has crafted a sprawling and powerful story overflowing with second chances, existential overtones, Machiavellian machinations, and ultimately, passion.”

Intended as the first in a series of graphic novels, JOHNNY REPEAT is written by Elizabeth’s husband, creator Jason James and features a wraparound cover by Tim Sale and Dave Stewart (Catwoman: When in Rome).  Each of its chapters drawn by a different artist, the moody 104-page black and white graphic novel is illustrated by superstar talents Paul Azaceta (Talent), Fabio Cobiaco (Gunned Down), Bruno D’Angelo (Prey), Mark Dos Santos (Western Tales of Terror), Geof Isherwood (Conan), and Noel Tuazon (Elk’s Run).

If you can’t wait until September, JOHNNY REPEAT will be making its convention season debut in July with an exclusive and extremely limited San Diego Comic-Con edition.  “We’re talking about a print run of a couple hundred copies tops,” said Elizabeth.  Citizen Press will be on the move throughout the show, appearing at other companies’ booths during a series of guerrilla signing sessions to promote the book.  “Everyone has been extremely gracious and supportive of the idea.”  Comic book impresario Larry Young (who also provides JOHNNY REPEAT with an introspective Afterword) will be hosting signings at the AIT/Planet Lar booth, as will the folks at Komikwerks and Masterminds.  Tim Sale will also have copies on hand during his scheduled appearances at Richard Starking’s Active Images booth.  “We’ll be announcing the final schedule of when, where, and who very, very soon.”

JOHNNY REPEAT is a 104-page black and white graphic novel with a cover price of $12.95.  Available for pre-order in the July edition of PREVIEWS, the book will arrive in stores September 2006.  For more information, visit www.citizenpress.net.

COVERAGE LINKS:
Around Comics
Broken Frontier
Comic Book Resources
Newsarama
Silver Bullet Comics

New publishing venture to publish time-toggling series of original graphic novels

MARCH 28, 2006 (LOS ANGELES, CA) – Publisher Elizabeth James announced today that her new maxi-media company, Citizen Press, plans to deliver its first dose of “Entertainment for the People” in July 2006 with the release of Johnny Repeat, a 96-page black-and-white graphic novel.

A sprawling mystery woven into an intense human drama packaged into a non-linear narrative, Johnny Repeat is a story of second chances that debates the eternal question:

If you woke up one day in your past remembering everything leading up to the present, would you make a new future?

Fumbling for enlightenment and redemption in the damnedest of places, this clue-riddled scavenger hunt features an ensemble of broken souls led by Johnny Repeat, a mysterious could-be prophet harboring a dark secret, an overflow of strange knowledge, and a mind blowing agenda.  His associates include a sexaholic with a grudge, an immortal femme fatale, and a cowardly bum who may have played a game of Dungeons & Dragons too many.

Intended as the first in a series of graphic novels, Johnny Repeat is written by Elizabeth’s husband, creator Jason James.  “Jason originally introduced me to Johnny, Nate, The Woman with No Name, and the rest during a two hour drive in L.A. traffic,” said Elizabeth.  It took the entire trip.  “The way Jason has thrown together this recipe of characters, chronology, and themes, it’s like Lost, Dune, and 100 Bullets had a lovechild with Sergio Leone all signed-up to be the godfather.”

Johnny Repeat also boasts an incredible mix of distinguished and up-and-coming artists, featuring a wraparound cover by the legendary Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween) and Dave Stewart (Catwoman: When in Rome), with interior art by Paul Azaceta (Grounded), Fabio Cobiaco (Gunned Down), Bruno D’Angelo (Prey), Mark Dos Santos (Western Tales of Terror), Geof Isherwood (Conan), and Noel Tuazon (Elk’s Run).  “Yeah, we’re packing a pretty serious punch,” said Elizabeth.  A team effort, each artist is illustrating a chapter or group of related chapters. 

“Knowing that my wish list was pretty lofty and already busy working on other projects, I wrote Johnny Repeat in distinct chapters so high-caliber artists could contribute without having to make a 100-page commitment,” said Jason.  The strategy paid off.  However, with all of these different artists, the creator promises there is a stylistic theme tying the talent and story all together.  “I’m calling it ‘cosmic noir.’  I can’t wait for everyone to see it!”

Johnny Repeat will premiere at the San Diego Comic-Con this July with a cover price of $12.95.

COVERAGE LINKS:
Broken Frontier
Buzzscope
Comic Book Resources
ICv2
Newsarama
Pulse
Universo HQ
The Great Curve