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pencils & inks
by Adam Hughes

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visitors since October 9, 2000

Vineyard Press is Columbia�s first comic book publishing company. Publisher Eric Woodard founded the company in 1995 as a way for unpublished artists and writers in the Southeast to work in a professional forum and get experience in the highly competitive comics field.�

From the beginning, Eric sought out promising creative teams to produce and develop original concepts that would offer an alternative to the super-hero-dominated market.� That talent produced the first two issues of the black-and-white anthology series A STRANGER'S TALE in 1996 and 1997.

After releasing two highly successful issues, Eric began work on Vineyard�s most ambitious issue.� Issue # 3 of A STRANGER'S TALE would feature new installments of the three continuing series -- "Spork," "G.U.N.S.," and "Avatar," -- and introduce two new stories -- "Santos" and "The Magnificent One."� The project also led the Eric to expand the Vineyard Press talent search and begin production on a number of new issues.

Beginning with issue # 1, Eric wanted the covers of A STRANGER'S TALE to reflect the best professional talent in the industry.� The cover for the debut issue had double appeal, as it was pencilled by Columbia native Steve Epting, who was the regular artist on SUPERMAN at that time.� Issue # 2 followed suit with a cover by GREEN LANTERN and ROBIN artist Cully Hamner, who's based out of Atlanta.

A STRANGER'S TALE # 3 continues the cover art tradition, featuring an amazing piece by DC Comics artist Adam Hughes!� Hughes is a fan favorite and has worked for just about every major comic book publisher in the business.� He is the regular cover artist on WONDER WOMAN and rarely does small-press work due to his hectic schedule.� (One of the reasons for the delayed release of A STRANGER'S TALE # 3.)

During the production of issue # 3, Vineyard commissioned future covers from other top-rated artist like Randy Green of WITCHBLADE, Rick Ketchum of E.V.E. PROTOMECHA and X-MEN, Philip Xavier of HEAVY METAL, Dexter Vines of MERIDIAN, Louis Small Jr. of VAMPIRELLA, and others.

During the hiatus between # 2 and # 3, Vineyard Press took time to cultivate a few other projects that will be released in 2001 as stand-alone one-shot comic books.� This time also gave the creative teams an opportunity to produce a large body of work, meaning that A STRANGER'S TALE can now begin a quarterly publication schedule!

Vineyard Press and Heroes & Dragons proudly presents the re-launch of the company�s flagship title with a premiere party featuring the entire creative team for issue # 3 -- who will be on-hand to autograph copies of the book.� The comic comes with a free limited edition print by "G.U.N.S." artist Chad Culbertson.