2010 December
Best. Show. EVER.: Thoughts on the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival
Sean's comically huge comics haul from BCGF 2010
I tweeted it after I got back home the night of the show and I stand by it now: Book for book and creator for creator, the second annual Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival was the best comic convention I’ve ever attended. I’m not sure I can articulate exactly why — certainly not in a comprehensive fashion, as I was in and out of the day-long show within three hours and didn’t even attend any of the programming (though I could see it was pretty much standing room only from my vantage point by the hot dog stand that provided grub for the attendees). I’m sure people who stayed longer, participated more, and took advantage of all the show’s ancillary events could paint you a bigger and better picture. But from my admittedly narrow perspective, it came down to a sense of…well, of giddiness — that’s the best way I can put it. Pretty much everyone I saw or spoke with at the show seemed head-over-heels happy, not because of proximity to cool parties or big-money media extravaganzas, but because of proximity to comics — tons and tons of unusual, gutsy, great comics.
- December 6, 2010 @ 01:00 PM by Sean T. Collins
X marks the comic: Tic Tac Toe Jam
Tic Tac Toe Jam
I thought this was pretty clever in the same way as Kerry Callen’s crossword comics was — Matt Madden shares how to play Tic Tac Toe Jam, where two cartoonists create a nine-paneled comic while playing a game of Tic Tac Toe. Each artist has to work their respective letter, “X” or “O,” into their respective panels on the board.
“What appeals to me about the idea is that the constraint works at a few different levels: there’s visual play and word play and there’s also an unusual storytelling challenge since you’re not telling a story in a linear fashion, instead you’re jumping from panel to panel, alternating with someone else, and trying to mold it all into some kind of coherent narrative,” he wrote.
One of the examples he shares, seen above, naturally works in references to the X-Men.
- December 6, 2010 @ 12:00 PM by JK Parkin
Frazer Irving joins John Rozum for Xombi revival
Xombi #1
DC Comics announced today that Gutsville and Batman & Robin artist Frazer Irving will join writer John Rozum on the new Xombi series that’s coming next year. They also shared the cover for the first issue (above)
“Creator and writer John Rozum returns to the fan-favorite title to continue the story of David, and to give the DCU a new corner of urban horror to explore,” said Editor Rachel Gluckstern on The Source blog. “Right from the start, John’s throwing David in over his head, giving new readers and old friends alike the chance to dive into a new story and hold on for the ride. Joining him will be the excellent star artist Frazer Irving on all visual duties to create a world few have seen and fewer still dare to dwell.”
Xombi, the story of a medical researcher whose supernatural wounds were cured by nanomachines that render him immortal, ran for 22 issues. Like the other Milestone characters, Xombi is now part of the DC universe, having been introduced into it last year in Brave & the Bold #26. Rozum recently posted more background information about the character on his blog.
- December 6, 2010 @ 11:00 AM by JK Parkin
Was Palle Huld the original Tintin?
Palle Huld in 1928
Just last week, our own Chris Mautner provided an excellent introduction to the Tintin comics, and this week we have an interesting bit of Tintin-related news: Palle Huld, one of the possible models for Herge’s globetrotting reporter, has passed away at the age of 98. In 1928, at the age of 15, Huld won a competition sponsored by a Danish Newspaper to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Jules Verne’s birth. The prize: A trip around the world, unaccompanied, in 44 days, or about half the time it took Verne’s hero Phileas Fogg. The following year, Huld published a book about his travels, A Boy Scout Around the World, and the year after that, Herge began his series of comics about a young, red-haired explorer who favored knickers and kept getting into trouble.
While his exploits were somewhat tamer, Huld’s journey had its share of perils. The most dangerous leg was Manchuria, which was at war at the time, but he made it through unscathed. He got lost in Moscow and missed his train in Newfoundland because he was trying to impress a girl (OK, that doesn’t sound very Tintinish). It is certainly easy to imagine that press accounts of Huld’s travels, or perhaps his book, planted the seed for Tintin. Pierre Assouline, Herge’s biographer, told the New York Times that he had never heard of Huld, but Huld himself believed there was a connection.
- December 6, 2010 @ 10:00 AM by Brigid Alverson
Comics sales down in 2010
Next year's fashion forecast for the comics biz?
I suppose this comes as no surprise to anyone who reads the newspapers, but comics sales in the direct market are down this year compared to last. ICv2 has the grim statistics: Year-to-date dollar sales of comics are down 5.79%; graphic novels sales are down 4.35%. Cushioning the blow a bit is the strong performance of The Walking Dead; November graphic novel sales are up 14.64% compared to last November because of that book alone. As ICv2 notes, comics sales did not suffer the same hit as other entertainment sectors during 2008 and 2009, but this is looking like a slow decline rather than a dramatic drop. ICv2 also posts the market share for November, which shows DC and Marvel neck and neck; DC has 8 of the top ten sellers as well. This attracts its fair share of commentary over at The Beat, which also breaks out the stats into handy charts, and John Jackson Miller has his analysis at The Comichron.
