Or: how did we get here anyway? Chris Eckert does something we’re surprised more anal retentive fans internet researchers haven’t done, and collates Five Years Later: The Oral History of Countdown to Final Crisis using the plethora of internet interviews that flooded the comics internets in the innocent days of 2007. Although, as Eckert points out, a lot of material from that era has been removed, including most of Newsarama and The Pulse, to name but two. So what was Countdown?

it also provided us a near-perfect lab specimen of what an Editorially Driven Comic Book looks like. To a certainly extent, everything you can say about Countdown is true of nearly every Big Two superhero comic:

It was published to fill a hole in the schedule
Non-Executive-Staff creative members were treated like interchangeable cogs, comic-producing machines
Plot Events (and importance to the companywide Uberplot) were privileged over what would be traditionally called “story” and “character”
It received constant “comics” “media” attention on the big blogs despite no one, not even the interviewers and DC employees extruding the book weekly, seemed to care in the least

Our own memory of the time is similar…as the above teaser circulated (as did the one below) following the revelation of the 52 mini-series, it seemed tearing apart every little continuity link of the DCU for story shock value became the goal. And they also repretnt what has become status quo for the DCU: people crying mourning in a shattered landscape of dark greys, browns and green And not everything worked out behind the scene either:

MARTS: For the first four books, we’ve brought in Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, Adam Beechem, Sean McKeever, and Tony Bedard. These are our key writers who will be working with Paul in the beginning, but also that doesn’t stop us from bringing other writers in to work on the project… If we choose to crossover with another storyline or a book which is being driven by another writer, we can allow that writer to come onboard and tell their portion of the story inside Countdown and working with Paul. That way, there will be a real feeling of cohesiveness between the series and Countdown, but it also allows the writer to maintain some level of input and control over the character they’re writing on a monthly basis.

Eckert: In case anyone is curious, this never happened.

Some would argue that 52 is where the EDC became the only thing driving the superhero mainstream. But surely COUNTDOWN is where it drove off into the unchartered territory that would lead to the New 52 revamp.

From the gory, lurid world of pre-code comics….Dark Horse is putting together some kick-ass collections — in fact you’l soon be able to read the insides of all those comics that we post whenever we’re sick or late or whatever. Adventure into the Unknown indeed.

With a jaw-dropping selection of well-known titles, accurate color restoration, uncoated off-white paper, and an impressive roster of foreword writers, Dark Horse Archives is hitting another peak season this year with a lineup of pre-Code collections.

This heavy-hitting year will see more volumes in the Crime Does Not Pay Archives series, with engaging forewords from Greg Rucka and Howard Chaykin. Adventures into the Unknown Archives will feature a series of essays by Bruce Jones, focusing on the long-running horror anthology and the climate that led to the Comics Code Authority. 

Historian Dan Nadel will provide enlightening introductions for Forbidden Worlds Archives—a true “grab bag” anthology where anything strange, fantastic, or horrific can happen—and writer/artist/historian Michael T. Gilbert will write a series of information-packed foreword pieces for Silver Streak Archives Featuring the Original Daredevil.

“The comics found in these collections are incredibly hard to find, expensive, and full of freewheeling, pre-Code fun (and sometimes viscera). It’s a joy to be able to handle these comics and work on these collections—but a bigger joy comes from being able to bring these stories to new readers and to finally assign credits to some creators who have been uncredited for decades!” said Dark Horse editor Philip Simon. 

The comics in these anthologies are seen as revered and influential—but they’ve been impossible to find. Now Dark Horse is making these gems available in affordable collections for discussion, dissection, and inspiration!

Adventures into the Unknown Archives Volume 1 is on sale May 30, 2012.
Silver Streak Archives Featuring the Original Daredevil Volume 1 is on sale June 27, 2012.
Crime Does Not Pay Archives Volume 2 is on sale July 11, 2012.
Forbidden Worlds Archives Volume 1 is on sale December 12, 2012.

Of course, they are still wild animals!

JG Quintel, creator of Cartoon Network's Regular Show at Comic Con 2011 (Image via Wikipedia)

The following interview with  JG Quintel, the creator of Cartoon Network’s Regular Show, took place outside an East Hollywood Bar earlier this year.  The interview was conducted as research for a Publisher’s Weekly article on the tremendous amount of independent comics talent working on Cartoon Network Shows like Regular Show. Animator/Cartoonist Benton Connor was hanging out with us for the duration of the chat and managed to squeeze a couple of choice sound bites and some additional levity into the conversation.

Shannon O’Leary: Calvin Wong a storyboarder and writer on Regular Show and Hellen Jo a storyboard revisionist on the show both claim you found their respective mini-comics at the Sparkplug Comic Books table at San Diego Comic Con in 2009. Sparkplug isn’t exactly a mainstream comics publisher or distributor, what brought you to their table that year?

JG Quintel: At the time I was gearing up for the (Regular) show. I was looking for new people and knew I wanted to look at independent comics because the style matched closer. A lot of mainstream comics, like Spiderman or whatever, don’t really fit what we’re looking for.

SO: How does it not fit? How does indie fit more?

JG Quintel and Benton Connor (Image via Calvin Wong's Tumblr)

JG: A lot of independent comics (are) written and drawn by the same person. It’s not done in a company kind of aspect where one person writes, one person draws, and one person inks. I wanted to find people who were the total package because we’re not a script based show. We’re a storyboard driven show – where the board artists write the dialogue and draw the drawings. Usually with comics you can tell right away what kind of sense of humor (someone) has. Are they funny? Can they draw? Do they understand perspective? You can tell a lot by a little mini-comic. And then if you see a couple of their comics, you can see (if they) are able to do different styles or if they stick to the same thing. So I was thumbing through all the Sparkplug stuff because that table had a lot of stuff that really made me laugh. And (I found) Calvin Wong’s stuff and thought it was really cool. I can’t remember the name of the comic but it had a little bird playing like guitar on it…

Ramble On by Calvin Wong (Image via calwong.org)

BC: Ramble On.

JG: Ramble On, that’s it. It felt really up the alley of Regular Show. I contacted him and asked him if he wanted to take a (storyboard) test to see if he would even like it. I gave him some links to the show, so he checked it out, took the test, and (it) was funny. He was able to draw the characters relatively well and he was able to get the style right. The tone felt in the ballpark. So (then) he (started as) a revisionist and we got to train him up. You gotta realize that comics don’t have the same rules as animation. Like, (with comics) you can break the 180 line, you can move around and you can show whatever you want and it makes sense. But with TV there’s some concrete rules we have to follow. So we trained him on all those things and that was all just the drawing side of it.

SO: So how come you didn’t just go to Cal Arts where you went (to school) and find, like, storyboard monkeys then?

