Mouse Guard invades foreign lands

By Patrick Luce Jul 23, 2007, 14:34 GMT

In the world of Mouse Guard, mice struggle to live safely and prosper amongst harsh conditions and a host of predators. Thus the Mouse Guard was formed: more than just soldiers that fight off intruders, they are guides for common mice looking to journey without confrontation from one hidden village to another.

Villard Books, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group, and Archaia Studios Press today announce that Mouse Guard has begun its invasion of foreign lands. Foreign publishers are quickly napping up the rights to publish David Petersen’ Mouse Guard: Fall 1152, further increasing the reach of the little band of mice.

Currently, foreign rights publishers include Gallimard (France), Cross Cult / Amigo Grafik GbR (Germany), De Agostini (Italy), and Titan Books (United Kingdom). Many other publishers are close to finalizing acquisition deals for their countries, as well.

In Mouse Guard: Fall 1152, we are introduced to the fearless guards Saxon, Kenzie, and Lieam, dispatched to find a missing merchant mouse that never arrived at his destination. In this fanciful, dangerous and medieval world, where mice struggle to live safely and prosper among all of the world’s harsh conditions and predators, Saxon, Kenzie, and Lieam stumble onto much more than they bargained forŠintrigue, betrayal, and a deadly, traitorous plot to overthrow the stronghold of Lockhaven.

The next 6-issue Mouse Guard series, Winter 1152, begins later this month from Archaia Studios Press; the first issue is expected in stores July 25.
 
Said Mouse Guard creator David Petersen, “It’s been so much fun to just be writing and illustrating Mouse Guard this past year and to see how well readers have responded. Now it’s even more fun and exciting to know that Mouse Guard will see a wider audience in different countries, in different languages. Thanks to everyone who has supported me and given me the chance to tell my stories.”

Acquiring editor Tricia Narwani at Villard said, “This is yet more evidence of the universal appeal of Mouse Guard. Mouse Guard is truly a story for everyone - for readers of all ages, and for readers all over the world.”

Archaia Studios Press’s hardcover edition of Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 (ISBN 978-1-932386-57-8, $24.95, a 192-page full-color graphic novel) collects the first 6-issue Mouse Guard series, including 12 pages of bonus material, and is in stores now. The trade paperback edition of Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 (Villard, ISBN: 978-0-345-49686-7, $17.95, 200 pages) hits stores in March 2008 and includes 8 new pages of bonus material.