ROK Comics

PULSE #2 on sale now via ROK Comics Ultra App!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 May 2014 11:41:00 +0000

The second issue of the new British digital comics anthology PULSE - on sale exclusively through the ROK Comics Ultra app for iPad - is available now.

Published by ROK Comics in partnership with Markosia Enterprises the action-adventure title, which costs just 69p per issue initially features Team M.O.B.I.L.E.; Dinocorps; Serpent Wars; and Endangered Weapon B.

An ongoing adventure created by Jonathan Kendrick, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others.

Entombed for millennia, a team of combat dinosaurs – Dinocorps (written by Andy Briggs & Steve Horvath, with art from Robert Molesworth) – are accidentally reanimated by 14-year-old Carl Heyward. While trying to keep them a secret, Carl discovers the evil Saurons have survived too. Responsible for the last mass extinction event, they’re planning to eradicate the human mammalian vermin with another extinction event. The race is on to save the planet… again. World shaking action-adventure in this all-ages story!

Serpent Wars (written by Christian Rodriguez & Chris Campanozzi, with art from Antonio Rojo) is set in the mid-1800’s where a young scientist smuggles himself aboard the war ship of a British Lord bound for South America only to discover a land filled with serpent gods destined to rule mankind. With the aid of a spiritual goddess the brave adventurer must battle to free the island and humanity from the tyranny of these giant creatures.

What kind of lunatic forces a grizzly bear to wear mechanized combat armour and fight his battles? What kind of fiend kidnaps a beautiful Polynesian computer genius to be his child bride? And just who has a ninja for a butler anyway? Meet the Professor: eccentric, scientist, explorer and Englishman par excellence. There’s madcap steampunk hi-jinks aplenty in Endangered Weapon B, written by David Tallerman, with art from Bob Molesworth).

• Download the ROK Comics Ultra app

• Follow PULSE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pulsecomic and Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicPulse

ROK Comics Launches PULSE, new Digital Comics Anthology, and New ‘Marketplace’ for digital comics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 May 2014 10:52:00 +0000

We're pleased to announce that our new ROK Comics Ultra marketplace app on Apple’s iTunes store is generating a lot of interest – and that sales of our new digital anthology, PULSE, are on the rise!

Issue Two of PULSE is expected to go on sale next week, dependent on Apple approvals. Here's a sneek peek of the cover..

The new app brings all ROK Comics amazing audio comics titles under one roof, including Team M.O.B.I.L.E. and The Beatles Story.

The app also features “Comics Communique”, a comics news service and a number of comic titles published in partnership with other publishers, with more to come in the next few months.

Exclusive to the platform is a new ongoing digital comics anthology, PULSE for iPad users, published in partnership with Markosia Enterprises. The title, aimed at teenagers, will initially feature Team M.O.B.I.L.E., Dinocorps, Serpent Wars and Endangered Weapon B.

An ongoing adventure created by Jonathan Kendrick, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others.

Entombed for millennia, a team of combat dinosaurs – Dinocorps (written by Andy Briggs & Steve Horvath, with art from Robert Molesworth) – are accidentally reanimated by 14-year-old Carl Heyward. While trying to keep them a secret, Carl discovers the evil Saurons have survived too. Responsible for the last mass extinction event, they’re planning to eradicate the human mammalian vermin with another extinction event. The race is on to save the planet… again. World shaking action-adventure in this all-ages story!

Serpent Wars (written by Christian Rodriguez & Chris Campanozzi, with art from Antonio Rojo) is set in the mid-1800’s where a young scientist smuggles himself aboard the war ship of a British Lord bound for South America only to discover a land filled with serpent gods destined to rule mankind. With the aid of a spiritual goddess the brave adventurer must battle to free the island and humanity from the tyranny of these giant creatures.

What kind of lunatic forces a grizzly bear to wear mechanized combat armour and fight his battles? What kind of fiend kidnaps a beautiful Polynesian computer genius to be his child bride? And just who has a ninja for a butler anyway? Meet the Professor: eccentric, scientist, explorer and Englishman par excellence. There’s madcap steampunk hi-jinks aplenty in Endangered Weapon B, written by David Tallerman, with art from Bob Molesworth).

• The first issue of PULSE is available now through the ROK Comics Ultra App. #2 will be available in mid-May.

• Follow PULSE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pulsecomic and Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicPulse

• View the ROK Comics Ultra app here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/rok-comics-ultra/id804413888?mt=8

Want to be immortalised in comics?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:21:00 +0000

ROK Comics - publishers of the audio comics Team MOBILE, Houdini Adventures, Master Merlini and more - is offering the chance for you to be drawn into an upcoming ROK Comic as a supporting character!

All you have to do is upload to Instagram and hashtag #rokcomics by 12 noon GMT 31st July, 2013.

ROK Comics will scour the entries and pick the best entry, which will then feature in the next available audio comic from our growing list of exciting audio comic titles.

The photo can be funny, heroic, sad, silly or thoughtful - the important thing is that it's YOU (not your pet!) and a good enough image for our artists to work from!

What are you waiting for? Break out your secret identity gear and upload now!

Lancaster-based ROK Comics publishes a range of audio and other digital comics titles, with Team M.O.B.I.L.E., Houdini Adventures and Master Merlini among several on sale for iPad, iPhone and Android devices – and many more titles in the works.

All ROK Comics titles deliver great comic content, enhanced by a fully authored audio soundtrack and other features that only digital comics can fully exploit, including animation and, in the case of its music comics range, music videos.

Says ROK CEO Jonathan Kendrick: “ROK is pioneering the creation and delivery of original audio comic books across a range of new titles and we are delighted to be bringing comic books to life in this dynamic way via the latest technologies.”

Sales of digital comics are growing rapidly, but many are simply re-formats of existing print titles which fail to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital devices. ROK has embraced the new medium head on, delivering not just great comics but extras that will appeal to all ages now well used in the potential of modern media.

“With all the extras, we wanted to complement the comic storytelling that make a comic a comic,” says editor John Freeman, “but added new elements that will give the stories even greater appeal.

“We’re hoping our carefully-created titles will appeal outside of comic fandom. We’ve had feedback from parents who tell us our audio comics are a great help with children coming to grips with learning to read, for example. “

Team M.O.B.I.L.E.
An ongoing adventure comic, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others. The series was created by Jonathan Kendrick and features art by Andrew Chiu.

Houdini Adventures
An ongoing adventure comic recounting all-new adventures of the world’s greatest escape artist. Written by magician Jamie Allan Nicklin and composer and script writer Simon Wheeler, the launch issue features art by the highly-regarded Spanish artists Rafael Broseta and David Belmonte.
The comic includes exclusive videos revealing magician’s secrets – some included for free, some offered as in-app purchase.

Titles also on sale now include several audio “bio comics” including The Beatles Story, an eight-issue limited digital series collecting, in full, the stunning creator-owned comic co-created by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, which will include rare video of the Beatles. Rok has also published bio comics of British music acts ZeZi, 2012 X-Factor favourite Joe Whelan and OG Niki – and an action adventure-oriented mini comic starring British rapper Rick Fury.

