Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #634 cover. This is Gemstone Publishing's premiere issue for this title.

"We are currently on schedule with no hiccups," said John Clark, Gemstone Publishing's editor-in-chief for the Disney comics line. "All titles should release as planned. Our Free Comic Book Day issue of Donald Duck Adventures featuring "Maharajah Donald," will be out May 3, Free Comic Book Day, along with the other free comics. The 64-page prestige books, Uncle Scrooge #319 and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #634, will both ship from the printer in June and will be monthly thereafter. Then our regular, 32-page comics will ship in September and hold to a monthly schedule after that, beginning with Donald Duck #308 and Mickey Mouse and Friends #257.

Clark said American creators Patrick Block, Don Rosa, Noel Van Horn, and William Van Horn will be showcased in these books, along with some classic Carl Barks reprints, as will the work of top-notch European artists, such as Daniel Branca, Ferioli, Daan Jippes, Romano Scarpa, and Vicar.

But wasn't anything thrown off schedule by the recent monumental snowstorm in the east? Clark, newly relocated to the Baltimore area just in time for the record-breaking snowfall, just chuckles.

"I was expecting it. Wherever I move, there's a record-breaking bad winter the first year!" he said.

"Response to the announcement of our FCBD issue has been good, from what I've heard. A few retailers have indicated they're going to order big on this one, so I'm expecting we'll have a high press run," Clark added. "Retailers should look for a swell point-of-purchase poster announcing the release of the comics in an upcoming Dateline, and we're hoping a lot of previous fans will bring their friends and other new readers along for the re-launch. Our plans for the Disney characters won't end with the four titles already mentioned. We have some really exciting projects under way that should go a long way towards giving Disney comic books a renewed presence in both the mass market and the world at large. But it's too early to discuss those plans just yet. Stay tuned for further developments!"

If you're interested in receiving information about the new line of Disney comics, visit http://www.gemstonepub.com/disney and sign-up today.

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Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #634 cover. This is Gemstone Publishing's premiere issue for this title.		Maharajah Donald cover for Free Comic Book Day 2003.		William Van Horn's detailed preliminary pencil of Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #634.