Via Image Comics, a teaser for…something involving a chainsaw. And it probably doesn’t mean clearing brush.

Despite its single publisher focus, the just announced Image Expo (Feb. 24-26, Oakland, CA) schedule is pretty wide ranging, with workshops (with Todd McFarlane and Jonathan Hickman, among others) announcements and comics to TV.

Opening with a keynote address from Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson on Friday night that will include some exclusive announcements, the programming at the upcoming Image Expo on February 24-26 in Oakland, California features some of comics’ most creative personalities discussing the industry’s hottest topics, as well as talking about their own work.
   
The programming ranges from large event panels, like those with Saga creators Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples and The Walking Dead superstar Robert Kirkman, to small, intimate workshops with the Image Comics founders that will require advance registration to attend. Panels on topics such as women in comics, writing and art, and comics on TV will offer cogent conversation; and workshops on retailing, combating censorship, writing, and design will engage with attendees’ creativity and passion for comics. And, of course, there will be an Image Comics 20th Anniversary panel that will reunite seven of Image Comics’ founders to talk about the future of comics and reminisce about their decision to leave work-for-hire behind for independent creator ownership.
   
FRIDAY

6 p.m.
Keynote Address
Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson welcomes you to Image Expo, the comics convention that celebrates independent creativity. Expect some incisive commentary as only Stephenson can provide, plus some exclusive announcements.

SATURDAY

11 a.m
Womanthology: What Zeitgeist?
It’s no secret that diversity in comics takes up a large part of the critical discussion of the medium online. How does gender relate to who is telling a story, what story they’re choosing to tell, and how that story is perceived by an audience? Womanthology started as an online discussion, then quickly blossomed into a full-fledged idea. And from there it went on to be one of the most successful comics projects on Kickstarter. Join some of the contributors and editors to discuss the experience of making Womanthology, the role of women in comics, as well the need for more anthologies that feature new creators from a variety of backgrounds. Plus, jokes about giant crab attacks and superheroes wearing underwear.
Panelists: Bonnie Butler, Mariah Huehner, Trina Robbins, Nicole Sixx, Fiona Staples
Moderator: Blair Butler

12 p.m.
Stories and Scripts: Writing Comics
How do comics readers get their vision from their minds, to script, to the drawn page? What do you need to know about successful collaboration with artists? Some of comics’ best writers will talk about the challenges, triumphs, and idiosyncrasies of the comics creative process. Find out how comics like Fatale, Haunt, Chew, Morning Glories and Saga are conceived, written, and brought to the printed page from the writers who knew them from “PAGE ONE, PANEL ONE.”
Panelists: Ed Brubaker, Steve Seagle, Joe Casey, Jonathan Hickman, John Layman, Nick Spencer, and Brian K. Vaughan
Moderator: Richard Starkings

1 p.m
Twenty Years of Independence: The Image Comics 20th Anniversary Panel
Twenty years ago, a group of young artists left their work-for-hire jobs to forge their own path in comics. The result was Image Comics, a publisher dedicated to creators’ individual visions and a champion of creative ownership. The Image Comics partners and some of the original founders now come together to talk about that momentous meeting of minds and talent.
Panelists: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino
Moderator: Eric Stephenson

2 p.m.
Saga: A Conversation with Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
One of the most-anticipated new comics of 2012 is Saga, by best-selling writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Pride of Baghdad) and the amazing artist Fiona Staples (Northlanders, Jonah Hex). The sweep of the series is epic, but its emotions are intimate: a forbidden romance and a young family on the run, set against the backdrop of galactic war and racial hatred. Vaughan and Staples will talk about the conception of their gorgeous new comic, the creative process, and the overwhelming response that it has gotten from the media months before its first issue even hits stores.
Panelists: Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

3 p.m.
From Page to Screen: Comics on TV
How do producers go about translating comics for the small screen? How does working in comics compare to working in television? A panel of comics creators who have worked in television — whether as producers like Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) and Brian K. Vaughan (Lost), writers like Jay Faerber (Ringer), creators like Joe Casey (Ben 10) and Todd McFarlane (Spawn), or a little bit of everything like Blair Butler — will assemble to talk about the ins and outs of the industry.
Panelists: Blair Butler, Joe Casey, Jay Faerber, Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane, and Brian K. Vaughan

4 p.m.
The Talking Dead Live
Is watching the recap talk show The Talking Dead after every episode of The Walking Dead part of your weekly viewing ritual? Then you won’t want to miss this panel! Chris Hardwick sits down with creator of The Walking Dead comic and executive producer of the hit AMC television series Robert Kirkman and actor Steven Yeun, who plays the fan-favorite character Glenn, for a lively conversation with The Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick about the latest shocking plot twists and what it’s like working on a show that has taken the world by storm.
Panelists: Robert Kirkman and Steven Yeun
Moderator: Chris Hardwick

5 p.m.
Spotlight on Chew
How does it feel for your comic book about an FDA agent who gathers clues by eating things — including people — to sell out, become a critical darling, win multiple awards, and appear on a New York Times bestseller list? Wait, how do you even come up with the idea for a comic about a cibopathic police-officer-turned-food-plant-inspector? You have questions about Chew. Creators Rob Guillory and John Layman just might be the right guys to answer them.
Panelists: Rob Guillory and John Layman

6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
CAPTURED GHOSTS Screening
Warren Ellis sees the future. He is a comic book writer and cyberpunk philosopher living on the edge of tomorrow. He speaks to a cult audience of artists, journalists, scientists and fans who hail him as Internet Jesus. The new film Captured Ghosts features the most extensive interview Ellis has ever given, covering his life from his first memory watching the moon landing as a child, to his recent cross-media success with the film adaptation of Red. Along the way, Ellis’ acerbic wit and core belief in humanity come across like never before. Complimenting Ellis’ own words are interviews with his artistic collaborators, friends and admirers from across all media. Ellis’ comic book collaborators also provide insight into Ellis’ mind and creative workings. The film features numerous ambient interludes that spotlight Ellis’ prose and writing from both his online columns and his comics.

