comic con | Legend of the Mantamaji -Science Fiction Diverse Graphic Novel

Eric Dean Seaton, Diverse Comics Take New York Comic Con by Storm

by Eric Dean Seaton October 7, 2015 0 comments

Three panels on comic book diversity, books signings and work included in the Schomburg Center: Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination Exhibit highlight television director’s appearances in New York this week.

NEW YORK – Oct. 7, 2015 — Television director and graphic novelist Eric Dean Seaton delves deep into the diversity in comics discussion with three panel appearances and book signings for his graphic novel series “Legend of the Mantamaji” at New York Comic Con and an appearance of his work in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s exhibit: Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination.

“Diversity in comics is an important conversation that is about more than simply creating characters of color. The conversation is also about creators of color owning and creating their own stories and publishers daring to challenge the status quo and publishing these stories,” Eric Dean Seaton said.

Panel Appearances:

We Need More Diverse Comics Panel

Thursday, October 8 11:15am – 12:15pm Room 1A05

From Black Face to Black Panther Panel

Friday, October 9, 11:15am – 12:15am Room1A05

Geeks of Color

Friday, October 9, 6:30pm – 7:30pm Room 1E03

Book Signings:

Booth 972 Thursday – Sunday

Schomburg Center of Research in Black Culture:

Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination Exhibit

Open House, Wednesday October 7th, Exhibit ends December 31st

San Diego Comic Con: Eric Dean Seaton Joins “The Black Panel,” Teases Live Action Short

by Eric Dean Seaton July 7, 2015 0 comments

Since his publishing company previewed the Legend of the Mantamaji graphic novel as a San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) exclusive months before their release, Eric Dean Seaton has had quite a whirlwind of a year. From its small, but earnest beginnings, the series has gone on to sell out at convention appearances as part of at 15 city (and growing) international book tour, been named a ‘Top Graphic Novel’ by Examiner.com and Atlanta Black Star, added to MTV’s Beach Reads for Social Justice Warriors list, earned brisk sales (including hitting top spots on Amazon.com), had continuous press coverage and has been picked up by major book distributors like Barnes & Nobles stores, Baker & Taylor, Ingram Books and public library systems. Seaton himself has been recognized with a Glyph Comics Awards Rising Star’ nomination and as a 2014 Samella Lewis Award winner for outstanding professional achievement. The momentum continues with Seaton’s appearance on “The Black Panel” – a closely followed SDCC panel – on Friday (10:00am – 11:30am Room 5AB) as well as his sneak peek at the upcoming Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short which can be viewed all weekend at Small Press Pavilion Table P-13.

“Heading back to this year’s SDCC is like returning home,” Seaton said. “Last year, we launched previews of the book as SDCC Exclusives and this year we return with the Live Action Short’s sneak peek and my appearance on The Black Panel. It’s amazing to see how much Legend of the Mantamaji has grown and I am so grateful for all of the support, encouragement and even the discouragement we’ve encountered along the way.”

The Legend of the Mantamaji series will be available for purchase at San Diego Comic Con throughout the entire weekend and the books will be autographed by Seaton. Additional special appearances include: Legend of the Mantamaji artist Brandon Palas and Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action star Philip Michael.

eric dean seaton, legend of the mantamaji c2e2

TV Director Brings Diverse Sword & Sorcery Series to C2E2 Chicago

by Eric Dean Seaton April 25, 2015April 18, 2018 0 comments

The brainchild of one of the hottest directors on the small screen, Eric Dean Seaton’s Legend of the Mantamaji, with its high-flying adventure, brilliant art and fast-paced action, is landing at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo this weekend. The series brings together diverse characters that are not tied to stereotypes and has gained the recognition of critics, fans and award committees alike.

With ancient knights, fire swords and 3,000 year old legends, Legend of the Mantamaji is just the kind of graphic novel fantasy lovers dream of – and the kind of series that is changing the face of superheroes in comics. “It shouldn’t be unusual to see ethnically diverse characters and strong women in the genre. Yet, there is still a problem with representation in sci-fi and fantasy – despite readers’ requests,” Eric Dean Seaton, television director [Undateable, That’s So Raven, Austin & Ally, Bella and the Bulldogs] and creator of the Legend of the Mantamaji series, said. With thousands of comics and pop culture lovers attending this weekend’s Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Seaton looks forward to connecting with fans of the series -and meeting new ones – at Booth 136, Thursday through Sunday, at McCormick Place — 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive.

“At its core, Legend of the Mantamaji is a fantastic adventure series inspired by my years of directing really great shows. People want good stories that have heart, are smart, funny AND represent the broader world,” Seaton said.