Titles in Production include:

• The Elvis Story, an eight-issue limited digital series by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson telling revealing the legend of the King, never re-published since its first appearance in British comic Look-In in the 1980s

• My Favorite Martian Collecting the My Favorite Martian comics by Bill Titcombe from British comic TV Century 21, never before seen in the United States, as the show celebrates its 50^th Anniversary, in conjunction with Jack Chertok Television

• A new digital comics anthology, in partnership with Markosia Enterprises, launching later in 2013

• Banned Across the Universe… In space, no-one can hear you sing – unless you pretend you’re someone famous, and probably dead! An ongoing action-humour strip drawn by Kev Levell

• Ex Astris, an amazing science fiction comic set in the far future on an Earth transformed by alien intervention and environmental disaster, by Bill Storie

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

Team MOBILE #3 audio comic on sale now from iTunes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:30:00 +0000

The Team MOBILE #3 audio comic from ROK Comics is now on sale in the iTunes store for Apple devices.

The adventures of Team M.O.B.I.L.E. continue! They are the undesirables, the no-hopers, misfits… the teenagers who don’t fit in, who flunk every school test and often end up on the wrong side of the law.

But these teens have a secret – they are secret agents for a mysterious international organisation – the Mindmerge Organisation Bureau – International Law Enforcement. Selected using secret tests, they're gifted with skills to tackle any threat to the world, anywhere and any time!

In Game World, the teen agents investigate the disappearance of children from a major theme park - and uncover a sinister plot - the work of deadly Cyboks!

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. is aROK Comics production brought to you by creator Jonathan Kendrick, Ferg Handley (script), Andrew Chiu (art), Kris Carter and Kirsty Swan (colour) and Jim Campbell (letters), backed by a full UK-US voice cast and soundtrack!

- Full colour action comic with swipe to read navigation

- Click-to-listen full audio soundtrack: don't just read Rok Comics, hear them!

- Easy to use navigation

- Controllable Pop-Up extras profiling key characters and equipment

- Background feature on the world of Team M.O.B.I.L.E. and the Cyboks!

• Now on sale in the iTunes store for Apple devices

Rok Comics release "Master Merlini" Audio Comic

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:30:00 +0000

ROK Comics announces the release of Master Merlini, its latest interactive audio comic featuring an all-new incarnation of the real-life, world famous escape artist David Merlini.

Escape artist, crime fighter, adventurer, Master Merlini is all of these things and more, as he battles the villainous Caligari while a mysterious woman helps him discover an incredible truth about his world and his existence!

Written by Cy Dethan, author of the acclaimed Cancertown series and Starship Troopers, with art from Giancarlo Caracuzzo (artist on Marvel's Formic Wars and Gorilla Man), the debut Master Merlini audio comic plunges the hero into a strange world beyond our own, linked to a real world event in New York on April 18th 2013!

With full audio 'play' to accompany the comic and escape artist tricks revealed in exclusive videos as well as animations and extra background information on some of the characters, Master Merlini will leave you wondering... where does fiction end and reality begin?

Based on a concept by ROK Comics founder Jonathan Kendrick and David Merlini himself, who also voices his comic alter ego, Master Merlini merges the real world with a fiction that is all too real for its hero!

MASTER MERLINI ONLINE

• Master Merlini Online at www.mastermerlini.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Merlini/576738435671570
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MasterMerlini

DON'T JUST READ THIS COMIC - HEAR IT!

Full length comic strip adventure starring Master Merlini
Full length accompanying soundtrack
Exclusive escape artist trick videos
Animated sequences offering alternate storytelling (selected pages)
Background feature on escape artist Merlini

MASTER MERLINI: CREATOR CREDITS

Script: Cy Dethan based on a concept by Jonathan Kendrick & David Merlini - Art by Giancarlo Caracuzzo - Colour by Kirsty Swan - Letters and Digital Mastering by Jim Campbell

Voice Artists: David Merlini, Shawn Curran, Kirstin Reitter and George Sanders

Available now for iPad, iPhone and Android

From iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/app/master-merlini/id615910310

From Google Play for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.mastermerlini001

Visit Books That ROK at: www.booksthatrok.com

DESIGNED TO BRING COMICS TO LIFE, OTHER BOOKS THAT ROK INTERACTIVE AUDIO COMICS INCLUDE:

For iPhone and iPad

Team MOBILE #1
https://itunes.apple.com/app/team-m.o.b.i.l.e-1/id578981996
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile01

Team MOBILE #2
https://itunes.apple.com/app/team-m.o.b.i.l.e-2/id579055097
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile02

Houdini Adventures #1
https://itunes.apple.com/app/houdini-adventures-1/id579058111
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.houdini

MUSIC COMICS

The Beatles Story
https://itunes.apple.com/app/the-beatles-story/id569176209
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.beatles001

Rick Fury
https://itunes.apple.com/app/rick-fury/id573928983
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.rickfury001

OG Niki
https://itunes.apple.com/app/og-niki/id594555051

ZeZi
https://itunes.apple.com/app/zezi/id573944649
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.zezi001

Joe Whelan
https://itunes.apple.com/app/joseph-whelan/id562249855
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.joewhelan

iPad edition Strip Magazine #7 on sale now

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:31:00 +0000

The digital edition of Print Media Productions STRIP Magazine #7 for iPad, published in partnership with ROK Comics, is on sale now from iTunes.

This edition of the magazine is a Christmas Special that takes a slightly different form to the usual magazine.

While including an exciting new episode of Phil Hester and John McCrea's regular series Warpaint, the Magazine is largely devoted to a variety of one off stories, including Citadel – a very special early story created by the late, great French creator Moebius.

By way of a hint of things to come next year when the regular magazine returns after a break in production to ramp up properly, the team hope, for news stand release, Print Media also offers a sneak peek at several all-new stories including Thracius by James Hudnall and Mark Vigouroux; Denizens (by Miko Horvatic and Maxim Simic); Dan Barton of Space Command (by John Freeman and Andrew Chiu) an affectionate comedy homage to space heroes, which may return as a regular series in late 2013); and Corwin Blays, a festive tale starring a hapless thief!

The digital edition also features some exclusive extras, such as a quirky festive tune when the app is launched, and added 'data cards' with background information on the characters and some creators, along with a video trailer for David Lloyd's digital project, Aces Weekly.

There's also a bonus taster of ROK Comics titles Houdini and The Beatles Story - only in the digital edition.

Diamond UK have confirmed the print edition of STRIP Magazine #7 will be on sale in UK comic shops from Wednesday 19th December.

• Buy it on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/app/strip-magazine-1/id582768929

• This edition is IOS6 only - PMP tell us an update is being submitted which will be compatible with older iPads

ZeZi: The Story So Far audio comic launched

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Don't just read this comic - hear it! Rok Records is proud to present the FREE official audio-enhanced ZEZI COMIC, telling the story of Birmingham's top rap act!

Featuring a full soundtrack that brings the story added life and excitement, find out about ZeZi's rise - the triumphs, the setbacks, the personal tragedy that has shaped their success in different ways!

Birmingham born rapper, singer, song-writer Bc Da Bossman has been involved in writing and producing music since he was very young, crafting his skills with an assist from a music project organised by the band UB40 at Dep Studios Birmingham at just 16. Armed with these skills BC developed himself as an artist, working with some of Birmingham’s most accomplished musicians, rappers and engineers such as the B15 Project, MSI & Asylum and Pato Banton. But the music really came together with the formation of ZeZi and neither he or fellow band members DeNiro Capo, Durty Sqwurt and P.O.V. have looked back since.

Now, the winners of Radio 1's Freestyle Competition and the New Style Radio Competition have worked with ROK Records to bring their fans this special comic, charting how they came together, the near-tragic shooting that almost put paid to their plans but in the end, steeled them for greatness - and the story of their greatest fan, Taivann, whose life was cruelly cut short.

