200910271023
Brian Chippendale on MASTER OF KUNG FU is not only an awesome piece of writing but suggests something we never quite put together before, namely that MoKF is to The Prisoner as Monty Python is to the Beatles.

§ Robert Weil talks Crumb at Graphic Novel Reporter:

Was there any talk between you and Robert of how he would make the characters look?

No, you don’t do that to Robert Crumb. I know and he knows that among Orthodox Jews, you’re not allowed to depict God. In that way, it won’t appeal to—we’re not trying to appeal to an orthodox community. I think if you saw the view of the book in the Jewish publication Forward by Paul Buhle. Jews, by and large, are finding this an extraordinary work, which they’re responding to. I think this will have great interest among Jewish readers.

§ Chris Butcher mildly suggests that possessing some knowledge of business is a good idea before launching a business.

§ Dan Nadel mildly suggests that David Hajdu does not know much about R. Crumb.

§ Sean T. Collins posts a fine example of adulthood in action as Heroes Con & Supercon sort out a scheduling conflict with graciousness for the benefit of ALL. The piece also reveals the rather sad fact that the Charlotte Convention Center won’t hold dates for Heroes Con. COME ON, CHARLOTTE! Get with the program. Comics are as big a part of culture as low-riders!

§ This is from last week but it’s good. Brian Hibbs looks at Diamond, flaws and all, and sees the good and the bad. The whole piece is a must-read, but we’ll just pick out this element:

If one were to make a chart of market share since the exclusives era, one would see the four brokered publishers gaining a larger and larger percentage of the overall marketplace – it stood at about 87% for August 2009 shipping books (10 years ago that was only about 75%) – and I think that’s largely a function of the brokered publishers being absolutely ruthless in their line expansions. When the “front of the book” publishers start soaking up the purchasing dollars, that leaves less for everyone else – especially because the purchasing and discount terms are so lopsided. Books from the brokered publishers have retailer discount that are generally at least 5% higher, and can be as much as 15%. That’s a huge uphill battle for non-brokered publishers, and thus it is less surprising that so many have chosen to get out of the periodical business (despite the fact that this, too, causes their market share and awareness to drop)