SUNDAY

Instructions for Workshops
Admission to workshop panels is limited and attendees will require tickets for entry. Tickets for each panel may be picked up at the Image Comics booth no sooner than one hour before the workshop begins. Tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis and quantities are limited.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
MAN OF ACTION: Ben 10 and Explosive Creativity
Join two of animation’s most influential creators as they talk about their creation – Ben 10 – the story of a shape-shifting boy that burst on to Cartoon Network and now boasts hit television series, movies, and video games all over the world. What’s in store for MAN OF ACTION? Founding members Joe Casey & Steven T. Seagle talk Ben 10, Generator Rex, their upcoming TV shows and the Image Comics projects all rolling out of their action-filled creative development company!
MAIN ROOM
Panelists: Joe Casey and Steven Seagle

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Pro Tips with Todd McFarlane
In a world of comic book icons, comic superstar Todd McFarlane and his creation Spawn have clearly stood the test of time. Now McFarlane himself is inviting aspiring creators and fans to an extended workshop where he’ll share behind-the-scenes tips and tricks about his creative process. Armed with a Wacom and more than 20 years of experience as one of the most successful pros in the business, McFarlane will show fans how to unleash their own creative beast within!
WORKSHOP ROOM A

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Putting Words in Their Mouths: The Art of Lettering
With over 150 fonts in his Comicraft library, chances are you’ve read a comic lettered with a font designed by Richard Starkings. Join him, Chew co-creator and letterer John Layman, and letterer J.G. Roshell for a workshop on creating professional, pleasing lettering.
Panelists: Richard Starkings, John Layman and J.G. Roshell
WORKSHOP ROOM B

12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Image Introduces…
Some of Image Comics’ most exciting new creators assemble to talk about their new work and life as independent comics creators. Join the creators of Moriarty, Li’l Depressed Boy, Hell Yeah!, Witch Doctor, Peter Panzerfaust, and Skullkickers for an eye-opening conversation about what it’s really like to work in comics.
Panelists: Daniel Corey, Sina Grace, Joe Keatinge, Brandon Seifert, Kurtis Wiebe, Steven Struble, and Jim Zubkavich
MAIN ROOM

12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Retailing the New Generation of Comics
With creator-owned hits like The Walking Dead, Morning Glories, and Chew grabbing their places on the sales charts and bringing in new readers to comic shops, the comics industry is excited about new titles and new ideas. What are the best retailers in comics doing to strengthen and support the creator-owned comic revolution while competing with faceless online outlets or big box bookstores? If you’re a comic creator, retailer or fan, we’ll help you understand how to stay on top of the next wave of hidden gems.
PANELISTS: Brian Hibbs (Comix Experience), Steve (Third Eye), James Sime (Isotope), Todd Martinez (Image Comics), Jim Zub (Skullkickers)
WORKSHOP ROOM B

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Crossing the Line: Twenty Years of Shadowline
Join Jim Valentino and some Shadowline superstars for a rollicking question-and-answer session about Shadowline Comics past, present and future — plus dancing bears and a few surprises. Well, maybe not the bears (but we’ll try).
Panelists: Jim Valentino, Jimmie Robinson, Kurtis Wiebe, Tyler Jenkins, Joshua Williamson and Jade Dodge
MAIN ROOM

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Portfolio Reviews with Erik Larsen (a.k.a. Larsen Tears You a New One)
Image Comics partner and Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen, will be imparting artistic wisdom via no-holds-barred portfolio reviews… for those that have the guts! A random drawing will be done during the workshop to determine which aspiring artists in attendance will be chosen to have the brutal light of truth shine upon their work. Larsen’s ready to tell you what he really thinks! Can you handle it?
WORKSHOP ROOM A

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Design Workshop with Jonathan Hickman
The creator of The Nightly News, Pax Romana, A Red Mass for Mars, and the upcoming Secret and The Manhattan Projects will address the basics of making your work stand out: cover design, book design, design strategies, personal branding, and understanding what appeals to your market.
WORKSHOP ROOM B

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Top Cow Panel
Top Cow: We Create… REBIRTH
2012 is the best time EVER to jump into the Top Cow Universe with Rebirth. Get the scoop on what’s changed, what remains the same, and where things are headed for the rest of the year. Get behind-the-scenes information on the making of The Darkness II video game and be the first to hear about what exciting new projects Top Cow has lined up for their 20th anniversary! Plus special surprise guests and a free giveaway for every attendee. Moo!
Panelists: Marc Silvestri, Matt Hawkins, Filip Sablik, and Joshua Hale Fialkov
MAIN ROOM

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Jim Valentino Workshop
Shadowline publisher and Image co-founder Jim Valentino discusses what he’s looking for in new projects, the founding of Image, and his work with the Hero Initiative. He will be doing portfolio reviews with a donation to the Hero Initiative ONLY. We will have a donation jar in the room.
WORKSHOP ROOM A

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
CBLDF: The History (and Future) of Comics Censorship
Learn the shocking history of comics censorship and how even today comics and the people who make, sell and read them are still threatened.  CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein tells the sordid tale, from the public book burnings and Senate hearings that led to the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s through the attacks on retailers in the 1980s, artists in the 1990s, and readers today that the CBLDF is working to combat!
WORKSHOP ROOM B

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Portfolio Reviews with Whilce Portacio
Whilce Portacio, creator of Wetworks and current artist on Incredible Hulk, will offer thoughtful tips and critiques for artists looking to break into the comic book industry. A random drawing will determine which lucky artists will get a personal review during the workshop. Bring your portfolio for an hour of a guidance from a master of the medium!
WORKSHOP ROOM A

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Writing Workshop with John Layman
The writer of the best-selling comic Chew (drawn by Rob Guillory) will talk about the fundamentals of crafting a story, drafting a script, and effectively communicating your intentions to artists.
WORKSHOP ROOM B