JG: I do! I go to the open shows at Cal Arts they have (at the) end of the year that show students’ work. The open shows is actually eight hours straight of student animation so that’s a great place to find people. We sit there and score the films and then we’ll contact anybody that we think could fit the style. It’s the same deal – you’re watching a film that’s essentially a mini-comic but animated, so they actually understand animation and you’re seeing their story sense and you can tell like, oh, that would fit the show, we should give them a test and see if they’re into it. So we ask them and sometimes they say no, sometimes they say yes, but that’s how we find our people. (We’re) going to film festivals, the showcases at schools and comic-cons (because that’s) where there’s people who are doing this because they love it. You have to find people who are into this stuff because it’s a ton of work and if they don’t like it, they’re not going to be able to do it.

Hellen Jo's Jin and Jan #1 (Image via Sparkplug Comic Books)

SO: So what drew you to Hellen Jo’s work?

JG: The next year at Sparkplug I saw one of her comics and bought it. Then I found out later that her and Calvin knew each other. But she was still in school and she didn’t really want to (take a test) at first, but she finally came out and we just (recently) promoted her to Board Artist!

SO: Yeah. That’s great. And she’s teamed up with Sarah Oleyksek?

Sarah Oleyksek's Ivy (Image via Oni Press)

JG: Yeah, Sarah was the same deal. I was at New York Comic Con (2011) to do a panel, and after that I just walked the floor and went straight to the independent booths. (Sarah) was there. I bought her comic, Ivy, and read it on the plane back. I called her and was like, do you wanna take a test? And she was like, YES! She took it, it was in the ballpark so we were like, do you wanna come out and be a storyboard artist? And now she is!

SO: So how did things go down with Toby Jones?

JG: That was hilarious. We were looking for board artists and I was getting frustrated with looking through tons of tests. We just weren’t finding anybody and so I just tweeted: looking for board artists. And Toby tweeted back and facebooked me a big long email about why he’d like to take a test for the show and added links to his work and so we sent him a test.

SO: I really like his comics.

Regular Show Storyboarder, Toby Jones, with copies of his self-published Memory Foam mini-comics

JG: It was hilarious. His dialogue is so funny. It totally worked out but that was from a random tweet – that generated finding a person.

SO: Hey, if it started a revolution in Iran, why shouldn’t it find you a storyboarder in Burbank?

JG: Yeah, I know! But he had to be paying attention at that exact time or it wouldn’t have worked out!

Minty Lewis' PS Comics (Image via Secret Acres)

SO: Another interesting thing that worked out is how Minty Lewis, an award-winning cartoonist (2007 Ignatz Winner for Best New Talent) started as a storyboarder for the show and now voices one of the recurring characters, Eileen the Mole, for the show. How did that come about?

JG: I read blogs and search for drawings. You can find a lot of talent by looking (at) someone you like, then you see links (to) their friends and usually (they) have similar sensibilities. You just follow the trail. (Although) I think Calvin had given me one of Minty’s comics. I looked at more of her stuff online and her writing was really funny – so funny that we (had to) see if she want(ed) to try it. So she came out and did a couple boards, and Minty’s voice, just her natural voice, was so perfect for that character! She (wrote) one of the very early episodes with Eileen in it and she had some really funny jokes in the way she pitched it. (It was) just the way her voice sounded – she (had) to be that character! We even tried an actor, but it just wasn’t playing funny. (So) we were like, OK, let’s see if Minty wants to do it. She said yes and it really worked out. It’s a great character and (Minty’s voice) totally fits that character’s personality. We like to pick actors that just talk. Like we don’t want them putting on crazy cartoon-y voices. We just want people who are just doing their normal voice like you talk to everybody (with). That’s why it’s Regular Show – it’s just regular people talking to each other.

Eileen the Mole (Image via Cartoon Network)

SO: That kind of collaboration with people wearing multiple hats seems to be typical not just of your show but of many of the other current Cartoon Network shows as well. For example you wrote the 2010 Adventure Time episode, Ocean of Fear, what do you get as an artist out of working in that kind of collaborative environment? Was it difficult to jump between the worlds of Regular Show and Adventure Time?

JG: Pen and I worked on (The Marvelous Misadventures of) Flapjack together, along with Benton (points to Benton Connor). So I ask(ed), hey do you need any freelance help? What’s cool about working at a studio is that if you’re in a lull between projects and you’re gonna be without anything to do for a month or two – you know (people). (Pen) was like, yeah sure. So I did the board with Cole Sanchez – we just did one rotation together and it was really fun to get to work with (Pen’s) characters. I really like his stuff. What’s cool about working at a studio (is that) enough of us know each other (so) we can hop from show to show if there’s time and space. (Then) people can keep work(ing) until they get to their next project.

SO: It sounds like you and Pen pretty much came up together at Cal Arts and then honed your skills together, along with Benton, on another Cartoon Network show, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. And now that you’re the creators of two of Cartoon Network’s flagship shows, you keep getting nominated for the same awards; the 2011 Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Format and Animated Program, and, more recently, the 2011 British Film and Television Awards.

JG: That was fun. We got to go out there.

SO: Oh, did you and Pen go together?

JG: No, Pen didn’t actually go but (I) hung out and went to the ceremony. It was really fun. I got to meet the guys who work on (The Amazing World of) Gumball, (who) were all really cool. Yeah, it’s funny, every year level (at Cal Arts) has a couple of people who wanna do funny stuff and we all kinda gravitate towards one another and get to know each other. Thurop Van Orman was ahead of Pen by one year, and he made Flapjack and (had) helped to get me into Cartoon Network on a show called Camp Lazlo that he was boarding on. When he got Flapjack, he brought me up as Creative Director, (then) Benton got hired, and Pen was working on (it). (So) many people were working on Flapjack! When (it) started coming to an end, they split that show almost down the middle.

SO: They farmed your asses out.

JG: Well, we split up to the other shows – we had the Adventure Time side and the Regular Show side and now they had two shows. It was cool to see. Pen (went) to school right after Thurop and I was right after Pen, we were all next to each other year level wise. We were all going through it, seeing each other’s work, and hearing about what it’s like in the industry, and finally getting pulled in and actually getting some shows. Just getting to work with your friends is crazy fun! That we actually get to do this – to make cartoons that make us laugh and (then) actually see it on TV – it’s really, really fun.

SO: Did you meet any British celebrities?

JG: I did. I got to take a picture with Warwick Davis.

Warwick Davis as the Leprechaun (Image via LA Times' Hero Complex)

SO: I don’t know who that is.

JG: Didn’t you ever see Willow?!

SO: No.

BC: Oh no!

