EXCL FIRST LOOK: ECCC "The Walking Dead: The Governor" Variant Cover

As Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" continues to shamble up bestseller charts and the AMC series is poised to return to televisions on February 10, Image Comics and Skybound announced last month that "The Walking Dead: The Governor" special, featuring the first appearance of the popular villain as well as the never before collected short story from the 2012 "CBLDF Liberty Annual," would go on sale on February 13, ahead of its original March 6 release date.

Today, CBR presents an exclusive first look at the special Emerald City Comic-Con exclusive cover for the one-shot. Featuring art by series artist Charlie Adlard, the limited edition green foil variant will be made available to ECCC attendees for $10 and is limited to 1000 copies.

Official Press Release

Robert Kirkman, creator and writer of the groundbreaking, Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead comic book series and graphic novels announces The Walking Dead: The Governor Special coming to comic book stores across the country on Wednesday, February 13th. As if that's not enough reason to celebrate (or fear for your life), Skybound, Kirkman's imprint at Image Comics, will have two variants, both with covers by The Walking Dead artists Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn. The first variant will be a limited edition of 3,000 only available at Hastings Entertainment, a multimedia entertainment retailer with 137 stores across the US. The second variant will only be sold at Emerald City Comic-Con and features a green foil "Kill Them All" cover.

You asked for more of The Governor, and Kirkman and Skybound listened. Skybound moved up the date due to the overwhelming demand from fans of the series. Just in time for Valentine's Day, get your sweetie what they really want -- a can't-put-it-down tale of the most fearsome villain from the best-selling The Walking Dead comic book series and graphic novels. The Walking Dead: The Governor Special comic book will sell for only $2.99 at your favorite comic book store or Comixology, featuring 32 pages of story about the character you love to hate. This issue reprints THE WALKING DEAD #27, featuring the very first appearance of The Governor, as well as the Governor short story from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) LIBERTY ANNUAL 2012.

The Emerald City Comic-Con variant will be available at the Skybound booth at ECCC from March 1-3 for only $10 and limited to 1,000 copies.

About Robert Kirkman

Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur and Thief of Thieves. In 2010, Kirkman formed his own Image imprint, Skybound, which publishes his own work and Witch Doctor, Invincible Universe and Clone. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and 2012. In April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. Your destination for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles is www.Skybound.com.

About Skybound

Skybound is the home of Robert Kirkman's creator-owned work including his Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, Thief of Thieves and Clone as well as Witch Doctor and Invincible Universe. Since its inception, Skybound has created television shows, merchandise and a wide spectrum of platforms, games (The Walking Dead: Assault iOS app), and entertainment events (The Walking Dead Escape). Skybound's successes include the comic behind the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a potential series. Skybound/Kirkman frequently top the hardcover and paperback bestseller lists. Your destination for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles is www.Skybound.com.

About Hastings

Founded in 1968, Hastings Entertainment, Inc. is a leading multimedia entertainment retailer that combines the sale of new and used books, videos, video games and CDs, and trends and consumer electronics merchandise, with the rental of videos and video games in a superstore format. We currently operate 137 superstores, averaging approximately 24,000 square feet, primarily in medium-sized markets throughout the United States. We also operate three concept stores, Sun Adventure Sports, located in Amarillo, Texas and Lubbock, Texas, and TRADESMART, located in Littleton, Colorado. We also operate www.goHastings.com, an e-commerce Internet web site that makes available to our customers new and used entertainment products and unique, contemporary gifts and toys. The site features exceptional product and pricing offers. The Investor Relations section of our web site contains press releases, a link to request financial and other literature and access to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.