Based on a fantastic fan reaction, Triple-A Baseball and Marvel Entertainment have once again joined forces to create an exclusive baseball-themed comic book featuring Marvel Entertainment characters Spider-Man, Iron Man, the
Fantastic Four and the Incredible
Hulk!
The book will be handed out by all 30 Triple-A teams throughout the months of June, July and August. Additionally, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada will be signing 12 copies of each variant cover comic book. These special issues will be distributed via a method determined by each team.
The book, entitled TRIPLE-A BASEBALL HEROES, is penciled by Marvel artist Mario Gully and written by Marvel writer Marc Sumerak. The books will
only be available at the stadiums. Last season there were three variant covers produced. This season nine teams will be producing their own covers.
These teams include the Buffalo Bisons, the Indianapolis Indians, the Columbus Clippers, the Tucson Sidewinders, the Toledo Mud Hen, the Sacramento River Cats, the Charlotte Knights, the Memphis Redbirds, and the Durham Bulls.
These covers will be completely unique and exclusive to their team. British painter John Watson (UNCANNY X-MEN, CIVIL WAR: FRONTLINE, WORLD WAR HULK: FRONTLINE) has created the variant covers for the events in Buffalo, Columbus, Durham, and Memphis, as well as the all-team cover.
Noted Marvel artist Greg Horn (ELEKTRA, EMMA FROST, SHE-HULK) will be designing the variant covers for Indianapolis, Toledo and Tucson.
Digital painter Gerald Parel (IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF
S.H.I.E.L.D., THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY) has been commissioned to produce the variant covers in Charlotte and Sacramento.
Only 3,000 of these books will be printed and distributed by the team, a very limited edition!
The TRIPLE-A BASEBALL HEROES comic book unites the Marvel super heroes with Triple-A teams to protect their ballparks from the menace of the Fantastic Four's longtime nemesis, the Mole Man, and his creatures from Monster Island. Peter Parker (
Spider-Man) and the Hulk are also in the park to lend a hand. Can the combined might of Triple-A baseball and the world's greatest super heroes save the day? Find out this summer at your local Triple-A ballpark!
"Last baseball season Triple-A Baseball found a new partner in Marvel Entertainment, " said Randy Mobley, International League President. "The response by baseball and comic book fans throughout the country was such that it made sense to produce a second book to be released during this 2008 season that will again be distributed in each of Triple-A Baseball's 30 ballparks. Triple-A Baseball and Marvel got off to a great start in the first year of our relationship and we continue to discuss innovative ways to expand this partnership as we have learned there is significant overlap in the fan base of both entities. It is always fun to be part of a new venture and this relationship is no different. "
Bob Sabouni, VP Business Development, Marvel Entertainment, added, "Marvel and Triple-A share a special place in the hearts of fans, we are two of the truest forms of all-American entertainment, we are pleased that we could continue to build the relationship we have forged."
The deal also includes an expansion of the relationship at the Triple-A signature championship game the Bricktown Showdown. The champion of the International League will square off against the Pacific Coast League champion in a one game, winner-take-all championship live on ESPN 2 Tuesday Night September 16th. For more information, please visit the
Triple-A baseball website.
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