San Diego Comic Con 2010 Signing Schedual for Titanium Rain

The following is the schedule of times Josh Finney and Kat Rocha will be at the Archaia Entertainment Booth #2635 at the San Diego Comic Con this year.

Wednesday 5:30pm - 7:30pm at the Featured Table
Thursday 9:00am - 11:00am at Table 4
Friday 10:30am - Noon at Table 4
Saturday 4:30pm - 6:00pm at Table 4
Sunday 3:30pm - 5:00pm at Table 1

And don't forget to catch us at the Archaia All Access Panel on Friday in Room 9 from 6:30 - 7:30pm.

-Kat

I know as creators you want to keep moving forward, but I have to ask: will you ever return to the Utopiates? Or if you're not planning to do so, have you ever considered opening the idea to other creators, like David Petersen is doing with Mouseguard?

I've always intended to return to Utopiates when the time is right. A lot of it depend on the publisher, though, Bloodfire Studios. As for inviting other creators to contribute to the Utopiates setting, ABSOLUTELY. From day one I wanted Utopiates to be an "open" univerve in which other could play in. I even proposed to Bloodfire the idea of a "Utopiates: Urban Legends" book which would allow for exactly this.

Ask me anything

Question: when will the next book be out?

Damn...with all the delays on the first book (thank's to our censor happy pals in China) I'm sort of paranoid at this point about making any promises.

Ask me anything

In the TR world, how well accepted are American born Asians in the U.S.? Are they at all, or are there internment camps like they did with Japanese in America during WWII?

Nope. No internment camps. For all our troules, the America of 2030 has moved past this sort of thing. Are there hate crimes? Sure. They will always be stupid people who do this sort of thing, but widespread state instituded racism against Asians? No.

Ask me anything

Assuming it was up to you, which would you rather see, a Titanium Rain movie or TV (mini?) series? Also is it true that the book is "banned" in China? (I think I heard that rumor but can't find a weblink.

As far as seeing Titanium Rain translated into a film or TV mini-series, I'm open to either. That said, I'm not writing this story in the hopes that some day it'll be told in another medium. As an author and artist, sequential story telling is the medium I've chosen to work in. A graphic novel is EXACTLY how I want readers to experience Titanium Rain. The story is written to take full advantage of the medium's strengths, and really couldn't be told any other way without losing some of the magic

That said, if anyone was to make Titanium Rain in to a film, my dream would be for it to be animated by Production IG and directed by Mamoru Oshii.

-Josh

Ask me anything

formspring.me

Ask me anything, especially about Titanium Rain http://formspring.me/TitaniumRain

How has the feedback been on the TitaniumN Rain Hard Cover?

The feedback has been amazing. Extreamly positive. We've had people from all over the world contact us to say how much they are enjoying the book.

Ask me anything

formspring.me

Ask me anything about Titanium Rain. All questions will be answered. http://formspring.me/TitaniumRain

We have placed a TR order @ local Borders; next plan to do same at local Barnes & Noble. Any other suggestions?

Amazon.com, InstockTrades.com, and your local comic book stores. All these places are great for ordering. And Instock Trades and Amazon both have it at a discount.

Ask me anything

formspring.me

Ask me anything, especially regarding Titanium Rain http://formspring.me/TitaniumRain

Under Construction

Well, you'll be seeing some changes here at ... Now Loading. Mainly I think it's time for a redesign... and possibly a name change. I've got another blog elsewhere with a much cooler name and I'm thinking of using that from now on.

So, please bare with me while things get shuffled.

-Kat

Titanium Rain HC Vol.1 in stores TODAY!!

Hurrah!! It's here!! The book we've all been waiting for. The book banned by China, Is now available at your local comic book store TODAY!! As well, Titanium Rain Vol. 1 will be available at major book sellers such as Barnes & Noble, Boarders, and Amazon.com in just another week or so.

So please, go to your local retailer, pick up your own copy today, and tell us what you think. :)

Updated Signing and Convention schedule to come soon.

convention schedual as of 4/21/10
San Diego Comic Con
New York Comic Con
Long Beach Comic Con
_______________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CHINESE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS
TO CENSOR ‘TITANIUM RAIN’ VOL. 1

When real-world politics clash with four-color fiction.
PR: China tries to censor Archaia's TITANIUM RAIN.


Los Angeles, CA (April 21, 2010) – In an instance of real-world
politics affecting the comic industry, ARCHAIA ENTERTAINMENT's latest
graphic novel series, TITANIUM RAIN, had been severely delay when
Chinese printing companies refused to print the book. TITANIUM RAIN,
which portrays a civil war in near-future China, was repeatedly
rejected by Chinese printers, citing "politically sensitive content"
deemed offensive by the PRC.

“What I find very telling about the whole situation is at no point
does our book criticize the current Chinese government or any of its
policies," say author/co-artist Josh Finney. "The scenario I wrote is
patterned after the Boxer Rebellion, and is meant to be a statement
against ultra-nationalism and ethnic cleansing. In fact, it is
ultra-nationalists in the Chinese military who attempt to overthrow
the government in TITANIUM RAIN.”

Until now, Archaia Entertainment printed most of its books through
China, an arrangement the publisher has had to reconsider. Clearly
China's cheap manufacturing costs do come at a hidden price.
Censorship.

Controversy over TITANIUM RAIN's publication may have stemmed from a
sequence of pages in the book which show events leading up to a
Chinese civil war. A sneak preview of those pages is available here:
www.glitchwerk.com/press/.

