Featuring an inventive cover by the sure-to-be-huge-any-day-now talent John Bivens, Omega Comics Presents #3 features three all-new stories sure to delight, dazzle and distress your unsuspecting eyes. That cover alludes to the issue’s lead feature, Russell Lissau and Bivens’ “One of Us,” a police drama that shows what bridges some cops will cross to take care of their own. Readers will also thrill to the third chapter of Pj Perez’s “Omega,” in which the cat-and-mouse game between a terrorist group and its teenage hostages comes to a head. And rounding out the issue is “The Hero’s Journey,” which delves into the real-world effects of the superhero lifestyle, written by Alex De-Gruchy and penciled by Michael Montenat.

Slated for November release, Omega Comics Presents #3 can be pre-ordered directly from us now for only $3.99. We recommend you don’t miss out.

When comic book anthology Tales from the Boneyard debuts at the 2010 Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival on Nov. 6, readers should ready themselves: Never before has so awesome an assemblage of titanic talents from the Las Vegas Valley come together in one publication. To soften the blow, the tantalizing tales will be slowly revealed to the world via the internet, one stand-alone chapter at a time, beginning Aug. 1, at www.talesfromtheboneyard.com.

Inspired by Restless City, the Las Vegas-themed novel written by seven local authors and released at the 2009 Vegas Valley Book Festival, Tales from the Boneyard will feature new stories tied around the theme of Las Vegas’ Neon Boneyard, a preserve for retired signs and marquees.  It will be released one chapter at a time online before being made available for purchase as a whole at the Comic Book Festival – and other outlets, including on this website – in November. Proceeds raised will benefit the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation’s support of the Comic Book Festival.

Edited and compiled by Pop! Goes the Icon publisher Pj Perez (who also contributes a story to the collection), Tales from the Boneyard will feature 48 pages packed with black-and-white stories of drama, adventure, comedy, fantasy and more from comic industry veterans and newcomers alike, including Jarret Keene, Victor Moya, Deryl Skelton, Warren Wucinich, Barret Thomson, F Andrew Taylor and other local creators, all wrapped in a gorgeous cover by painter Danny Roberts.

For information on underwriting this fund-raising publication or to pre-order a copy, visit www.talesfromtheboneyard.com.

Of course, the trick is, there are only 75 copies, so if you want a free one, you have to get to that Freebies table at Quicksilver speed! Of course, if you just want to enjoy the awesome mix of adventure, drama and comedy featured in the first issue of our flagship anthology series — featuring titanic talents such as Alex De-Gruchy, John Dimes, Pj Perez and more — you can always order a copy directly from us or swing by one of our raucous retailers.

Speaking of those valiant comic shops, swing by booth 3919 at SDCC and say “hi” to our pals from Las Vegas’ own Comic Oasis. They’ve been kind enough to pimp our comics, but feel free to demand more goodies from PGTI. Huzzah!

We’ve provided 25 copies each to three local retailers, which means you’ll have to hit your neighborhood store pretty early to avoid missing out. But we’ve got almost every end of the Valley covered by these great shops:

• Alternate Reality Comics (4800 S. Maryland Parkway)
• Comic Oasis (3121 N. Rainbow Blvd.)
• MaximuM Comics (5130 S. Fort Apache)

Of course, part of the impetus behind the now 9-year-old event isn’t just to give away free stuff to those already collecting comics, but to encourage new readers, especially young ones. So if you plan to visit your participating store, wherever it may be, be sure to grab a lil’ pal to pick up some new stories to read. There’s some great all-ages material available — check out the full lineup on the FCBD website.

Find out in the third issue of Pj Perez’s The Utopian, shipping May 5, in which our hero endures a reality-altering experience no one will see coming. Featuring an all-new cover by Hernan Valencia, The Utopian #3 collects parts seven and eight of the online serial in full color, with a never-before-seen new splash page by Perez. Pre-order now, and your copy will not only be delivered right to your mailbox, but also signed by the author — an offer that expires May 5! Visit our online store to reserve your copy now.

