Comics

At yesterday's Dark Horse panel, more details of their digital initiative were announced. It will be proprietary, available on every web browser, and sold for iPad and iTunes. (However, Apple only accepts prices that end in .99 -- one of the controlling things that folks were complaining about on Thursday --- so it's not entirely clear how that will work. There will be 170 titles available at first, with some titles available day and date.

BTW while we were looking for a Richie Rich cover for the previous story, we came across this mysterious site

Continuing the return of some iconic licenses of the past -- the big lizard has previously been published by both Marvel and Dark Horse, Godzilla is coming back from IDW!

Announced only via tweet from retailer Chris Butcher at this morning's Diamond retailer's breakfast. Dark Horse is announcing exclusive in-store downloads for those buying their digital comics, which will be priced at $1.49, according to Milton Griepp yesterday.

PR: Oni Press is in New York for NYCC 2010! Oct 8th – 10th we’ll be strutting our stuff at booth #2331. Come by and check out our eclectic library of titles including the con premieres of:

Buffy regains the top spot this month, though with the lowest numbers for the series since Season eight began. Meanwhile the top launches this...

As reported by Laura Hudson, at today's ICv2 conference, people were moaning about prices. :

The complaint of high prices was discussed as well, along with the statistics that the average cover price of a comic book in the second quarter of 2010 is now $3.53, up from $3.38 in 2009. "Overall, [fans] are paying more for the same type of content than they were two years ago," said Griepp.

Moving forward with digital was the theme of today's ICv2 Comics and Digital conference, which kicked off New York Comic Con with an afternoon of panels and idea sharing. And for those who are moving, they are doing so with zeal and purpose. As opposed to previous such industry gatherings, where digital was timidly referring to in veiled terms, left the Gods of Tradition strike the heretics dead, almost all of today's speakers are living in a world where digital is already a part of their revenue stream. It made for a lively day of engaged attendees.

While looking up New York Comic Con schedules, we found the above Batman commission by Paolo Rivera, who has worked almost exclusively for Marvel. But in the comments he notes he would love to draw Batman "some day"...hint hint hint.

Dark Horse has a battalion of signings and creators and two exclusives: a limited edition Hawaiian Print Domo and a limited printing Xerxes Lithograph! Get 'em while you can!

Wow, this is going to be a VERY crowded schedule! There are a ton of things to do throughout New York Comic-Con and no matter what you choose, you're sure to get a little cultural edification, whether it's comics of Kirby Krackle. There are so many events and parties we had to slit this into two. We'll have Saturday's line-up later on.

Want to buy some of the best comics art available anywhere and do a good deed, too? Tom Spurgeon has details of artist Steve Rude's efforts to raise money to prevent foreclosure on his house. Rude is running a bunch of auctions at bargain prices. Rude is a much-beloved comics creator who is among the premiere artists of his generation and this is no charity but the chance to own some iconic art that will only increase in value.