Top Cow Announces Exclusive Variant Covers For Chicago

[ENGLISH] Top Cow says: Top Cow Productions Inc. announced today they are exhibiting at this weekend’s Wizard World Chicago at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois (June 26-29) and will bring some special guests, unveil exclusive variants and make new announcements about upcoming projects. « Chicago brings out some of the best comics fans in the word and we are excited to be able to present them with the best Top Cow has to offer, especially during opening weekend of the Wanted movie in theaters, » pronounced Mel Caylo, VP-Sales and Marketing, referring to the film based on the Top Cow comic mini-series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. « Not only are we bringing CEO and Founder Marc Silvestri to the show, we’ve also invited Puerto-Rico based Madame Mirage artist Kenneth Rocafort, popular Darkness writer Phil Hester and Magdalena/Daredevil artist Eric Basaldua to meet the Midwest fans! »

Top Cow will set up shop at Booth #1204 to give convention-goers the opportunity to meet these creators and more, including Pilot Season: Alibi artist Jeremy Haun, longtime fan-favorite Witchblade artist Mike Choi and Darkness: Butcher writer Rob Levin.

Three exclusive variant issues will be available at the booth, including a special Ryan Sook cover of First Born: Aftermath, a Kenneth Rocafort cover of The Darkness #4, and a Witchblade #118 cover by Marc Silvestri.

In addition, Top Cow will host a presentation on Saturday, June 28, from 4-5 p.m. CDT and will make announcements on new, upcoming projects involving some of the industry’s hottest creators and a new partnership with a mobile phone content provider, so try not to miss it!

Here is the full Top Cow schedule of events and signings for the entire weekend:

FRIDAY, JUNE 27

10 – 11 a.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Mike Choi (artist, Witchblade)

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core)

12 – 1:30 p.m.
Jeremy Haun (artist, Pilot Season: Alibi)
Rob Levin (VP – Editorial; writer, The Darkness: Butcher)

12 – 3 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Marc Silvestri (CEO/Founder; creator/artist, Witchblade, The Darkness, Cyberforce)
Eric Basaldua (artist, Hunter-Killer, Witchblade/Devi)

1 – 2 p.m. (viewing, Anime Insider FUNimation Room)
Witchblade Anime Episodes 1 -3

2 – 3 p.m. MARKETING 101 (panel, Room 8)
Mel Caylo (VP – Sales and Marketing)

4 – 5:30 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core)

4 – 5:30 p.m. (VIP signing, VIP area)
Marc Silvestri (CEO/Founder; creator/artist, Witchblade, The Darkness, Cyberforce)

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

10 – 11 a.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Mike Choi (artist, Witchblade)

10 – 11:30 a.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core)

12 – 1:30 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Phil Hester (writer, The Darkness, First Born: Aftermath)
Marc Silvestri (CEO/Founder; creator/artist, Witchblade, The Darkness, Cyberforce)

12 – 3 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Eric Basaldua (artist, Hunter-Killer, Witchblade/Devi)

1 – 2 p.m. (viewing, Anime Insider FUNimation Room)
Witchblade Anime Episodes 1 -3

2 – 3:30 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core)
Jeremy Haun (artist, Pilot Season: Alibi)
Rob Levin (VP – Editorial; writer, The Darkness: Butcher)

2 – 4 p.m. IMAGE FOUNDERS (panel, Steve Gerber Room, 1-3, 12-14)
Marc Silvestri (CEO/Founder; creator/artist, Witchblade, The Darkness, Cyberforce)

4 – 5 p.m. HERD IT THROUGH THE BO-VINE (panel, Dave Stevens Room, 10-11)
Marc Silvestri (CEO/Founder; creator/artist, Witchblade, The Darkness, Cyberforce)
Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core)
Filip Sablik (publisher)
Rob Levin (VP – Editorial; writer, The Darkness: Butcher)
Connie Wong (Vidiator)

SUNDAY, JUNE 29

10 – 11 a.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Mike Choi (artist, Witchblade)

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core)

12 – 3 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Eric Basaldua (artist, Hunter-Killer, Witchblade/Devi)

1:30 – 3 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Phil Hester (writer, The Darkness, First Born: Aftermath)
Jeremy Haun (artist, Pilot Season: Alibi)
Rob Levin (VP – Editorial; writer, The Darkness: Butcher)

2:30 – 4 p.m. (signing, Top Cow booth)
Kenneth Rocafort (artist, Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core)

About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (http://www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, Witchblade, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series is set for release on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia. Witchblade is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, The Darkness, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. Wanted, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, and Morgan Freeman and slated for wide release on June 27, 2008. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games, and roleplaying games.