Stronghold Canvas Sketch by Joe Suitor!

We had a blast at our Freakshow #1 signing event at Golden Apple Comics a couple weeks ago, but one highlight was when fan Jesse Campbell asked artist Joe Suitor for a canvas sketch of a character from the series!

As you can see, Joe jumped right in to oblige and ended up creating a really cool little bit of art that we wanted to share with the rest of you! We contacted Jesse and he sent over this scan of his sketch, depicting one pissed-off Stronghold in extreme close-up. Enjoy!

WatchPlayRead calls FREAKSHOW #1 "A Must Have For Your Hold!"

The guys over at WatchPlayRead have some great things to say about issue #1 of FREAKSHOW!

"Forget all the other top accolades I've given you, I'm easily putting them aside to put Freakshow as the comic I will use to introduce/get people excited about the genre. The writing by David Server & Jackson Lanzing is just damn good. The story is so original and the storytelling puts my bedtime stories I tell my 3 year old to get him to sleep to shame. The setting of a post apocalyptic city and how the characters got their powers through genetic scrambling was good enough for me to read the comic three times."

Consider us flattered - glad you dug it, WPR! Click here to read their full review!

Steve Niles names FREAKSHOW his Creator-Owned Book of the Day!

Famed comic book scribe Steve Niles (30 DAYS OF NIGHT, CRIMINAL MACABRE) has named FREAKSHOW his Creator-Owned Book of the Day via Facebook! Niles has been on a mission to help spotlight creator-owned comics lately, and we're incredibly proud to be on his radar.

Click here to check out Niles' new creator-owned comics column on his official website and find out about some other great creator-owned projects currently on the stands! And thanks again to Mr. Niles for his support on FREAKSHOW!

Release Party Rundown, Fangoria Interview and More Reviews!

It’s been a crazy week here at FREAKSHOW HQ as we’ve been celebrating the release of the book, with exciting developments on several fronts!

First up, intrepid reporter Nicole Sixx of Comic Booked joined us at Golden Apple Comics this past Saturday for our release party blowout. To say it was a once in a lifetime experience still wouldn’t do it justice – so we’ll let Nicole fill you in on the details! Click here to read her Comic Booked Exclusive Report, including photos and a two-part video interview with co-writers David Server & Jackson Lanzing and artist Joe Suitor!

Next, following their rave review of FREAKSHOW #1, Fangoria has posted an interview with series co-creators David Server and Jackson Lanzing, discussing the horror genre’s influence on the series, character designs and future plans! Click here to read the full piece.

And finally, we’ve had more positive reviews flooding in – here are some excerpts!

The Cedar Rapids Comic Books Examiner: “The writing team of David Server and Jackson Lanzing put together a cleverly crafted 48 page opener to their three issue series... With beautiful rendered art by Joe Suitor, the team creates an interesting super-powered world without any clear cut good guys and bad guys. Their world exists solely in shades of gray, much like the smoke that surrounds its setting. Did I mention it was 48 pages, in color, for only $3.99? That’s one of the best deals in comics today.”

Comic Book Resources: “Server and Lanzing are obviously setting up the heroes and villains, with Critter wondering if the “freaks” really need to live out in the wasteland and kill anyone who ventures near them…Meanwhile, Suitor’s art is quite good… The “freaks” of the title are neat-looking, and there’s some nice horror touches that make the book a bit scarier.”

Brutal As Hell: “This is the kind of comic that comic fans crave…The storytelling in this book is fantastic. This first issue sets everything up with a great premise, and it leaves doors open for a ton of great potential reveals to come…Server and Lanzing’s writing is pitch perfect. They’ve created a unique world here populated by some incredibly interesting characters…Let’s not forget the art work on display here, though. Joe Suitor’s pencils and coloring perfectly define this bleak world, a world full of action, perverse monstrosities, and seeping atmosphere at every corner.”

Once again, we are incredibly excited to see our world and characters catching on with readers. Thanks to everyone for the support! More updates to come!

FREAKSHOW #1 Signing at Golden Apple Comics TONIGHT!

Hey Los Angeles! Don't forget - the entire FREAKSHOW creative team, including co-writers David Server and Jackson Lanzing, artist Joe Suitor, and special guest variant cover artist and comic book legend Darick Robertson (Transmetropolitan, The Boys) will all be signing FREAKSHOW #1 at Golden Apple Comics on Melrose from 5-7pm TONIGHT!! Trust us - you're not gonna want to miss this!

See you tonight!

FREAKSHOW #1 SELLS OUT!

