2009 July
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Twilight: The Graphic Novel
Publishing | Deb Aoki takes a look at the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, which features color character sketches from Yen Press’ newly announced Twilight: The Graphic Novel, and assurances of the involvement of author Stephenie Meyer. “Stephenie is reviewing every page, every panel,” says Kurt Hassler, publishing director for Yen Press. “People should feel like they are getting a rare glimpse inside her vision of the property.”
Aoki points out that neither “manga” nor “manhwa” is mentioned in the brief article. [About.com]
Publishing | Speaking of Kurt Hassler, Christopher Macdonald interviews him about his background in the book industry, founding Yen Press, and the state of the manga market. [Anime News Network]
Publishing | Dynamite Entertainment has acquired the comic-book rights to Stargate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s long-running TV franchise. The publisher plans three series: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe. The comic license previously was held by Avatar Press. [ICv2.com]
- July 20, 2009 @ 07:36 AM by Kevin Melrose
Straight for the art | Sexy Times
Sorry kids, we try to stay decent here
OK, this one’s for all the grown-ups out there. Lucy Kinsley (French Milk) and Erika Moen (DAR! Vol. 1) have created an X-rated poster, featuring just about every variation of sexual congress you can imagine and then some. $20 and it’s yours. Click on the link to see the un-pixilated version (though you may want to make sure your boss isn’t looking over your shoulder).
- July 20, 2009 @ 07:10 AM by Chris Mautner
Five things a movie fan should do in San Diego
Jon Favreau
Between panels, autographs, world premieres, sneak previews, merchandise, booths and meeting other fans, the San Diego Comic Con offers a full plate for the movie fan. Here are six things — a small sampling, really — for the movie fan to do at the con:
1. Check out some clips from Iron Man 2: I haven’t seen any announcements about who exactly will be at the Iron Man 2 panel yet, but no doubt with principal photography finished up, a few of the folks involved probably have an opening in their schedule. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke or any of the other cast members show up for the con. And no doubt they’ll bring something cool to show the audience. (4-5 p.m. Saturday, Hall H).
- July 19, 2009 @ 03:03 PM by JK Parkin
What are you reading?
Kurosagi Delivery Service Vol. 9
Is it Sunday again already? Time for another What Are You Reading then. Our guest this week is blogger and Bleach fanatic John Jakala. Has John been reading Bleach this week? Click on the link to find out. Oh, and don’t forget to tell us what you are reading in the comments section below.
- July 19, 2009 @ 01:00 PM by Chris Mautner
SDCC ’09 | Dark Horse Comics signings and panels
Dark Horse Comics has a full signing schedule for their booth on all five days of the show, as well as several panels. As Kevin mentioned earlier this week, they’ll be formally announcing Rafael Grampá’s Furry Water, and there’s also a big super secret announcement involving Gerard Way, Shaun Simon and Becky Cloonan. The trio will sign at the booth about 45 minutes after the Gerard Way panel on Saturday.
No doubt Dark Horse will have all sorts of cool stuff to buy, look at and pick up for free at their booth as well. Check out their complete schedule after the jump.
- July 19, 2009 @ 09:01 AM by JK Parkin
SDCC ’09 | Debuts, panels and more from Oni Press
Festering Romance
Oni Press has several books that will debut at the show next week: Festering Romance by Renee Lott, You Have Killed Me by Jamie S. Rich and Joëlle Jones, Wet Moon, Vol. 5: Where All Stars Fail to Burn by Ross Campbell and a limited black cover version of Wasteland: The Apocalyptic Edition. In addition, they’ll have many different T-shirts, buttons and other goodies for sale at their booth.
A complete list of everything they’ll have, along with their booth and panel schedules, can be found after the jump. (I didn’t realize they were doing a graphic novel based on the TV show Psych).
- July 19, 2009 @ 08:33 AM by JK Parkin
SDCC ’09 | Image Comics hosts Image United signing event, more
Image United #1
Image Comics will be out in full force at the con, with several panels and a huge list of folks who will be signing all weekend — everyone from Mike Allred to Christopher Yost.
