Comics

Digital comics provider iVerse has just rolled out a new version of their interface Comics+:

Ch-changes! San Diego-based IDW Publishing has an opening for someone in the PR/Marketing Department. They're looking for an experienced individual in the PR and marketing field -- comics experience is a MAJOR plus. With their strong presence in licensed comics, renewed focus on originals, amazing reprint program and digital growth...well this is where the action is. Think you have what it takes? Send your resume to Dirk Wood: dirk@idwpublishing.com.

Koyama Press has am impressive new website, courtesy of Squidface and the Meddler. If you have never seen the comics from this beloved indie publisher, now's the time to check 'em out.

We've had a Hobbit trailer. We've had Dark Knight Rises trailers. We've had John Carter trailers. But Craig Ferguson's favorite geek-to-film adaption is getting the short shrift. Behold: the new trailer for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (Ghost Rider 2, if you prefer).

Thor, Iron Man and Cap are shown doing what they do best in these new stills released today.

While you may be in full-on holiday panic mode, there's always spring...and Halloween. Next spring's Courtney Crumrin, Volume 1: The Night Things, Special Edition will see the sardonic young monster-hunter in color for the first time. Ted Naifeh's all ages gothic waif is one of the first -- and the best -- of this sub-genre of comics, and it looks great in color by Warren Wucinich.

Publisher of the Year candidate Drawn & Quarterly has finally broken the seal on literary comics going digital with a two book deal with Kobo Vox which will see Chester Brown's LOUIS RIEL and PAYING FOR IT released. According to associate publisher Peggy Burns, the deal is non-exclusive, and next year will see more titles and platforms for D&Q. Literary comics publishers Fantagraphics and D&Q are along the last holdouts among publishers going digital -- partially due to their authors' ambivalence (or dislike) of the platform -- so even this tiny toe-dipping into the digital world represents a big step forward. In this case, Chester Brown actually encouraged the move -- and it doesn't hurt that Kobo is, like D&Q, a Canadian company.

Image Publisher Eric Stephenson gives another one of his candid, informed reviews -- one of the bonuses from Image's solidified spot as the #3 publisher is Stephenson's increased profile. And even though Image is riding the Walking Dead Wave to increased performance all around, there is always room for improvement, he says, with a new issue of CHEW unavailable from Diamond a week after release and limited support for all-ages material:

Looking for a last minute giftable? B&N is selling The Walking Dead Compendium, Volume 1 for $29.99 -- half of the regular $59.99 price -- but only until 2:59 am December 20th, so don't dawdle. At 1088 pages, this collection of the first 48 issues of THE WALKING DEAD have proven a great entry point into the world of Rick Grimes vs the Zombies -- even at that price it's a consistent bestseller.

Chris Pitzer looks back on his nine years of publishing at AdHouse Books -- from Pulpatoon Pilgrimage and on through such coveted art books as Pulphope and Process Recess to acclaimed works like Duncan the Wonder Dog and Skyscrapers of the Midwest. With stops for Afrodisiac and PopeHats and more. Even goofy stuff like the Mort Grim, a comic book about cars. Each year's output from AdHouse will only take up a few inches on your bookshelf -- but those are precious inches. What a great line-up of strongly individual visions and wonderful stories, each presented in a well-designed format.

Amazon has the deets on GET JIRO!, the graphic novel brainstormed by master chef Anthony Bourdain, co-written with Joel Rose and drawn by Langdon Foss. it sounds a little like our dream of an American version of IRON WOK JAN has finally come true.

With the March (issue 7) solicitations out, we have a little better idea of what the first round of changes for the New 52/DCnU are. Some of these departures are thought to be the writer choosing to leave (Simone, Brandon) and some appear to be the writer getting the quick hook (Cornell, Gates). When these change decisions were made, there has been history of collected edition sale and it may be a little early to judge digital sales. (Do we know what happens to sales when the titles drop to $1.99? This is new enough, you'd really like to see more than 2-3 months of digital sales before trusting it.)