2009 July
SDCC ’09 | What’s your iGoogle theme?
Crogan's Vengeance on iGoogle
Kevin previously mentioned the really cool Jim Lee Google logo displayed during Comic-Con, as well as the fact that iGoogle is now sporting many, many cool comic themes. I use iGoogle quite a bit, and shortly after they became available, I changed mine over to the Oni Press theme. It rotates through images from various Oni-published books like Crogan’s Vengeance by Chris Schweizer, North World by Lars Brown, Wasteland by Chris Mitten, Blue Monday by Chynna Clugston and Multiple Warheads by Brandon Graham.
There are a lot of other themes out there — Vertigo, Batman Reborn, Fables, Owly, Spider Woman, Jeffrey Brown …So did you change yours, and if so, what are you currently displaying?
- July 29, 2009 @ 09:01 AM by JK Parkin
SDCC ’09 | Take a ride to Planet Hulk
Here’s the trailer for Marvel’s upcoming animated DVD release, Planet Hulk:
It was shown at last Friday’s Marvel Animation panel. The DVD is due next February.
- July 29, 2009 @ 08:33 AM by JK Parkin
Jim Rugg announces Afrodisiac collection
Afrodisiac cover
Jim Rugg announced on his LiveJournal that AdHouse will publish a trade collection of his and Brian Maruca’s tongue-in-cheek Blaxploitation-styled Afrodisiac stories this December. The book will be 96 pages and cost you $14.95. The AdHouse site has more details, as well as a preview:
The crew behind Street Angel hits the ghetto with the Afrodisiac – in SuperColor! There’s cats, gats, spats, and feathered hats…action as big as a Georgia ham and wool so fine it’ll blow your mind! Lock up your daughters, come hell or high water, cause here comes the king of the concrete jungle!
Not familiar with the character? Go here to get up to speed.
- July 29, 2009 @ 08:00 AM by Chris Mautner
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Comic-Con
SDCC ’09 | Brian Heater, Eric Reynolds, Tom Spurgeon and Glen Weldon offer Comic-Con postmortems. “Although we had a good show and I personally had a pretty good time,” Fantagraphics Books’ Reynolds writes, “this was the first year I felt the weight of Hollywood’s cult of celebrity encroaching not only on the exhibit hall but also the sales of at least the independent publisher area we inhabited. The pre-show hype of advance ticket sellouts and hotel unavailability seems to have scared off a lot of the more casual comic book fans, many of whom I believe are the type who support publishers like Fantagraphics, Top Shelf, Drawn & Quarterly, Buenaventura, Sparkplug, Last Gasp, etc. Instead, you have more advance four-day passes being sold, leaving fewer available tickets for people who work Thursday and Friday and simply want to come down Saturday to do some shopping.”
Heater’s report includes video interviews with Stan Lee, Doug TenNapel, Jim Lee, Brian Talbot, Jordan Crane, Jason Lutes and more. [Comic-Con]
Drafted: One Hundred Days
Publishing | Eitan Gavish provides an overview of the countless comics featuring President Obama as everything from a barbarian to a zombie-fighter to a survivor of the apocalypse. “I think that the strength and the resolve that President Obama shows, and the promise that he shows, is something that lends himself more to be a superhero, and less of a two-dimensional character as some previous Presidents may be imagined,” says Nick Barrucci, publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. [New York Daily News]
Publishing | Jim Munroe, writer of Therefore Repent! and Sword of My Mouth, chats briefly about new business models for comics: “People are constantly complaining about how print is dead and it seems to me like there is a lot of talk about this controversy, but very few alternative models are being floated.” [The Globe and Mail]
- July 29, 2009 @ 07:26 AM by Kevin Melrose
In the wake of Comic-Con, a quiet week for releases
The whirlwind of publishing announcements from Comic-Con may have us looking months down the road, but we have more immediate concerns: New Comics Day.
But after the hustle and bustle of San Diego, and the onslaught of titles last week, this Wednesday seems awfully quiet.
Still, there are several comics worth highlighting, such as Children of the Sea, the first book from Viz Media’s Ikki imprint, and the debut of a new miniseries by Gilbert and Mario Hernandez. Archival editions of Dick Tracy and Peanuts, and the beginning of the Willingham-Sturges-Merino run on Justice Society of America should be noted, too.
And then there’s that Ultimatum finale …
To see what other releases have Chris Mautner, JK Parkin and me talking, just keep reading. And, as always, let us know your picks in the comments below.
- July 28, 2009 @ 02:50 PM by Kevin Melrose
SDCC ’09 | 15 announcements that make us happy
Bone: Quest for the Spark
San Diego Comic-Con is always a wild ride filled with crazy cosplayers, Hollywood hype and just generally somewhat-controlled chaos. In the midst of it all, a few comic book announcements managed to sneak out.
