Barnes & Noble

Retailing | Barnes & Noble, the largest book chain in the United States, lost $63 million in the first quarter, a vast decline from a $12-million profit it reported for the same period a year ago. The retailer pinned about $10 million in losses on its costly fight with billionaire investor Ronald Burkle, and warned that a proxy battle could push the company even further into the red. [Reuters, ICv2.com]

Passings | Paprika director Satoshi Kon, who began his career as a manga artist before moving into anime in 1995, died Tuesday from pancreatic cancer. He was 46. Kon made his directorial debut in 1997 with Perfect Blue, and went on to helm such critically acclaimed anime features as Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers and the aforementioned Paprika, as well as the television series Paranoia Agent. [Anime News Network]

Publishing | Kai-Ming Cha looks at initial efforts by manga publishers to provide digital content as legal alternatives to scanlations. [Publishers Weekly]

Conventions | Brian Heater reports on last weekend’s Minneapolis Indie Xpo. [The Daily Cross Hatch]

Dick Giordano

Awards | The Hero Initiative will debut the Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year Award this weekend at Baltimore Comicon. Named in honor of the legendary artist and editor who passed away earlier this year, the award “will recognize one person in comics each year who has demonstrated the generosity and integrity Dick brought to the charity and to the comic book community at large.” [press release]

Retailing | Ed Walls, owner of The Deep in Huntsville, Alabama, is profiled in the local newspaper. [The Huntsville Times]

Creators | Bill Marshall interviews Pictures for Sad Children creator John Campbell, who’s begun blowing up short strips from his webcomic and pasting them on buildings around Chicago: “One time I was taking pictures of one of my recent paste-ups and some guy pulled over in his car and started asking me about it, because he’d noticed some of the other ones and wanted to know more about the artist. For whatever reason, I was not capable of taking responsibility for it, so I just said, ‘It’s some guy who does a comic on the Internet.’ So I talked with him about it without him knowing I had made it. He was like,’ This one’s okay, but this other one is a lot better.’ It’s a really different kind of feedback than online, which is usually either bizarrely critical or bizarrely complimentary.” [The A.V. Club]

Creators | In advance of his appearance at this weekend’s FanExpo Canada in Toronto, Stan Lee chats briefly about his early career, the popularity of comics, and conventions. [Metro]

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge

Creators | Josh Neufeld discusses A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge, and its move from the Internet to print: “… When comics are presented on the web — often one panel at a time — something of the gestalt of the comic book is lost: the interplay of the tiers of images on a page; the way a two-page spread can work to frame and augment the drama; aspects of timing, meter, and rhythm; and even details, such as how you use the final panel of a right-hand page to lead into the physical act of turning the page. All that is missing — or changed in important ways — when reading comics on the Internet. And of course, the physical book is missing: the feel and weight of it in your hand, the dust jacket, the texture of the paper, and the other design elements that make a book into an ‘art object’.” [Suvudu]

Creators | Douglas Wolk talks to Tom Taylor about writing Star Wars comics for Dark Horse. [Techland]

Sailor Twain, or The Mermaid in the Hudson

Creators | John A. Walsh posts a Q&A with Mark Siegel, editorial director of First Second Books and creator of the webcomic Sailor Twain, or The Mermaid in the Hudson: “I’ve never worked this long on a single project, but this one keeps getting more interesting for me. And the idea of serializing it as a web-comic came later in the process. Reading a few web-comics myself, some of them long-form stories, some of them short strips (like Kate Beaton, my continuing favorite) it struck me that this was the 19th century serial-novel tradition, in its freshest incarnation. You know how people lined up on the docks to get the latest chapter of Great Expectations? Now I guess we have RSS feeds.” [Go Home Paddy]

Creators | Norm Breyfogle talks about drawing the new Archie Comics series Life With Archie: The Married Life. [NewsOK.com]

Creators | John Hogan interviews Kill Shakespeare creators Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery. [Graphic Novel Reporter]

Creators | Brian Heater continues his multi-part interview with Dan Goldman. [The Daily Cross Hatch]

Comics | Cyriaque Lamar previews 31 fall comics releases. [io9.com]

Comics | Is Archie Comics really out of touch? Bully examines the lag times between real-world fads and events and their appearance in the company’s titles. [Comics Oughta Be Fun!]

Comic-Con International

Like clockwork, Comic-Con organizers have released the schedule for the third day of the convention, Saturday, July 24.

Below you’ll find highlights of the comics-related programming, ranging from movie panels for Warner Bros.’ Green Lantern and Marvel’s Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger to Joe Quesada’s traditional “Cup O’ Joe” and “Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour vs. The Fans.”

The full programming schedule for Saturday can be found here.

10 to 11 a.m. Spotlight on Carla Speed McNeil — Comic-Con special guest Carla Speed McNeil is best known for her creator-owned title Finder. A few years back, Carla took new stories of Finder to the Internet, and the result was an Eisner Award  for best webcomic of 2008 and a new series of reprints from Dark Horse. Carla talks about her work and what’s next in this Spotlight panel. Room 3

10 to 11 a.m. The Black Panel 2010 — This year’s Black Panel will be one for the ages. The focus will be on empowerment, education, real-world networking, and finally but never last, fun. The panelists include entertainment attorney Darrel Miller, novelist Nnedi Okorafor, artist Denys Cowan and writer/producer/director Reggie Hudlin, with moderator Michael Davis. Once they answer life’s burning questions, they’ll chill with a salute and Q&A from the audience with actor/writer/director Bill Duke. As always, surprise guests who will rock your world. Room 5AB

10 to 11 a.m. Marvel Comics Writers Unite! — The third in Comic-Con’s series of “Year of the Writer/Comics Writers Unite!” panels focuses on Marvel Comics and includes Comic-Con special guests Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers, New Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man), Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man, Thor) and Chris Claremont (X-Men Forever, X-Women) in a discussion with writer Mark Waid (Amazing Spider-Man, Irredeemable). Room 6DE

10 to 11 a.m. Mad about MAD! — MAD magazine has established itself as the original and most imitated and influential satirical publication across generations. This fall, MAD returns to TV screens with a new show for the next generation! MAD magazine editor John Ficarra, MAD art director Sam Viviano, legendary MAD artist Sergio Aragonés, current MAD artist Tom Richmond, MAD story editor/producer Kevin Shinick and your host, Warner Bros. Animation senior VP Peter Girardi offer a light-hearted look at the future of an American institution. Room 7AB

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. DC Talent Search 3 — DC’s editorial art director Mark Chiarello presents an informative orientation session that will explain how DC’s Talent Search works and discuss the different needs of DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm and MAD magazine publications. If you want to learn what DC Comics looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional, this is the panel for you! To have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory. (Please note: Not all attendees are guaranteed a one-on-one review.)  Room 4

Shonen Jump

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump Panel — Shonen Jump is the source of the world’s most popular manga, including Naruto, Bleach and more. In this exclusive panel, fans will get the latest manga and anime news, insider information and on-the-spot surprises. Special guest: Stan Lee, comics legend and co-creator of Ultimo! Room 9

11 a.m. to noon Spotlight on Jillian Tamaki — Comic-Con special guest Jillian Tamaki has taken both the illustration and comics worlds by storm. Her graphic novel Skim was a New York Times Best Book of the Year, and also was nominated for a Governor General Award and for three Eisner Awards. Her drawings can be found in the New York Times, Oprah, New Yorker and Esquire. Tamaki will discuss the process of Skim, collaborating with a writer, and the difference between comics and illustration. Room 3

11 a.m. to noon Comics in the Library — How are comics used in libraries? This panel discusses the variety of ways that libraries around the countries have begun to integrate comics into their collections and programming. Special attention is paid to the following subjects: comics for early readers; nonfiction comics, comics for adult readers. Presented by Francisca Goldsmith (Infopeople), Merideth Jenson-Benjamin (Glendale Public Library), JoAnn Jonas (San Diego County Library), Tuan Nguyen (Texas Maverick Graphic Novel List), Jill Patterson (OC Public Libraries) and comics creator Raina Telgemeier (Smile). Moderated by John Hogan (The Graphic Novel Reporter). Room 8

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Comic-Con How-To Session: Adam Hughes — Award-winning artist Adam Hughes will demonstrate sketching with grayscale Copic Markers. Adam is particularly known for his cover art, some of which has been recently published into a hardcover coffeetable book. Room 18

11 a.m. to noon Spirituality in Comics — How can comics help communicate timeless truths through new media to new audiences? Discuss the latest trends of spiritual themes in comics with moderator Scott Shuford of the Christian Comic Arts Society and panelists Holly Golightly (School Bites), K. J. Kolka (Cardinal Adventures) and Clint Johnson (Faithwalker). Santa Rosa Room, Marriott Hotel and Marina

Cup O' Joe

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Marvel: Cup O’ Joe — This is it, Mighty Marvel fans — the no-holds-barred, anything-goes, full-of-surprises panel you’ve waited for all year! Marvel’s EEK (editor-in-chief) and CCO Joe Quesada takes on all questions, shocks the audience with jaw-dropping announcements, and keeps you guessing with surprise guests. You never know who will show up, but you better be here, because this is the panel that everyone will be talking about! Room 6BCF

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Spotlight on Gerard Way — Comic-Con special guest Gerard Way, writer/creator of The Umbrella Academy, is joined by guests in a 60-minute deconstruction of the comic book industry, featuring helicopter rides and Jonesy the Human Ferret. Room 6DE

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Will Eisner, The Dreamer — Will Eisner played a central role in the first seven decades of comics history. Many times during his career, he reinvented sequential art and himself to overcome new challenges. He was a true dreamer, and these panelists hope to show you that side of him: Denis Kitchen (artist, author, publisher, and Will Eisner’s agent and longtime friend), Scott McCloud (artist, author, and theoretician about comics and sequential art), Dennis O’Neil  (comic book writer and editor for Marvel Comics and DC Comics), Paul Levitz  (writer, former president/publisher, DC Comics) and Michael Schumacher (bestselling author and Biographer with a new biography of Will Eisner due out this fall). This is your chance to learn more about the “Father of the Graphic Novel.” Room 4

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal — Author/designer Chip Kidd (Mythology, Bat-Manga, Rough Justice), author/producer Michael Uslan (Archie Marries…) and Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts) celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Big Red Cheese in this panel and slideshow discussion celebrating Kidd’s upcoming fall release from Abrams ComicArts, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal. Room 9

Green Lantern

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Warner Bros.: Green Lantern, Sucker Punch, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Warner Bros. showcases three eagerly awaited upcoming new films in this Hall H presentation!

