XENA SHOWS HER DARK SIDE IN DYNAMITE’S XENA NEW STORYLINE
Available in December, Xena #5 Begins Dramatic New Story Arc for Warrior Princess

October 25, 2006, Runnemede, NJ – DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT released images and information today regarding the release of Xena #5 and the beginning of a dramatic new story arc for the Warrior Princess as writer John Layman explores Xena's "Dark Side!". Xena #5 features the return of Dark Xena and is scheduled to ship in November with covers by Aaron Lopresti of Incredible Hulk fame, Dynamite fan favorites Stjepan Sejic and Fabiano Neves, and a photo cover!

About the release, DYNAMITE stated: “Xena’s first story arc brought fans back everything they loved about the Warrior Princess - the action and adventure, the twists and turns! It was all there in the tradition that fans have come to love, and they certainly did! John Layman designed a tale of the Warrior Princess worthy of all the gods on Olympus, and Fabiano Neves brought their Contest of Pantheons to life. Laymen’s next journey for Xena explores the other side of the Warrior Princess, her BAD side. Hot off the heels of his outstanding work on the first Xena Annual: Strange Visitor, artist Noah Salonga will be teaming up with John to bring fans Xena’s next big adventure: Dark Xena! Contest was fun and exciting, but now it’s time to turn back the clock and tie it all together in a dramatic tale of Xena’s dark side.”

XENA #5 (OCT06 3341) WRITTEN BY JOHN LAYMAN, ART BY NOAH SALONGA; COLORED BY CHRIS GARCIA; COVER ART BY: AARON (INCREDIBLE HULK) LOPRESTI (25%) FABIANO NEVES (25%), PHOTO (25%) AND STJEPHAN SEJIC (25%)!

Part one of a New Storyline launches here! Writer John Layman returns, and he's joined by artist Noah Salonga as they present the return of Dark Xena!

Taking place some time after the series finale of Xena: Warrior Princess and before the events of the "Contest of Pantheons" - featured in DYNAMITE'S XENA #'S 1-4 - "Dark Xena" finds Gabriele making a request of the gods and learning that you must be very, very careful, what you wish for, and how you wish for it! Xena is Dead, Long Live Xena.. er.. Dark Xena that is, and by Dark, we mean just plain Nasty...Mean... and Evil... yeah, Dark Xena!

Newsarama.com recently reviewed the debut issues of XENA, saying: "I like the fact that the scope of the book can go way beyond the confines of TV, and the creators seem to be embracing that."

ABOUT DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT:
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling titles and properties. Beginning with their Army of Darkness comic book series – launching as the #1 independent comic in July of '04 – and recently ranked the #1 selling Independent Horror comic -- and continuing to their best-selling Red Sonja series – issue #0 alone selling over 240,000 copies and ongoing issues and one-shots recently ranked among the best-selling titles in unit sales and dollar volume – and not only has Dynamite consistently released Red Sonja as THE top selling single comic outside of Marvel and DC Comics, Dynamite successfully places more titles in the Top 100 than most non-Marvel, non-DC publishers. Dynamite's new monthly Battlestar Galactica series is the company's first major launch of '06, debuting with an impressive 175,000 copies in initial orders sold for the introductory #0 issue. Dynamite’s ongoing Highlander comic book series launched to excess of 100,000 copies sold for issue #0. The recently released The Lone Ranger #1 sold out on its first day in comic shops and whose 2nd print sold out within a short time of releasing in comics shops.

Now, in addition to the ongoing Red Sonja and AOD series, DYNAMITE has released the all-new Battlestar Galactica comic by Greg Pak and Nigel Raynor – launching with a specially priced #0 issue, having sold in excess of 175,000 copies and recently featured in the pages of TV Guide, A classic Battlestar Galactica comic book series, Xena by John Layman and Fabiano Neves, a Darkman vs. the Army of Darkness mini-series and is preparing the Lone Ranger with Brett Matthews and John Cassaday – and Dynamite has more on the horizon!

In addition to the creators mentioned - Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics, including Alex (Justice) Ross, John (Astonishing X-Men) Cassaday, Michael (Superman/Batman, Aspen Comics) Turner, Jim (All-Star Batman) Lee, Michael (Red Sonja) Avon Oeming, Mike (Red Sonja/X-Men) Carey, Jim (Justice) Kruegar, Greg (The Incredible Hulk) Pak, Brett (Serenity, The Lone Ranger) Matthews - as well as working with up and coming new talent and enhancing strong creators!

The company also produces new and classic material from such creators as Paul Gulacy and Doug Moench's Six from Sirius, Tim Truman's Scout, Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso's Borderline and other titles including Jim Starlin's Dreadstar, in addition to reprint editions of classic Red Sonja material and more.

For updated information on Dynamite Entertainment and their titles, please visit the Dynamite website at www.dynamiteentertainment.com