JG: Nooooooooo!

BC: Leprechaun! He’s in all the Leprechaun movies! He’s the leprechaun!

SO: Oh! (Laughs) Oh jeez. Yeah, I’ve seen one of the Leprechaun movies. Wow, that’s pretty great.

JG: But really getting to hang out with all the Gumball guys was the most fun. They showed us all around London. It was fun.

Still from Quintel's 2 in the AM PM (Image via Regular Show Wiki)

SO: So Regular Show in it’s original incarnation was your student film, 2 in the AM PM, but that short is anything but kid friendly. How did your original idea go from a drug tripped-out, swear riddled short to a kid friendly show?

JG: Excellent question.

SO: I loved it, by the way. I like seeing those characters swearing and taking drugs.

JG: Thanks. It was fun to make. I was in school finishing up my degree but I also had a job at Cartoon Network working on Flapjack and before that I was working on Camp Lazlo. I was writing for the first time at a company and seeing what it’s like to have to change the stuff that you make based on what your superiors want out of it. That’s part of the process, and totally cool, but I realized that school was my last chance to do whatever I wanted so I (took) advantage of it. I was like, I’ve already got a job, so who cares? I’m gonna make this thing about drugs and two dudes working at a gas station! It (started as) part of this game called 48-hour films where we’d spend a weekend making films. We’d put words in a hat, (pull one word) out at midnight on Friday, (then) rush back, and try to come up with a film in two days (based on that word). (Mine) was candy, so that night I came up with that idea of those two guys in the gas station, (where) one guy slips the other guy drugs in a piece of candy. (That) ended up (being) my film. I was like, this is perfect! I can have it (be) how people talk, which I’ll never get away with again. So I might as well do it now! But then it ended up working out because I found a couple characters that I ended up wanting to re-use and it didn’t need the language to be funny. I was at Cartoon Network, probably a year or two after 2 in the AM PM was finished, and they did a shorts program called the Cartoonstitute (and) were looking for new things that (were) a little bit more adult. They were like, we wanna go TV PG. I wanted to pitch something and they asked me if I had anything. I went back and started thinking, “I really want to use those characters from my short films because they were so fun.” I took them and the character from my other short film, put them together and added a couple other characters and it all just snowballed from there into a show I’d want to make and they picked it up which was really crazy!

SO: I’ve read in other interviews that the British TV shows The Office and The IT Crowd were inspirations for you. Were they specifically inspirations for Regular Show? Because Regular Show does seem to capture that same kind of workplace ennui.

JG: My roommate all four years through Cal Arts was from Hong Kong (and) British. He introduced me to all these British shows that I had never even heard of. But I really liked the tone of it – all of it was really dry and flat, it wasn’t all like, wacky (makes jazz hands). I thought it was really funny and I was like, I wanna make a cartoon like that, where it’s just real and more downplayed for the humor. I was watching shows like League of Gentlemen, Little Britain, The IT Crowd and Mighty Boosh – that was a big one – that was very influential. My sensibilities started to switch after watching them and that’s why the show feels how it feels. I kind of like that British sensibility.

SO: A lot of animation shows use technologies like Cintiq, but Regular Show is far more low fi. Calvin Wong describes “the tools of the trade as being pencils, pens, white out and occasionally light boxes and electric erasers.” Those are pretty standard old school tools for making comics. Why do you choose to use a less high tech approach for Regular Show?

JG: When I got into the business that’s what it was – paper and traditional animation. So that’s what we got trained up on. We used post-its and when the Cintiq started coming in, we were still on shows that were using paper and (when) Regular Show got picked up, I was (just) more comfortable with paper. I like the feel of it, it’s more organic and I like seeing the slight variations in expressions you get from it being drawn by different board artists. You can see who drew what in the final product. I mean, ultimately, it all gets translated in Korea but the Cintiq is like a tool. I like paper and they do the same thing but I just don’t like looking at a computer all day.

SO: So have you ever made mini comics yourself or do you make them now?

JG: I haven’t but I want to.

Panels from Benton Connor's self-published mini-comic, Wrong Car

SO: Benton just made a really cool mini-comic.

JG: That was the one where you go in the car?

SO: It’s pretty f’in’ funny.

JG: And you go in the wrong car.

BC: It’s called Wrong Car.

JG: I love it.

SO: Yeah, I really enjoyed that comic.

JG: I actually, really enjoy printmaking. I wanna do linoleum prints. I did one actually for work as a holiday gift

BC: It’s really awesome.

JG: I made 60 of them to give out to everyone who works on the show. It’s Mordacai and Rigby in Santa suits and it says, “Happy Hollidays.” It’s like three colors, it took all weekend to do. I did them and emailed a picture of one to my wife and I was like check it out – I did it! I finished them all! She was like, awesome, what’s the joke with the spelling? Hollidays is spelled incorrectly!

BC: Art school degree right there.

JG: (Laughs) I gave ‘em out anyways and I just included the story of how I messed ‘em up and everybody thought it was cool.

SO: So who are your favorite cartoonists working today and what are your favorite comics of all time?

JG: Well, to be perfectly honestly, I don’t really read comics. I like independent comics because they’re short and sweet.

SO: Those are comics!

JG: Well, then I like Calvin’s stuff. I like Hellen’s stuff. I like Benton’s stuff – the one that you did. Uh… Minty’s stuff is really funny.

SO: She’s great. Have you seen her husband’s stuff? Damien Jay’s?

JG: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah – I have! His stuff is really cool too! Actually, out of mainstream comics, one of my favorite comics of all time, like I couldn’t put it down, was Watchmen.

SO: OMG! Me too.

JG: That is actually really awesome. And I was disappointed with the movie. I was like, why did you change the ending? Why would you do that!!??

SO: I’m totally disappointed that DC is actually going through with the Before Watchmen prequels.

JG: I didn’t even know about that.

SO: They just showed the covers for them. It gave me a sad face. It’s such a beautiful self-contained story.

JG: Yeah, totally.

BC: More money.

SO: Mo’ money.

JG: Mo’ money, mo’ problems.

SO: Well, OK thank you so much for taking time to answer my questions, lastly I have one weird niggling fan trivia type of question for you: Benton, the perpetually antagonistic gumball machine groundskeeper of the park where Rigby and Mordecai work has an eerily similar name to Benton Connor, who’s been standing right here the whole time and is a writer and storyboarder for Regular Show who also worked with you on Misadventures of Flapjack. How, if at all, are Benton and Benson similar IRL?

Regular Show's Benson: Grumpy Park Manager with a gumball machine for a head

JG: OK, here’s the real story: we definitely mix up Benton and Benson’s names all the time. And we call Benton, Benson on accident constantly, and I feel bad about it.