• Green Lantern — Get a first look at the upcoming sci-fi action adventure Green Lantern, directed by Martin Campbell. Green Lantern is an epic adventure that crosses galaxies to bring to life the legendary Silver Age superhero Hal Jordan, who is chosen by the ring itself to become the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps and take on the vast and powerful Parallax as it threatens to destroy the world. The film stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as Dr. Hector Hammond and Mark Strong as Sinestro.

• Sucker Punch — Fasten your seatbelt for a sneak peek at the dark action fantasy Sucker Punch, from director Zack Snyder, who previewed his films 300 and Watchmen at past Comic-Cons. A group of young girls escape the dark reality of their lives through their vivid imagination, which takes them to various fantasy locations in different realms. The ensemble cast features Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung and Jon Hamm.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Every saga has a final chapter. Kick off the year of Harry Potter with a first look at the coming screen adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with a program created just for Comic-Con fans. One way. One hero. One destiny. Don’t miss it! Hall H

noon to 1 p.m. Spotlight on Peter Bagge — Comic-Con special guest Peter Bagge talks to Fantagraphics’ Jason T. Miles about his work, including the legendary Buddy Bradley stories in Hate and his new graphic novels, Apocalypse Nerd and Other Lives. Room 3

noon to 1 p.m. IDW Publishing: Infestation 2011 — In 2011, IDW will infest the comics world in new and exciting — and potentially disturbing — ways. EIC/CCO Chris Ryall, editors Andy Schmidt and Scott Dunbier and creators offer a lively discussion of IDW’s upcoming titles, including at least two big and unexpected announcements, as well as the first hint of “Infestation,” IDW’s big 2011 event! Room 8

noon to 1 p.m. CBLDF Master Session: Terry Moore: Drawing Characters with Character — Learn what it takes to draw characters whose distinctive actions define them on the page. In Echo and Strangers in Paradise Terry Moore has established himself as a master for expressing a wide range of emotions through his characters. Bring your sketchbook and follow along as Moore shows you the secrets of how to make your characters “act” on the page in this CBLDF Master Session. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s Art Auction! Room 30CDE

12:30 to 1:45 p.m. DC Universe: Event Horizon — Ian Sattler, senior story editor, and your favorite writers and artists are here for the main event: The DC Universe! What lies ahead for your favorite heroes and series? Got a question for your favorite DCU creator? Come on by! There’s no greater gathering of top-tier creative talent! Room 6A

12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Quick Draw! — It’s just about the most fun you can have sitting down at Comic-Con! Host Mark Evanier keeps Sergio Aragonés, Scott Shaw! and this year’s guest artist and dinosaur expert William Stout on their toes as they draw — real quick! — whatever he tells them to draw! Room 6BCF

Brian Michael Bendis

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Spotlight on Brian Michael Bendis — The controversial Marvel writer and Comic-Con special guest Brian Michael Bendis turns his spotlight panel into a live taping of the popular Word Balloon Bendis tapes. Word Balloon podcast host John Suitress will moderate the panel and take questions from the audience, with nothing off limits. Bendis will also be giving away limited-edition variant covers of his new creator-owned series Scarlet. Room 6DE

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Stan Lee  @ BOOM! — Stan Lee and Mark Waid reveal the details behind Stan Lee’s new series at BOOM!, including two special mystery guests that will blow your mind. This is it, people. You wanted to know who is writing the other two books alongside Waid? Now you’ll know! Room 9

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Comics Across all Media — Paul Feig (creator of Freaks & Geeks), Chip Kidd  (Shazam!: The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal), Whitney Matheson (USA Today’s Pop Candy blog), Brad Meltzer (The Inner Circle) and Michael Uslan (The Dark Knight) are five superstars who make headlines in television, the graphic arts, journalism, novels and film. But they all have comics in common. As they reunite for another visit, join them for a discussion of all things nerd. It’ll be like a 21st century Breakfast Club — but with even better references. Moderated by audiobook star Scott Brick (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant). Room 24ABC

1 to 2 p.m. Spotlight on Gabrielle Bell — Join Comic-Con special guest Gabrielle Bell  (Cecil and Jordan in New York, Lucky). Gabrielle Bell has been featured in McSweeneys, Vice and the Believer. The title story of her most recent book, Cecil and Jordan in New York has been adapted for the screen by Michel Gondry in the triptych Tokyo!  She is currently serializing her Ignatz award-winning autobiographcal comics Lucky online. Gabrielle Bell will present a slideshow and discuss her work with Tom Spurgeon (www.thecomicsreporter) Room 3

1 to 2 p.m. CBLDF Master Session: Darick Robertson: Body Language in Sequential Storytelling — Bring your sketchbook and learn how to express action, attitude, and meaning through your characters’ body language in this CBLDF Master Session. In his work on The Boys, Transmetropolitan and Conan, Darick Robertson has had to express story through his drawings of a wide variety of characters. Follow along as he demonstrates how body language can add dimension to your sequential storytelling. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s Art Auction. Room 30CDE

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Comics Criticism — Comics are a staple of the arts and book review sections of everything from The New York Times and Publishers Weekly to a current golden age of published biography and history, such as Gerard Jones’s Men of Tomorrow, R. C. Harvey’s Meanwhile …, and David Michaelis’s Schulz and Peanuts. Some of the nation’s leading critics discuss the state of the art and the state of its journalism, 2010. Panelists include Gary Groth (The Comics Journal), Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics), Brian Doherty (Radicals for Capitalism), Ben Schwartz (editor, Best American Comics Criticism) and R. Fiore (Funnybook Roulette). Room 4

Top Cow

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Top Cow: “We Create” Multimedia — Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri (Pilot Season, X-Men/Dark Avengers), president Matt Hawkins (Alibi) and publisher Filip Sablik offer an exciting and lively multimedia presentation about Top Cow’s plans for 2010 and 2011 in comics, film, television, and much more. Be the first to hear announcements and updates on film projects including Witchblade, Magdalena, Alibi, Wanted and A-Team, plus announcements on new comic projects with creators including Ron Marz (Artifacts), Jeff Katz (American Original) and Phil Hester (The Darkness), along with surprise guests including directors, screenwriters, producers and more! Room 9

2 to 3 p.m. Tokyopop Panel — Tokyopop editorial staff, including senior editor Lillian Diaz-Przybyl, will announce new book publishing acquisitions and digital products, followed by a prize giveaway and Q&A session. Get the latest news about ongoing Tokyopop series, including updates to Hetalia and Priest. Room 3

2 to 3 p.m. Green Lantern: Emerald Empire — No evil shall escape this panel’s sight as the top creative teams on the Green Lantern books drop hints on upcoming stories and take on your questions! Led by group editor Eddie Berganza with Geoff Johns  (Green Lantern, The Flash), Tony Bedard (Green Lantern Corps), Joe Prado (Brightest Day) and Ivan Reis  (Brightest Day). Room 6A

2 to 3 p.m. Spotlight on Dave Dorman — Eisner Award-winning illustrator and Comic-Con special guest Dave Dorman is best known for his stunning depictions from the Star Wars universe. Dave talks about his paintings and his comics work, including the eagerly awaited sequel to his Steampunk graphic novel Rail — continuing stories set in his creator-owned universe, The Wasted Lands. Room 8

2 to 3 p.m. Spotlight on Milo Manara — Known the world over for his elegant and erotic art and storytelling techniques, Milo Manara  is a Comic-Con special guest for the very first time! Manara will talk about his long and varied career, which now includes a Marvel Comics book, X-Women, written by fellow special guest Chris Claremont. Room 25ABC

2 to 3 p.m. Writing Seminar with Marv Wolfman — Marv Wolfman (God of War, Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths), in this annual writing seminar, returns to basics as he discusses the building blocks of putting together a story, creating tension, and what the “three act structure” really means. There will also be time for a Q&A session. Room 30CDE

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Partners in Image Comics — Image Comics partners Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Todd McFarlane (Spawn), Marc Silvestri (Witchblade) and Jim Valentino (ShadowHawk) get together for a boisterous discussion of all things Image. Join the partners as they talk about ongoing and future projects, and become part of the discussion during a Q&A session. Room 9

Stan Lee

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Archie: Stan Lee Comics Debuts — Stan Lee, Andy Heyward and Jon Goldwater introduce an exciting new line of comics from the mind of comics legend Stan Lee. Stan will talk about Stan Lee’s Super Seven and all the other new titles coming from Stan Lee comics over the next year. Be the first to get in on this exciting new project from the one and only Stan Lee! Moderated by Rik Offenberger. Room 24ABC

3 to 4 p.m. Spotlight on Ray Bradbury — He was at the very first Comic-Con and we kind of think he’ll be at the very last one, too, far off in the future. Science fiction author Ray Bradbury is literally a national treasure. Ray talks with biographer Sam Weller and moderator writer/producer Arnold Kunert in his yearly visit with his fans at Comic-Con. Room 6DE

3 to 4 p.m. DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection: Jonah Hex, Green Arrow, and Beyond! — Warner Home Video, Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation roll out the next wave of DC Showcase animated shorts with the world premiere of Jonah Hex, an advance look at Green Arrow, and details regarding the upcoming compilation Blu-ray/DVD release anchored by Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam. Executive producer Bruce Timm (DC Universe Animated Original Movies), Jonah Hex voice Thomas Jane (Hung), producer Alan Burnett (The Batman), acclaimed comics writer and fiction author Joe Lansdale, and writer/producer Greg Weisman (Young Justice) present a peek at three never-before-seen shorts. Room 7AB

