NEW YORK, December 7, 2007 -- Virgin Comics' first graphic novel inspired by Nash

Entertainment's MASKED MAGICIAN hits the streets this week, it was announced today byVirgin Comics Chief Marketing Officer Larry Lieberman and Nash Entertainment CEO Bruce

Nash. Based on the hugely successful Nash series of Fox and MyNetworkTV specials "Breakingthe Magician's Code," the MASKED MAGICIAN graphic novel is available online at www.VirginComicStores.com and at $4.99
at comic shops everywhere.

THE MASKED MAGICIAN is written by Mike Maddox, edited by Charlie Beckerman andillustrated by Pradeep Ingale.

The graphic novel begins 10,000 years ago, as an object of great power fell to earth - a simplestatue. A special society was created to protect mankind from the statue's power while societymembers became the storytellers of the world, evolving into what we know today as magicians.

The story jumps to the present day, where the tremendously popular, larger-than-life magician, isusing his illusions to try and steal those all-powerful statues. The two protagonists who stand inhis way are all that stands between the evil Swain unleashing the terrible forces of the statues unto the world.

Meticulously illustrated with a compelling story, the graphic novel offers an exciting insight intothe world of magic, its dual forces of good and evil, and how the MASKED MAGICIAN came to be, following him as he uses tricks of the trade to betray other magicians to increase his own power.

"It is very exciting that the MASKED MAGICIAN is enlarged and enjoyed in a completely newformat. Audiences simply love the television specials, and the story translates very well into thefantasy of a graphic novel, so readers will be in for a great surprise," Nash explains.

"The MASKED MAGICIAN is one of the few unforgettable - yet unexplained - characters ontelevision," said Lieberman. "With this graphic novel we have enlarged the story with additionalcharacters and motifs that we intend to develop into feature films, television projects and video games."

The MASKED MAGICIAN –is currently breaking records on MyNetworkTV, regularly loggingthe network's best household and demographic ratings. Magician, illusionist and actor, Val Valentino stars in these programs and performs for worldwide audiences as the MaskedMagician.