Comic Book Resources

Talking Comics with Tim: Joshua Hale Fialkov

Tumor

This interview with Joshua Hale Fialkov (creator of the acclaimed Elk’s Run from a few years ago and current noir work at Archaia, Tumor [which reunites Fialkov with his Elk's Run artist Noel Tuazon]) took an interesting route before finally getting here. The initial interview started as a suggestion from Johanna Draper Carlson back in October 2008 (thanks, Johanna) and was intended for my pop culture blog, Talking with Tim. Fialkov was more than game to do the interview and we completed the initial interview in late 2008, right around the time I signed on to contribute my comics interviews to Robot 6.  So, savvy, yet disorganized guy that I am, I set the interview aside--and promptly misplaced it. When news of Fialkov's Tumor (available here for Kindle and here for free for those of without Kindles) started making the rounds, I realized my mistake and  tracked the emails down. I contacted Fialkov (offering my sincere apologies)  and he was kind enough to entertain new questions about Tumor. So please note, after the initial Tumor discussion, the interview moves on to the initial 2008 interview, which while it is understandably dated in some aspects, much of it is still quite engaging and relevant. My thanks to Fialkov for his understanding and for his time both in 2008 and 2009.

Tim O'Shea: How pleased have you been with Tumor's Kindle sales? How much has the story's word-of-mouth been boosted thanks to the website?

Joshua Hale Fialkov: Well, just using our placement in the ranks on Amazon, the fact that a Kindle only comic book can get up to be the 8th most ordered graphic novel on all of Amazon, including print, is pretty damn amazing. I think there's a lot of reasons that we're up there, including that we're giving the first chapter away for free, but, still, that says to me that there's an audience for comics on the device, and it's one that in some ways may soon rival the audience for print comics. At least, for those readers who use Amazon to get their fix. My whole career has been built on a lot of goodwill, and from the support of friends and fans with big mouths and wide audiences, and, frankly, in a niche business like comics, that's really how the whole thing works. What I hope to do is go the extra mile to really reward my readers, first with what I hope is excellent content, but secondly by giving them access to the stuff over on the website, including behind the scenes material, and special features that not only enhance their enjoyment of the book, but hopefully show them a side of the process they haven't considered. To that end, there's a healthy amount of traffic who make it over to the site every time we release an issue, so, I know that in some respects, it's working.

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SDCC '09 | Thursday programming schedule released

Comic-Con

Comic-Con International has released the programming schedule for Thursday, July 23, as well as some special programming for preview night. You can check out the entire day's worth of activities right here for yourself. Here are some of the highlights ...

• During preview night on Wednesday, Warner Bross Television will show some of their pilots for upcoming TV series -- Human Target, Vampire Diaries and the remake of V.

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Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes

Warlord of Io

Publishing | The discussion continues about Diamond's decision not to carry James Turner's Warlord of Io, with clarifications from SLG Publisher Dan Vado, an overview from Editor-in-Chief Jennifer de Guzman, and commentary from Heidi MacDonald (followed by debate in the comments section), Greg Burgas, Sean Collins and Dirk Deppey.

I haven't fully read and absorbed all the articles, but I liked Tom Spurgeon's contention that, "[S]ome things have value even if they only sell 4000 units, both in terms of one day potentially selling many more than that but also in and of themselves and, perhaps most importantly of all, by adding to a varied and rich and unique experience that involves stringing together multiple titles."

Pedro Bouça follows sometime later with this observation: "Funny thing is, Asterix, the world’s best-selling comic series has sold some 350 MILLION books all over the world. But guess how much the first book sold originally? Some 6000 copies. Luckily it was sold in bookstores, not on the direct market."

Archaia

Publishing | Archaia Studios Press resumes publishing in June under a slightly different name: Archaia. [press release, via Comics Worth Reading]

Publishing | The first titles from Japanese publisher Kodansha's new North American division have appeared on Amazon.ca: Akira and Ghost in the Shell, both previously licensed to Dark Horse. [Anime Vice]

Publishing | The solicitation for Love and Capes #11 was omitted from the May issue of Previews. Johanna Draper Carlson talks with creator Thom Zahler about Diamond's efforts to make up for the error. [Comics Worth Reading]

Publishing | Montreal-based publisher Drawn & Quarterly, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, is profiled. [The Globe and Mail]

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