What does it all mean? Comics stores have a loyal clientele, and judging from the comments here and at other blogs, they are more likely to reduce the number of comics they buy than give up the comics-store experience altogether. Perhaps that’s what is happening, or maybe they are shifting some purchases to digital. Diamond’s statistics are only one slice of the comics market, although it is the biggest slice for periodical comics; it would be interesting to track digital comics in parallel to see if the market as a whole is growing or if digital is indeed cannibalizing print sales. The other missing pieces are bookstores and libraries, but I doubt much good news will be coming from either sector; the big bookstore chains are stumbling badly this year, and my local stores have cut back on their graphic novel inventory, while libraries, like all branches of local government, must contend with budget cuts.
Of course, funnybooks themselves are only a slice of the companies’ business; perhaps they make it all up on the back end through movies and lunchboxes. Regardless, I think 2011 is going to be an interesting, perhaps pivotal year, for the industry, as digital sales start to pick up and the book chains head toward whatever fate awaits them.
- December 6, 2010 @ 09:00 AM by Brigid Alverson
Comics A.M. | Diamond plans digital service? Eisner judges named
Diamond Comic Distributors
Retailing | Rich Johnston confirms that Diamond Comic Distributors is developing a digital comics service that, in the words of a company representative, “will be entirely focused on driving sales of digital comic-related content through brick and mortar comic book specialty retailers.” No details were made available, but an official announcement is expected “in the near future.” In the meantime, Johnston gathers initial reactions from several retailers. [Bleeding Cool]
Publishing | Amit Desai, who has worked at Warner Bros. since 2004, has been named as DC Entertainment’s senior vice president, franchise management: “In his new role, Desai will develop and implement the individual franchise plans for Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, Vertigo titles, and other DC properties. This will include driving wider cross-promotional support across all Time Warner divisions.” [press release]
Publishing | Alex Segura, former publicity manager at DC Comics, has been hired by Archie Comics as executive director of publicity and marketing. [press release]
- December 6, 2010 @ 07:28 AM by Kevin Melrose
What Are You Reading?
The Walking Dead, Vol. 12
Hello and welcome once again to What Are You Reading?, where the Robot 6 crew talk about the comics and graphic novels that they’ve been enjoying lately. Our guest this week is Jason McNamara, writer of The Martian Confederacy and its upcoming sequel, First Moon and Continuity.
To see what Jason and the Robot 6 crew have been reading lately, click below.
- December 5, 2010 @ 12:00 PM by JK Parkin
The Fifth Color | The checkered past of Daredevil
Do you like checkers? I think there is a point in everyone’s life (usually when we’re young) that checkers is an awesome game. One of the earliest board games played internationally, you may call it draughts, but everyone has a basic idea of how the pieces move, what the theory of the game is and how to win. It’s a simple but challenging game, probably taught by a family member or a friend, maybe even by a super-cool math teacher on a rainy day. Young and old can play the same game and get the same enjoyment out of being kinged or hopping over a bunch of your opponent’s pieces. Some might even call checkers the ‘gateway drug’ to chess, as it takes that board and provides a challenging new game to play in checkers’ place.
The thing about checkers, though, is that eventually you’re going to want to play something else. Playing a lot of games of checkers, day in and day out, can get boring. The game can seem childish and simple after awhile, and if you asked a room full of fourth graders if they’d rather play checkers or Halo? Not that checkers isn’t fun now and again, but nowadays, we the playing public wouldn’t settle for the same simple game over and over.
With Shadowland, Andy Diggle has finally tipped over the board and scattered the checkers all over the floor (maybe kicking a couple under the couch). Sure, he played checkers with us and started out with similar gambits that were noticed before, but now with the end of a major story arc and Marvel’s ‘street crew’ settled in a new direction, I can say with some satisfaction that this is a new, refreshing direction for the character of Matt Murdock and his continuing troubles and heroism. So what game are we playing now? Can it be Battleship? Read on and find out.
(WARNING: Yep, spoilers ahead for Shadowland #5 and Daredevil #512. I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that the good guys win in this one, but watch how they do it. Diggle crafted a fantastic ending, so please grab a copy and read along!)
- December 3, 2010 @ 03:00 PM by Carla Hoffman
Third actor injured in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Natalie Mendoza
A third actor has been injured in the delay-plagued, and apparently danger-fraught, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
The New York Post reports that Natalie Mendoza, who plays the villain Arachne, received a concussion Sunday night when she was hit in the head by a rope during the show’s problem-filled first preview. Her understudy America Olivo will take over the role through at least Tuesday, according to BroadwayWorld.
This is the third injury for the troubled $65-million musical, which is set to open on Jan. 11: One of several performers who doubles as Spider-Man broke both wrists in October when an aerial stunt went wrong, while another actor broke his foot in a separate incident.The Department of Labor and Actors’ Equity have opened investigations into the maneuver.
Spider-Man isn’t just the most expensive production in Broadway history, but also one of the most technically complex — as was demonstrated during the Sunday preview, when some performers, including Mendoza, were left dangling in the air and crew members rushed to fix faulty equipment.
