This weekend has been the Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon. It's been a busy weekend for me personally as I balance the workload of setting up at a major convention with having a bunch of friends and aquaintances in from out of town and needing to hook up with them. Days are spent selling comics in the booth, nights are spent entertaining and being entertaining in the great white north.
A brief recap:
1. I've had 2 McDonalds Double Cheeseburgers a day for the past 3 days. I'm not proud, but these really are the food equivilant of crack. Also, they inhibit hangovers. 2. I'm pushing three days in a row with 4 hours sleep. 3. If you weren't at Karaoke tonight with us, you suck. Sorry. 4. All my friends and loved ones won the Shuster Awards, and so I'm very happy. Congratulations in particular to Chris Oliveros/D&Q (Best publisher), J. Torres (Best Writer), Strange Adventures (best comic store), and Mal (best cartoonist). Yay!
So. Yeah. Thanks to Jon for driving my drunk ass to Mickey D's and to Andrew for putting up with me in general. It was good to see everyone, and I'lll try not to be drunk 2morrow.
Hey folks! I know this information will make it to comic shops everywhere tomorrow in the new Previews, I was a bit tardy posting them this month. Still, at least now you get the great big pictures and maybe it will brighten your interest.
Actually, question, would anyone like me to start posting the solicits for other publishers too? I get Fantagraphics' and Slave Labor's way ahead of time, and could probably ask a few other pubs too. Are you interested? Post in the comments.
Click on any image to view a larger version.
Louis Riel NEW TRADE PAPERBACK EDITION By Chester Brown TRADE PAPERBACK, 280 pages, 6 x 9 inches, b/w. $ 17.95 USD 1-894937-89-9
Available for the first time in paperback. Chester Brown reinvents the comic book medium to create the critically acclaimed, best-selling historical biography Louis Riel, winning the Harvey Awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps insane, nineteenth-century Métis leader. Brown cooly documents with dramatic subtlety the violent rebellion on the Canadian prairie led by Riel, who some regard a martyr who died in the name freedom, while others consider him a treacherous murderer.
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The Little Man NEW TRADE PAPERBACK EDITION By Chester Brown TRADE PAPERBACK, 192 pages, 6 x 9 inches, b/w. $ 14.95 USD 1-896597-13-0
The Little Man is Chester Brown's classic collection of short stories that has been out of print for three years. It returns in this new edition, complete with all-new covers and revised notes by Brown. The Little Man is perhaps the best example of Brown's superior range of storytelling ability, covering everything from his early experimental comedic surrealism to his later autobiographical and essay strips, including the much-discussed strip "My Mom was a Schizophrenic."
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Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Volume 4 Featuring Gabrielle Bell, Dan Zettwoch, Martin Cendreda TRADE PAPERBACK, 104 pages, 7 x 10 inches, full-color. $ 14.95 USD 1-896597-98-X
Drawn & Quarterly Showcase is the first anthology dedicated to publishing new major talent and it has one of the best track records to date, with past contributors including Kevin Huizenga, Jeffrey Brown, Sammy Harkham, Matt Broesma, and Genevieve Elverum. This new volume is no exception: featuring three North American cartoonists, Dan Zettwoch (The Ghost of Dragon Canoe) of St. Louis, Gabrielle Bell (When I¹m Old) of Brooklyn and Martin Cendreda (Giant Robot, Dang!) of Los Angeles. Zettwoch and Bell have both contributed to the award-winning anthology Kramers Ergot.
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Ed The Happy Clown # 8 By Chester Brown Comic book, 6 x 9 inches, 24 b/w pages. $ 2.95 USD
The penultimate chapter of this 1980s classic begins as Josie, in the form of a vampire, avenges her death by killing Chet. Pygmies still roam the streets, and one devours the remains of Chet's body... All of this, plus previously unpublished art, new covers and extensive commentary by Chester Brown.
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This month also sees a reoffer of the second Drawn & Quarterly Showcase, featuring Jeffrey Brown, Pentti Otsamo, and Erik De Graaf.
PW Comics Week Really Interesting This Week It's got me, my friends, and things I'm interested in. Hoo-ray! http://www.publishersweekly.com
The new PW Comics Week arrived in my inbox this morning, and there's like 4 or 5 articles of note, which is kind of awesome considering I don't think I even read it last week. But then I've been busy, it's probably no one's fault but my own. Still! Great stuff, including the headline:
"PW Comics Week: Disney's magic kingdoms of Abadazad and Jellaby"
The lead article announces that my friend and Karaoke compatriot Kean Soo's Jellaby series has been picked up by Disney. This is exceptionally good news not only for Kean and "webcomics", but also for me because it means that Kean is buying drinks from now on. Maybe they'll give him a Disney Card. You can read a bunch of the story online at http://www.secretfriendsociety.com/.
Then there's a really good article on the controversy surrounding Paul Gravett's 60 Years of Manga being pulled from the shelves of a California library. I previously commented on this story by swearing a lot. Always up-to-the-minute, Tom Spurgeon at http://www.comicsreporter.com has a link to the latest round of the controversy.
Back in PW Comics week, there's an article on the collection of Joey Comeau and Emily Horne's webcomic A Softer World. I've been linking to it on the sidebar for a while but I never really mentioned it (I figured Warren Ellis had done the work for me). Still, it's a great comic strip and I'm happy to see a super-small press doing a unique style of comic strip collection getting this attention. Also, of note, I finished Comeau's novel Lockpick Pornography and it's very good. Militant queer politics and the corruption of beloved children's icons, what's not to love? Go read a bunch of it and order it online at http://www.lockpickbook.net/.
And look, it's an interview with me in the PW Comics Week! Writer Kai-Ming Cha loves the manga (we had an interesting exchange in New York because I thought the Socrates In Love manga was crap and she may have cried while reading it), and during the interview we did on Japanese manga-ka Kiriko Nananan our excitement for the work was palpable. I really, really love her graphic novel Blue, and have been hungry for more of her work since Secret Comics Japan. In addition to being quoted for the article on Nananan's new book for CPM, I learned a lot from it too and am anticipating it more than ever. I should probably note that the relationship between CPM and Diamond is adversarial (to put it mildly), so retailers looking to pick up this book (or really any of CPM or BE BEAUTIFUL's material) really ought to contact CPM or Cold Cut post-haste.
...and I'm out of time to blog. Sorry folks! You can check out Publisher's Weekly online at http://www.publishersweekly.com for more new articles including some interesting reviews, and features on Drawn & Quarterly and Phaidon's upcoming comics publishing plans.
I was just going through the solicitations for Tokyopop's new titles on the retailer website, and I noticed a couple of things;
a) The solicitations leave out creator credits (for the most part) b) Without seeing the creator credits and knowing whether the books were 'manga' 'manwha' or 'OEL', my gut level reactions to the premises and solicits were very different.
So I decided we should make a little blogging game out of it. In the time-honoured tradition of Gay or Eurotrash? I bring you: Manga, Manwha, or Original English Language? We'll try and guess where the book originated and why, laying our biases bare for the world to see. Sounds like a horrible, amusing idea right?
Here're the Solicitations:
REPLAY VOL 1 GN (OF 3) Follow the life of Cree, the lead singer for a punk band. When her bass player quits, Cree’s in a tough spot–until she meets Izsak, bass player extraordinaire. He’s the answer to all her prayers! But when she finds out that Izsak is actually a zombie, those dreams become nightmares. Before long, two vampires from the Shadow World begin stalking the band and will stop at nothing until they kill Cree...or lure her over to the dark side! SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... OEL. First of the character name is Cree and the bass player's name sounds like a shitty MySpace alias, and the whole thing sounds a bit crap. Would never have made it past a Japanese editor is my guess...
RETURN TO LABYRINTH VOL 1 GN (OF 3) After having survived his initial visit, Toby has returned home and has grown up. As he has grown he has noticed that many things have come very easily to him, even when under pressure. Little does he know that Jareth, the Goblin King, has been looking out for his best interests . . . SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... OEL. Or whatever Princess Ai is considered anyway. Licensed material is the give-away, although it sounds kind of interesting I have to admit. I think I've read something about this on Newsarama or something and could go check, but that would undercutt the fun of guessing...
GRENADIER VOL 1 GN (OF 7) Rushuna is a beautiful, blonde Senshi (gun expert) who travels the world with one purpose: to make the world a peaceful place. She does this by taking away the people’s will to fight by giving them a smile. However, the journey of nonviolence is never an easy one, so watch out when she is forced to display her amazing gun skills... SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manga. The premise is pretty esoteric in a Japanese way, and the use of a Japanese term in the text makes me want to lay my money there rather than on Korea. Besides, at 7 volumes that would make it the longest OEL yet...
AFTERLIFE VOL 1 GN (OF 3) Thaddeus and Mercutio are guardians in the Afterlife, maintaining the peace in this strange world of the dead that gets more crowded every day. As the population reaches its limit, the organic mass that is the body of this world begins to show signs of sickness and decay! The inquisitive Thaddeus sets out to find an answer to it all, much to the chagrin of his best friend Mercutio, who needs help finding his one true love. SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... OEL. Almost all of the OEL manga seem to be on three-book contracts, which is my first hint. That and capitalizing "the Afterlife" just screams lack of imagination. You can't copyright "Afterlife". Sounds completely unappealling too.
BECAUSE I’M THE GODDESS VOL 1 GN (OF 3) Goddess Pandora has been sent to Earth to collect "gifts" that were spread among humans. Sure she has a nice body that can tempt anyone, but when she uses her powers, she shrinks to a young girl’s body! The only way for her to regain her voluptuous power is to kiss her reluctant peon, Aoi. SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manga. Japanese character names, body transformation, and shameless pandering=Japan. The three-volume run and English title are throwing me off a little bit. I'm going to go with America being Puritans at heart, precluding the intergenerational sex comedy. This is the one I'm least sure about though, as it feels very manga-and-anime influenced, if you get my meaning? The name "Aoi" which translates into either blue or inexperienced seems a bit obvious for Japanese readers. Actually, you know what? I'm CHANGING MY VOTE. My vote is... OEL. It just seems too obvious.
BIRD KISS VOL 1 GN (OF 2) Miyoul is a feisty, boy-crazed girl who is in love with Guelin, a talk, dark, and handsome high school boy. But Heerack, a short and scrawny junior high boy, has the hots for Miyoul, and worships her every move. Of course, Miyoul is awfully embarrassed of him and tries to avoid him like the plague! Filled with the trials and tribulations of high school–and a few wacky, slapstick moments–this teen romance is a take on the much- loved Frog Prince fairytale. SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manwha. The Korean names are all I'm going on here, as the story seems open enough that more-or-less anyone could have created it. Sounds like it'll be a fun-enough series though.
GENJU NO SEIZA VOL 1 GN (OF 13) Kamishina Fuuto would like to think he’s a normal boy, but he is the reincarnation of the High Priest of Darashaal, a tiny Asian country that has just celebrated the inauguration of...its new high priest. Clearly, only one of them is the true priest, and unfortunately for Kamishina, it is he. As the celestial guardians come to dispose of him, they discover that he is not, as their leader Naga says, a fake. Kamishina just wants to be normal and live a normal life, but he is constantly drawn into trouble as he has an extremely keen spiritual sense and the ability to soothe ghosts. SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manga. The character names scream 'Japan!', but honestly it's the themes that feel the most like manga to me. Reluctant hero with generational responsibilities, etc. etc. Although Kamishina is sort of long for a character name in most manga. Maybe he'll just go by "Fuu" or something.
GO WITH GRACE GN Grace, a bedridden girl with no reason to live, is visited one night by a mysterious boy who invites her to leave her room. As they journey together to strange and wonderous cities, it slowly becomes clear that the boy is dead! In this simple yet poignant story that deals with the universal themes of life, death and dreams, will Grace finally find the courage to let go of this life and join him? SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... OEL. Unless they changed the Japanese title of this book into that awful, awful fucking pun (and no offense intended, I fully and completely believe they would). Anyway, it's a one-shot which Tokyopop doesn't do too often, and that awful pun-title... Yikes...
MITSUKAZU MIHARA SHIGESHOSHI VOL 1 GN (OF 3) A drama series from the creator of Doll centered around an embalmer in Japan. As with all Mitsukazu Mihara manga, Shigeshoshi features some creative episodic stories, this time around with a life and death theme. SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manga. Because they tell me in the description.
PEACH GIRL SAES STORY VOL 1 GN (OF 2) Kairi and Momo are now attending university together and are finally happy. Sae has been left behind after failing her last year of high school due to her poor attendance. We follow Sae’s adventures as she reunites with a childhood love and deals with high school life (gulp! ) again. SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manga. Because it's the sequel to a popular manga.
SAVER VOL 1 GN (OF 7) Lena Ha is a tough and beautiful girl who is also the captain of the Kendo team. Though skilled in swordplay, she is totally unprepared when she discovers that she has fallen in love with her long-lost stepbrother! Unable to withstand her emotions, Lena runs away and has a near-death experience that takes her to a new world where her destiny is changed forever. Thus, the adventure begins! SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manwha. It's a tough choice between the book being of Korean or Japanese origin, actually. I just felt that Manwha was underrepresented this month. Thus, I'm guessing at it!
VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR (HOSHI NO KOE) GN To what distance would you go for your one true love? In the midst of an alien invasion, Mikako joins the resistance, leaving behind the one young man she loves. As she goes deeper into space, Mikako’s only connection with her boyfriend is through cell-phone text messages. The war rages on and years pass, but Mikako barely ages in the timelessness of space while Noboru grows old. How can the love of two people, torn apart by war, survive? SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manga. Because it's based on an anime.
ZYWORD GN In a world filled with magic and oozing with RPG elements, a young female spell caster is destined to save the land! Tamayo Akiyama, a former member of CLAMP, has crafted a unique shojo fantasy adventure. SC, 5x7, 192pgs, B&W $9.99
My vote is... Manga. Because if there were any non-Japanese former members of CLAMP then it's news to me.
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So that's everything. Either later tonight with some web-searching, or on Wednesday when the new catalogue comes out, I should be able to score how well I did. I feel like I should have front-loaded more OEL though, as the OEL releases are generally right up at the front of the Tokyopop section. Feel free to put your guesses in the comments if you like, no cheating though!
It's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Just kidding, Free Comic Book Day isn't until May 6th, but this is the week that most comic shop retailers receive their stock for the big day, and maybe if you ask really nicely they'll let you sneak a peak. Maybe they won't though, comic shop owners are pretty irritable on the whole.
Man, people are really looking forward to this. Every week it's all "I thought a new 100 Bullets trade was supposed to be out? Where's the new trade?" You'd think it was Scott Pilgrim 3 or something...
FEB062007 ALL NEW OFF HANDBOOK MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z #4 3.99 FEB062008 AMAZING FANTASY #20 2.99 FEB061990 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #531 2.99 JAN068222 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3RD PTG #529 (PP #710) 2.50 FEB060314 AMERICAN WAY #3 (OF 8) 2.99 FEB063125 ANGEL SCRIPTBOOK #2 3.99 FEB063272 ANIMA VOL 1 GN 9.99
FEB062004 ANNIHILATION RONAN #1 (OF 4) 2.99
Because you demanded it! Ronan The Accuser in his own comic! You can die happy now, nerd.
DEC052943 ARMY OF DARKNESS #6 (RES) 2.99 JAN063031 ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL TP (RES) (MR) 14.95 FEB063268 ARTISTS ON COMIC ART SC (NEW PTG) 16.95 FEB062046 ASTONISHING X-MEN #14 2.99 FEB062070 ASTONISHING X-MEN VOL 1 HC VAR 29.99 FEB062917 BART SIMPSON COMICS #29 2.99 FEB060222 BATMAN #652 2.50 FEB060224 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #204 2.50
JAN068226 BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED SECOND PTG #1 (OF 4) 5.99 JAN068227 BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED SECOND PTG #2 (OF 4) 5.99
Actually, congrats to DC for doing the right thing on this one and keeping this series in print. BATMAN: YEAR ONE HUNDRED is really excellent, a fun-fun-fun comic about the impending government crackdown on freedom. Well, not really impending but you catch my drift. I'm not normally one to recommend a Batman comic, but I think Paul Pope is really going above-and-beyond on this, and it's hella-enjoyable. Although doing second-prints of the first two issues probably means a delay on the trade paperback... Ah well. At least we stocked-up on these.
FEB062854 BETTY & VERONICA #217 2.25 MAR063636 BIZARRO ART OF DAN PIRARO TP (C: 0-1-0) 24.95 FEB063375 BLACK CAT VOL 2 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.99 JAN062995 BLACK HARVEST #5 (OF 6) 3.25 FEB061994 BLACK PANTHER #15 2.99 FEB060260 BLUE BEETLE #2 2.99 FEB063191 BOY PRINCESS VOL 2 GN (OF 9) 9.99 FEB063273 BOYS OF SUMMER VOL 1 GN (OF 3) (MR) 9.99 FEB060300 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #20 2.25 FEB060227 CATWOMAN #54 2.50 FEB060263 CHECKMATE #1 2.99 JAN062810 CHRONO MECHANICS PREVIOUS METAL COLL PLATINUM #1 3.50 JAN062944 CLIFTON VOL 2 LAUGHING THIEF TP 9.99 FEB062944 CLIFTON VOL 3 SEVEN DAYS TO DIE TP 9.99 FEB063136 CLIVE BARKERS GREAT AND SECRET SHOW #2 (OF 12) 3.99 FEB063353 COLLECTED JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR VOL 5 TP 24.95 FEB063032 COMPLETE PEANUTS VOL 5 1959-1960 HC (C: 1-0-0) 28.95 FEB060265 CRISIS AFTERMATH THE BATTLE FOR BLUDHAVEN #2 (OF 6 2.99 FEB063383 D GRAY MAN VOL 1 GN (C: 1-0-0) 7.99 OCT052950 DARK EDGE VOL 6 TP 9.95 FEB062010 DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON #4 (OF 6) 2.99 FEB063293 DAZZLE VOL 2 GN (OF 7) 9.99 FEB063275 DEATH JAM VOL 1 GN (OF 3) (MR) 9.99
FEB063382 DEATH NOTE VOL 5 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.99
HOLY SHIT TEH DEATHNOTE! This series, Naruto, and Fullmetal Alchemist are in a three-way battle for complete manga supremecy with our customers. Kind of a feather in Viz's cap, eh? (Edited for clarity)
FEB062079 DECIMATION X-MEN THE DAY AFTER TP 15.99 FEB062067 DEFENDERS INDEFENSIBLE PREMIERE HC 19.99 FEB061776 DOLL & CREATURE #2 (OF 4) 2.99 FEB063376 DR SLUMP VOL 7 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.99 JUN053454 DRAW COMICS WITH DICK GIORDANO TP (C: 0-1-2) 19.99 FEB063500 DRAWING BLOOD 45 YEARS OF SCARFE UNCENSORED HC (MR 55.00 MAR063180 ED THE HAPPY CLOWN #7 (OF 9) (MR) 2.95 FEB062013 FANTASTIC FOUR #537 2.99 JAN063068 FLARE #33 3.25 FEB060267 FLASH ARCHIVES VOL 4 HC 49.99 FEB063085 FLUFFY #4 (OF 4) (C: 0-1-2) 15.99 FEB061998 FOUR #29 2.99 FEB061756 FRANK CHO WOMEN SELECTED DRAWINGS & ILLUSTRATIONS 24.99 FEB062927 GALAXY ANGEL BETA VOL 2 GN (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB063296 GET BACKERS VOL 14 GN (OF 26) (MR) 9.99 FEB061779 GODLAND #10 2.99 NOV050029 H G WELLS THE WAR OF THE WORLDS HC (C: 0-1-2) 14.95 FEB060271 HAWKGIRL #51 2.50 FEB062978 HOW TO SELF PUBLISH COMICS #3 (OF 4) 4.95 FEB063384 HUNTER X HUNTER VOL 8 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.99 FEB063001 IL GATTO SUL G GN (MR) 12.95 FEB062017 INCREDIBLE HULK #94 2.99 DEC051773 INVINCIBLE #31 2.99 FEB060273 ION #1 (OF 12) 2.99 FEB062015 IRON MAN THE INEVITABLE #5 (OF 6) 2.99 FEB063385 IS VOL 7 GN (C: 1-0-0) 7.99 JAN063252 JAMES BOND GOLDEN GHOST TP (C: 0-1-2) 17.95 DEC052773 JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC #5 (NEW PTG) 2.95 JAN060348 KAMIKAZE KAITO JEANNE VOL 3 (C: 3) 9.99 JAN063401 KIKIS DELIVERY SERVICE FILM COMICS VOL 1 TP (C: 1- 9.99 DEC051758 KILROY IS HERE TP 24.99 FEB063303 KING OF HELL VOL 13 GN (OF 13) 9.99 FEB063377 KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC VOL 15 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.95 FEB063197 LET DAI VOL 2 GN (OF 15) 9.99 FEB060335 LUCIFER #73 (MR) 2.75 SEP052680 LULLABY #3 2.99 FEB063276 MADE IN HEAVEN JURI GN (MR) 9.99 JAN063589 MANGA GUIDE TO SUDOKU TP (C: 0-1-2) 9.99 FEB062073 MARVEL MASTERWORKS X-MEN VOL 6 NEW ED HC 49.99 FEB062044 MARVEL MILESTONES BEAST & KITTY PRYDE 3.99 MAR060008 MARVEL PREVIEWS #33 MAY 2006 EXTRAS (NET) 0.99 FEB063312 MENKUI VOL 1 GN (OF 3) (MR) 9.99 JAN060068 MICHAEL CHABON PRESENTS ADV O/T ESCAPIST VOL 3 TP 14.95 FEB063305 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED NOVEL VOL 3 (OF 5) 7.99 MAR062860 MOMS CANCER HC 12.95
FEB062031 NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 3.99
Kinda looking forward to this. It's the wedding of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage.