The biggest event on their schedule is a special signing event with everyone involved in their upcoming Image United book: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Whilce Portacio and Jim Valentino.
Find their full press release and schedules after the jump
- July 19, 2009 @ 08:06 AM by JK Parkin
Giant squid line up early in San Diego for Twilight panel
Attack of the giant squid!
While The New York Times and Variety warn studios and networks about the “Comic-Con False Positive” — mistaking Hall H enthusiasm for real-world interest in a movie or TV show — they neglect to alert us to the real danger facing attendees: Carnivorous giant squid are moving toward San Diego!
They’re not just any carnivorous giant squid, either — they’re flying squid! That weigh up to 100 pounds! And grow to lengths of five or six feet!
The cephalopods, which are tagged with the cuddly nickname “red devils,” typically are found in deep waters off Mexico. But last week they swarmed into the shallows near San Diego, with thousands washing up on shore. Some divers even report being roughed up by the tentacled beasts, which tore at masks and gear.
Experts say swimmers, surfers and, presumably, convention-goers, have little to fear: The squids are well beyond the breakers. For now, at least.
I’m just glad I won’t be spending next week in San Diego … on a boat.
- July 19, 2009 @ 07:52 AM by Kevin Melrose
SDCC ’09 | BOOM! Studios exclusives, plus signing and panel schedule
BOOM! Studios has several SDCC exclusives this year, including hardcover collections of their recent Incredibles, Muppet Show, Cars and Farscape limited series. They’ll also have a preview book of their upcoming Kill Audio comic by Claudio Sanchez. And signing at their booth during the con will be Sanchez, Mark Waid, Muppet Show writer/artist Roger Langridge, Farscape creator Rockne S. O’Bannon, Eureka’s Andrew Cosby and Ed Quinn and many more.
Check out their full schedule after the jump.
- July 19, 2009 @ 07:30 AM by JK Parkin
SDCC ’09 | Wi-fi, booth info, after hours events and much more
The San Diego Comic-Con is almost upon us … watch for a few more updates later today.
Wi-fi | I think I swore after last year’s con that I’d go see that Eagle Eye movie because they sponsored free wi-fi access at the con last year … pretty decent wi-fi, from what I remember. Never saw the movie, though; I think it’s been showing on HBO, so I’ll go set the TiVo once I’m done here. This year’s access is sponsored by iGoogle, which I won’t have a problem supporting; Google is where I keep all my internet stuff.
Booths | The con folks have posted an “Around the Booths” document that details what various exhibitors have going on on the floor of the show.
Creators | Man of Action Studios, the creative collective of Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, and Steven T. Seagle – creators of the Ben-10 franchise and the upcoming Generator Rex for Cartoon Network, as well as countless comic books, will return to booth 2007 at CCI. MOA will be stocked with all of the Ben 10 DVDS as well as a full selection of this year’s new Man Of Action Comics (published through Image). Series artists Marco Cinello (Soul Kiss), Max Fiumara (Four Eyes), as well as Rouleau (The Great Unknown) will be signing – check the booth for schedules. Kelly and Seagle appear Thursday at 4:30 on the panel: Workshop – Creating Creator Owned Comics The Image Comics Way (Room 7A/B). Casey will appear on the Marvel Comics : Dark Reign panel Saturday at 11:30 (Room 6A). Each Man of Action will be announcing a new series at the con and the company is actively seeking artists for a variety of new projects, so bring portfolios by for review.
Creators | Brian Wood posted his schedule for the con; as previously mentioned, he’s sharing a booth with Becky Cloonan, Jill Thompson, Cliff Chiang, Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá. He’ll also have patches, postcards, rarities and other stuff for sale.
Creators | Several creators have posted their booth, signing and/or panel schedules: Jamie S. Rich and Joëlle Jones, Rob Guillory and John Layman, Peter and Bobby Timony, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Dustin Nguyen, Francis Manapul, Cameron Stewart, Greg Rucka, Steve Lieber, Marc Bernardin Larry Marder and Paul Dini.
- July 19, 2009 @ 07:01 AM by JK Parkin
Your Mileage May Vary: Blackest Night #1
This week saw the debut of DC’s newest big event: Blackest Night.