- December 3, 2010 @ 01:00 PM by Kevin Melrose
Kirby, Ditko omnibus collections coming from DC next summer?
Green Arrow
Here’s another nice catch by blogger Corey Blake, who spotted the Trouble collection on Amazon last month — Blake points out listings for upcoming omnibus collections from DC featuring the works of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko.
Unfortunately there’s little information on either collection. The description on the Jack Kirby one, due at the end of July, focuses on his Green Arrow work: “In 1957, following the dissolution of his partnership with Joe Simon, Jack Kirby returned to DC Comics. Among his new assignments was the Green Arrow feature that ran simultaneously in ADVENTURE COMICS and WORLD’S FINEST COMICS, pitting the Emerald Archer and his sidekick, Speedy, against a plethora of foes.”
The Ditko one, meanwhile, doesn’t have a description, but the cover artwork (which likely isn’t final) features Shade, the Changing Man … so it’s probably a safe guess that it’ll contain Ditko’s eight-issue Shade series from the 1970s.
- December 3, 2010 @ 12:21 PM by JK Parkin
Weaver’s groovy Batman/Diabolik artwork
Batman and Diabolik by Dustin Weaver
SHIELD artist Dustin Weaver shares a piece from his sketchbook that he recently colored, featuring Batman and 1960s Italian comics character Diabolik. And he’s got a pitch for DC …
“I think it would be cool to do a crossover between Batman and the Italian comic character Diabolik and set it in the 60′s,” Weaver wrote on his blog. “I’ve never read a Diabolik comic so my idea of him is completely based off the movie Danger Diabolik. He seems to me to be a lot like Batman, but he’s a bad guy, and his sidekick is his hot girlfriend, Eva. I would want Batman to be a ‘cool version’ of the Adam West Batman. Think the Adam West kind of look with a animated series kind of attitude.”
Click over to his blog to see the whole piece.
- December 3, 2010 @ 11:33 AM by JK Parkin
Darwyn Cooke covers Love and Capes
Love and Capes cover by Darwyn Cooke
I’m looking forward to the return of Thom Zahler’s Love and Capes next February, when IDW will begin publishing the previously self-published comic. And I guess one of the advantages to moving to a bigger publisher is that you have stable mates like Darwyn Cooke, who provides the cover to issue #3 of the new mini-series, Love and Capes: Ever After. IDW Publsiher Chris Ryall posted the cover on his blog, and notes that Tom Beland and Chris Bailey will provide covers for the five-issue series as well.
- December 3, 2010 @ 10:00 AM by JK Parkin
Start reading now: Stix & Bones
Think of it as Swamp Thing Lite: Darell Toland’s Stix and Bones is a cheery, all-ages webcomic about a little girl named Bones and her bull terrier Stix. This is no saccharine girl-and-puppy comic, though: Bones’s father is a genetic engineer, and some of his chemicals made their way into the family graveyard, resurrecting her grandmother as a tree and some of the other relatives as zombies. There’s a zombie cat, too, a couple of crows who comment on everything, and an assortment of human friends. It’s a nice evil-genius comic, smart-alecky but not mean, and although it’s kid-friendly (well, for kids who are OK with zombies), the humor is smart enough for adults. Tolland’s expressive art pulls the whole thing together nicely. The comic has been going since February so the archives aren’t overwhelming; now is a great time to jump in and get up to date.
- December 3, 2010 @ 09:01 AM by Brigid Alverson
Comics A.M. | Charges sought in retailer’s murder, more staff moves at DC
Crime
Crime | Police arrested and released two suspects in the murder of Kenneth McClure, the St. Louis retailer found shot to death on Tuesday. Prosecutors have asked for more evidence before deciding whether to file charges against the 25-year-old woman, who had reportedly worked at Legends Comics & Sports Cards and had been in a relationship with McClure, and a 32-year-old man, who is related to the mother of the 13-year-old girl who accused McClure of rape. [St. Louis Today]
Publishing | DC Comics announced three promotions in its manufacturing and operations departments: Alison Gill to senior vice president-manufacturing & operations; Nick Napolitano to vice president-manufacturing administration; and Jeff Boison to vice president-publishing operations. DC Publicity Manager Alex Segura also announced this morning that today is his last day at the company. [The Source, The Source]
- December 3, 2010 @ 07:43 AM by Kevin Melrose
Grumpy Old Fan | Even after incorporating, no one knows what it’s like to be the Batman
"Criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot..."
“I shall become a bat.”
One popular theory holds not only that “The Batman” was born at the moment Bruce Wayne was orphaned, but that the personality of eight-year-old Bruce was replaced with one dedicated to the cause of justice. Thus, the embryonic “Batman” traveled the Earth for the better part of seventeen years, learning the skills he would need for the cause to which he had become wedded. “Batman” shunned anything which would not advance that cause, because “Batman” was the only thing that made sense after all sense had left eight-year-old Bruce’s life. More particularly, only “Batman” — and not Bruce Wayne — was psychologically equipped for such a crusade, because (however paradoxical it may seem) only Bruce Wayne could become Batman.
- December 2, 2010 @ 03:00 PM by Tom Bondurant