For Immediate Release

Contact: Joe Field 925-825-5410

'Muscle & Faith' Debuts On Flying Colors Web-Site

Kevin Eastman Dubs TMNT-related Epic "Instant Classic"

What's black and white, with a bit of green, a big heart, spikes of biting humor and lots of action?

The answer is "Muscle and Faith," a new 72-page graphic novel starring Casey Jones with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, by writer/artist Jeff "J.B." Bonivert. "Muscle and Faith" debuts May 1, exclusively web-published at www.flyingcolorscomics.com, the web-site of Eisner Award-winning retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff in Concord, CA.

"Turtles' fans will really get into this epic story featuring Casey Jones and the gang. Jeff will finally get the attention his unique line-work and amazing storytelling style deserves, and I hope to get more traffic to my web-site so fans can get a taste of what Flying Colors is all about," Field said. "It's a win-win for everyone."

"Muscle and Faith" was an early casualty of the downturn in the American comics' market in the mid-nineties, when it was originally due to be published. Since then, Bonivert has gone back to the story, embellishing it and tweaking it, while shopping it to publishers before striking the deal with Joe Field at Flying Colors.

Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is enthusiastic in his praise for Bonivert and this story in particular. "I flipped out over Jeff's work the very first time I saw it in 'Star*Reach' and 'Atomic Man!' I then met Jeff at the San Diego Comic-Con, when he showed me "Fun Boys" which I HAD to publish through Tundra. I mentioned we were looking for cool artists to do their take on the "Turtles" and thought he'd be perfect. Fortunately for us he jumped on the chance. Unfortunately, during the time he worked to produce his 'instant classic' TMNT story, Mirage stopped publishing. Image then picked up the rights but wanted to reach a completely different audience... so there sat 'Muscle & Faith'..."

"Now, after far too long of a wait," Eastman continued, "Jeff Bonivert's totally original, graphically beautiful, stunningly rendered, and one of my personal favorite epic TMNT adventures can now see the light of day! I am thrilled as a creator and an artist to have Jeff as a peer, and I hope you can see all the beauty that I see in his work! Cowabunga!"

"This story has always been something very special to me," said Bonivert. "I've put so much into it, I'm excited to finally get it to an audience, especially as large and diverse as the e-audience is today."

"I've also long been a fan of J.B.'s very bent style," said Field. "He is a very under-appreciated talent in comics. Back in '91, when Tundra published Jeff's mini-classic, 'Fun Boys Spring Special', we sold more than 200 copies at Flying Colors. 'Muscle and Faith' is done in that wonderful and totally singular style. There's sharp, funny dialogue, great characterization and elements in the story that will appeal to fans of both mainstream and alternative work. It's very much an all ages story. 'Muscle and Faith' has a lot of action, but even more heart."

 

preview page 1

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Funboys page from Flying Colors Anniversary Special

"The original TMNT comic was ground breaking and started a boom for independent and small press publishers. It's only fitting that here comes a new TMNT-related story breaking ground on the web, as the first graphic novel length comic to be web-published by a comics retailer," said Bonivert.

Each Monday for twelve consecutive weeks, starting May 1, six new pages will be available for viewing at www.flyingcolorscomics.com.

"We want this story to reach fans all over the world, so we've made the story very easy to navigate. By coming to our web-site, fans the world over will be able to take a look at the rest of our site to get a sense of the experience of shopping in one of the world's greatest comic book stores. Then, when they come to the San Francisco Bay Area, they'll put us on their must-visit list."

This is the second foray into publishing for Joe Field. In 1998, Field published 'Flying Colors 10th Anniversary Special, showcasing some of the talent that have been regulars at the Flying Colors' store in Concord, CA, including Jeff Bonivert, Jeff Nicholson, Ken Hooper and Jon Hastings. That comic also features contributions from Jim Lee, Stan Lee, Jeff Johnson, Andi Watson and Carlos Saldana. More information can be found at www.flyingcolorscomics.com. Field was also the recipient of the 1995 Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Retailer Award, recognizing the store as one of the most progressive in the industry. Field is also a columnist for Comics Retailer magazine.

Jeff Bonivert is a northern California native with a varied background in independent comics as artist and writer, beginning with "Atomic Man" published by Blackthorne. Bonivert has also contributed to such comics as "Mister Monster" and "Turtle Soup." In 1991, Tundra published the "Fun Boys Spring Special," the comic book collecting adventures of three friends loosely based on Jeff's boyhood experiences. Jeff's work also appears in "Mister Monster's Book of Forbidden Knowledge," "Flying Colors 10th Anniversary Special" and "Star*Reach." Currently, he's developing two full-length stories, "Blue Book Stories" and "The VITAMEN". Previews of Bonivert's new work will be available soon at www.flyingcolorscomics.com.

 

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and MUSCLE &FAITH ©2000 by Mirage Studios. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES®, LEONARDO®, and CASEY JONES® are registered trademarks of Mirage Studios USA. Based on characters and comic books created by Peter A. Laird and Kevin B. Eastman.

Last Modified: 28-Apr-2000 9:00 AM