Comic Book Resources

Comics, Covered | The best covers of the week

Spider-Man 1602 #2

I've written a good deal at Robot 6 and elsewhere about comic-book cover art and design, but, unfortunately (for me at least), not so much in recent months. I hope "Comics, Covered" will remedy that, as each Saturday I select the six best covers -- the most striking, the most successfully executed, the most intriguing -- to grace the shelves that week.

This week's list is filled with three comics from Marvel, one from Image, one from DC's Wildstorm imprint and one that's technically not a comic at all.

To find out what made the cut, read on.

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

Wolverine: Old Man Logan

Publishing | Comic sales to the direct market fell 14 percent in October, versus the same month a year ago, resulting in the biggest decline since May. Sales of the Top 100 graphic novels plummeted 30 percent -- again due to the brisk sales of Watchmen last fall -- combining for an overall decline of 17 percent.

As we reported last week, DC Comics had the top six bestselling comics for the first time in four decades, with the fourth issue of its event miniseries Blackest Night coming in at No. 1 with an estimated 137,169 copies. Marvel's Wolverine: Old Man Logan hardcover collection topped the graphic novel chart with an estimated 7,347 copies.

The retailer-focused news and analysis site ICv2.com notes that Marvel's $3.99 titles continue to slip, with the third issues of Ultimate Comics Avengers and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man each shedding about 5,000 copies from the previous issue. Of course, they weren't the only ones to slide: 19 of the top 25 comics saw drop-offs in what the website describes as "a bearish month." [ICv2.com]

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First look (I think) at the cover for American Vampire #1

American Vampire #1

Since Vertigo's announcement late Sunday there's been a lot of coverage in the comics and mainstream press about American Vampire, the upcoming monthly series whose first arc is co-written by none other than Stephen King.

But while we've seen several pieces of concept art by Rafael Albuquerque, I believe this is our first look at his cover for Issue 1, which debuts in March 2010. The art accompanies a brief Q&A in USA Today with writer Scott Snyder, who discusses the comic's development, King's involvement, and what he likes about Albuquerque's art.

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

Dragon Ball

Manga | Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball has been officially removed from Wicomico County schools in Maryland following a committee review of the popular series. The announcement was made Thursday by Superintendent John Fredericksen, slightly more than a week after a parent's complaint about depictions of nudity and sexual situations in the first volume triggered the school board to pull the manga from library shelves.

The committee also is reviewing the all-ages Dragon Ball Z; Dragon Ball is rated for teens. Both titles are published in North America by Viz Media. The Wicomico County Public Library announced last week that it is conducting an "internal reconsideration" of Dragon Ball, pulling the series from circulation while it decides where the manga should be shelved.

And in a timely post, Jason Thompson, author of Manga: The Complete Guide, addresses the Dragon Ball dust-up and other issues for io9.com. [WBOC.com]

Publishing | Random House imprint David Fickling Books will publish three collections of comics from its canceled U.K. comics anthology The DFC. The books -- Mezolith by Adam Brockbank and Ben Haggarty; Good Dog, Bad Dog by Dave Shelton; and Spider Moon by Kate Brown -- will be released in March, April and May 2010. [Booktrade, via Forbidden Planet International]

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Straight for the art | Lord of the Flies, by Sam Weber

"Lord of the Flies" art, by Sam Weber

Award-winning illustrator Sam Weber, who provided the covers for the first four issues of Vertigo's House of Mystery, has relaunched his website -- complete with his jaw-dropping cover and interior art for The Folio Society's upcoming illustrated edition of William Golding's Lord of the Flies. The book is set for release in December.

(via Irene Gallo)

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

Wowio

Publishing | Gary Tyrrell reports that publishers have begun receiving payments for the second quarter of 2008 from long-struggling e-book site Wowio. All publishers are expected to be paid by Nov. 15. [Fleen]

Awards | When the National Book Award nominations were announced Wednesday, some wondered why David Small's graphic novel Stitches: A Memoir was included in the young people's literature category. It turns out the publisher nominated it as a young-adult title. [GalleyCat]

Business | Former DC Comics President Jenette Kahn and ICv2.com President Milton Griepp have joined the board of advisers and directors of comiXology, which produces the Comics by comiXology digital comics application. [press release]

Conventions | Remember that ad incorrectly announcing Warren Ellis as a guest at Toronto Comic Con? It turns out they totally meant Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku. Not Warren Ellis. Eliza Dushku. [Bleeding Cool]

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Straight for the art | Planet Hulk DVD cover by Alex Ross

"Planet Hulk" box art, by Alex Ross

I somehow missed it on Friday when USA Today's Whitney Matheson unveiled the Alex Ross box art for Marvel's Planet Hulk animated feature, which hits stores on Feb. 2. Follow the link to see the full image, and watch the trailer here.

