Dave Elliott, most recently the editor in chief at Radical Publishing, is the EIC at new publisher Benaroya Publishing, which will be released by Image Comics.  Elliott told ICv2 that Benaroya will launch new comic series beginning in May 2011, at a rate of one launch per month.  The titles will be promoted by the distribution of 30,000 ashcan comics, which began at San Diego Comic-Con, will continue at Baltimore Comic-Con and New York Comic Con, and will also be done directly to comic book retailers through Diamond Comic Distributors (in October). 

 

Benaroya is helmed by publisher Michael Benaroya, a film producer who released his first film, New York, I Love You, last year, and is releasing The Romantics this year. 

 

Comics featured in the Benaroya Comics Ashcan include Blood Merchant, created by Benaroya, written by actors Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong, with art by Rob Prior (six issues); Samurai’s Blood, created by Benaroya and Own Wiseman, written by Wiseman, pencilled by Nam Kim, and inked by Matthew Dalton (six issues); Adrenaline, created by Benaroya, written by Jeff Cahn, with art by Salvador Navarro (five issues); Fires of Avalon (six issues), created by Benaroya and Wiseman, written by Wiseman, penciled by Javier Aranda, and inked by Garry Leach; Marksman, created by Benaroya, written by David Baxter, with art by Aranda and Leach (six issues); and Redeemer, created by Jeff Cahn (five issues).  Four of the above, Samurai’s Blood, Marksman, Redeemer, and Fires of Avalon, are listed as being films in development by IMDB.

 

Elliott, who briefly served as Special Products Editor at Radical after his stint as EIC (see “David Wohl New Radical EIC”) before leaving the company entirely, ended up suing Radical before settling the dispute earlier this year.  He’s now looking forward to this new launch.