For Immediate Release: May 10, 2011
Contact:  Andrew Farago, 415-227-8666, ext. 309
Images available on request

King of RPGs Launch Party!
Cartoon Art Museum Event:  Saturday, June 4, 2011, 5:30-7:30pm
Free and open to the public

PARTY WITH KING OF RPGS AT THE CARTOON ART MUSEUM!
Announcing Volume 2 of the New York Times Bestselling Graphic Novel Series from Del Rey

San Francisco, CA:  Join the author and artist of King of RPGs, the bestselling Del Rey graphic novel series, at the Cartoon Art Museum on Saturday, June 4, 2011 for an evening of drinks, snacks, twenty-sided dice and the official launch of King of RPGs Volume 2!

King of RPGs is the epic tale of a young man's quest to escape his crippling World of Warfare addiction and his friend's quest to become the greatest game master in the world!  Written by manga expert Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide) with art by Victor Hao, King of RPGs is a satire of tabletop roleplaying games and manga, in the style of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Hikaru no Go and Penny Arcade.  Meet Victor and Jason at the Cartoon Art Museum at 5:30 PM on Saturday, June 4, for beverages, light food and a talk about the process of making your own professionally published manga.  This reception is free and open to the public.

King of RPGs Volume 2 continues the story of the world's greatest gamers. After an intense World of Warfare (WoW) bender, college freshman Shesh Maccabee found himself completely consumed by the persona of his character, the scourge of Azirim, the mighty Moggrathka.  Now, after months of therapy, Shesh is unsteadily back on his feet, focusing on passing his classes instead of slaying orcs.  But his archenemy, student cop Rona Orzack, is never far behind, watching and waiting for Shesh to lapse back into character and go on a rampage.  While Shesh’s friend Theodore Dudek, the world's most fanatical tabletop gamer, tries to get Shesh out of the online world and back into his Mages & Monsters campaign, the WoW executives devise a sinister scheme to use Moggrathka in their plan for gaming domination.  It’s the ultimate battle between good, evil, and chaotic evil, with the (virtual) lives of millions at stake!

King of RPGs Volume 2 hits bookstores and comic stores on May 24. Featuring story by Jason Thompson and illustrations by Victor Hao, it's a full 272 pages for just $10.99.

*************
PRAISE FOR KING OF RPGS VOLUME 1

“Really awesome. Funny and maniacal — nerd rage with a sentimental streak. Reminds me a lot of Evan Dorkin’s Eltingville Fan Club series, but updated for a new generation.”
– Annalee Newitz <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annalee_Newitz> , io9.com

“Brilliant . . . King of RPGs will ring true to anyone who knows their Wood Elves from their Drow.”
– Mark Barrowcliffe, Author, The Elfish Gene <http://www.elfishgene.com/>

“A fun-loving romp through gaming and geek culture, from CCGs to cosplay, with plenty of old-school roleplaying. It’s nice to see gaming get a manga treatment, with over-the-top heroes, dweebs, and villains.”
– Jonathan Tweet <http://www.jonathantweet.com/jotgameshub.html> , Lead Designer, Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition

*************

Jason Thompson (www.mockman.com <http://www.mockman.com/> ) is the author of King of RPGs and the Eisner-nominated encyclopedia Manga: The Complete Guide. As a manga editor for VIZ and Del Rey, he has worked on the English editions of titles such as Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dragon Ball Z, Hana-Kimi, One Piece, Shaman King and Uzumaki. His writings on manga have appeared in WIRED, The Comics Journal, io9.com, comixology.com and other publications. He is the author/artist of Hyperborea and H.P. Lovecraft's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath.

Victor C. Hao (www.VictorHao.com <http://www.VictorHao.com/> ) is the artist of King of RPGs and a recent graduate with his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree majoring in 3D Animation. Throughout Victor’s life he knew being an artist was his destiny. He just didn’t know that it would lead him towards the doors of manga. So he lives his lifelong dream of becoming a rock star in Rockband and strives to find a job in the animation industry in his apartment. Victor currently resides in San Francisco and has an addiction to MMORPGs and Facebook games.

]{[^]}[
Cartoon Art Museum • 655 Mission Street • San Francisco, CA 94105 • 415-CAR-TOON • www.cartoonart.org <http://www.cartoonart.org/>
Hours:  Tues.  Sun. 11:00 - 5:00, Closed Monday
General Admission:$7.00 • Student/Senior:$5.00 • Children 6-12:$3.00 • Members & Children under 6: Free

The Cartoon Art Museum is a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the collection, preservation,
study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms.