Sea Ghost winner announced!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nemo Publishing’s Sea Ghost collectible action figure contest winner announced


PORTLAND, MAINE (Dec.26, 2009) – Nemo Publishing announced the first winner of its Sea Ghost action figure contest. Steve Bracha of Cypress, California is the winner of the first of three super-limited edition Sea Ghost action figure prototypes.

The Sea Ghost is a character featured in Jay Piscopo’s graphic novel series “The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli,” published by Nemo Publishing.

Bracha was selected at random from hundreds of people who purchased Commander X Mego-style action figures between Dec.15, 2008 and Dec. 15, 2009.

The winners of the final two Sea Ghost Mego-style action figures will be drawn July 16, 2010 and Dec. 16, 2010. All customers who purchase Commander X figures prior to those dates will be automatically entered into both drawings.

These eight-inch collectible action figures are available exclusively at www.captneli.com and, through this Thursday, Dec. 31, all Commander X action figures will be available at a special price of $15.00 (regular price $19.95). More details about the contest can be found at this link.

More about Commander X:
In December 2008, Nemo Publishing released its first limited edition Mego-style action figure of the retro hero Commander X. There are four variants in this collection (Golden Age Commander X, 1950s Commander X, Western Knight, and the Barbary Knight) and more variants will be released in 2010.

Commander X is an integral character in “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli” graphic novels. He is an amnesiac who has been sent from the future to save the earth from inevitable destruction. He is a based on the Depression-era heroes of the comic book and movie serials of the 1930s.

This collectible figure is created in a retro-style reminiscent of figures made by the Mego Corporation in the 1970s. Piscopo is working with Paul Clarke, known as “Dr. Mego,” to create this collection and additional variants are planned for release in 2010.

Photos of the figures can be viewed at this link.

More about “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli:”
“The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli” is the story of a boy with extraordinary scientific abilities and unusual ties to the sea. “Capt’n Eli” takes readers into a mesmerizing world of time travel, high-tech ships, flying mini-subs, robots, lost civilizations, and undersea empires in conflict. Written and illustrated by Jay Piscopo. Distributed nationally through Diamond Comic Distributors.

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All New Commander X Adventures

Celebrate Commander X-Mas!

Click HERE for the exciting all new FREE Commander X Adventures comic book. Read press release at this link.

Commander X Adventures recaptures the magic of the pulps and the golden age of comics with a modern twist. Our hero, Commander X, is the classic comic strip and movie serial hero with some high tech gizmos and time travel thrown in.


This edition features:

Commander X vs. The Simian Squad
Written by Frank Schildiner
Illustrated by Mike Fyles

First Encounter
Written by Frank Schildiner
Illustrated by Danny Kelly and Robert Caine Jeffcoat

Pin-ups of Circe by Delfin Barral and Norn Cutson

The Wake of the War-Beast
Written and illustrated by Jay Piscopo

Three pin-ups by Jay Piscopoo and special bonus artwork of Commander X action figure variants.

Jay Piscopo and Friends Present: Commander X-Mas!

Just 6 days until Commander X-Mas! Read more about this ALL NEW free on-line "Commander X Adventures" comic book at this link.

Image by Mike Fyles.

New “Commander X Adventures” coming on December 15

Read press release at this link.
Commander X-Mas returns! On Tuesday, December 15, Nemo Publishing, publisher of Jay Piscopo’s “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli” all-ages graphic novel series, will release its 2nd annual “Commander X Adventures” comic book as a free download on its website – www.captneli.com.

This free comic book features stories about the legendary time traveler, Commander X, who is an integral character in “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli” books. This year’s edition co-stars the mysterious Circe, Sorceress of the Sea. Circe is a heroine from lost Lemuria, an ancient empire from over 10,000 years ago. Readers are briefly introduced to her in Volume 1 of “Capt’n Eli” and she is featured prominently in Volume 3, which will be released in 2010.

This new edition of “Commander X Adventures” focuses on Commander X's early career in the 1930s, 40s and 50s and provides hints to the upcoming story in Volume 3.

“Commander X Adventures” was created in the long-standing tradition of Christmas edition comic books and the stories are told in the spirit of the great pulp adventure yarns of the 1930s and 40s. Piscopo edited this free comic book with a team of creators from around the United States and England.

Pulp and comic author Frank Schildiner has contributed two stories. The first is “Commander X vs. The Simian Squad” in which the Commander faces off with jet-packed gorillas in an action-packed story with a Christmas twist. This piece is illustrated by U.K. artist Mike Fyles in his signature pulp style. Readers will remember Fyles’ illustrations from last year’s “Commander X Adventures.”

Schildiner’s second story, “First Encounter,” is about the first meeting of Commander X and his scarlet-clad ally, Circe, Sorceress of the Sea. This story is set in Antarctica as well as the dark streets of 1930’s urban America where Commander X is on the trail of the Red Octopus. Exciting new artists Danny Kelly and Robert Caine Jeffcoat provided the illustrations for this piece.

The final story is written and illustrated by Commander X creator, Jay Piscopo. In “The Wake of the War-Beast,” Commander X and Circe team up to subdue an ancient sea monster in the Sea of Japan.

“Commander X Adventures” also features Circe pin-ups by accomplished illustrators Norn Cutson and Delfin Barral.

Download last year’s edition of “Commander X Adventures” at this link.

Click HERE to discover more about “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli” graphic novel series. Volumes 1 and 2 of this series are available now and Volume 3 will be released in 2010.