Here are 15 of those announcements (in no particular order) that Kevin Melrose, Chris Mautner and I were happy to hear:
1. New Bone books
So it looks like one of those new books isn’t going to be comics but a novel written by Tom Sniegoski and illustrated by Smith. Which is a bit of a bummer, but only a bit. I’m still pretty psyched to see more stories set in that universe and Sniegoski has proven himself to be an able and witty writer on stuff like the Stupid Stupid Rat Creatures mini series, which, by the way, will be included in the Tall Tales book. So yeah, this is great news all around. I’m eager for more Bone. –Chris Mautner
- July 28, 2009 @ 01:02 PM by JK Parkin
Unbound: Rethinking Girlamatic
Girlamatic is back in the game.
The girl-friendly webcomics site, one of Joey Manley’s Modern Tales family of sites, has been so quiet lately that Comics Worth Reading blogger Johanna Draper Carlson wondered whether the site had gone completely defunct.
Kismet: Hunter's Moon, by Layla Lawlor
But rumors of Girlamatic’s death were exaggerated, says editor-in-chief Diana McQueen. The comics have been updating regularly, and the entire site will get a facelift when it relaunches on July 31 with new content and a new business model: Subscription fees will be dropped, and bloggers and new creators will join the existing lineup.
Girlamatic is one of a number of webcomics sites founded by Joey Manley; the others include Modern Tales, Webcomics Nation, Serializer, and Graphic Smash. In 2007, Manley announced a merger with Josh Roberts of ComicSpace, which combines webcomics sites with social networking. With funding from venture group E-Line ventures, they plan an ambitious revamp of the whole suite. The ComicSpace store went online in Februrary, and they have also set up an ad network.
McQueen says relaunches are in the works for the other sites as well. Each will follow a different editorial vision, but two things will be constant across the company: All comics will be free, and each site will be like an online magazine, with a personality all its own.
- July 28, 2009 @ 11:55 AM by Brigid Alverson
Jimmy Fallon is The Recharger
Talk show host Jimmy Fallon went to Comic-Con, and all he got was the opportunity to pitch his new superhero idea, The Recharger, to Dan DiDio, Jon Favreau, Geoff Johns, Joss Whedon and Stan Lee, among others:
- July 28, 2009 @ 09:32 AM by JK Parkin
Straight for the art | Tintin subway murals
Tintin mural
Yet another reason to visit Belgium before you die.
- July 28, 2009 @ 09:02 AM by Chris Mautner
Have you met my new girlfriend Queen-size?
Nisan and his 'girlfriend'
Before you start moping in your Corn Flakes again about what a lonely, lonely comics nerd you are, consider this: At least you’re not as bad as some of the people profiled in this recent New York Times story about a growing subset of men and women in Japan who fall in love with and attempt to have real relationships with cartoon characters. Take “Nisan” for example, whose girlfriend is an anime character printed on a body pillow:
Nisan told me that not long ago he had a real girlfriend, but that she dumped him. He carries Nemutan almost everywhere he goes, though he is more self-conscious about it than he may seem at first. “Some people don’t find this funny,” he said, “and it also takes up a lot of room.” He treats her the way any decent man would treat a girlfriend — he takes her out on the weekends to sing karaoke or take purikura, photo-booth pictures imprinted on a sheet of tiny stickers. In the few hours we spent together, I watched him position her gently in the restaurant booth and later in the back seat of his car, making sure to keep her upright and not to touch her private parts. He doesn’t take her to work, but he has a backup body pillow with the same Nemutan cover inside his desk drawer in case he has to work late at his tech-support job. “She’s great for falling asleep with on an office chair.”
See? Feel better now, doncha? (link via Cartoon Brew)
- July 28, 2009 @ 08:02 AM by Chris Mautner
‘He’s the Dom DeLuise and Burt Reynolds of evil’
From "Abhay Khosla's Bram Stoker's Dracula"
Comics reviewer and Internet gadabout Abhay Khosla has unveiled his own, um, unique take on the world’s most famous vampire with Abhay Khosla’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I could try to summarize the first installment, but you’re better off reading it for yourself.
- July 28, 2009 @ 07:29 AM by Kevin Melrose
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
This morning’s roundup starts off with more than a few items from Comic-Con International.