FEB062084 NEW X-MEN CHILDHOODS END VOL 1 TP 10.99 FEB063463 NEWTYPE ENG ED W/ DVD MAY 2006 (C: 0-1-2) 12.98 FEB063199 NOT SO BAD VOL 1 GN (OF 2) 9.99 DEC053470 NUDE MAGAZINE #8 (C: 0-1-2) 8.95 SEP051700 NYC MECH BETA LOVE #6 (OF 6) 2.99 DEC052761 ODYSSEY ABSOLUTE POWER ONE SHOT 4.99 JAN062809 ORION THE HUNTER #1 (OF 4) 3.50 FEB062822 PARIS #4 (OF 4) 2.95 JAN063183 POLLY & THE PIRATES #5 (OF 6) 2.99 MAR060007 PREVIEWS VOL XVI #5 (NET) 4.50 FEB063378 PRINCE OF TENNIS VOL 13 GN (C: 1-0-0) 7.95 DEC052938 RED SONJA VS THULSA DOOM #3 (OF 4) 3.50 FEB063279 ROZEN MAIDEN VOL 1 GN (OF 4) 9.99 FEB062037 RUNAWAYS #15 2.99 FEB063379 RUROUNI KENSHIN VOL 26 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.95 FEB062860 SABRINA VOL 2 #75 2.25 FEB062909 SAMURAI CHAMPLOO FILM MANGA VOL 1 GN (C: 1-0-0) 10.99 FEB063308 SAMURAI DEEPER KYO VOL 18 GN (OF 31) (MR) 9.99 FEB061764 SAVAGE DRAGON #125 (RES) 4.99 FEB063309 SCRAPPED PRINCESS VOL 3 GN (OF 3) 9.99 FEB062038 SENTRY #8 (OF 8) 2.99
FEB063380 SHAMAN KING VOL 9 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.95 FEB063280 SHRINE OF THE MORNING MIST VOL 1 GN (OF 4) 9.99 FEB062867 SHRUGGED BEGINNINGS 1.99 SEP052679 SIXGUN SAMURAI #5 2.99 FEB060320 SKYE RUNNER #1 2.99 FEB060321 SKYE RUNNER VARIANT COVER #1 (OF 6) 2.99 FEB060286 SOLO #10 4.99 DEC051782 SPAWN #155 2.95 FEB061993 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #5 2.99 FEB060048 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #4 (C: 1-0-0 2.99 FEB060049 STAR WARS TAG & BINK EPISODE 1 REVENGE OF THE CLON 2.99 JAN060143 STATIONERY SET GRACE SLICKS WHITE RABBIT (C: 0-1-2 4.99 MAR063685 STILL ANGRY GIRLS HC (C: 0-1-0) 14.95 FEB062052 STORM #3 (OF 6) 2.99 FEB060287 SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #17 2.99 FEB063559 SUPERHERO KIT TP 6.99 FEB060299 TEEN TITANS GO #30 2.25 JAN060350 TENRYU THE DRAGON CYCLE VOL 5 (C: 3) 9.99 FEB062043 THING #6 2.99
FEB062809 TRON #1 3.50
The first issue of Slave Labor Graphics' Tron relaunch drops this week, and I'm kind of curious about it.
FEB061985 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #29 2.99 FEB063386 ULTIMATE MUSCLE VOL 12 GN (C: 1-0-0) 7.95 FEB063059 UNCLE SCROOGE #353 6.95 FEB060061 USAGI YOJIMBO #93 2.99 FEB060255 VILLAINS UNITED INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL 4.99 FEB063060 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #668 6.95 FEB060296 WARLORD #3 2.99 FEB062087 WHAT IF MIRROR MIRROR TP 16.99 JAN062928 WHAT WERE THEY THINKING SOME PEOPLE NEVER LEARN ON 3.99 FEB063381 WHISTLE VOL 11 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.99 MAR063251 WINGS GN 14.95 MAR062844 WIZARD COMICS MAGAZINE MARVEL CIVIL WAR CVR #176 ( 5.99 MAR062845 WIZARD COMICS MAGAZINE X3 MOVIE PHOTO CVR #176 (C: 5.99 MAR063665 WOLF BOY HC (C: 0-1-2) 23.00 FEB062002 WOLVERINE #41 3.99 FEB063269 WRITERS ON COMICS SCRIPTWRITING SC (NEW PTG) (C: 0 16.95 FEB062056 X-FACTOR #6 2.99 JAN062945 YAKARI VOL 2 WHITE BUFFALO TP 9.99 FEB062945 YAKARI VOL 3 BEAVERS TP 9.99
FEB063259 ZOOM SUIT #1 2.95
I don't know if you've personally noticed, but there's been a ton of promo for this series, including a movie tie-in and advertising and a lot of stuff targetted at retailers. I've seen a preview of the first issue and it's decent, competent art throughout and of a much higher quality than most first-issue-from-a-new-publisher efforts. I haven't read it yet though, and will like do so first thing Wednesday.
...and arriving for Free Comic Book Day...
FEB060036 AMELIA RULES 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060023 ARCANA STUDIO PRESENTS #3 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060011 ARCHIE COMICS 65TH ANNIVERSARY BASH FCBD ED (NET) DEC052944 ARMY OF DARKNESS SKETCH ED INCENTIVE #6 (NET) (RES FEB060033 BLUFF & TALES FROM A FORGOTTEN PLANET FCBD ED (NET FEB060012 BONGOS FREE FOR ALL 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060037 BUZZBOY SIDEKICKS RULE #1 FCBD ED 2006 (NET) FEB060027 COMIC GENESIS GENERATIONS 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060026 DEADBEATS SOUL SEARCHERS 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060034 FREE SCOTT PILGRIM 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060034 FREE SCOTT PILGRIM 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060029 FUNNY BOOK #2 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060019 FUTURE SHOCK 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060016 GI JOE SIGMA 6 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060016 GI JOE SIGMA 6 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060030 IMPACT UNIVERSITY VOL 2 FCBD EDITION (NET) FEB060025 JACK THE LANTERN 1942 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060014 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #1 FCBD EDITION (NET) FEB060014 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #1 FCBD EDITION (NET) FEB060014 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #1 FCBD EDITION (NET) FEB060032 KEENSPOT SPOTLIGHT 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060031 LIBERTY GIRL #0 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060028 MR JEAN FCBD ED (NET) JAN068039 MTG 9TH EDITION PLAYERS GUIDE FCBD EDITION (NET) FEB060035 OWLY BREAKIN THE ICE FCBD ED 2006 (NET) FEB060022 PREPOSTEROUS VOYAGES OF IRONHIDE TOM 2006 FCBD ED FEB060013 STAR WARS CONAN FLIP BOOK FCBD EDITION (NET) (C: 1 DEC058382 SUPERMAN BATMAN #1 FCBD EDITION (NET) (PP #705) FEB060021 TOKYOPOP SNEAK FCBD ED GN (NET) FEB060021 TOKYOPOP SNEAK FCBD ED GN (NET) FEB060018 TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS (IDW) 2006 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060038 VIPER COMICS PRESENTS DEAD AT 17 & MORE FCBD ED (N FEB060017 WALT DISNEYS DONALD DUCK FCBD ED 2006 (NET) FEB060039 WIZARD PRESENTS THE TOP 100 TPS REVISED FCBD ED (N FEB060024 WORLDS OF ASPEN #1 FCBD ED (NET) FEB060020 X-MEN/RUNAWAYS FCBD ED (NET)
I really did like Frank Miller's Wonder-Woman-Ass-Shot cover, for exactly the same reasons that I think these covers are awesome. Kudos to the creator!
Thanks to Johanna for the heads-up (and a belated happy anniversary!).
Big Toronto Convention Next Weekend A Largely Unedited Press Release for my friends at Paradise http://www.torontocomicon.com
Paradise Toronto Comicon Next Weekend Industry News, Scoop, Friday, April 21, 2006
The award-winning Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon: A Celebration of Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Manga and Sequential Art returns in 2006 for what promises to be another exceptional year. The three day event will be held in Hall C at Toronto, Canada's National Trade Centre (www.ntc.on.ca) at Exhibition Place. "We're moving to the new side of the facility this year" explained Paradise owner Peter Dixon, "and it looks spectacular. People are going to love this new hall."
This year's theme is "Expanding Comics to New Audiences" and the Paradise team has sought to expand the convention programming around themes such as:
- The Women of Comics Symposium on Saturday, April 29 seeks to provide a spotlight to promote and support the female creators working in comics today. To accomplish this task, a stellar line-up of creators has been assembled - writers, editors, colorists, journalists and cartoonists that represent a wide variety of artistic styles and points of view. For more information, visit www.womenofcomics.com.
- Literacy Beyond! An initiative to get children interested in reading thru comic books and graphic novels. A special event will take place on Friday, April 28 where 100 students will get a chance to meet and learn from comic book creators. This will carry over all weekend long in the Literacy Beyond! Children's Activity Area, sponsored by Scholastic. Please note that this year, children 12 years old and younger get in free with an adult.
- Anime and Manga programming: many teens and young adults are exploring comics for the first time thru the bourgeoning Anime (Japanese animation) and Manga (Japanese comics) markets. Otaku Island Productions, our new promotional partner, will be exploring Anime and Manga programming such as Anime screenings (including some exclusive premieres) and costume contests and raffles that should appeal to Anime, Manga and Cosplay fans! For more information, visit www.otakuisland.ca.
Of course, Comic Books and Graphic Novels of all kinds are still the main focus of the event and Paradise Conventions has arranged for another stellar line up of professional guests including Guests of Honor George Perez (Infinite Crisis) and V for Vendetta co-creator David Lloyd plus Greg Rucka (Checkmate), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows), J. G. Jones (52), Amanda Conner (JSA Classified), Daniel Way (Wolverine: Origins), Talent Caldwell (WildC.A.T.s: Nemesis), Gail Simone (Birds of Prey), Bart Sears (The Warlord), Andy Smith (Red Sonja/Claw), Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother), Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies), Ken Lashley (The Flash), Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets), Darwyn Cooke (Batman/The Spirit), Becky Cloonan (American Virgin), Dale Eaglesham (Villains United), Tom Grummett (New Thunderbolts), Michael Lark (Daredevil), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), Bryan Lee O'Malley (Scott Pilgrim), Mike Mayhew (The Pulse), Francis Manapul (Necromancer), Adrian Alphona (Runaways), Dave Sim (Cerebus), Udon Entertainment (Street Fighter II) and many, many more.
