Official Press Release
February 16, 2005 -- Aardwolf Publishing and
SilverBulletComicBooks.com are coordinating efforts to aid comics
writer/artist William Messner-Loebs. Messner-Loebs' current
residence, a hotel room provided by the Salvation Army, is
insufficient due to his wife Nadine's chronic Asthma. Following an
article in The Detroit News describing Messner-Loebs' dire financial
situation, a petition was initiated by his fans urging publishers to
give him work.
Aardwolf Publishing has responded by purchasing Messner-Loebs's first
novel and also scheduling the publication of The Three Tenors: Off
Key, a 100+ page illustrated collection of offbeat tales from Messner-
Loebs with Dave "X-Men" Cockrum and Clifford Meth.
"I was shocked to learn that Messner-Loebs was actually available,"
said Jim Reeber, Aardwolf's publisher. "Here's one of comics' best
writers looking for work? That's a no-brainer."
"Bill Messner-Loebs is my oldest friend in comics," says Meth, the
sometimes controversial columnist for SilverBulletComicBooks and
author of the recent TPB god's 15 minutes. "We did a goofy strip
together called `The Streets' for a fanzine 30 years ago and we've
wanted to work together for a long time. So I called him up and
said, `Let's do something fun.' And he said sure, but what can we
do? `Well,' I said, `Can you sing?' `A little,' he said, `but it's
off key.' So that was it. We had it. We just needed a third tenor, so
I called Cockrum. We've known each other a long time, too, and I can
absolutely guarantee that he can't sing either."
The Three Tenors: Off Key will feature an introduction by Dave Sims
(Cerebus) and an Afterword by noted comics journalist Tom
Spurgeon. "There will be nine stories in all: three from each
creator," said Reeber. "I can't give away any plots, but it's all
weird science, weird heroes, and stuff to make your head spin." The
trade paperback will be available through the April issue of Diamond
Previews but Aardwolf is opening the curtain with a signed/numbered
Limited Edition of just 400 copies available only from its
website. "Loebs will receive the lion's share of profits from the
book," said Reeber.
SilverBulletComicBooks.com is doing its part with free advertising
and promotion for the project. A number of SBC columnists have also
stepped up with coverage of the event, and Meth's column there, "Past
Masters," will update readers regularly regarding Messner-Loebs
situation.
For more information or to order the book, visit