We're thrilled to announce that FREAKSHOW #1 has SOLD OUT at the retailer level! Thanks so much to all the comic book stores who took a chance on us and ordered the book - we couldn't have reached this amazing milestone without your support! For full details, see the Ape Entertainment press release below!

DEBUT ISSUE OF FREAKSHOW SELLS OUT FROM APE ENTERTAINMENT

DARK SUPERHERO SAGA TAKES COMIC SHOPS BY STORM

Ape Entertainment is pleased to announce that FREAKSHOW #1, the debut creator-owned comic from creators David Server & Jackson Lanzing with art by rising star Joe Suitor, has sold out from the publisher. This marks an exciting start for the highly anticipated miniseries, which is poised to introduce a new, original brand of post-apocalyptic superhero action to audiences all over the world.

"FREAKSHOW is an incredibly exciting project with roots in the superhero, science-fiction, and horror genres, so we knew we'd be able to turn some heads with comics fans", says Ape Co-Publisher David Hedgecock, "but the response to the book from fans and retailers has been truly overwhelming. We're thrilled to finally get this book into the hands of our readers."

The sell-out follows an auspicious preview run at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con, which also sold out on the convention floor. Interest has been bolstered by positive early reviews from such websites as SlashFilm and Comic Book Resources, as well as the attachment of veteran screenwriter Mark Protosevich (I AM LEGEND, THOR, the upcoming MASS EFFECT), who has been announced to write and possibly direct a feature adaptation of the comic for producers Jennifer Klein (PEARL HARBOR) and Sheldon Turner (UP IN THE AIR).

"We've always hoped the world of FREAKSHOW would resonate with people, so the feedback we've gotten so far from fans we've met at conventions and online has been tremendously exciting and gratifying," said Server. "We couldn't be more thankful that retailers are taking a chance on our book," adds Lanzing, "and we plan to reward readers with three issues of characters, story, and art that's like nothing else on the stands."

Since Ape Entertainment recognizes that this sell-out will limit retailers from ordering further copies of FREAKSHOW #1, there are plans to release a digital version of the book as soon as possible. A similar digital format is planned for issues #2 and #3, and details will be announced by Ape upon release.

To find out for yourself why Fangoria gave FREAKSHOW #1 four out of four skulls, calling it "noteworthy and original" with "stylish artwork and attention grabbing storytelling", make sure to contact your local retailer and reserve a copy as soon as possible. The book will be arriving in stores January 26th, and will be followed monthly by issues #2 and #3. Those issues are still available for ordering from Diamond Comics distribution using ordering codes #DEC100718 and #JAN110927 respectively.

For more information about FREAKSHOW, visit http://www.freakshowcomic.com.

You can also join our 1,200+ member fan community and get exclusive access to original art and updates at http://www.facebook.com/freakshowcomic.

For the latest on Ape Entertainment, including the successful KiZoic line, please visit http://apecomics.com.

So now that you have the scoop - get out there and snag YOUR copy before it's too late!

FREAKSHOW #1 IN STORES TODAY!!!

Today's the day - FREAKSHOW #1 is officially in stores nationwide! And we're thrilled to report that it looks like the critics like what they see! Here's some of the tremendous press we've received recently:

Mania.com: "With a 48 page opening issue, Freakshow has the time to really spend on working over the setting and introducing the characters without feeling rushed...There's a lot to like here, especially if you're not keen on the whole superhero thing, and it has a really good polish about it that lets it stand out. Definitely worth checking out, especially for the number of pages there are for it."

Comic Book Therapy: "Even for the first issue, the characters show a depth that very few people achieve, and I had a geekgasm over it. I love the fact that there are no dumb text boxes explaining anything to anyone. It makes the reader feel like they'd just intruded in someone else's conversation. It puts you in a position where you are afraid to search for explanations out of fear of missing something important. It's beautiful."

The Pop Culture Network: "APE Entertainment has a gem of a comic in Freakshow. The characters all have unique voices and visual styles. The story is engaging, visceral and intelligent. The villain is evil and despicable without being too cartoony and overdone. Freakshow is currently being solicited as a 3 issue story, but if this first issue is any indication, an ongoing series could easily be centered around this group of Freaks, if not just [Critter] himself."

GeekWeek: "I can't stop thinking how refreshing this read was. I've got just as bad a taste in my mouth left over from the decades of post-apocalyptic comics crowding the shelves as you do. But this book, believe me, is different. The Lanzing/Server/Suitor team has graced the earth with a gift, kids, that gift, is Freakshow. Freakshow #1 gets a 5 out of 5."

WOW! Thanks to everyone for all the amazing praise! Hit the links to read their full reviews. And go grab YOUR copy of FREAKSHOW #1 today - before it runs out!