2009 November
School board pulls Stuck in the Middle from library shelves [Updated]
Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age
The school board in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Monday voted to remove the anthology Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age from middle-school libraries.
The move, spurred by a parent’s complaint that the graphic novel contained foul language, sexual references and depictions of teen smoking, reportedly marks the first time in at least eight years a book has been removed from the student collection. Teachers will continue to have access to the graphic novel, and (curiously?) may use it in class.
According to the Argus Leader, the board’s decision came after a unanimous recommendation from a review committee composed of two teachers, two parents and an assistant principal.
A 2007 anthology published by Penguin’s Viking Children imprint, Stuck in the Middle was edited by Ariel Schrag and contains contributions by Gabrielle Bell, Daniel Clowes, Joe Matt, Dash Shaw, Lauren Weinstein and others.
As the book’s title suggests, the stories focus on the highs and lows of life in seventh and eighth grade, from first loves to first zits. It was selected by the New York Public Library as one of its 2008 Books for the Teen Age.
The committee questioned whether middle-school students possess the maturity to see beyond the “objectionable language” in two or three of the stories and be able to glean a positive message.
In a statement provided to the Argus Leader Schrag said, in part:
- November 11, 2009 @ 06:48 AM by Kevin Melrose
This week sees the return of Strange, the Punisher, Doc Savage and Casper
This week brings a whole slew of first issues and new graphic novels to comic shops on Wednesday.
Marvel alone has six new series kicking off this week: PunisherMAX, Dark X-Men, S.W.O.R.D., Strange, Sky Doll: Doll Factory and Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard. DC, meanwhile, launches a whole new world with the Batman/Doc Savage Special, catches folks up on the Authority’s “lost year” with the Authority Lost Year Reader and brings the Modern Warfare video game franchise to comics. There’s also Tracker from Top Cow, a new Casper series from Ardden Entertainment, Ghoul and a new Locke & Key series from IDW, a new WALL-E series from BOOM! (which is technically a “zero” issue) and Supergod from Avatar.
And if you’re looking for something a bit longer and more self-contained, there’s Beast from Image, an Absolute Justice collection from DC, the Luna Park OGN from Vertigo, the Steve Ditko Archives from Fantagraphics and many, many others … it’s a pretty big week at your local comic shop.
To see what Chris, Kevin and I have to say about this week’s comics, keep reading …
- November 10, 2009 @ 03:34 PM by JK Parkin
Robot reviews: Bloom County and Family Circus
Bloom County: The Complete Library, Vol. 1 hardcover
Bloom County: The Complete Library, Vol. One: 1980-1982
by Berkeley Breathed
IDW, 288 pages, $39.99.
The Family Circus Library, Vol. 1: 1960-61
by Bil Keane
IDW, 240 pages, $39.99
As more and more publishers realize that comic fans are interested in rummaging though the works of yesteryear, more and more of them are releasing sizable hardcover collections of allegedly classic comics at a breakneck pace. Some of those releases may cause question marks to rise above the heads of persnickety collectors. Take IDW’s new volumes focusing on Berkeley Breathed’s Bloom County and Bil Keane’s Family Circus. Isn’t the former readily available in easy-to-find collections in libraries and used bookstores across the country? Isn’t the latter rather, well, overly precious and saccharine? Does this material really need to be reprinted in such lavish volumes? The answer, surprisingly, is yes and yes.
- November 10, 2009 @ 02:00 PM by Chris Mautner
Unbound: Joe Infurnari on the Process
Last week, I wrote about the way webcomics end—sometimes with a bang, sometimes with a whimper. Unlike print comics and graphic novels, which almost always have a predetermined structure and pace, webcomics often flicker and die before their time. The reasons for this point up some of the structural and creative differences between webcomics and other media, so I thought it would be interesting to discuss the phenomenon with some creators.
The Process is not officially dead, but Joe Infurnari stopped updating it in mid-2008, right around the time it was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic. The Process is thoughtful, well executed, and embedded in a stunningly beautiful website. So what happened? I went straight to the source and asked Infurnari, who was good enough to speak frankly about the creative and economic pressures of the webcomics creator’s lifestyle.
- November 10, 2009 @ 01:01 PM by Brigid Alverson
Comics Time: Giants and Pooches
Love Punishes the Guilty by Tim Hensley
- November 10, 2009 @ 12:00 PM by Chris Mautner
Shady Talez comic coming from Marvel?
Eminem
ScreenDaily.com is reporting that New Warriors writer Kevin Grevioux, who also wrote the Underworld movies, is teaming with writer-producer Dallas Jackson to write Shady Talez, a four-issue comic book series due out in 2010 under the Marvel Icons imprint.
