Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con Attendees To Receive ‘The Walking Dead #1’ Limited Edition Exclusive Variant Cover By Michael Cho, January 9-11

Wizard World, Inc.  and Skybound,Robert Kirkman‘s imprint at Image Comics have announced that cartoonist/illustrator Michael Cho will draw the first 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 New Orleans Comic Con, January 9-11. 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 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center only while supplies last. VIP attendees will receive an additional black & white sketch version of the comic.

Cho, based in Toronto, has drawn covers and stories for books like “Batman Black and White,” “Age of the Sentry” and “X-Men First Class” for Marvel and DC. His comic story “Trinity” was selected by editor Neil Gaiman for the Best American Comics anthology in 2010 and he’s won a few other awards and nominations for his comic work. Michael has also put out an art book of his drawings, “Back Alleys and Urban Landscapes” with Drawn & Quarterly and his latest graphic novel “Shoplifter” from Pantheon Books debuted in September.

“Michael Cho is an excellent choice to debut the 2015 The Walking Dead #1 exclusive variant cover series with Wizard World,” said Kirkman. “His interpretation sets a strong example for the quality fans can expect throughout 2015.”

“Wizard World is proud to be working with an artist as accomplished as Michael Cho on the first book in the series,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World CEO and President. “With Season 5 ofThe Walking Dead in full swing, the franchise is more popular than ever at Wizard World shows, and Michael’s work is a great start to the highly collectible series.”

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 Wizard World shows is available at www.wizd.me/PRSchedule2015.

Stars of “The Walking Dead” TV series scheduled to attend Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con include Norman Reedus, Michael Cudlitz, Sarah Wayne Callies, Scott Wilson, Michael Rooker and Andrew J. West. Other top celebrities on hand include Ian Somerhalder and Paul Welsey (“The Vampire Diaries”), Tom Felton (Harry Potter, Rise of the Planet of the Apes),Brett Dalton (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Kevin Conroy (“Batman, The Animated Series,” “Justice League”) and WWE® Divas The Bella Twinsâ„¢.

In addition to Cho, Artist Alley at New Orleans Comic Con will feature Humberto Ramos (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Impulse”), Neal Adams(“Batman,” “Green Lantern”), Billy Martin (keyboardist, “Good Charlotte,” artist, Disney), Mark Bagley (“Fantastic Four,” “JLA”), Pasqual Ferry(“Wolverine,” “X-Men”), David Baldeón (“The Amazing Spider-Man,” “Wolverine”), Phil Ortiz (“The Simpsons,” “Muppet Babies”), Ken Kelly(KISS Album Covers, “Micronauts”) and many others.

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. Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con show hours are Friday, January 9, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, January 10, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday, January 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more on the 2015 Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, visit http://wizd.me/NewOrleansPR.

About Robert Kirkman

Robert Kirkman is the creator of many popular comic books, including the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, and the new exorcism comic, Outcast which was released in June 2014 and recently received a pilot pickup for CINEMAX with Fox International.

Since entering the comics scene with his self-published cult-hit Battle Pope in 2000, the Kentucky native has risen to fame as one of the most successful names in comics and entertainment. In 2008, Kirkman became a partner at Image Comics, and in 2010, he opened Skybound, his own imprint at Image, which publishes his titles as well as other original work.

That same year, Kirkman continued to expand his presence in the entertainment industry, becoming a creator, executive producer and writer on The Walking Dead television show. The show is in production on its fifth season and has become the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time. To dateThe Walking Dead is the #1 on television among the coveted 18-49 demo.

Kirkman is also slated to executive produce AMC’s upcoming The Walking Dead companion series.

Under the Skybound Entertainment umbrella Kirkman wrapped production on his first feature film, Air, starring The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus and Academy Award-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou.

About Skybound Entertainment

Since opening its doors in 2010, Skybound Entertainment has grown into a multiplatform entertainment company. Skybound CEO Robert Kirkman is creator of the award-winning The Walking Dead comic book series, the inspiration for the hit TV show of the same name where he serves as creator and executive producer. To date The Walking Dead is the #1 on television among the coveted 18-49 demo.

Skybound Entertainment and Kirkman just wrapped production on their first feature film, Air, starring The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus and Academy Award-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou. The film is slated to be released in the spring of 2015.

Skybound released Kirkman’s new exorcism comic, Outcast, in June 2014 which recently got the green light for a television pilot with CINEMAX and Fox International. Kirkman will serve as creator and executive producer of the series.

Skybound Entertainment and digital entertainment company Maker Studios recently announced a deal for the studio to produce and air four digital series based off Skybound IPs.

Comic book titles published by Skybound include The Walking Dead, the superhero-comic Invincible, all-ages comic Super Dinosaur, the revenge drama Dead Body Road, and heist comic Thief of Thieves.

Skybound also creates a wide range of merchandise, including video games, apparel, board games, and action figures.

For more information, please visit Skybound online at www.skybound.com and www.thewalkingdead.com.