Jeff Adams thought found Blackest Night #1 refreshing:
Blackest Night #1
Blackest Night #1 is an odd beast. Usually with reviews and most certainly with crossover epics, writers who review these things feel compelled to give a lengthy explanation of what exactly this story is about. Who the main characters are, why the story exists, and most importantly, what the hell is going on.
Blackest Night simply doesn’t need that explanation. Every part of the story is meant to take the reader on a journey and help you understand a great many things about the very universe it is operating in. The comic focuses on the various aspects that the story will be touching brilliantly, and also manages to focus on the characters. Something that is missing in a lot of epics, is the characters who participate in these epics. I can see the reasoning, there is an assumption that if you are reading this epic, you already know the characters basic traits. Geoff Johns avoids this by introducing the characters and through dialogue, individual moments and interactions, he imbues the knowledge of the DC universe into you, without you really knowing it.
- July 18, 2009 @ 08:50 PM by Melissa Krause
Turn Off the Dark director says Spider-Man won’t sing on Broadway
Marvel has released two videos featuring Julie Taymor, director of the Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark musical. In the first video she talks about doing research for the musical by reading a bunch of Spider-Man comics, noting that Peter Parker will sing, but once he puts on his suit, he’s all action. “…oh my God, Spider-Man singing in tights. Ain’t gonna happen,” she says.
In the second video, available after the jump, she talks about where the subtitle “Turn Off the Dark” came from.
- July 18, 2009 @ 04:49 PM by JK Parkin
Limited-edition prints, and a ‘secret project,’ from High Moon team
Limited-edition prints by Steve Ellis
High Moon artist Steve Ellis shows off the lovely limited-edition diptych he’ll be selling next week at Comic-Con. The prints feature Conroy from the Zuda Comics series and … some other guy.
Meanwhile, Ellis’ collaborator David Gallaher teases the “secret project” that they’ll be previewing at their table (JJ-06) in Artists’ Alley.
- July 18, 2009 @ 03:45 PM by Kevin Melrose
Six Things A DC Comics Fan Should Do At Comic-Con
Lego Batman protects SDCC '07
One good thing about Comic-Con’s expansion might be that it allows the dedicated comics fan more room to explore. Put another way, if you’re stuck in line all day for a big Hall H movie presentation, you won’t have time for much else. Regardless, followers of DC Comics’ superhero line still have a pretty wide range of options. To help maximize both your time and your Comic-Con experience, I offer the following suggestions.
1. Stop by the DC Booth.
Actually, wherever the DC booth is, usually you won’t be able to avoid it. I suspect that even those attendees who spend all their time in the farthest quadrant of the show floor may still be able to see the Bat-Signal shining on one of those load-bearing beams. In this respect the DC booth makes an excellent landmark, and it is a good rest stop even if you’re not waiting to meet the rest of your Gaslamp-bound party. You can watch clips of various DC moving-picture adaptations like “Smallville” and the recent Wonder Woman animated feature. When that gets old, check out the display cases full of various DC Direct tchotchkes (hey, another new set of Bat-Cuffs!) coming soon to a Diamond warehouse near you. (And don’t forget your camera. I remember seeing a batch of Watchmen action figure prototypes, unrelated to any movie, in one of those display cases some years back. Since those toys were 86′ed by Alan Moore, I wish I’d thought to take some pictures.) If you’re lucky maybe there will be some black-and-white advance copies of upcoming comics on one of the tables.
- July 18, 2009 @ 12:00 PM by Tom Bondurant
John Romita Jr. draws Kick-Ass movie poster
"Kick-Ass" movie poster, by John Romita Jr.
AICN has a look at John Romita Jr.’s Comic-Con-exclusive poster for Kick-Ass, Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of the Icon comic by Romita and Mark Millar.
Romita, along with Vaughn and some of the movie’s cast, will be available from 3:15 to 4 p.m. Thursday to sign the poster ahead of the 5:45 panel in Hall H.
- July 18, 2009 @ 09:50 AM by Kevin Melrose