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Independent Comic Imprint, Smash, Turns Five

In an industry fraught with fly-by-night financing and dreams that are often bigger than budgets, it’s rare to see an independent comic imprint that has survived more than one publisher, let alone survive for half a decade.

In an industry fraught with fly-by-night financing and dreams that are often bigger than budgets it’s rare to see an independent comic imprint that has survived more than one publisher, let alone survive for half a decade. SMASH! Comics, gearing up for the summer of 2006, has accomplished both and is ready to celebrate.

In June of 2001 the now defunct Lightningstrike Publishing launched a new comic book imprint. Thanks to the friends and connections owner Mike Gagnon had made on the convention circuit, he was able to gather a group of trusted creators and get a specialty investment firm to finance the operations. Thus SMASH! Comics was born.

Through rocky circumstances the comics imprint survived the bankruptcy of the investment firm that backed it, the attempted illegitimate seizure of ownership by that firms bankruptcy lawyers and the closing of its parent company. In fall of 2004 Gagnon met investor Chris Campanozzi and the two formed a new publishing house, Open Book Press. Open Book decided to keep SMASH! Comics alive as a logo used on all the graphic novels they publish.

The thriving Open Book Press is expanding into the comic book market with the re-launch of the SMASH! Comics line of comic books which begin shipping in May 2006. Every comic is perfect bound instead of stapled and made of the same high quality paper and covers that the company uses for its graphic novels. This means that it will be the only line of comic books that can also be easily carried and stocked in traditional book stores. The new line-up of comics is mostly made up of established and successful self-published series such as "Mr. Scootles" by H.C. Noel, "Underlords" created by Greg Robinson, "Monkeys with Machineguns" by U.K. comic stars Chris Lynch and Stu.Art and others who have come looking to join SMASH! Comics.

As part of the celebration to mark the five year survival of SMASH! Comics each comic will bear a commemorative 5th Anniversary logo on the cover beginning in June. The company will also begin shipping a different comic every month with a cover price of only $1 USD. These special editions will be released from August to December of 2006. The company will also be releasing a set of limited edition trading cards in fall 2006.

For SMASH! Comics and further updates, visit www.openbookpress.com

For more information, a longer more detaield version of this release, or to schedule an interview, contact Christian Bonneray, Publicist, (419) 244-8828 or bonneray3@sbcglobal.net
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