2011 September
What Are You Reading? with special guest Janice Headley
Big Questions
Hello and welcome to What Are You Reading?, our weekly column where we successfully answer the question in the title. Our special guest this week is Janice Headley, events coordinator, publicist and “ambassador of awesome” for Fantagraphics.
To see what Janice and the Robot 6 crew have been reading this week, click the link below.
- September 11, 2011 @ 02:55 PM by JK Parkin
Winners announced for 2011 Ignatz Awards
I Will Bite You
The winners of the 2011 Ignatz Awards were announced this weekend at SPX, the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Md. Nominees for the awards were chosen by a jury of five creators and voted on by attendees at the show.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
Outstanding Mini Comic: Ben Died of a Train, Box Brown
Outstanding Anthology or Collection: I Will Bite You, Joseph Lambert
Outstanding Online Comic: Hark! A Vagrant, Kate Beaton
Promising New Talent: Darryl Ayo Brathwaite
Outstanding Story: Browntown, Jaime Hernandez
Outstanding Series: Everything Dies, Box Brown
Outstanding Comic: Lose #3, Michael DeForge
Outstanding Graphic Novel: Gaylord Phoenix, Edie Fake
Outstanding Artist: Joseph Lambert, I Will Bite You
- September 11, 2011 @ 10:39 AM by JK Parkin
Shelf Porn | New shelves, Big Numbers and … shoes?
While reading comics is fun, sometimes managing your collection can be a lot of work — but the end results can make it all worthwhile. Today’s Shelf Porn comes from RM Rhodes, creator of the “experimental” comic Oceanus Procellarum. You can find Rhodes at SPX this weekend. Rhodes recently put in custom shelves to manage not only his books, but also his wife’s shoe collection.
If you’d like to see your shelves featured here, let’s make it happen — drop me an email at jkparkin@yahoo.com, with a write-up and some jpgs.
And now let’s here from Rhodes …
- September 10, 2011 @ 11:00 AM by JK Parkin
The Fifth Color | This Banner…This Hulk!
Apologies for my absence, but I think it all worked out in the end, because this week we celebrate the end of Greg Pak’s six-year run on the Incredible Hulk. And we do so by talking about someone else’s comic.
Fantastic Four #51 is titled “This Man… This Monster.” It’s one of those inspiring cover blurbs like “Spider-Man No More!” and “This Issue: Everybody Dies!” Phrases which catch the eye and demand you read the book. “This Man…This Monster!” is about the struggle of man… versus also man; our darker parts or outer appearance versus who we really are, inside. You’ll notice there is nothing between the man and the monster, just an ellipsis. It’s not “This Man AND This Monster,” which would suggest two different people, nor is it “This Man, This Monster” suggesting they are one and the same. Three little dots almost let the reader decide as to what exactly the inner struggle is. And that’s kinda what I’ve been doing with the Incredible Hulk throughout my adoration of the book.
No matter who he fought, the internal battle is key. It’s tortured scientist Bruce Banner versus his raging alter-ego in a never-ending stalemate over who gets to be human. I can’t say this is always the thrust of an issue or storyline, but it IS the thrust of the really good ones. The ones that make you think, and linger with you long after you’ve put the book away. We come for the “Hulk smash,” but stay for the “Hulk think.” And then Incredible Hulks #635 came along and blew my freakin’ mind.
Because after six years, the struggle is over. (A few SPOILERS after the jump!)
- September 9, 2011 @ 03:00 PM by Carla Hoffman
Ultra-Humanite reviews Proust, makes bombs in six-panel strip
Ultra-Humanite, super villain and Proust lover
In the spirit of Mike Maihack’s Batgirl/Supergirl and Nate Cosby and Evan Shaner’s Captain Marvel six-panel strips, Kevin Church, Eric Canete and Jordie Bellaire have created a six-panel strip starring the Ultra-Humanite. It’s a fun little strip, complete with mad science, hypermath, Congorilla and Proust references.
This meme of comic strips was inspired by Pigs co-writer and former Marvel editor Nate Cosby, who has been posting short “if I wrote …” quotes from various comic characters on his Tumblr. I hope someone jumps on the Mr. Miracle one.
