DFG Toys Division Debuts Action Figures

Special to DFG Online
By Gus Gunn

DFG Toys is excited to show its brand new toy line-up set to debut in time for Xmas 2008. Measuring 24 inches tall with 18-24 points of fully poseable ball-jointed and interchangeable action figure pieces, the toy line-up will include DFG characters like The Flea, Redman and Nepto. Theme packs and vehicles that kids can use to create their DFG adventures will also be available.

DFG Toys will be located at the annual Carnage City Toy Fair at the Martha Smithers Memorial Convention Center booth #1981. The Toy Fair is a trade show for industry trade only. Members of the Press, specialty market buyers and mass-market buyers are urged to contact DFG Toys at DFG Headquarters for more information. Pictured is the fully sculpted action figure of The Spy-Master by Leighton Graves (sculptor), and DFG President Dan Graves.

Director of Philanthropy Hired!

Press Release

DFG Comics President and Co-Publisher Dan Graves announced earlier today that after an extensive search, the position of Director of Philanthropy for DFG Comics has been filled. DFG comics is pleased to announce to our readership that Sir Jephtha P. Ecclesiasticus has been appointed to fill this important position. Sir Jephtha comes to DFG with a wealth of experience as both a fund raiser and "social butterfly."

After completing several degrees in a variety of erudite subject areas, he went on to post-graduate work in philanthropy at the prestigious Institute for Advanced Wealth and Supercilliousness in the world-renowned economics department at Carnage City University. Sir Jephtha has worked for a number of well-known charities and NGO's including the National Organisation for Non-employed Organists (NONO), the International Relief Agency for Tasmanian Existentialists (IRATE), and has done freelance work for several professional cartoonist guilds including the Canadian Resource Association of Panelologists (CRAP). "We are extremely pleased that Sir Jephtha will bring this wealth of experience to DFG," said Mr. Graves. Sir Jephtha issued the following remarks to the press gallery at the news conference. "With the increased number emails from Kenya, Uganda, and other African nations arriving at the DFG offices requesting assistance, as well as the several hundred phone calls per day, such as request to sponsor kids for the police officers and firefighters circuses, Value Village and Goodwill charity clothing pick-ups, and requests for other funds, DFG felt that they needed someone to handle the quantity of requests. I am obviously the right person, given my extensive experience and expertise."

Sir Jephtha was born in England, but has travelled the world extensively. He was knighted in 1935 for his extensive charity work during the Great Depression. He is single, has no children, but keeps a pet Iguana.

--30--

Publisher Dan Graves attends Toronto Fan Expo 2008

Special to DFG Online

By Bob Barnes

Thousands of people swarmed the convention hall hoping to meet their favourite comicbook artists and creators. On hand was DFG Publisher Dan Graves, who worked the crowd with ease and answered fan questions about character favourites such as Red-Man & the Flea. "It's always great meeting the fans and answering their questions", said Dan. "I look forward to attending more conventions in the future." Pictured is DFG Publisher Dan Graves with writer Peter David [ Spiderman movie adaptations, Hulk, more) giving a critique to a young artist.

Spy Classics #4 - Sneak Peek!

Early Photo Features DFG Creators and Creator of the SPM Heroes!

STOP THE PRESS -- ANTIQUE PHOTO OF DFG CREATORS FOUND IN DFG ARCHIVES!

By Bob Barnes, Special to DFG ONLINE!

A previously unknown photo, dated c. 1977, was has been found in the DFG Archives. DFG staff researcher, Antiquda Recordafile, discovered the photo earlier this week. "It's a truly remarkable find," said Ms. Recordafile, "as it features DFG superstars and one fan from the very earlier years of DFG." Depicted in the photo, left to right, are DFG Co-founder (and creator of Captain Nepto), Darryl Andrews; next is Craig Hodgson (a DFG fan from the very beginning); Simon McClenaghan, creator of the SPM Heroes (Electrolight, the Black Shadow, Formation Man, SuperFly, Speed Burner, and the Bow); and DFG Co-Founder (and creator of the Spymaster), Dan Graves. Mr. Graves' head his partially cut-off because it is believed he was holding up the camera to take the picture. "I believe that the photo was taken at an early DFG Staff lunch, held annually on the occasion of Mr. Andrews' birthday," added Ms. Recordafile, "I think that Craig Hodgson had won a contest to have lunch with the DFG superstars depicted here and that explains his presence at an otherwise closed event." When DFG President and Co-Founder Dan Graves was reached for comment, he stated, "Ah yes, I have fond memories of those lunches, and of course, of the people. These were great days for the industry... We were so young and optimistic. It was before the cynicism of the eighties and the narcissism of the nineties. These were good times and these were certainly good people. I'm glad we all had the chance to work together at the very beginning of DFG!"

