FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

KEITH CHAMPAGNE AND TOM NGUYEN ANNOUNCED AS CREATIVE TEAM FOR ADOLESCENT RADIOACTIVE BLACK BELT HAMSTERS FROM DYNAMITE!

October 11, 2007, Runnemede, NJ - DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT announced today that their re-launch of creator Don Chin's Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters will feature the writing talents of Keith Champagne with art by Tom Nguyen! Dynamite announced in March that they would be publishing a new comic book series and collections (and collectibles) featuring the Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters.

Aside from inking more comics over the past fourteen years then is probably healthy for any one human being, Keith Champagne is becoming increasingly well known for his writing work on titles such as JSA, Green Lantern Corps, and World War III, as well as the upcoming DC Comics event, Countdown: Arena.
 
ARBBH is Champagne's second work for Dynamite, having previously written the well received Xena: Strange Visitor Annual. Along with Andy Smith, Keith also created and wrote the Image series Armor X.

Enthusiastically, writer Keith Champagne described his plans for ARBBH, "Without giving anything away, Tom and I plan to offer a fresh take and new beginning to Don Chin's classic creations. No one can copy Don's style of humor and satirical storytelling but, with his blessing, we're planning to relaunch the Hamsters for a new generation of comics fans, while simultaneously creating a book that will offer readers of the classic series plenty of touchstones of the Hamsters they loved. Just not in a way they might expect. This is a book all about peeling back the layers and digging beneath the surface.
 
"Sit back and enjoy the ride. You might not know where the book is taking you--or even who some of these Hamsters are (Arnold? Jean Claude? Steven? Lucy? Rock?), but by the time we're done, you'll definitely have a smile on your face"

Artist Tom Nguyen's comic book credits include pencils on, Aquaman: Secret Files & Origins, JLA-Z, and Green Lantern Corps. He has also provided inks many DC Comics titles such as Major Bummer, Superman: The Man of Steel, Batman, JLA, Justice League Elite, and JLA: Classified; as well as artwork on various Marvel and DC trading cards. Additionally, Tom Nguyen is an internationally published pin-up painter who works with professional models and is the producer of two instructional DVDs, The Doug Mahnke Style of Comic Book Pencilling and The Tom Nguyen Style of Comic Book Inking. His latest instructional book, Incredible Comics With Tom Nguyen: The Ultimate Guide to Creating Kick-ass Art is available at fine bookstores now!

About the opportunity to work on ARBBH, Tom Nguyen added, "I was actually a Hamster fan when I was a kid, so to be in a situation where Dynamite and Don Chin are entrusting Keith and me to continue this hilarious property is quite an honor. Plus Keith and I have wanted to work together for a long time; his writing style is concise, action-packed, and full of humor. Now that it's happening, we're going to do our best to put a smile on readers' faces. If you're looking for something deep and thought-provoking, go read Thorn Birds or something. If you want pure fun and action, you'll enjoy the new Hamsters!"

Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters, written and created by Don Chin was originally illustrated by Parsonavich and later by Sam Kieth, as well as initially published by Eclipse Comics. The series chronicled the adventures of four Hamsters named Chuck, Bruce, Jackie and Clint, who were sent into space by the United Nations in an attempt to obliterate a huge blob of radioactive space jell-o that threatened to engulf the earth, wiping out all life as we know it. The Hamsters sacrificed their lives by self-destructing their rocket ship in the heart of the gelatinous mass, which sent them hurtling back to earth to the Himalayas covered with the strange glowing goo. There they were found by a wandering Buddhist Monk who sees their arrival as an answer to ancient prophecy--so they are trained in the ways of the martial arts to one day rid the world of corruption.
 
Chin dreamed up the furry foursome in a biology class at Humboldt State University in the 1980's as a parody of the increasingly popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, but they soon took on a life of their own, selling over a half-million comics and becoming a part of pop culture. Humboldt State University in Arcata, California is also the alma mater of Stephen Hillenburg, creator of "Spongebob Squarepants."

The Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters series ran for nine issues from 1986 through 1989 and featured a number of spin-offs, including: Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters in 3-D; Clint: Hamster Triumphant; and Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters Massacre the Japanese Invasion.

ABOUT DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling titles and properties.  Beginning with their Army of Darkness comic book series - launching as the #1 independent comic in July of '04 - and recently ranked the #1 selling Independent Horror comic -- and continuing to their best-selling Red Sonja series - issue #0 alone selling over 240,000 copies and ongoing issues and one-shots recently ranked among the best-selling titles in unit sales and dollar volume - and not only has Dynamite consistently released Red Sonja as THE top selling single comic outside of Marvel and DC Comics, Dynamite successfully places more titles in the Top 100 than most non-Marvel, non-DC publishers.  Dynamite's new monthly Battlestar Galactica series is the company's first major launch of '06, debuting with an impressive 175,000 copies in initial orders sold for the introductory #0 issue. Dynamite's ongoing Highlander comic book series launched to excess of 100,000 copies sold for issue #0. The recently released The Lone Ranger #1 sold out on its first day in comic shops, went in to an immediate 2nd printing, and the 2nd printing sold out from Dynamite!

Now, in addition to the ongoing Red Sonja and AOD series, DYNAMITE has released the all-new Battlestar Galactica comic by Greg Pak and Nigel Raynor - launching with a specially priced #0 issue, having sold in excess of 175,000 copies and recently featured in the pages of TV Guide, A classic Battlestar Galactica comic book series, Xena by John Layman and Fabiano Neves, a Darkman vs. the Army of Darkness mini-series and is preparing the Lone Ranger with Brett Matthews and John Cassaday - and Dynamite has more on the horizon!

In addition to the creators mentioned - Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics, including Alex (Justice) Ross, John (Astonishing X-Men) Cassaday, Michael (Superman/Batman, Aspen Comics) Turner, Jim (All-Star Batman) Lee, Michael (Red Sonja) Avon Oeming, Mike (Red Sonja/X-Men) Carey, Jim (Justice) Kruegar, Greg (The Incredible Hulk) Pak, Brett (Serenity, The Lone Ranger) Matthews - as well as working with up and coming new talent and enhancing strong creators!

The company also produces new and classic material from such creators as Paul Gulacy and Doug Moench's Six from Sirius, Tim Truman's Scout, Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso's Borderline and other titles including Jim Starlin's Dreadstar, in addition to reprint editions of classic Red Sonja material and more.

For updated information on Dynamite Entertainment and their titles, please visit the Dynamite website at www.dynamiteentertainment.com