Publishers and studios in attendance include UDON Entertainment, MR. COMICS, DRAXHALL JUMP and more! Watch for the special signing booth to support ACTOR - A Commitment to our Roots!
There will be many opportunities for fans to get books signed for CGC's prestigious Signature Series label! CGC will be present at the Paradise Comicon, and will be accepting submissions for all tiers at this, their only international convention appearance scheduled for 2006.
Exclusive Variant Comics: Udon Entertainment will be offering an exclusive Cammy Cover variant of Street Fighter II #3, and Top Cow will producing a special ACTOR Silvestri Variant Cover of Cyberforce #2. Plus the launch of Ed & Red's Comic Strip #1 (by Ed the Sock, Dave Sim & More!)
On Saturday, April 29, visit Degrassi Graphic Novels Launch Panel as we celebrate an iconic slice of Canadian television! With the recently debuted 100th episode of Degrassi: The New Generation, Degrassi and Madison Press will soon be making their foray into the field of graphic novels with the launch of the first of a proposed series by writer J. Torres and artist Ed Northcott. Panel Participants will be Stephen Stohn (Degrassi's Executive Producer), Stacey Farber (who plays Ellie Nash on DNG), J. Torres, and Moderator Christopher Jackson (Madison Press). There will be two signing times at the Degrassi booth on that same day, 29 April— 11 AM to Noon, and 3 PM to 4:30. Appearing at the booth will be: Stacey Farber (Ellie from Degrassi the Next Generation), Stefan Brogren (Snake from Degrassi Jr. High and DNG), and writer J. Torres. Finally, there will be 15 Degrassi prize-packs available to be won. (Prize packs will include a Degrassi: Generations book, a t-shirt, as well as some other swag to be determined.). Attendees will have to fill out a ballot at the Degrassi booth.
Max the Mutt Animation School will be sponsoring two special workshops on Sunday April 30 by Max the Mutt Sequential Art program instructors Dave Ross (Daredevil, The Inhumans) and Ty Templeton (Simpsons Comics, Revolution on the Planet of The Apes). Max the Mutt will also be holding a special open house event with Darwyn Cooke on Monday, May 1. For more information on the Sequential Art and other programs, please visit www.maxthemutt.ca or visit them at their corporate booth at Comicon.
On Saturday evening, April 29, the 2nd Annual Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards will be presented. www.shusterawards.com .
20th Century Fox will be promoting the upcoming X-Men 3: The Last Stand at the event with posters and prize passes to see an exclusive premier screening of the upcoming film later in May, as well as displaying Cyclops' Harley motorcycle from the film. Warner Bros. will be on hand promoting Superman Returns and Poseidon! On Friday night the convention will be running a special film festival of independent films by local filmmakers.
Admission cost is $18 day, $34 for the weekend (cheaper if you buy online in advance at www.ticketbreak.com). Prices are in Canadian dollars.
-For more information contact Peter Dixon or Kevin Boyd at info@torontocomicon.com or 416-487-9807.
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And if you're still reading, heh, check this out. I stole it from the comicbookconventions.com message boards, and effectively there will be two extremely interesting 'rest' areas at the convention:
From Kevin Boyd: A lot of people have been asking me, "Hey Kev, what's up with [Artist Alley Tables] AA59 & AA65"... well... that's an interesting story.
AA59
The Royal Acadamy of Illustration and Design, of which Chip Zdarsky, Cameron Stewart, Kagan McLeod, Ray Fawkes, Ben Shannon are a part of came to us with a unique and fun idea for the convention this year. They decided that what they would like to do, instead of the normal Artist Alley set up, is create the ultimate Royal Academy Lounge experience... the RAID Living Room! Yes, couches, chairs, lamps and more.
An oasis of civility amidst the chaos and din of the convention experience.
AA66
Not to be outdone, their pals Ramon Perez and Rob Coughler who produce the online strip Butternut Squash (and Spellgame and the Butternut Squash comic, formerly published by Speakeasy) have decided to recreate something a little more - relaxing, so to speak... the Butternut Squash Bedroom... a relaxing space where Ramon and Rob can... well, lie down and relax and watch the throngs pass by...
--
I'm trying to figure out a way to abandon my booth and go sit on the RAID couch for the weekend.
Sometimes it pays to show up at work! (Er, all the time. Right. Sorry Peter.)
This morning was crazy new-books-preview day at The Beguiling, as we received a fresh-off-the-presses copy of Gene Yang's American Born Chinese, to be published this fall by First Second Books. It's thick! It's great! I've been reading it in print and online now for years! I finally get to finish the (excellent) story! Also? The story is excellent. When I was gifted my subscription to Modern Tales (thanks mysterious donor!) it became my must-visit new strip, and I have to admit to being severely disappointed when it stopped updating. Holding the hefty (240 page) tome in my hands, man, does it ever feel worth the wait.
Guess what else showed up today? Why, the advance reading copies for Drawn & Quarterly's fall line! Yoshihiro Tatsumi's Abandon The Old In Tokyo, Guy Delisle's SHENZHEN, Tove Jansson's Complete Moomin Volume 1, and Kevin Huizenga's Curses. At this point my excitement at getting advance copies of this many great comics at once is almost totally outweighing any attempt at impartiality, but they all look awesome. I've been waiting for Tatsumi's book and the Huizenga collection in particular (there seem to be a couple of stories I've never read in here), but Shenzhen (Guy Dilisle's travelogue from China, he was the creator of last year's Pyongyang) looks really strong as well. I don't have the childhood love of the Moomin characters that some people do, though cartooning is definitely attractive and interesting, and I'm going to give it a shot.
Oh, and we got copies of the new Drawn & Quarterly 2006 Catalog, which has a sneak-peek at the cover to Acme Novelty Library #17, by Chris Ware. It's a very nice looking (small!) cover. Looking at the D&Q 2006 calendar, I think the only book that has yet to be announced is Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Volume 4, which will feature new stories by Gabrielle Bell, Martin Cendreda, and Dan Zettwoch.
Finally, this morning a copy of this year's Isotope award winner for best mini-comic arrived courtesy of Danica Novgorodoff and Gina at First Second. It's Danica's A Late Freeze, and a cursory flip through the book shows it to be both accomplished and of a surprisingly high quality for a 'mini-comic'. I don't know how I missed that it was in surprisingly lush full colour from the reviews that I've read, but I did and it was a surprise. I'm really looking forward to settling down with it.
So, that's everything that arrived today, if you don't count all of the cool little postcards that D&Q did to promote their upcoming books. The one for Vellekoop's A Nut At The Opera is great...
I'll try and get photos or scans of all of this stuff up later today, so check in tonight or tomorrow morning to see if this post has been updated.
- Chris PS: Brent, Ticking review coming shortly. Sorry for the delay! PPS: Uh... and if any other publisher reps are reading, any material for review can be sent c/o The Beguiling.
Scott Pilgrim 3 Just a little update http://www.scottpilgrim.com
Scott Pilgrim 3... The book I am asked about more in any given day than anything. Except that flyer that my boss wants me to design...!
At any rate, Mr. O'Malley has released the image to the right, which is awesome, and which will be a postcard available exclusively from him at next weekend's (April 29th) Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon for the bargain price of one Canadian dollar. He MIGHT also have copies of the Scott Pilgrim Free Comic Book Day comic to give away. We're not sure. MAYBE.
Mal says the book is done but there's trouble at the printers, so that it's looking like the book will be out at the end of May. A stupidly large event-type-thing is in the early planning stages for the end of May. Keep your calendars free for the last weekend in May (coincidentally, the same date as last year's TCAF). Details soon!
So has anyone seen the cover for THE ALL NEW ATOM #1 that was just releaed in the new DC solicitations? I haven't seen comment elsewhere yet, but my god is this thing fucking hideous...
"I'm full of tinier men!"
I actually can't get over how much this cover bothers me, a complete failure on every level. Conceptually right through execution, it's fascinating in it's badness. His super power is apparently to be able to shed his clothes through the power of atomic somethingorother and shrink to the size of a toddler. PH34R!
THE ALL NEW ATOM: Keeping the sunlit meadow safe for children, as long as they're not TOUGH children.
--
Here's where I lose all credability: I think THIS is a great cover:
There's just something so unpretentious about a close-up of Wonder Woman's ass. Something pure.
Over at the Canadian Broadcasting Company's arts site, you can check out a selection of illustrations and commentary by my friend Graham Roumieu, in an article on how to improve the movie theatre-going experience. It starts off with a quote from John Waters, so what's not to love?
Also at the CBC is a preview of the stories and art for Maurice Vellekoop's A Nut at the Opera, which I discussed yesterday. It's a really sharp preview accompanied by a rolling interview with the artist, though I have to say that the art really should be experienced at the full-size and in the vivid pallette that Vellekoop intended, which unfortunately isn't really viable on the computer screen.
In other Maurice Vellekoop news, A Nut at the Opera and Vellekoop are also the cover-story in Toronto's XTra magazine, a biweekly GLBT freebie. It's a really neat interview, worth the read.
At the end of last week we got some postcards for The Women In Comics symposium, happening at the end of April at the same time as the Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon. I have to admit that I can't recall something like this having happened before. We tried to ensure a healthy turn-out of women cartoonists at TCAF, but this concerted effort is really heartening. They've even got a website set up at http://www.womenofcomics.com/ and a cool logo by Fiona Smyth. Guests include Jessica Abel, Svetlana Chmakova, Becky Cloonan, Amanda Conner, Coleen Doran, Ramona Fradon... Actually, the guest list is both very long and very good. Too long to list here. Go visit the website. The gyno-centric (heh) programming is all taking place on Saturday, April 29th, 2006, and if you stop by our store to pick up one of the flyers, you'll get $3 off the admission price to the event. Provided you're a woman, of course.
Lots and lots of comics for every taste and budget this week! It's kind of shocking actually, how much really interesting stuff is going to be available Wednesday. Hope you've been saving your pennies. Speaking of which, we're going to do a little 'special feature' from now on. PICK OF THE WEEK, in which I'll endeavour to do more than write a snarky sentence about a project. This week's book is:
A Nut At The Opera HC by Maurice Vellekoop Pick of the Week: April 19th, 2006 Published By Drawn and Quarterly
I've been lucky enough to see this book already, and holding it in my hands cemented my opinion of it. I'm a relative neophite when it comes to the opera; this is my second season attenting the various performances of the Canadian Opera Company here in Toronto. As such, at solicitation I was worried that the majority of this book would fly straight over my head and I'd be relying entirely on the beautiful illustrations of Maurice Vellekoop to get me through. Not so! A Nut at the Opera is a funny, gorgeous, and surprisingly accessible book about a fictitious opera world. Told through a series of vibrant full-page portraits (often cartoonish caricatures of real divas and other singers) with humourous biographical information, the book is really a lot of fun if you have even a passing knowledge of musical culture.