- September 9, 2011 @ 02:00 PM by JK Parkin
Grant Morrison clarifies that, yes, ‘GD’ is a grunt, not a blasphemy [Updated]
It looks as if The Great “GD” Controversy has ended as quickly as it began, with Action Comics writer Grant Morrison assuring anyone concerned that Superman didn’t utter a blasphemy in the first issue of the DC Comics series.
“It should go without saying that the offending panel and caption, a mere ‘GD’, is a sound effect grunt – to suggest Superman’s breath being forced through gritted teeth – much like ‘DHH’, ‘GNUHH’ or the many others used throughout this book and in general in the comics business,” Morrison said in a statement posted this morning on DC’s Source blog. “It’s not in any way representative of God or a curse.”
The clarification may satisfy Jeff Lamb, owner of The Comic Conspiracy in Asheboro, North Carolina, who on Thursday announced a boycott of Action Comics and all Morrison titles after he interpreted “GD” — see the offending panel below — to mean the Man of Steel was taking God’s name in vain. Labeling Morrison as “a liberal Scottish schmuck,” he called the first issue of Action “a slap in the face to Superman, Christians and Superman creators Siegel and Shuster!!” Lamb announced his intention to cancel orders for the second issue of the series, writing on his store’s Facebook page that, “I ask my customers to understand as best they can. I understand that it’s only a comic and it’s not the real world, but I feel that as a Christian I have to draw the line somewhere.”
But earlier this morning, Lamb indicated that a statement from Morrison could make the whole problem go away. “The bottom line is that nobody but Grant Morrison knows the TRUE intent behind the GD letters. This issue could be easily resolved by a simple post from either Mr. Morrison or the editors at DC Comics,” he wrote on Facebook, adding, “I will say that this was NOT a publicity stunt. I will be back later in the day for a final, and I do mean final, rebuttal. (Unless of course we hear from Grant or DC) As of now though, all things considered … the boycott stands.”
Jeff Lamb, the ball’s in your court.
Update: Lamb has responded to Morrison’s explanation, writing on The Comic Conspiracy Facebook page: “Thank you Grant Morrison. The boycott is lifted. Once again my apologies to Grant for the unwarranted name calling. Thank you to those who supported my stance. To those who didn’t… I respect your opinions. To those who only posted to bash Christians and people with opinions different from yours … grow up and get a life.”
- September 9, 2011 @ 12:07 PM by Kevin Melrose
Coming Soon: The Zen of Steve Jobs
Here comes a graphic novel that sounds like a peanut butter and onion sandwich—an odd combination of elements that just might turn out OK in the end. Or not.
Forbes is planning to publish a 60-page graphic novel titled The Zen of Steve Jobs. I can’t improve on their description of the book, so here it is:
The Zen of Steve Jobs looks at Steve during the mid-1980s, when he left Apple to start NeXT. It was a rough chapter in his life. Cynical tech and business journalists began to murmur out loud if he had been a one-hit-wonder, and NeXT’s computers, though beautiful, sold in abysmal numbers.
Steve befriended Kobun Chino Otogawa, a Zen Buddhist priest who emigrated to the U.S. from Japan. Both were innovators and passionate about art and design. The story flashes back and forward in time to connect this period in Jobs’ life to key moments in Apple history.
The book is some sort of joint effort between Forbes and JESS3, which describes itself as “a creative agency that specializes in data visualization.” It’s being written by Caleb Melby, a journalism and “integrated marketing communications” student at Northwestern University. It’s very odd to see the story of a man’s spiritual quest being put together by a bunch of professional marketers, but if they’re good at what they do, maybe it will turn out all right.
(I cut the last panel from that image to eliminate the F-word, but if you click the link, you can see it in all its glory.)
- September 9, 2011 @ 12:00 PM by Brigid Alverson
First day of school for CBLDF Comics College
Cully Hamner's Flash, one of the drawings in the CBLDF auction
Here’s an opportunity to do good by doing something awesome: The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is launching Comics College, a series of “Master Sessions” on the craft and business of comics, led by well-known professionals. The campus is the CBLDF offices in New York; the first class is on Saturday, Sept. 17, and will feature Fred Van Lente (Action Philosophers, Incredible Hercules) and Greg Pak (Incredible Hercules, Incredible Hulk) discussing the ins and outs of self-publishing.