3 p.m. 4 p.m.
Take to the Sky: Skybound and the Next Generation of Independence
Things continue to look up for Skybound, Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics. The premiere original Witch Doctor has sold out nationwide, the all-ages hit Super Dinosaur  continues to soar, and And Kirkman’s first-ever writer’s room-driven crime drama, Thief of Thieves, is a critical success… what’s next? Join Robert Kirkman as he discusses the future of the imprint with his stable of creators, including the creative teams behind Witch Doctor, Thief of Thieves, and more! Expect only AWESOMENESS.
Panlists: Robert Kirkman, Brandon Seifert, and Nick Spencer
MAIN ROOM

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Robert Kirkman Q&A
Kirkman, one of the most successful writers in comics today, best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Haunt, will offer fans some insight into the genius behind their favorite hit comics. After becoming an Image Comics partner in 2009, introducing the internationally renowned hit TV show based on the comic, The Walking Dead on AMC, and recently announcing an upcoming video game adaptation of the same series from TellTale Games, he has proven to be an unstoppable creative force.
MAIN ROOM

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Covers and an Eye for Talent: Marc Silvestri Workshop
Join Top Cow founder, Image partner, and top industry artist Marc Silvestri as he takes a look at two facets that have helped define his career. Silvestri is best known in the industry as a highly-sought cover artist and as an incredible mentor for young artists who have come through his studio system at Top Cow. In this intimate workshop, Marc will present his thoughts on what makes a dynamic, memorable cover using his own pieces as examples and also tell young, aspiring artists what he looks for in undiscovered talent. Find out what draws the eye of the man who discovered Michael Turner, David Finch, Joe Benitez, Francis Manapul, Mike Choi, and many, many others!
WORKSHOP ROOM A

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Creating Living Legend: Eric Shanower and Age of Bronze
Relive the Trojan War in Age of Bronze, Eric Shanower’s award-winning comics version of the world’s greatest story. With words and pictures, Shanower will detail his creative process from initial idea, through research into literary sources and archaeological remains, to writing and drawing comics pages and coloring for the digital edition.
WORKSHOP ROOM B

Wow, February 1 is a banner day in comics history. It is also the day that Image Comics was created—20 years ago. Via Facebook, co-founder Jim Valentino shared a photo of the founders and one pal on that fateful day, from left to right Erik Larsen, Hank Kanalz, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. They’e all still in the game, all better off than they were 20 years ago. Collectively, they’ve changed the industry a time or two. It was also a day when people wore denim shirts. Ah, what a time…

And also from Image…this Shep Fairey-influenced teaser for..something. Guess we’ll have to be…calm until we find out what it’s all about.

The first ever Image Expo is shaping up for the end of next month with the addition of Ed Brubaker, whose FATALE recently launched and has sold out. This is really looking like a zeitgeisty kind of show—Image is scooping up formerly exclusive mainstream writers like a rescue boat in the North Sea, and the lineup of guests includes many with passionate followings.

IMAGE EXPO, the one-of-a-kind celebration commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Image Comics and showcasing creator-owned comics, has announced that Ed Brubaker, writer of FATALE, will be the latest independent comics star to be added the impressive list of special guests. At Image Expo for a limited appearance on Saturday, February 25, Brubaker will be joining the Image Comics partners Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino, Image founders Rob Liefeld and Whilce Portacio, and a who’s who of other creator-owned comics stars!

Brubaker will be part of a panel on writing comics on Saturday at 12 p.m., where he and fellow writers Steve Seagle, Joe Casey, Jonathan Hickman, John Layman, Nick Spencer, and Brian K. Vaughan will discuss the art of crafting scripts and stories.

FATALE, Image Comics’ hit new ongoing series drawn by Sean Phillips and colored by Dave Stewart, has been a runaway best-seller, with issue one selling out multiple printings and issue two getting a reprint before it even hits stores.

Previously announced guests include:

Joe Casey (Ben 10, BUTCHER BAKER, THE RIGHTEOUS MAKER, HAUNT)
Jay Faerber (Ringer, DYNAMO 5, NEAR DEATH)
Jonathan Hickman (THE NIGHTLY NEWS, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS)
Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE)
Fiona Staples (SAGA)
Richard Starkings (Comicraft, ELEPHANTMEN)
Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Runaways, SAGA)

IMAGE EXPO, a three-day celebration of creator-owned comics happening at the Oakland Convention Center, is Northern California’s premier comic con experience in 2012. Berkeley-based Image Comics will be filling the demand for a 2012 Bay Area comic book convention that arose when WonderCon announced their temporary relocation to Anaheim, California. The three-day event takes place at the Oakland Convention Center in the heart of the bustling nightlife and restaurant center of downtown Oakland, CA on February 24-25-26.

Experience the creativity of the men and women making the best creator owned comics in America at this one-of-a-kind celebration commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Image Comics!

To purchase tickets and find more information about the show, visit www.imagecomicexpo.com.

By Todd Allen

In comics, were one privy to what goes on in the editorial suite, you could probably do “The Hour In Creative Differences,” not “The Week.”  That said, there have been a couple cases of creative differences that have bubbled to the surface in the last week or so: the circumstances of how John Rozum came to leave Static Shock and the demise of The Infinite from Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefeld.

First up, we have Rozum.  Rozum should be best known for his wonderful Xombi comic, which found plenty of love from critics but not nearly enough love from readers last year.  Rozum found himself in the odd position of being hired to write a comic, but wasn’t actually asked to do any writing.  OK, you’re thinking this isn’t that unusual… but this time, there wasn’t an Event dictating the plot, just his artist/co-writer and editor. In Rozum’s words:

To say I was disappointed with how things turned out is an understatement. From the first issue on, I was essentially benched by Harvey Richards and artist/writer Scott McDaniel. All of my ideas and suggestions were met with disdain, and Scott McDaniel lectured me on how my method for writing was wrong because it wasn’t what the Robert McKee screenwriting book he read told him was the way to do things. The man who’d never written anything was suddenly more expert than me and the editor was agreeing with him. Scott had also never read a Static comic book, nor seen the cartoon series, yet was telling me that my dialogue didn’t sound true to the character and would “fix it.”