The best way I can think of to describe it to an existing comics fan is to compare it to something like Planetary, a well-told story in it's milleu that gains added resonence through its use of analogues of familiar characters. It still works even if you don't 'get' all the references, but if you do then there are added layers of understanding, and enjoyment.
Needless to say my opera loving boyfriend loves it, cackling his way through the book on the first read. A Nut at the Opera is oversized in hardcover, in a 'coffee-table' style format perfect for those unfamiliar with comics and graphic novels, which makes it an excellent gift-idea as well. All in all, I was very impressed.
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Here's what else is out this week:
FEB063188 0/6 VOL 1 GN (OF 5) 9.99 NOV052978 11TH CAT VOL 2 GN (C: 0-1-2) 10.95 JAN063012 A NUT AT THE OPERA HC (MR) 19.95 FEB063408 ALURIA CHRONICLES VOL 1 GN (MR) 12.95 JAN063092 ANGEL OLD FRIENDS #5 (OF 5) 3.99 FEB062003 ANNIHILATION NOVA #1 (OF 4) 2.99 FEB063000 ART OF LOVING GN (MR) 12.95 FEB062009 AVENGERS & POWER PACK ASSEMBLE #1 (OF 4) 2.99 FEB063008 AWAKE FIELD HC (MR) 7.95 FEB068071 BATMAN SECOND PTG #650 2.50 FEB068051 BATMAN SECOND PTG #651 2.50 MAR060288 BATMAN THRILLKILLER TP NEW PTG 14.99 FEB062853 BETTY #155 2.25
JAN063164 BIG MAX #1 2.99
I have a feeling we under-ordered this, Dan (She-Hulk) Slott's one-shot about funny gorillas. We had a flurry of interest last week... Ah well. FEB060258 BIRDS OF PREY #93 2.50 FEB060326 BITE CLUB VAMPIRE CRIME UNIT #1 (OF 5) (MR) 2.99 JAN063242 BLACK COAT CALL TO ARMS #1 (OF 4) 2.99 FEB063289 BLADE OF HEAVEN VOL 7 GN (OF 15) 9.99 FEB063290 BLAME VOL 4 GN (OF 10) (MR) 9.99 FEB068150 BOOK OF LOST SOULS #6 2.99 FEB063190 BOY PRINCESS VOL 1 GN (OF 9) 9.99 FEB063291 BOYS BE VOL 9 GN (OF 20) (MR) 9.99 NOV052980 BRING IT ON VOL 2 GN (C: 0-1-2) 10.95 FEB062012 CAPTAIN AMERICA #17 2.99 FEB062872 CARGO COMIC JOURNALISM FROM ISRAEL GERMANY TP 25.00 FEB068052 CATWOMAN SECOND PTG #53 2.50 FEB063142 CHICANOS #6 3.99 NOV052981 CHOCOLAT VOL 2 GN (C: 0-1-2) 10.95 FEB063292 CHRONICLES OF THE CURSED SWORD VOL 15 GN (OF 19) 9.99 FEB062837 COLOR MANGA 7 PACK 34.95 FEB063431 COMICS BUYERS GUIDE JULY 2006 #1618 (C: 0-1-2) 5.99 FEB060055 CONAN #27 (MR) 2.99 FEB060058 CONAN BOOK OF THOTH #2 (OF 4) 4.99 FEB063274 CONFIDENTIAL CONFESSIONS DEAI VOL 1 GN (OF 2) (MR) 9.99 FEB061769 COYOTE VOL 3 TP 12.99 MAR063449 CRY YOURSELF TO SLEEP GN 7.00 FEB061815 CYBERFORCE LEE B&W CVR INCENTIVE #2 2.99 FEB061813 CYBERFORCE LEE CVR #2 2.99 FEB061814 CYBERFORCE SILVESTRI CVR #2 2.99 FEB061997 DAREDEVIL #84 2.99 FEB063294 DEAD END VOL 4 GN (OF 4) (MR) 9.99 FEB062812 DEAD EYES OPEN #4 2.95 FEB063056 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #339 2.95 FEB063130 DOOMED MAGAZINE #2 (NOTE PRICE) 7.99 OCT050038 DRACULA ASYLUM NOVEL (C: 0-1-2) 6.99 FEB063295 DRAGON HUNTER VOL 14 GN (OF 18) 9.99 JUL053414 DRAGONART HOW TO DRAW DRAGONS & FANTASY CREATURES 19.99
JAN063205 EGO & HUBRIS MICHAEL MALICE STORY HC (C: 0-1-2) 19.95
Just in case anyone is curious, this is the new American Splendor graphic novel. Ugly cover on this one... JAN060344 ELFQUEST THE GRAND QUEST VOL 14 TP 9.99 FEB062089 ESSENTIAL WOLVERINE VOL 4 TP 16.99 FEB060313 EX MACHINA SPECIAL #1 (OF 2) (MR) 2.99 FEB062077 FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES GEORGE PEREZ VOL 2 TP 19.99 FEB061996 FURY PEACEMAKER #3 (OF 6) 3.50 OCT052977 GHOST OF HOPPERS A LOVE & ROCKETS BOOK HC (MR) 18.95 FEB062982 GI JOE SNAKE-EYES DECLASSIFIED TP 18.95 FEB062983 GI JOE VS TRANSFORMERS VOL 3 ART OF WAR CVR A #2 ( 2.95 FEB062984 GI JOE VS TRANSFORMERS VOL 3 ART OF WAR CVR B #2 ( 2.95 OCT052684 GIRL GENIUS VOL 4 TP 20.95
JAN063414 GOLGO 13 VOL 2 GN (MR) (C: 1-0-0) 9.99
I kind of surprised myself at how much I enjoyed Golgo 13 Vol 1. It's everything I'm not looking for in a manga, almost like a checklist of things I've no interest in when it comes to other media. But here, for whatever reason, I was completely hooked by the first volume. The lead story features extremely short scenes (no more than 3-4 pages each), lots of (typical) manga exclamitory statements, and an unstoppable killing machine protagonist who sleeps with (an ostensibly muslim) woman through sheer force of attraction, and doesn't change his facial expression while doing so. It's over the top and ridiculous, and I gotta say I was flipping the pages as fast as I could to find out what happened next. I'm looking forward to the second volume quite a bit. FEB060076 GOON #17 2.99 MAR063172 GORILLA GORILLA VOL 1 GN (C: 0-1-2) 4.99 JAN063587 GOTH LOLI VOL 6 (C: 0-1-2) 18.99 JAN060311 GREEN LANTERN NO FEAR HC 24.99 JAN063407 HANA KIMI VOL 11 GN (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB063297 HANDS OFF VOL 6 GN (OF 8) 9.99 FEB063298 HEAVEN ABOVE HEAVEN VOL 5 GN (OF 6) (MR) 9.99 FEB060332 HELLBLAZER #219 (MR) 2.75 FEB062846 HORRORWOOD #1 (OF 4) (MR) 3.50 FEB063299 HYPER POLICE VOL 6 GN (OF 9) (MR) 9.99 FEB063301 INITIAL D VOL 22 GN (OF 30) 9.99 JAN063394 INU YASHA ANI MANGA VOL 14 GN (C: 1-0-0) 11.99 JAN063395 INU YASHA VOL 25 TP (C: 1-0-0) 8.95 FEB062018 IRON MAN #7 2.99 MAR063078 JAPANESE DRAWING ROOM GN 9.99 FEB060279 JLA CLASSIFIED #20 2.99 FEB060283 JSA CLASSIFIED #11 2.50 FEB060278 JUSTICE #5 (OF 12) 3.50 JAN060334 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED VOL 2 WORLDS GREATEST HER 6.99 JAN060335 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED VOL 3 CHAMPIONS OF JUSTIC 6.99 FEB063436 JUXTAPOZ MAY 2006 VOL 14 #5 (C: 0-1-2) 4.99 JAN060349 KIKAIDER CODE 02 VOL 3 (MR) (C: 3) 9.99 FEB063195 LAND OF SILVER RAIN VOL 1 GN (OF 7) 9.99 FEB063196 LET DAI VOL 1 GN (OF 15) 9.99 MAR063173 LILO & STITCH VOL 1 GN (C: 0-1-2) 4.99 JAN060069 LITTLE LULU VOL 9 LUCKY LULU TP (C: 0-1-2) 9.95 OCT053234 LIZZIE MCGUIRE CINEMANGA VOL 14 GN (OF 15) 7.99 FEB063198 MADTOWN HOSPITAL VOL 1 GN (OF 4) 9.99 FEB060220 MAN-BAT #1 (OF 5) 2.99 FEB060284 MANHUNTER #21 2.50 FEB062027 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT DANIEL WAY OLIVER COIPEL 2.99 FEB063058 MICKEY MOUSE AND FRIENDS #288 2.95 JAN068172 MOUSE GUARD 2ND PRTG #1 (OF 6) (PP #707) 3.50
However, as I predicted I enjoyed this one an awful lot. Jog's said lots and lots more about it than I can, go track down his review of the first two volumes (link on sidebar). FEB062030 NEW AVENGERS #18 2.99 FEB062034 NEW MANGAVERSE #4 (OF 5) 2.99 FEB062083 NEW MUTANTS CLASSIC VOL 1 TP 24.99 FEB062036 NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF HATE #4 2.99 FEB062820 NIGHTMARES AND FAIRY TALES #16 (MR) 2.95 JAN062844 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #137 2.99 JAN060322 OUTSIDERS CRISIS INTERVENTION TP 12.99 FEB063307 PHD PHANTASY DEGREE VOL 6 GN (OF 8) 9.99 FEB063200 PINE KISS VOL 1 GN (OF 8) 9.99 FEB063040 POGO VOL 2 9.95
DEC053142 QUEEN & COUNTRY DECLASSIFIED VOL 2 TP (MR) 8.95 JAN063186 QUEEN & COUNTRY DECLASSIFIED VOL 3 TP (MR) 8.95
Heh. JAN063377 RANDOM ENCOUNTER VOL 1 TP 9.95 DEC052935 RED SONJA #9 2.99 FEB060318 RED SONJA CLAW DEVILS HANDS #2 (OF 4) 2.99 FEB061816 RISING STARS UNTOUCHABLE #3 (OF 5) 2.99 FEB060225 ROBIN #149 2.50 FEB062035 SABLE & FORTUNE #4 (OF 4) 2.99 FEB060301 SCOOBY DOO #107 2.25 FEB061999 SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #25 2.99 FEB062051 SENTINEL SQUAD ONE #4 (OF 5) 2.99 MAR063062 SERENITY VOL 2 STEPPING OUT TP 7.97 FEB060295 SGT ROCK THE PROPHECY #4 (OF 6) 2.99 FEB063374 SHONEN JUMP JUNE 06 #42 (C: 1-0-0) 4.99 FEB062916 SIMPSONS COMICS #117 2.99 FEB062861 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #161 2.25 FEB061766 SPAWN #1 IN 3D 5.95 FEB062068 SPIDER-MAN THE OTHER HC 29.99 FEB062040 SPIDER-WOMAN ORIGIN #5 (OF 5) 2.99 FEB062000 SQUADRON SUPREME #2 2.99 FEB068053 SUPERGIRL LEGION OF SUPER HEROES 2ND PTG #16 2.99 JAN060298 SUPERMAN IN THE EIGHTIES 19.99 JAN060299 SUPERMAN RUIN REVEALED 14.99 FEB068054 SUPERMAN SECOND PTG #651 2.50 FEB068055 TEEN TITANS ANNUAL SECOND PTG #1 4.99 FEB060339 TESTAMENT #5 (MR) 2.99 FEB063114 TRANSFORMERS GENERATIONS (IDW) #2 1.99 FEB061818 WITCHBLADE CHOI CVR #97 2.99 FEB061817 WITCHBLADE LEE CVR #97 2.99
FEB062055 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #1 2.99
Yikes. What we've always feared, a second Wolverine ongoing series. Kiss your ass goodbye, it's clearly the end times. FEB062057 X-MEN #185 2.99 FEB062076 X-MEN AND POWER PACK POWER OF X DIGEST TP 6.99 FEB062062 X-STATIX PRESENTS DEAD GIRL #4 (OF 5) 2.99 FEB063310 YONEN BUZZ VOL 2 GN (OF 3) 9.99 JAN063399 ZATCH BELL VOL 6 GN (C: 1-0-0) 9.99
"The councilman was quick to say he does not believe in censorship of books, but was also clear to point out the need to protect underage library members from explicit content."