3 to 4 p.m. Comics Reprint Revolution — For comics fans, the vintage reprint revolution keeps getting bigger and better! Comics Reporter’s Tom Spurgeon talks with Craig Yoe  (Krazy Kat, Popeye, Jetta), Dean Mullaney (editor of Library of American Comics for IDW: Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Secret Agent Corrigan), Daniel Herman (Hermes Press: Buck Rogers, The Phantom), Gary Groth (Fantagraphics: Peanuts, Prince Valiant, Captain Easy), Peggy Burns (Drawn and Quarterly: John Stanley Library, Walt & Skeezix), Steve Saffel (Titan Books, Beetle Bailey, Simon & Kirby Library) and Charles Pelto (Classic Comics Press: Mary Perkins, On Stage, The Heart of Juliet Jones, Big Ben Bolt) about their publications reprinting some of the very best of comic books and comic strips. Room 8

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. International Comics and Graphic Novels — Comics are popular the world over and Comic-Con always includes an impressive gathering of worldwide talent. Journalist Tom Spurgeon talks with special guests Moto Hagio (Japan: Drunken Dreams), Émile Bravo (France: My Mommy is in America and she Met Buffalo Bill),  Milo Manara (Italy: Click!), and Kathryn and Stuart Immonen (Canada: Moving Pictures, Russian Olive to Red King) about graphic novels with a more international flavor. Room 4

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. DC Universe Online: The Next Legend Is You! — Superstars Jim Lee (Batman: Hush) and Mark Hamill (voice of The Joker, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: The Animated Series) join forces with the DC Universe Online development team to reveal the exciting backstory of this action MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game. Jim, Mark and key members of the development team from Sony Online Entertainment discuss how an earth-shattering chain of events will make you the key to the salvation or ruin of the DC Universe when the game launches this November. All attendees will receive a DCUO VIP Beta Key! Room 5AB

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Robert E. Howard in Comics: Then. Now. Always. — Robert E. Howard is seen as the grandfather of the sword and sorcery fiction genre. He’s created such classic characters as Kull the Conqueror, Red Sonya and Conan the Barbarian that have lived in comics for more than 40 years! Explore worlds of magic, bravery, and savage revenge as this panel delves in to Robert E. Howard’s timeless fiction in comics of the past, present and future. Room 24ABC

4 to 5 p.m. Comics After Paper — Some forward-thinking cartoonists are designing their work to be experienced on computers, e-readers, mobile phones and touchscreens. R. Stevens (Diesel Sweeties), Dylan Meconis (Family Man), Joshua Hale Fialkov (Tumor) and Robert Berry (Ulysses Seen), join moderator Douglas Wolk (Techland) to discuss making comics for new media. Room 3

4 to 5:30 p.m. Oddball Comics — As seen in the pages of Geek Monthly magazine, cartoonist Scott Shaw! (Captain Carrot and the Final Ark, Bart Simpson Comics, Simpsons Summer Shindig) brings back his ever-popular digital slide show featuring “the craziest comic books ever published!” See why Stan Lee said, “Wow, True Believers, I thought I’d seen it all, but Scott Shaw’s hysterically hilarious Oddball Comics is the wildest, wackiest exposé of some of the craziest comic books I’ve ever seen! Or, to put it mildly, Scott’s outrageous opuses are a blast!” Room 7AB

4 to 5 p.m. Taking Back the Knight: Batman in the 1970s and Beyond — The 1960s Batman TV show — fun as it was — left the public thinking the Caped Crusader was more of a clown than a crimefighter. In the 1970s, editor Julius Schwartz, along with writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams (mostly in collaboration with inker Dick Giordano), decided to take back the Knight to his darker origins. The resulting character became the template for the next three decades, a time span marked by Batman’s huge success in films and other media. Moderator Mark Evanier talks with Comic-Con special guests Dennis O’Neil  and Neal Adams about their rebirth of the Bat and with Paul Levitz  on how that re-creation took Batman to even greater heights. Room 8

Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 6

4 to 5 p.m. Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour vs. The Fans — It’s been six years and six volumes spanning over 1,000 pages, and you’ve been there since the beginning! But there’s always been one burning question itching at the back of your brain that you thought would never be answered. Think no more! Ready your Q’s, mind your P’s, and join Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley for a battle royale as he quibbles the quips of his worst enemies … his fans!  Room 25ABC

4 to 5 p.m. Writing for Comics — Top comics writers Brian Michael Bendis (New Avengers, Powers, Secret Invasion), Marc Guggenheim (Wolverine, Resurrection) and Peter David  (Incredible Hulk, X-Factor) offer a discussion and instructive tips on the art of writing for comics. Writers and editors speak about the process of writing and how the game is played. Want to know how stories come about and learn how to do it yourself. This is the place to start! Moderated by Comics Experience’s Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Annihilation). Room 30CDE

4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Marvel Animation: Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes — Enter the Avengers Mansion and become a part of the team! Celebrity voice talent introduce you to top-secret Avengers files, including never-before-seen footage and two full-length episodes from the all-new Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series premiering on Disney XD this fall. The road to the Avengers starts here! Room 6DE

4:30 to 6 p.m. Remembering Shel Dorf — Shel Dorf, who passed away on November 9, 2009, took a group of young comics and science fiction fans and helped mold their ambitions and passions into Comic-Con back in 1970. Shel was a lover of all things pop culture, especially comics and movies, and he helped set the bar early on for Comic-Con to be an event that focuses on a variety of the popular arts. A panel of Shel’s friends — many of whom worked with him on the early Comic-Cons — gather to pay tribute to him, including moderator Mike Towry and Shel’s brother Michael Dorf, along with Richard Alf, William Clausen, George Clayton Johnson, Greg Koudoulian, Matt Lorentz, Clayton Moore, Mike Pasqua, David Scroggy and Phil Yeh. Room 5AB

4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski — J. Michael Straczynski speaks (despite requests to the contrary) about his work on (and on and on) such comics as Superman (well, we guess it had to happen eventually) and Wonder Woman (at least they have the same fashion sense), his movies, including Shattered Union (shattered hopes that he wouldn’t show up), Forbidden Planet (is that still going on?), and more he will be announcing here for the first time. Get the inside skinny on the writer’s life from one of Hollywood’s most prolific and hardworking writers (because you always have to work twice as hard when you don’t know what you’re doing). (Bob, very funny, just remember to edit this back to normal before uploading it to the Comic-Con schedule.) Room 6A

4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Disney Epic Mickey — Warren Spector (creative director, Junction Point — Disney Interactive Studios) and Peter David (award-winning comics writer and author of upcoming Disney Epic Mickey comics) share their insights about bringing the world and characters of the Disney Epic Mickey video game to life in two media — video games and comic books. Warren and Peter explore “Wasteland,” a world of forgotten, retired and rejected creative efforts from the Disney archives, and discuss the joy and challenges associated with writing for Mickey Mouse and his “brother,” Walt Disney’s first cartoon star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The panel includes discussion, gameplay demo featuring never-before-seen areas, concept art, previews of comic pages and Q&A. Room 9

4:30 to 6 p.m. Comic-Con How-To Session: Jason Kruse and Rob Worley — Artist/animator Jason Kruse and writer Rob Worley will cover the collaborative creative process for making comic books for young readers. The two recently collaborated on the Ape Entertainment comic Scratch9. Room 18

Complete Paradise Too

4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Spotlight on Terry Moore — Terry Moore (Echo) has been a fan favorite since beginning his classic series Strangers in Paradise in 1993. His hit series Echo has won fan and critical acclaim and will wrap up in early 2011. Find out what’s next for Moore as he heads toward the Echo movie and the 20th anniversary of Strangers in Paradise. The Q&A is not to be missed! Room 26AB

4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Universal: Paul and Cowboys & Aliens — Universal presents two upcoming films in this exclusive Hall H presentation.

• Paul — Scheduled to appear for Universal Pictures’ sci-fi comedy-adventure Paul are a who’s who of film comedy. Director Greg Mottola (Superbad) will be joined by cast members Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Kristen Wiig (Date Night), Bill Hader (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jeffrey Tambor (The Hangover), Joe Lo Truglio (Role Models), Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet) and Sigourney Weaver (Baby Mama) as they discuss the movie about two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage to Comic-Con ultimately takes them to America’s UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who takes them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Q&A session to follow.

• Cowboys & Aliens — Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man series) discusses what’s happening behind the scenes of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks’ action-thriller Cowboys & Aliens, based on Platinum Studios’ graphic novel. Currently shooting in New Mexico, Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford and takes audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. Q&A session to follow. Hall H

5 to 6 p.m. Dark Shadows: The Classic Series, the Comic Books, and the Upcoming Film — Hermes Press celebrates Dark Shadows with a panel discussing the past, present, and future of the series. Join series stars Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins, via special video appearance), Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans/Josette), with Jim Pierson (Dark Shadows) and Daniel Herman (publisher, Hermes Press) for a discussion and Q&A session. Room 3

5 to 6 p.m. Webcomics Lightning Round — The forces behind Webcomics.com, Scott Kurtz (PvP), Robert Khoo (Penny Arcade) and Brad Guigar (Evil Inc), present a primer on webcomics from all aspects: creative, technical and business. Each panelist will answer in thirty seconds or less, without repeating previous points, so expect a fast-paced tour of the subject from start to finish. Room 8

Hellboy: The Storm #1

5 to 6 p.m. Hellboy, The BPRD, and Beyond — As Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo near the end of their epic Hellboy trilogy (Darkness Calls, The Wild Hunt and now The Storm), join them and long-suffering editor Scott Allie in a Q&A session covering the entire Hellboy universe, plus Mignola’s new series Baltimore: The Plague Ships. Room 25ABC

5 to 6 p.m. Building Your Art Portfolio — The most useful panel you’ll ever attend as an artist. Comics superstars Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Amazing Spider-Man), C. B. Cebulski (Marvel talent scout and manager), Scott Dunbier (special projects editor, IDW Publishing) and Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Welcome to Hoxford, Choker) cut through everything else and get right to getting you work! They’ll cover what to include in tour portfolio, where to get good scripts to draw from, what not  to include, and how to handle a portfolio review in a professional manner (in other words, how to turn a negative into a positive!). Room 30CDE