Working from a story by BC Da Bossman himself, top script writer and novelist Jasper Bark has crafted this bio-comic, drawn by Marc Olivent, coloured by Kirsty Swan and lettered by Jim Campbell.

This free comic includes the option to buy ZeZi's latest single "Spend It All", which will unlock an EXCLUSIVE ZeZi video within the app!

• Official ZeZi audio comic - voiced by the band themselves!

• Full colour action comic with swipe to read navigation

• Exclusive ZeZi video (on in-app purchase of Spend It All")

• Click-to-listen full audio soundtrack

• Don't just read this comic, hear it!

Zezi for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/app/zezi/id573944649

ZeZi for Android devices: http://bit.ly/zezi-comic

Rick Fury - Rapper on the rampage!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:41:00 +0000

Don't just read this comic - hear it! ROK Records is proud to present the first free audio-enhanced issue of FURIOUS, starring none other than Geordie rapping superstar Rick Fury!

Featuring a full soundtrack that brings the story added life and excitement, FURIOUS is set in an alternate, dangerous Britain where Northern England has been leased to China to pay Britain's enormous debts and Scotland is an independent nation. On the streets of South Shields - now Shanghai North - the rebellious population are subject to absolute rule, where many forms of entertainment are banned and street gangs enforce the law of the occupying nation!

Rick Fury and fellow rap star Layla Lu voice the audio comic script from Rick Fury himself (assisted by Ben Kendrick) with art by Marc Olivent, colour from Kirsty Swan, lettered by Jim Campbell.

The ongoing FURIOUS audio comic is just one more step in artist/rapper Rick Fury's path to global domination! Rick's exceptional talent puts him at the forefront of his profession, bringing a fresh look to Hip Hop, rapping about everyday situations and life in general.

This free comic includes the option to buy Rick's latest single "Rage", which will unlock an exclusive Rick Fury video within the app!

- Official Rick Fury audio comic - voiced by Rick and Layla Lu!

- Full colour action comic with swipe to read navigation

- Exclusive Rick Fury video (on in-app purchase of his single, "Rage")

- Click-to-listen full audio soundtrack

- Don't just read this comic -- hear it!

• Furious Episode 1 audio comic is available to download from iTunes now for iPad, iPhone and iTouch

• Furious Episode 1 audio comic for Android devices

ROK releases Beatles Story comic, drawn by Arthur Ranson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:21:00 +0000

ROK Mobile Comics has just released the first issue of its new audio comic The Beatles Story for iPad, iPhone and other mobile devices.

The eight-issue digital series collects, for the first time in its entirety, the classic and highly-acclaimed Beatles strip created by the late Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson for the British weekly comic, Look-In.

With new covers by Martin Baines, the digitally-enhanced audio comic also includes rare Beatles videos and other material to complement the comic, including audio commentary memories from writer and radio broadcaster Angie McCartney.

Working closely with artist Arthur Ranson - with some pages scanned from original artwork - and the estate of writer Angus Allan, the eight-issue digital audio comic is available for for iPad, iPhone, Android and other mobile devices, the strip complemented by fully authored audio enhancements that further bring this unique comic biography of The Beatles to life.

The launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four's beginnings back in 1962, when The Beatles - John, Paul, George and Ringo - took the charts by storm in 1962 with their first official release, "Love Me Do", quickly followed by "Please Please Me" and "From Me to You". Beatlemania soon swept across the globe as the Fab Four recorded a staggering 12 studio albums, 13 EPs and 22 singles from 1962 to 1970.

It is estimated they have sold over one billion records worldwide and The Beatles continue to influence many musicians and artists today, attracting a new generation of fans.

Beautifully realized, The Beatles Story charts the history of the band from their struggle for success in the early 1960s through their entire career until the band's split in 1970.

DJ Mike Read has called the strip "the only worthwhile strip record of the Beatles" and the creator-owned comic, first published in British comic Look-In has only ever been reprinted in an abridged form, both in the UK and in Europe.


The opening page of The Beatles Story © Angus Allan & Arthur Ranson

"Before The Beatles - Their Story in Pictures strip, Angus Allan, comic-book and Paperback Writer, and I had been teamed up by Look-in Editor Colin Shelbourn to do The Elvis Story," recalls Arthur Ranson of the origins of his acclaimed Beatles comic strip. "Like Dreamers Do I suggested to Angus that we might retain the copyright - prompted by belief in its future possibilities and thinking possible returns When I'm Sixty-Four.

"Rather than just the Money there was also pride in ownership and an interest in creators rights. Creator ownership was at that time even less usual then it is now and Nobody I Know at the time had done that. Can’t now imagine the hubris that made me pushy so don’t Ask Me Why.

"When Angus heard the idea he was nervous about it," Arthur continues. "Apart from the gamble that a reduction in fee would later be recouped I think it ran against his idea of how professional comics guys worked and he might be seen as a Bad Boy. I convinced Angus We Can Work It Out and the Two of Us took the proposal to Colin. I said I would not draw the strip on any other terms. (How was it I was so cocky?) With much less argument than I expected Colin agreed. Thank you, Colin.

"When Colin wanted The Beatles strip it was more or less understood that the same terms would apply. At Look-in’s expense Angus and I became Day Trippers, took A Ticket to Ride and went to Liverpool for research, visiting Penny Lane and all.

"ITV Publications reproduced the strip as a paper book only four months after its first appearance in Look-In, hardly Any Time at All. The impression I was left with was that whoever organised the reprint was so miffed when he discovered that Angus and I had the copyright that he made no attempt to sell it on so it wasn’t exactly Here, There, and Everywhere. Angus and I took on an agent to act on our behalf and he landed some foreign versions.

"Some of the artwork was displayed at the Walker Art Gallery in their 1984 'Art of the Beatles' exhibition."

"Do You Want to Know a Secret? Drawing a weekly story with the hope of seeing it reappearing in a complete continuous format did need some thinking about," Arthur reveals. "The space where the title would go required filling, but not with anything that was essential. For new readers the breaks are then not apparent and the story will move without interruption, Act Naturally..."

The Beatles Story is the latest audio comic project from ROK, who launched their first audio adventure comic Team M.O.B.I.L.E. earlier this year, with several new titles, including Houdini, new adventures of the world's greatest escape artist soon to follow, along with spy adventure Tomorrow We Live, written and drawn by Mike Collins.

The company is also working on a number of music comics featuring up and coming bands, and a collection of Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson's other creator-owned strip for Look-In, The Elvis Story.

• The Beatles Story by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, with new covers by Martin Baines

• From iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/app/the-beatles-story/id569176209?mt=8

• Android Edition: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.beatles001

From Superheroes to SuperSized - a new exhibition by Giancarlo Caracuzzo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:41:00 +0000

Who said that fatties are all unhappy and unpleasant? "From Superheroes to SuperSized", a new exhibition in Rome featuring the work of Giancarlo Caracuzzo, who drew our recently-released free Joe Whelan comic, sets out to disprove that.

Organized by Fat Lab, the exhibition presents works by Giancarlo Caracuzzo and Mauro Caracuzzo with Flavia Caracuzzo and an illustrated story of Giancarlo Caracuzzo and Katia Ravaioli.

Giancarlo Caracuzzo is a world-renowned illustrator, who drew the likes of Martin Mystere, Nick Rider, Iron Man and Spider-Man, and in recent years has contributed to the success of series and miniseries of horror, fantasy and underground, working for Marvel Comics and some of his best-known writers.

