A limited edition variant of The Walking Dead #1 by renowned artist Ken Kelly will be given to Wizard World Richmond Comic-Con-goers free of charge. Also: the short film Sweet Dreams featuring D.C. Comics super-villain Harley Quinn and details on the Creature From the Black Lagoon figure by Living Dead Dolls.

The Walking Dead #1: Press Release: "Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and Skybound, Robert Kirkman's imprint at Image Comics, today announced “KISS” album cover artist Ken Kelly has drawn the 13th in a yearlong series of Limited Edition Exclusive Variant Covers of The Walking Dead #1 comic, to be provided free to all full-price attendees at Wizard World Comic Con Richmond, July 31 - Aug. 2. Skybound’s The Walking Dead created by Kirkman, the groundbreaking, Eisner-Award-winning comic book series, continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

The exclusive The Walking Dead #1 edition will be produced in extremely limited quantities and is available at registration to fans at the Greater Richmond Convention Center only while supplies last. VIP attendees will receive an additional black and white sketch version of the comic.

Kelly was naturally talented as a child and was practically born with a pencil in his hand. As his style developed in later years, he decided to join the Marines. While stationed in Cuba, he drew all the illustrations for the U.S. magazine “The Gitmo Gazette”. After serving four years in the Marines, Ken Kelly accepted an offer to train under Frank Frazetta. Throughout a career spanning over 40 years, Ken Kelly has achieved an international reputation as one of a handful of master painters of sword and sorcery/heroic fantasy.

Ken got his start doing covers for “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazines, but it wasn’t until he painted both the “Destroyer” and “LoveGun” covers for KISS that he became noticed around the globe. Since then he has since painted a tremendous amount of book covers (his “Conan” covers being some of his most beloved works), artwork for toy companies such as Mattel (He-Man) and Mego (Micronauts). Kelly currently is under contract with Gene Simmons of the heavy metal band KISS, Kelly paints guitars exclusively for Simmons.

The artists for future books will be announced as they are selected. A similar series in 2013 featuring exclusives of The Walking Dead #1 proved to be wildly popular with fans. The full schedule of 2015-16 Wizard World shows is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/wizcon.html.

The Wizard World Comic Con Richmond celebrity roster includes “The Walking Dead” star Michael Cudlitz (“Sgt. Abraham Ford”). Other stars attending include William Shatner (“Star Trek,” “Boston Legal”), Billie Piper (“Doctor Who”), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Brian’s Song), Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings, Master and Commander; The Far Side of the World), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, The Goonies), WWE® Diva Paige™, Michael Cudlitz (“The Walking Dead,” “Southland”), Kristin Bauer (“True Blood,” “Once Upon a Time”) and Drea de Matteo (“Sons of Anarchy,” “The Sopranos”) and many others.

In addition to Kelly, Artist Alley in Richmond will feature Mike Grell(“Green Arrow,” “Action Comics”), Mike Zeck (“Spider-Man,” “Punisher”), Michael Golden (“Spider-Man,” “Daredevil”), James O’Barr (creator, “The Crow”), Renee Witterstaetter (“She-Hulk,” “Avengers”), Clinton Hobart (Disney fine artist), Marv Wolfman (“DCU Online,” “Crisis on Infinite Earths”), Danny Fingeroth (group editor, “Spider-Man” franchise) and more.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The 14th of 26 events currently scheduled on the 2015 Wizard World calendar, Richmond show hours are Friday, July 31, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, August 1, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, August 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more on the 2015 Wizard World Comic Con Richmond, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-richmond.html."

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Sweet Madness: "SWEET MADNESS, the 16th film from writer/director/producer Peter Dukes and Dream Seekers Productions. The story centers on Harley Quinn and how she sets a deadly game in motion, the consequences of which only she is prepared for.

Starring Madeleine Wade and Micah Fitzgerald.

You can find more info on Dream Seekers Productions through the links below.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dreamseekersproductions. Twitter: www.twitter.com/dreamseekerfans. Website: www.dreamseekersprods.com"

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Creature From the Black Lagoon Figure: From BigBadToyStore: "Living Dead Dolls Discover Creature From the Black Lagoon.

They journeyed deep into the unexplored depths of the Amazon jungle searching for fossils…instead they discovered The Creature!

The Living Dead Dolls brings to life The Creature, from Universal’s sci-fi, horror gem, Creature From The Black Lagoon.

Featuring an all new body and face sculpt, this iconic scaled terror from the deep stands a full 10” tall and captures the intricate detail of the pre-historic gill-man; from his mysterious yellow eyes, to his claw tipped webbed hands.

With nine points of articulation he is the most articulated Living Dead Doll ever, he’ll be able to take out any scientist who dares to come between him and his true love. He comes packaged in a full color, collector friendly window box."

Image via BigBadToyStore:

  • Tamika Jones
    About the Author - Tamika Jones

    Tamika hails from North Beach, Maryland, a tiny town inches from the Chesapeake Bay.She knew she wanted to be an actor after reciting a soliloquy by Sojourner Truth in front of her entire fifth grade class. Since then, she's appeared in over 20 film and television projects. In addition to acting, Tamika is the Indie Spotlight manager for Daily Dead, where she brings readers news on independent horror projects every weekend.

    The first horror film Tamika watched was Child's Play. Being eight years old at the time, she remembers being so scared when Chucky came to life that she projectile vomited. It's tough for her to choose only one movie as her favorite horror film, so she picked two: Nosferatu and The Stepford Wives (1975).