USA TODAY Announces Innovative Campaign with Dark Horse Comics and Toshiba

DH:HD program unites three leaders in their fields to deliver exclusive entertainment

MCLEAN, Va., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- USA TODAY, in collaboration with Dark Horse Comics and Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C., unveiled a new promotional program that will showcase all-new content from Dark Horse Comics' top properties and creators. The three entertainment leaders are collaborating on a groundbreaking multi-platform campaign that delivers exciting and exclusive entertainment across a variety of media platforms.

The DH:HD (Dark Horse: High-Def) program kicks off today with an exclusive look at bestselling author Janet Evanovich's first graphic novel, Troublemaker, in USA TODAY. Today's coverage includes one page in USA TODAY's print edition as well as an exclusive interview with Janet Evanovich. The full 8-page exclusive will run online at www.comics.USATODAY.com.

USA TODAY and Toshiba will continue to showcase Dark Horse comic content online, in print and at Comic-Con International in San Diego and New York Comic Con. In October, Dark Horse will roll out a series of all-new stories created exclusively for the program. To encourage consumer engagement, social media elements will be integrated throughout the campaign.

"USA TODAY is excited to be partnering with Toshiba and Dark Horse on this innovative program. It's a terrific example of how USA TODAY can take exclusive content and turn it into a compelling cross-platform reader experience," said Susan Lavington, senior vice president of marketing for USA TODAY.

"As a leader in home entertainment built on Toshiba's rich 130-year history of ground-breaking technologies, we are proud to associate our products, including our new LED HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc™ players, with the compelling and legendary Dark Horse brand," said Maria Repole, vice president, corporate communications for Toshiba. "This truly exciting campaign will help Toshiba build a connection with a passionate group of consumers eager to experience fresh content in innovative ways."

"As an entertainment company, Dark Horse prides itself on pushing the boundaries with groundbreaking creators and content. We're excited to continue this tradition by showcasing some of our most exciting stories in this all-new program with these great partners," said Mike Richardson, president and publisher,  Dark Horse Comics.

About Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C.

Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. ("TACP") is owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, a world leader in high technology products with subsidiaries worldwide. TACP markets and sells a full line of home entertainment products, including flat panel TVs, Hi-Definition Blu-ray Disc players, TV/DVD Combination products and portable devices. TACP is headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey. For additional information, please visit www.tacp.toshiba.com or www.toshibatv.com.

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists.  In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, Will Eisner, and bestselling prose author, Janet Evanovich, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as The Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Mass Effect, Tim Burton,  Serenity and Domo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the United States and is recognized as both an innovator in the cause of creator rights and the comics industry's leading publisher of licensed material.

About USA TODAY

USA TODAY was founded in 1982 with a mission to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation. Through its flagship newspaper and popular Web site, USA TODAY engages the national conversation and connects readers online through social media applications. USA TODAY, the nation's number one newspaper in print circulation with a total average daily print circulation of more than 1.8 million, and USATODAY.com, an award-winning newspaper Web site which launched in 1995, reach a combined 5.9 million readers daily. The USA TODAY news and information brand also includes: USA TODAY Education, USA TODAY Mobile, and USA TODAY Sports Weekly. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).

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SOURCE USA TODAY