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bill Everett: From Sub-Mariner to Daredevil — Bill Everett created the Sub-Mariner for Marvel Comics #1 back in 1939 and co-created Daredevil in 1964. Author Blake Bell and Bill’s daughter Wendy Everett celebrate the life of her late father, discussing the release of Bell’s latest book, Fire And Water: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics Room 9

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Avatar Press and Max Brooks—  Max Brooks (World War Z) leads off the Avatar panel with one of his legendary Zombie Survival talks and a Q&A session. Then editor-in-chief William Christensen fills you in on all the upcoming Avatar projects with Mike Wolfer (Gravel, Wolfskin, Lady Death) and Jacen Burrows (Crossed, Neonomicon). Room 26AB

5:45 to 7:15 p.m. Gays in Comics: Year 23! — This all-star panel examines the rising diversity in the comics world today as the long-running “Gays in Comics” panel continues into its third decade at Comic-Con. As mainstream companies DC and Marvel continue to frontline gay characters such as Batwoman and Northstar and hire top-level gay or gay-friendly creators, independent publishers and creators are publishing unequivocal content spotlighting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered characters, to the cheers of the thousands of fans who are out of the comic book closet. Welcome a top-level panel of GLBT and straight creators, who will give amazing insights and glimpses of surprises to come! Joining founding moderator Andy Mangels, the USA Today best-selling author of Star Trek novels and Iron Man: Beneath The Armor, are Howard Cruse, creator of Stuck Rubber Baby and Barefootz, founder of Gay Comix, and godfather of the gay comic movement; Geoff Johns, writer of Green Lantern, Flash, Brightest Day and DC Entertainment’s chief creative officer; Marjorie M. Liu, the New York Times bestselling author and writer of Black Widow, X-23 and co-author of Dark Wolverine; Daniel Way, writer of Wolverine  and Deadpool and co-writer of Dark Wolverine; Jim McCann, writer of Hawkeye & Mockingbird, Dazzler and Return of the Dapper Men; Charles “Zan” Christensen, co-creator of Mark of Aeacus, founding member of PRISM Comics and new publisher of gay-themed Northwest Press; Dan Parent, writer and artist for Archie and Betty & Veronica and creator of Archie’s new gay character, Kevin Keller; and Tim Fish, creator of Cavalcade of Boys and writer/artist for X-Men: Nation X and Iron Man: Designed Intelligence! Plus, there’s always  a surprise or two! Afterward, stick around for the hour-long gay comics fan mixer/social, hosted by PRISM Comics, with prizes and surprise special guests! Room 6A

6 to 7 p.m. Roddenberry Presents — Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry (CEO, Roddenberry Productions), Trevor Roth (head of development, Days Missing) and Tory Mell  (production supervisor, Trek Nation) are taking the name that created Star Trek and bringing it to levels not seen since the original days of the genre-changing television show. Join them for some awesome discussions and a chance to win a free iPad! Also on the panel: Phil Hester (Days Missing, Green Arrow), Dave Marquez (Days Missing, Syndrome), Stephen Christie (Archaia Publishing) and Paul Morrissey (editor, Days Missing). Room 25ABC

Captain America: The First Avenger

6 to 7 p.m. Marvel Studios: Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger—  Producer Kevin Feige and special guests give you an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hall H

6:15 to 7 p.m. Human Target Screening and Q&A — Based on the DC Comics title, Human Target is an action-packed thrill ride about a mysterious private contractor who will stop at nothing to keep his clients alive — even if it means literally becoming a “human target.” The series moves to a new night this fall — Fridays at 8pm ET/PT on FOX — and executive producer Matthew Miller (Chuck) joins series stars Mark Valley (Fringe), Chi McBride  (Pushing Daisies) and Jackie Earle Haley (A Nightmare on Elm Street) for a Q&A with fans and to screen a special video presentation. Human Target is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television. Human Target: The Complete First Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD Sept. 21. Room 6BCF

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. WildStorm: Storm Front — What’s new in the WildStorm Universe? VP/general manager Hank Kanalz  and senior editor Ben Abernathy bring you up to speed with this inside look into DC’s wildest imprint. Joining Hank and Ben will be Adam Beechen (WildCats), Kurt Busiek  (Astro City), Darick Robertson (Fringe: Tales From the Fringe), Tom Taylor (The Authority), Tim Seeley  (WildCats), Adam Archer (Ratchet and Clank), Cruddie Torian (Gen13) and others. Room 4

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kickstart Your Comic! — Producing an independent comic requires not only a huge time commitment but also a sizable financial investment to cover the printing, promotion, and distribution costs incurred before your book even hits the shelves. Recently, some creators have discovered a new and effective way to raise start-up capital for their comics online. Since it’s founding in 2009, Kickstarter.com has been helping artists in all media find financial backing for their projects through user donations. Kickstarter advisor Andy Baio and comic creators Kody Chamberlain (Sweets), Steve Earnhart and Pat Loika (The Villain) and Steve Bryant (Athena Voltaire) discuss their highly successful Kickstarter campaigns and offer advice to help you fund your own comic through Kickstarter.com. Room 7AB

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Ghetto Comics One-on-One: Eric Clement and Chris Miller — Eric Clement and Chris Miller present the new animated series The Adventures of Captain Save a Hood and Peter Proper, based on the independent graphic novel series about two superheroes who have no superpowers. Eric and Chris preview their animated series, along with a Q&A session. Room 9

6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Fables Forum 2010 — The Fables Forum returns to San Diego! The Fables creative team will be on hand to answer your most pressing Fables questions. Featuring the creators behind Fables, Jack of Fables and Cinderella, this panel is sure to have plenty of surprises. Moderated by group editor Shelly Bond, with Bill Willingham (Fables), Steve Leialoha (Fables), Chris Roberson (Cinderella), Matthew Sturges (Jack of Fables), Chrissie Zullo (Cinderella) and others. Room 6DE

7 to 8 p.m. Halo-8 Comics and Illustrated Films — Art and cinema collide at Halo-8, where stories are created simultaneously as comic books and “illustrated films,” merging motion comics with 3D-CGI, intense voice performances, and cinematic storytelling. Following the breakthrough success of Godkiller, Halo-8 president Matt Pizzolo (writer/director, Godkiller) presents the studio’s bold new slate of comics and illustrated films, unveiling never-before-seen art and announcing new projects with fellow panelists, creators Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) and Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash), producers Brian Giberson (Godkiller) and FJ DeSanto (The Spirit, upcoming The Shadow), Godkiller stars Danielle Harris (Halloween) and Justin Pierre (Motion City Soundtrack) and more special guests. A limited-edition mystery gift will be available exclusively to panel attendees. Room 8

7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Gays in Comics Mixer and Silent Auction — A reception hosted by PRISM Comics, the nonprofit organization that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered comics, creators, and readers. Mingle with comics fans and creators. Plus stay for the special drawing of a “Comics Gift Basket” and the silent auction of hot comics items! Room 6A

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CBLDF Benefit Auction — This is it, the CBLDF’s biggest auction of the year! Support free speech and walk away with incredible original art! Highlights include original art by Arthur Adams, Paul Pope, Tara McPherson, Ben Templesmith, Jim Rugg, David Hine, Shaky Kane and many more. This auction includes highlights from auction initiatives by TFAW.com, Image Comics and SeenAllOver.com, as well as original art created at the CBLDF Master Sessions. Stop by CBLDF booth (#1920) for a complete auction list. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Room 3

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Remembering Dick Giordano — Penciller, inker, editor, mentor. Dick Giordano, who passed away on March 27, was a lot of things to a lot of people. A panel of comic luminaries and friends gather to pay tribute to the man who left a huge impact on the world of comics. Moderator Mark Evanier talks to Neal Adams, Paul Levitz, Pat Bastienne, Bob Layton and Joe Rubinstein about this comic book renaissance man. Room 4
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. 12-Gauge Comics: Boondock Saints: The Comic Series! — Troy Duffy, the writer/director of the cult-hit films The Boondock Saints and The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, takes you behind the scenes of his comic trilogy, In Nomine Patris. Find out what’s next for the McManus Brothers and Il Duce, as Duffy and comic series co-writer J.B. Love fill you in on their plans for the next exciting storyline. But that’s not all … get a sneak peek at the new Boondock Saints iPhone game with developer Terrence Myers, and as an extra-special treat, David Della Rocco (the beloved “Rocco” from the films) will be taking your questions during the Q&A session! Moderated by comic series producer Eben Matthews and 12-Gauge publisher Keven Gardner (The Ride). Room 9

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. After Hours with the Christian Comic Arts Society — Creators and fans alike are invited to attend an open meeting of the Christian Comic Arts Society for an informal time of Christian fellowship, networking, laughter and prayer. (Think of it as the social hour after church … just with comic books instead of coffee, cookies and punch.) Room 24ABC

8:30 to 10:30 p.m. With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story — With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story is a feature-length documentary on Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee, the co-creator of Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men, Hulk and over 500 other comic book characters. Learn how Stan rose from his humble Brooklyn beginnings to co-creating many of the world’s most well known characters! Following the screening will be a brief panel with Stan “The Man” Lee himself, executive producers Michael Uslan (The Dark Knight) and Tom DeSanto (X-Men, Transformers), actor Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk TV show), illustrator Jim Lee (Marvel, DC), writer Paul Levitz  (former president and publisher of DC Comics), Jack Kirby biographer Mark Evanier, and the With Great Power producing team of Terry Dougas, Nikki Frakes and Will Hess. You won’t want to miss this one! Room 6BCF

Wizard World Anaheim

Conventions | A Wizard World convention soon may be coming to your town. Wizard CEO Gareb Shamus has announced plans to double the number of shows in his company’s stable within the next year.