Caracuzzo offers here his latest, stunning work, a play on the paradox of fat versus thin, creating original and scandalous marriages in this age of media fundamentalism against thoase with weight issues.

The exhibtion also features drawings and works by artist and designer Mauro Caracuzzo and Flavia Caracuzzo.

The story Ernesto and Mirella featured in the exhibition is written by Katia Ravaioli and illustrated by Giancarlo, and takes its name from a blog (in Italian) already much talked about on social media sites. It's the story of two misfits who meet dancing the tango, learn to dance and fall in love each other, and eventually themselves.

• From Superheroes to SuperSized runs until 2nd November 2012 at the Gallery Interior Red, Rome, Via dei Banchi Vecchi 32. Web Page (in Italian): www.fatlab.it/fsts.html

• Ernesto e Mirella blog: http://ernestoemirella.blogspot.co.uk

ROK Comics expands its Audio Comics range

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:10:00 +0000

ROK Comics is pleased to announce the expansion of its audio comics range, with Team M.O.B.I.L.E., Houdini now on sale for iPad, iPhone and Android devices – and many more titles in the works.

All ROK Comics titles deliver great comic content, enhanced by a fully authored audio soundtrack and other features that only digital comics can fully exploit, including animation and, in the case of its music comics range, music videos.

Says ROK CEO Jonathan Kendrick: “ROK is pioneering the creation and delivery of original audio comic books across a range of new titles and we are delighted to be bringing comic books to life in this dynamic way via the latest technologies.”

Sales of digital comics are growing rapidly, but many are simply re-formats of existing print titles which fail to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital devices. ROK has embraced the new medium head on, delivering not just great comics but extras that will appeal to all ages now well used in the potential of modern media.

“With all the extras, we wanted to complement the comic storytelling that make a comic a comic,” says editor John Freeman, “but add new elements that will give the stories even greater appeal.

“We’re hoping our carefully-created titles will appeal outside of comic fandom. We’ve had feedback from parents who tell us our audio comics are a great help with children coming to grips with learning to read for example.

Available now for free are Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #2 and Houdini #1 – with many more comics in the works.

• An ongoing adventure comic, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others. The series was created by Jonathan Kendrick and features art by Andrew Chiu.

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 is FREE for iPad and iPhone:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/team-mobile-comic/id516600477

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 is free for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile01

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #2 is free for iPad and iPhone:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/team-mobile-2/id549502691?mt=8

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #2 is free for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile02

• Houdini is an ongoing adventure comic recounting all-new adventures of the world’s greatest escape artist. Written by magician Jamie Allan Nicklin and composer and script writer Simon Wheeler, the launch issue features art by the highly-regarded Spanish artists Rafael Broseta and David Belmonte.

The comic includes exclusive videos revealing magician’s secrets – some included for free, some offered as in-app purchase.

• Houdini #1 is FREE for iPad and iPhone at:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/houdini/id531385730?mt=8&ls=1

• Download Houdini #1 FREE for Android at:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.houdini

Titles to come include:

Tomorrow We Live, scripted
and drawn by Mike Collins

• Tomorrow We Live, a gritty no-holds-barred action adventure set in a world of jaded spies and dangerous villains, adapted from a story by Simon Piers Thurlow and Hollywood screen writers Shawn Curran and George Sanders by Mike Collins, acclaimed artist on several titles for Marvel and DC Comics, as well as Doctor Who Magazine

The Beatles by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson

• The Beatles Story, an eight-issue limited digital series collecting, in full, the stunning creator-owned comic co-created by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, which will include rare video of the Beatles

• The Elvis Story, an eight-issue limited digital series by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson telling revealing the legend of the King, never re-published since its first appearance in British comic Look-In in the 1980s

• Ex Astris, an amazing science fiction comic set in the far future on an Earth transformed by alien intervention and environmental disaster, by Bill Storie

ROK is also publishing a number of “music comics”, featuring audio-enhanced comic strip, videos and other bonus material, including:

Rick Fury, drawn by Marc Olivent

• Rick Fury, an ongoing “action music comic” starring an alternate version of one of Britain’s best-known emcees, written by Rick himself with art by Marc Olivent

• Banned Across the Universe… In space, no-one can hear you sing – unless you pretend you’re someone famous, and probably dead! An ongoing action-humour strip by John Freeman and Kev Levell

• ZeZi: The Story so Far, a bio-comic about the Birmingham-based rap band, scripted by Jasper Bark and drawn by Andrew Chiu

• OG Niki: The Story So Far, a bio-comic about the controversial British rapper OG Niki, scripted by Jasper Bark and drawn by Marc Olivent

• Joe Whelan: The Story So Far, a bio-comic about the amazing Heavy Metal guitarist, scripted by Jasper Bark and drawn by Marvel Comics artist Giancarlo Caracuzzo

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

Declaration: John Freeman is Managing Editor at ROK Comics

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. Promotions available on YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 08:43:00 +0000

ROK's animation team have begin creating a number of promotional videos for our titles, starting, naturally, with our action adventure title, Team M.O.B.I.L.E.!

Here's their first promo for #1, which can also be viewed on the Team M.O.B.I.L.E. Comic YouTube channel.

The animation folk are busy working on several projects connected to our books – stay tuned for more information...

• Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 is available free for iPad and iPhone via http://itunes.apple.com/app/team-mobile-comic/id516600477?mt=8 and on Google Play for Android devices at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile01

Creator-owned iPhone Apps on sale - at bargain prices

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:20:00 +0000

ROK Comics is offering comic fans three dedicated comic apps for iPhone at a bargain price of 99 cents (69p each), working in partnership with three dedicated comic creators whose work reflects three very different story genres.

• Ligeia the Vampire comprises 40 episodes of vampire, zombie and wartime menace, inspired by the story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe. Drawn in a style echoing the work of Alex Toth, Frank Miller and Alberto Breccia, the strip pays homage to HP Lovecraft and movies like La Maschera del Demonio.

The creation of artist Rodrigo Diaz Ricci and inspired by the work of Edgar Allan Poe, many of Ligeia the Vampire's adventures are set in wartime Europe, a time when the lines between good and evil are never clear cut. A graphic designer and comics artist, Rodrigo has worked for US and European comics publishers, including covers for the Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia and also for Mondo Ignoto’s Horror and Forbidden Archaeology magazines.

• Mobile Gospel is a quirky but fun re-telling of the gospel of Luke, the creation of Rich Diesslin, based on the book of Luke from his Cartoon Gospel Series (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

Rich is is also the creator of the KNOTS or Not Scouting cartoons and a general single-panel cartoon called Out to Lunch. He is also the author and cartoonist of The Cartoon Ten Commandments and the cartoonist of A Journey Through Christian Theology, an anthology of theologians now in its second edition published by Fortress Press.

• Madd Science is a humour strip - the clue to its content is in the title! - by Steve English won the Rok comics competition a couple of years back, judged by the editor of the Beano, so it seemed a no brainer to include it in this first tranche of iPhone releases.

Steve's work has appeared in UK weekly comic The Beano and other publications. He's the author of a number of books including The Potted Guide to Theology with Tony Gray (recently translated into German) as well as Peter's Cat and Two by Two.

All three comic strip iPhone apps are available from the iTunes store via the links below.