SO (to Benton): Do you feel bad about it?

BC: To be honest, I’ve been called a lot worse.

JG: Everybody does it!

BC: Everyone does it and I’m used to it by now. I knew the trouble I was getting into. I was like, ARGH, you know you’re going to get called this! You know you are!

JG: BUT! It is not based on Benton! But at the same time it is funny that the names are so similar that people constantly mix them up.

BC: How’d you come up with it?

JG: Well, in the Lolliland short, his limo driver’s name was Benson. And I was like, oh, I wanna keep that name. I kept thinking of Mr. Belvedere when I was drawing him. I was like, ahhh.. this guy that’s a gumball machine, his name should be Benson. And then it just was!

BC: And then I showed up.

JG: (Laughs) and I was like, gotta hire that guy.

Benton Connor: Regular Show storyboarder and writer who in is in no way based on gumball machine head-having Benson

BC: So we can make fun of him a little more.

JG: Hilarity will ensue!

BC: To be honest, I’ve been called a lot of different names in my life, just because of those three letters – with the Ben and the “ton,” I’ve been called like Brenton, Brandon – all kinds of weird names.

JG: Brandonious?

BC: Yeah. Maybe.

SO: Bentopolis?

BC: That was a nickname, actually.

SO: So no basis, but now confusion?

JG: Yeah, definitely confusion.

SO: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

JG: I don’t even know! It’s so much easier when there’s a question attached.

SO: Well, I don’t really have any more questions so thanks a lot!

JG: Yeah!

.

With two days to go, Reading With Pictures has reached their Kickstarter funding goal for The Graphic Novel Textbook!

840 Backers

46 hours to go

$66,987 pledged of $65,000 goal

Wow!  iVerse pledged “$5,000 or more” for the exclusive digital rights!

There were many cool premiums offered (Comic book cameos for pledges!  Original art!  Cosplay costumes!  A superhero extreme makeover! Portfolio reviews!), and many still are available!

The coolest?

For $20, a copy will be donated to a school or library! (Reading With Pictures will even help you find one!)  And that donation is tax deductible!

Want to give an entire classroom a set?  $125 will donate a set of 25 digital copies to a classroom!  $275 will get the same set in paper!  Don’t you wish YOU could have read a comics textbook when you were in grade school?  Now you can make that dream a reality for a lucky classroom (and school, since they’ll probably be borrowed by multiple classes!)!  $400 gets 25 copies of the print and digital editions!  (And you can claim a tax deduction!)

Oh, and best get yourself a copy!  Here’s what’s inside!

• Foreword by Gene Yang (AMERICAN BORN CHINESE)
• Cover by Ben Caldwell (DARE DETECTIVES)

• “George Washington: Action President” by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey (ACTION PHILOSOPHERS)
• The Black Brigade” by Chris Schweizer (CROGAN’S VENGEANCE)
• “Field Trip” by Russell Lissau (THE BATMAN STRIKES) and Marvin Mann (THE LONE AND LEVEL SANDS)
• “Menace of the Mathemagician” by Josh Elder (STARCRAFT: FRONTLINE) and Jen Brazas (MYSTIC REVOLUTION)
• “Finding Ivy” by Michael Bramley (HADRON COLLIDERSCOPE) and Alice Meichi Li (ELEPHANTMEN)
• “Probamon!” by Geoffrey Golden (THE DEVASTATOR) and Nate Pride (MOUSEGUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD)
• “Special Delivery to Shangri-La” by Mike Lee and Janet Lee (RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN)
• “Albert the Alien in ‘It’s a Figure of Speech!’” by Trevor Mueller (RWP: AN EDUCATIONAL COMICS ANTHOLOGY and Gabriel Bautista (WILL EISNER’S ‘THE SPIRIT’)
• “The Power of Print” by Katie Cook (FRAGGLE ROCK)
• “Doctor Sputnik: Man of Science” by Roger Langridge (THE MUPPET SHOW)
• “Like Galileo…” by James Peaty (SUPERGIRL) and Tintin Pantoja (HAMLET: THE MANGA EDITION)
• “Mail Order Ninja in Showdown with the Sea Apes!” by Josh Elder (THE BATMAN STRIKES) and Dean Trippe (POWER LUNCH)

Sweet Kirby Crackle that’s a lot of great stuff!  And it’s educational, so your teachers and parents will like it as well!  (And folks, once the schools realize what a great educational tool comics are, they’ll order more!  They’ll start offering classes!  And teaching how to use them at teachers colleges!)

Don’t worry about ordering multiple times…  Here’s how to do it!

CAN I PURCHASE MULTIPLE REWARDS?

Yes… but not directly. Kickstarter only allows you to choose a single reward no matter how much you pledge. However, if you wish to purchase multiple rewards you can do the following (and I promise it’s not as complicated as it appears):

• Add up all the costs of all the rewards you’d like to purchase. Then manually enter that pledge amount.
• Select one of the rewards (If one of the rewards you want has a limited quantity available, please choose that one).
• Make your payment.
• Contact us directly at info@readingwithpictures.org to tell us how much you pledged and what rewards you want and we’ll add your information to our “special” ledger reserved only for the most awesome of backers.

CAN I ADD NEW REWARDS AFTER I MAKE MY PLEDGE?

Absolutely! And it goes down like this:

• You add the cost of the new reward to your existing pledge amount and then update your pledge to reflect the new total.
• You then contact us directly at info@readingwithpictures.org to tell us how you changed your pledge amount and what new pledges you’re looking to purchase and we hook you up straight away to make all your wishes, hopes and/or dreams come true! (Satisfaction not guaranteed.)

So here’s a last chance to get some cool comics at a great price!  144 pages, hardcover, for $25!  It’s suitable for children, so you can be the “cool uncle/aunt/authority figure” when you give it as a gift!  (Of course, you’ll have to read it first, to make sure it’s “age appropriate”!)

By Steve Morris

Fans have been crying out for this for too long, so it’s a relief to find that Marvel have finally come up with a way for people to smell just like Tony Stark, all dripping with sweat inside a tight metal suit all day, coated in oil and rust and leftover martini. But not just Stark! No, Marvel have decided to offer fans the chance to smell like any one of the Avengers (wait – nobody cares about Hawkeye, right?).

That’s right: Official Marvel fragrances are now available for you to buy, created by Jads International. Fans can pick up officially-licensed Hulk “Smash”, Loki “Mischief”, “Patriot Cologne”, Iron Man “Mark VII”, Thor “Worthy” and, uh, “Black Widow Perfume”. I guess they decided against calling it “Red Ledger Perfume”, in the end. Most excitingly of all, however, is the chance for us to finally experience the age-reducing joy of Nick Fury’s “Infinity Formula”.