Essentially, Rozum didn’t like where the book was going and was reduced to dialogue coach by the sound of it.  Hearing the story, I’m a little surprised he left his name on the book and swap in Alan Smithee or some such pseudonym as a placeholder.  From someone who with Milestone’s original incarnation, this must have been pretty frustrating.  On the other hand… something went wrong at an editorial level with a Dwayne McDuffie creation?

But, if the book’s not remotely what you were trying to do and you’re getting a negative reputation with both potential employers and fans, I don’t see where you have any choice, but to make a statement.  These things happen.

Rozum also goes out of his way to diffuse some of the charges of institutionalized racism that have been making the rounds on the message boards:

Static Shock did not get cancelled because DC has some racist motivation against minority characters, or the Milestone characters.Static Shock was cancelled, in my opinion, because it wasn’t a good comic book. If it had been, people would have stuck with it, just as they have with Animal Man, who is a C-list character elevated by the talents of its creative team being allowed to do what they do best. DC wanted Static Shock to succeed as much as anyone did. They would never have started the series if they didn’t think it had a chance to do so.

Personally, I’d be up for more Xombi… but I suspect the sales were just too low for that to be happening.

Then, just so you don’t think that creative differences only happen at DC and Marvel, we have the strange case of The Infinite. This is the Robert Kirkman/Rob Liefeld project over at Skybound.  News broke on Liefeld’s twitter and then hit the wires.

The short version?  Liefeld used a new inker on issue 5.  Skybound/Kirkman apparently didn’t like the inked pages.  Everybody walked away unhappy.  Or at least that’s what Liefeld appears to be saying.  I haven’t heard the Skybound/Kirkman side of the story yet.

On the other hand, it isn’t like both Kirkman and Liefeld don’t have plenty of other projects to pay attention to.  Schedules like those two have, one problem project could have a domino effect on two or three others if they’re not careful.

By Todd Allen

In many ways, Rob Leifeld’s old Extreme line was the epitome of the Direct Market in the mid-90s.  Imagine my surprise when I’m reading the relaunch of one of those books at realize it’s very much a mid-80s comic.

As with the Prophet re-launch, the Glory re-launch is something a bit different.  This time out writer Joe Keatinge and artist Ross Campbell channel Miracleman and Airboy for their new series,  debuting with Glory #23.  Miracleman and Airboy?  Yes, I said it.

If you go back to the mid-80s, the post-modern era really started a little bit before Watchmen.  Marvelman really started that movement back in 1982 over in Warrior magazine.  Eclipse brought the re-christened Miracleman over to the US in ‘85, to reprint and then continue the story.  Airboy added to the mix in ‘86, along with Miller’s Dark Knight and Moore’s Watchmen (Dark Knight and Watchmen are the two comics that really popularized the pos-tmodern movement).

To varying degrees, Marvel/Miracleman, Dark Knight, Airboy and Watchmen are spin out of trying to find out what happened to missing/retired heroes as a threat from the past emerges.  (And yes, that’s EXACTLY what happened in the first arc of Airboy – Chuck Dixon was doing the action take on post-modernism before it was the fad.)

Glory #23 opens with a young woman who has dreams of the Glory heroine.  Glory has disappeared, and she’s made it her mission to find her.  We see flashbacks to Glory’s birth, the peace-brokered child of the leaders of war races, one god-like and the other demon-like.  We see flashbacks to Glory (or perhaps “Gory” would be more apt –  she could teach the Savage Hawkman something about being Savage).  We also see sinister things lurking in the shadows as the young lady quests.

Glory is an analogue to Wonder Woman, much the same way the better known Supreme is an analogue to Superman.  The flashbacks reminded me of Alan Moore’s run on Supreme, where he was having fun playing with the tropes of Superman from specific time periods.  This is a more violent take on Wonder Woman, more savage and aloof a warrior than DC’s pushed the character towards, but still in the basic mold.  This is still a little darker than the current Azzarello/Chiang edition of Wonder Woman.

All in all, this is a set-up issue.  Where’s Glory gone to?  Has something bad happened to her?  Sinister forces are lurking.  The transitions from past to present are smooth and the mood of impending doom is set up properly.  This is _so_ an 80s post-modern comic.  The ironic thing is, it’s post-modern on a heroine that really doesn’t have all that deep a publishing history and wasn’t published in the time period the flashbacks occur in.

The unusual thing about the Campbell art is that he’s not drawing Glory as a swimsuit model.  She’s a bruiser built more like a linebacker.  While I’m not blinking my eyes, muttering “where did this come from,” like I was with the Prophet relaunch, Glory is solid book that seems to know what it is.  If the tropes I described are your cup o’ tea, it’s well worth your time.  The Extreme relaunch is two-for-two and I’m waiting to see what Erik Larsen is doing with those old Alan Moore scripts.  And yes, it cracks me up how comfortably this comic would have sit in the Eclipse section in 1986, right between Airboy and Miracleman.

Glory #23 comes out on February 15th.

Over on her blog, former SLG Publishing editor-in-chief Jennifer de Guzman reveals she has left SLG. Word on the street is that she’s joining Image Comics, in a yet-to-be announced position. as marketing & PR coordinator. Sarah Delaine, who was previously providing those duties, will be staying on at Image.

It’s a great move for both parties. de Guzman has not only been a fine e-i-c, but in recent years a observant industry commentator (disclaimer: also a columnist for PW Comics World, which I co-edit) with a canny grasp of all levels of the field. And of course, Image is the Company to Watch for 2012. So good things all around.