Over in today’s “Indie Jones” column, “Ambush Bug” reviews OCP #1, and graciously gives kudos to the entire issue overall, as well as the specific features within. But don’t take our word for it — take the Bug’s:

OMEGA COMICS PRESENTS offers a handful of stories of various genres by different talents. The good thing about a book like this is that if you don’t like a story, there’s another one down the pike that could be better. The bad thing is that sometimes you want more than what the 7 to 8 pages each story has to offer. Luckily for OMEGA COMICS PRESENTS, each of the stories in this premiere issue is pretty good.

And that’s just the start. Read the entire review at AICN’s website, and if you haven’t picked up your copy yet, well it’s not too late to fix that.

The second title from Pop! Goes the Icon, Omega Comics Presents is a quarterly, black-and-white comic featuring a variety of features from some of the hottest new talents in independent comics. Anchored by the serial action epic “OMEGA,” Omega Comics Presents will feature never-before-published works from around the country and the globe.

The first issue features chapter one of Pj Perez’s “OMEGA,” “The Taking,” in which a mundane school field trip to Hoover Dam takes a turn into nightmare territory when the students become hostages in a terrorist siege. In the issue’s second feature, “Odd Job” (by Alex De-Gruchy and Robert Durham), a routine house clearing gig for young Hank goes awry when he comes across unexpected residents – the ghosts of a mobster and his wife. Issue one’s third feature, John Dimes‘ “Making No Magnifisense,” stars ambiguous Evelyn Gurlimann as he encounters his superheroic idol, Magnificent Man – with disastrous results. And a little comic relief awaits readers in the two-page gag strip “(All We Are Saying Is) Give Pizza a Chance” by Dino Caruso and Jason Copland.

The print version of Omega Comics Presents #1 is $3.50 per copy and available for direct order or at select stores in the United States and Canada. It is also available as a digital download for only $2.50.

If your local comic shop doesn’t carry Pop! Goes the Icon’s titles, you tell ‘em to contact us and we’ll fix that.

We asked for your help to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti. From Jan. 14 to 22, we offered the first issue of Omega Comics Presents, our new anthology series debuting Feb. 10, for only $3 (even waiving shipping charges!), donating 100 percent of sales to Save the Children’s  emergency relief efforts in Haiti.  Save the Children provides immediate lifesaving assistance, such as food, water, shelter and child-friendly spaces to those in need in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region.

Readers from across the United States and Canada pitched in — even some retailers and creators — and we made a $100 donation to Save the Children on Jan. 23. We appreciate all the people who helped spread the word as well as those of you who tossed in your coins. And media outlets such as Comics Bulletin and KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas for carrying the story.

Remember, you can still make a difference for the devastated people of Haiti by donating directly to Save the Children now!

At the end of last issue, James’ secret was uncovered by nosy but alluring school reporter Michelle Matterson. Now James must not only deal with that new development, but also with the witch hunt started by school principal Richard Praglin and the abusive behavior of the school football hero, Nate Aguila. The issue builds to a dramatic ending sure to leave readers asking for more.

“Although billed as ‘America’s Most Emo Comic Strip,’ The Utopian doesn’t read anything like a My Chemical Romance lyrics sheet,” writes Las Vegas CityLife’s Jarret Keene. “It owes more to teen adventure series like The Bloodhound Gang, Buffy the Vampire Slayer or early issues of Amazing Spider-Man.”

Two versions of the 24-page comic, a “deluxe,” full-color edition ($5) and a “standard,” black-and-white edition ($3) will be released this Wednesday, Jan. 13, featuring respective covers by Hernan Valencia and Perez with Steve Downer. Both editions feature new splash page artwork, never-before seen sketches, a new letter column, exclusive event photos and more.

The comic is available in select stores and for direct purchase online at theutopiancomic.com. If your local shop doesn’t carry The Utopian, all of Pop! Goes the Icon’s titles can be ordered by retailers through Haven Distributors.

Of course, unlike the rest of the titles featured in this week’s column, Omega Comics Presents #1 doesn’t hit stores until February. But you can ensure a copy is delivered directly to your doorstep if you pre-order now! Only $3.50 for 32 pages packed with action, comedy and drama from some of the hottest new talents in comics. Be sure to check out the previews before you buy!