Translated:
"I don't believe in censoring books, but I as an Elected official do feel it's my duty to keep books away from people, which is clearly not censorship."
That's the dictionary definition of censorship. Hell, "protecting our children" is the dictionary-defined excuse for censorship. What's galling is that they've spent 1500 words now not being able to tell the difference between manga and a book ABOUT manga. Where no one in the article seems to have actually read the book in question!
Barstow, California: We don't censor books, we just have elected officials exert pressure on public institutions to remove books from libraries! Barstow, California: We cannot tell the difference between an idea and a book about an idea. Barstow, California: WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN? Barstow, California: Where your mom might just be your sister!
Over at The Beat, Heidi rambles on about the latest round of developments in the Sexual-Harassment-at-a-convention incident first brought to light by Ronee Bourgeois in her column at Buzzscope. I linked to this story a month or two back and got some puzzled and puzzling responses to it being brought to light, so I figured I'd do a little bit of follow-up.
Firstly, I'm not using 'rambling' in any pejorative sense when it comes to Heidi's post, far from it. The issue it hand is a big one, and short of offering up an all-encompassing essay with a thesis and things, like most blog posts it tends to move back and forth quite a bit trying to hit all the bases (there are about 600 of them, many of them located in the bleachers, concession stand, and outside of the stadium altogether). Heidi has a lot to say because Heidi's been in the industry a long time. She's knows everyone, a fixture, entrenched. She's commenting from a unique perspective, hers, and like anyone who has been in the industry for years she can see many different sides of the story, and feel empathy there. I wouldn't presume to compare my experience to hers, but I know that from having worked on the creative and publishing side of comics, I tend to get a lot of shit from other retailers for being empathic and understanding when a publisher does something that doesn't meet their (exacting, inconsistant, and often ridiculous) standards.
That said, I find this...
"I myself am far more comfortable promoting the ideals of female creativity and self-worth than fighting victimization. Both are necessary, of course, but I'm talking only about my own agenda here." - Heidi MacDonald
...to be a little much, and more importantly a defacto slam at the new fund that Friends of Lulu has set up to aid women who've been the victims of harassment or assault in the comics industry. Particularly because "fighting victimization", at least in this instance, would involve $5 from your paypal account, 5 minutes of your time writing something on your blog that didn't include those sorts of sentiments.
I also think that Heidi should have taken her own advice in saying that "The less said about Bourgeois's attempts at journalism, the better," because she's right, Bourgeois' stuff has been about as far from capital-J Journalism as anything on the net. Heidi didn't though:
"There is a lot, lot more to this case both in front of and behind the scenes. I don't question anyone's motivations, but I do question the actions of some people involved with it. I am especially bothered by Bourgeois' attempts at journalism which have caused a completely innocent man to be suspected of this crime. According to what I'm hearing, this man has actually threatened legal action against Bourgeois." - Heidi MacDonald
I don't know that excoriating Bourgeois' non-existant journalism skills a second time is quite worth adding more unsubstantiated rumours into a case that is already fraught with them, let alone one that's so divisive. "UNNAMED COMICS INDUSTRY INSIDER THREATENS LEGAL ACTION TO SHUT UP FRIENDS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM!" is a hell of a headline though, I almost used it myself.
Not being a woman in comics I don't even feel particularly qualified to comment on any of this at all, particularly not to call Heidi out because I genuinely like her and understand that her beliefs in this situation are founded in years of experience. I haven't had the experiences being described here, though I will say that I can tell that it's a horrible situation that people shouldn't have to find themselves in. But, I did try and draw attention to it in the first place, so I feel some duty to follow-up. My follow-up? Women tend to be treated poorly in comics at most/all levels, from what I've seen and heard and experienced. I'm not personally prepared to accept "That's just the way it is in comics/entertainment/life" as the answer though. I hope the $5 and 5 (alright 25) minutes I've contributed ends up being worth something to all involved.
Comicbookconventions.com has awarded The Toronto Comic Arts Festival the "Best Small Press or Alternative Convention" for 2005. Which is... pretty cool actually. It's nice to be recognized, and thanks to everyone who voted for TCAF or... nominated it? I'm not sure how the award works, to be honest. Still, awesome.
Kudos also go out to our friends at Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon who took home the award for "Best International Comic Book Convention (non-U.S.)".
Congrats to the respective staff of both events on jobs well done.
I just wanted to take a second to observe the ending of Love Manga, a solid manga-info blog that filled a very noticiably empty niche in the blogosphere. David Taylor, the site's proprietor had a lot of ideas and opinions on manga and updated frequently with the most current news and info. He also provided a lot of interesting comparisson work regarding sales charts. All in all, it's a shame. Particularly as the quality of Love Manga's work was cited as a decision for another good manga blogger, Pata at Irresponsible Pictures, to call it quits.
Thanks for the service and the insight David, I hope you can find the time to start blogging again at some point in the future.
The comics just keep coming, and we've got a whole bunch of good ones on the way for Wednesday, check it out:
FEB060328 100 BULLETS #71 (MR) 2.75 JAN063117 30 DAYS OF NIGHT DEAD SPACE #3 (OF 3) 3.99 FEB063027 ACTION PHILOSOPHERS HATE THE FRENCH 2.95 NOV053106 AKIKO POCKET SIZE VOL 4 STORY TREE TP 11.95 NOV053107 AKIKO POCKET SIZE VOL 5 BORNSTONES ELIXIR TP 9.95 FEB060315 ALBION #4 (OF 6) (RES) 2.99 JAN063030 ALEX TP 19.95 FEB062834 ALICE IN WONDERLAND #3 (OF 4) 3.50 FEB060277 AMAZING ADVENTURES OF THE JLA 3.99 FEB060327 AMERICAN VIRGIN #2 (MR) 2.99 JAN063402 ANGEL SANCTUARY VOL 13 GN (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB062006 ANNIHILATION SUPER SKRULL #1 (OF 4) 2.99 JAN062854 ARCHIE #565 2.25
FEB062069 ASTONISHING X-MEN VOL 1 HC 29.99
There we go, the book everyone's been waiting for. As nice as trade paperback editions are, Marvel's oversized hard covers are generally a better deal with great printing. Although no one is going to complain about thirty bucks for 12 issues, this book is basically the same price as buying the two trades and the marvel hard covers generally come in a little bit cheaper than that. Still, for the format and the cache of the creators involved, I don't think it'll stop anyone. At all. DEC053096 BAKERS DO THESE TOYS BELONG SOMEWHERE HC 18.95
Hey, a new Kyle Baker book! The Bakers stuff is excellent, though I think this is one of several books that is very late from the esteemed Mr. Baker. I hope we'll see Nat Turner 3 & 4 and his other material soon. JAN063403 BANANA FISH VOL 13 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 JAN063404 BASARA VOL 17 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 JAN063390 BASTARD VOL 11 TP (MR) (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 JAN060288 BATMAN DARK DETECTIVE TP 14.99 FEB060223 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #203 2.50 FEB060298 BATMAN STRIKES #20 2.25
FEB060229 BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED #3 (OF 4) 5.99
It isn't even a stretch for you to assume that I'm enjoying this, but I still surprise myself with how good it is every time I pick it up. Yay for Paul Pope and this project! JAN061806 BATTLE POPE COLOR #7 (RES) (MR) 3.50 SEP051672 BATTLE POPE COLOR VOL 1 GENESIS TP (MR) 12.99 JAN060084 BERSERK VOL 11 TP (MR) (C: 1-1-2) 13.95 JAN063391 BEYBLADE VOL 10 TP (C: 1-0-0) 7.99 FEB060079 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #112 (MR) (C: 1-0-0) 2.99 JAN063177 BONEYARD #21 2.95 JAN063405 BOYS OVER FLOWERS VOL 17 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB060077 BPRD UNIVERSAL MACHINE #1 (OF 5) 2.99 FEB062045 CABLE DEADPOOL #27 2.99 FEB060317 CAPTAIN ATOM ARMAGEDDON #7 (OF 9) 2.99 SEP051688 CASEFILES SAM & TWITCH #23 (MR) 2.95 DEC052995 CHICKEN FAT SC 14.95
FEB063031 COMICS JOURNAL #275 9.95
