Official Press Release
Ape Entertainment and Classic Media, a global media
company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading family entertainment
brands including Casper the Friendly Ghost® and Where’s Waldo?®, today
announced the digital comic debut of Richie Rich®, “the poor little rich boy,”
in the Apple App store. The app will feature the digitally restored and color
corrected original master copies of the comic as well as new adventures under
the title of Rich Rescue for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Developed by Ape Entertainment’s digital partner iVerse
Media, the Richie Rich digital comic app is free to download and features a
preview of the first issue at no additional cost. The app includes four
full-color issues of the all-new Rich Rescue series for $1.99 each and the
Richie Rich Classics series for $.99, each with a color cover, one 5-page story
in color and the rest in classic black and white.
Ape Entertainment’s new Rich Rescue series features an
updated look that emphasizes the character’s altruistic side as the world’s
richest kid becomes a globe-trotting adventurer who uses his wealth to help
people in need around the world. These new adventures are available digitally
within the app as well as in print at local comic book shops nationwide.
“I grew up reading Richie Rich comic books and am proud
that Ape Entertainment is now offering the first-ever digital version of this
classic on iOS,” said Brent E. Erwin, Ape Co-Publisher. “Working with Classic
Media and iVerse has been an extremely great experience and we’re looking
forward to offering fans another way to enjoy Richie Rich.”
The first four new adventures include:
Richie Rich®: Rich Rescue, Issue #1: “The Boon Under The
Bay!” – Story by Bill Williams, Art by Marcelo Ferreira & Dustin Evans,
Cover by Jack Lawrence – After learning of a long lost treasure buried deep
beneath the waters of the pacific south coast, Richie and the gang investigate,
only to learn that there are other interested parties privy to the prizes,
including a mysterious enemy and his band of modern day pirates! Also included:
A brand new ‘classic style’ Richie Rich story “Of Demise and Men” by his
creator, Sid Jacobson with art by Ernie Colon and more Rich Rescue stories,
“Welcome to Rich Rescue” and “Professor Keenbean’s Corner”
Richie Rich®: Rich Rescue, Issue #2: “The Pursuit of
Pesos!” – Story by Buddy Scalera, Art by Marcelo Ferreira & Dustin Evans,
Cover by Jack Lawrence – While on a mission in South America, Richie and the
gang stumble on a map that leads to ancient ruins and a conquistador’s
mystical, long-hidden treasure! When Reggie accidentally triggers an ancient
time traveling device, it launches the crew back to the time when the ruins
were first built…and dinosaurs ruled the Earth! Will Richie Rich be able to
figure out how to get the gang back to the present, or will they be trapped in
the past…forever! Also included: “Ma Ma My iRona”, “Hello Fellow Hostages, Are
You Ready to Rock?”, and another “Professor Keenbean’s Corner”
Richie Rich®: Rich Rescue, Issue #3: “Just Desserts
Deserts” - Story by Quinn Johnson, Art by James Silvani & Jake Myers, Cover
by Jack Lawrence –While exploring Egypt, Richie and the gang find a previously
undiscovered pyramid…built upside-down into the ground! Traveling into the
inverted wonder is not easy, and making it even more difficult is an army of
undead mummies….mummies who may never have been human to begin with! Also
included: “Laughter is Not Always the Best Medicine”, “Uncommon Cents” and
another “Professor Keenbean’s Corner”
Richie Rich®: Rich Rescue, Issue #4: “Yen for a Yeti!” -
Story by Jason M. Burns & Nate Sharir, Art by Marcelo Ferreira & Dustin
Evans, Cover by Jack Lawrence –While hiking through the snowy Himalayas, Richie
and the gang uncover a group of exotic animal poachers who have captured the
elusive Yeti for profit. Vowing to rescue the creature and return it to the
wild, the team learns the hard way that they aren’t the only ones interested in
freeing the creature. They must contend, not only with the poachers, but with a
mystic order of ninja monks! Also included: “Give a Dog a Bone,” another
“Professor Keenbean’s Corner” and an all-new ‘classic style’ Richie Rich story
by his creator, Sid Jacobson “Unhappy…uh, HAPPY Birthday!”
With the addition of app enhancements, included in the
digital downloads of the comics to assist consumers in locating their nearest
comic book retailer, Ape hopes that Richie Rich will inspire new readers to
discover the exciting world of comics through their local comic book shops.