The Last Airbender
SDCC ’09 | Del Rey Manga announced it will publish both a prequel and an adaptation of M. Night Shyamalan’s live-action film The Last Airbender, itself an adaptation of Nickelodeon’s popular animated series. Cartoonist Dave Roman, associate editor of the recently shuttered Nickelodeon Magazine, will write both. Nina Matsumoto will draw the prequel, while Joon Choi will illustrate the adaptation. The movie is set to debut in July 2010. [ICv2.com]
SDCC ’09 | Brigid Alverson lists the new manga licenses announced over the weekend, including CLAMP’s Kobato by Yen Press. David Welsh, meanwhile, looks at which titles seem most promising. [MangaBlog, MangaBlog, Precocious Curmudgeon]
SDCC ’09 | Here’s that e-newsletter by Mile High Comics’ Chuck Rozanski that’s been the topic of some online discussion: “With a reported waiting list of 300 media/consumer products companies lined up for booth space here at San Diego Comic-Con International, the convention feels absolutely no restraint as regards raising booth rent. What does exist is a totally uneven playing field, where mom-n-pop comics retailers, publishers, and creators are now being asked to pay the same cost per square-foot as the international corporate giants. That being the case, it should come as no surprise that we comics exhibitors are rapidly being priced out of our own house. I heard from several comics retailers who have been here at the convention for decades that they are either cutting back for 2010, or completely pulling out of the show.” [Mile High Comics]
- July 28, 2009 @ 07:02 AM by Kevin Melrose
Talking Comics with Tim: John Kerschbaum
Petey & Pussy
This John Kerschbaum interview is long overdue. After I interviewed John Arcudi back in January 2009, he suggested I interview John Kerschbaum. In fact, he mentioned Kerschbaum in the course of our interview: “Petey and Pussy creator John Kerschbaum is the best cartoonist working in funnybooks right now. And he’s not working nearly enough.” My apologies to Kerschbaum for the time it took to make this interview happen (he agreed to it back in late January, but I was unable to get questions to him until May), so I am really glad to run this finally. Kerschbaum, who was a 2008 Eisner nominee in the Best Humor Publication category for Petey and Pussy, was kind enough to discuss this most recent Fantagraphics book as well as the work he has self-published through his own Fontanelle Press. Enjoy.
Tim O’Shea: Looking at your work to date, is there any line of comedy that you are afraid to cross?
John Kerschbaum: I don’t know if I’m motivated by fear, per se, but I tend to shy away from specifically offending people. That is, I avoid ethnic, political or religious humor, that type of stuff. I like to think I’m more of an equal-opportunity offender.
But that’s not to say I think any of those topics are taboo. There are talented cartoonists, humorists and comedians that mine those territories for humor whose work I really enjoy. It’s all about the context in which it’s being done and the abilities of the cartoonist doing it. Just because something CAN be funny doesn’t mean is always IS. There’s a time and place for everything.
- July 27, 2009 @ 02:00 PM by Tim O'Shea
SDCC ’09 | But who holds the record for the most fat Supermen in one place?
Guinness World Records was at the San Diego Comic-Con this past weekend presenting awards for various records achieved by comic books, TV shows and other activities you might associate with the con. Here’s a complete rundown of what they presented:
DC's Paul Levitz and Guinness’ Craig Glenday
Longest Running Sitcom and Longest Running Animated TV Series – With over 443 episodes, The Simpsons is the longest running sitcom (by episode count) and longest running animated series. During its 20th season (2008-09), The Simpsons finally overtook the 435 episodes of former record holder The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-66).
Best-selling Comic (single edition) – Spider-Man No.1, first published in August 1990, is the Best-selling Comic (single edition). With an initial print run of 2.35 million, the record-breaking edition was sold with a variety of differently colored covers and several reprints were ordered to keep up with high public demand.
Longest Continuosly Published Comic Book – The longest running comic book is Detective Comics, which has been printed continuously by DC Comics in the USA since Issue #1 in March 1937. The comic introduced the character of Batman in Issue #27 in May 1939.
Most Successful Sci-fi TV Show – Doctor Who, the longest running sci-fi television show, is now the Most Successful Sci-fi Show on Television. Based on the length of the show’s run and international sales data, the series about the adventures of the iconic Time Lord was presented with the new record at Comic-Con 2009 International.
Most Digital Effects in a TV Series – Farscape employed about 25 computer artists to create between 40 and 50 effects shot per episode. The effects team had just seven days to work on each episode, at a rate of 22 episodes per year.
Largest Gathering of Zombies – The record largest gathering of zombies was achieved by 3,894 participants in the ‘Red White and Dead Zombie Party’ in association with Night Zero on July 3, 2009 in Seattle, Washington. Ryan Reiter, Artistic Director for Freemont Outdoor Cinema Events.
Picture via The Source
- July 27, 2009 @ 01:58 PM by JK Parkin
Strangeways: Murder Moon – Page 13
So, let’s see how Webster fared, shall we?
Written by Matt Maxwell. Art by Luis Guragna.
Commentary after the jump.
- July 27, 2009 @ 01:00 PM by Matt Maxwell