Steve Niles’ views on piracy are “evolving”

16 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 4:30 pm BY The Beat

Although it was his call to arms against piracy that led to much discussion and hair tearing, in a new blog post, writer Steve Niles says that his views on piracy are beginning to change a bit, partly because of all the issues we brought up in this post, and most specifically partly because of the issues that came up in his twitversation with Neil Gaiman. Namely, that 20K downloads doesn't necessarily mean 20K lost sales. Niles even looks back on his youth for a model:

Continue Reading

More comics job openings at comiXology

0 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 4:16 pm BY The Beat

Wanna join a rapidly expanding comics empire? comiXology has two jobs listed -- the Guided View Editor job is entry level. Deets in link.

Continue Reading

Just What is Marvel Announcing at SXSW

6 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 4:16 pm BY Todd Allen

If you've been paying attention, you'll notice Marvel has a panel at SXSW. SXSW is sort of like the Consumer Electronics Show for Digital Media and Entertainment. The show has been in a transitory state in the last couple of years, shifting from more of an indie-centric event to an even larger spectacle with corporate sponsors galore, but at it's heart, it's still about bringing products to the masses through digital technology. So just what is Marvel announcing?

Continue Reading

Course of the Force: Run to Comic-Con holding your lightsaber…for a good cause

0 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 4:00 pm BY The Beat

The week of Comic-Con just got even MORE momentous with "The Course of the Force" which ties the Olympic torch relay, lightsabers and Comic-con up in one totally nerdtastic bundle.

Continue Reading

Travel Foreman on why he left Animal Man

6 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 3:53 pm BY The Beat

Today's massive four artist switcheroo is confusing enough—in a world where everyone says they want some stability, tinkering and fine tuning seem to be the order of the day. What touched off this round? Well maybe it was Travel Foreman wanting to leave Animal Man, which freed him up for Birds of Prey which made Jesus Saiz move to Resurrection Man and set the whole domino chain in motion. As he stated at the CBR forums, it was due to some personal issues:

Continue Reading
DC

DC Shuffles Artists on Four Titles — Animal Man, Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad, Resurrection Man

2 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 2:28 pm BY Todd Allen

Last week, it was the DC writers getting shuffled around to new titles. This week, the artists play a bit of musical chairs. Four titles change artists, three artists switch books and an old face returns to his old title..

Continue Reading

Smallville Returns – Season 11 is a Digital-First Comic

8 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 1:23 pm BY Todd Allen

Joss Whedon started something when he decided to continue Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a comic. Now DC/Warners is following that lead and continuing Smallville as a comic, with Season 11 set to drop in April or May, depending on which format you want to read it in.

Continue Reading

Seth teams up with Lemony Snicket for new series

3 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 12:00 pm BY The Beat

Lemony Snicket, aka Daniel Handler, is starting a new kids books series, to be illustrated by Seth. Called "All the Wrong Questions," the first volume Who Could That Be at This Hour? will be out October 23rd. The series is getting a 1 million copy first printing.

Continue Reading

Slade and Rickheit’s Insect Horror Comics now in color

0 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 11:02 am BY The Beat

Paul Slade writes to tell us that his creepy collaboration with Hans Rickheit has now been posted in creepy full color. If you ever picked up a rock to see what was underneath you will appreciate this webcomic.

Continue Reading

DC unveils BEFORE WATCHMEN, DARK KNIGHT RISES toys

6 Comments POSTED ON Feb 09 2012 AT 10:00 am BY The Beat

First came the comics, now come the fanfic toys—Jaunty-Step Rorschach and Sexy Pose Comedian—to be unveiled at this weekend's Toy Fair, as well as new DARK KNIGHT RISES toys. Not shown—new MumbleTalk Bane with 25 baffling phrases.

Continue Reading
DC, Toys

300 sequel inches closer to existence with Sullivan Stapleton casting

2 Comments POSTED ON Feb 08 2012 AT 7:02 pm BY The Beat

Ever since they roared onto the scene with inspiring patriotic zeal, tight loincloths, and abs that ripple like a field of Athenian barley, the Spartans of 300 have taken hold in the popular imagination. The original movie catapulted both director Zack Snyder and star Gerard Butler into a higher league when it grossed a surprising $456 million worldwide. It also made "comic book movie" an even more popular term among Hollywood studios—300 showed that a film didn't have to be based on Batman to make a mint—and made Frank Miller a movie icon.

Continue Reading

For those who can’t let go: “Goodnight, iPad.”

1 Comment POSTED ON Feb 08 2012 AT 5:50 pm BY The Beat

GOODNIGHT, MOON by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd is a classic for children and the parents who read to them as a drowsy tot lets go, bit by bit, of the corporeal world and drifts into slumber. Now here is a parody for adults who—much like The Beat—ease into sleep while frantically clutching at a game of "The Creeps" or Angry Birds Halloween, and awaken in the wee hours in a panic and check email to relax.

Continue Reading

McDaniel talks his side of the Static rift…and what it reveals about the New 52

31 Comments POSTED ON Feb 08 2012 AT 1:47 pm BY The Beat

You may recall an ongoing blame battle between writer John Rozum and artist Scott McDaniel over the New 52 launch title STATIC. Rozum was the first of the New 52 creators to walk, and revealed it was because of creative differences with McDaniel. Now McDaniel has told HIS side of the story -- in a 15,000 word novella that covers every moment of every conference call in minute depth. McDaniel says he has never written anything before, but he seems to have a great future as a court reporter.

Continue Reading

Who’s hiring: Wanna job in comics?

2 Comments POSTED ON Feb 08 2012 AT 12:30 pm BY The Beat

Job postings from around the net in comics related positions reveal that some areas are still growing, mostly digital, but also brick and mortar:

Continue Reading

Jeffrey Brown’s Darth Vader and son covers

3 Comments POSTED ON Feb 08 2012 AT 12:00 pm BY The Beat

Back when we interviewed Jeffrey Brown about his movie at Sundance, he mentioned an upcoming humor book called Darth Vader and Son that features gentle humor on the topic of Darth as dad to Luke.

Continue Reading

Donate

Our Sponsors

Contributors

Heidi MacDonald, editor-in-chief

Assistant Editor: Kate Fitzsimons

Contributing Editors
Torsten Adair
Jen Vaughn

Technology Editor: Bruce Lidl
Entertainment Editor: Shannon O'Leary

Columnists:
Todd Alcott
Michel Fiffe
Marc-Oliver Frisch
Rich Johnson
Paul O'Brien
MK Reed

Illustrations:
Maggie Siegel-Berele

You like us! You really like us!

You may also like:

Let’s review!

February 2012
M T W T F S S
« Jan    
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829  

Upcoming Events

    No events to show

The Beat Twitter stream

CLASSIFIEDS

© 2006-2012 Heidi MacDonald - The Beat. Powered by Wordpress. All rights reserved. Logo by Comicraft.