Once again, I’m on Watchtower duty here at Stately Beat Manor on Friday night.  A tremendous thunderstorm rages around me, and I wonder, “Is this turret grounded?”

Heidi continues to report from the front lines, embedded with the various tribes attending Comic-Con International: San Diego.

It’s Raining On Prom Night

Entertainment Tonight reports that Jerry O’Connell, promoting Piranha 3D, is alone at Comic-Con.   His wife, Rebecca Romijn, is attending her 20th high school reunion, meeting her Berkeley (California) High School prom date!

Somehow, I don’t think she need worry about her figure.

Jeff Smith Presents!

Since this is still Comic-Con International, the entire shebang commenced with comics legend and trailblazer Jeff SmithComic Book Resources covers the action!

So, what’s new?  How about, not one, but TWO! new Bone series from Scholastic?

First up is a new comics series, written by Tom Sniegoski, drawn by Smith, titled “Bone: Tall Tales“, which is a reworking of “Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails” with extra stories (and color!) added.  It should ship sometime in August, but is on sale at the Cartoon Books booth.

Then, there’s a new series of Bone stories, chapter books titled “Quest for the Spark”.  The first book is due February 2011, and features new Bone characters returning to the valley years after the original Bone series.

Smith was asked about the movie in development at Warner Brothers, but replied there is not much to show.  Expect a panel next year, he suggests.

Jeff Smith also asked his fans for help:

Continuing his power point presentation, Smith said that next year marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of “Bone.” As a result, he’s asking fans of the series to offer suggestions on how to celebrate the anniversary. Smith said he’d like to receive feedback on his official website from fans within the next six months.

An Infinite Canvas?

Threadless, purveyor of fine t-shirts and other graphics, presents a four-issue comic book story, on four t-shirts!

Comics Alliance has the story about the story, and features images from all four Ts.

The designs — which will be on display at a special after party hosted by Threadless tonight in San Diego — all follow a storyline written by Thompson, and can either be bought separately for $20 a pop, or as a set for $70. The t-shirt makers also hint that more comic-inspired shirts by some of the industry’s most groundbreaking artists are on the way, but we’ll just have to sit patiently and wait to see what those will be.

Threadless teases (see what I did there?) that future issues are in the works!

Now…  does anyone sell mylar bags for t-shirts?

Image found at http://www.apimages.com/Search.aspx?st=k&remem=x&kw=100722114772&intv=None&shgroup=-10&sh=10Do you know me?

Can you identify the man  in the Galactus hat?  He’s probably a Marvel employee, could possibly even be Peter David, but I doubt that.  Peter David would never do such a silly thing.

SAN DIEGO – JULY 21: General Atmosphere during preview night at the 2010 Comic-Con International Convention on July 21, 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. (Photo by Tracy Matson/PictureGroup) via AP IMAGES

Suspect Is Armed And Dangerous

While waking up this morning to 1010WINS news, I heard of the Darth Vader bandit.   A man dressed as Darth Vader entered a Chase branch bank on Long Island and robbed the teller at gun point.

(I’m a New Yorker.  I see all sorts of strange stuff on the streets.  But if somebody walks into a bank wearing a mask, especially the mask of a character voted third among movie villains, then I’m skedaddling tout de suite.)

Police describe the suspect as 6’0 -6’2’’ tall.  He was last scene wearing the Darth Vader mask, a blue cape and camouflage pants.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt physically, so feel free to joke or critique the suspect’s cosplay.

Irredeemable, Incorruptible, Incredibles, indefatigable?

Here’s some pure comic book geeky news:

Mark Waid Returns To Captain America With Captain America: Man Out Of Time

According to the article, the mini-series will be sort of a “Captain America: Year One” storyline, showing Captain America/Steve Rogers acclimitizing himself to life after his thaw.

Fans of Captain America will recall Waid’s former run on the title from the 1990s.  I suspect this is in anticipation of the 2011 movie, so that Marvel will have accessible product to sell to fans of the movie.

And finally…

Wouldn’t they make a cute couple?

2 COMMENTS

  1. When will Jeff answer the questions about a hardcover of “RASL” vol. 2? Am one of Jeff’s very rare early readers from almost the very beginning of “Bone,” about issue three or four, long before Image published it. In fact, a USENET recommendation led me to special order it in Eugene OR back in the mid-nineties (those of us who lived in Eugene all know who Groening really based comic book guy on.) Due to my recommendation, the store started carrying “Bone” regularly. In those early USENET days, folks like me with .edu account could made a huge difference for indies in the trade stores. Would like to read the obviously financially successful, and it goes without saying, artistically intriguing, “RASL” without having to pay first for a softcover and then happen to later discover a hardcover of the same material, as I did after buying a softcover of Vol. 1 (actually bought the first few floppies as well.) I paid three time for all of the “Bone” material; comics, hardcovers and then finally my treasured signed “Complete Bone” hardcover. Sad to reach the point I have to go out of my way to try and support Jeff’s current work without seeing an answer to the question posed by me and others at his BoneVille site. Sadder still, for me, is the need to be vocal with this posting. At this point I’d rather spend my money as a patron, buying the same material in multiple formats to support new and upcoming artists, similar to the type of unknown creator Jeff Smith once was. Don’t see this sort of behavior, putting out a mass market edition first, ignoring questions regarding a specialized version, and then later doing a hardcover from other creators I have previously supported. Examples include Seth, Ware, Tomine, Matt, Sacco, Moore, Ellis, Clowes, and many more. There’s too much great work out there for those of us who aren’t independently wealthy to be expected to pay for things three times from the very talented artists who have already made it big (in comics terms.) It just isn’t affordable, or realistic any more. Especially given the upcoming independent talent that needs our highest level of financial support more than Smith does.

    Best,
    Tim, a once proud patron of upcoming cartoonists. Though still cares enough about the best cartoonist talent to support new comers twice.

    P.S. Terribly sorry Jeff to use you as an example. But, given your lack of response and previous format publishing, you’re an easy target. If you can point me to some interview/statement that corrects my comments, will very gladly and immediately apologize

Comments are closed.