• Ligeia the Vampire: The Treasure of the Vampire on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ligeia/id409858722?mt=8

• The Mobile Gospel by Rich Dieslin is on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mobile-gospel/id409877719?mt=8#

• Madd Science by Steve English is on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/madd-science/id409860018?mt=8#

Praise for Team MOBILE #1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:04:00 +0000

Top SF web site SF Crowsnest has given Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 a positive review in its latest round up of genre publishing.

“ROK Comics have certainly invested some time and effort here, as the audio soundtrack is excellent,” says reviewer Andy Whitaker. “There is a good mix of voices which are all clearly audible.

“On my first reading, after the second I found myself just looking at the pictures and listening to the audio without reading the speech bubbles. It feels and looks like a quality product making good use of the iPad’s capabilities.

“… It is refreshing to see something new, especially a UK comic,” he concludes. “With its use of an audio soundtrack and icons to provide additional information it deserves to be a big success. I have no trouble recommending this to anyone who has an iPad. Personally, I want to find out what happens to the latest two new recruits to Team M.O.B.I.L.E so will be keeping a look out for issue # 2.”

• Read the full review here

ROK Comics releases first audio comic, Team MOBILE, on iTunes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:56:00 +0000

ROK Comics, Britain's dedicated mobile comics publisher, has published its first originated audio comic title for the iPad – TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E.

Featuring a fully authored audio soundtrack and its own theme tune, TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. is the exciting story of teenage secret agents battling dangerous enemies across the globe.

An ongoing adventure story, the first issue of TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of misfit duo Maisy Brown and Sam Thompson, who are recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers.

TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. is the creation of ROK Group PLC co-founder Jonathan Kendrick.

Jonathan has long harboured an ambition to marry comics with sound and published on mobile devices including the iPad and iPhone. Inspired by a love of James Bond and comics, he came up with the back story for the comic, including its top secret 'MindMerge' technology and gadgets.

"We are really pleased with the originality and quality of our first audio comic which has just been published on the iTunes store and we look forward to developing the story further," said Jonathan.

The strip is written by John Freeman from storylines by Jonathan Kendrick, with art by Andrew Chiu. Kris Carter is colouring the title, with Jim Campbell providing lettering and logos.

John's credits include work for Marvel, Judge Dredd Megazine and Black Ops Extreme for STRIP – The Comic Magazine, but he's perhaps better known as an editor, for ROK Comics and titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, STRIP and many others.
Andrew's credits include 2000 AD, the mainstay of the British comics industry, DC Comics, Vertigo Comics and ILEX Press.

Kris Carter's credits include Transformers and Doctor Who while Jim Campbell has worked for pretty much every major British comic publisher and some American companies, too.
The soundtrack, which complements the strip action, features the voices of both British and American actors, produced by Sneaky Snake Films in New York. The Team M.O.B.I.L.E. theme tune was created by accomplished composer Bob Townley, who's worked with a number of established chart artists in the US and UK.

ROK Comics is also publishing strips for mobile under license, including an Andy Capp iPhone app in partnership with the Mirror newspaper and a Viz iPhone app in partnership with Dennis Publishing, and Print Media's STRIP - The Comic Magazine.

Three iPhone apps published in partnership with individual creators – Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci, The Mobile Gospel by Rich Diesslin and Madd Science by Steve English – are also available.

Further comics are in development.

ROK Comics, part of ROK Global PLC, continues to provide mobile comics content for WAP subscription services across the globe and is currently working with partners in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

• Team M.O.B.I.L.E.online: www.theteammobile.com

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

STRIP Magazine #4 released for iPad via ROK Comics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Issue 4 of STRIP Magazine is on sale now as a digital edition for iPad, in partnership with ROK Comics.

The Eagle Award-nominated comic magazine is fronted by a fab Warpaint cover by John McCrea, the digital edition features all the content of the print edition, plus a couple of 'bonus items'.

Strips in the latest action-packed issue include Warpaint by Phil Hester and John McCrea, the start of a brand-new Age of Heroes story by James Hudnall, John Ridgway and The Devil's Heritage by Jerome Felix and Paul Gastine.

In Black Ops Extreme (by John Freeman and PJ Holden the combat team head for the Middle East to sabotage an illegal nuclear bomb factory. Meanwhile, Hook Jaw continues to eat his way through greedy oil men and we have some fun for you in Slayer Keith (this issue's Strip Challenge winner) Cosmic Patrol and Bogey-Man Bob!

There's also an all-new interview with Transformers artist and Frontier graphic album creator Andrew Wildman; plus a 'Shark Facts' bonus page only in the digital issue, and a Devil's Heritage 'poster'.

• STRIP Magazine is among several British comics nominated for a prestigious Eagle Award this year, with final voting taking place now at www.eagleawards.co.uk

• The digital edition of STRIP Magazine Issue 4 is available for iPad here

ROK Delivers ‘Viz’ iPhone App For Dennis Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:38:00 +0000

ROK Global PLC, the mobile and web technology, applications and services company behind ROK Comics, has announced its latest mobile application, a highly innovative free iPhone application featuring characters and content from the hugely popular adult comic Viz, has been launched on the iPhone App Store.

Developed for Dennis Publishing, the Viz Strip Teaser iPhone application will provide customers with all the latest Viz characters and content.

One issue is included in the free download, with subsequent issues priced at £1.49.

“Viz is a national institution so we’re delighted to have been chosen to develop the magazine’s iPhone app which we’re confident will prove very popular indeed.” Said Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman of ROK Global.

The Viz Strip Teaser is one of several comics-related digital applications and products developed by ROK. Its projects include the Team M.O.B.I.L.E. comic, created by Jonathan Kendrick, which will also be released on iPad and iPhone.

Listed on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, ROK Global was co-founded by US Billionaire John Paul DeJoria and UK-based serial technology-specialist entrepreneur, Jonathan Kendrick.

In addition to being the co-founder of ROK, John Paul DeJoria is Chairman and CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems and is also co-founder of Patron Tequila, the world’s leading premium tequila brand.

In addition to its comics projects, ROK has pioneered many new technologies and services in the rapidly-evolving mobile and web space including high quality mass-market Mobile TV (which can be streamed, live and on-demand, over 2.5G as well as 3G and Wi-Fi) which it licenses to Mobile Operators, revenue-generating applications available direct to consumers via the leading application stores, mobile security technologies which it licenses to law enforcement agencies and multi-language text-to-speech technologies which it licenses to website owners.

• ROK Global: www.rokglobal.com

• ROK Comics: www.rokcomics.com

ROK Comics releases digital edition of STRIP Magazine #2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:42:00 +0000

The iPad-only digital edition of STRIP Magazine #2 is now on sale from iTunes - again in advance of the print edition.

Produced by ROK Comics for Print Media Productions, the second issue of the Magazine - available in print from UK comic shops from 14th December - features a

cover by top Tank Girl artist Rufus Dayglo and includes:

• Black Ops Xtreme Part 2, written by John Freeman and drawn by PJ Holden: the team are sent to South America to kill a dangerous terrorist!

• Warpaint Part 2 by Phil Hester and John McCrea: Mia learns more about an ancient war!

• Age of Heroes Part 2 by James Hudnall and John Ridgway: the magician Wex battles for his life against deadly monsters!

• Recovery Inc. by Michael Penick and Dean Deckard: the company is hired to retrieve a top secret stolen prototype!

• Hook Jaw, re-mastered by Jim Campbell and Gary Caldwell: Joy over an oil strike turns sour as the great white shark Hook Jaw attacks!

