Read the Eagle Award Nominated anthology for free online!

Eleventh Hour Vol 1, the latest installment in the Eagle Award Nominated anthology series produced by Orang Utan Comics Studio and published by AAM/Markosia has joined the digital revolution in comics this week. The full 80 page trade paperback is now available in four parts on the popular online comic download site, Wowio (www.wowio.com). Not only can you now read every page of this groundbreaking anthology for free, but each part also includes exclusive bonus material drawn from the extremely rare and hard to find first two issues of Eleventh Hour, released by Orang Utan Comics Studio back in 2007.

"Many people have told us that they'd love to read the book," commented Orang Utan Comics managing editor, Ian Sharman, "but they've had trouble finding a copy as their local comic shops have refused to order it for them as, apparently, anthology comics don't sell. Now that we're on Wowio we can reach a much wider audience, with readers from across the globe being able to download the  book or read it online."

Comic fans from anywhere in the world can use Wowio's new "Read Online" feature to read through the entire book online for free, and readers based in the USA can currently download it for free (those outside the USA can download each part for just $0.99). 

Please follow these links to find Eleventh Hour Vol 1 on Wowio: 

Eleventh Hour Vol 1: Part 1

Eleventh Hour Vol 1: Part 2 

Eleventh Hour Vol 1: Part 3

Eleventh Hour Vol 1: Part 4

Orang Utan Comics Studio are currently hard at work on Eleventh Hour Vol 2, with exciting new writers joining the team, including Cy Dethan (Starship Troopers) and Dwight L. MacPherson (Surreal Adventures of Edgr Allan Poo), and the hugely talented Azim Akberali (Ray Harryhausen Presents Return to Mysterious Island) and Diego Simone (Starship Troopers) among the returning artists.

This March you've got two chances to catch up with the crew behind Orang Utan Comics.  The UK indie favourites are taking to the road to promote two new titles, and also to give some of their hard working creators a much needed break.  .   "We've been extremely busy since the start of the year" said Managing Editor and Co-Founder Ian Sharman".  "And it will be good to drag myself away from my PC long enough to meet some readers and catch up with other creators".  

On March 8^th-9th OUC will be attending Collectormania at the GMex in Manchester.   "We were big convention goers as fans and we love convention season even more now" OUC's Cherie Donovan said.  And later in the month on the 22nd Orang Utan Comics will be appearing at The Web & Mini Comix Thing  in London (http://ukwebcomixthing.co.uk/)  alongside a host of highly rated independent and online publishers and creators.

The two titles that Orang Utan Comics are unleashing in March are Baby Boomers and Eleventh Hour (Collector's Edition).   Baby Boomers, from the twisted minds of new creators Richard McAuliffe and Chad Cicconi, has been described as "Calvin and Hobbes meets Spy vs Spy". This first issue seems sure to take sibling rivalry to a whole new level.

The Collector's Edition of Eleventh Hour combines both existing issues of the critically acclaimed anthology title in a 64 page softcover trade.  "If you haven't had the chance to pick up the first two issues this is a great way to catch up with Eleventh Hour." said Co-Founder Peter Rogers, "And with some new art, and introduction by Paul Cornell and another amazing cover from our resident painter Azim Akberali it's well worth getting even if you already have the single issues".

March is just the beginning and Orang Utan Comics have many more convention appearances planned this year, and some more exciting books set to launch too.

For more information on Orang Utan Comics and what else they have planned for 2008, visit them online at www.orangutancomics.co.uk

Further Information

Orang Utan Comics
Starting life in 2007 as an International Comics Collective Orang Utan Comics has since evolved into a studio and publisher.  Orang Utan Comics publishes anthology series Eleventh Hour and develops ongoing titles for publication with other publishers. For more information about Orang Utan Comics visit www.orangutancomics.co.uk .
 

Baby Boomers is twisted fun in two tiny packages.

UK independent publisher Orang Utan Comics announced a new title today which they are describing as "Calvin and Hobbes meets Spy vs Spy".  Baby Boomers is a heartwarming tale of two adorable infants and their ongoing desire to cause each other as much physical pain as possible.

Join writer Richard McAuliffe and artist Chad Cicconi as they do their part to convince the next generation of comic readers that perhaps having children might not be the best option to take.  While at the same time reassuring those who have already spawned that things really could be much worse.

"As soon as I saw the sample pages I new this was a title that we had to get out there" said Orang Utan Comics founder Peter Rogers.  "No Universe, no continuity, no convoluted backstory.   Just two babies fighting with Jerry Bruckheimer producing and John Woo in the director's chair.   Baby Boomers is as high concept as it gets and that's why it works. Simple but never stupid, Baby Boomers is like a classic newspaper humour strip on steroids."