Can’t make it to NYC? You can still kick in and support the CBLDF by bidding on some of the pieces in their eBay auction, which ends on Sunday.
Or you could, you know, just give them some cash. But this is more fun.
- September 9, 2011 @ 11:00 AM by Brigid Alverson
Previews: What Looks Good for November
The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths
It’s time once again for our monthly trip through Previews looking for cool, new comics. As usual, we’re focusing on graphic novels, collected volumes, and first issues so that I don’t have to come up with a new way to say, “ Dark Horse Presents is still awesome!” every month. And I’ll continue letting Tom and Carla do the heavy lifting in regards to DC and Marvel’s solicitations.
Also, please feel free to play along in the comments. Tell me what I missed that you’re looking forward to or – if you’re a comics creator – mention your own stuff.
Ape
Puss in Boots Movie Prequel – I don’t care for movie prequel comics as a rule, but swashbuckling cats are awesome in any incarnation. As long as these are fresh gags and not just ones warmed up from Shrek, I expect to enjoy this.
Archaia
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths, Book 1 - I just introduced my son to The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth a couple of weeks ago, so this is great timing. He had the same questions about The Dark Crystal‘s world that I always do, so I’m looking forward to seeing Archaia’s take on answering those. Totally feel like the world’s in good hands with this publisher and these creators.
The Sigh - If Archaia’s snagging Marjane Satrapi’s (Persepolis, Chicken With Plums) new book has been reported already, I missed it. I’m surprised that wasn’t bigger news.
Siegfried, Volume 1 – I’ve been meaning to read P Craig Russell’s Ring of the Nibelung adaptation for years, so I think this might be what pushes me to finally do it. It would be fun to read Russell’s and compare it to this version by Alex Alice.
- September 9, 2011 @ 10:00 AM by Michael May
When is a preview not a preview?
There’s a brave new world of digital comics out there, but some publishers, it appears, aren’t taking it very seriously.
One of the advantages of ebook formats like Kindle and iBooks is that you can offer the reader a free sample of the book so they can see if they will like it. The problem is that these “free samples” often consist entirely of what editors call “front matter”—title page, half-title, copyright page, and blank pages in between them. No comics.
This probably comes from automatically grabbing the first few pages of the file for the preview without checking what they are. At the downthetubes Mobile Comics blog, John Maybury offers some suggestions for publishers to get their comic into the preview and their front matter out of the way. More publishers should heed his advice, because these content-free previews are distressingly common. When I was writing about IDW’s graphic novels on iBooks the other day, I got curious and checked out some of the other offerings; of the ones I looked at, only the IDW books and Bluewater’s Violet Rose had actual previews. That’s a shame, because the preview can be a powerful selling tool—but only if it has actual content. Setting up a preview and putting nothing but almost-blank pages into it wastes everyone’s time, especially the reader’s.
Click for an example of a preview done right.
- September 9, 2011 @ 09:00 AM by Brigid Alverson
Retailer boycotts Action Comics, Morrison over perceived blasphemy
From Action Comics #1 by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales
A North Carolina retailer has declared he’s boycotting all Grant Morrison comics after what he views as religious blasphemy in this week’s Action Comics #1.
“If you want Action Comics, you will have to buy it elsewhere,” Jeff Lamb, owner of The Comic Conspiracy in Asheboro, North Carolina, wrote on the store’s Facebook page. He called for Christian comics readers and retailers to join in the Morrison boycott, characterizing the first issue of the relaunched DC Comics series as “a slap in the face to Superman, Christians and Superman creators Siegel and Shuster!!”
That “slap in the face” is a single panel (above) in which the Man of Steel, when struck by artillery fired from a tank, utters “GD.” What many read as a grunt — Superman says “GNUHH,” “HNN” and “GGAAAAAA” in the same scene — Lamb interpreted as an abbreviation for “goddamn” (or maybe simply “God”?), an affront to his religious beliefs.