Nominated for a prestigious 2015 Glyph Comics Award and riding high off the release of the third book in the series, Seaton recently expanded the national book tour to 14 cities in the U.S. and Canada:

Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo [C2E2] (April 24-26)
East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 15 – 16)
Puerto Rico ComicCon (May 21 – 24)
Heroes Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina (June 19-21)
Comic Con San Diego (July 7 – 12)
OnyxCon, Atlanta, Georgia (August 15 – 16)
Wizard World Chicago (August 20 – 23)
Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, Canada (September 3 – 6)
Long Beach Comic Con in Long Beach, California (September 12-13)
Wizard World Columbus in Columbus, Ohio (September 18 – 20)
New York Comic Con (October 8-11)
LA Times Festival of Books (April)
WonderCon Anaheim (April)
Black Comix Arts Festival, San Francisco (January)

You don’t have to be at C2E2 to pick up the series! Read a sample chapter and pick up in our store today!

2015 Legend of the Mantamaji Graphic Novel Book Tour Starts This Weekend

by Eric Dean Seaton January 15, 2015January 15, 2015 0 comments

2014 was a great year for Legend of the Mantamaji and 2015 is shaping up to be even better with the launch of the Legend of the Mantamaji 11 city (and adding) book tour! We have almost doubled the number of appearances over last year’s successful promotion tour (check out the Year in Review here.)

Our first stop in 2015 is at the historic San Francisco Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. This event attracts more than 30,000 people to the area with music festivals, film screenings, a brunch, march and this year – the first Black Comix Arts Festival! I was invited as a Special Guest and Sunday, January 18th I will take part in an Author Conversation with book signing to follow.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay for the events on Monday as well. Right after I finish the book signing I will fly back to L.A. to shoot NBC’s Undateable. My awesome team will be there on Monday however, lead by my wife Nikki, to run the Legend of the Mantamaji booth.

If you’re in the Bay Area or up for a road trip, come out and support this great new con and Dr. King’s legacy.

Check out the news alert for more information:

Legend of the Mantamaji Graphic Novel, Black Superhero

TV Director Sneaks into Comic Cons to Sell New Graphic Novel Series: Legend of the Mantamaji

by Eric Dean Seaton October 10, 2014October 10, 2014 0 comments

From PR WEB: October 8, 2014:

Eric Dean Seaton knows how to frame a good story. In fact, he does it so well, he’s directed more than 195 episodes of 38 series including hit shows like “Austin & Ally,” “The Thundermans,” “Undateable” and classics like “That’s So Raven” and “Sunny with a Chance.” His social media feeds show him on set with top teen and comedy stars and being a huge fan of comics, but upon first glance, you may not realize the comics are actually his creation and he didn’t go to a big publishing house to produce them. Unlike many Hollywood notables, Seaton didn’t cash in on fame and favors to create the “Legend of the Mantamaji” graphic novel series released October 8, 2014.

“It’s very hard to own anything now and building a brand is what everyone tries to do,” Seaton says. “I felt if I did it all myself I could accomplish both. I wanted something that was identifiable with me – that I could say was truly my creation. It brings great satisfaction to try to create a new company, brand an idea and be able to watch it grow into whatever it will become.”

Tweet: Check out this great #graphicnovel by @ericdeanseaton: #LegendoftheMantamaji http://ctt.ec/4R544+

Seaton has spent the last ten years creating an entire world with heroes and villains, magic and mystique all evolving into a legend with 3,000 years of history and material. The product of those long nights are what Seaton has been hauling to comic book conventions since July, almost anonymously.

Unassumingly, Seaton works the crowd of geeks, nerds, blerds, fans, cosplayers and the curious, animatedly telling each one about the epic adventure he penned. Most of the buyers purchase on pitch alone, unaware that after the convention is over Seaton will be back calling the shots on a soundstage with some of the fastest rising stars in young Hollywood.

And this weekend in New York is no different. Seaton will greet thousands of superhero fans at both 972 during New York Comic Con to get them excited enough to try a new hero from an independent publisher – and that’s really the way he likes it.

“I love getting a chance to talk to people face-to-face who love comics as much as I do and love seeing them getting excited about “Legend of the Mantamaji.” The fan/creator connection is an awesome experience,” Seaton said.

About Eric Dean Seaton:
As an episodic director, ERIC DEAN SEATON has helmed 38 different shows, 195 television episodes, 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, 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.

About Legend of the Mantamaji Book One:
The first episode of the three book series that features fast-paced, heart-stopping action combined with a layered, thoughtful story that is full of hair-raising plot twists. Elijah Alexander is a media-hungry, cocky Assistant District Attorney who is about to learn something shocking: he not human. He’s the last of the Mantamaji, a long-lost race of warriors who once protected humanity when the world was young. Now a 3,000 year-old evil has reawakened to visit doom on all of humanity. Can Elijah accept his past, reject his present life, and learn about his talents, in time to defeat the villain who killed all the other Mantamaji before him?

The book features 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 two years ago for his work on titles like Jim Hensons Dark Crystal, Jim Hensons Tale of Sand and Helldorado, among others. The series is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble stores and Nook, local comic book shops; digitally at iTunes, GooglePlay, Kobo and at the Legend of the Mantamaji website.

Legend of the Mantamaji: Book 1 Paperback October 8, 2014
Eric Dean Seaton (Author)
David Ellis Dickerson (Editor)
Brandon Palas(Illustrator)
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: And… Action! Entertainment; 1 edition (October 8, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1930315341
ISBN-13: 978-1930315341