McAuliffe and Cicconi are both relative newcomers and Baby Boomers is their first published work.  McAuliffe had this to say about the title "I just hope people like it and find it funny (if they do its all in the writing, if not... blame the artist, he won't mind).   I'd like to thank all the people who saw snippets of this online and gave us so much encouragement to make the move into print."

"I had a great time working on this book, and I'm excited to see it in print" added artist Chad Cicconi.  "Thanks to Orang Utan Comics for agreeing to publish this crazy thing, and to our friends on the Comic Geek Speak and Geek Syndicate forums for their input and comments, and for giving us their enthusiasm to push forward with this project."

Baby Boomers is scheduled to launch at this year's Web and Mini Comix Thing in London http://ukwebcomixthing.co.uk/ .  And it will also be available to buy online at the Orang Utan Comics site from March.

UK independent studio/publisher heads Stateside for 2008.

After a very successful 2007 Orang Utan Comics announced today that they are branching out into the US with the appointment of Trey Wickwire as their "North American Representative".    

Wickwire joined Orang Utan Comics in September 2007 bringing with him his military sci fi series "Mamluk" and a number of other projects in the development stages.  He will be combining writing and editing with a PR and talent scout role essentially making him OUC's man on the ground in America.

Founder Peter Rogers said "We made a splash in the UK last year, launching two issues of our anthology title Eleventh Hour.  We were also very active on the convention circuit over here too.  With Trey onboard hopefully we can make the same kind of impact on the other side of the pond" 

Wickwire has already assembled an impressive team for his own Mamluk title.  Pencils are by rising star Steven Yarborough (Matriarch), inks by Chad Blakley (Koni Waves/10^th Muse), colours by Melissa Kaercher (Loaded Bible) and letters by Richard Nelson (After the Fall, Lethal Instinct).   Mamluk is an Orang Utan Comics Studio project and they will be looking for a publisher for the book in 2008.  You can see the Mamluk Rescue 6 page preview (with inks by Dylan Johnson) here.

Wickwire had this to say about joining Orang Utan Comics and taking on this new expanded role  "I was very excited to be accepted into the Orang Utan Comics studio and when they asked me to be the North American Rep I jumped at the chance.   Representing a group of professionals like this is more of a privilege than a job.  I'm looking forward to getting out there and meeting more people on the convention circuit so keep an eye out for the Orang Utan and watch those shelves for Mamluk!" 

For more information on Orang Utan Comics and what else they have planned for 2008, visit them online at www.orangutancomics.co.uk

Further Information

Orang Utan Comics
Starting life in 2007 as an International Comics Collective Orang Utan Comics has since evolved into a studio and publisher.  Orang Utan Comics publishes anthology series Eleventh Hour and develops ongoing titles for publication with other publishers. For more information about Orang Utan Comics visit www.orangutancomics.co.uk.

Eleventh Hour
Eleventh Hour is a 36 page black and white anthology book with a twist in the tale.  Issue 1 and Issue 2 are now available to buy from orangutancomics.co.uk.  

Mamluk
Mamluk is a military science fiction story set in the far future. The basic premise is that the human race has been kidnapped off the earth and turned into a military force for an alien empire. The term Mamluk is from the Egyptian warrior slaves that eventually overthrew their masters and took over the kingdom. Like the Egyptians, the aliens will learn that it isn't wise to give your slaves all the weapons. http://www.orangutancomics.co.uk/mamluk.html

Trey Wickwire – http://www.comicspace.com/trey/ 
Steven Yarborough – http://www.comicspace.com/steven_yarbrough/
Chad Blakley - http://www.timebombcomix.com
Melissa Kaercher - http://www.tinlizardproductions.com/
Richard Nelson - http://www.comicspace.com/r_nelson/

Eleventh Hour continues to enjoy huge success and our stock of 1 is now extremely limited.

The second issue of Eleventh Hour is now completely sold out, with just a few copies remaining in stock at The Comic Guru in Cardiff.

Act fast if you want to own what is destined to become a milestone in comic book history.

We are currently working on plans to produce a collector's edition of Eleventh Hour, collecting both 1 and 2, as well as some bonus material. Watch this space for further details.

For more info, visit our website.

We've just booked our tables at the Birmingham International Comic Show 2008, see you all there next year!

We'll also be at the UK Web & Mini Comix Thing in London on the 22nd March 2008. You'll be able to pick up copies of Eleventh Hour and we also have some exclusive mini-comix in the works just for the event.

Plus, we'll be hosting the Bristol International Comic Expo Film Night at next year's Bristol International Comic Expo, 9th-11th May. The film night will be on Friday 9th May from 6pm onwards, and we are currently accepting independent and fan film submissiosn to be a part of the show. See the official myspace page for more details.

To find out more about Orang Utan Comics, visit our official website.