FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 16, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mike The Pike Productions, Inc. (OTC:MIKP) () announces artist Marek Purzycki for cover art on the dark sci-fi thriller, R.E.M. under its Graphic Novel banner, Spokefish with Ryan Colucci's SpokeLane Entertainment.
"Marek is an immense talent," states Mike the Pike Productions CEO, Mark B. Newbauer. "A color version of the R.E.M. cover can be viewed on Marek's portfolio at: Marek Gallery; REM version, along with some other very impressive work. He's also done some work for us on development material for key art on investor packages on one of the company's larger projects.
He continues, "We're currently developing the we bsite for Spokefish and Spokelane Entertainment will launch their newly designed site in the near future, allowing for visual posts of work samples, statements, etc. on all three books as we move, ahead of schedule, toward finalization of all three books, including R.E.M., Bulderlyns and Chasing Rabbits, at which point we'll move to marketing/distribution and digital production toward a truly viable revenue stream for the company and launch on a 2nd slate of books." Material for the 2nd slate is currently being evaluated by Spokefish principals, Colucci and Newbauer. The slate is to include 3-5 books, "bringing the company a healthy dose of revenue generating library in 2011."
Colucci is a big fan of Marek's work, which very much speaks for itself with a "sense of action and mystique with dark, sensual undertones. Marek is amazing with photorealism and digital manipulation. When you view his work, you often have to look twice to even know they are drawings. He takes an image and twists it; your whole perspective. He's a tremendous artist and we're thrilled to have him on board. We're ahead of schedule and, as project manager, it feels good. Through all the ups and downs that come with any project, this is flowing very nicely and its a testament to the entire team we have on each book and the partnership we have in Spokefish Entertainment. The talent, paired with existing relationships, should prove to be favorable for all involved in regards to remarkable product, brand recognition and revenues for graphic novels based on current industry sales figures and projections."
And graphic novels are only getting more popular. As graphic novelist, Barbara Slate, recently stated,"...the greatest thing to advance comics and graphic novels in the mainstream is simply their financial success in the marketplace. The local bookstore did not carry comic books 20 years ago, but now Borders or Barnes & Noble have several stacks devoted to nothing but graphic novels. Also, the fact that movie studios are willing to put up hundreds of millions of dollars per year to make comic-based feature films of far lesser-known characters than the standard top-10 greats certainly bears out a perceptual shift...Graphic novels may be getting people into movie theaters, but they are also getting young people into libraries and getting them reading. Educators are now seeing it as a way to get kids to read."
On that note, as Publisher's Weekly recently reported, "One measure of the continued growth in the popularity of comics and graphic novels has been the parallel growth of serious academic programs at the college level focused on training a new generation of comics artists."
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R.E.M.
In New York City, behind a series of locks, lives Michael Letto, a brilliant but paranoid neuroscientist. Since his first and only love died, he's become consumed with unlocking the mystery of sleep.
Based on ancient practices, Michael sets forth to devise a chair that enables one to attain a full nights sleep in a matter of minutes. His theories bring him to the attention of both the military and a shrouded religious order that will stop at nothing to attain his secret.
As Michael grows closer to realizing his dream, he starts to unravel, trapped in an inescapable nightmare as visions of his lost love worsen.
MTP Producers Ryan Colucci, Beth Newbauer and Mark B. Newbauer present: George R.R. Martin's THE SKIN TRADE: From the best-selling author of the Song of Ice and Fire series comes this white knuckle chiller with a string of unsolved murders immersed deep in lycan lore : When a series of grotesque killings strikes her small hometown, private detective Randi Wade becomes suspicious. The grisly murders remind her all too much of her own father's death nearly 20 years ago. Now there is a killer in town who not only slays his victims, but also takes their skin. Undaunted, Randi takes the case head-on as the murders continue, each more brutal than the last. When a close friend suddenly becomes a target, he is forced to reveal a startling secret about himself and Randi is quickly pulled into a dark world within her own town where monsters do exist and even they have something to fear...
MTP & Horseplay, LLC present: HORSE - a wild ride through the streets of Ft. Wayne on a night no one will forget…if they live to remember…as they take part against some not-so-friendly parties on the prowl for a missing bag of Heroin. It's a race against time for a club-owner, a drug mule, two college kids and a sadistic Irish kingpin in from Chicago to reclaim his stake. SHOOTING 2010/2011 ON LOCATION IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA!
Mike The Pike Prods + SpokeLane Entertainment = SPOKEFISH ENTERTAINMENT
A concept-to-finish Graphic Novel publishing banner developing high-quality, compelling stories with the world's top writers, artists & more! Stay tuned for information on the SpokeFish slate including: Chasing Rabbits, R.E.M. and Bulderlyns.
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CONTACT: IR Contact: The Nuemark Group www.NuemarkGroup.com Phone: 860-484-3727 Investors@nuemarkgroup.com