Aspen Comics spokesman Frank Mastromauro has announced on the Top Cow message boards that the lawsuit between Aspen Comics and Top Cow 'has been completely resolved.'  The dispute over rights to characters created by Aspen honcho Michael Turner while he was working for Top Cow resulted in Diamond Comic Distributors being unable to ship copies of the first Aspen Comics release to retailers.  Mastromauro indicated that although Aspen still had a few issues to clarify with Diamond Comic Distributors, it appears that Aspen #1 will ship to retailers during October with issues #2 and #3 following in November and December respectively.  Aspen books and products will be listed again in the December Previews (for February shipping).  Because of various creator commitments, the launch of Aspen's Soulfire series has been delayed until spring of 2004, and Fathom probably won't return before the fall of 2004.

The decision of top Aspen creators Michael Turner and Talent Caldwell to work on various DC Comics projects (see 'Aspen Creator To Work On DC Projects) is the reason for the gaps in the Aspen schedule.  Caldwell is penciling six issues of Superman, while Michael Turner is doing six issues of Superman/Batman.