According to ScreenDaily.com, the comic is based on a movie of the same name that will star rapper Eminem. He’s also co-producing it, along with Jackson, Grevioux and I, Robot producer John Davis. The 3D film is said to be in the vein of The Twilight Zone and Creepshow.
It seems odd that Marvel would use its Icon imprint for something like this, since it seems to be reserved for creator-owned comics by their biggest creators, but I guess it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. I checked with Marvel, and they had no comment.
- November 10, 2009 @ 11:30 AM by JK Parkin
Straight for the art | Name That Movie
This one's easy
Paul Rogers has a nifty ongoing series up now titled Name That Movie, where he presents six drawings based on a popular film, presented in chronological order, but with no sketches of actors or film stars, forcing you to suss out the name of the flick via a few props and scenic shots. (via)
- November 10, 2009 @ 11:00 AM by Chris Mautner
Alex Ross donates Catwoman artwork to cat rescue organization
Catwoman by Alex Ross
Artist Alex Ross donated this incredible piece of Catwoman art to benefit the Saved Whiskers Rescue Organization, Inc., a non-profit cat and kitten rescue organization. You can find more details and place a bid over at the eBay listing; the auction ends this Friday.
- November 10, 2009 @ 10:30 AM by JK Parkin
Dana Simpson wins Amazon’s Comic Strip Superstar contest
From "Girl," by Dana Simpson
Cartoonist Dana Simpson, creator of the webcomic Ozy and Millie, has won Amazon.com’s first Comic Strip Superstar competition, beating out nine other finalists. Her entry, Girl, centers on an awkward child who feels at ease in the forest with her animal friends.
Simpson, who lives in Kent, Washington, will receive a publishing contract with Andrews McMeel Publishing, a development contract with Universal Uclick and syndication on Gocomics.com.
You can view Girl and the other finalists here.
(via ComixTalk)
- November 10, 2009 @ 09:56 AM by Kevin Melrose
J.M. DeMatteis on the end of Abadazad, new novel series
Abadazad
It’s been five years since Disney bought up the assets of CrossGen, the defunct comics publisher behind such titles as Ruse, Sojourn and Abadazad. It was that last property, by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Ploog, that Disney seemed the most interested in, and a series of children’s books published by Disney’s Hyperion soon followed. So whatever happened to Abadazad?
DeMatteis recently posted two different posts on his blog that answer that question; first, he details the book’s rise from an idea to being a big reason why Disney wanted the CrossGen properties, and in a second post he explain that that personnel changes at Hyperion and disappointing sales led to the end of the road for Abadazad. But the cancellation was the springboard for another idea:
That concept smacked me across the face, grabbed me by the throat and dragged me out of my bed and into my office, where I found myself typing furiously, outlining the tale of a twelve year old girl—Mehera Crosby—whose life is upended when her favorite book series is canceled; upended even more when she discovers that the characters she so loves are alive, trapped in a strange and deadly limbo—and it’s up to her to rescue them. I called the story Mundus Imaginalis and writing that outline totally dissolved my foul mood.
The title was shortened to Imaginalis, and the first one in the planned series is due next June; go check out both his posts for a lot more detail; it’s interesting reading. So will young Mehera end up saving Kate and Matt Jameson? I guess we’ll find out then.
- November 10, 2009 @ 09:04 AM by JK Parkin
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Legal | Google and a group of authors and publishers have until Friday to revise a proposed settlement over the Internet giant’s plans to make millions of out-of-print books available online. They originally were given a deadline of Nov. 9. DC Comics is among the parties that objected to the terms of the agreement — – $125 million and a registry to identify and compensate copyright holders — arguing that it violates international copyright law. [Bloomberg News, Media Decoder]
Legal | The sentencing of Christopher Handley, the 39-year-old Iowa man who in May pleaded guilty to possessing manga depicting children in sexual situations, is scheduled for Jan. 25. He faces up to 15 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release. [ICv2.com]
- November 10, 2009 @ 08:20 AM by Kevin Melrose
Talking Comics with Tim: Dwight L. MacPherson
Sidewise
Last month saw the launch of Sidewise, the Zuda Comics series by writer Dwight L. MacPherson and artist Igor Noronha. Now that the series has been running for a few weeks, I email interviewed MacPherson to learn why he set out “to create a smart, engaging, action-packed historical fiction story that will appeal to readers of all ages… and still be cool”. The story is described at its Zuda site as: “Teen genius Adam Graham borrows his parents’ time device to visit 1902 London, only to find himself in an alternate dystopian past. As a member of Nikola Tesla’s band of young freedom fighters known as SteampunX, Adam must wage a war against a myriad of deadly steam-powered robots, mad scientists and a nefarious state police controlled by Queen Victoria’s preserved brain to free the oppressed nation, crown a new monarch and return to his world in time for a final exam.” Be sure to visit the Zuda site every Thursday for new installments of the webcomic.