On her blog, de Guzman had nothing but fond memories of her 10 years at SLG

Friday was officially my last day at SLG Publishing, the company where I began my career in the comics industry and worked for ten years, most of them as Editor in Chief. My decade SLG was, I suspect, like no other decade anyone has spent working anywhere. I had great co-workers and got to work with fantastic creators, all of whom I will miss very much. (Though because this is comics and a community like no other, we will always stay in contact.)

.

The show-and-tell continues!

In this post, new titles from Dark Horse, Image, and IDW!

So, here’s what caught my eye.  Please comment below, and please feel free to mention titles I may have marginalized or overlooked.  My tastes are eclectic, but there’s stuff which doesn’t interest me, or doesn’t evoke much of a response.  I respect everyone who manages to publish something, but with some 400 graphic novel titles a month, I have to be selective.

CAVEAT:  As I discovered while doing the publisher posts, that some titles have been canceled or postponed.  The titles below, the information is subject to change.  Some may already be out and on sale, some may be vaporous.  All descriptions are from the publishers.

Oh, and the advisory:  I am employed as a bookseller.  Nothing I say here or anywhere else online has any connection to my employer.  I know my employer can take umbrage at any association people may make between my private and professional activities, so I’m careful to let ninja cows be.

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One Model Nation

Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Jim Rugg

Hardcover, $24.95

9780857687265, 0857687263

Author Bio: Courtney Taylor-Taylor is the lead-singer and songwriter of the hugely popular Portland, Oregon band The Dandy Warhols. The band has released six albums to date and have had huge critical and commercial successes on both sides of the Atlantic. One Model Nation is Taylor’s first original graphic novel.

Jim Rugg is the co-writer and artist of the critically acclaimed Street Angel series. He has also contributed inks to DC/Vertigo’s American Virgin.

Summary: In 1977, four young men were the voice of their generation.

In 1978, they disappeared.

This is the epic journey of art noise band One Model Nation, the final dark days of the Baader-Meinoff Gang, and the band’s mysterious disappearance only months later.

This original graphic novel comes from the mind of Dandy Warhols frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor, with art by indie super star Jim Rugg, and features a host of bonus extras; sketches, director’s commentary, deleted scenes and more!

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain, Eric Powell

Hardcover, $19.99

978-1-61377-086-3

The classic novel by celebrated American author Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells of a teenage misfit accompanied by an escaping slave, Jim, as the two float down the Mississippi River by raft. As their journey unfolds, Huck and Jim encounter adventure, danger, and a deftly scribed cast of characters that are by turns both menacing and hilarious. This special edition is illustrated by comics industry star Eric Powell (The Goon, Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters), and presents the material as Twain intended.
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Brooklyn Dreams

J.M. DeMatteis, Glenn Barr

Hardcover, $39.99

978-1-61377-080-1

The complete critically acclaimed saga is re-collected in hardcover for this collection of J.M. DeMatteis and Glenn Barr’s Brooklyn Dreams. Celebrated by fans and critics alike, and long out of print, don’t miss this chance to own a book that many say will change your life.
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Mark Twain’s Tales of Mystery

Mark Twain, Menton3

ISBN:    1-61377-124-X
ISBN 13:    978-1-61377-124-2
Trade Cloth, $16.99

Sherlock Holmes in America? Mark Twain a character in his own stories? Can it be true? True indeed, dear reader, as Mark Twain makes his mark on the mystery genre with this collection of short stories by the grand master himself. Including “A Double Barreled Detective Story,” “Tom Sawyer, Detective,” “A Murder, a Mystery, and a Marriage,” and “The Stolen White Elephant,” delight as Twain breaks convention and bends cherished characters to tell stories that are wholly his own. Illustrations provided by Menton3 (The Lovecraft Library, Classics Multilated, Monocyte).
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50 Girls 50 Shakedown, Volume 1

Doug Murray, Frank Cho, Axel Medellin

ISBN:    1-60706-469-3
ISBN 13:    978-1-60706-469-5
Trade Paper, $14.99

OLD SCHOOL SCI-FI EXPLORES THE WORLDS OF TOMORROW!
This complete edition of FRANK CHO (X-Men: Schism), DOUG MURRAY (The ‘Nam) & AXEL MEDELLIN’s (ELEPHANTMEN) contains all four issues of their space-faring epic featuring the galaxy-lost ESS Savannah’s search for home! If that’s not enough, it’s also packed with bonus pieces written by MURRAY further exploring the worlds of 50 GIRLS 50 and a gallery of art by both MEDELLIN and CHO!

Collects 50 GIRLS 50 #1-4
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Infestation

Erik Burnham, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Mike Raicht, Scott Tipton, David Messina, Gary Erskine, Kyle Hotz, Casey Maloney, Nick Roche, Giovanni Timpano, David Tipton, Ashley Wood

ISBN:    1-61377-106-1
ISBN 13:    978-1-61377-106-8
Trade Cloth, $34.99

IDW’s first-ever mega event is collected in this hard cover collection as something goes horribly awry in the IDW universe: a dimensions-spanning zombie outbreak of epic proportions, which threatens to tear many of IDW’s biggest realities asunder! The infestation spreads through the TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, STAR TREK, and GHOSTBUSTERS universes. Zombie apocalypse looms and the remaining members of CVO are running out of options…

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Crawl to Me

Alan Robert

ISBN:    1-61377-118-5
ISBN 13:    978-1-61377-118-1
Trade Paper, $17.99

Wire Hangers creator/hard-rock musician, Alan Robert, is back for blood with this all-new horror tale, Crawl to Me. The story centers on Ryan, as he struggles to protect his family from what appears to be an evil entity living within their basement’s crawl space.

It is only after a series of violent events occur, that Ryan realizes he must set aside all he believes to be true in order to face his shocking and inevitable reality. This intense thriller will keep you guessing every step of the way.