• 'Cold Hard Facts' - a man from the 20th Century finds the future is not the paradise he expected

• The second winner of our 'Strip Challenge' - "The Citadel Codex", set in ancient Mexico

• An exclusive interview with comic artist John McCrea, British comics news, a competition to win copies of Paul Gravett's new book 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die and the new collection of Alan Grant and Arthur Ranson's Mazeworld; and a sneak preview of Crucible, one of the new strips coming up next year STRIP Magazine.

• Buy STRIP Magazine #2 from iTunes

Steve English wins Bucket Prize with Mobile Phone-inspired comic

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:07:00 +0000

Steve English with his
'Tartan Bucket'

Steve English, creator of the ROK Comics-published strip Madd Science, has just been awarded the first Tartan Bucket Prize (named in honour of famous Scottish comics character Oor Wullie) organised by Dundee University in conjunction with D C Thomson.

The aim of the competition was to design a cartoon character and story that would be suitable for the likes of weekly print comics Beano and Dandy.

Steve's winning entry, Belle's Magic Mobile, will feature in the Beano in January 2012.

"It's about a girl with a magic mobile phone that she gets from her grandad who looks suspiciously like Alexander Graham Bell," Steve tells us. "I'm hoping there's lots of scope for follow up stories. I'm madly inking some new stories to show the Beano, but time will only tell if they see it that way too.

"They're going to publish it in January," he reveals. "Chris Murray, the guy who organised the Dundee Comic Day, has said he would probably put an exhibition together for that time too."

Madd Science is one of three creator-owned iPhone apps available from ROK Comics, the others being Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci and The Mobile Gospel by Rich Diesslin.

ROK Comics fans will recall Steve also won our very own comics competition, back in 2007.

In addition to his competition success, his football humour strip Football Earth now features in two more publications, She Kicks published by Baltic Publications and Farnborough OBG matchday programme.

ROK Comics partners with STRIP Comic Magazine for first iPad title

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:21:00 +0000

ROK Comics is pleased to announce the launch of a digital edition of the new UK adventure anthology comic STRIP Magazine, published by Print Media Productions.

Initially only available in print in dedicated UK comic shops, the digital edition of the first issue is now available worldwide for iPad from the Apple iTunes store.

Published by new graphic novel and magazine company Print Media Productions, STRIP Magazine is an adventure anthology comic featuring some great art and stories from some brilliant creators including PJ Holden (Judge Dredd), John McCrea (Hitman, The Boys), Michael Penick (Insurrection), John Ridgway and many more.

Offering a range of strip stories, comics news, interviews and features, plus a fully re-mastered version of the classic British comic strip Hookjaw, this is a first issue you will not want to miss!

ROK Comics partnership with Print Media Productions is one of several new agreements with comics publishers and comic creators. These include the release of an iPad edition of The Iron Moon, a steampunk graphic novel created by acclaimed film writer Stephen Walsh and veteran British artist Keith Page. A special 'prequel' strip for The Iron Moon appears in STRIP Magazine #1.

ROK Comics recently launched its first fully originated comic, TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. which is initially being published as a weekly web comic (at www.theteammobile.com), followed by roll out on iPad and other devices.

An ongoing adventure comic, TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others – created by ROK founder Jonathan Kendrick.

ROK Comics has previously published creator-owned and licensed strips for mobile, with three iPhone apps – Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci, The Mobile Gospel by Rich Diesslin and Madd Science by Steve English.

Further iPhone and iPad apps, working with a number of different publishers, are in development.

ROK Comics, part of ROK Global PLC, continues to provide mobile comics content for WAP subscription services across the globe and is currently working with partners in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Listed on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, ROK Global PLC was co-founded by US Billionaire John Paul DeJoria and UK-based serial technology-specialist entrepreneur, Jonathan Kendrick.

In addition to being co-founder of ROK, John Paul DeJoria is Chairman and CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems, the producer and manufacturer of Paul Mitchell hair care products and is also co-founder of Patron Tequila, the world’s leading premium tequila brand.

ROK has pioneered many new technologies in the rapidly-evolving mobile and web space, including high quality mass-market Mobile TV

Print Media is a new British company formed by Ivo Milicevic, who has been publishing comics and graphic albums in Bosnia and Croatia for 20 years, working with publishers such as Bamboo, Casterman Dupuis, Les Humanoides Associes and King Features Syndicate. PMP UK plans to publish comics and graphic albums in the UK market, developing their own characters but also working directly with creators and other publishers to create new graphic albums and comic strips. More info at www.printmediaproductions.com

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

• STRIP Magazine #1 can be downloaded at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/strip-magazine-1/id474222695?mt=8

• The Iron Moon can be downloaded at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-iron-moon/id472627046?mt=8

• Read Team M.O.B.I.L.E. at www.theteammobile.com

ROK Comics releases first iPad Graphic Novel, "The Iron Moon"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:58:00 +0000

Lancaster, England, 28th October 2011: ROK Comics, Britain's dedicated mobile comics publisher, is pleased to announce the launch of a digital edition of the steampunk graphic novel The Iron Moon, a creator-owned comic story by acclaimed Commando comics artist Keith Page and film writer Stephen Walsh.

Described as 'Rorke's Drift in Space', The Iron Moon is a fast-paced steampunk-inspired adventure starring no-nonsense adventuress Charlotte Corday and is now available worldwide for iPad from the Apple iTunes store.

In the story, the twentieth century is just around the corner and Queen Victoria is hale and hearty as she heads into the second century of her reign. The British Empire stretches from the white cliffs of Dover to the red skies of Mars. Go-getting men and women of the imperial dominions flock to the colours, eager to make reputations and fortunes in the wilds of high space.

Take lieutenant Charlotte Corday, for instance. Born in what used to be known as France, she has risen to prominence through the ranks of the Royal Space Navy and now finds herself up to her neck in her greatest escapade yet. Watch as she travels to the mysterious Iron Moon! Marvel as she grapples with a conspiracy that may see the galaxy plunged into war! Goggle as she meets new and strange races, both mechanical and biological! Ponder how she manages to put away so many cups of tea! And prepare to have your brain scrambled as she scoops us up and carries us to the very limits of this universe... and into the next!

ROK Comics partnership with Stephen and Keith is one of several new agreements with comics publishers and comic creators. These include the release of an iPad edition of the first issue of the adventure anthology comic STRIP Magazine, published by Print Media Productions, which includes a special 'prequel' strip for The Iron Moon.

ROK Comics recently launched its first fully originated comic, TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. which is initially being published as a weekly web comic (at www.theteammobile.com), followed by roll out on iPad and other devices.

ROK Comics has previously published creator-owned and licensed strips for mobile, with three iPhone apps – Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci, The Mobile Gospel by Rich Diesslin and Madd Science by Steve English.

Further iPhone and iPad apps, working with a number of different publishers, are in development.

