The Retail Solution: Field and D’Angelo on the state of retailing with ComicsPRO
[The ComicsPro annual meeting held last month was an important event in the continuing flux of the comics and media world, and ComicsPRO board members wanted to make sure that the word got out. President Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff, Concord CA and Carr D'Angelo of Earth-2 in Northridge and Sherman Oaks graciously made time to talk to us during the busy schedule to give their impressions of the meeting and the events surrounding it. Or as Field put it, "It was such an eventful meeting we wanted to get some better word out about it." Although we’re late in posting this due to a tech glitch, the issues it discusses are just as relevant as they were a few weeks ago -– and even more so in light of the Diamond Retailer Summit starting tomorrow in conjunction with C2E2. As we’ve noted here before, with Borders sinking, comics sales growth in bookstores have definitely slowed. The local comics stores – although often the butt of Android's Dungeon type jokes -– are in truth a dedicated sales force of passionate evangelists for comics that almost every other category would envy. Flaws and all, the LCS system is integral to comics thriving as a business; ComicPRO’s efforts -– it was the biggest meeting for the organization yet -- towards fixing those flaws and getting everyone on the same page are a key part of that. ]
Continue ReadingDC blog enforcer cracks down on comments
It seems there is a new sheriff in DC's digital town, and she goes by the name Molly Merrell. This new member of DC Online has just delivered a smackdown on rowdy posters at DC's Source blog:
Continue ReadingSXSWi 2011: Immortality in a Digi-Physical Age
With the continuing tradition of the band poster convention, FLATSTOCK, in Austin and the gaggles* of cartoonists, designers and journalists, there is no surprise that one of the Interactive panels focused on How Print Design is the Future of Interaction. One full room of print people eagerly waiting to hear what only one man, Mike Kruzeniski, had in mind. Kruzeniski works for Microsoft and is key in the development of the Windows Phone 7.
Continue ReadingC2E2 approacheth
Over at MediumAtLarge.net, the official ReedPop blog, pictures of comics invading the Valhallan halls of McCormick Place in Chicago are already circulating. There's lots of news and notes about the show on recent blog posts, but for the socially inclined, there's news of a special C2E2 brew!
Continue ReadingChester Brown hits the road in May
As the PR points out, Chester Brown isn't a recluse but he doesn't leave his home city of Toronto too much, so catching him on the road this year in support of PAYING FOR IT is a must. More dates to be announced, but the current schedule calls for Toronto, Chicago, NYC, Montreal, Vancouver and Seattle.
Continue Reading2011 Doug Wright Award finalists announced
Awards season is really shifting into high gear. The Doug Wright awards, honoring the best in English-language comics (or translations of French) by Canadians living at home and abroad, will be presented May 7th at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival. In addition to the three main prizes, David Boswell, creator of Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman, has been inducted into The Giants of the North, the Canadian Cartoonists Hall of Fame -- only recently we were discussing with someone far better informed than us how Boswell is a legend of the Canadian comics scene, so it's a fitting honor for him. The rest of the finalists reflect a strong slate that has been much honored in other recent awards -- the Canadian scene is kicking it!
Continue ReadingDigital Comics: the future of commerce and the future of art?
Where are comics going anyway? Has anybody asked that lately? David Brothers and Matt Seneca have their own takes on the matter.
Continue ReadingNICE art: James Jean art and benefit
Holy shit, James Jean. His latest show of paintings is up at the Martha Otero gallery in Hollywood and it runs until April 30. We're jealous of those who get to see it in person. Jean has also just released this limited edition silk scarf which you can buy at the link. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE RED CROSS. THe scarf retails for $385. Only 50 were made. There is a B&W version as well, same price, same run.
Continue ReadingStuart Levy’s Japan relief efforts and more
A few weeks ago we were ragging on Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy for insensitive tweeting, and business mistakes, but now he's in Sendai, helping with relief efforts, tweeting about it:
Continue ReadingLand o’ Links, 3/16/11
Secrets of the comics...not answered, but revealed. Old time cartoonists! MariNaomi has the best quote of the day and we wonder if SXSW will ever turn into Comic-Con or vice versa.
Continue ReadingThis week’s agenda
WOW, The Beat is so far behind in everything. If you've emailed or called or anything we apologize for being in radio silence. There is just not enough time in the day. But even so, we'll be headed to C2E2 tomorrow, first for the Diamond retail event and then the regular show. Good times! We'll have a who's where later -- please send links and party poop. BTW, were the editors of TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED obsessed with the color green? That WAS unexpected.
Continue ReadingTokyo International Anime Fair 2011 canceled; Viz releases a statement
With the ongoing tragedy in eastern Japan unfolding before our eyes, it's inevitable that there will be cancellations to many planned Anime/Manga events. Although Tokyo is not affected directly by the quake, given the difficult conditions -- potential blackouts and crisis management-- the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2011, which was to be held March 24-27 has been canceled, according to the website of the venue, the Big Site in Tokyo. According to posts on the Anime convention mailing list, the Big Site venue was damaged in the quake; in addition, air travel to Japan is being limited. The Anime Contents Expo is also expected to be canceled.
Continue ReadingDaredevil movie rides again with David Slade
According to Variety, director David Slade, previous comic book movie veteran of 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, is aboard for a new Daredevil movie which "will not contain material from the Ben Affleck version". Daredevil last swung across the screen in 2003 when a movie starring Affleck, Jennifer Garner and Colin Farrell was the first of many "meh" Marvel superhero films to follow (cf. GHOST RIDER, PUNISHER, HULK 2, etc., etc.) Daredevil is also one of a number of Marvel characters who must be put into development by Disney rivals lest Disney/Marvel get the rights back. (cf. GHOST RIDER.) It is safe to say not many are pining for a new Daredevil movie right now, but better Fox make it than Disney just happen to do it.
Continue ReadingRussian X-Men: First Class trailer a big improvement
Maybe it's just the way Magneto says "Ma Vlast," but this version of the X-MEN: FIRST CLASS footage looks better than previous versions and has created a lor more enthusiasm than the Photoshop-lesson posters.
Continue ReadingSequart releases details on Keeping the World Strange: A Planetary Guide
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting comic books as a legitimate artform that has published studies on various topics including Batman, the X-Men, and Grant Morrison. Now they are promoting "A Year of Ellis" including several books -Shot in the Face: A Savage Journey to the Heart of Transmetropolitan and Voyage in Noise: Warren Ellis and the Demise of Western Civilization -- as well as the movie Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts. However. first up is a study of PLANETARY -- the multi-dimensional pastiche on genre fiction by Ellis and artist John Cassaday -- called strong>Keeping the World Strange: A Planetary Guide. Details on the contents have just been released:
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