merchandise
BOOM! launches new ‘literary comics’ imprint, BOOM! Town
Robert Crumb trading cards
Publishers Weekly reports that BOOM! Studios is launching a separate imprint called BOOM! Town, under which they plan to publish and market “literary comics,” selective reissues of out-of-print works and merchandising. And they’re working with a couple of well known names in this area: former Kitchen Sink publisher Denis Kitchen and Too Much Coffee Man creator Shannon Wheeler.
Although their publishing plans are still being finalized, they’ll start off by reissuing a set of 36 trading cards by R. Crumb that were originally released by Kitchen Sink Press in 1991. They also plan to release a Too Much Coffee Man mug and I Thought You Would be Funnier, a collection of Wheeler’s rejected New Yorker cartoons that can be read online at the Activate site.
It also sounds like they may be publishing some of Harvey Kurtzman’s work, based on this quote from Kitchen:
“Denis Kitchen Publishing has four R. Crumb card sets that are perennials, [Harvey] Kurtzman’s The Grasshopper & The Ant and other books that could do much better in the marketplace with a real company’s attention. So I’ve entered into a distribution arrangement with Boom! to free myself more to represent clients as a literary agent but also to do more directly creative things like writing and packaging new books.”
It’s been a big week for BOOM! news; in addition to BOOM! Town, they’ve also got a Samuel L. Jackson-written series on the way, a new ongoing featuring Scorpius from Farscape and something in the works with CBGB.
- January 26, 2010 @ 11:09 AM by JK Parkin
Straight for the art | Jess Fink’s David Bowie
David Bowie by Jess Fink
She’s best known as the writer/artist behind the deliciously dirty, very NSFW webcomic Chester 5000 XYV. But Jess Fink is apparently quite crafty as well — she took this gorgeous illustration of David Bowie’s short-lived glam-pirate look and turned it into a pair earrings she gave a friend for Christmas. Click here to see the jaunty jewelry in its finished form.
I just have two questions: 1) How can I get Fink into my David Bowie sketchbook? and 2) Where can I get a pair of those earrings?
- December 22, 2009 @ 02:30 PM by Sean T. Collins
Put your money where your comics are (or something like that)
It's Storm, but in wallet form
Now that we’ve officially turned the corner on Halloween, it’s time to start thinking about holiday shopping. No, don’t make that face, I’m being serious.
And if you’re shopping for that special comic book aficionado in your life and not sure what to get them, why not consider a wallet? More precise, a Comic Wallet. Albert Doan, of Calgary, Canada, turns old (and some new) comic books and turns them into laminated, reinforced wallet, which he then sells on his site for about $20-$30 a pop. He’s even got a series of Blackest Night wallets available, if you just can’t get enough DC zombies. He also handles special requests, so if you’ve been anxiously craving to certain sequences from say, Faust, folded up and stuffed in your back pocket, now’s your chance. Myself, I’m holding out for a Little Lulu set.
- November 2, 2009 @ 11:00 AM by Chris Mautner
Apparently chicks dig the suit, too
Replica Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit
Universal Designs has released more information and few more promo images for the replica Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit that Larry Young linked to a few months back. According to the press release, the suit includes “a full-leather jacket that includes lightweight interior lining, as well as molded-leather and Kevlar armor sections; pants that include heavy-duty, four-way stretch Spandex inserts and CE-approved armor; authentic gloves and boots that replicate the amazing on-screen design.”
They only plan to create 1,000 of them, and they cost $998. You can order one — and check out all their Dark Knight-themed merchandise — here. It’s pricey, but takes cosplay to a whole other level. More promo images and a video of the suit can be found after the jump.
- October 2, 2009 @ 10:27 AM by JK Parkin
More Lantern Corps rings on the way
Black Lantern ring
Remember those Black Lantern rings that DC Comics offered to retailers to help promote the comic? If you missed yours, or if you had misgivings about supporting the bad guys, you’re in luck. DC is going to create rings based on all of the other colors of the various Lantern Corps., so you’ll have the opportunity to show your support for Sinestro and his the devious Yellow Lanterns, Saint Walker and his boys in blue, or even the mysterious Indigo tribe.
Show your true colors, or sell them on eBay … your choice.
Here are the details on how retailers can get a hold of the rings, per DC’s Direct Channels email to retailers … each bag of rings costs $8:
- For every 25 copies of Doom Patrol #4 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 yellow promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Nov. 4.