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

Dragon Ball, Vol. 3

Manga | Wicomico County Public Library in Maryland is conducting an "internal reconsideration" of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball after the popular series was removed from a combined elementary/middle school library last week due to depictions of nudity and sexual situations. The public library has pulled the manga while it decides in what section the T-rated series should be shelved. [The Daily Times]

Publishing | Deb Aoki gets more details from Viz Media Senior Editor Eric Searleman about the publisher's relaunched original comics initiative, which began accepting submissions last week: "We're hoping to publish a wide range of comics by a diverse group of creators. A lot of people are expecting Viz Media to publish manga (or comics that look like manga) but we don't plan on limiting ourselves, in any way. It doesn't matter to us if you draw like Tite Kubo or Darwyn Cooke. If you've got an awesome idea for a comic book, we want to see it." Simon Jones provides commentary. [About.com, Icarus Publishing]

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

Dragon Ball

Manga | Wicomico County schools in Maryland removed all copies of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball from library shelves Wednesday after the mother of a fourth-grader complained about the nudity and sexual situations depicted in the first volume of the hit series. The manga, which sports an "All Ages" a T+ rating, is published in North America by Viz Media.

A committee of administrators and "people from outside the school system" will review books, but the schools superintendent will make the final decision on the fate of the series. At a Tuesday meeting of the County Council, one councilman distributed photocopies of scenes from Dragon Ball, describing some of the illustrations as "disgusting." [The Daily Times, The Daily Times]

Legal | An amended agreement between Google and the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers is expected to be filed by Friday to address concerns raised by the Google Book Search settlement. DC Comics is among the parties that object to the terms of the original deal, designed to resolve a 2005 lawsuit accusing the Internet giant of infringing on copyrights by digitizing out-of-print books without permission. [Publishers Weekly]

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From Comic-Con to Fabletown With Love

Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love #1

On the Vertigo blog, Group Editor Shelly Bond provides a glimmer of hope for any artist who views the annual DC Comics portfolio review at Comic-Con as akin to tilting at windmills: It's through that process last year that she discovered Chrissie Zullo, cover artist for the upcoming miniseries Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love.

"I remember commenting on how much I liked her painting style — specifically the balance of the pretty and the 'don’t think you’re going to take me home just yet' power," Bond writes. "Chrissie has a mercurial charm, evident not only in the alluring execution of her figure work but also in her choice of rich, traditional color palettes. She finds inspiration from classical painters such as Jean Honore Fragonard and Francois Boucher, and modernists alike, including comic book artists Winsor McCay, James Jean and Adam Hughes."

So she asked Zullo to put together a few "mock" Fables covers to determine how the artist handled composition and typographical elements.

"When her camera-ready samples came in a few weeks later, I couldn’t believe my eyes," Bond writes. "And strangely enough, at that very millisecond, I was looking for a cover artist for the new Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love miniseries. One of Chrissie’s images in particular happened to look like Cinderella so it seemed like there was more than a good chance that she could handle this fantastic first assignment. Upon showing Chrissie’s samples to Bill Willingham, he replied 'Hire that woman!' on the spot."

Sure, Zullo was only one out of "the hundreds/thousands" of portfolio submission, but still ... that qualifies as a glimmer. Yeah?

Straight for the art | The new Invincible Iron Man trade dress

The Invincible Iron Man #20-21

If you're not familiar with, and a fan of, the design work of Rian Hughes, it's probably because you're not paying attention. Perhaps best known for his collaborations with artist Dustin Nguyen on the imaginative covers to Wildcats Version 3.0, Hughes' recent comics projects include the logos for Archaia and the new Batman and Robin series, and the cover design for Captain America: Reborn.

Now add to that list the new trade dress for The Invincible Iron Man, beginning with November's Issue 20. Writer Matt Fraction over the weekend unveiled the complete covers for the "Stark: Disassembled" storyline, by Salvador Larroca, Frank D'Armata and Hughes, and they're (unsurprisingly) stunning. Sleek and modern, just like an Iron Man cover should be.