I completely skipped the last issue. I finally did finish the entirety of the Campbell issue, which was wonderful. FEB060264 CRISIS AFTERMATH THE BATTLE FOR BLUDHAVEN #1 (OF 6 2.99 NOV053244 DARKEST HORROR OF MORELLA #1 (MR) (C: 1-0-0) 3.95 JAN060355 DESOLATION JONES #6 (MR) 2.99 JAN063528 DIGITAL ART FOR THE 21ST CENTURY RENDEROSITY TP (C 12.99 FEB060329 DMZ #6 (MR) 2.99 AUG053342 DRAW #12 (C: 0-1-2) 6.95 DEC052855 ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD #5 (OF 5) (MR) 3.99 DEC052858 ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD GORE CVR #5 (OF 5) (MR) 3.99 DEC052857 ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD TERROR CVR #5 (OF 5) (MR 3.99 DEC052856 ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD WRAPAROUND CVR #5 (OF 5) 3.99 JAN063392 EXCEL SAGA VOL 14 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB062047 EXILES #79 2.99 FEB060331 FABLES #48 (MR) 2.75 FEB062014 FANTASTIC FOUR FIRST FAMILY #2 (OF 6) 2.99 FEB060266 FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #24 2.50 JAN063393 FLAME OF RECCA VOL 17 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB061771 FREAK SHOW TP 5.99 FEB061821 FRESHMEN TP 16.99 FEB061991 FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #7 2.99 JAN063406 FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 18 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.95 FEB062985 GI JOE SIGMA 6 #5 2.95 OCT052685 GIRL GENIUS VOL 4 HC 36.95 FEB061778 GIRLS #12 (MR) 2.99 FEB062839 GOLD DIGGER #74 2.99 FEB062840 GOLD DIGGER COLOR REMIX #4 (OF 4) 2.99 OCT053411 GRAPHIC NOVEL SCENE VOL 2 #2 (C: 0-1-2) 6.95 FEB060269 GREEN ARROW #61 2.50 DEC053390 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #5 2.99 OCT050047 GUNGRAVE ANIME MANGA TP (C: 1-1-2) 14.95 JAN063034 HANK KETCHAMS COMPLETE DENNIS THE MENACE 1953-1954 24.95 JAN063198 HARDY BOYS VOL 5 SEA YOU SEA ME GN 7.95
It's the latest Hellboy trade, and it has ADDITIONAL STORY PAGES NOT INCLUDED IN THE ISSUES IT COLLECTS! Can't wait for Wednesday now. Oh the grumbling... FEB060302 HI HI PUFFY AMIYUMI #3 (OF 3) 2.25 FEB062086 IRON MAN DEMON IN A BOTTLE TP 24.99 JAN063063 JANES WORLD #24 4.95 FEB063203 LITTLE STAR TP (MR) 19.95 JAN060381 LOVELESS #6 (MR) 2.99 FEB060305 MAD KIDS #3 4.99 FEB060325 MAJESTIC #16 2.99 FEB062026 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #11 2.99 FEB062028 MARVEL ROMANCE REDUX RESTRAINING ORDERS ARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE 2.99 FEB062022 MARVEL TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #10 3.99 JAN068206 MARVEL ZOMBIES 2ND PTG VAR #4 (OF 5) (PP #708) 2.99 JAN063396 MIDORI DAYS VOL 5 GN (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB062029 MS MARVEL #2 2.99 APR051667 NAMELESS DIRECTORS CUT TP 15.99 JAN063200 NANCY DREW VOL 5 THE FAKE HEIR GN 7.95 FEB062049 NEW X-MEN #25 2.99 NOV050030 NEXUS ARCHIVES VOL 2 HC (C: 0-1-2) 49.95 NOV051749 NIGHT CLUB #3 (OF 4) (RES) 2.99 FEB060226 NIGHTWING #119 2.50 JAN068271 NIGHTWING SECOND PTG #118 2.50 FEB061762 NOBLE CAUSES #19 3.50
NOV050052 OH MY GODDESS VOL 2 RTL TP 10.95
November code... What's up with Dark Horse's manga program? Also, we STILL won't be getting OCTOPUS GIRL on the east coast this week, which sucks, which makes me wonder if it's being printed at the same place as Oni's trades... NOV053062 PAST LIES GN (MR) 14.95 FEB061785 PORTENT #2 (OF 4) 2.99 JAN063397 PROJECT ARMS VOL 12 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB063174 REVOLUTION ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #1 (OF 6) (O/ 3.98 OCT052934 RUMBLE PAK VOL 1 TP NEW PTG 5.95 JAN063040 SANDMAN PAPERS GN 18.95 JAN063408 SENSUAL PHRASE VOL 13 TP (MR) (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB062932 SHAOLIN COWBOY DARROW CVR #5 (RES) 3.50 FEB062933 SHAOLIN COWBOY DELGADO CVR #5 3.50 DEC053326 SHOJO BEAT MAY 06 VOL 2 #5 (C: 1-0-0) 5.99 JAN060323 SHOWCASE PRESENTS TEEN TITANS VOL 1 TP 16.99 FEB062050 SON OF M #5 (OF 6) 2.99 JAN060131 STAR WARS BOBA FETT ONE SHOT (C: 1-0-0) 2.99 FEB060047 STAR WARS REBELLION #1 (C: 1-0-0) 2.99 FEB062773 STRANGERS IN PARADISE #81 2.95 DEC053319 STREET FIGHTER II #3 SPECIAL B&W INCENTIVE ED PI JAN063120 SUPER BAD JAMES DYNOMITE #2 3.99 FEB060234 SUPERMAN #651 2.50 JAN060296 SUPERMAN ARCHIVES VOL 7 HC 49.99 FEB062915 TAILS #3 (OF 3) (MR) 2.95 FEB062041 THUNDERBOLTS #101 2.99 JAN063400 TOUGH VOL 6 GN (MR) (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB061767 TOURIST GN (MR) 9.99 FEB062763 TOYFARE MARVEL LEGENDS X-MEN CVR #106 (C: 0-1-2) 4.99 FEB063106 TRANSFORMERS INFILTRATION #4 2.99 FEB061984 ULTIMATE EXTINCTION #4 (OF 5) 2.99 FEB061986 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #93 2.99 FEB062053 UNCANNY X-MEN #472 2.99 JAN063534 VALLEJO & BELL ULTIMATE COLLECTION HC 29.95 JAN063398 VIDEO GIRL AI VOL 15 TP (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 FEB060306 VS (VERSUS) VOL 1 (C: 1-0-0) 9.99 DEC052830 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS #2 3.99 DEC052832 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS TERROR #2 3.99 DEC052831 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS WRAPAROUND #2 3.99 FEB060324 WILDCATS NEMESIS #8 (OF 9) 2.99 FEB063440 WRITE NOW #12 (C: 0-1-2) 6.95 FEB062081 X-23 INNOCENCE LOST TP 15.99 FEB062080 X-MEN COMPLETE AGE OF APOCALYPSE EPIC BOOK 3 TP 29.99 FEB062060 X-MEN THE 198 #4 (OF 5) 2.99 OCT052709 YENNY #4 2.99
FEB062085 YOUNG AVENGERS VOL 1 SIDEKICKS TP 14.99
I really ended up enjoying this series. Amazing art (for the most part). YA#11 last week was good too. I wonder if it's worth waiting for the great big hardcover or not? :)
The Speakeasy in Toronto is a monthly get-together of creative types working in various disciplines. Part social gathering, part 'gallery opening', each month sees a differently themed group of artists showing off their wares and having a good time. This month comic artists took centre stage in Toronto's recently refurbished Gladstone Hotel, and comics creators, illustrators, artists and crafty types all came out to see what the city's comic creators have to offer.
Participating in the event were Kean Soo, Jeff Lemire, Zach Worton, Brian McLachlan, Attila Adorjany, J. Bone, Michael Cho, Diana Tamblyn, Ramón Pérez and Rob Coughler, Eric Kim, Scott Hepburn, and Willow Dawson. Jon Ellis (from PopImage.com) and I headed down to the event after a satisfying meal, ready to greet the assembled masses. It was hopping as soon as we walked in and stayed busy right until close, at which point we all ran downstairs where the hotel bar was having a karaoke night...! Sufficed to say, a good time was had by all.
On to the photos!
Kean Soo with art from his series Jellaby.
Xeric Award winner Jeff Lemire.
Creepy Artist Zach Worton, whose series Corpse will begin serialization online sooner than you think!
Atilla Adorjany, formerly of Speakeasy Comics' Beowulf.
Artist J.Bone had a unique way of displaying his art, on T-Shirts and other fabric.
An example of J's art. But more on that later...
Michael Cho is all about the sale...
...job well done sir! You can check out a bunch of his comics online.
Artist Diana Tamblyn poses with Scholastic's Scott Robins. Sorry for the blurry photo Diana!
One half of the Butternut Squash team, writer Rob Coughler is an important, business-focussed individual. But more on that later.
The other half of the Butternut Squash team, Ramon Perez was never really at his table. He did have a kicky hat though, hey ladies?
I made this poor woman pose with Eric Kim, embarassing them both. Love as a Foreign Languageindeed, Mr. Kim.
Scott Hepburn poses, Kang stylez, with his art from various Marvel projects including Sentinel.
Willow Dawson, as adventurous as her Girl Pirate, Violet Miranda.
Somehow I completely missed Brian McLachlan all night? I did get a shot of his table though, which included napkin doodles. Quel Eclectic!
Artist Kean Soo poses with Scott from Scholastic. Moments later, both of them burst out laughing.
The Clandestine crew responsible for the forthcoming Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon. Kevin Boyd, someone who's name I didn't get, Peter Fisico, and PopImage's Jon Ellis.
Jeremy Tankard is an illustrator whose comics have appeared in the Project Superior anthology. He's a member of the Speakeasy staff, and curated the evening's selection of artists. Bravo, Jeremy!
Most Toronto comics events are photographed by Tyrone and Alana, artists and comic creators in their own right who were very happy to have a night off.
Grrrr! Manale... confused?
Remember J. Bone's neat idea to print and display his art on T-Shirts? Well he did so on undies as well. These Jockeys featured a great big Spider-Man on the bum (J.! You're wearing them backwards!). They proved to be too big a temptation for the serious and business-minded Rob Coughler. Who stole J's underwear.
Spidey stylez! Being a shit-disturber, I realized that this was good, but could be better. So Me, Rob, the underwear and a camera headed out to the patio...
That's the money-shot. J. then 'gifted' the underwear to Rob, which, really, what else are you gonna do?
And that pretty much capped-off the night. But like I said, the hotel bar had karaoke and the alcohol was flowing freely during the Speakeasy. A deadly combination. Off to the bar!
The Karaoke crew.
Liquid courage.
...and a picture of your humble narrator in the too-lovely bar washroom just after rocking I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, closing out the bar. Thanks to all who came out, a great time was had by me.
Something that Mal and I used to talk about was "The Japanese", as a single entity. We played a lot of stupid little games with grammar (see: Scott Pilgrim) but one that I remember is 'the best'. We would apply 'the best' to all of these different manga/CG artists. When I asked one time, facetiously, how five or ten different artists could be 'the best', Mal said (I think) that it was because they were all Japanese, and they were all 'the best', and that's just what they did. I coined the phrase "most best" at that point.
Sure it might be considered vaguely racist and is certainly a form of creepy hero-worship, but when you're writing and drawing and you encounter someone like Yoshitoshi ABe or Yuji Iwahara and their work looks like it was carved into gold by aliens, completely impenetrable and perfect, you're just... You end up spouting nonsense because there's no way to explain the work, there's no way that you can even figure out how it was done.
