Satirical Cynicism from Shannon Wheeler

In a break away from his limelighted character, Too Much Coffee Man, who features on ROK Comics, Shannon Wheeler delivers Screw Heaven, When I Die I’m Going to Mars.

This new collection of Shannon's brilliant comics material, to be published by Dark Horse Comics in the US in August is described as "an intense packages coffee-fueled cynicism sheds a humorous light on life’s little nuances and annoyances". The trials and tribulations of several featured comic strip characters -- including the beloved Too Much Coffee Man -- come together to engage readers in a subtly intellectual, yet laugh-out-loud funny burlesque of irony and lampoon.

With an introduction from legendary Operation Ivy singer Jesse Michaels and guided by the editorial genius of Shawna Gore, this anthology joins several critically acclaimed Too Much Coffee Man books from Dark Horse, who say they are more than happy to be part of the rich history of the character.

And there's more Too Much Coffee Man news. An improbable marriage of classical music and comic book characters makes a new life in the Too Much Coffee Man Opera which will be presented by Comic-Con International: San Diego in a dramatic concert presentation running 27th - 28th July at the city's Horton Grand Theatre. The contemporary opera is based on Too Much Coffee Man and stirs scrutinizing sidesplitting satire with traditional opera.

Too Much Coffee Man creator, Shannon Wheeler, teamed up with Emmy Award winning composer Daniel Steven Crafts and cartoonist Damian Wilcox to form this one-act opera which chronicles the tragedy of Too Much Coffee Man, a caffeine-addled average Joe in love with a local Barista. Trouble brews when the cynical opportunist Espresso Guy also makes a play for the ambitious but frustrated young female coffee slinger. But the Barista has other plans that have nothing to do with either of the rambunctious men. The characters must resolve the modern age dilemma: Can coffee and romance co-exist?

“I haven’t been this excited since my last press release,” muses Shannon.

In addition to three performances for attendees of Comic-Con, the Too Much Coffee Man Opera will be performed in concert for a five-show run at the Horton Grand Theatre, and two public performances at 11.00 p.m. Friday, July 27th and 11.00 p.m. Saturday, July 28th. Tickets cost $20 and are available through Ticketmaster.

• Screw Heaven, When I Die I’m Going to Mars. is to be released by Dark Horse 8th August 2007.