ROK Comics, part of ROK Global PLC, continues to provide mobile comics content for WAP subscription services across the globe and is currently working with partners in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

• The Iron Moon can be downloaded for £4.99 at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-iron-moon/id472627046?mt=8

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

• A print edition of The Iron Moon is available from Print Media Productions – www.printmediaproductions.com

Praise for The Iron Moon

"Keith Page's artwork here is a joy and a revelation... In recent years his own style has really developed and The Iron Moon is proof of the dedication and hard work he's devoted to his craft. Keith has put an amazing amount of detail into the drawings and the book is a rewarding experience... A refreshing change from all the computer coloured pages usually found in comics these days."
Lew Stringer, Blimey, It's another Blog About Comics

"... Keith Page’s imaginative artwork complements and enhances Walsh’s writing. It brings the fantastic and bizarre world to life, no mean feat considering some of the things that the script has asked him to do. That he has done everything asked of him... and done it with such style is an achievement that deserves all the plaudits it will get."
Gordon Robertson, Comic Buzz

About the Authors

Iron Moon writer Stephen Walsh has written multiple volumes of DC Thomson's Commando Picture Library, as well as the graphic novel The Acid Bath Case (illustrated by Kellie Strom). He co-wrote the feature films How Harry Became A Tree, released in 2001, directed by Goran Paskaljevic and the upcoming Where The Sea Used To Be, directed by Paul Farren. He's currently working on a documentary about John Ford with the director Sé Merry Doyle, as well as preparing further adventures of Charlotte Corday with Keith Page.

Inspired by the great British comics artists of the past such as Frank Hampson, Don Lawrence and Joe Colquhoun, Keith Page has worked full-time in comics and illustration for some 17 years. Subjects have ranged from television-related material such as Thunderbirds, science fiction, and his current war stories of all periods for Commando. A variety of Keith's work can be seen on www.keithpageukcomicsartist.blogspot.com.

About ROK Global

Listed on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, ROK Global PLC was co-founded by US Billionaire John Paul DeJoria and UK-based serial technology-specialist entrepreneur, Jonathan Kendrick.

In addition to being co-founder of ROK, John Paul DeJoria is Chairman and CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems, the producer and manufacturer of Paul Mitchell hair care products and is also co-founder of Patron Tequila, the world’s leading premium tequila brand.

ROK has pioneered many new technologies in the rapidly-evolving mobile and web space, including high quality mass-market Mobile TV (which can be streamed, live and on-demand, over mass-market 2.5G as well as 3G and Wi-Fi) as well as mobile security technologies and multi-language text-to-speech technologies.

Cartoonist Callout for The 9th Annual 'The Cartoon Days of Christmas'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:12:00 +0000

ROK Comics creator Rich Diesslin has just announced the 9th Annual On-line The Cartoon Days of Christmas, which aims to offer cartoonists interested in some free promotional fun.

This year's Cartoon Days of Christmas will begin on 1st December and run until 5th January 5th at www.the-cartoonist.com. Cartoons need to be submitted by 28th November in order to be posted on the web site.

Each cartoonist will have a page featuring two or more cartoons on the theme of humor in the Christmas season.

"It will be G-rated fun for the whole family and help to keep the hustle and bustle of the holidays in perspective," says Rich.

How it's looked in past years can be found at www.the-cartoonist.com/tcdc_july.html

Rich, whose 'Mobile Gospel' is available as a ROK Comics-produced iPhone app, is known for his freelance cartoons and cartoon books on a variety of topics including his recent e-book KNOTS Scouting, Out-to-Lunch general and Gospel cartoons.

"This foray into Christmas humour is one of the ways the cartoonists can draw attention to their cartoons, blogs and web sites," Rich enthuses."It's free publicity for those participating, and this year they will again be able to have two cartoons added to the gift shop to generate a little bit of revenue next year."

What you need to participate:

RSVP e-mail to Rich so you can be kept up-to-date on any developments

Basic stuff needed for your web page:

Two or more cartoons on Christmas (G or PG-rated)
A brief biography (one or two paragraphs)
A banner and/or contact information
E-mail them to Rich by 28th November 2011 via RLDesATaol.com
Promote the event to your contacts
Enjoy the show!

Content will be screened for suitability on a family-oriented web site! Further information is available upon request, including interviews and graphics as needed.

ROK Comics launches Misfits from M.O.B.I.L.E.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:58:00 +0000

ROK Comics, Britain's dedicated mobile comics publisher, has just launched its first originated comic title – MISFITS FROM M.O.B.I.L.E.

MISFITS FROM M.O.B.I.L.E., drawn by Andrew Chiu, is the first fully originated ROK Comics title and will initially be published as a weekly web comic (at www.misfitsfrommobile.com), followed by roll out on iPad and other devices.

An ongoing adventure comic, MISFITS FROM M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others.

And if you’re wondering why a secret organisation would risk such young lives, there’s a very good reason, and all will be revealed in the coming weeks…

MISFITS FROM M.O.B.I.L.E. is the creation of ROK founder Jonathan Kendrick, a concept he has been developing for several years. Inspired by a love of James Bond and comics, he came up with the back story for the comic, including its top secret 'MindMerge' technology and gadgets.

The strip is written by John Freeman from storylines by Jonathan Kendrick, with art by Andrew Chiu. Kris Carter is colouring the title, with Jim Campbell providing lettering and logos.

John Freeman's credits include work for Marvel, Judge Dredd Megazine and other comics but he's perhaps better known as an editor, for ROK Comics and titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, STRIP Magazine and many others. Andrew Chiu's credits include 2000 AD, the mainstay of the British comics industry, DC Comics, Vertigo Comics and ILEX Press.

Kris Carter is a digital colourist, illustrator and web designer whose credits include Transformers and Doctor Who and Jim Campbell is a professional comic-book letterer and occasional artist whose credits are far too numerous to details but suffice to say, he's worked for pretty much every major British comic publisher and some American companies, too.

ROK Comics has previously published creator-owned and licensed strips for mobile, with three iPhone apps – Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci, The Mobile Gospel by Rich Diesslin and Madd Science by Steve English.

Further iPhone apps, working with a number of different publishers, are in development.

ROK Comics, part of ROK Global PLC, continues to provide mobile comics content for WAP subscription services across the globe and is currently working with partners in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Listed on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, ROK Global PLC was co-founded by US Billionaire John Paul DeJoria and UK-based serial technology-specialist entrepreneur, Jonathan Kendrick.

In addition to being co-founder of ROK, John Paul DeJoria is Chairman and CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems, the producer and manufacturer of Paul Mitchell hair care products which achieves in-salon retail sales of approximately US $900m annually through more than 100,000 salons worldwide. John Paul is also co-founder of Patron Tequila, the world’s leading premium tequila brand.

• Follow MISFITS from M.O.B.I.L.E. at www.misfitsfrommobile.com

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

ROK Comics launches new iPhone Comics Apps: Vampires, Mad Scientists and Scripture!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:15:00 +0000

ROK Comics is pleased to announce the launch of three dedicated comic apps for iPhone, working in partnership with three dedicated comic creators whose work reflects three very different story genres.

The apps are the first 'white label' comics apps created by ROK Comics in partnership with creators or publishers on a revenue share deal - ROK provides the delivery app, the creator or publisher the content.

• Ligeia the Vampire comprises 40 episodes of vampire, zombie and wartime menace, inspired by the story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe. Drawn in a style echoing the work of Alex Toth, Frank Miller and Alberto Breccia, the strip pays homage to HP Lovecraft and movies like La Maschera del Demonio.

The creation of artist Rodrigo Diaz Ricci and inspired by the work of Edgar Allan Poe, many of Ligeia the Vampire's adventures are set in wartime Europe, a time when the lines between good and evil are never clear cut. A graphic designer and comics artist, Rodrigo has worked for US and European comics publishers, including covers for the Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia and also for Mondo Ignoto’s Horror and Forbidden Archaeology magazines.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for a new audience to get to know my characters," feels Rodrigo. "Mobile comics go beyond the comics fans out to the general public who would not, perhaps, buy comics.