Tim O’Shea: For folks that don’t know steampunk, two-fold question, could you provide a brief description and what it is about the genre that appeals to you?
Dwight L. MacPherson: Certainly. Steampunk fiction is a sub-genre of science-fiction and fantasy. Stories generally take place during Victorian times (hence the “steam”) and contain fictional technological advancements (such as steam-powered robots, laser rays, battle dirigibles, etc.) or technology that was created at a much later date (such as the computer). Because of the inclusion of futuristic technology, alternate history is also a large part of most steampunk fiction. The works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne are prime examples of steampunk fiction, as are the novels “The Anubis Gates” by Tim Powers and “The Difference Engine” by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, and the classic television show “The Wild, Wild West.”
Everything about the steampunk sub-genre appeals to me: the romanticized time period, Victorian sensibilities, futuristic gadgetry, magic and alternate histories. I became a fan of Wells and Verne as a child, so I guess you could say that I also find it nostalgic.
O’Shea: The story has alternate versions of historically recognized figures such as Tesla and HG Wells. Is Ms. Hopping inspired partially by any historical figures in particular?
MacPherson: Every member of Tesla’s team (there are members we haven’t met yet) has a name with a historical or mythical connotation that is–or should be–important to the British people. With a bit of research, I’m certain readers can learn some very cool historical facts about England as well as learning a bit about British mythology.
- November 9, 2009 @ 03:00 PM by Tim O'Shea
That’s Professor Bendis to you, pal
Brian Michael Bendis
Charles Xavier now has some competition in the “famous bald educators from Marvel Comics” department. As previously mentioned on on his Twitter feed, Brian Michael Bendis will be teaching a class at Portland State University, and now he’s revealed the details.
On his message board, the Siege writer describes the course, “WR 399: The Graphic Novel,” as “a class that I wish I had when I was in college.” What looks like the official course-catalog description reads as follows:
The graphic novel features the unique marriage of words and pictures that has seeped into every facet of popular culture. This course will focus on all the storytelling elements that create the written word of this unique visual medium. Students will study the form and its influences, discover and create original works for both print and digital platforms, and be put through a classroom version of the editorial process. Throughout the term, there will also be a smattering of comic book professional guest lecturers.
The syllabus includes Robert McKee’s Story, Stephen King’s On Writing, Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, and Will Eisner’s Comics & Sequential Art and Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative.
Bendis says he was inspired to take on the teaching gig by Dark Horse editor Diana Schutz, who featured him as a guest lecturer in her own PSU classes, as well as by the countless other comics professionals who’ve had parallel careers as educators. And to answer two questions Bendis’s many fans are no doubt asking: No, he won’t be posting his lectures online, and no, he’s not quitting any comics projects to make room for his two two-hour class sessions per week. (“I’ll be doing this instead of reading Empire magazine and playing Rock Band iphone app when I should be working,” he explains.)
Click the link for more details and background on the class.
- November 9, 2009 @ 02:00 PM by Sean T. Collins
Strangeways: The Thirsty – page 101
Written by Matt Maxwell. Art by Gervasio and Jok.
“Keep your filthy whiskey” indeed. Savages! Heathens!
Back on Wednesday.
- November 9, 2009 @ 01:00 PM by Matt Maxwell
Geoff Johns wants the Power of Grayskull
Geoff Johns and I have something in common: We both want Geoff Johns to write a He-Man comic.
In an interview at writer Poe Ghostal’s toy and action figure news blog, the Blackest Night, Green Lantern, and Superman: Secret Origin writer says that He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is the only toy property he’d like to take a shot at writing. Now, normally this kind of offhand blue-sky wish-list comment wouldn’t merit a post, but I really love He-Man and Johns has written some of my favorite superhero comics of the past several years — and dammit, I’ve got a bully pulpit and I intend to use it.
Oh yeah, Johns discusses various other toy-related topics with Ghostal, including his childhood favorites and the highlights of his current collection. Unsurprisingly, Lantern Corps figures from DC Direct and Mattel fare pretty well, with Johns citing the action-figure version of his Blue Lantern character Saint Walker as his fave.
But seriously — Geoff Johns on He-Man! Start your letter-writing campaign to DC and Mattel in the comments.
- November 9, 2009 @ 12:59 PM by Sean T. Collins