“We want to create an atmosphere that’s different than San Diego, one that has real access to the stars and is about celebrating these characters in many media, which includes Hollywood films but goes well beyond that,” Shamus told the Los Angeles Times. “San Diego has done a spectacular job. It took them 40 years to build it up to what it is. But there’s other ways of doing things, and people are responding to that. We have 12 shows that we started or bought, and next year we expect it to be 20 to 25. There’s a lot more coming.”

Wizard now has conventions in: Anaheim, California; Philadelphia; Chicago; Boston; New York City; Edison, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Atlanta; Toronto; and Nashville, Tennessee. Most of those are part of a recent, rapid expansion that involved the acquisition of small, local shows. [Los Angeles Times]

Swing With Scooter #14

Passings | Longtime Archie Comics artist Henry Scarpelli passed away on April 4 after a long illness. He was 79. In addition to his long-running single-panel gag strip TV Tee-Hees, Scarpelli penciled numerous humor comics, including Marvel’s Millie the Model, Charlton’s Abbott & Costello, Dell’s Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched and Get Smart, and DC’s Swing With Scooter and Plop! Late in his career, Scarpelli became a lead artist for Archie, drawing The New Archies as well as the Archie newspaper strip. [press release]

Legal | The Coroners and Justice Act of 2009 went in to effect on Tuesday in the U.K., expanding laws against possession of child pornography to include non-photographic images (animation, comic books, etc.). [The Register]

Conventions | Deb Aoki, Geoff Boucher, Peter Hartlaub, Heidi MacDonald, Tom Spurgeon and Douglas Wolk file reports from San Francisco’s WonderCon. [WonderCon]

Paul Pope

Conventions | Paul Pope has been announced as a “surprise special guest” at Stumptown Comics Fest, held April 24-25 in Portland, Oregon. [Stumptown Comics Fest]

Conventions | Molly McIsaac considers the differences between comic and anime conventions. [iFanboy]

Publishing | Editor and translator Matt Thorn discusses Fantagraphics Books’ new manga line. [PW Comics Week]

Publishing | Ada Price talks with editors and creators about the challenges of adapting popular prose works for comics. [PW Comics Week]

Creators | Neil Gaiman remembers artist and editor Dick Giordano: “As DC’s editor in chief, Dick gave Dave McKean and me our first big break, by welcoming us into the DC Comics fold with Black Orchid. He was kind to two unknowns, and took us seriously. [...] He was a gentleman, I loved working with him, and he was one of the few legends of comics who deserved every accolade he got. Also, he was magnificently deaf. Although he always seemed to get much less deaf when he was interested in what was being said.” [Neil Gaiman's Journal]

Greg Rucka

Creators | Laura Hudson has posted the audio and transcript from the Greg Rucka spotlight at WonderCon. [Comics Alliance, Comics Alliance]

Creators | Farel Dalrymple talks about his background, Pop Gun War, his process, Omega: The Unknown and The Wrenchies. [Hideous Energy]

Creators | David Harper interviews Jeff Lemire about his influences, his career, Sweet Tooth and Essex County. Lemire mentions that he’ll be writing for DC Comics proper. [Multiversity Comics]

Creators | Jonathan Hickman chats about his new Marvel series S.H.I.E.L.D., which examines the secret history of the organization. [Marvel.com]

Asterix

Politics | Ah, comics, the language of diplomacy. During his visit this week to the White House, French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave President Obama an 18th-century document accrediting Benjamin Franklin as ambassador to France and, for his daughters, a collection of Asterix graphic novels. [AFP]

Publishing | Rebellion Publishing, publisher of U.K. comics anthology 2000AD, will begin releasing U.S. editions of new and classic titles in graphic-novel format beginning in June with The Judge Dredd Complete Case Files and The Complete D.R. and Quinch. [PW Comics Week]

Publishing | Two more profiles of Last Gasp Books as the independent publisher celebrates its 40th anniversary. [PW Comics Week, San Francisco Bay Guardian]

Newave!

Publishing | Brian Heater begins a two-part Q&A with Michael Dowers, editor of Fantagraphics Books’ Newave! The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s collection. [The Daily Cross Hatch]

Publishing | Jim Gibbons, Dark Horse’s publicity coordinator, chats about his history with comics. [Graphic Novel Reporter]

Retailing | Retailer Kendall Swafford and writer Heidi MacDonald report on the annual meeting last week in Memphis, Tennessee, of ComicsPRO, the direct-market trade organization. At the meeting, comiXology announced the launch of Retailer Tools 2.0, which allows direct-market stores to offer the Previews catalog on their websites, host their own blogs and online communities, and improve retailer control over pull lists. [ICv2.com, PW Comics Week]

Creators | Charles Hatfield posts a gallery of covers by artist and editor Dick Giordano, who passed away on Saturday at age 77. Bob Greenberger, KC Carlson and Mark Evanier also post remembrances. [Thought Balloonists]

Grizzly Shark

Creators | Ryan Ottley (Invincible) and Jason Howard (The Astounding Wolf-Man) chat about their upcoming one-shot Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark: They Got Mixed Up! [Big Shiny Robot!]

Creators | Rob Liefeld and pastor Phil Hotsenpiller discuss Armageddon Now, their comic series about the End Times. [Christian Examiner]

Creators | The Comics Journal posts the first part of a 2005 panel discussion at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto featuring Charles Burns, Chip Kidd, Seth and Chris Ware. [TCJ.com]

Creators | Brian Heater wraps up his four-part interview with Graham Annable. [The Daily Cross Hatch]

Green Lantern #122

(Editor’s Note: Tom is on his way to San Francisco and WonderCon this week, so he turned his column in early … and as it relates to legendary artist and editor Dick Giordano, who passed away on Saturday, I thought it was appropriate to go ahead and post it today.)

By now you will undoubtedly have read any number of Dick Giordano obituaries, tributes and/or remembrances, most I’m sure speaking from a much more informed perspective than mine. I am only a fan, and specifically an admirer of his success across various areas of the comics business.

It was easy to spot Dick Giordano’s work, whether penciled or inked. He did not go in for much caricature or exaggeration, but there was invariably a twinkle in his characters’ eyes. (The exception, naturally, was Batman, whose cold white slits often burned menacingly against his black-inked mask.) As an inker, Giordano’s style came through clearly over other people’s pencils, but because it was inherently naturalistic it was never oppressive. Instead, he was a good complement to a wide range of artists, from the elegant lines of José Luis Garcia-Lopéz to the gritty expressionism of Denys Cowan.  Of course, he was a fine penciller in his own right, with some 1450 stories to his credit.

One of those, the classic “There Is No Hope In Crime Alley,” derives much of its power from an iconic Giordano splash page. Although dominated by Batman’s profile, the reader’s eye is drawn instantly to the scene’s details: the worn-down tenements, lonely streetlamps, and desolate theater — and most importantly to the stooped, solitary figure at its center. It is a haunting, evocative image which describes a setting both familiar and strange within the world of the Batman. Sure, he’d fought (and Giordano had drawn him fighting) any number of goons, thugs, and supervillains on streets not too different from this one. Regardless, Giordano’s composition of this page, including his use of light and perspective, establishes immediately that this is not the normal Batman story. What’s more, it stands alone well, complemented by but not reliant upon Denny O’Neil’s justifiably-famous narration.

"There Is No Hope In Crime Alley"

“No Hope’s” splash panel is a good example of Giordano’s skill, and it is memorable for many reasons. To me, though, Dick Giordano’s staying power comes from his dependability. Giordano, like his stylistic brethren Irv Novick and Dick Dillin, was able to translate reality into sequential art efficiently and effectively, thereby giving the reader a solid structure from which his belief could be suspended. Seeing Giordano’s name in the art credits was always reassuring, because Giordano’s fundamentals were so sound. He was to Batman what Curt Swan was to Superman: a constant presence which helped establish the character’s visual language for a generation of readers.

Accordingly, if Dick Giordano were remembered only for his contributions to Batman comics, he might well have been happy just with that. It was obvious from reading his editorials (and other essays on the subject) that Batman was Giordano’s favorite character, so I imagine he enjoyed his brief time (1981-82) editing the Bat-titles.

However, Giordano’s twelve years as DC’s Executive Editor (1982-94, following a short stint as Managing Editor) transformed the publisher, bringing it out of the Silver Age and diversifying it through multiple imprints like Piranha Press (later Paradox Press), Milestone Media, and Vertigo. It was an eclectic period, featuring everything from blockbusters like Crisis On Infinite Earths, The Dark Knight, and Watchmen to the more idiosyncratic ’Mazing Man, Nathaniel Dusk, and Thriller. Any number of professionals put their unique stamps on DC’s characters: Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, Grant Morrison’s Animal Man and Doom Patrol, George Pérez’s Wonder Woman, John Byrne’s Superman. Several comics professionals came over (or returned) to DC, including Byrne, Miller, O’Neil, Moore, Morrison, Neil Gaiman, Roger Stern, Archie Goodwin, Mike Carlin, Mike Gold, John Ostrander, and Tim Truman. DC was seen as more creator-friendly than Marvel, and Giordano’s style was a big part of that. Along with President Jenette Kahn and Publisher Paul Levitz, Giordano signed a letter asking Marvel to return Jack Kirby’s original pages to him. (Regardless, as Tom Spurgeon reminds us, Giordano was also at the heart of DC’s mid-1980s “ratings system” controversy.)

A few months ago I wrote about one of Giordano’s “Meanwhile…” editorials which had become ingrained in my own feelings about corporate superhero comics.  Warts and all, at its heart it is still a good mission statement for a publisher whose business must navigate some very tricky waters. As I said then, the superhero-comics game has changed profoundly since 1984, such that some of Giordano’s points have become moot and others run counter to today’s business models; but the fundamentals of his pro-diversity argument remain sound. Although Giordano’s marketplace was moving away from generally-available newsstand distribution, he saw the value in always trying to reach that wider audience.

Those “Meanwhile…” columns also gave Giordano an open, welcoming personality. They seemed thoughtful and genuine, and when they had to discuss unpleasant business (like why JLA/Avengers initially failed), Giordano sounded more regretful than anything. Again, in those days, DC’s editors didn’t have to deal with such intense news cycles and weren’t nearly as accessible, so crafting such benign personae was arguably a lot easier.