"The iPhone is an amazing platform, he added. "It's the natural evolution for the newspaper comic strips."

• Mobile Gospel is a quirky but fun re-telling of the gospel of Luke, the creation of Rich Diesslin, based on the book of Luke from his Cartoon Gospel Series (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

Rich is is also the creator of the KNOTS or Not Scouting cartoons and a general single-panel cartoon called Out to Lunch. He is also the author and cartoonist of The Cartoon Ten Commandments and the cartoonist of A Journey Through Christian Theology, an anthology of theologians now in its second edition published by Fortress Press.

"It's exciting to be able to deliver a 2100-year-old message using visual parables with cutting edge technology!" says Rich. "In other words, the Gospel of Luke in cartoons as a ROK iPhone app! It's great to be a part of ROK's iPhone apps launch.

"This is a great time to be a comics creator in terms of all the options available to get our work out there - print, computers and now mobile devices," he adds. "ROK continues to be a leader and innovator in bringing comic content to the mobile market and this is clearly a logical next step for them. I am pleased to be part of the ROK Comics iPhone apps launch and hope this proves to be a viable niche amidst the thousands of apps that are on the market."

• Madd Science is a humour strip - the clue to its content is in the title! - by Steve English won the Rok comics competition a couple of years back, judged by the editor of the Beano, so it seemed a no brainer to include it in this first tranche of iPhone releases.

Steve's work has appeared in UK weekly comic The Beano and other publications. He's the author of a number of books including The Potted Guide to Theology with Tony Gray (recently translated into German) as well as Peter's Cat and Two by Two.

Originally launched as a WAP subscription service, ROK Comics has most recently been focusing on delivering subscription services in countries such as India.

All the comics created using the ROK Comics comic creator service (via www.rokcomics.com) have been specially formatted to work on the mobile handset using WAP pages, WAP download or MMS download.

With every new deployment in a territory, existing content is handpicked for suitability. Traditional localised content is also sourced. ROK comics are managed directly from the UK by John Freeman, who has over 25 years experience and knowledge of this industry; having previously been a Group Editor for Marvel Comics UK and editor of magazines such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Magazine and the UK edition of Simpsons Comics.

"I'm delighted we're launching these comic apps," says John. "The strips will appeal to different markets and we're keen to roll out further projects, working with both publishers and other key creators."

All three comic strip iPhone apps are available from the iTunes store via the links below.

• Ligeia the Vampire: The Treasure of the Vampire on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ligeia/id409858722?mt=8

• The Mobile Gospel by Rich Dieslin is on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mobile-gospel/id409877719?mt=8#

• Madd Science by Steve English is on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/madd-science/id409860018?mt=8#

ROK Comic Creator Interview: Rodrigo Diaz Ricci

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci.
An iPhone app is available

Ligiea the Vampire creator Rodrigo Diaz Ricci was born in Valparaiso, Chile. A graphic designer who worked in cartoons in Chile, he moved to Europe and saw his work published by several Publishing House in Italy and Greece. He now works freelance for digital publishing houses in the United States and Europe.

His first Ligeia the Vampire story is now available as a ROK Comics app.

ROK Comics: Where and when did you get your first comics break?

Rodrigo Diaz Ricci: Well, my first really comic break was Ligeia for ROK Comics when I first published it for mobile, three years ago now. This character has opened several doors in my life.

ROK Comics: Where else has your work appeared?

Rodrigo: Different places: I did some cover illustrations for the supplement Nine on the Elefterothypia newspaper in Greece, and a collaboration for Mondo Ignoto, a publishing house owned by Dario Argento in Rome. Reborn is a science fiction graphic novel that's been published on iPhone by Arrow Publications in the United States and other different Digital Publishing Houses.

ROK Comics: What's your greatest achievement in the comics field?

Rodrigo: Ligeia the Vampire, absolutely.

ROK Comics: How did you discover Rok Comics?

Rodrigo: Three years ago, I started publishing Reborn as a webcomics via Drunk Duck. I have a very good reception and a writer, David A J Berner [publisher of Broken Voice Comics] wrote a positive comment about it. I visited his web site and found the ROK Comics link and searched in my files for an idea that might work on mobile. I found my old comic strip Ligeia, buried in the hard disk in the section "Possible Projects" -- and the rest is story.

ROK Comics: How do you feel about Digital comics over Print based comics?

Rodrigo: Digital Comics is a new experience for me, which has helped me bring my characters to a different public. It's a great opportunity for a new author, who can't easily break into the traditional media.

I would like to see Ligeia on paper at some point, I like the comics in paper -- but I think that digital and print can live together and complement each other.

ROK Comics: Do you think digital comics are reaching a new audience or expanding the existing one for print?

Rodrigo: I think the formula is to publish digitally and afterwards, if the idea is good, put out a print edition. I think there are a lot of people who are happy to read a comic on a screen, but, equally, they'd like a print copy of it too. I think this model of business is a great oportunity for the industry.

ROK Comics: Apart from your digital comics, what other projects you working on at the moment?

Rodrigo: It's a sign of the times but the only I comics I am working on are digital projects - I'm working on a European erotic comic and my own Ligeia stories.

I have a project for paper, a story featuring the Danube Bears, a mercenary group who feature in Ligeia: Treasure of the Vampire. It's a straight action adventure story [in the style of Brtish comics like Battle or Commando], set on the Eastern Front during World War Two, which I hope to publish in the future.

ROK Comics: What's your favourite comics related website?

Rodrigo: I have somany reference websites.In English I read Down the Tubes and sometimes Newsarama, but I read websites from Italy, Spain,Argentina and Chile. At the moment, I'm enjoying a lot of comic podcasts, too.

A sample page of Judge Dredd
by Rodrigo, to experiment with
new techniques

ROK Comics: What comics are you reading at the moment (both web and print based)?

Rodrigo: Well, now that I work in comics, I don't have time to read them! But I do study different comics fron the web and my old paper collection.The last that I read was The Scorpion. I'm a huge fan of French bande dessines, and different European comics like Dylan Dog, Corto Maltese and others.

From the web, think The Abominable Charles Christopher is very interesting. I have to say that I miss Zuda Comics and ROK's original site, which featured a number of new artists.

At the moment I read so many books (more than comics), such as The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Last Legion by Valerio Massimo Manfredi.

ROK Comics: Whose work do you most admire in the comics field and why?

Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci.
An iPhone app is available

Rodrigo: That's a very difficult question. I admire so many from different periods. Warren publications like Eerie and Creepy, for example. Artists like Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Jodorowsky, Hugo Pratt, Alberto Breccia, Frank Miller, Pat Miles, Dave McKean and many more...

I think I admire all this people because all them were - or are - looking to find new sttyles for comic art. At the moment I think that the new way is the digital, which is offering plenty of opportunities to push the form in terms of storytelling, and surprise the reader.

ROK Comics: What advice would you offer to new cartoonists?

Rodrigo: That's a very difficult question because I still need to learn so many things about this wonderful art yet myself. But the best advice I think is: to be a cartoonist you need to think like a Samurai and concentrate 100 per cent on achieving this. If you can't work very hard, 14 hours a day, seven days a week, you're not made for this job, because this is more than a Job: It's your Life. And like a cartoonist, a life full of sacrifices!

• Buy Ligeia: Treasure of the Vampires from iTunes

• Check out more of Rodrigo's work at: www.ligeia-the-vampire.com

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