2010 October
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Wizard Entertainment
Conventions | Wizard Entertainment has added New Orleans to its growing convention circuit, bringing the number of events to 15 in 14 cities. The inaugural New Orleans Comic Con will be held on Jan. 29-30, 2011, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. [press release]
Crime | Two Rochester, N.Y., men have been charged with burglary after they allegedly broke into the home of 70-year-old Homer Marciniak in July, beat him and stole his comic book collection. Marciniak died of a heart attack later that day. Authorities have determined his injuries were not life-threatening, and that his death was a result of a pre-existing condition. [WKBW.com]
Publishing | The Yano Research Institute’s survey of the “otaku marketplace” found that digital comics in Japan grew 29.8 percent in 2010 to $520 million. Dojinshi (self-published works) rose 4.7 percent to $815 million. [Anime News Network]
- October 19, 2010 @ 08:26 AM by Kevin Melrose
Bootlegged Batman can be fun
Batman Loses
Sometimes you just have to tell a Batman story. Over at Unauthorized Comics, Ulises Alfonso Farinas has done just that, in a tale called “Batman Loses.” Check out more of his art here. (Via Super Punch)
And second, over on her blog, Colleen Coover shares a two-page Batman and Robin tale of her own. “Unofficial, unsolicited, unsanctioned,” she writes. “Done for fun, because comics.”
- October 19, 2010 @ 08:00 AM by JK Parkin
Increasingly bitter and complicated Superman lawsuit delayed by appeal
Superman
The ferocious fight for the future of Superman has been put on hold while a federal judge considers an appeal on a procedural ruling.
THR, Esq. reports that U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright issued the stay on Friday, on the eve of a scheduled hearing concerning Warner Bros.’ lawsuit against Marc Toberoff, attorney for the heirs of Superman co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
The studio sued Toberoff in May in a move designed to force him to resign as the lawyer for Siegel’s heirs, who in 2008 successfully terminated the original 1938 transfer of copyright for Action Comics #1. The 65-page complaint accused Toberoff of manipulating the Siegel family and the estate of Joe Shuster into rejecting “mutually beneficial” longtime agreements with DC Comics, and making arrangements that would give him “a controlling financial interest in the families’ collective claims.” Toberoff responded by accusing Warner Bros. of conducting “a smear campaign,” and in August filed motions to dismiss, citing California anti-SLAPP laws designed to curb lawsuits intended to intimidate the opposition through delays and legal expense.
In late September, attorneys for Warner Bros. filed five separate motions in an effort to keep its lawsuit alive, amending its complaint and accusing Toberoff of attempting to shield himself from liability for interfering with his clients’ contracts. The changes to the studio’s suit led Toberoff to file his motions again. However, Wright ruled the anti-SLAPP motion moot due to the amended complaint. Toberoff appealed that ruling, which brings us to the stay of the entire case.
THR, Esq. notes that Warner Bros.’ aggressive and controversial litigation against Toberoff could be on hold for as long as 18 months; the studio, however, could speed up the process by filing a motion to dismiss the appeal.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. pushes forward with its Zack Snyder-directed Superman reboot, which must begin production by 2011 or risk opening the door for Siegel’s heirs to bring action over the lack of a rights-reversion clause in the studio’s deal with DC Comics. Of course, another bigger deadline looms just over the horizon: In 2013, the Shuster estate will be eligible to reclaim its half of the copyright.
- October 19, 2010 @ 06:54 AM by Kevin Melrose
Talking Comics with Tim | Nat Gertler
The Peanuts Collection
Nat Gertler is known by some folks as the publisher of About Comics, while others know him as the person who started 24 Hour Comics Day back in 2004. But for the sake of this interview, I email interviewed Gertler about his new book (set to be released on October 25), The Peanuts Collection: Treasures from the World’s Most Beloved Comic Strip. Here’s the official description for the book: “This fully authorized, one-of-a-kind illustrated book celebrates the 60th anniversary of the world’s most beloved comic strip characters. A compendium of rare materials from the Charles M. Schulz Museum and family archives, The Peanuts Collection comes in a sturdy slipcase and features high-quality reproductions of original sketches, comics, and photographs from the world of Peanuts. Removable film cels, stickers, and booklets are included, as well as reproduction prints of Peanuts artwork ready for framing. Written by Peanuts aficionado Nat Gertler, with quotes from Schulz family members and a foreword by daughter Amy Schulz Johnson, the text offers insight into the making of the comic strip and its impact beyond the realms of newspapers and books to film, television, and popular culture. The Peanuts Collection is a must-own keepsake for anyone who loves Snoopy and the gang. … Gertler is the founder and author of Aaugh.com, a comprehensive resource for Peanuts collectors and fans.” This interview was a fun one for me, thanks to Gertler’s thorough knowledge of Peanuts material (For example, I’m still trying to fully grasp the fact that there was once a Peanuts Book of Pumpkin Carols).
