While attending NYCC ‘08, Virgin Comics writer Saurav Mohapatra (Deepak Chopra’s India Authentic, Devi, Mumbai McGuffin), was approached by Luis Medina, a filmmaker shooting a documentary about the rising trend of diversity in comics. Check out the interview below that also features Virgin Comics Editor, Charlie Beckerman.

Be sure to also read this Squential Tart interview with Saurav as he discusses religion in comics and his upcoming projects.

If you haven’t already caught up with Ramayan Reloaded 3392 A.D., you can get the trade paperback at our online store now. Get on board this epic journey and be sure to check out CBR’s review of the book.

There’s a thematic undercurrent in the book, emphasizing transcendence. Emphasizing that some of these characters have not reached their full potential. And that’s what the hero’s quest is always about. Growing through experience. Finding the path.

“Ramayan 3392 Volume 2″ is accessible and intriguing, and the epic journey really does begin here. I hope it will continue for a long time.

Ed Burns’ Dock Walloper #4 is on sale today and also this weeks featured item on Comixology. They have a 5-page preview and podcast with series writer Jimmy Palmiotti, which you can check out here.

In a recent Pulp Secret article, Nicolas Cage was selected as the #1 celebrity comic book geek. No surprises there! Here are some highlights from Nic’s comic book geekery:

Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Kim Coppola and changed his name to Nicolas Cage, inspired by Marvel Comics’ Luke Cage. Cage also named his son Kal-el after Superman’s birth name. Nicolas Cage has always been a notorious collector of everything imaginable (not just comic books). However, his comic book collection was rumored to be one of the most valuable collections ever owned by a celebrity (let alone by any single person). We’re talking multiple #1s of the most famous comic book characters including Batman and Superman. The sale of his collection was said to be the highest reported amount for a comic book auction, with a total value of 5.2 million dollars.

Nicolas Cage recently created the Virgin Comics series, Voodoo Child, with his son Weston Cage. Now you can update your own collection with the Voodoo Child Limited Edition Hardcover book from our online store. Only 2000 were printed worldwide and few copies remain so act fast!

A couple of weeks back we wrote about the Dan Dare exhibit at the Science Museum in London and ran Dan Dare: The Legendary Hero contest in celebration of the event. For those of you who can’t make it to London, BBC.com walks through the main features of the exhibit that opened on April 29th. Check out the article and video here.

Check out the Wizard interview with Virgin Comics Chief Creative Officer, Gotham Chopra and Top Cow’s Publisher, Filip Sablik as they discuss the first crossover between the two companies—Witchblade/Devi.

The first issue, published by Top Cow, is on sale now and the second half of the story (published by Virgin Comics and featuring art by Mukesh Singh) will hit comic shops on June 25th.

Thanks to everyone that entered our Dan Dare: The Legendary Hero. So many of you had such fantastic words about our legendary pilot of the future. It was hard to select just 10 winners to receive the Dan Dare limited edition lithographs signed by Garth Ennis. But rest assured, we actually do have a few more autographed lithos tucked away for a rainy day, so keep your eyes open for future Dan Dare contests!

Here’s a sampling of some of our favorite entries:

“Dan Dare is the epitome of everything that is good and British. A real hero for all times. His adventures have deeper meanings linked to international politics, camaraderie and humanity. A great bloke!”—Kevin L.

“So why is Dan Dare my hero? Because he has always represented the highest levels of human behavior, and quietly displayed that in nine years of his creators involvement in Eagle.”—terranova47

“Dan Dare changed our perception of the word ‘hero’. Through his tense and gripping page turning adventures he fought to free us from our chains, allowing us to venture to other worlds.”—Lee F.

“Dan Dare is my hero because he was my dad’s hero. My dad is a bit of a hero (no Mekons fought, but much else to admire) and now the time has come for Dan Dare to be my hero.”—Paul W.

“Our comic market here in Germany is dominated by comic books from the USA, especially superheroes. Of course there are a few German comic characters that are very well known here but they are not as interesting as the ones from the US. Dan Dare is my hero because he is a prototype of the bold starship pilots who save Earth when other people have lost their hope.”—Dirk J.

“Dan Dare is my hero because like me Dan is a veteran. I enjoyed my time in service, even during war, and Dan seems to be the same.”—Garrett B.

“Dan Dare is a hero because under any amount of pressure he is always calm. That to me is the coolest thing about him. If he’s fighting aliens or saving them, he is the one in control.”—Brent S.

“I live my life the same way as Dan Dare and since we are both well educated and use are smarts to avoid needless violence, but when necessary can kick ass with martial arts training.”—Danny D.

“Dan Dare is my hero because he’s proof that someone my age can be a hero too.”—Matt L.

“Dan Dare usually involves elaborate stories of his space travel and galactic battles defending people of the universe.”—Tim K.

Stan Lee greets thousands of his fans on the way to his Virgin Comics panel:

But not everyone got a chance to meet Stan. The folks at Black20 were on a mission at Comic-Con: get an interview with Stan Lee. Click here to check out their journey, shot documentary style, through a packed convention center in pursuit of Stan “The Man”.

Stan also talks with The Comic Collective about his new superhero universe with Virgin Comics:

Premiering today is the “Next Level” Nike commercial directed by Guy Ritchie, creator of Virgin Comics’ Gamekeeper series.

According to Ritchie, “This ad is essentially following the journey, the rise of a soccer superstar. It’s all done through the point of view of the player and is actually the largest advert I have ever filmed.”

Read the full story here and check out the preview below.

“Living on the inside of the New Age world as I have done has given me a front row seat to what truly makes a profit. I mean prophet. Destiny, Serenity, and Tranquility are not just the names of my three favorite exotic dancers in Las Vegas. They are states of awareness. Guru Pitka taught me that as well.”—Gotham Chopra

Growing up as Deepak Chopra’s son must have been a spiritually rich experience for Gotham Chopra, Virgin Comics’ Editor-In-Chief. But we were all stunned to learn that Deepak is not in fact Gotham’s spiritual guiding light. Guru Pitka, the chief rival of Deepak Chopra, is the man that has been leading Gotham on his life-long spiritual journey. Read his shocking confession here.