2009 December
Thin wallets, fat bookshelves: A publishing news round-up
Mome Vol. 18
• Techland reports that UK celebrity Jonathan Ross and artist Tommy Lee Edwards are working on a comic for Image, titled Turf, that will debut in April. (Via)
• Mome editor Eric Reynolds marks the fifth anniversary of the Fantagraphics anthology by sharing the covers for the upcoming 18th and 19th volumes and that contributors include folks like Dave Cooper and Gilbert Hernandez.
• Speaking of Fantagraphics, here’s a brief look at the cover for Vol. 14 of The Complete Peanuts.
• Stephan DeStefano gives an update on the progress of his upcoming graphic novel, Lucky in Love.
• Vertigo revealed on their blog that the imprint will be releasing new trade paperback editions of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series, featuring the remastered colorization done for the Absolute Sandman books.
• IDW will release a done-in-one version of Kurt Busiek and David Wenzel’s A Wizard’s Tale.
• David Welsh notes that the critically acclaimed food manga Oishinbo will end with Vol. 9, which will focus on pub food.
• Finally, Tom Spurgeon caught this interview with Joe Sacco, in which the Footnotes in Gaza author reveals that his next project will focus on the town of Camden, NJ.
- December 18, 2009 @ 01:53 PM by Chris Mautner
Robot reviews: Moyasimon Vol. 1
Moyasimon Vol. 1
Moyasimon Vol. 1: Tales of Agriculture
by Masayuki Ishikawa
Del Rey, 240 pages, $10.99
When I heard the basic gimmick for Moyasimon — incoming college student has the ability to see germs — a number of possible scenarios ran through my head. None of them, however, involved a professor sucking out the innards of a dead bird through its anus after the bird had been sealed up in the stomach of an equally dead seal that had been buried under the ground for several weeks. Nor did they involve the main character having his hand stuck up a cow’s anus with everyone watching (he does wear gloves) for several panels.
- December 18, 2009 @ 12:00 PM by Chris Mautner
Slash Print | Scott Kurtz to speak at Macworld (and more!)
PvP by Neal Adams
Webcomics | According to the Macworld web site, PvP creator Scott Kurtz will speak at the five-day Macintosh symposium.
“In an interview with Chicago Sun-Times and Macworld columnist Andy Ihnatko, Kurtz talks about what digital self-publishing means to creators and publishers, and how devices like the upcoming Apple Tablet could continue to tip the balance in favor of independent artists,” the description of his panel reads.
Also, if you haven’t been checking out PvP lately, Kurtz’s long-running webcomic has a holiday story running, drawn by comics legend Neal Adams. Check out the CBR interview for more information, and after the jump you’ll find a video of Adams drawing PvP.
- December 18, 2009 @ 11:45 AM by JK Parkin
Today only: Dark Horse’s Twitter contest
365 Samurai & a Few Bowls of Rice
Dark Horse Comics is currently running a contest over on their Twitter feed, where they’re asking folks to list them in a “Follow Friday” tweet. Five people who do will receive a copy of 365 Samurai & a Few Bowls of Rice.
You can find all the official rules over on Dark Horse’s website. But hurry! It’s a one-day contest, so tweet quickly.
- December 18, 2009 @ 11:15 AM by JK Parkin
Straight for the art | The cutest lil’ Marvel tykes ever
Spidey Tyke
We’ve seen “cute” takes on the Batman characters by Jen Zee and Dustin Nguyen over the last few months, but why should DC have all the fun? Over the past few days, artist Sean Galloway has been sharing some fun Marvel characters in a similar vein, including Ironlad, Storm and Spidey Tyke, Mini Skullface (aka Ghost Rider), Lil Hulky Wulky and Wolvie, who drinks milk to make his adamantium bones even stronger.
Sean is also putting together his annual artbook and is asking for suggestions on what to name it. Head over there to see what past books have been called; he has a theme going.
- December 18, 2009 @ 10:45 AM by JK Parkin
DC to introduce a slew of revamped Red Circle characters next month
The Comet, designed by Duncan Rouleau
Starting next month in The Shield #5, DC Comics will begin introducing several more newly revamped characters from the Red Circle comics line into the DCU. Editor Rachel Gluckstern gave more details today over on DC’s The Source blog.
The Red Circle characters, for those not familiar with them, are superhero characters once published by Archie Comics back in the day. DC published stories about the characters as a separate line back in the early 1990s, the short-lived Impact line. Earlier this year, they began introducing them into the DCU, giving The Shield and The Web their own titles, which include back-up features starring Inferno and the Hangman.