If there’s one thing viewers took away from the Avengers film, it’s that they want to smell like Hulk and Thor. Can you even begin to imagine opening up a bottle of Captain America’s “Patriot” and whiffing in the scent of freedom, democracy, and AMERICA? I bet it’s got some good ol’ Apple Pie in it.

The only downside of this news is that there is still no way for fans to smell like Agent Phil Coulson, other than to rub themselves against Clark Gregg repeatedly. Well, if one must…

While North American Con Wars of the past (and present) are pretty well established fact, the UK doesn’t seem to have any such issues. To wit, they just scheduled three of the biggest shows of the year on successive weekends. First up was the just past Bristol Comic Expo, followed by KAPOW! this weekend and then the London MCM Expo the following weekend. All three have/had very different guest lists and focuses; one observer informs us the timing is probably just because no one thought to look at the rest of the schedule. But that’s not all. THe UK also has shows in Birmingham, the indie-themed Thought Bubble in Leeds, and all those great Comica events that last for a month in in London. So yeah, no dearth of comics to dos in Blighty!

That said, the Bristol show will always hold a special place in The Beat’s heart as it was there, nearly 10 years ago, that we met our future husband! Beat Special Correspondent Jimmy Aquino was on the scene this year to report, and though we don’t think he met his future husband there—unless there is something he’s been hiding all these years—he did have a typically fun time. Here’s his report—check out his photo set on Facebook:

The Bristol Comic Expo was held in Bristol, UK this weekend on May 12-13 at The Passenger Shed in Brunel’s Old Station. I was over to cover for my podcast COMIC NEWS INSIDER and The Beat as well as see friends. I’ve attended Bristol Expo 2 previous times. First in 2008 when it was the train station like this year. And again in 2010 when it was split between the Ramada and Mercure hotels. I was happy to see it back in the station as it kept everything (except for panels) in one place. When I first came back in 2008, it was the biggest comics show in the UK. Now, with the massive proliferation of other shows, some feel it has been hurt by this trend especially since there are literally 2 more in a row in London. I still found it quite a vibrant show with lots of great UK talent exhibiting. From small press unknowns trying to make a name to the big names in UK comics, it was a great array of comic folks. 

To me, this is the UK COMICS SCENE. Not the big crazy American scene that obviously showcases great American talent. I came over to find/interview/etc. the local talent. Some complained that there was no American presence (ahem!) but I feel it’s not necessary. Denny O’Neil was scheduled to attend but had to drop out for health reasons. I know I speak for many when I say that we wish him a speedy recovery. I know it’s fun for comics fans to meet some of their idols from across the pond but I think it’s also great for them to meet their local heroes. And many were there in the form of big creators like Ian Edginton, D’Israeli, Al Ewing, John Higgins, Simon Bisley, Paul Cornell, Gary Erskine and others. Fan favorites like Marc Ellerby and Adam Cadwell also. Rising star Val Kapadai was also in attendance. So many more great creators too numerous to mention. (Go to the official website for the list). 

I traveled the floor with an idea of some interviews I was going to do but really just explored each row discovering new books/talent that I hadn’t heard of. And boy howdy, did I! So many great comics out there. I’ll put up the interviews in 2 podcasts this week. Interviewees were: Adam Cadwell (Blood Blokes) and Marc Ellerby (Chloe Noonan), Al Ewing (Zombo, Judge Dredd, Jennifer Blood), Dani Abram (The Pirates! animated), Gavin Mitchell, PJ Montgomery and Joe Glass (Stiffs, The Pride), Harry Markos (Markosia comics ), Joel Meadows (Tripwire magazine), Jennie Gyllblad, Corey Brotherson, and Yomi Ayeni (Clockwork Watch: The Arrival), Mark Penman (Peabody & D’Gorath) and Andrew Tunney (Girl & Boy), Richard Worth and Jordan Collver (Ladies & Gentlemen), Sam Gardner and Jake Rowlinson (Sioux Warrior), and Valia Kapadai (White Knuckle). 

So many more I wanted to chat with but just didn’t get the time. I implore my fellow nerds in the UK to attend this show next year to meet and explore the local comics scene. I got a big stash of comics that I am anxious to get to and will hopefully review on the podcast. Check it:

See? Who needs the Big 2?! (Just kidding. I loves them as well). Yes, I understand that big US names will draw more people and make them more money. And I’m sure fundraising is tough for the show. But I think Bristol’s future lies with focusing on the UK small press, big UK names and getting 2 or 3 big US names. It can really be like the well respected Heroes Con in the U.S. The Big 2 have no presence there but it’s felt because many of their creators show. And they really focus on independents/small press. It’s a well attended convention and respected by both pros, press and attendees alike. Bristol can become this instead of falling to the wayside as some suggest. The onus lies with the UK pros, press and fans supporting one of their own. 

I talked to many of the creators attending and some had really great weekends and others not so much. This happens at every con and table location is often key. It was a well spread out convention and seemingly well attended. I don’t know the final numbers but I know it was higher than some I’ve seen suggested. It did seem smaller than previous years I’ve attended but none of that seemed to effect the enthusiasm of the fans attending. From young to old, there was something for everyone. Bristol is a great city for it as well and the Ramada is great about giving discounted rooms for the weekend. 

As for panels, all were held in the Ramada conference rooms. So many good ones but I was only able to attend the big 2000AD one as hosted by MegaCast divas/good pals Iz McAuliffe and Stacey Whittle. 2000AD is making a big push to the U.S. market and I am loving it. I didn’t grow up with it but have been rapidly catching up on trades being released. There were 9 creators on the panel and it was really informative, well run, funny and just plain awesome. Kudos to Iz and Stacey for putting it together and keeping it rolling smoothly. 

Autograph sessions were also held at the Ramada and fans anxiously lined up to meet some of their favorites. Other extracurricular activities included some cosplay competition and many came dressed to the Expo in great costumes. 

After show, the Ramada bar was the place to be. You could grab a pint and chat with your favorite creator or just chill with your friends. As many know, I’m a huge Anglophile and have been over a few times so have a large number of pals over in the UK. It was great to see so many and hang. Iz and Rich, Monts, Nuge, Whittle, Dave Ashton, Ellerby, Cadwell, Molcher, and too many others to mention! I closed the bar down on Saturday night around 4:30am with Michael Molcher and Conor & Lizzie Boyle having great conversations about the UK comics scene.

On an even more personal note, it was great to see my Brizzle bird Milena and hang with her a bit as well. Also, old friend Kirstie from NYC moved to Bath a few years back and came in for dinner on Friday night to catch up. The Biz himself seemed smitten with her! 