August Villain

Our August Villain is Insanity.

Insanity was introduced in the final issue (#8) of the original Spy Comics series, way back in 1985. Insanity was actually a wealthy high society heir named Sherrinford P. Worthington IV. Worthington had been committed to the Carnage City Asylum for mental health issues. He soon began to manifest strange abilities such as the ability to induce vertigo when others gazed upon his stare. He could also put his victims into a temporary state of insanity. In Spy Comics #8, he escaped from the asylum and began to wreak havoc in Carnage City. Chief Augustus Smith called upon The Spymaster to help track him down, but The Spymaster fell victim to Isanity's deranged touch.

Sadly, the story was never completed, as the series was rebooted and relaunched later that year. Many old threads were never picked up... the Insanity story is one of those. Will Insanity make a return to the DFG Universe anytime soon? Only the DFG "brass" knows for sure, and they're keeping things under their hats for now. Be sure to follow DFG ONLINE! newsposts for future developments and the possible return of Insanity!

Mark Andrews Concept Sketch for "lost" Spy 96 Annual Comes to Light!!!

By Bob Barnes
Special to DFG ONLINE
With all the buzz surrounding the return of superstar artist Mark Andrews to DFG Comics, a previously unknown concept sketch for the never-completed Spy '96 Annual has come to light. The sketch features a montage of scenes from the unpublished annual. When reached for comment Mark Andrews noted, "Wow, I'd completely forgotten about that sketch. That certainly is a sterling example of my Dali-esque surreal phase." Asked if he had any plans to complete the issue, he noted, "Well, as I understand it, Frank Daniels is collating the whole damned mess and trying to make something out of it. It was really quite good work, but I did it somewhat piecemeal and there are gaps." According to DFG publicist, Selina Silvurtungdevul, the annual is scheduled to finally be released later this year, but DFG production manager (and writer) Frank Daniels is finding the material quite challenging, "Frank is basically taking the thing panel by panel and creating a prose script that will accompany it so that it has much the feel of a pulp magazine. Another problem is that some of the panels are only pencilled, some are inked, while others are completely pencilled, inked and coloured. Frank hopes to have things tied up on this by Christmas." DFG fans are anxiously awaiting Mark Andrews return to DFG Comics!

DFG President Comments on Todd Abbot Resignation

Press Release
DFG Corporate Head Office
Carnage City
August 7th, 2008

From the Desk of the President and Co-Publisher
Dear Fans:
Earlier this week, Mr. Todd Abbot announced on his website that his "25 year exclusive contract" with DFG Comics had expired and that he intended to pursue work with other publishers. I wish to inform the DFG readership that Mr. Abbot has never had an "exclusive contract" with DFG Comics, much less an exclusive contract for 25 years. Mr. Abbot has done much work for DFG over this time frame and we at DFG consider him part of the DFG family. There is also no truth to the rumour that I was not pleased with Mr. Abbot's work on Captain Nepto Prime and that is why I removed him from the title. Nepto creator Darryl Andrews wanted to take the book in a new direction so I immediately reassigned him to some work on the Spy Classics Annual (origins issues), in which he was allowed to complete his long-delayed Cyclone & Tornado origin story. In addition, I assigned him the origin of the Warrior, but he has yet to turn it in.

To summarize, Mr. Abbot has always been welcome to work with other publishers and I continue to welcome any contributions that he might make to the DFG stable of titles. We are grateful for his past contributions and wish him well in his future endeavours.

Sincerely,
Dan Graves
President and Co-Publisher

Captain Nepto picture courtesy of Todd Abbot. Colouring by Flora Lovartalot. Scan by Oscar Foodlecollins.

Always Surprises at DFG!!

