Bongo Comics Press Release - July 14, 2009

Bart Simpson teams up with Sergio Aragonés beginning in Bart Simpson #50.

Matt Groening, creator of “The Simpsons” and “Futurama,” has announced that Sergio Aragonés (MAD Magazine, Groo the Wanderer) will become a regular featured artist and writer in Bart Simpson comics beginning with issue #50. Sergio Aragonés will provide the entire contents of Bart Simpson #50 as well as the cover art. The issue will include an eleven-page main story entitled “The Simpson Project.” Mr. Aragonés will also contribute a new and ongoing feature entitled “Maggie’s Crib,” a series of pantomime stories much in the vein of his classic three-page “A Mad Look At…” feature found in MAD Magazine. Sergio will also be a contributor of stories to the Bart Simpson title as well as other Bongo Comics Group titles on a regular basis.

 Bart Simpson #50 will be released on October 28, 2009 in direct market comic book stores and at newsstands. Bart Simpson is a bimonthly comic book aimed at younger comic book readers and was launched in 2000.

 “I have been a Simpsons fan from the very beginning,” says Sergio Aragonés. “I watch the show, read the comics, and collect everything that has come out, so imagine the pleasure to now be writing and drawing my favorite family… I couldn’t be happier!”

Bill Morrison, Bongo Comics Creative Director, says, “We’ve put some of the funniest characters ever created in the hands of the world’s funniest cartoonist. This is unprecedented in the world of humor comics, and it may result in more comedy than the average reader can safely handle. I predict it’ll be just like that movie The Perfect Storm, only hilarious.”

“Sergio’s the best,” says Matt Groening, Bongo Comics founder and publisher, “and it’s an honor to work with him.”

Sergio Aragonés, whom many have dubbed the fastest cartoonist in the world, is certainly the most honored, having won every major award in the profession, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award. He sold his first cartoon at the age of seventeen while still in high school and continued selling cartoons while studying architecture at the University of Mexico. He has been drawing and writing cartoons for a living ever since. Mr. Aragonés has contributed to every issue of MAD Magazine since January 1963 with the exception of one (due to an error at the post office). He distinguished himself at MAD Magazine with a series of “Marginal Thinking” strips, cartoons that were printed up, down, across, and around the corners of comic panels to fill in the margins. Sergio Aragonés cartoons have also been animated and seen on popular television shows such as “Laugh-In” and on many of Dick Clark’s blooper shows.

Mr. Aragonés is also a pioneer of creator-owned comic books and an advocate for creator’s rights. He created Groo the Wanderer (currently published by Dark Horse) along with frequent collaborator Mark Evanier. Together they have authored several titles, including: The Mighty Magnor (Malibu Comics); Boogeyman, Space Circus, and Sergio Aragonés Stomps Star Wars (Dark Horse); Fanboy and Sergio Aragonés Destroys DC (DC Comics); and Sergio Aragonés Massacres Marvel (Marvel Comics).

Along the way, Sergio Aragonés has garnered practically every award that the comic book and cartoonist industries have available. He has won the Harvey Award Special Award for Humor nine times (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997,1998, 1999 and 2001). He received the National Cartoonist Society Humor Comic Book Award in 1973, 1974, and 1976; their Special features Award in 1977; their Gag Cartoon Award in 1983; their Comic Book Award in 1986; their Magazine and Book Illustration Award in 1989, and their highest award, the Reuben, in 1996. He was awarded the Adamson Award for Best International Comic-Strip or Comic Book work in 1985, and in 2003 he was awarded La Plumilla de Plata (The Silver Inkpen) in Mexico. He has been awarded the Eisner Award four times for Best Humor Publication (1992, 1997, 1999, 2000), once for best Writer/Artist-Humor (1996), and once for Best Short Story (2001). He has also been honored with the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award (1996) and with the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award in 2002. In 2007, the Comic Art Professional Society honored Mr. Aragonés by naming their prized award “The Sergio” in homage to his body of work.

One of Sergio Aragonés’ Best Humor Publication Eisner awards was earned for his first collaboration with Bongo Comics in Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror #5 (“Xt’Tapalatakettle’s Day”) in 2000.

Bongo Comics Group, owned and operated by Matt Groening, creator of “The Simpsons” and “Futurama,” has been publishing comics and books for 15 years. Titles include: Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson, Simpsons Classics, The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror, Simpsons Super Spectacular, The Simpsons Summer Shindig, The Simpsons Winter Wingding, and Futurama Comics. Bongo Comics Group has won four Eisner Awards, the comic industry’s equivalent to the Oscar®, for Best Short Story, Best Title for a Younger Audience, and Best Humor Publication, and has been nominated for an additional 12 Eisner Awards.

ABOUT THE SIMPSONS:

The longest-running primetime sitcom in television history, “ The Simpsons” exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Cartoonist Matt Groening created the infamous Simpson family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson -- all now identifiable by their silhouettes alone. The seriesaired their historic 400th episode in May 2007, followed by the successful The Simpsons Movie in July 2007. In 2000 the showreceived a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in Spring 2008 The Simpsons Ride opened at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and Hollywood, CA.

"Best. 20 Years. Ever," a yearlong global celebration honoring all things THE SIMPSONS, recently launched and will culminate on January 14, 2010, the 20th anniversary of the series' debut.

“The Simpsons” is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.

COVER IMAGE 2009 BONGO ENTERTAINMENT, INC. THE SIMPSONS AND THE SIMPSONS 20 YEARS TM & © 2009. TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.