(For example, the Crisis On Infinite Earths Compendium reproduces this handwritten memo to Jenette Kahn:

Jenette –

Biggie!

Can we kill Supergirl in Crisis. I must know soon.

[  ] Yes
[  ] No
[  ] Only if we have a new Supergirl soon
[  ] None of the above

Love,
Dick

I have to say, despite its ghoulish subject, that note has a certain third-grade-do-you-like-me charm. However you think it would be received today, though, one thing is certain: that is the memo of a man who does not have to deal with the Internet.)

Indeed, I think much of the real Dick Giordano came through in his “Meanwhiles,” and their easygoing accessibility made him an excellent corporate figurehead in the eventful years immediately before, during, and after Crisis On Infinite Earths. For someone like me, suckered in by Crisis’ carnage and eager to see what DC would do with it, Dick Giordano made a fine tour guide.

Ultimately, I’ll remember Dick Giordano’s steady hands, whether they were drawing Sarge Steel or Batman, embellishing Neal Adams or John Byrne, or guiding DC Comics into unfamiliar territory (and making the familiar seem new).

Thank you, Mr. Giordano, for all the good afternoons.

Barefoot Gen Vol. 7

Welcome to another edition of What Are You Reading?, our weekly look into the reading habits of your friendly neighborhood bloggers. As I mentioned on Wednesday, Chris Mautner has stepped back to concentrate on stuff like Comics College and won’t be doing What Are You Reading? anymore, so I’ll be playing the role of host every week.

Our guest this week is Raina Telgemeier, creator of the graphic novel Smile. She’s also worked on the Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, Flight, Bizarro World, X-Men: Misfits and Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery.

To see what Raina and the rest of the Robot 6 crew have been reading, click on the link below …

*****

Tim O’Shea

Batman Illustrated

In observance of Dick Giordano’s death, I pulled out the three volume Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams (a 2003 project collecting Adams’ Batman work). While Adams frequently inked himself in the stories republished in these volumes, there’s also a great deal of inking by Giordano in the volumes. Giordano also wrote the introduction to the second volume (where he fully acknowledges that he botched the inking of World’s Finest 175-176 [his first collaboration with Adams] and that Adams “touched-up those pages for inclusion in the first volume”.)

In the introduction, Giordano acknowledges that his and Adams’ art styles were vastly different: “While Neal chose a career in the realistic art fast lane, I was aligning myself with artists who were much more stylistic. Johnny Craig, Alex Toth, Mort Meskin and, yes, Carmine Infantino (inking himself) were my major influences. … In order then, for us to work effectively together, I had to make adjustments in the way I approached my inking to get closer to Neal’s way and still find a way to enjoy the work as much as I had with Mike Sekowsky and Irv Novick. Surprisingly, it was easier to do than I would have thought, and although there’s not enough space here to lead you through all the adjustments I made, I did enjoy the work and felt that at least some of it lived up to my expectations.” Reading Giordano’s intro allowed me to appreciate his collaborative efforts with Adams in a completely different way.

I’m curious to hear what other folks most enjoyed about Giordano’s work. Feel free to share your favorite Giordano project, be it as artist, inker or editor–in the comments section.

Michael May

Robot 13 #3

Robot 13 #3 continues the tradition established in the first couple of issues. I recognized quite a few references or homages to other works, but the series continues to be more than just that. Yes, yes, the art is very reminiscent of Mike Mignola. That’s been established. And the plot in this issue pulls a lot from Mary Shelley and even more from Homer. But it’s the unique combination of these various influences that makes the book interesting. It deserves credit for that and for just being a lot of fun.

Another small press book I just read was Solomon Azua #1 by Jake Ekiss. As someone who’s always preferred the “scum and villainy” corner of the Star Wars universe, it’s totally my thing. Azua is sort of a freelance space-pirate who’s on the trail for a legendary treasure and on the run from those who want to find it first. Most of the issue takes place in a quiet, little spaceport – or at least it’s quiet before Azua gets there – where he’s trying to get a ship. There’s plenty of action and a nice mystery hook at the end.

The look of Azua’s universe is imaginative and unique. It’s probably inspired by Star Wars, but it doesn’t totally mimic it. There’s one point at the end where Ekiss rushes the pacing to fit everything in, but with the exception of that hiccup, it’s a great issue and I’m looking forward to the five more Ekiss has planned.

Finally, I’ve now re-read Artesia Afield and all these memories of the first time I read it are coming back. In last week’s What Are You Reading? I described the character of Atesia as seductive. Now I’m completely in love with her. Again.

Sean T. Collins

A Game of Thrones

My life has been taken over by George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire series. No joke. I cannot put these books down. I plowed through A Game of Thrones, finishing it on the train ride home from work, and drove straight from the station to the library to get book two, A Clash of Kings–then I finished that one and drove straight to the library to get volume three, A Storm of Swords. They’re a revisionist take on fantasy that emphasizes the squalor and brutality of that sort of medieval world, but also fleshes out both good and evil characters so that the good ones can be petty or shortsighted while the evil ones are shown to feel love and fear–everyone has the full range of human motivations and emotions. I think what makes them so compulsively readable is the format: Each chapter focuses on one character, advancing their part of the story a little further before switching to another POV. So you finish a chapter and think “Okay, just one more Tyrion chapter,” then you finish that one and say “Alright, just one more Catelyn chapter,” and so on and so forth. It’s like the fiction equivalent of Pringles.

So I haven’t done a lot of comics reading this week, though I did post a couple of “greatest hits” reviews of a pair of my favorite comics that originally ran on The Savage Critics: Charles Burns’s sinister, sexy stoner-teen horror story Black Hole and Jordan Crane’s sweetly bitter love story The Last Lonely Saturday.

And I whiffed on WAYR last week, so peering a little further back into time, I read Ryan Cecil Smith’s impressive one-man-anthology minicomic Weird Schmeird #2 and a whole bunch of worthy superhero comics from a couple weeks back.

Brigid Alverson

Twilight: The Graphic Novel

Like everyone else in the world, I am dutifully reading my copy of Twilight: The Graphic Novel. I have never read the prose novels or seen the movies, but my older daughter was an early adopter of the Twilight books, although she always read them critically: She complained about the characters and the writing, but she couldn’t stop reading the books. I don’t have that problem. Young Kim’s art is better than the cover would have led me to believe, but there’s something cold about it—I feel like I’m reading the story from a distance. Everything is so polished that even a dramatic event like a car crash seems like it is sealed off. I’m told that one of the strengths of the graphic novel is that it tells the story more economically than writer Stephenie Meyer, who is given to lengthy descriptions, so I’ll see it through, if only to say I did it.

Here’s a book that got me a lot more excited: Trickster, an anthology of Native American trickster tales. I’m not generally a big fan of folk tales, but the writing and the art really shine in this lively compilation. The stories are all written by Native American storytellers, so the tales are authentic, and the art is varied but always of high quality. I gave this book the ultimate test recently—I read one of the stories aloud to a class of fifth-graders—and they loved it. (The fact that the story was about a rabbit whose butt got stuck to a frozen lake probably helped.) The book is beautifully produced and a great read.

I have just started reading the first volume of Library Wars, which will be coming out from Viz in June. The premise is great: In the repressive future, a law has been passed restricting what books can be sold. The librarians have formed an elite defense force to protect freedom of speech, and, this being manga, they mostly operate by kicking ass. (There is a legal underpinning, but it’s hazy.) Anyway, this is the story of a girl who wants to join the Library Defense Force, and of course the instructor is giving her a hard time. I found the opening of this story to be a bit chaotic and hard to follow, but now that the outlines of the story are clear, it’s shaping up to be a pretty good read.

Matt Maxwell

Murder City

Thor Essentials v.4: Felt terrible on Friday, and the only thing for that is a stack of comics and sitting in bed. In this case, it was the fourth volume of the Thor Essentials, which tails off of Kirby’s ultra-cosmic take on things at the end of v.3. And hey, Bill Everett inking Jack Kirby looks even better at times than Joe Sinott inking him. Loki deceives! Volstagg blusters! Balder carries on bravely! The Thermal Man and the Wrecker step up to mess things up! Mayhem like you like it!

Murder City by Charles Bowden: And on the other side of things, you have Murder City, which is journalist Charles Bowden’s thoughts and experiences from his many visits to Juarez, Mexico. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Hundreds of murders a year. Most never solved or so terrifyingly random that solution is impossible. It’s an amazing book, unsettling and beautiful by turns. But don’t expect it to show up in Oprah’s book club anytime soon. This is a book without answers and an open, bloody palm full of questions.

Raina Telgemeier

Recently finished:

Three Cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin: This book made me wish I could spend my days doing humanitarian work, but my constitution dictates I draw comics instead. I’ll try and make ‘em count.

Oishinbo: Ramen and Gyoza by Tetsu Kariya and Akira Hanasaki: My first Oishinbo volume; enjoyed immensely. I’ve got a pretty weak stomach, so it’s better for me to read about food than to actually be a foodie. I love the attention to detail in this series, and the painstakingly-drawn food, and I love reading about the philosophies behind different kinds of cuisine. Though, after reading this volume, I know what went into that bowl of ramen I ate a couple of weeks ago, and it most certainly wasn’t vegetarian…

Barefoot Gen Volume 7 by Keiji Nakazawa: I can’t believe I’m still not done with this series. Barefoot Gen was my first-ever graphic novel (I started reading the series the summer between fourth and fifth grades), my first manga, and my first taste of sadness-via-comics-memoir. The story isn’t as gripping as it was in earlier volumes, but I’ll still be sad to see the series end.

Currently reading:

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood: I love Margaret Atwood, but haven’t read any of her books in quite some time. I seem to read a lot of dystopian future stories these days, even though by definition, I don’t like them. But my favorite authors keep writing them!

Barefoot Gen Volume 8 by Keiji Nakazawa: So far, I already like this volume better than #7.