Giving Thanks with Capt'n Eli and Jay Piscopo

Read article at this link.

NEWS
11-26-09: Giving Thanks With Capt'n Eli and Jay Piscopo

In the true spirit of the holidays, creator Jay Piscopo has an incredible deal for you! If you purchase a copy of “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli” graphic novel, Nemo Publishing will donate a book to the Greater Portland Transit District’s annual METRO toy bus to help "stuff a bus" with toys and books for kids in need this holiday season.

Listeners of the show know how much we love Capt’n Eli, creator Jay Piscopo (and Tami Kennedy). Matman calls Capt’n Eli ‘one of the best books for kids and adults’ and now you can see what he’s talking about. Written and illustrated by Jay Piscopo, “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli” volume one and two are available now and volume 3 is scheduled for release in 2010.

You can order the books online at this link. Or, if you’re in Maine, you can purchase these books at Casablanca Comics in Portland or Windham. When you buy a “Capt’n Eli” graphic novel at Casablanca Comics you’ll receive a free bottle of handcrafted Capt’n Eli’s Root Beer. For store hours and directions, visit this link.

And speaking of Capt’n Eli Soda, Matman finally tracked down some and loves it. He calls the Lemon / Lime soda ‘one of the best sodas for kids and adults’.

If you love Scooby Doo, Space Ghost and Jonny Quest, you’ll love the retro feel. This series is published by Nemo Publishing and distributed nationally by Diamond Comics Distributors. Read more about the series at this link.

On Friday, December 4, the METRO Stuff Bus will be parked in front of the METRO Pulse, the Downtown Transportation Center, at Elm Street in Portland (off Congress Street, near the Portland Public Library) collecting new, unwrapped toys and books from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit this link or call 207-774-0351.

Books for the Bus

Read press release HERE.

Buy an Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli graphic novel and, for every book sold, we'll donate a book to the METRO toy bus to help "stuff a bus" with toys and books for Maine kids in need.

Order HERE or visit Casablanca Comics in Portland or Windham, Maine. Buy Capt'n Eli at Casablanca and receive a free bottle of Capt'n Eli's Root Beer!














WHAT: METRO Stuff a Bus: Bring a new, unwrapped toy or book to help Maine children in need this holiday season.

WHEN: Friday, December 4 -- 11:30a.m.-5:30p.m.

WHERE: METRO Pulse on Elm Street in Portland, Maine
(Off Congress St., across from the Portland Public Library.)

The first 100 people to donate a gift on December 4 will receive a free bottle of Capt’n Eli’s Root Beer!

Donations are welcome prior to December 4.

FMI: Visit http://www.gpmetrobus.com/ or call 207-774-0351

Georgetown Record: Author and Artist Jay Piscopo

“Not only is the art incredible but the stories are well written. This is such a value to our kids." ~ Stephanie McSherry, Literacy Coach, Penn Brook Elementary

Artist and author Jay Piscopo shares tips with Georgetown students
By Theresa DeFranzo/ Correspondent
Wed Nov 18, 2009, 07:03 PM EST

Georgetown, MA - For Jay Piscopo, comic books were his entryway into reading. But since then he’s done much more than just read comics.

Piscopo, the author and illustrator of “The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli,” an all-ages graphic novel series, has been making state-of-the-art children’s entertainment for nearly 20 years. Last week, the Georgetown PTA sponsored an appearance by Piscopo at the Penn Brook School, where he introduced students in grades 2-5 to the art of graphic storytelling.

Piscopo said it was comic books “that got me into reading. Comics are a great way to get kids to read.” The ’40s, he said, were known as the Golden Age of comics and the ’60s and ’70s were the Silver Age. These two periods had the biggest influence on him.

“Batman and the TV show were a huge influence,” he said. “Tarzan was also a big hero of mine.”

To date there are two volumes of “The Undersea Adventure of Capt’n Eli,” with a third volume scheduled to come out next year. According to the author, Capt’n Eli is a graphic novel series in the tradition of Jules Verne, Herge, and classic comic strips like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.

With his companions Jolly Roger, a 200-year-old parrot, and the faithful seadog Barney, Capt’n Eli takes readers into a mesmerizing world of time travel, high-tech ships, flying mini-subs, robots, lost civilizations and undersea empires in conflict.
Piscopo’s passion for using the computer as his canvas led him to develop his unique signature style of combining 2D characters with 3D backgrounds.

What Piscopo did last week with the students was not only talk to them about storytelling, but also show them how to draw — step by step — two famous characters: Dracula and Frankenstein. And for those students who were hesitant to give it a try, Piscopo had this advice for them.

“It doesn’t matter how well you draw,” he said. “It matters how well you get your idea across.”

The great thing about creating just one character is that many more come from it.

“Cartoonists do this all the time,” he said. “They take one character and make more than one from it.”

If you ever find yourself running out of ideas of what to draw, just ask someone to scribble quickly on a blank piece of paper. That’s right — he said you’d be surprised what ideas will come to you using this technique.
After he had a student volunteer scribble for him he said, “I see so many things in this one.”

Stephanie McSherry, literacy coach at Penn Brook, seconded Piscopo’s assertion that graphic novels can help kids get involved in all different kinds of reading.

“I’ve learned over the last year and a half that you can engage kids through graphic novels,” said McSherry. “I got interested last year on how a great piece of artwork and a great story going together can capture a reader.”

She added, “Not only is the art incredible but the stories are well written. This is such a value to our kids. It’s our responsibility to expose our kids to as many different genres as possible.”