- For every 25 copies of Booster Gold #26 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 orange promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Nov. 18.
- For every 50 copies of Justice League of America #39 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 red promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores on Dec. 2.
- For every 50 copies of Blackest Night #5 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 green promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores on Dec. 16.
- For every 50 copies of Adventure Comics #4 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 blue promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Dec. 30.
- For every 25 copies of R.E.B.E.L.S #10 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 Indigo promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Jan. 13.
- August 19, 2009 @ 08:05 AM by JK Parkin
Straight for the art | Minty fresh James Jean art
Coming soon from Giant Robot are three different packages of mints designed by artist James Jean. Check out the other two designs by following the link.
- August 17, 2009 @ 10:40 AM by JK Parkin
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to Kung Pao Chicken.
Kotobukiya
Now here’s an idea that’s a long time in the making. Next year Kotobukiya will release “Chop Sabers” — a mash-up of Star Wars lightsabers and chopsticks. They come in three varieties: Darth Vader red, Luke Skywalker blue and a smaller Yoda green for the kids.
Although the chop sabers won’t be out until 2010, if you’re going to San Diego next week you can not only check them out, but also participate in Chop Saber Duels. “Fans will get a chance to test their Chopstick skills by competing against members of the 501st Legion to see who really is the ‘Chop Saber Jedi,’” reads their website. “These tests of dexterity will result in the winners (Jedis) taking home a prize!”
Kotobukiya’s booth is #2601. Start practicing now.
- July 16, 2009 @ 08:37 AM by JK Parkin
SDCC ’09 | NBM, Disney and more
The 2009 San Diego Comic-Con kicks off in two weeks. If you are a publisher, creator, retailer or any other kind of exhibitor who would like to let folks know about any special plans you have for the show (panels, signing schedules, exclusives, debuts, etc.) drop me an email and I’ll run it here.
Registered Weapon
Webcomics | Gardner Linn, one of the creators behind Registered Weapon, sent word that the first print collection of “the webcomic about a crime-fighting robot who used to be a cash register” will premiere at San Diego, “guerrilla style.”
“Booths will soon be an outmoded concept in the every-man-for-himself comics industry of the future (just like paper and paying for things), so writers Gardner Linn and Chris Thorn will be hitting the show guerrilla-style, passing out copies to anybody who wants one (and even more people who don’t),” he writes. “And keep coming back to http://registered-weapon.com for more info as the con approaches, and new comics four times a week.”
BTW, I really dig this webcomic; go check it out if you’re looking for off-the-wall laughs.
Comics | NBM has released their booth signing schedule, which includes appearances by Lewis Trondheim, Neil Kleid, Rick Geary and more. Kleid’s new book, The Big Kahn, will debut at the show.
- July 9, 2009 @ 11:20 AM by JK Parkin
For the Steve Rogers fan who has everything (except a bloody T-shirt)
"Captain America: Reborn" T-shirt
What better way is there to celebrate the return of Steve Rogers in July’s Captain America: Reborn than with a T-shirt … splattered with red ink … that, um, evokes the character’s supposed assassination more than two years ago?
But hey! Look at that John Cassaday art! (And the blood. My lord, the blood.) The $18 shirt — a “Dads & Grads” gift idea — is available exclusively from the Official Marvel Shop.
(via IESB)
- June 18, 2009 @ 08:19 AM by Kevin Melrose
Just Past the Horizon: This is not an auspicious start.
Women’s Wear Daily published an article last week about Marvel’s new line of women’s apparel and cosmetics that featured this image:
Admittedly, the image itself is cute.
The shirt itself doesn’t harm anything by existing. I don’t object to it any more than I’d object to seeing a T-shirt featuring Jenny Sparks, the Engineer, and Swift that says “I love to see women in Authority.” It’s a cute idea. I do have serious problems with it being alone in that article. Well, not alone. It’s on display with some heart pendants featuring Spider-man/Gwen Stacy and Spider-Man/Green Goblin (which I predict will be a surprisingly good seller) and lip gloss tubes featuring unrecognizable characters kissing. And that begs the question… Where are the female superheroes in this superhero merchandise aimed at female people?
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- April 5, 2009 @ 11:02 AM by Lisa Fortuner