Alien Comic-Book Hero Returns to Bounty-Hunt Terrorists.

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2003

In the late '80s and early '90s, he battled environmental pariahs with names like Lord Contaminous and Notan the Destroyer.

Now he's returning from comic-book limbo to take on Earth's worst terrorists.

'Zen Intergalactic Ninja' -- now known simply as 'Zen' -- is about to return to the world of comic-books, which have been riding an '80s nostalgia wave that has seen such titles as 'Transformers' and 'He-Man' outsell even 'Amazing Spider-man' and 'New X-Men.'

"We're far from playing the nostalgia card, however," insists writer Steve Stern, who created Zen in 1987 with artist Dan Cote. "Zen was relevant back in the day, and he's going to be relevant now, bounty-hunting both human and alien terrorists."

The original 'Zen' series spawned a line of environmentally-themed action figures and a pair of ecologically-aware video games that can still be found at sources like ebay.

"In the new series, Zen uncovers a terror conspiracy of galactic proportions," Stern said in a recent interview at www.fanboyradio.com. He added, "Superhero comics are a uniquely American artform that can address important issues while still entertaining us."

Zen is licensed exclusively by Surge Licensing, the same people who parlayed another independent comic, 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' into a worldwide phenomenon.

'Zen #0' arrives in comic shops across the nation in April.

Note: Artwork available.