Tim O’Shea: You’re a respected Peanuts expert, but I’m curious if there was any trepidation on your part in taking on a project of this import and scale?
Nat Gertler: Does a kid feel any trepidation about getting the key to the candy store? I’d already been considering writing a book about all the angles one could look at Peanuts from. That book would’ve been a bit more academic, but I jumped at the chance to do this celebratory book, with all of its great visuals and the cool removable items.
- October 18, 2010 @ 03:30 PM by Tim O'Shea
Lobo rounds out DC’s Weird Worlds line-up
Weird Worlds #1
Last summer during the San Diego Comic Con, DC Comics announced a new six-issue anthology series called Weird Worlds, which would feature three different features. At the time, we found out that Aaron Lopresti was working on a new monster superhero called Garbageman. Then at the New York Comic Con earlier this month, Kevin Maguire said he was working on feature starring a new character named Tanga.
Rounding out the trio of features, according to DC’s January solicitations, is Lobo, written by Kevin Van Hook and drawn by Jerry Ordway. The cover, above, is one of the “iconic” ones that DC promised for January and features the first look at Maguire’s Tanga, I believe.
The last Czarnian also has his own DC Comics Presents collection in January, featuring him bounty-hunting Superman and teaming up with the Demon.
- October 18, 2010 @ 02:45 PM by JK Parkin
Stan Lee makes cameo on The CW’s Nikita
I’m a bit behind on my television viewing, and honestly I have three episodes of Nikita sitting on my TiVo that I’m not sure if I’m ever going to watch or not, but this might change my mind. Our own Michael May points out that Stan Lee made a cameo appearance as “Hank Excelsior” on the show last Thursday doing a “man on the street” style interview that only he could pull off. You can find set photos here.
- October 18, 2010 @ 02:13 PM by JK Parkin
Help out Derek Kirk Kim by buying some of his original art
The Eternal Smile
In the comments section of one of our posts last week, someone pointed out that comics creator Derek Kirk Kim is selling off some of his original art from The Eternal Smile, the Eisner-winning book he did with Gene Yang, in order to pay for an unexpected bandwidth fee for his website.
“I’m in a financial crunch right now, so I would really, really appreciate the support,” he wrote on his LiveJournal. “Besides everything else, I got linked on reddit last month and got hit with a fat bandwidth fee which I can’t afford.”
You can check out all the auctions here.
- October 18, 2010 @ 01:00 PM by JK Parkin
J.H. Williams III provides bookplate for new Greg Rucka novel
The Last Run by J.H. Williams III
If you’re a fan of Greg Rucka’s comics work, especially Queen & Country, you might already know that he has continued Tara Chace’s adventures in a series of novels, the latest of which comes out Oct. 26. And if you buy the book and mail in your receipt, you can get a really beautiful bookplate drawn by J.H. Williams III. Check out Rucka’s blog for details on how to get one.
- October 18, 2010 @ 12:00 PM by JK Parkin
Geoff Johns and The Walking Dead win Scream Awards
The Walking Dead, Vol. 12
Geoff Johns and The Walking Dead were among the winners of Spike TV’s fifth annual Scream Awards, presented Saturday in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be broadcast at 9 p.m. ET/PT Tuesday on Spike TV.
The awards, which honor the best is science fiction, fantasy, horror and comic books, feature three comics-specific categories. Johns was named Best Comic Book Writer for his work on DC’s Blackest Night, Brightest Day, The Flash and Green Lantern. The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn, won for Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel. Johns and Kirkman were there to receive their awards.
Curiously, I’ve been unable to track down the winner for Best Comic Book Artist. (The nominees were Charlie Adlard, Darwyn Cooke, Fabio Moon, Frank Quitely, Jill Thompson and J.H. Williams III.) Presumably a press release will be issued with Tuesday night’s broadcast.
Renowned author Ray Bradbury received the 2010 Comic-Con Icon Award.