So who’s joining these former Mighty Crusaders in January? Here’s a rundown on who to expect to see …
- The main story in The Shield #5 will see the introduction of the Jaguar to the DCU.
- In the back-up feature in that same issue, the Inferno meets the Comet (seen above).
- The Web #5 sees the Black Hood showing up in the main feature.
- And in the Hangman back-up feature in that same issue, Mr. Justice shows up. Eventually Mr. Justice will get his own co-feature in one of the books, written by Michael and David Uslan, and drawn by Justiniano.
They also announced in March that the Inferno back-up story in The Shield would go on hiatus, and would be replaced by The Fox, by writer Brandon Jerwa and artist Michael Avon Oeming.
Click on over to the Source to see what all the newly designed characters will look like.
- December 18, 2009 @ 10:15 AM by JK Parkin
Straight for the art | Seth Kushner’s cosplayer portraits
Green Lantern, by Seth Kushner
At Graphic NYC, photographer Seth Kushner showcases some of the portraits of cosplayers he’s taken over the past couple of years at comic conventions.
“It’s no secret that I’m a comics fan,” Kushner writes. “If you’re reading this, then odds are you are, too. I’ve been a fan since before I was able to read and have collected weekly for over twenty-six years. But, I have never worn a costume to a comic con. Just not my thing. To me, that is a different level of fandom, and one which I find fascinating.”
- December 18, 2009 @ 09:45 AM by Kevin Melrose
The homophobic funny pages
Mickey Mouse practices his own unique brand of tolerance
Jeet Heer has an interesting post up at Sans Everything where, in response to an some odd right-wing tirade about how awful it is that openly gay people show up in modern comics these days, he looks at how homosexuals have been portrayed in the comics books and strips of yesteryear and provides plenty of examples from works like Little Orphan Annie, Wash Tubbs, Gasoline Alley, The Spirit and, yes, Mickey Mouse. The results are … well, let’s just call them politically incorrect and leave it at that, OK?
- December 18, 2009 @ 09:15 AM by Chris Mautner
Robot 6, Comics Comics, Inkstuds, and the Best of 2009
Are you like LL Cool J in that you can’t live without your radio — but nor can you live without your comics? I know the feeling. That’s why I was so excited to be a part of the annual best-of episode of Inkstuds, the venerable comics podcast hosted by Robin McConnell. My fellow Robot 6-er Chris Mautner and I were joined by Comics Comics’ Tim Hodler to discuss Asterios Polyp, George Sprott, 20th Century Boys, Pluto, You Are There, You’ll Never Know, Multiforce, and The Photographer, and we even found the time to debate whether or not we’re in a comics Golden Age. Give it a listen!
- December 18, 2009 @ 08:45 AM by Sean T. Collins
Michigan man convicted in comic-store shooting
A Michigan jury on Thursday convicted 20-year-old Grand Rapids man in the shooting of a comic-store owner during a robbery attempt in April 2008.
Jevon Sawyer faces up to life in prison on charges of assault with intent to rob while armed, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, carrying a concealed weapon and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was found not guilty of assault with intent to murder. He will be sentenced on Jan. 21.
On April 25, 2008, Sawyer demanded at gunpoint for David Pirkola, owner of Apparitions Comics and Books in Kentwood, to give him money from the cash register. Pirkola refused, and after a struggle Sawyer shot him. The 58-year-old retailer spent weeks in the hospital, and still hasn’t fully recovered from his injuries.
Sawyer’s accomplices, James Muriel-Neal Thompson and James Thompson, were sentenced earlier this year.
- December 18, 2009 @ 08:13 AM by Kevin Melrose
Straight for the art | Chip Zdarsky’s 101 Muppets of Sesame Street
from 101 Muppets of Sesame Street by Chip Zdarsky (aka Steve Murray)
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street? Oh, wait, never mind, I know how — all you need to do is click over to Canada’s National Post and check out merry prankster Chip Zdarsky’s interactive illustration of 101 of the show’s most memorable Muppets. Scroll over any of the characters in this Sgt. Pepper meets George Perez illo to find out some fun, furry facts. Above is just a sample — you really need to see the whole thing if you’ve still got love for the Street.
