Nice art: Francesco Francavilla’s BLACK BEETLE in DARK HORSE PRESENTS
Add another art all-star to the new DHP lineup: Francesco Francavilla is drawing a three part BLACK BEETLE story that will start in issues #11 in April. Black Beetle is Francavilla's own pulp tribute character, previously published online and in a scarce ashcan. ANd as you can see from the art, it's a perfect fit for Franvavilla's retro style.
Continue ReadingSCOOP: New chairman talks about the new Wizard World
Wizard World without Gareb Shamus. The entire idea would have seemed ridiculous until just a few days ago when an SEC filing revealed that Shamus, the owner and founder of the company, had been removed as CEO. It was startling news which left everyone wondering what would become of the Wizard brand — once mighty in both media coverage and entertainment shows. Answers are beginning to emerge. In an interview with The Beat, Wizard’s executive chairman Mike Mathews revealed that a new era has already begun at Wizard World, which will include outreach to the entire industry in a move to repair damaged relationships with both other industry players and fans. In one of the most notorious examples of the bad blood which the old Wizard had given rise to, subscribers to the print magazine had not been given any make-up subscriptions for issues paid for but never mailed. However, according to Mathews, a letter is being sent out to old subscribers offering them a $100 credit towards Wizard shows.
Continue ReadingOprah.com not quite sure what those “graphic novels” things are
The past decade may have been the graphic novel decade but some comics observers dreamed of the crowning moment of comics PR as Oprah Winfrey holding up a copy of Gilbert Hernandez's LUBA as a selection of her book club—a Winfrey book club pick rountinely meant mllions of copies sold, so you can see why it would have been the crowning moment of mainstream acceptance for comics. Sadly, that moment never came, as Oprah canceled her syndicated show to focus on her own network. But while comics might not get that instantaneous boost, at least Oprah.com has picked a few GNs s part of an article entitled11 Books You Never Thought You'd Read (but Will Fall in Love with Instantly):
Continue ReadingMust Read: PEN profiles Zapiro
South African cartoonist Zapiro is famous for his sharply observant cartooning and also for standing up to constant and onerous political pressures because of his observations. Most famously he was sued by the Prime Minister of South Africa for defamation—but as this profile at PEN.org shows, he's always been at the center of controversy reserved for those who tell the truth.
Continue ReadingRIP: Eduardo Barreto
Although we can find no official confirmation, it is being widely reported that Eduardo Barreto has died, presumably of complications from the illness he has been fighting since 2010. He was 57. The Uruguayan artist was a staple of '80s comics with work on NEW TEEN TITANS, ATARI FORCE, The Shadow, Batman, and many other comics. He also worked extensively for Claypool Comics. In 2006 he started drawing the comics strip JUDGE PARKER but was forced to give it up in 2010 when he became ill with meningitis. He has some work in an upcoming issue of DARK HORSE PRESENTS.
Continue ReadingRIP: Joe Simon
Joe Simon, legendary Golden Age co-creator of such characters as Captain America, the Sandman and hundreds more, has died at age 98, according to his son's posting on Facebook. Together with his partner Jack Kirby, Simon revolutionized the superhero, horror and romance genres -- there pretty much wouldn't be comics as we know them without the work of these two.
Continue ReadingThe Relative Popularity of The 52 Relaunch Titles: Animal Man Up, Firestorm Down
Marc-Oliver can tell you how the actual sales levels of the DC relaunch are, but let's take a look at a slightly different metric: how do the relative popularity of the "New 52" compare to the way that retailers initially ordered them? With November's sales estimates, we see orders where the retailers had a chance to see how the #1's moved and potentially the #2's in some cases, before the cutoff dates for adjusting orders.
Continue ReadingTo do tonight, Berlin: Erik Mark Sandberg
As they say, if we were in Berlin, we'd go to this. Maybe. We have no idea what it is but the invite was too cool not to post. Erik Mark Sandberg is actually an American artist, based in LA, who has exhibited worldwide. He's best known for his images of hairy children mixed with startling pop culture tableaux.
Continue Reading2012 Free Comic Book Day t-shirt features Jim Lee art
Following in the footsteps of Sergio Aragones and Darwyn Cooke, Jim Lee will provide the art for next year's commemorative Free Comic Book Day t-shirt, with an homage to the JLA and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez. The shirt will be on sale in comic shops on April 11, in advance of Free Comic Book Day on May 5, but can be preordered via the January Previews.
Continue ReadingFirst look: PATRICIA BRIGGS’ ALPHA & OMEGA: CRY WOLF #7
Here's a peek at the cover to issue #7 of Dynamite's Patricia Briggs adaptation by Jenny Frison.
Continue ReadingIDW switches to comiXology for storefronts, goes day and date
Well now, comiXology took one step toward becoming the next Diamond as IDW is now powering its stores via comiXology. IDW, always considered one of the most aggressive companies in terms of digital, also announced they will be fully day and date —at full cover price. IDW had formerly used iVerse to power their standalone stores for series like GI Joe, Transformers and Ben Templesmith, so this is quite a switch.
Continue ReadingMarketing to women: three case studies
How Sony, Ikea and DC Comics approach marketing to women. Hint: only one of these companies actually tried.
Continue ReadingFirst look: Charlaine Harris’s Grave Sight Part 3
Dynamite has provided us with the cover to the third part of their Charlaine Harris adaptation, by Benoit Springer.
Continue ReadingCartoonists sound off on sex problems
Grace Bello has taken the bold step of going to cartoonists and asking them for sex advice -- and posting the results on Nerve. The results may shock you. Not really, but we had to say that, just because "cartoonists" and "sex" were long considered a bad match --unless you were one of those swinging '60s Don Draper cartoonists in the NCS, of course. Anyway, back to the present day. Rick Altergott on the pecking order:
Continue Reading2011 comics movie posters take their lumps
In a piece called The Ten Best and Worst Movie Posters of the Year Vulture lays out some analysis of the year's movie posters—why yes, that BRIDESMAIDS poster was pretty cool. They also single out two comics movie campaigns for some brickbats, including Worst: X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, describing it thusly:
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