Writer extraordinaire Paul Dini is bringing his creation, Dinicartoons—which showcases characters designed for all ages but lure in a more mature audience, as well—to the Top Cow realm starting with a November one-shot called Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein.

With art and a cover (featured below) by Stephanie Gladden (Powerpuff Girls, Chowder, Hopster’s Tracks) and an alternate cover by Greg Horn, the upcoming one-shot is a “Halloween collides with Christmas” special. Loosely inspired by Mary Shelley’s novel, the character Jingle Belle discovers Frankenstein in the Arctic expanse and brings him back to Santa’s Workshop. Everything’s well until an ultra-PC city causes trouble for Santa and triggers Frankenstein’s monster side; Santa and Jingle have to stop their friend before he wreaks permanent havoc.

We’ll have a review online closer to the release date in November. In the meantime, the official press release is below.

AWARD-WINNING CREATOR PAUL DINI BRINGS THE DINICARTOONS UNIVERSE TO TOP COW

DINICARTOONS JOINS TOP COW

JINGLE BELLE one-shot launches in November to kick off partnership

LOS ANGELES, Calif., September 16, 2008 – Top Cow Productions, Inc. announced superstar creator Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Detective Comics, Countdown, Lost, Madame Mirage) is bringing his Dinicartoons universe to Top Cow, kicking off with a one-shot in November featuring Dinicartoons’ star character, Jingle Belle.

“I had a great experience working with Top Cow on Madame Mirage so I’m really happy to be bringing my cast of Dinicartoons characters there,” said Dini, who recently completed the first volume of Madame Mirage with the publisher, which is now available in trade paperback.

Dinicartoons is the overall universe of Paul Dini’s original creations, home to a collection of Saturday morning cartoon-like characters created by Dini, which, in spite of their “cartoony” nature, are meant for all ages but appeal to older readers because of their humor, edginess and pop culture relevance. Led by Jingle Belle, the spoiled teen-age daughter of Santa Claus, the Dinicartoons cast of characters includes: Little Rashy and Superrica the sock monkeys; Polly Green the Halloween witch; Ida Red, the spunky Texas cowgirl; Tashi Ounce, the snow leopard girl; and Hyper Hyena the… well, the name says it all.

“Some Dinicartoons books will feature already known characters like Jingle Belle and Sheriff Ida Red,” said Dini. “Others will be completely new creations.”

Things kick off in November’s Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein one-shot, in which Jingle finds Frankenstein’s monster in the Arctic and “rehabilitates” it to fit in at Santa’s Workshop. But when a city decides Santa is no longer welcome, the monster’s beastly side is awakened and he sets off in a misguided attempt to help his newfound friend, prompting Jingle and her pop to stop the creature before he sullies the good name of Christmas forever.

Joining Dini on this venture will be Stephanie Gladden, who is currently a character artist at Cartoon Network and has worked on licensed comic series like The Powerpuff Girls, The Simpsons, Ren & Stimpy and Wolf & Red. She also created her own comic book called Hopster’s Tracks.

“I’ve been lucky to work with Stephanie a few times before on Jing,” said Dini. “She’s got a great classic cartoon style that I really love. It harkens back to her love for things like the wonderful Looney Tunes and Fleischer shorts, early Hanna/Barbera cartoons and the funnier Disney stuff. Also, she draws amazingly gorgeous girls, a big plus as the story stars both Jing and her cute witch friend Polly.”

“I’ve worked with Paul in the past on some of his comics and animation projects and I’ve always enjoyed his work,” commented Gladden. “I was very flattered when he asked if I could draw this for him. Paul has a real appreciation for artists and understands comics as a visual medium. He writes ‘like an artist.’

“Plus, Frankenstein having it out with Santa Claus—it begs to be drawn!” she laughed.

Top Cow is happy to welcome Dini back. “Paul ranks as one of the top creators in the business,” raved Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik. “We’ve all been fans of his work in comics, animation, and television. We’re incredibly elated that he’s chosen to make Top Cow the home for Dinicartoons.

“In addition, Madame Mirage fans can look forward to a second season coming soon!”

About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (http://www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, Witchblade, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. Witchblade is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, The Darkness, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. Wanted, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games, and roleplaying games.

Related Posts:

• Comic Book Review: Jingle Belle
• Top Cow Reveals Greg Horn Jingle Belle Cover
• Dinicartoons interview with Stephanie Gladden
• Exclusive GEN interview with Paul Dini (Dinicartoons Part One)
• Trade Review: Madame Mirage Vol. 1 TPB