Convention report: Dave Roman on Quai des Bulles
Imagine a cartoonist-centric comic convention, held in a city that is equal parts Kiki’s Delivery Service and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and you get a small taste of what it’s like to attend Quai des Bulles. You would have to consume many delicious butter-filled pastries to get the full taste!
Continue ReadingMust Read: The story of L’Association
The importance of this story will be self-evident to anyone familiar with L'Asso's work but here's a few reasons for those now in the know: 1) They published some of the best comics ever by major creators like Trondheim, Sfar and David B., to name a few. 2) L'Association was the original publisher of PERSEPOLIS, the work which more than any other legitimized graphic novels in the mainstream US publishing world of the Aughts 3) The story of the controversial Jean-Christophe Menu reveals one of the great paradoxes of the creative endeavor, in how the same character trait can often be both the doorway to greatness and its downfall.
Continue ReadingFrench satirical cartoon magazine firebombed after showing Mohammed
Only yesterday word that Charlie Hebdo, a satirical French magazine, was planning to run a a special "Sharia issue" guest edited by the prophet Mohammed. "What could possibly go wrong?" we were planning to write.
Continue Reading350 million copies later, Uderzo retires from drawing Asterix
He is perhaps the last great legacy cartoonist still working on his original creation. But at age 84, Alberto Uderzo, co-creator of ASTERIX, one of the world's most popular comics, is hanging up his drawing pen, citing fatigue.
Continue ReadingRIP: Sergio Bonelli
Sergio Bonelli, an Italian comics writer turned publisher, has died at age 79. As a writer, Bonelli took over writing the popular strip Tex from his father, Gian Luigi Bonelli, and went on to create ZAGOR (with Gallieno Ferri) and MISTER NO. As publisher, Sergio Bonelli Editore was one of Italy's most influential comics publishers, with such titles as Dylan Dog leading a pack of the kind of swashbuckling adventurers who seemed a throwback to '40s comic strips and could only survive in Italy's very different comics scene. Bonelli was a huge figure in the European comics scene, and his passing will be much noted in the international comics press.
Continue ReadingWooo-ah! Lots of new TINTIN stills
And we do mean STILLS. Still not quite feeling it, but obviously this is going to be a labor of love that tries to capture the feeling of the books. Produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Steven Spielberg, the all-mocap TINTIN opens this Christmas, starring Jaime Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook, and many more.
Continue ReadingIf I lived in Norway and still mailed things, I would totally use this stamp by Jason
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the first comic strip to be published in Norway -- The Katzenjammer Kids -- the Norwegian post office is releasing four stamps by cartoonists, including Frode Överli, Lise Myhre, Christopher Nielsen, and Jason -- above.
Continue ReadingArchaia to publish Marjane Satrapi’s The Sigh
Archaia has just announced a November release for the English language version of Marjane Satrapi's LE SIGH, which will be published in English as THE SIGH. Satrapi's PERSEPOLIS remains one of the all time best selling graphic novels -- in recent years she's concentrated on directing, as opposed to cartooning, with a live action version of her book CHICKEN WITH PLUMS currently prepping for release. THE SIGH was originally published in French as LE SOUPIR in 2004.
Continue ReadingMust read: Ryan Holmberg’s Manga 3.11
Ryan Holmberg, who normally writes about alternative manga, has written a long, excellent, piece on how the Japanese manga industry has reacted to the 3/11 earthquake.
Continue ReadingJoann Sfar, superstar
French cartoonist Joann Sfar is making the interview rounds this week to promote his directing debut: GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE, a French language film which has already won two Cesar awards (the French Oscar), including best debut film. With a lyrical portrait of the skinny pants icon of a zillion emo hipsters, this film should quickly become a classic from Williamsburg to Portlandia. Sfar was previously know here for his vibrant, humanist comics, like The Rabbi's Cat and Little Vampire, but like his fellow L"Association alums Marjane Satrapi and Riad Sattouf, he's made the jump to film direction with distinction.
Continue ReadingSyrian Political Cartoonist Ali Ferzat Attacked By Syrian Thugs
Reported worldwide today, Syrian political cartoonist Ali Ferzat was abducted early Thursday morning by pro-Assad forces. Beaten near the airport, his hands were broken "as a warning", and then abandoned on the highway.
Continue ReadingSingapore show wraps up
We kinda missed the fact that the Singapore Toy Game and Comic Convention jsut wrapped up; it's of note as the second year the show was run by Reed, the same gang that puts on C2E2 and NYCC. Luckily, the Jakarta Globe has a very thorough report:
Continue ReadingSure Reddit liked it, but what did Scott McCloud think?
That Korean horror comic we linked to yesterday had everyone buzzing or else pooping their pants, but you know, future comics aren't future comics until Scott McCloud weighs in -- which he did on Google+.
Continue ReadingFutureComics #2: eerie Korean comic
This interactive comic from Korea has blown up on 4Chan and Tumblr, although its author remains unknown. Just click and then scroll down. KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING. And make sure the speakers are on! JUST CLICK WE'LL WAIT, in the unlikely event you have yet to see this.
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