Written and illustrated by the husband-and-wife team of Josh Finney
(Batman, Star Trek: Enterprise) and Kat Rocha (Batman), Titanium Rain
Vol. 1 (full color, 152 pages, 6.625” x 10.25” hardcover with dust
jacket, $19.95, ISBN 1-932386-72-6) collects the first four chapters
of the series. The story is set in the year 2031 and told from the
point of view of US Air Force pilot Alec Killian, who is forced to
shed some of his humanity in exchange for biotech and machine when a
civil war in China spirals into a global conflict.

Despite the numerous production delays TITANIUM RAIN VOL. 1 shipped to
comic stores nationwide this Wednesday, and will be in bookstores the
following week.

More information about author Josh Finney and his reasons for pening
TITANIUM RAIN can be found here:
http://comicrelated.com/news/3086/worlds-within-worlds

About Archaia
Founded in 2002, Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for
producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. With a
slate including the popular Eisner Award-winning title Mouse Guard, as
well as Awakening, Gunnerkrigg Court, The Killer, Robotika, Killing
Pickman, Artesia and the Publisher’s latest additions of Titanium
Rain, God Machine, Roddenberry Productions’ Days Missing, The Jim
Henson Company library and Mr. Murder Is Dead and Lucid with Zachary
Quinto’s production company, Before the Door Pictures, Archaia has
become synonymous with quality content. For more information on
Archaia or any Archaia titles please visit www.Archaia.com. Archaia
can also be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/archaiacomics),
MySpace (www.myspace.com/archaiacomics) and Twitter
(www.twitter.com/archaiacomics).

# # #

An important message about your rights and Viacom

This is a very important video to watch. It starts out slow but TRUST ME, it's important that you watch it. Especially if you are a fan of You Tube.



-Kat

WonderCon 2010

Josh and I got back from WonderCon this week, and what a surprise we found at the Archaia Booth. It was a copy of Titanium Rain HC Vol. 1! Yes, it's here and should be hitting shelves in the next few weeks. I do have to say, the book is absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to hear what other people think of it.

It was a good con this year. We sold out of Titanium Rain issue 1 and talked to a lot of interesting people. As well, we were interviewed by Cammy from Cammy's Comic Corner.


Hung out a lot with Chandra Free of the God Machine and Patrick McEvoy of Starkweather Immortal. Ate Sushi and Dim Sum and late night pizza. :) I think we'll definitely be back for next year.

-Kat

Titanium Rain hard cover news & Super Show 2010

Ah, it's been a while but here is the next blog update.
First, Titanium Rain news:
For those of you who have preordered Titanium Rain, or those of you who are waiting for the hardcover to come out I am happy to dispel your fears and say that Titanium Rain vol. 1 is NOT CANCELED. It's just been delayed. Not due to publishers or distribution or any of the normal reasons you hear about, but due to a foreign government. Yes, seriously. Often in comics, companies will send their graphic novels to China to be printed because it's cheaper there. And so, our publisher did as well because that is where they send all of their books. Unfortunately the Chinese don't like our book and attempted to sensor it. Printer by printer they were denied, told that the book was offencive and, in one instance, "pornographic". Basically, the book has been banned in China. BUT, with that said, S. Korea has agreed to print it and the other two as well. With any luck, it will be at your LCS in the next month or so.

In Other News:
Super Show 2010 in Reading, PA was AWESOME. We just got back last nigh and have to say that the guys from Comic Geek Speak put on an amazing convention and we can't wait to go back next year for more. I wore the pink dress as promised all day on Sat. and at the after party as well. At the show there were artists like J.K Woodward, Mike Norton, Danielle Corsetto, and many more. The 501st Storm Trooper Legion was there too, posing with the kids and "keeping the peace".
You can find out more about the show at http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/.

In two days, Josh and I will leave for Wondercon in San Francisco. If you are going to be there, come see us at the Archaia Booth #813.

Titanium Rain HC News and Supershow

Okay everyone. Time for a news update of what all has been going on.

Our Top Story Today
Titanium Rain Delayed due to Chinese Objection to Content:
For those of you who may not know, Titanium Rain follows a squadron of American fighter pilots and their roll during a civil war in China. The Americans (and other countries) have sided with the Sino Union against an ultra nationalist faction known as the Jades. Set in an alternate 2032, Titanium Rain has been compared to Ghost in the Shell: SAC, the new Battle Star Galactica, and Generation Kill. You can find out more on the official website at TitaniumRain.net

Well, I have some bitter-sweet news for fans of Titanium Rain. The release of Vol. 1 Hard Cover has sadly been pushed back. The cause – well, in short, China doesn’t like our book. Seriously. It was sent to three different printers in mainland China and all of them refused to print it due to content. We’re pretty sure it has something to do with the news flashes in Ch.4 and the views on ultra-nationalism. But, our publisher found a printer in Hong Kong and I will have a release schedule for you very soon.

Keep a look out for the official press release coming soon.
And don't forget to preorder the book through Amazon.com at just a little over $13.

In Other News:
The Pretty in Pink Fundraiser was a success! Myself and the Comic Geek Speak Super Show Convention crew hosted a fundraiser for Hero’s Initiative. A charity that I feel very strongly about. The deal was, if we raised $500 by convention time in March, I would go to the convention in a pretty pink dress. For those of you who know me, you know that I DON’T do pink. But, it’s for a good cause, so I can suck it up. Well, the fundraiser was a success and we raised more money than the projected goal. So into the pink dress I go (it is a lovely dress) and thanks to everybody who helped donate.

That's all the news for now.