AMAZON’s OMNIVORACIOUS BLOG posted an exclusive interview with writer Neil Gaiman, where amongst other things, he discusses the new digital availability of SANDMAN. So what’s his personal favorite volume of the iconic series? “Probably ‘A Game of You,’ because it's most people's least favourite volume, and I love it all the more for that,” Gaiman revealed.

Yesterday, we announced the new DC Entertainment storefront on Amazon.com. This news came following the announcement a few weeks back that 100 titles spanning all DC Entertainment publishing imprints – DC Comics, Vertigo & MAD – would be available digitally exclusively on the new Amazon Kindle Fire.

“The store is an aggregator of DC Comics digital and print titles,” Hank Kanalz, SVP of Digital, told PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. “It will have more in print than the 100 graphic novels, Amazon has the entire DC Comics backlist.”

“It exposes all our new material to 144 million Amazon customers," he continued to NEWSARAMA. "They've built a store for us. We're on their commercials. We're in their collateral material. It kind of blows the doors wide open."

For more coverage on DC Entertainment’s exclusive deal with Amazon, check out THE LOS ANGELES TIMES’ HERO COMPLEX and COMIC BOOK RESOURCES.

To be continued …

Courtney Simmons Named SVP – Publicity, DC Entertainment at Warner Bros.

(February 15, 2010) -- Courtney Simmons has been named Senior Vice President of Publicity for DC Entertainment at Warner Bros. Simmons will be based in Burbank and report to John Rood, EVP of Sales, Marketing and Business Development.

In her new role, Simmons will oversee and manage media relations and internal communications for DC Entertainment (DCE) and its executives and be responsible for developing and leading the PR strategy for DC Comics’ portfolio of characters across all media platforms– including key franchises such as Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and The Flash – as well as Vertigo Publishing and MAD Magazine. In addition, she will oversee the New York-based DC Entertainment publicity team.

“Courtney is a well-respected and dynamic media relations executive with a proven track record of extraordinary accomplishment in interactive entertainment and consumer publicity," said Rood. "This is an exciting time at the company as we continue to integrate the DC Comics business, brand and characters throughout Warner Bros. including feature films, video games, television and consumer products. Courtney will work in tandem with our WB colleagues in coordinating communications and publicity across the company and we are thrilled to have her join our senior management team.”

Prior to joining DCE, Simmons was VP of Communications for Disney Interactive Media Group where she oversaw corporate communications, media relations and publicity activities for the interactive entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company. She also served as a communications executive for Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) where she was part of the original PR team that announced the new DC Universe Online video game.

Before SOE she ran media relations and government affairs for The LEGO Group at the LEGOLAND California theme park. Simmons also served as the head of public relations for The Six Flags Theme Park where she led strategic communications and publicity efforts for the Los Angeles-based park.

A longtime advocate for encouraging women toward career paths in the creative and applied arts Simmons was instrumental in creating the G.I.R.L. Scholarship Program that awards college scholarships to women who are looking for careers in the development and production of interactive media. Simmons sits on the Advisory Board of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at the Strong Museum of Play in New York and was named Top 10 Most Influential Women of MMOs by Beckett Massive Online Gamer in 2009.

She resides in Studio City, CA with her family.

Nairi Gardiner Named SVP, Finance, WBCP and DC Entertainment

(October 28, 2010) Nairi Gardiner has been named Senior Vice President, Finance, WBCP and DC Entertainment, it was announced today by DCE President Diane Nelson. In her new role, Gardiner will oversee the finance function for the company, that includes: strategic , business and financial planning as well as reporting. She will be based in Burbank and report directly to Nelson.

“Nairi is a consummate professional, whose personal integrity matches her stellar credentials,” said Nelson. “I've known her personally and professionally for years and could not be more delighted for her to join DC Entertainment.”

Since 2000, Gardiner has served as Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations for Warner Bros. Consumer Products, where she is also responsible for strategic planning, reporting and financial operations .Gardiner will continue in her current role as SVP, Finance & Operations for WBCP, reporting to Brad Globe, President WW Consumer Products.

Gardiner joined WBCP in 1990 as Controller. Within four years, she was promoted to Vice President and Group Controller, broadening her duties to include supervision and management of corporate accounting for International and Domestic Theatrical Distribution. In 1997, she became Vice President, Finance for WBCP where she was responsible for financial planning, reporting, credit & collections and had management and oversight of WBCP’s international finance functions.

Before joining WBCP, Gardiner held management positions at Micropolis Corporation and the prestigious accounting firm, Price Waterhouse. She has an MBA from UCLA and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Stanford University.

(October 10, 2010) Hank Kanalz has been named Senior Vice President, Digital of DC Entertainment, it was announced today at New York ComicCon by Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher and John Rood, DC Entertainment EVP of Sales & Marketing. In this newly created position, Kanalz will develop and oversee the execution of the annual digital publishing schedule, coordinating all digital comic content across DC Universe, Vertigo, and MAD. He will also oversee digital special projects and business development such as custom publishing and e-commerce.” Kanalz will be based in Burbank and report to Lee and Rood, and will work closely with the Warner Bros. Digital Distribution group, which supports the Company’s digital initiatives.

“Hank has been integral to the launch of our digital comics initiative, and was an essential part of WildStorm for the past six years,” said Jim Lee, Co-Publisher, DC Comics. “I’m eager to have him working alongside me to blaze new trails in digital publishing and bring our comics to more readers beyond print.”

Previous to his new role, Hank Kanalz served as Vice President and General Manager of WildStorm, where he oversaw day-to-day operations including editorial, production, coloring and administration, as well as edited several comic titles, including World of Warcraft and Fringe. Kanalz was a key figure in building WildStorm’s strong crossmedia relationships, which led to adaptations of popular film, television and gaming properties to the comics medium.

Before coming to DC Comics in 2004, Kanalz was Director of Worldwide Theme Parks for Warner Bros. Consumer Products, where he oversaw the company's relationship with theme park licensees such as Six Flags and Universal Studios, as well as other destination entertainment businesses. He was a key liaison between DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products for several years.

Kanalz has also written comic books, including The Flash and Green Lantern for DC.