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Danger Girl: The DANGER-SIZED Treasury Edition

J. Scott Campbell, Andy Hartnel, Alex Garner

Danger Girl was a smash hit when it was released in 1998 and helped solidify J. Scott Campbell as one of the premier artists working in comics-period. Now you can thrill to the exploits of Abbey Chase, Sydney Savage, Johnny Barracuda and all the rest, in this ultra-cool, super-sexy, Danger-Sized Edition of DANGER GIRL. Collecting the Danger Girl 8-page preview story that introduced Abbey Chase, the oversized first issue, and issue #2–You just can’t get more DANGER for your money!

FC Cardstock   $9.99  64 pages  9.25″ x 14.25″

[No, this is not a book, but how often do you see a treasury-sized comic book?]

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Womanthology: Heroic

Annie Nocenti, Anya Martin, Barbara Kesel, Kimberly Komatsu, Gail Simone, Trina Robbins, Samantha Newark, and many more (w) Camille d’Errico, Renae DeLiz, Ming Doyle, Colleen Doran, Fiona Staples, Stephanie Buscema, and more!

Hardcover, $50.00

ISBN: 978-1-61377-147-1

Womanthology is a large-scale anthology showcasing the works of women in comics. It is created entirely by over 140 women of all experience levels, from young girls who love to create comics all the way up to top industry professionals. All of the short stories will center around our theme for this volume; Heroic. There will also be features, such as Professional How-Tos, a Kids/Teens section showcasing their works and giving tips, as well as a section dedicated to some Iconic female comic creators of the past, such as Nell Brinkley, and much more. Profits of this book will go towards the Charities of GlobalGiving.org.
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Steve Canyon, Volume 1: 1947-1948

Milton Caniff

Hardcover, $49.99

ISBN 978-1-61377-125-9

Steve Canyon like you’ve never seen it before-reproduced directly from Milton Caniff’s personal set of syndicate proofs! For the first time: the definitive edition of the Steve Canyon newspaper strip by Milton Caniff featuring every Sunday in color and the daily strips in their original, uncropped versions.

Caniff quit Terry and the Pirates in 1946 to begin Steve Canyon and it became his biggest-selling work. Forever known as the Rembrandt of the Comic Strip, Caniff is at the absolute peak of his artistic prowess in these strips. Your passport is stamped for Adventure, Intrigue, and Danger on your expedition to exotic locales with your pilot, the one and only Steve Canyon! The Caniff women are also on display, as Steve Canyon Volume 1 features steely yet sexy  “Copper” Calhoun; the beautiful schemer, Delta; that modern-day Mata Hari, Madame Lynx; Dr. Deen Wilderness, who is as capable as she is lovely; plus Captain Shark, Convoy, and the footloose Fancy.

Edited and designed by Dean Mullaney, with historical essays by Bruce Canwell, Steve Canyon is presented in a matching hardcover set to the Library of American Comics’s Eisner Award-winning Terry and the Pirates. Everyone who enjoyed Terry won’t want to miss this sequel in which the horizons are truly unlimited!
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Popbot Big Beautiful Book

Ashley Wood

Hardcover, $95.00

[No ISBN discovered.  Click link above for IDW store.]

Originally only available from IDW during San Diego Comic-Con, we uncovered a small stash of Ashley Wood’s POPBOT BIG BEAUTIFUL BOOK. This striking edition collects the long sold-out POPBOT volumes 1 to 8 in a  huge 11″ x 14″ hardcover format, showcasing over 400 pages of Ashley Wood art. Ships with a slipcase. Strictly limited to stock on hand.

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G.I. JOE: Renegades, Volume 1

Marty Isenberg

Trade Paperback  $7.99

ISBN: 978-1-60010-835-8

G.I. JOE is the world’s best and last defense against the dark forces that haunt our planet. They are highly trained, highly skilled, highly effective, and highly motivated. In short, they are the best at what they do. But for the first time ever, in order to fight evil, our heroes have to become RENEGADES! Join DUKE, SCARLETT, ROADBLOCK, TUNNEL RAT, RIPCORD, and SNAKE EYES as they lead a lone charge against COBRA, becoming fugitives of justice in the process! High-octane action, unbelievable stories, and action-packed battles set this G.I. JOE tour de force on high ground! It’s G.I. JOE like you’ve never seen it before!

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Inkshot

[see below]

ISBN:    1-61377-108-8
ISBN 13:    978-1-61377-108-2
Trade Paper, $24.99

A shot of ink, an ink gunshot, ink-made! Inkshot is a new anthology of ideas in small doses – three to five pages – small universes you can dive into and get lost in many different genres. Featuring never-before-seen stories by Danilo Beyruth [Necronaut], Jose Aguiar [Ernie Adams], Milton & Felipe Sobreiro [Cthulhu Tales], Bruno Stahl [Heavy Metal Magazine], Gabriel Goes [Samba Magazine], Pablo Mayer [The Next House], Davi Calil [MAD Magazine], Pablo Casado [Duo], Felipe Cunha [Jesus Hates Zombies], Hector Lima [The Major], and many others, Inkshot is a showcase of some of the best Brazilian comics of the new Century.

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Art of Joe Jusko

Joe Jusko

ISBN:    1-61377-096-0
ISBN 13:    978-1-61377-096-2
Trade Cloth, $49.99

For the first time ever, a volume devoted to one of the more popular fantasy/sci fi painters of the past 25 years. This book offers readers and fans a chance to witness his immense and phenomenal career from start to present, offering glimpses of previously never-before-seen material from his files and sketchbooks, his enormously popular comic work, covers and illustrations from his book publishing career, as well as beautifully reproduced images of his personal favorites and insights into his life and creative process. Brought to you by the publishing house responsible for THE ART OF BRIAN BOLLAND and THE ART OF P. CRAIG RUSSELL.
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Elephantmen: Armed Forces, Volume 0

Boo Cook, David Hine

ISBN:    1-60706-468-5
ISBN 13:    978-1-60706-468-8
Trade Cloth, $34.99

Collecting the sold out WAR TOYS trade paperback, now in full color for the first time, and the sequel, ENEMY SPECIES, this highly anticipated ELEPHANTMEN, VOL. 0 is packed with extras, including MORITAT and BOO COOK sketchbooks and unseen work by LADR?NN, MARIAN CHURCHLAND, MARLEY ZARCONE and a new prologue by AXEL MEDELLIN!