By Bob Barnes
Special to DFG Online

With so much attention being given to the 2009-2010 schedule, reporters forgot to ask company President Dan Graves about news on any upcoming project that might already be in the works. "I knew it would knock everybody on their ass, so I kept it quiet", was Mr. Graves' only response to the new Captain Nepto comic-strip that seemed to appear magically and without notice Online today. To view the new strip, click here.

Spy Comics Presents 2009-2010 Lineup Revealed!

By Bob Barnes
Special to DFG ONLINE!

At a press conference at DFG Corporate HQ late last evening DFG Co-Publishers Dan Graves and Darryl Andrews released the 2009/2010 lineup for Spy Comics Presents. "With the "Battle of the Invincibles" storyline wrapping up in Issue 5, the Winter 2008 issue, we felt it was time to unveil the next story arc," commented Mr. Andrews, "Dan has been working very hard plotting the next five issues and has begun breakdowns on #6 already." An exciting development was the release of the cover for #6 which was drawn by Darryl Andrews and coloured by Flora Lovaratlot. "I'm very pleased with Darryl's cover," said a smiling Mr. Graves, "It really catches the flavour of the issue quite nicely. While fans have voted Captain Nepto Prime their favourite series to date, it seems like everyone wants a crack at Spy Comics Presents, our flagship title." Mr. Graves was of course refering not only to Darryl's cover but also to Mark Andrews' recently released cover for an upcoming issue. We asked Mr. Graves about Mark's issue and when it would be appearing, "Well, Frank Daniels, our production manager, is working very closely with Mr. (Mark) Andrews to determine when he will have the issue ready. We can slip it in any time because it appears that the story will be self-contained. At this point, though, we're scheduling its release after the upcoming story arc is completed, probably as issue #11)." Darryl Andrews added that he was quite pleased that his brother had agreed to put pencil to paper and return to DFG. When asked about the future story arc, Mr. Graves revealed the following, "Well, the upcoming arc is all about the fall-out from the first arc. I realized that while the Invincibles story arc was complete, there were a lot of loose ends and new directions. I really want to explore what the DFG universe looks like in a post-Nepto, post-Spymaster age. To this end I came up with the idea that Spy Comics Presents... should, at least for the next arc, be a team-up book that showcases our many under-utilised characters. The arc will deal with what the DFG universe looks like in a world where the heroes are trying to work out a new morality after the fall-out of the Julius/Nepto battle and a world in which the politicians and public figures have lost faith in their heroes." The press conference concluded with the following announcements about upcoming issues of Spy Comics Presents...

Spy Comics Presents... 2009/2010 lineup (Subject to change).

Spy Comics Presents… The Grim Avenger and the Flea #6 (Spring 2009)
In the wake of Prime Minister Jangle’s new anti-vigilante laws, Chief Smith takes over the leadership of the reconstituted Invincibles team and establishes them in their new headquarters. At the same time the Grim Avenger and the Flea attempt to stop the rampaging maniac Big Jon who is wreaking havoc on downtown Carnage City.

Spy Comics Presents…Yugoslav-man and Tito-lad #7 (Summer 2009)
When Holden and Bates are hunted for aiding and abetting the outlawed costumed heroes, there is only one thing they can do to hide from the police… adopt costumed identities of their own!

Spy Comics Presents … The SPM Heroes #8 (Fall 2009 Issue).
The SPM Heroes Back in Action? Featuring Electrolight, the Bow, the Black Shadow and Formation Man. When the rest of the Invincibles go on a mission to break The Grim Avenger, the Flea and William Holden out of the Carnage City Stockade, a group of second-string heroes, known as the SPM heroes (Super Powered Men) are left on monitor duty only to find themselves challenged by the notorious Carnage City Criminal Consortium (the C4 Group!).

Spy Comics Presents … Chief Smith, The Agent, and the All-New Spymaster #9 (Winter 2009 Issue)
(vs. Chief McMullen & the Carnage City Police force.)
With all of the Invincibles’ heavy hitters locked in the Carnage City Stockade, it’s up to Chief Smith, the Agent and the All-new Spymaster to break them out… with the help of the SPM heroes and the newest addition to the team – Spydog!

Spy Comics Presents … The End of the Invincibles? #10 (Spring 2010 Issue)

Who will save the Invincibles when the entire team finds itself locked away in the Carnage City Stockade?

Spy Comics Presents ... Nepto #11 (Summer 2010 Issue)

The Mark Andrews Issue!