Marvel Comics this morning announced that, “For the first time ever”, a guest will appear on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno to promote a comic book.

Marvel reports that filmmaker/comic writer Kevin Smith will appear on NBC’s late night staple on June 24th, and he’ll be there specifically to promote his upcoming Marvel mini-series, Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do. Marvel says this will be the first time in the show’s “legendary run” that a panel guest will appear not to plug a movie or a TV show, but will instead “go on camera with the express purpose of promoting a comic book.”

“I’m as proud of my work in comics as I am of anything I’ve done on film, so I thought ‘Why not call up the folks at The Tonight Show’and see if I could talk about Spider-Man/Black Cat on the show as a guest?” explained Smith. “Thankfully, Jay (Leno) and co. were really up for it and found me a slot on the show two days before the book hits the stands. What better way to call more attention to comics than by waving one around on late night’s most-watched talk show? It’s going to be a real kick to run a clip of Terry and Rachel Dodson’s awesome artwork for the approximately six million folks who watch Leno each night. And the fact that it’s a historical first as well makes it kind of fun.”

“This is just one more step in our attempt to take the world of comics to the masses, and Kevin is the perfect ambassador,” stated Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. “Kevin has been a regular on The Tonight Show’ these last few months, with his ‘Roadside Attraction’ bits and the ‘Clerks’ short, The Flying Car,’ and Jay is a big Spidey fan. So when Kevin called me and said that he wanted to book himself on the show just to promote Spider-Man/Black Cat, my head nearly exploded! This is a giant step for our industry and I hope retailers take note and plan accordingly for the traffic that this event will drive to their stores!”

“Wow… and all I was hoping for was a promo poster,” added Spider-Man editor, Axel Alonso. “Kevin’s done so much to keep comics on the pop culture radar, and this is just another feather in his cap. I couldn’t be happier.”

Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do is a four-issue miniseries that according to Marvel, “puts the web-slinger on a collision course with his old flame, the red-hot Black Cat!” It also serves as the launching pad for the new Black Cat ongoing series that will also be penned by Smith. Illustrated by the team of Terry and Rachel Dodson, Spider-Man/Black Cat will debut on June 26th, and Marvel wants retailers to know issue #1 can be ordered from Diamond Comics Distributors until June 6th.

I’m sure that many others are going to report this as well, but at tonight’s UK talk Kevin invited everyone to go see Changing Lanes with him tomorrow afternoon. He even offered to pay for everyone’s ticket! He also said that if we manage to buy out the entire theater, we can yell back at Affleck on the screen.

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I attended the appearance last night and let’s just say it was the greatest thing!! Kevin is the man. I just hope he knows not all of us here in Kentucky are as dopey and redneck as some of the people he had to deal with. Thanks Kevin. Wish I could go to Cincinnati but I can’t.

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Just got back from the flick. Everyone got in (I think there were about 165 people at the theater when Kevin showed up)! Before the film, Kevin got up in front of the crowd and explained how he tried to pay for everyone’s ticket with his credit card, which they wouldn’t take, so they had to accept a check “which is in the mail as we speak.” He also stayed around long enough afterward so that everyone could shake his hand and/or have their picture taken. The local TV news got ahold of the scoop, so someone out there will probably be able to capture it and send it to you guys (I don’t have a video capture card). A photographer from the local newspaper was there as well.

Kevin Smith’s “Jay and Silwnt Bob Strike Back,” with this description: “But proudly how long they can not be, and original this film does not have a share.”