Collects ELEPHANTMEN: WAR TOYS, VOL. 1: NO SURRENDER; ELEPHANTMEN: YVETTE ONE SHOT and ELEPHANTMEN #34-35

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Firebreather Vs Dragon Prince (One-Shot)

Phil Hester, Ron Marz, Saumin Patel, Andy Kuhn

ISBN:    1-60706-332-8
ISBN 13:    978-1-60706-332-2
Trade Paper, $7.99

Something monstrous is killing visitors at an isolated mountain lake, and only the combined might of Firebreather and Dragon Prince can hope to overcome it! But when the strange being’s plans for our young heroes are revealed, can their newfound friendship withstand its deadly siren call?
Features an all-new, 40-page story, plus reprints of the classic origins of Firebreather and Dragon Prince by their original creators.

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King Aroo, Volume 2

Jack Kent

ISBN:    1-60010-782-6
ISBN 13:    978-1-60010-782-5
Trade Cloth, $39.99

The peaceable little kingdom of Myopia rocks with laughter in the second collection of Jack Kent’s King Aroo. Colorful visitors come and go while Professor Yorgle pontificates, faithful Yupyop frets, and Mr. Elephant forgets everything but his own name! Kindly King Aroo presides over all the outlandish slapstick and witty wordplay in over seven hundred daily and Sunday comic strips from 1953-1954, edited and designed by Eisner Award-winner Dean Mullaney. Bruce Canwell continues his groundbreaking biography of Jack Kent, featuring rare photos and never-before-seen artwork. This classic comic is a treat for readers of all ages.

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Officer Downe: Bigger Better Bastard Edition

Joe Casey, Chris Burnham

ISBN:    1-60706-477-4
ISBN 13:    978-1-60706-477-0
Trade Cloth, $17.99

The Badass With A Badge returns in a glorious oversized hardcover! Brought to you JOE CASEY (BUTCHER BAKER) and CHRIS BURNHAM (Batman, Inc.) – now with ADDED PAGES of over-the-top sex and violence – experience OFFICER DOWNE as it was meant to be experienced! You’ve never felt “command presence” quite like this! This is the cop that’ll keep coming back for more… even from beyond the grave! Now with all-new bonus features!

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Shaky Kane’s Monster Truck

Shaky Kane

ISBN:    1-60706-470-7
ISBN 13:    978-1-60706-470-1
Trade Paper, $14.99

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Ratfist

Doug Tennapel, Katherine Garner

ISBN:    1-60706-478-2
ISBN 13:    978-1-60706-478-7

Trade Paper, $19.99

Earthworm Jim creator DOUG TENNAPEL is publishing his Webcomic RATFIST, a vigilante-in-tights that satirizes comics, politics, philosophy, and even TENNAPEL himself! Featuring a forward written by MST3K/RiffTraxx’s MICHAEL J. NELSON, and pinups by RYAN OTTLEY, SCOTT KURTZ, CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS and ETHAN NICOLLE!

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Gaylord DuBois, Russ Manning, Jesse Marsh

ISBN:    1-59582-821-4
ISBN 13:    978-1-59582-821-7

Trade Cloth, $49.99

The long batted-about Hack/Slash movie, based on the Tim Seeley/Stefano Caselli comic of the same name, now has a new helmer attached: Marcus Nispel, whose previous slashing and hacking efforts include the disappointing Conan movies, PATHFINDER, and outings in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th franchises.

The comics, once published by Devil’s Due but since moved to Image, concerns Cassie Hack, a mass murder survivor who goes around killing other mass murderers — all in an over the top horror movie style and while dressed in schoolgirl fetish style.

So yeah, this would seem to be soundly in Nispel’s roundhouse.

Mark Millar is announcing a slew of Millarworld projects this week, exclusively on CBR, and here’s the long-rumored project with Frank Quitely: JUPITER’S CHILDREN, a 12-issue maxiseries.

Giving up some early details on “Jupiter’s Children,” Millar described the background of the universe fans will be seeing come September. “It opens in France in the 1920s, which immediately for a superhero story is a very different location,” he said. “We start on a bunch of explorers kind of like that opening from ‘King Kong,’ which I love, and they’re doing an exploration of the ancient world – these rich Americans who have put together an expedition to find something you’ll hear about in the story. From those first few pages, and a doomed expedition, we cut to the present day, and they came home from that trip altered and with a plan to save the American idea. In historical context, the Russian revolution is relatively recent and Europe is in a state of turmoil and they’re just on the cusp of the Wall Street Crash so they’ve gone on this trip to try and save America and then we cut to their utterly useless, meandering children in the present day essentially squandering their inheritance. It’s not crass and celebrity focused, although it touches on that stuff. It’s more Shakespearean, with the last of the old heroes, a King Lear figure, watching these teenagers and twenty-something with no altruism whatsoever.”

Much, much more from the voluable Millar in the link.

FATALE #1, the first issue of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ new Image series, has sold out at Diamond and has a second printing on the way. And of course it will have a variant cover.

Today best-selling writer Ed Brubaker and his frequent collaborator and artist, Sean Phillips, debuted Image Comics’ first new hit title for the year 2012, FATALE. This much-anticipated new series has already sold out at distribution level, despite a generous overprinting. A second printing is now underway and will arrive back on shelves next month, appearing alongside the second issue.

“The overwhelming positive response to FATALE from retailers and fans has been a bit shocking, but a great way to start the new year,” said Brubaker. “Keep it up, and we’ll keep putting out the best book we can.”