Dick Giordano

News spread online this morning that artist and longtime DC Comics editor Dick Giordano has passed away, reportedly due to complications from pneumonia. He was 77. Giordano, who suffered from leukemia, recently had been hospitalized in Florida.

As an inker, Giordano is perhaps best remembered for his work with Neal Adams on Batman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow, with George Perez on Crisis on Infinite Earths, and with John Byrne on The Man of Steel and Action Comics. As managing editor and then vice president-executive editor, he helped to steer DC Comics through its 1980s heyday, when the company revitalized many of its decades-old characters.

“Few could ever hope to match what he accomplished in his chosen profession, or to excel while maintaining great humor, compassion for his peers and an unwavering love for the art form,” artist Bob Layton wrote in a widely circulated statement announcing Giordano’s death. “His unique vision changed the comic industry forever and all of those who work in the business continue to share in the benefits of his sizable contributions. I have been honored to call him a business partner, mentor and dear friend throughout the majority of my lifetime. We will not see his like again.”

Born on July 20, 1932, in New York City, Giordano began his career as a background inker for Jerry Iger’s studio before becoming a freelance artist in 1952 at Charlton Comics. By 1965 he’d risen to editor-in-chief of the company, where he fostered such new talents as Jim Aparo and Dennis O’Neil and oversaw the creation of characters like Blue Beetle and Captain Atom. Two years later he was hired as an editor by DC Comics Publisher Carmine Infantino, and left in 1971 to form Continuity Associates with Neal Adams.

Giordano returned to DC in 1980, initially serving as editor of the Batman line before being promoted to managing editor and then, in 1983, to vice president-executive editor, a position he held until his retirement from the company in 1993. After leaving the publisher, Giordano continued to occasionally pencil and ink — most notably, Modesty Blaise and The Phantom — and in 2002 co-founded the short-lived Future Comics with Layton and writer David Michelinie.

He is acknowledged as a mentor and inspiration to a generation of artists. Rob Liefeld hailed Giordano this morning as “the godfather of the modern inking style,” while Mike Gold praised his talents as an editor and artist as “nothing short of breathtaking.”

“Dick always defended creative freedom and aesthetic opportunity,” Gold wrote, “sometimes putting him heads-on with management powers, often representing not his own work but that of the editors in his charge, most certainly including myself, for which I will be forever grateful. He knew the good stuff when he saw it, he knew how to improve it, he knew how to incubate it.”

Marv Wolfman added: “Dick was way more than a good inker. He was an encouraging force in the industry who brought in new people and helped nurture them.”

Power Girl 12

Much of this Jimmy Palmiotti email interview happened right before Friday’s announcement that Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Amanda Conner are saying goodbye to Power Girl once they finish issue 12. I could have reworked many of the Power Girl questions, but I chose to keep the remainder of Power Girl questions intact, as there’s still a few issues of the run (the focus of the discussion) and Palmiotti (as he always does) gave some great answers. Any interview with Palmiotti has to include his and Gray’s continuing work on Jonah Hex, of course. Finally, Palmiotti often has some creator-owned work set to release, and this time around it’s his and Gray’s collaboration with artist Giancarlo Caracuzzo on Random Acts of Violence, a 72-page graphic novella (published by Image and set to be released on April 28, 2010). I always enjoy the chance to interview Jimmy, and this go around proved no different.

Tim O’Shea: Can you divulge some more details about Power Girl 12 — and from a writer’s standpoint, how enjoyable/bittersweet is it to get to this 12th (and final one for the team) issue, where you get to (as the solicits put it) “All the pieces of the puzzle come together…”? As a creative team did you accomplish a great deal of what you had wanted to do in the 12 issues?

Jimmy Palmiotti: We all knew that issue 12 was going to be Amanda’s last issue on the book for a while but we didn’t know just how much her work and Power Girl became one for us. As we got closer to the deadline to find another artist, Justin and I started really thinking about how it would be next to impossible to find a replacement and even if we did, how it would be difficult to write a book like this for someone else…so we just figured it was time to move on, be a real team and all of us leave the book for the next crew to take on. That said, we know who the new writer is, are excited about who it is and have fed them the scripts and even asked if there was anything we could do with the book to leave it in a place where they need it and so on. Fans of the title will be happy that the book does not skip a beat and will be pretty excited with what the title has in store. Leaving the book is a hard thing to do, especially since we gave it our heart and soul and Amanda , Paul and John put so much into each and every page … but at the same time we look back at the 12 issues and are really proud of the work we have done and how we built on to Power Girl’s legacy.

Let’s just say the last 3 issues are going to be remembered as the best in the run and we couldn’t be happier with all the support we have been given by our editors Brian and Mike and the rest of the D.C. crew. it was a dream gig on all levels. I don’t think I ever laughed as hard or had more fun on any title.

O’Shea: So much of the appeal to me with Power Girl is the visual comedy that Amanda is able to work into scenes. How do you all hash out script-wise that it’s a good spot for Amanda to take the scene in such a manner?

Palmiotti: Justin and I dig into the story and these spots naturally appear in the order of things. We do have a lot of times where we know that having Amanda actually illustrating the story are we able to do these kind of set ups and deliveries and at times get away with things we would never do in another book.. Honest, we couldn’t do the book the same without her and her way of making even the slightest silly thing seem goofy and charming all at once. She has done more than any writer ever could with the character because her Power Girl is so expressive and the reaction to the world around her is just so genuine and skillfully executed in each panel. There have been a number of times in the past year where she adds a panel or two because she feels the delivery of a scene would be better and , like all the artists we work with, we feel the books are a collaboration, so we roll with it. As usual, they are better than anything we would have thought of. .

O’Shea: Chad Nevitt’s review of issue 9 included the following conclusion: “This is a fun, entertaining issue of “Power Girl” that reminds me of a Spider-Man comic if you ignore Kara’s lack of romantic problems. Her personal life is a mess and her superhero life isn’t much better. To anyone who claims to hate the overly violent and darker superhero comics out there: this is the book for you.” Two things–are you pleased to hear that description of a complicated personal and heroic life for Karen? Also, have you set out to do Power Girl as the opposite to much of the grim and gritty that many comics endure?

Palmiotti: What we set out to do was take a character that most people write way too simply and make her feel like a real person that you, the reader, would care about. We were lucky to have the 4 issues of JSA CLASSIFIED that Amanda and I did with Geoff to build from. In just 4 issues he took the character and created a superhero Amanda and I not only fell in love with, but actually cared about. When Justin and I were approached, there wasn’t a doubt in our mind we were going to build on what Geoff did and try our best to give Power Girl her own supporting characters and a life. It was a goal of ours to make it easy for the next team that was going to come on the book …we were responsible for the foundation of the character. As far as grim and gritty goes…it didn’t make sense to just continue down that road as it has been in the jsa books. When we got Amanda involved, we knew we had the opportunity to do something different and classic at the same time. Only time will tell, but the reviews have been glowing…so that’s nice.

O’Shea: Essentially from the start of your Power Girl series, I was struck how the cops and firefighters as well as civilians in New York have been given a role in the book. How much was that a priority story element to do for you and Justin?

Palmiotti: New York has character…more so in our minds than most other cities [ mainly because I have lived there almost my whole life] and if we were going to make New York Power Girl’s home base, it was an important element of the story to involve the world around her. The city is much more than buildings and businesses and I think its always fun to see a superhero through the eyes of regular people and vice versa. Again, with Amanda on board, the people in the background don’t always stay in the background. She adds so much personality so easily. I think a lot of artists forget to be “in the moment” in a story and forget the interactions and effects these heroes have to the people around them. As far as the people protecting the city other than the heroes, police and firemen have always been important to our stories since day one. They are the real guardians and superheroes in the real world.

O’Shea: Of all the members of JSA, I have found it interesting that Dr. Mid-Nite has been part of Power Girl’s supporting cast. What was the appeal to utilizing him in the book?

Palmiotti: We felt he was a bit of an outsider like Power Girl and Geoff had some interaction between the characters that we thought was just great. We just ran with that. I personally find him interesting and even worked him into the Wednesday comics Supergirl strip we did as well. There is a nice relationship between the characters that is respectful and sweet at the same time.

O’Shea: At what point in developing the series did you decide it would be beneficial to designate Terra as Power Girl’s protégé or sidekick?

Palmiotti: Well, from before we actually were given the Power Girl series to work on. When we were writing the Terra mini series we thought Power Girl would be the perfect character to interact with because she was a little older and wiser, but in a way a bit of an outsider to the planet as well. When we got the Power Girl gig and Amanda was on board, it seemed like the most natural continuation to make terra part of the book. We never looked at her as a protégé or a sidekick, we always looked at Atlee/Terra as Power Girl’s best friend and someone she could share her surface world knowledge with and at the same time take a look at the world around her through a fresh set of innocent eyes. The combination of that and they way they are like sisters is something that has succeeded beyond our expectations. You can really feel the love between the characters and in issue 12, we take it the bonding a bit further which really cements their friendship even more.

O’Shea: Do you think that given the fact most Jonah Hex issues are standalone issues, it makes it an easier book for folks to jump in on without needing to know a tremendous amount of continuity?

Palmiotti: Absolutely…there isn’t a single con where I don’t have someone coming up to me and telling me about the time they gave a random issue to someone to read and got the person hooked because they weren’t intimidated by the history and such. The idea with the stand alone issues also helps us go out there and collect an amazing amount of talent we otherwise would never get to work with and give them single 22 page they can work and take their time with and not worry about impending deadlines that limit their abilities to do their best work. Because of this format we get to work with an amazing amount of talent, we get to write stories that explore the boundaries of the genre and we give the retailers a book they can pull off the rack each month and can push to any new customers. With the film coming up, it’s an especially exciting time for us to really make an impression at a potential new audience.

Jonah Hex #51

O’Shea: Indeed you do get “to work with an amazing amount of talent” on Jonah Hex. Consider some of the artists on 50 to 55: Darwyn Cooke; Dick Giordano; Billy Tucci; Jordi Bernet; and Vicente Alcazar. As a writer how hard is it to shift gears and play to the different artists’ strengths when writing for them? Can you discuss some of the storytelling strengths that these artists bring to Jonah?