(Via Chris Butcher)
- December 18, 2009 @ 07:17 AM by Sean T. Collins
20 Years of Tom Brevoort
Tom Brevoort
At his indispensable blog on Marvel.com, Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort notes a fairly momentous occasion: His 20th anniversary at the company, which will arrive on Dec. 27.
Given the tumult that engulfed the publisher during his tenure, his longevity (and that of Ralph Macchio, the only editorial staffer at the House of Ideas who’s been around longer) is really remarkable. Brevoort points out that after him, the longest-tenured editor at Marvel is Joe Quesada, which really puts things in perspective. Check out Tom’s stroll down memory lane at the link.
- December 18, 2009 @ 07:00 AM by Sean T. Collins
Who wants to be the new Josie and the Pussycats?
Josie and the Pussycats #46
Dan DeCarlo’s fictional rock band will get new life (sort of) as actor/producer Nick Cannon and Atlantic Records search for three girls to resurrect Josie and the Pussycats.
The worldwide quest will be the basis for a reality competition series and possibly a spin-off dramedy — both on Nickelodeon’s TeenNick channel, for which Cannon is chairman. No target date was given for the shows’ debut.
Created by DeCarlo in 1958 and sold to Archie Comics, Josie McCoy first appeared in Archie’s Pals ‘n’ Gals before receiving her own series in 1963, appearing with friends Melody and Pepper. (The comic was initially titled She’s Josie and then shortened to Josie.) When Hanna-Barbera Productions sought to develop a comic property to replicate the success of The Archie Show animated series, the publisher made significant changes to Josie. With December 1969′s Issue 45, Josie and Melody donned their now-familiar leopard-print costumes and formed a band, and the title was changed to Josie and the Pussycats.
The new approached spawned two short-lived Saturday-morning cartoons — Josie and the Pussycats and Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space — which in turn led to a real-life pop group featuring Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor (aka Cheryl Ladd). A live-action film loosely based on the characters was released in 2001.
- December 18, 2009 @ 06:30 AM by Kevin Melrose
Randal Jarrell leaves Oni to join the Army Reserves
Randal Jarrell
Oni Press sent out a news release today announcing that their current managing editor, Randal Jarrell, has resigned to enlist in the United States Army Reserves. He will serve as a medic while attending nursing school.
“This was easily the hardest decision of my professional life,” Jarrell said in the release. “I love this company and the people I work with, and I am so incredibly proud of the work we’ve done over the last six years. I just feel I have a calling to serve not just this country, but the men and women in uniform who have already sacrificed so much.”
He’s has been with Oni since 2003, where he edited such titles as The Damned, First in Space, Salt Water Taffy and Northwest Passage. Randy is one of several people I always tried to stop and say hi to at the Oni booth at various conventions, as he is a genuinely nice guy and has been very supportive of the blog. So best of luck to him in his new and noble endeavor.
Jarrell will be succeeded by new hire George Rohac, who will take over his managerial duties as Oni’s operations director. His editorial workload will be divided among Oni’s editorial department run by editor in chief James Lucas Jones. That same department will be adding new associate editor Charlie Chu, formerly of 20th Century Fox, and promoting assistant editor Jill Beaton to associate editor.
- December 17, 2009 @ 04:00 PM by JK Parkin
Answer: This Strongman writer will appear on Jeopardy! on Jan. 4
Tigre
Question: Who is Charles Soule?
Earlier this year SLG Publishing released Strongman, the story of a down-and-out Luche Libre star fighting against an organ smuggling ring in New York. Written by Soule and drawn by Allen Gladfelter, the story details Tigre’s rebirth as a hero, as he fights not only the dangers inflicted on his neighborhood, but also the memories from his past that led him there.
Soule and Gladfelter are now working on the sequel, which is due next summer. Before that, though, Soule will appear on an episode of the TV game show Jeopardy! on Jan. 4. Soule was kind enough to answer a few questions about his television appearance and the new book, and he also provided some preview pages from the second volume of Strongman.
JK: So how does one become a contestant on Jeopardy!?
Charles: It’s a several-step process. The show runs an online test about once per year, at a specific time on a specific date. You log on to the Jeopardy! website (and by the way, that’s the preferred punctuation, with the exclamation mark – goofy or not) and respond to 50 trivia questions of the sort that are typically asked on the show. You’re given five seconds to type in each answer, which is actually the amount of time you have to ring in and respond on the show. It’s also not quite enough time to Google an answer, which I’m sure is pretty intentional.
- December 17, 2009 @ 02:55 PM by JK Parkin