Overall, it was a tremedous show and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend attending next year and keeping up with the news from it. Sure, there wasn’t any big announcements (though Mr. Ewing may have hinted something in my interview…STAY TUNED!) or huge U.S. stars, but it didn’t matter. It’s a UK show that I am glad was so UK creator heavy. Well done, Bristol! Hope to see you next year. Let’s just sort out the exchange rate in my favor this time, UK. 

Yes, it is PRODUCT DAY here on The Beat! And this one is pretty darned cool.

Converse has had a design-your-own Chuck Taylor’s program on their website for a while now. And they’ve just added a
DC Comics-themed range to the site. The designs feature the Joker, the Riddler, Catwoman, and, of course, Batman himself.

We were extremely lucky to be able to test the process ourselves and the choices proved almost too overwhelming to contemplate. Although you can design a shoe using only the basic, grungy color palette of black, green, purple, yellow, and gray, we had to go with the Riddler’s Question Mark to symbolize the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle which guides The Beat’s life. (The Catwoman pattern is cool but a little bit busy for our personal fashion sense.)

Although the chance to make a color riot shoe was strong, we tried to stick to a fairly neutral palette with gray laces and the other accents in purple.

Finally, the chance to emblazon a pair of Chucks with our own, 20-year-old handle was too sweet to pass up.

Will you be seeing these shoes in San Diego? If we can stop ourselves from wearing them to bits before then, yes!

To make your own shoe, go to the Converse site and start experimenting away. Fun!

How much will this fun cost you? $75 for adult, $55 for youth. Shoes take 3 weeks to be delivered.

We’d like to think that even Alan Moore could smile about this one at some point: Dynamic Forces has partnered with Warner Bros. for a a line of licensed toasters. Properties include The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Story, Where the Wild Things Are, The Goonies, Gremlins, Little Shop of Horrors, Watchmen, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Mad Magazine, Friends, and so on.

And yes, these toasters will burn Gizmo or Freddie Krueger right on to your toast for breakfast thrills!

“Dynamic Forces is excited to work with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to release these collectible image toasters that capture the spirit of some of Warner Bros.’ most admired properties and timeless brands,” states President of Dynamic Forces, Nick Barrucci in a statement.  “We’re thrilled to give fans the opportunity to interact with their favorite brands and characters in a new way.”

Very new way, although there has been a Hello Kitty toaster for a while. These babies go on sale in September. Collect ‘em all — if you have the counter top space!

Cartoonist Matt Bors sent along this video of his acceptance speech for the Herblock Award, which gets into some truths about the cartoonist’s life along the way.

by Shannon O’Leary

[The following interview with Pendleton Ward is the result of two different conversations we had over the course of three months towards the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012. The conversations took place in and outside of an East Hollywood Bar. Cartoonist/animators, Jesse Moynihan and Levon Jihanian, hung out with us for the first conversation and became a part of it. A charming and funny gentleman named Andy Tacky Tauke joined myself and Mr. Ward for the second conversation then disappeared into the night immediately afterwards. This interview was conducted as research for an article at Publisher's Weekly that focuses on Cartoon Network's veritable treasure trove of independent comics talent booty. Any language that may be deemed offensive has been substituted with Adventure Time swears. Enjoy!]

Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward at SDCC 2011 (Image via Shannon Cottrell Photo)

Shannon O’Leary: I’ve been sending questionnaires to your crew to get a feel for why you staff so many indie comics artists. Both Steve Wolfhard and Jesse Moynihan said you bought their comics at SPX 2009. Did you go there specifically to look for comics talent for the show or were you just hanging out?

Pendleton Ward: No, I was just hanging out. I just like comics. I like reading comics. I go to comic cons just to buy minis for myself because I like to read them.

SO: So what had you send Jesse a storyboard test after reading his comics?

Page 107 of Jesse Moynihan's Forming (Image via Jesse Moynihan.com)

PW: His comics were really funny, interesting and beautiful at the same time. So they really appealed to me. His stuff was also close to storyboarding. A lot of comics artists will cut around and hit lots of different angles from panel to panel. And with Jesse (points to Jesse) you would get a page where two dudes were just talking to each other with the same staging (from panel to panel).

Jesse Moynihan: Using the same staging is a big deal to me. It’s like doing a long shot in a movie, like a long take…like Kubrick. I’m not saying I’m like Kubrick though…

SO: So basically, you read comics because you love comics, you’re not trying to necessarily scope anyone out – but every once in a while you come across one where you think it could work on the show?

Jesse Moynihan: Author of Forming, writer and storyboarder for Adventure Time (Image via wowcool.com)

PW: Yeah.

SO: You’ve often described yourself as more of an entertainer than an artist, where do you see the distinction?

PW: I like making stuff that’s commercially viable. I think that’s more interesting than art.

SO: Really? How come?

PW: Because it affects a broader number of people. Art’s specific and emotional.

SO: The Adventure Time logo is a fairly recognizable nod to most D&D players. Do you still get to play Dungeons and Dragons often with your hectic schedule?

PW: Yeah, I used to play. I’d work really hard on certain Thursdays to get out to go play D&D with my buddy, Riley Swift.

JM: Is that the metal dude?

PW: Yeah.

SO: The “what” dude?

JM: The metal dude. He’s got long hair. He seems like an awesome DM.

PW: He’s top DM.

SO: Levon is my DM (points to Levon Jihanian). Do you guys know each other? Pen, Levon. Levon, Pen (Levon, engrossed in drawing, looks up briefly to nod at Pendleton, Pendleton nods back)

Levon Jihanian's Danger Country

JM: Levon does a comic called Danger Country. It’s cool.

PW: Cool, man. Nice to meet you.

SO: He’s a good DM. OK, so Riley’s your DM?

PW: Riley Swift, of www.dungeonmajesty.com. He’s awesome. (Author’s note: If you want to see videos of hot chicks playing D&D with a dashing and encouraging Dungeon Master, click on that link)

SO: Have you ever had a storyline on Adventure Time that came out of a campaign?

PW: Yeah, we did one where Finn found some Valkyrie armor

SO: Which episode?

PW: Uh… I can’t remember the name of it.

SO: Was it first or second season?

PW: First or second, I can’t remember. I don’t know. But it was about embarrassment … where they travel through the swamp of embarrassment (Author’s Note: Adventure Time’s current Lead Character Designer, Andy Ristaino, later identified this storyline as part of the episode entitled Blood Under the Skin, Season 2, Episode 4)

Adventure Time's Finn sporting D&D inspired Valkyrie armor (Image via Cartoon Network)

JM: That was based on a D&D campaign?

PW: The Valkyrie armor at the end with the boobs…

JM: Oh yeah!

