Marvel sent along the variant cxovers to two of the mutan ttitles tying in with the Bring On The Bad Guys company-wide event. The covers are to Uncanny X-Men #505 by series artist Greg Land, and Young X-Men #9, by Adi Granov.

Issue details are:
 
UNCANNY X-MEN #505
Written by ED BRUBAKER & MATT FRACTION
Pencils & Cover by TERRY DODSON
Villain Variant by GREG LAND
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—12/17/08

YOUNG X-MEN #9
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM
Penciled by RAFA SANDOVAL
Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
Villain Variant by ADI GRANOV
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—12/17/08
 

The Wall Street Journal notes that comic strip characters are increasingly being hired in India as spokesmen for products such as Dilbert shilling for cell phone manufacturer Nokia.

“Using such characters as ad faces or endorsers is infinitely cheaper than using real-life celebrities, experts say, and also helps connect with consumers on a note of humor in an increasingly grim economic milieu,” the WSJ’s Live Mint blog noted.

Snoopy, the perennial Peanuts Pitchdog, continues to push insurance products overseas as well as for MetLife here in America while Mowgli, from the Jungle Book, can be seen in holiday-themed ads for Coca-Cola.

R.K. Laxman’s Common Man can be found pushing consumer loans for Asset Reconstruction Co. and Air Deccan.

“The premise for using popular comic-strip characters, experts say, is essentially the same as that for a brand picking a celebrity endorser,” the site notes. “There is an instant recognition, a familiar character connects better with consumers, and the values of that celebrity could have a positive rub-off on the brand.”

“Most comic-strip characters or cartoon characters are very well established,” says K.V. Sridhar, national creative director of Leo Burnett India Pvt. Ltd. “When you see them on screen, you know what’s going to happen. So in that sense, they telegraphically communicate what they are and what they stand for.”

Comic strip characters play better to consumers in India given their superior readership while the WSJ says comic book heroes resonate better for consumers in the United Kingdom and Japan. They’re also cheaper to obtain than living spokesmen. “In some cases, the amount could be a hundredth of what it costs to hire a C-grade celebrity,” Leo Burnett India’s Sridhar said.

“India is a very fragmented media market,” Patil of Amar Chitra Katha told WSJ.

“The creative objective was to visually depict people’s working environments and unique habits to show that Nokia works in the same way as they do,” Devinder Kishore, director (marketing) for Nokia India said. “Dilbert’s character has helped consumers connect with the devices in an engaging and ‘fun’ manner…it is unique and cool, and also a great clutter-breaking tool.”

Max Allan Collins will be writing a third Quarry novel for Hard Case Crime.  On the heels of the recent The First Quarry, Collins will be authoring Quarry in the Middle which the celebrated publisher will release in time for Christmas 2009.

Meantime, Tom Sizemore is portraying the character in director Jeffrey Goodman’s adaptation of Last Quarry, The Last Lullaby which Collins cowrtoe the screenplay. His costar, Sasha Alexander, has already been named Best Actress at the San Diego Film Festival with the film taking the Audience Award.

The film’s website provides the following synopsis:

Price, a former hitman, is struggling to cope with retirement.  He left the assassination business to live the "easy life."  However, retirement arrived with its own agenda.  It was not the instant peace and calm that Price expected.  Rather, it was emptiness, boredom, and, worst of all, restlessness.  The Last Lullaby plummets Price back into his old life and forces him into a corner from which he may never escape.  Price’s old ways no longer work for him when his heart opens, and he finds life beyond his profession.  The tension finally comes to a head as Price must decide to close himself off again or open himself up to a world beyond his control.
 

IDW Publishing is holding its first ever sale of comic books and graphic novels at its San Diego headquarters on Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  This is a fantastic opportunity for comic book collectors to scoop up some real bargains and hunt down some rare titles they may have missed, including some limited editions and signed copies – all at bargain prices.  There will be surprises and giveaways with every purchase.

A number of comic book creators will be on hand offering free autographs on their work, including Ben Templesmith (Wormwood, 30 Days of Night), Chris Ryall (Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show, Zombies vs. Robots), and Chris Mowry (Transformers).

The sale gives IDW a chance to thank fans for their continued support and for helping with the company’s phenomenal growth over the past few years.  IDW was recently ranked No. 4 comic book publisher in the United States by Diamond Comic Distributors. 

The sale is primarily intended to free up space in IDW’s warehouse for the company’s expanded and exciting line up of titles in 2009.   

“Our warehouse manager is literally buried,” says IDW’s Chief Operating Officer, Greg Goldstein. “After 10 years of publishing, it’s only natural that the boxes have piled up because of accidental print overruns, books that were set aside as office copies, books intended for reviewers and others earmarked for promotional purposes. Time to get them out of here.”

The sale will be held in IDW’s parking lot, 5080 Santa Fe St, San Diego, CA 92109.

IDW is offering new comics for $1 each (Reg. $3.99 cover). Titles include — subject to availability — 30 Days of Night, Transformers, Star Trek, Wormwood, Spike, Fallen Angel, Dr. Who, Scarface, Gene Simmons, Metal Gear Solid, Clive Barker, Zombies vs. Robots, and CSI.

Trade paperbacks / collections will be $5 each (Reg. $19.95-$24.95 each).

Other books, comics and magazines will be up to 80% OFF cover price.

Most items are brand new; some with nicks and dings.

There will also be some limited edition and signed editions TBD, along with special surprises.

For example:

•         Signed and numbered, limited edition copies of Clive Barker’s Thief of Always (hardcover) only $10!

•         Limited edition Zombies vs. Robots Bertie statue regularly priced at $350 will be reduced to $250.

(All prices are in effect day of sale only and are not applicable online.)

Giveaways with every purchase.

Cash or major credit cards accepted; no checks.