“2012 is the year of the creator, and we couldn’t imagine a more suitable way of kicking off our 20th anniversary than with this brilliant new series,” said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. “Ed and Sean are two of comics’ absolute best, and FATALE is their best work yet.”

FATALE tells the story of a reporter in 2012 who stumbles on a secret that leads him down the darkest path imaginable… to a seductive woman who’s been on the run since 1935, a mobster who may be an immortal demon monster, and the stories of all the doomed men who’ve been caught in their decades-long struggle. FATALE blends noir and horror to tell a riveting epic unlike anything readers have ever seen before.

FATALE #1 (“Beauty” Cover A: NOV110354, “Beast” Cover B: NOV110355), a 32-page full-color noir horror comic book for $3.50, is on sale now until supplies run out. A second printing of FATALE #1 (NOV118137) is available to order now, and will go on sale February 1, alongside FATALE #2 (DEC110551).

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are but two of the big-name creators making the move to Image in 2012 — that’s definitely going to be a BIG story for the year — and Warren Ellis has a five-page preview of their new book, FATALE. Here’s a one-page preview of the five-page preview. The book goes on sale this Wednesday.

Ruminating on the year past, cartoonist/educator Steve Bissette considers the story of how creator-owned comics can be sunk by just one stuck cog — in this case a rather large cog named Alan Moore. Just to bring everyone up to speed, 1963 was a very early Image project re-imagining the origins of Marvel, written by Moore and illustrated by Steve Bissette, John Totleben, and Rick Veitch, with additional art by Dave Gibbons, Don Simpson, and Jim Valentino and published in 1993. The final issue was to have been illustrated by Jim Lee, but Lee took time off in the middle, Moore decided not to finished it and…blah blah blah. Time passes. And, Bissette and Moore have a bit of a falling out, as chronicled in a series of interviews, here and there.

However, last year, a 1963 follow-up — Tales of the Uncanny – N-Man & Friends: A Naut Comics History Vol. 1 — was to be produced by Bissette and published by Image. Well, things didn’t work out, as Bissette posts. In addition, there was to be a reprint of 1963. After months of negotiations, Moore “pulled the plug” — meaning 1963 will never be reprinted ever again.

And ironically — given our rant earlier today about work for hire — Bissette has found the WFH has paid him far more than creator-owned comics over the year. In the spirit of equal time:

So, consider this:

In creator co-ownership, one partner can forever and willfully deep-six any future in any co-owned work—even completed, published work, that still has perceived or potential market value.

That, too, is part of creator ownership, and co-ownership, and creator rights, and must be taken into account in any discussion of the subject.

All of us who worked hard on 1963 back in 1992–93 earned whatever we would or will ever earn from that work back in 1993, and that was that.

We will never see a dime from any of that work again, while the quarterly royalties from the DC/Vertigo collected Swamp Thing editions (for which I wrote two book introductions in 2011, more on that in a moment) and John Constantine/Hellraiser arrive, for the most part, like clockwork.

If you had told the Bissette of 1990 that he’d never see a dime on any work done with Alan save the work-for-hire collaborative ventures we’d already put behind us by 1990, the Bissette of 1990 would have laughed and spit and ranted about the evils of work-for-hire.

Both Alan Moore and Steve Bissette qualify as…principled individuals who adhere strongly to their own belief systems. And Moore is undoubtedly one of the major literary figures of his time. He is also, to put it mildly, not always interested in the financial affairs of his past collaborators.

Bissette still hopes to publish Tales of the Uncanny sometime next year.

Mystery Incorporated © and TM Alan Moore and Rick Veitch. Inside Image cover by art by Rick Veitch and Dave Gibbons.

By Todd Allen

There’s a sub-genre of espionage that’s come to be called “Spy-Fi.”  Spy-Fi is the blending of science fiction and spy stories.  It’s primarily a film and television thing, with the mild science fiction aspects of the Bond gadgets and eventually the Bond villains.  On the small screen it was evident in the increasingly fantastic villains in the (Steed and Mrs. Peel) Avengers, the super powered spies of The Champions and the Jules Verne-esque Wild Wild West.  In comics, more often than not, your spy adventures are Spy-Fi.  Nick Fury had his super agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Iron Man and Captain America have frequently mingled super heroes and espionage.  There was also Image’s Who Is Jake Ellis?, which had a spy with another spy living in his brain.  (That’s an over-simplification, but you get the gist.)

The Activity #1 is the new spy series from Nathan Edmondson, the writer of Who Is Jake Ellis?, as well as Grifter over at DC.  Joining him on the art duties is Mitch Gerads.  Unlike the above, this appears to be a straight espionage title, owing more to Tom Clancy than Ian Flemming.  An unusual thing in the comics world, even if it’s more mainstream with the prose-reading audience at large.

The Activity concerns a secret unit of U.S. Intelligence operatives.  It seems to be largely, but not exclusively military in nature.  In the SEAL/Delta tradition, but espionage-ish than search and destroy.  What we have here is an excellent introductory issue.  This more or less one and done introduces the premise through a milk run with a new recruit, gives just a little bit of background on the set-up and some of the operative and sets the plate for the series.

The Activity is also definitely in the “widescreen” tradition of comics storytelling that used to be quite the buzzword a few years back.  This has a very cinematic feel and the brisk pacing of a caper film.  There really isn’t that much more to say about it without getting into the actual mission.  This comic doesn’t waste a lot of time establishing tone or identity and is a solid debut.

The question remains where this series is going and what the format will be.  It isn’t immediately apparent if a larger story arc is starting or if more bits and pieces will dropped in more one and done issues.  This is one of the better introductory issues of the last few months, now it’s just a question of direction.  Recommended for fans of espionage and military black ops stories.  If those aren’t your genres, you might want to hang back until the direction is a little more firmly established and we see if this swings more towards Queen & Country or more towards Jason Bourne.