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

Long Beach Comic Con

Conventions | The local newspapers were all over the inaugural Long Beach Comic Con, held over the weekend in Long Beach, California. The Long Beach Post reported on the ribbon-cutting by Stan Lee -- "Some Stan Lee Day," he joked. "They're still delivering mail, and the banks are still open." -- and some of the other convention highlights. The Contra Costa Times also has a wrap-up.

Gelatometti, the Wildstorm Studios blog, has a nice photo set from the convention, including a great shot of Jim Lee and Stan Lee having a laugh. [Long Beach Comic Con]

Conventions | The fourth annual British International Comics Show, held Saturday and Sunday in Birmingham, reportedly drew more than 3,000 creators, publishers, dealers and fans. [Birmingham Mail]

Events | A handful of news outlets have coverage of local 24-Hour Comics Day events: Columbia Missourian, KTUU (Alaska), Minneapolis Comic Books Examiner and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. [24-Hour Comics Day]

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How To Draw Monsters The Steve Ellis Way

While many of you may know Steve Ellis from his work on HIGH MOON (due out in comic shops and book stores today!), he also has spent many years leading a double life as a fantasy illustrator and mad scientist. Elric, Dungeons and Dragons, Warcraft, Warhammer, and White Wolf are just some of the many fantastical worlds that Steve has brought to life with his imaginative and epic illustrations.

And now, you too can draw vampires, werewolves, zombies, and monsters just like Steve Ellis with his new book: SCREAM! Inside this vivid 128 page book, you'll learn expert monster-making techniques on how to create dynamic gestures, freakish lighting effects, heart-stopping terror, or dramatic gothic tragedy. You'll also find over twenty tutorials to help you create you own dreadful creatures in the comfort of you own home, studio, or laboratory!

The book retails for $22.99 (or $16.55 on Amazon) and it is perfect gift for the monsters in your life.

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

D23 Expo

Business | During a surprise appearance Thursday at the D23 Expo, Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger assured reporters that, "There will be no Disney-fication of Marvel."

"When you look at it as part of the Walt Disney Company and the application, the presence of Marvel is virtually in everything that we’re in," Iger said at the presentation. "You can expect that, over time, that’s what you will see. We became impressed with the talent of Marvel as we got to know them better. Once the the deal closes their is expected integration, but we plan to keep Marvel as an entity and and to respect both the talent that is there, working as one and also respect what Marvel is and what the essence of Marvel is. There will be no Disney-fication of Marvel." [ScreenCrave]

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Business | I overlooked this nugget when I was assembling our overview of the new DC Entertainment: Batman: Arkham Asylum, the new video game from Warner Bros. Interactive and Eidos Interactive, has sold a reported 2 million copies since its release on Aug. 25. [Los Angeles Times]

Conventions | Deb Aoki has commentary on Thursday's confirmation that Reed Exhibitions will "co-locate" next year's New York Comic Con and New York Anime Festival. That means the two events will be held at the same time -- Oct. 8-10, 2010 -- and share exhibition space in the Javits Center while maintaining separate programming and guest lists. "With a tight economy to contend with," Aoki writes, "Reed Exhibitions has likely figured out that combining New York Anime Festival with New York Comic-Con might make it more appealing for more publishers, game and anime companies to put some of their marketing budget toward exhibiting at next year's shows." [About.com]

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

Disney Interactive Studios

Business | Disney has followed its announced $4-billion purchase of Marvel Entertainment with the hiring of Bungie Software founder, and Halo co-creator, Alex Seropian as the head of creative for its video-game division. As part of the deal, Disney Interactive Studios acquired Chicago-based Wideload Games, the studio Seropian founded in 2003 after leaving Bungie. [CNBC.com]

Business | Not only will Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter become $4.3 million richer on the day the Disney merger closes, he'll become Disney's second-largest stockholder behind Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. [Orlando Sentinel]

Comic strips | Tom Tomorrow's This Modern World has returned to the Village Voice after a seven-month absence. Parent company Village Voice Media announced in late January it had suspended publication of syndicated comics in its 15 newspapers as part of company-wide cost-cutting measures. [This Modern World, via The Daily Cartoonist]

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