Because many readers may have missed out on the first printing of MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD VOL. 1 hardcover, Archaia and its exclusive digital partner, Graphic.ly, have made the first story in the anthology collection available for free digital download on the Graphic.ly platform while a new printing is on its way. The download also includes the two opening pages written and drawn by series creator David Petersen that introduces the through-line of the story. The offer follows in the footsteps of the digital release of a 23-page preview of another recent Archaia sellout, RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, which was the highest downloaded comic in a single day on Graphic.ly.
MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD VOL. 1 is an anthology collection of short stories created by artists and writers handpicked by Petersen to come and “play” in the Mouse Guard universe. The critically acclaimed graphic novel sold out of its first printing of 15,000 copies at the distributor level within 48 hours, so Archaia wanted to provide those that missed out with a glimpse of the book while they waited for new copies to arrive.
“LEGENDS OF THE GUARD is, at its core, about sharing stories, not only in the fictional Mouse Guard world, but also in the real world where a great number of talented people I respect and admire came forward to give my audience some new tales,” said Petersen. “Offering the first LEGENDS story for people to try on Graphic.ly for free is in that same spirit of sharing stories.”
To access the free LEGENDS OF THE GUARD story, which was written and drawn by CURSED PIRATE GIRL creator Jeremy Bastian, readers should download the desktop app at http://graphic.ly/ and create a free account. Apple iPhone and iPad users should download the free Graphic.ly app from the App Store. Click on the Archaia Comics tab in the menu, select Mouse Guard Legends and the preview is available for free download!
MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD VOL. 1 (hardcover, full color, 144 pages, 8” x 8”, $19.95) is set inside the June Alley Inn, located in the western mouse city of Barkstone. Mice have gathered to tell tales, each trying to outdo the other. A competition, of sorts, begins. The rules: Every story must contain one truth, one lie, and have never been told in that tavern before. Petersen writes and draws the scenes in the inn while the contributors he selected write and draw the tales. The contributors include Jeremy Bastian, Katie Cook, Guy Davis, Lowell Francis, Gene Ha, Alex Kain, Karl Kerschl, João Lemos, Terry Moore, Ted Naifeh, Craig Rousseau, Sean Rubin, Alex Sheikman and Mark Smylie.
MOUSE GUARD is the fan-favorite, Eisner Award-winning property created by David Petersen that chronicles the adventures of an elite group of mice that have been tasked with protecting common mice from predators, the elements and other dangers. It is, essentially, mice with swords! Two series, MOUSE GUARD VOL. 1: FALL 1152 and MOUSE GUARD VOL. 2: WINTER 1152, have been collected into hardcovers thus far. The first issue of the follow-up series, MOUSE GUARD VOL. 3: THE BLACK AXE, launches in December. Petersen and Archaia have also already announced a LEGENDS OF THE GUARD VOL. 2 collection is planned, with creators like Eric Canete, Janet Lee, Jim McCann, Kenneth Rocafort, Stan Sakai and Bill Willingham on board to contribute.
About Archaia Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. Archaia is: Artesia, Awakening, Beautiful Scars, Berona’s War, Critical Millennium, Cyclops, The Dark Crystal, Dark Fall, Days Missing, The Devil’s Handshake, An Elegy for Amelia Johnson, The Engineer, Everlast, Feeding Ground, Fraggle Rock, God Machine, The Grave Doug Freshley, Gunnerkrigg Court, Hybrid Bastards!, Inanna’s Tears, Johnny Recon, The Killer, Killing Pickman, Labyrinth, The Lone and Level Sands, Lucid, Miranda Mercury, Moon Lake, Mouse Guard, Mr. Murder Is Dead, Okko, One in a Million, Primordia, Return of the Dapper Men, Robotika, Saga, The Secret History, Some New Kind of Slaughter, Starkweather: Immortal, Syndrome, A Tale of Sand, Titanium Rain, Trial By Fire, and Tumor.
Graphic.ly is a cutting-edge digital content delivery system and community platform for the publishing world. Graphic.ly focuses on comic publishers, creators and enthusiasts, and provides an immersive social experience and marketplace around digital comics and associated merchandise. By expanding its community platform the company is becoming the de facto solution for artists and creators to interact with their fans and expand the reach and influence of their own content. With comics available via applications for the PC Desktop, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone 7, Graphic.ly is the premiere option for comics fans, creators and publishers alike. For more information, please visit http://www.graphic.ly.
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“LEGENDS OF THE GUARD is, at its core, about sharing stories, not only in the fictional Mouse Guard world, but also in the real world where a great number of talented people I respect and admire came forward to give my audience some new tales,” said Petersen. “Offering the first LEGENDS story for people to try on Graphic.ly for free is in that same spirit of sharing stories.”