PW: Yeah, no one in our game wanted to wear it because we were all tough guys but if you put it on you could fly.

SO: So it was Valkyrie armor that had boobs on it? Is Finn wearing the Valkyrie armor with boobs on it in the Adventure Time episode?

PW: I think Jake wears it because Finn doesn’t want to.

SO: You’ve mentioned that you had an enormous crush on Lisa Simpson when you were growing up. Do you still retain a flame for Lisa Simpson?

PW: Yeah. She’s super smart. She plays the sax.

SO: Would you say she’s like the perfect woman?

PW: No. I would not say that.

SO: So you don’t carry the same kind of torch that you used to for her?

PW: She never grew into a woman.

SO: So it was a love that couldn’t grow?

PW: She did actually grow into a woman in that one episode…

SO: When she became the president or something?

PW: I guess they’re might’ve been a couple episodes…

SO: I met these two girls on Halloween weekend who were cosplaying as Finn and Jake. How do these ladies compare to Lisa Simpson? They’re aspiring animators (Author’s Note: The ladies in question are Marie Bower and Gina Gress. Their artwork can be found at the links).

Adventure Time cosplayers and aspiring animators Gina Gress and Marie Bower

PW: They’re right on par with Lisa Simpson.

SO: I thought their costumes were a little revealing for a kid friendly show. Do you have any issues with that?

PW: It’s just some mid drift.

SO: Just some mid drift, no problem?

PW: Yeah, it’s 2011. Let those bellies out.

SO: I read that you used to make apocalyptic flipbooks as a child to train yourself in animation and that you made one of Water World. I’ve never seen that movie before but I know that they drink pee in it.

PW: Yeah, they convert pee into water.

SO: What attracted you specifically about that apocalyptic story?

PW: I guess all post-apocalyptic movies are fascinating.

SO: What are some of your favorites beyond Waterworld?

PW: Mad Max. That’s a classic. I can’t think of any others… Jesse, help me out.

JM: What about the post-apocalypse?

PW: What are some movies?

JM: What are some post-apocalypse movies? Road Warrior.

SO: What about Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

PW: I don’t think that’s post-apocalyptic.

SO: It’s just constantly on the verge of apocalypse?

JM: I don’t like Joss Whedon.

SO: You don’t like Joss Whedon? (Jesse doesn’t look up from drawing, shakes head no) Well I guess it’s not post-apocalypse. What about I am Legend?

PW: I like I am Legend. And (to Jesse) what are the other incarnations of I am Legend? Omega Man? And the one with Vincent Price?

JM: I like Omega Man.

PW: No you don’t. Come on.

JM: I like the beginning of Omega Man. (Jesse looks up from drawing to ask Shannon) Do you like Omega Man?

SO: I’ve never seen it before.

Charlton Heston in Omega Man (Image via Chas Andrews Movie Blog)

JM: It’s got Charlton Heston.

SO: Is it on Instant?

JM: I don’t know but it’s Charlton Heston killing vampires with a machine gun in a car.

SO: The Land of Ooo is supposed to be a post-apocalyptic world but it seems pretty happy and optimistic. Do you see hope in a post-apocalypitic world?

PW: Yeah, they don’t care. I guess because they’re not traveling through a desert. It’s a fruitful world.

SO: Do you see fruits in the destruction of our current society?

PW: No. I’m not going to make any social commentary.

SO: Is our society in a pre-apocalyptic stage now?

PW: Yeah, of course.

SO: That’s social commentary, by the way.

PW: This interview’s over.

SO: What?

PW: This interview’s over.

SO: Oh no! Seriously?

PW: Yeah. I don’t lump around.

SO: OK.

PW: NO! Done.

SO: Well, thank you.

PW: You’re welcome.

Author’s Note: As mentioned previously, I cornered Mr. Ward a few months later outside the same bar in East Hollywood where we’d chatted before and he graciously answered the rest of my questions then.

Shannon O’Leary: So what cartoonists are you reading right now? Whose work is most influencing your work right now?

Pendleton Ward: Let me think about that. Joann Sfar is a big inspiration – for the Dungeon books. That’s the name at the top of my list. That’s the first one I can think of.

Sample page from Dungeon Twilight 3: The New Centurions (Image via TCJ)

SO: Any people who are maybe more contemporaries?

PW: Contemporaries… no…

SO: No one compares to Joann Sfar?

PW: Joann Sfarr is amazing. Just the style of conversational dialogue that he has just feels …I’m trying not to … I recently did some interviews where I just talked and talked and talked and I said the word like a lot in my interviews and that was all transcribed and I was like g*d**nit, I sound like a frikkin’ moron!

SO: I’ll take out any improperly used likes or any swearing. I’m going to make you sound super lumpin’ smart.

PW: So now, instead of actually speaking, I’m going to stop talking and think for a little bit… in between each thought.

SO: That’ll make it easier to transcribe.

PW: OK, good. (laughs)

PW: (A gentleman named Andy Tacky Tauke walks over and holds the iPhone recording the conversation up to Pendleton Ward’s mouth to improve the sound quality [Author’s Note: Andy Tacky Tauke as spelled herein, does not exist on the internets. I can’t find him! Anyone who knows him, please feel free to email me or school me in the comments section and this post will be updated with links and, if necessary, the correct spelling of his name]) Hey, thanks, buddy. This is Andy Tacky Tauke, everybody.

Andy Tacky Tauke: A silent pause can add a lot of drama to the moment.

PW: You gotta give me a lot of ellipses. I want like fiddy ellipses…

SO: So there’s gotta be other cartoonists you like beyond Joann Sfar…

PW: Hmmmm…

SO: Come on.

(Image via FOX)

PW: Well apart from comics, I’m a big fan of Bob’s Burgers. That’s a new Fox show… That’s contemporary. I’m a crazy fan. As soon as I saw the first episode, I was like, LUMP! I lumpin’ love this! I went on the Fox website and found the forum for it and I saw some people talkin’ some trash and … I signed on and created a whole identity for myself…

SO: Was it a secret identity or was it you?

PW: No, it was me because I was proud. I said, “you can all be damned to hell, all of you! For not liking Bob’s Burgers, I hope you all rot in hell and burn a fiery death.”

SO: That’s some pretty stern internet commenting, sir.

PW: My posts didn’t make it through the filter or whatever… but I love Bob’s Burgers. I don’t care who knows. I’m so proud of it. I’m so lumpin’ happy about that cartoon.

AT: The spirit of the message resonated. They just picked Bob’s up for a third season. It carried its weight.

PW: Andy Tacky Tauke, people.

SO: What had you decide to go with Boom! Studios for the licensed Adventure Time comic? How much of a hand will you have in the creation and production of the comic? Have you had a hand in the first issue?