I never felt this way, growing up, about any North American artist. You have to understand, I was 13 in 1992. I am the Rob Liefeld generation. But all Liefeld or Lee or McFarlane ever did was make me want to draw. To this day, with no reference material, I can draw a truly stunning Rob Liefeld-style CABLE or SHATTERSTAR, even though I've barely picked up a pencil in the last year. I could see the way in to their work, if that makes sense? With the manga, particularly it being untranslated and particularly the phenomenal creativity, alienness, and polish, it was impenetrable.
Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld are the basis for my art. Well, and the Transformers and Voltron, the Rifts and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG sourcebooks... and I spent a whole summer drawing like Takeshi Miyazawa and I haven't shaken that yet. But think about it, think about North American comics artists and who informed their artistic ideals, who was influential during their formative years. Kirby begat Neal Adams and Michael Golden, who begat Art Adams, who begat Jim Lee and Todd McFarlane, who begat J. Scott Campbell and David Finch, who begat that guy who draws ANT. And those are the people at the absolute top of their field, more-or-less. This doesn't cover all the horrible hackwork that artists have absorbed whether they wanted to or not. Don Heck to Liefeld to that guy who draws ANT.
A friend of mine is working at an art school now, and he came into the store to try and familiarize himself with the current crop of hot comics artists. He bought an issue of about 15 different series, and brought them all back a week later. His thoughts are that they're mostly just crap, and most of them can't really draw so much as just add rendering on top of crap. Which is about right. Makes his job easier I guess? Or harder, depending.
Steve McNiven taught highschool art for what, 10 years? There's a guy who understands the fundamentals, and his work is just gorgeous because of it. He wasn't even too shabby over at Crossgen at the beginning of his career, when he took over for Middleton on MERRIDIAN. But now, his work is clearly a cut-above the standard of material at Marvel, even the more popular artists.
The wonderful, horrible constant that I'm ignoring is Archie Comics, but any artist worth his or her salt realized that drawing in the Archie style (or even a style notable influenced by the Archie stable) meant one thing about your future working in the industry: You could draw Archie comics, or go work in another more lucrative industry.
Also interesting to me is the fact that until very, very recently, the work of comics greats like Kirby or even Neal Adams was completely unavailable in an affordable format. Growing up, even if I hadn't been completely under the thrall of early Image artists it's not like I could've gotten any work by 'good' artists without dropping a mint on back issues or stupidly overpriced CDN$80 Masterwork or Archive books. The artists of tomorrow generally didn't know that anything else was available, and who knows if they'd have wanted it if it was. I remember being really put off by most of the 'gatekeepers', the comic shop guys who decided who was worthy of the past. It doesn't matter if it's The Comics Journal or a dude with mustard on his shirt talking down to you, it still doesn't really inspire you to learn more about the medium.
Now, let's compare and contrast to two much healthier comics industries: Japan and Europe.
In Europe, kids grow up reading Tintin and Asterix, and continue to reread them into adulthood appreciating them on new levels.
In Japan, Tezuka's work is kept constantly in print for new generations to enjoy, alongside other classic works of the medium.
In both countries, the vast majority of the greatest works that they've ever produced are still available, every day and month and year. Like literature.
Can you imagine being an aspiring creator who is exposed to the greatest comics creators in the history of the medium on a daily basis rather than having your formative years formed by Rob Liefeld? Is it any wonder that the snippets of these cultures that we've received, until recently, have completely knocked us on our collective North American asses? In the 70s Moebius hits like a freight-train and Yoshitaka Amano's Gatchaman/Battle of the Planets character designs are indelibly etched into the minds of 8 year olds. It isn't just the newness and alienness of them that makes an impression, it's that they're very, very good.
Digression:
The thing that strikes me most about the manga tidal wave is the consistency of it.
There were lots and lots of Dire! Warnings! over the last few years. "You've only seen the best of the industry!!!!" they screamed! "You don't know how much crap is really out there, and how much of it is going to be unleashed on us all!!!! Save yourselves!!! Only buy what we tell you is good!!!" Obvious self-interest on the part of the warners aside, they had a point. There's a lot of shitty fucking manga in Japan. Hell, I work at a store that imports tons of Bande Desinee (French Comics), and there're some real stinkers there too. Just pick up an untranslated manga anthology at some point or a cheap graphic album some time and see how much of it is badly drawn pandering crap. Then really, really think whether it's any more badly drawn or pandering or crap than most of what's on the racks... and then realize that the industries there are 10+ times bigger than what we've got here.
If 90% of everything is crap then page-for-page, the French and Japanese industries have as many excellent comics as we do comics-at-all, and they're certainly not all represented here in North America yet. And the stuff we're getting here, even when it's not part of the 10% of the excellent stuff, is still consistent and meets an average standard of quality far higher than here. I think that comes down to the contemporary artists in these countries being raised on a better class of comic and creator. Which is a controversial thing to write I guess? But you ask most young artists, would they rather have had cheap and easy access to good manga and bande desinee and classic North American material, or you know, whatever was available? What are they gonna say?
I don't regret my childhood reading choices, I did manage to sneak some good stuff in there too (though most of it wasn't the comics I enjoyed). I used to rifle through the comic collection of an older friend of the family, and it was stacked with The Dark Knight Returns and Miracleman and old X-Men and Treasury reprints and things like that. He was a fan in the early 80s and had made it through the gate, so to speak, and I got the benefit of that experience. But, and I am officially fucking old as of right now, kids today are way luckier than I ever was. I just spent the last three days working with librarians, and aside from Naruto and Fullmetal Alchemist and CLAMP, we're putting BUDDHA into middleschool libraries and DUNGEON and ASTRONAUTS OF THE FUTURE into primary schools. Kids today are going to get the best of the medium, from Tezuka to Clowes to Trondheim to Miller to Herge for free, in their schools. The next couple of generations of artists are going to come of age in an industry where the classics of the medium weren't left to fall out of print, or kept confined to their country of origin, or priced beyond their reach.
That's awesome.
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So that's why I haven't posted in a little while.
Also, the dog ate my keyboard?
- Chris PS: The last time I talked to Mal he told me he wasn't that intimidated by Iwahara's work anymore. He said that he could figure it out. Which is pretty awesome too :)
Two Things To Do...! Wednesday (tonight) and Thursday (Tomorrow)
I'm totally running out the door here, but I wanted to make sure y'all knew about two art shows going on in the city tonight/tomorrow. I'll probably be there, assuming I'm not just dead on my feet.
TONIGHT: ARTCADE: Video Game Art Show April 5th
ARTCADE: Video Game Art Show @ Microplay, 632 Queen Street West (W. of Bathurst) April 5 – May 17, 2006 Opening Night Party April 5 @ &PM FREE
Some of Toronto’s best comic artists and illustrators splash their love for video games across a canvas in ARTCADE: Video Game Art Show at video game retailer Microplay. The show is set to feature work from:
J. Bone, Matt Daley, Christopher Hutsul, Michael Lylloff, Steven Charles Manale, Brian McLachlan, Kagan McLeod, Noel Middleton, Ramon Perez, Rui Ramalherio, and Steve Wilson.
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TOMORROW: SpeakEasy’s Annual Comic Book Show
Everyone loves comics, right? Maybe you get your fix through a daily newspaper strip. Or maybe your tastes run to the more highbrow art comics from Europe. However you choose to look at them, comics offer a different, and often a fun way to look at life and art.
Well for anyone who has ever loved (or still loves) comics, it may come as a surprise to learn that Toronto is home to some of the best known comics artists in North America. We have an active and vibrant community putting out some of the highest quality comics to be found anywhere. The SpeakEasy Comics Show features an eclectic mix of Toronto's talented comics artists - from those who do newspaper strips and political cartoons, to underground comix and mainstream superhero comic books! The event promises to display an exciting cross-section of the comics community here in Toronto, as well as a glimpse into how good comics are made. As the old cliché goes, there really will be something for everyone.
Time & Space: Thursday April 6th, 8pm-Midnight The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen West
This month's Featured Artists: Kean Soo - Jeff Lemire - Zach Worton - Brian McLachlan - Attila Adorjany - J. Bone - Michael Cho - Diana Tamblyn - Ramón Pérez and Rob Coughler - Eric Kim - Scott Hepburn - Willow Dawson
Cover: Pay What You Can ($4.00 Donation Suggested)
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Oh, and this weekend too:
WELTSCHMERTZ Book Signing April 8th!
Weltschmerz Book Signing Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 2pm-5pm @ The Beguiling, 601 Markham Street (S. of Bloor & W. of Bathurst) Free!
Everyone knows the comic strip ‘Weltschmerz’ appearing weekly in Eye Magazine. Well now you can carry the comic strip around in a more permanent edition with Weltschmerz: Attack of the Same-Sex Sleeper Cells. Cartoonist Gareth Lind will be signing his book at The Beguiling on Saturday, April 8th from 2-5pm. Come out and meet the author, and pick up a copy of the new book.
Waiting for Scott Pilgrim 3? I'm there with you. But while I was in Hali-halifax, SP creator Bryan Lee O'Malley did a fun thing at his blog where he let you ask him questions about the series:
"I need some more juice to make the last push and finish this thing, so I'm opening the floor for general questions about any aspect of Scott Pilgrim. Story, characters, the "behind the scenes" stuff, or whatever you can come up with. I promise not to spoil anything that's going to happen in Volume 3, but I'm hoping people will ask some questions that get my mind working. My mind is very tired of working and it needs a bit of help."
And then he did! You can check it out over at http://destroyerzooey.livejournal.com/92839.html and there are like 136 posts. All about Scott Pilgrim to whet your whistle for the impending release!
I don't usually butt in to the SP business, but I will say that Wallace drinks Diet Coke, and firmly believes in the Coke/Pepsi dichotomy.
Back in PW Comics week, 
The award-winning Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon: A Celebration of Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Manga and Sequential Art returns in 2006 for what promises to be another exceptional year. The three day event will be held in Hall C at Toronto, Canada's National Trade Centre (
Sometimes it pays to show up at work! (Er, all the time. Right. Sorry Peter.)
Guess what else showed up today? Why, the advance reading copies for 
Also at the CBC is a 
At the end of last week we got some postcards for The Women In Comics symposium, happening at the end of April at the same time as the 
The Speakeasy in Toronto is a monthly get-together of creative types working in various disciplines. Part social gathering, part 'gallery opening', each month sees a differently themed group of artists showing off their wares and having a good time. This month comic artists took centre stage in Toronto's recently refurbished Gladstone Hotel, and comics creators, illustrators, artists and crafty types all came out to see what the city's comic creators have to offer.
A friend of mine is working at an art school now, and he came into the store to try and familiarize himself with the current crop of hot comics artists. He bought an issue of about 15 different series, and brought them all back a week later. His thoughts are that they're mostly just crap, and most of them can't really draw so much as just add rendering on top of crap. Which is about right. Makes his job easier I guess? Or harder, depending.
The thing that strikes me most about the manga tidal wave is the consistency of it.
