COLONEL SANDERS GOES TO COMIC-CON
Cosplay, Colonels, Comics and Chickens – KFC Brings It All to San Diego
LOUISVILLE, KY., JULY 6, 2015 —Con-Goers and Gaslamp Quarter visitors will experience a “little bit of Colonel-ing”, in San Diego this week via three unique activations from Kentucky Fried Chicken. After all, Colonel Sanders, with his iconic superhero-esque all-white suit, black ribbon tie, and signature bling would have been the quintessential cosplayer.
The Comics
The colorful life of KFC’s founder was first immortalized this past May with a new, robust brand campaign featuring the interactive archive site Hall of Colonels, www.colonelsanders.com. The Hall chronicles the legendary chicken salesman’s life from sixth grade dropout and gun fighting gas station owner to fried chicken magnate. Now, KFC is bringing the site to life in the graphic novel “KFC Presents: The Colonel’s Adventure Comics,” a limited edition comic being distributed around the Gaslamp Quarter by costumed Colonels and Colonettes on Friday, July 10. Each limited edition Colonel’s Adventure comic will be poly-bagged with the Colonel’s iconic black ribbon tie and select packages will also include highly coveted collector’s edition comics.
“Like Colonel Sanders, most comic book heroes start out as underdogs and overcome obstacles that catapult them to iconic status,” says Kevin Hochman, chief marketing officer, KFC US. “So it’s no surprise that the Colonel’s story is ripe for comic book form, as depicted by early events in his life that eventually led to the discovery of his real super power: the combination of a pressure cooker and secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, thus creating his world-famous Original Recipe® Chicken.”
The Comics
The colorful life of KFC’s founder was first immortalized this past May with a new, robust brand campaign featuring the interactive archive site Hall of Colonels, www.colonelsanders.com. The Hall chronicles the legendary chicken salesman’s life from sixth grade dropout and gun fighting gas station owner to fried chicken magnate. Now, KFC is bringing the site to life in the graphic novel “KFC Presents: The Colonel’s Adventure Comics,” a limited edition comic being distributed around the Gaslamp Quarter by costumed Colonels and Colonettes on Friday, July 10. Each limited edition Colonel’s Adventure comic will be poly-bagged with the Colonel’s iconic black ribbon tie and select packages will also include highly coveted collector’s edition comics.
“Like Colonel Sanders, most comic book heroes start out as underdogs and overcome obstacles that catapult them to iconic status,” says Kevin Hochman, chief marketing officer, KFC US. “So it’s no surprise that the Colonel’s story is ripe for comic book form, as depicted by early events in his life that eventually led to the discovery of his real super power: the combination of a pressure cooker and secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, thus creating his world-famous Original Recipe® Chicken.”
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The Colonels Through a partnership with Adult Swim, the brand will honor its founder - while satiating the internet access hungry – with seven life-sized Wi-Fi-enabled Colonel Sanders statues positioned around various intersections of the Gaslamp Quarter. Each feature Sanders’ iconic smile dressed in seven different eclectic cosplay attire: a vampire, a unicorn, a Martian, a werewolf, an anime character, and furry, all while donning his traditional white suit. Each day, Adult Swim and KFC will surprise a limited number of fans who post photos of themselves and the statues to social media with the hashtag #colonelsanders with free Robot Chicken t-shirts. When con-goers locate the Colonel statues and connect to the Wi-Fi, they’ll be directed to a co-branded KFC and Robot Chicken digital hub at www.adultswim.com/KFC to check out KFC and Robot Chicken custom content. |
Where to find the Colonel at Comic-Con.
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The Chickens
In addition, Adult Swim and KFC will bring together two iconic characters for the very first time in a multi-platform program spanning on-air, online and on-site activations that put Colonel Sanders and the Robot Chicken front and center at this year’s convention. Through the partnership, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the studio behind the Emmy® Award-winning series Robot Chicken, have created three 60-second custom stop-motion spots starring the Colonel and Robot Chicken in an epic space adventure that will play out over the next four months. The first episode, which was created by series co-creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, will premiere on Thursday, July 9 at the Adult Swim on the Green screening event in San Diego, just before it debuts on Adult Swim later that evening. Free custom-created Robot Chicken t-shirts and KFC $5 Fill Ups® will be provided for attendees of that event.
In addition, Adult Swim and KFC will bring together two iconic characters for the very first time in a multi-platform program spanning on-air, online and on-site activations that put Colonel Sanders and the Robot Chicken front and center at this year’s convention. Through the partnership, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the studio behind the Emmy® Award-winning series Robot Chicken, have created three 60-second custom stop-motion spots starring the Colonel and Robot Chicken in an epic space adventure that will play out over the next four months. The first episode, which was created by series co-creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, will premiere on Thursday, July 9 at the Adult Swim on the Green screening event in San Diego, just before it debuts on Adult Swim later that evening. Free custom-created Robot Chicken t-shirts and KFC $5 Fill Ups® will be provided for attendees of that event.
About KFC
KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain. KFC specializes in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™, Kentucky Grilled Chicken®, Extra Crispy™ Tenders, KFC Go Cup®, Famous Bowl®, pot pies, freshly made chicken sandwiches, biscuits and home-style side items. There are more than 19,400 KFC outlets in 120 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.) For more information, visit www.kfc.com. Follow KFC on Facebook (www.facebook.com/KFC) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/kfc)
KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain. KFC specializes in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™, Kentucky Grilled Chicken®, Extra Crispy™ Tenders, KFC Go Cup®, Famous Bowl®, pot pies, freshly made chicken sandwiches, biscuits and home-style side items. There are more than 19,400 KFC outlets in 120 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.) For more information, visit www.kfc.com. Follow KFC on Facebook (www.facebook.com/KFC) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/kfc)