Palmiotti: When Justin and I approach the story, as we have said many times, its always with the artist in mind. With someone with Darwyn, we know the storytelling is solid as a rock and he knows how to do humor without us trying so hard to write it…he finds the right angle and mood for every shot and we are just so happy to have him on any level. With someone like Dick Giordano, we are familiar with his incredible body of work and play to the strengths of his graphic storytelling as well, he draws beautiful women and can design a page like no one else. With billy, we have a history together, so we really know how to approach his story, especially since he requested a train and sexy woman to be part of the story. He nailed it so well…we look forward to having him come back for more. Vincente can illustrate just about anything, so for his story we looked at what he has done before and played to his strengths as well. He can draw people of all ages and that was important to the story. As far as Jordi…he can do anything and he is our regular superstar on all ends. He can do humor and switch to horror in a panel and the guy has never let us down on one single panel since he started. His stories will one day be collected into one hardcover book and are as timeless as anything being produced in comics today. As you can tell, we love him.

O’Shea: How did the upcoming re-release of Jonah Hex 1–for $1 (as part of the run-up to the new film) come about?

Palmiotti: I think Bob Wayne might have something to do with that…but honestly the people at dc these days have really stepped up their game and promotions like this are just awesome for the fans and us. Honestly, if you never picked up a hex book…how could you go wrong for a buck? With the movie coming up, the push is going to be just amazing.

O’Shea: Did being forced to change the name of your independent project to Random Acts of Violence help the book gain more last minute attention?

Palmiotti: Well, it’s a mixed blessing because we did a lot to push the original name to the retailers and fans and having to change it caused us to go out again and do another round that is extremely time consuming…but in the end, it’s the final project and what’s between the covers that counts and not a simple title change. This book is so important to us because of not only the content, but because we are doing something here with the content that is not only a bit adult…but we are managing to give the readers out there what adds up to 3 books for the price of two all collected into one package. This graphic novel is a sink or swim proposition for us, so we are hoping the fans of our work will give it a try on April 28th and more important, to ask their retailer to put their order in now. We know the landscape of comics is a bit rough these days and independent books are taking the biggest hits. With random acts of violence we are hoping this is not the case.

Random Acts of Violence

O’Shea: Random Acts of Violence is a tale where the lines of reality and fiction blur. According to a recent CBR interview, the story is partially inspired by experiences at cons–are there certain cons or certain fan-types that really served as inspiration for the tale?

Palmiotti: Well, what happens in the book is just a horror show, so god no…but you can see at times these small glitches with fans could have the possibility to be bigger in scope. To me, they really do not happen so much because I am always at my best behavior at shows and genuinely love the comic fans out there. They are the coolest, sweetest bunch of people ever…and over the years a lot of them have become good friends. Tthe inspiration for the story was Justin and I asking ourselves a lot of “what if” questions and working them into some of our own experiences. The book is a lot of fun…and then serious as hell. It’s an emotional roller coaster ride that ends in a strange way.

O’Shea: How did you and Justin settle upon Giancarlo Caracuzzo as the artist on Random Acts of Violence? How important is a colorist like Paul Mounts when tackling a tale of (at least partial) violence (where I expect the color red might be in high demand)?

Palmiotti: Giancarlo was our first and only choice on the book. When we were working on THE LAST RESORT for IDW, we knew we stumbled on a good thing . He is fantastic at illustrating people that don’t all look the same…a problem a lot of artists have these days and we loved that he has a European sensibility to his storytelling , so he was the perfect fit. Being able to get Paul Mounts to color was key as well for this book to look the way we envisioned it. We have been working wih paul for over 12 years now on different projects and his work on this book is brilliant as usual. The book, with the combination of these two working together, is one of the best looking graphic novels I have ever had the pleasure to work on. Sure, there is plenty of red in the book…but there are also a lot of sunsets, naked bodies and metallic surfaces as well.

O’Shea: You and Justin are fairly busy with your DC work–why did you decide to pursue a creator-owned project like Random Acts at this time?

Palmiotti: We have always had a few books working on the side since we first started working together. As fun as it is to write books for the big guys, we also have many stories to tell that do not fit the mold cast by the companies and in the end, we would like to own some of our own intellectual properties. It hasn’t hurt us when you look at things like The Pro, Painkiller Jane and so on. It’s the thing every creator should be doing with their spare time. I really believe and understand that I have only a certain time left on this planet and am not going to wait for that “ you got cancer” call to get off my ass and do something about it. I believe that doing what I love all the time and having some success with it makes a better product as well. After Random Acts of Violence…we have another graphic novel coming with the same team.

Irredeemable #1

This Wednesday marks the return of Peter Krause to monthly comics as the artist on BOOM! Studios’ Irredeemable. The series is described by BOOM! as daring to “ask the question: what if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? A ‘twilight of the superheroes’-style story that examines super-villains from the writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!” Many people, including myself, fondly remember Krause’s great run on the 1990s DC series, The Power of Shazam. My thanks to Krause for this email interview regarding his return to monthly fun, as well as BOOM!’s Chip Mosher for facilitating the interview.

Tim O’Shea: This marks the first ongoing title you’ve done since Power of Shazam–but you’ve been a busy and happily employed artist outside of comics all these years. How has your non-comics work served to help improve your artistic skills overall and are there certain chances you’re now willing to take–or visual experiments you want to try now that you never would have considered earlier in your career?

Peter Krause: Wow…what a great opening question. I suppose there are some chances I’d be willing to take, but I’m not sure if I can point to the non-comics work specifically as the reason. After a time, I think you get a bit more comfortable in your own skin, and you’re not chasing the artistic flavor of the month. You can be a bit more confident in the decisions you make.

As an example, there are times where I just want to be loose and smear the ink around to show a certain texture or indicate a kind of ambiance. In my younger days, I might have been afraid to do that.

O’Shea: Did you start hungering for an ongoing series once you started working on the Cuffs collaboration with Derek McCulloch for Popgun 3? Or did that hunger hit you well before that?

Krause: Haha! A hunger, you say? I don’t know if I had an overwhelming hunger for an ongoing series as much as an itch to do comics again. Drawing the Popgun story “Cuffs” scratched the itch a bit. Comics really does get in your blood, but I would have been happy to do a little here and there.

But when you get a chance to work with Mark Waid—and you are helping design a whole world with new characters—well, that was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

O’Shea: What kind of visually engaging scenes has Mark Waid written for you that you’ve enjoyed rendering the most?

Krause: I’m not sure there are any certain scenes that I love more than any others, although Mark did have me render something in the first issue that took a bit of work. He said that he’d never ask for something like that again. I think you’ll know what that scene is when you read “Irredeemable” #1.

All of the characters are infused with such personality. That’s a testament to Mark’s writing, and it certainly helps me when I portray the way they act and react to each other.

O’Shea: Is Waid open to your suggestions of alternate ways to potentially play a scene?

Krause: We’ve already had a couple of times when I’ve suggested an alternative to what was written. Mark has been very open to that.

We’ve also had a few discussions on the phone where we’ve hammered out some small, unrealized parts of the script. It’s nice to have that input.

O’Shea: Have you been surprised at how enthusiastically and seemingly unanimously positive the response has been to the fact you’re returning to comics? Did you realize that you had developed such a loyal following from your Shazam days?

Krause: In these internet days, I don’t know if anything is unanimous! But I must say I’ve been taken aback at the nice things people said about Power of Shazam!

It’s sometimes hard for an artist to look back at his own work, because you know where all the strings and wires are that are holding it together. But I’m glad people enjoyed POS, and it was great drawing the Marvel family and working with Jerry Ordway, Mike Manley, Dick Giordano and Mike Carlin.

O’Shea: As an artist who infuses his characters with poignancy (as noted by Waid in the advance press on this title) what visual elements do you employ with your art to portray such poignancy?

Krause: I’m not sure there are any “visual elements” that I use to provide the poignancy. Good writing helps. I think any poignancy comes from getting under the character’s skin and feeling what you imagine they would feel.

You are an actor and a director when you’re drawing the comic. We have an example in the second issue where we show the Plutonian in a relationship. It was tough because he acts like a lout for a couple of pages, but you want to have some sympathy for him as well.

Matt Gagnon—our editor on the book—really loved that we pulled it off. That was a poignant scene, and it’s one that I think will be hotly debated by our readers.

O’Shea: Do you think the fact this new title will be a tale about the path to evil, do you expect that be a harder sell to readership, or do you think because of Waid’s track record with books like Empire people are hungry for another book tapping into that dark nature of the supersoul?

Krause: I’d hate to limit the scope of the book to just being a tale about the path to evil. I think it’s also about good people trying to oppose that evil, and what steps they would go to stop it. When you get to the end of the second issue, I think you’ll know what I mean.

Mark’s track record speaks for itself, and I think there are plenty of readers that will be on board because he’s writing “Irredeemable”.

O’Shea: Once you started working on the book, but it had not been announced, how hard was it for you not to tease folks about it at your blog?

Krause: Ah yes, my blog. I’ve been so bad at updating it, so it wasn’t that hard!

I don’t know how the rest of you do it with your flickr, and your twitters and your Facebook! I have work to do, pages to draw!

Okay, I’ll try to calm down now. And I’ll also start posting more on the blog. If the BOOM! crew says it’s okay, I can maybe put a few artistic teases for “Irredeemable” there.

O’Shea: Who is inking and coloring you on this assignment and how much have they made your best stuff look even better?

Krause: I’m inking myself on this, which has been fun. And our colorist is the amazing Andrew Dalhouse. I hope we can keep him around for awhile, because he’s doing a great job.

O’Shea: In addition to Popgun and Irredeemable, do you have any time for other creative pursuits in 2009?

Krause: I continue to do some storyboard work, but with the workload of a monthly, I’m not pursuing any other comic work right now.

Drawing “Irredeemable” is a lot of fun, and I hope people will give us a try.

Now, back to the drawing board!