Long Beach Comic Expo “Diversity & Indie Comics” Panel: TV Director Eric Dean Seaton Added

Saturday & Sunday Eric Dean Seaton at Booth #353, Sunday he joins "Diversity & Indie Comics" Panel

Saturday & Sunday Eric Dean Seaton at Booth #353, Sunday he joins “Diversity & Indie Comics” Panel

Television director Eric Dean Seaton is everywhere right now. The in-demand director’s star continues to rise as he crisscrosses networks directing epidsodes for top-rated shows including NBC’s ‘Undateable,’ TBS’s ‘Ground Floor,’ Disney Channel’s ‘Austin & Ally,’ and Nickelodeon’s ‘Bella & the Bulldogs’ while breaking new ground with his graphic novel series Legend of the Mantamaji. Long Beach Comic Expo is the second stop on Seaton’s 12 city book tour and the expo is featuring Seaton as a Special Guest [Booth 353] and as a panelist for the ‘Diversity & Indie Comics” discussion on Sunday, March 1 at 4 p.m. in Room S3B.

“I can’t wait to talk with comic industry pros Denys Cowan, Kevin Grevioux and Ray-Anthony Height on Sunday,” Seaton said. “Small publishers and comic book creators are in the industry at the right time. Comic book and graphic novel readers are vocal with their demands for diverse storylines, characters and creators. Small press and indie creators have been leaders in finding new voices and points of view. They set the trends and everyone else follows.”

Legend of the Mantamajiis a three book graphic novel series that tells the story of Elijah Alexander Elijah Alexander, an Assistant D.A. who has learned that his childhood storybook legends are actually the true stories of his heritage and that he is the last of a race of mystical knights known as the Mantamaji. After realizing he’s only part human, Elijah struggles with the shift in his world and becomes a hunted man charged with ridding the world of an ancient evil no other Mantamaji has ever been able to defeat. The full-color, action packed series has hair-raising plot twists and smart storytelling for all superhero fans.

The books feature artwork by Brandon Palas, colorist Andrew Dalhouse who has worked with From Boom, Dark Horse, Image, Marvel and DC and lettering by Deron Bennett, who was nominated for an Eisner Award for his work on titles like Jim Hensons Dark Crystal, Jim Hensons Tale of Sand and Helldorado, among others.

About Eric Dean Seaton: 
As an episodic director, Eric Dean Seaton has directed 195 television episodes of 38 different shows, 18 music videos and two pilots for Nickelodeon, as well as two pilots for Disney XD. He has also directed episodes of the NBC/Warner Bros. comedy Undateable, TBS’s Ground Floor, BETs Lets Stay Together and Reed Between the Lines. He is a Cleveland, Ohio native and attended The Ohio State University. Eric, his wife, son and daughter live in California. Legend of the Mantamaji is his first graphic novel series.

Praise for Legend of the Mantamaji:

“Fans who bemoan the ‘big two’ for a lack of vision, or effort, to create bold new characters and franchises, should learn that innovation can often be found elsewhere. ‘Legend of the Mantamaji ‘ has all of the excitement, imagination and suspense to be a TV or film series on its own, but instead it is here as a comic to be enjoyed by the masses who crave them. ‘Legend of the Mantamaji’ volume one is a must read for those who crave all of the spectacle and action of superhero comics, yet want a comic which offers creative new ideas and a progressive storyline with real weight behind it,” Alex Widen, Brooklyn Comic Book Examiner

“Legend of the Mantamaji is teevee director Eric Dean Seaton’s (Sonny with a Chance, That’s So Raven, Good Luck Charlie) first shot at writing comics, but this is clearly a professional storyteller with writing chops and a lifelong love of the medium, both of which are on full display here. I am not sure what I expected when I was invited to review Legends of the Mantamaji, but I can tell you I was definitely impressed by the quality world-building and storytelling.” –GhettoManga.com

For Media Interview | Book Review Requests Contact: Terreece M. Clarke, (614) 467-0361 | Press(at)Mantamaji(dot)com or TClarke(at)LifeSliceMedia(dot)com | LegendoftheMantamaji.com

Legend of the Mantamaji Graphic Novel, Black Superhero

#BlackFutureMonth: Yes, Black People Survive the Apocalypse

graphic novels, black superheroes, black comics, eric dean seatonTelevision director Eric Dean Seaton continues to break stereotypes of African Americans in science fiction and fantasy with his third book in the “Legend of the Mantamaji” graphic novel series.

When people think of superheroes and science fiction, they often imagine the strong chiseled features and extraordinary powers of white male characters. A two-time NAACP Image Award nominee, director Eric Dean Seaton wants to remind comic book and sci-fi fans that Black people can be superheroes, too. With the launch of his third book in the Legend of the Mantamaji graphic novel series on February 11th Seaton hopes positive representation of people of color in comics will go a long way to shatter stereotypes about Black involvement and interest in science fiction and fantasy.

“Science fiction and fantasy stories give people of all ages something to dream about. What does it say to children when the only heroes they read about are white?” Seaton, whose television hits include Disney’s Austin & Ally, NBC’s Undateable and Nickelodeon’s Bella and the Bulldogs said. “Black people do survive the zombie apocalypse, people of color exist in the future. They don’t have to be the first person the monster eats. And our interests go beyond civil rights and slavery. Our history is incredibly important, but so are our dreams and creative imaginings.”

main_sanctuants_1NEWThe third book in the Legend of the Mantamaji series finds finds Elijah Alexander, the last of the mystical knights known as the Mantamaji beaten and left for dead. Detective Sydney Spencer has just figured out who is behind the mysterious happenings of a new crime ring and that knowledge has cost her dearly. Time is running out to stop the sorcerer, Sirach, who is hell bent on controlling space, time and reshaping the world in his image.

“One doesn’t have to wait for the “big two” to offer crumbs of diversity when there are great new franchises like “Legend of the Mantamaji” that often put them to shame,” Alex Widen, Brooklyn Comic Book expert for Examiner.com said. “This third volume acts as a perfect bookend to this tale of ancient warriors and sorcerers, and one can only hope that there are more legends to come.”

Seaton’s successful series began with the first two volumes in the series being name “Top Graphic Novels of 2014” by Examiner.com and Atlanta Black Star. With Book Three’s release, the early buzz points to Seaton showing no signs of stopping.

Buy Legend of the Mantamaji today and receive an autographed copy.