“I could see Guy Gardner and maybe even Hal Jordan (Green Lanterns) saying it,” he wrote. “I could see Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) saying it. I could easily see Damian Wayne (Robin) or MAYBE even Bruce Wayne saying it. But Superman was created to be the ‘perfect’ super-hero. Unblemished. Superman is an American icon. [...] This wasn’t creative flow. It wasn’t necessary in the story. It isn’t Superman at all. And it goes against a basic Christian principle. It was a blatant stab.”
- September 9, 2011 @ 07:00 AM by Kevin Melrose
Grumpy Old Fan | New 52, week 1: These boots are made for leaping
Static Shock #1
It was the strangest thing — when I woke up this morning I was younger, single, and most of my clothes had high collars and funky seams….
Okay, let’s cut that out right now. Don’t worry, I’m still middle-aged and married, with the same beat-up wardrobe. However, I have read all but one of this week’s New-52 books, and now I get to share them with you. (The local comics shop got shorted on Batwing #1, which is too bad, because as one of the few sort-of new concepts being offered, I was especially looking forward to it. Next week for sure!) Generally I thought most had at least some potential, and I was mostly impressed with the efforts the various creative teams made. Of course, that doesn’t mean I liked everything, but I did like more than I thought I would.
Onward–!
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- September 8, 2011 @ 04:00 PM by Tom Bondurant
Shannon Wheeler covers the Alternative Press Expo program book
APE program book
Too Much Coffee Man creator and recent Eisner winner Shannon Wheeler provides this year’s cover for the Alternative Press Expo‘s annual program book, featuring the show’s trademark purple ape.
Wheeler is also one of the special guests at the show this year, which also include Kate Beaton, Daniel Clowes, Craig Thompson, Matthew Thurber and Adrian Tomine. APE runs Oct. 1-2 in San Francisco.
- September 8, 2011 @ 03:00 PM by JK Parkin
This weekend, it’s SPX
SPX, or the Small Press Expo, returns to the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Md. this weekend.
The show’s special guests include Roz Chast, Jim Woodring, Diane Noomin, Jim Rugg, Ann Telnaes, Chester Brown, Johnny Ryan, Craig Thompson and Matthew Thurber, and fans who attend will also have the opportunity to meet and/or hear from Kevin Huizenga, Anders Nilsen, Jessica Abel, Sarah Glidden, Alex Robinson, Brian Ralph, Mike Dawson, Meredith Gran, Roger Langridge and Julia Wertz, just to name a few. I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out that our own Chris Mautner will be attending and conducting a Q&A with Johnny Ryan on Saturday, so be sure to tell him hi for us.
In addition to a lot of great talent, SPX also offers a full schedule of programming and the yearly Ignatz Awards. And a whole lot of new books and cool things will be available at the show:
- September 8, 2011 @ 02:00 PM by JK Parkin
A Month of Wednesdays: Any Empire, Big Questions and every graphic novel I read in August
Any Empire (Top Shelf) Nate Powell’s follow-up to 2008’s well-received Swallow Me Whole is similar in tone and subject matter. The former is a palpable sadness borne of masterfully communicated verisimilitude is the former, and the latter is troubled lives of young people.
The effects of various forms of militarism on young boys, and the lives that can result, accounts for much of Powell’s focus, as two of the three principal characters grew up with real soldiers in their families, and the boys devote much of their imaginative lives to war fantasies inspired by G.I. Joe comics and toys and Hollywood movies like Platoon.
A third character, a young girl, is similarly affected by her fantasy life, although she plays at girl detective thanks to Nancy Drew novels, rather than dealing with the anxieties the boys suffer trying to live up to their society’s narrow notion of manliness.
All three share a school and exposure to a weird neighborhood mystery—turtles are being found badly wounded, their shells smashed intentionally—but they drift into radically different directions as they reach adulthood and, eventually, they reunite.
It’s pretty heartbreaking stuff, but it’s never hard to read, as Powell infuses the narrative with occasionally quite startling fantasy sequences that seem to ebb and flow from the lives of the characters; initially these sequences seem summoned by them in order to deal with boredom or escape stressful situations, but later they seemingly have a life of their own, coming unbidden.
- September 8, 2011 @ 01:00 PM by J. Caleb Mozzocco