PW: So far I’ve loved working with Boom! They’re rad.

SO: What’s rad about them specifically?

PW: Well, I’m just getting to know them… this is my first time working with them. And I like talking with them…they’re just really personable people. They’re really down to earth and easy to talk to. I’ve enjoyed establishing our initial relationship. It’s fun talking to them and they understand me. We have a lot of similar interests and people who we both like so they gave me – see I just said like twice! That gets transcribed!

SO: I’m gonna cut it out, dude.

PW: They sent me a big list of people that they wanted to have do special comics in the back of every issue and we both agreed on who the writer should be. Ryan North is the guy who’s writing the comics. He’s a bad***. He’s a great dude. I’m super stoked to be skype-ing with Ryan North.

SO: So there’s going to be guest spots in the back of every issue?

Title page of Aaron Renier's Adventure Time #1 Story (Image via aaronrenier.com)

PW: Yeah, in the back of every issue there’ll be a guest spot.

SO: Who’s in the first one?

PW: Um… Rayneer?

SO: Aaron Reiner? Wow. Nice.

PW: Yeah. It’s beautiful. His stuff is gorgeous. I’m stoked. Ryan North wrote all the dialogue. It’s pretty neat.

SO: I understand that the first season DVD is coming out and that you guys have been working on bonus footage. Can you talk a little bit about the bonus features?

PW: Yeah. I’m making it. I wanted to produce this thing where I just go behind the scenes and talk to everybody on the crew and … I purchased some breakable props from the internet. There’s a breakable light bulb and a breakable cup and a breakable vase… and they will all be featured in the behind the scenes DVD featurette.

SO: Will there be any Easter eggs fans should be looking out for?
PW: Yes.

SO: Do you want to give me any hints?

PW: No hints. It’s a secret. That’s what an Easter egg is. Lump you for wanting to know the secret.

SO: This is how we ended our last interview – with you telling me to lump off.  Should we end right here?

PW: Yeah. Cool.

Of course, with THE AVENGERS on its way to becoming the #1 movie of all time, everyone is going to want to celebrate with Avengers-themed paper plates for the summer barbecues and birthday bashes. Luckily Discount Party Supplies has what you’re looking for, including a 10% discount on Avengers party stuff until the 26th if you use discount code AVENGERS10.

The folks at DPS are also offering a giveaway for Beat readers. Send your NAME AND ADDRESS to beatgiveaway at gmail.com with AVENGERS PARTY in the headline and you can win the following:

1 x Avengers Standard Party Pack

1 x Avengers Pinata

1 x Avengers Deluxe Party Favor

1 x Avengers Cake Decoration Kit

DA RULEZ:

SORRY US ENTRANTS ONLY. NO BEAT EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE. ENTRIES WITHOUT AN ADDRESS WILL BE INELIGIBLE. CONTEST CLOSES FRIDAY AT 5 PM EDT.

Marvel is having another news-breaking conference call this afternoon, and we’ll have all the details soonish, but it has to do with The First X-Men, and involves Neal Adams and Christos Gage. And here are the covers by Adams.

The Jeffrey Brown-inspired indie film SAVE THE DATE debuted at this year’s Sundance, but didn’t get picked up right away. However, Variety reports, IFC Films has picked it up. The movie follow two sisters (Lizzy Caplan (“Party Down”) and Alison Brie (“Community”)) who have different approaches to romantic commitment, and features art by Brown throughout.

In even more important Jeffrey Brown news, fellow cartoonist Dash Shaw has offered a wonderful analysis of Brown’s cat cartoon books,
including why cat cartoons are so darned popular:

While it may be about love, CAA [“Cat Appreciation Art”] is also like porn, in that it is largely online and in photographic form. Web CAA grew out of pre-internet CAA. YouTube cat videos stem from America’s Funniest Home Videos videos. Online CAA still photos are web versions of cat posters. LOLCats are hacks of the text-image pairings found in dentist office (“Hang in there!”) cat posters. Of course, people have been drawing and photographing cats as long as there have been drawings. And photos. And cats.

Classics Illustrated, the comics Cliff Notes series that has been around in various iterations for over 60 years, making the line a classic in and of itself—they’ve just gone digital with ebook publisher Trajectory. Over 120 titles will be launched from both iTunes and the iBook store, selling for $4.99 each. These look to be the ’50s original Classics Illustrated, celebrated in rhyme and song.

In print, both Papercutz and Jack Lake Productions have been producing titles under the classic yellow box—in the case of Papercutz, using modern-style European comics. But bringing them to the ebook market is certainly a smart move. PR below.

Trajectory, Inc. announced today that the iconic Classics Illustrated comic and graphic novel series are now available in the Apple iTunes eBook marketplace. The series consists of over 120 digital graphic novels presented in a comic book format with robust color illustrations that introduce great literature to readers of all ages. Trajectory is collaborating with Apple, Inc., the leading provider of smartphones and tablets to deliver the series on IOS iPad™, iPhone™, and iPod Touch™.

Comic book lovers worldwide get ready; the Classics Illustrated digital graphic novels published by Trajectory are now available for purchase in the iTunes Store, and iBooks Store. The digital comics series features the world’s greatest stories by the worlds greatest authors including: “The Last of the Mohicans,” “War of the Worlds,” “The Pearl Princess,” “Treasure Island,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Robin Hood,” “Snow White”, “Jane Eyre”, “The Three Musketeers”, and hundreds more.

“Trajectory, Inc.’s Classics Illustrated has diversified and strengthened its already solid reputation as a thoughtful, intelligent publisher of canonical, traditional titles” said Dr. Katie Monnin, Professor of Literacy, University of North Florida. “From the perspective of an educator I foresee limitless potential in bringing Classics Illustrated into the classroom. Probably well known to teachers, parents, and librarians the Classics Illustrated titles are sure to be engaging and exciting comic book stories for an entirely new generation of readers.  An A+ idea and comic book execution eBook format, I highly recommend these titles make their way into your child or student’s hands.”

Novelist Anne Rice states, “I remember reading Jane Eyre in the Classics comics and how much I loved the details and seeing the madwoman in the attic in those little panels and seeing the whole novel play out. What always drew me were very detailed, representational drawings, rather than something abstract. I wanted to see a lot of richness and a lot of depth.” Classics Illustrated graphic novels, she said, “Have a freedom that is all their own to create an entire universe in detail fairly inexpensively, compared to a film.”

“Making the Classics available in digital form brings these brilliant works to where people live now, on their mobiles. The iPad and iPhone are great for interacting with one of the most beloved comics and graphic novel series of all time.” said Jim Bryant, Trajectory CEO.