- October 18, 2010 @ 11:00 AM by Kevin Melrose
Move over chromium: Check out the googly-eyes-enhanced cover for the new anti-Michele Bachmann comic
it beats a replica of Aunt May's tombstone
Finally, a cover gimmick that Real Americans can get behind. That eye-catching image above is of the cover to False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story #4. Written by Bill Prendergast with art by Kevin Cannon, Danno Klanowski, Lupi McGinty, and James Powell, it’s the latest in a series of satirical takedowns of the Minnesota Republican Congressperson, mostly using her own outlandish quotes as ammo. This issue focuses on her religious views, and as such it features the disembodied head of Jesus Christ floating around like the Wizard of Oz with actual plastic googly eyes pasted on top. God Bless America!
The issue retails for $4 and can be purchased at BiasedLiberalMedia.com, but be warned: Only the first 500 copies will be googly-eye-enhanced. (Via Talking Points Memo, who have an extensive review.)
- October 18, 2010 @ 10:00 AM by Sean T. Collins
Quote of the day | Ultimate bestsellers
When Marvel VP-Executive Editor Tom Brevoort answered the following question on his Formspring account this weekend, he answered a question I’ve had for a long time as well:
what are Marvel’s most popular selling comics in bookstores?
As a group, the Ultimate titles.
Veteran chart watchers have no doubt tracked the slow decline of the Ultimate line — or Ultimate Comics, as they’re currently called on their covers, if not their indicia — for years now, something the Ultimatum event and subsequent title revamps and relaunches didn’t really stop. Moreover, several of the big selling points for the line when it was created — a lack of years of convoluted continuity, more timely cultural references — necessarily get diluted as the books age. Marvel has long justified the continuation of the Ultimate Universe by referring to it as a place where the “rules” for the mainline Marvel books do not apply, a place where some of the company’s biggest writers (Bendis, Millar, Loeb) can run wild. But if Brevoort’s right and comics branded with the “Ultimate” moniker have a leg up in the bookstore market, that’s probably reason no. 1 why Marvel still has the books’ back.
- October 18, 2010 @ 09:00 AM by Sean T. Collins
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Jonny Rench
Passings | Colorist Jonny Rench, who worked on such DC Comics and WildStorm titles as The Authority, Gen13, Human Target and Ratchet & Clank, has passed away from a heart attack. He was 28. “He was an incredibly talented artist,” the WildStorm Twitter account states, “and also an amazing, kind, joyful man.” [Twitter]
Publishing | Fantagraphics Co-Publisher Kim Thompson reveals what was believed to be a sketchbook of early versions of several years’ worth of George Herriman’s Krazy Kat strips “is almost certainly the work of a very intense (perhaps contemporary with Herriman?) fan who diligently, even maniacally, copied each new strip into his sketchbook over a period of three years.” The publisher had planned to release the sketchbook but now, of course, won’t. Refunds will be issued on pre-orders. [FLOG!]
- October 18, 2010 @ 08:27 AM by Kevin Melrose
NYCC ’10 | One last post
Looking for gold in the longboxes
I have been back from New York Comic Con for a week now, but I still feel like the boa constrictor digesting the elephant—there was so much to think about. Here’s a brief sample of my thoughts about this year’s experience.
1. Thanks to the ICv2 conference before the con, everyone was talking about digital comics. This was in stark contrast to the dealers who were selling boxes and boxes of back issues on one corner of the floor. It always strikes me as odd that the rest of the show is so slick, and then there’s this one area that looks like a giant garage sale. Digital comics would seem to be the logical solution to missing issues in a complicated continuity, but that would require the publishers to play along—and of course, there will always be people who want to collect the physical issues.
2. Despite the gloomy news at the ICv2 conference that graphic novel sales are down, two different editors asked me to suggest creators for upcoming projects, which suggests that publishers (both were from traditional book publishers) see room for growth.
- October 18, 2010 @ 06:00 AM by Brigid Alverson
APE ’10 | Photos from the floor
APE
I’ve still got plenty to say about the Alternative Press Expo, which wrapped up today, but for now I thought I’d share a few photos …
- October 17, 2010 @ 10:49 PM by JK Parkin
Pete Hodapp’s The Possum and the Pepper Spray wins Isotope minicomics award
from The Possum and the Pepper Spray
Congratulations to Pete Hodapp, winner of the 2010 Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics. The award was presented last night at Isotope Comics’ annual APE Aftermath party in San Francisco.
His comic, The Possum and the Pepper Spray, is “a true story about rural living and combat with the critters who live there.” Hodapp was in from Wisconsin this weekend to accept the award and then head to APE today, where he had copies for sale at the Writers Old Fashioned booth. You can check out some sample pages and find info on ordering it online here.
Previous winners of the award include Joshua W. Cotter, Danica Novgorodoff, Rob Osborne, Will Dinski, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey and Max Riffner.
- October 17, 2010 @ 05:09 PM by JK Parkin