comiXology releases Kids Comics app with 15 publishers
Long discussed, the comiXology phone and tablet app for kids comics is available today. Such popular characters as Archie, Sonic the Hedgehog, Secret of Kells, Atomic Robo and dozens more kid-friendly, parent-approved characters will be available. Complete PR is below, but the main idea is that if you are a parent -- or know of one -- you know that iPhones and iPads are increasingly being used as babysitters for small children, and kids book apps top the iPhone charts. As the app is non log-in based, everything on it is preapproved; it's not hard to see how this is going to make buying digital comics for children in the classic "reward" method much easier.
The app has launched with 15 publishers and 175 comics; notably absent are Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and IDW, but hopefully they'll be coming on board in some way.
Image books sell out from Diamond
Five of this week's Image books have sold out at Diamond and are going back to press. PR below and 2nd printing cover roughs scattered throughout this post. Please note, just because these are sold out at Diamond doesn't mean you can't still buy them in your local comics shop -- according to my email there are many copies available.
Continuing the recent trend of releasing new series to rave reviews and instant sellouts, Image Comics has announced that BLUE ESTATE #1, GREEN WAKE #1, NONPLAYER #1, UNDYING LOVE #1 and the second printing of THE INFINITE VACATION #1 have all sold out at the distributor level and are going back to press.
The day in Marvel PR: Thor/Loki trailer, Fear Itself, Moon Knight
What did Marvel send to our mailbox today?
SPOILERS: BRIGHTEST DAY #23 reintroduces you-know-who to Lantern mythos
Out of deference to those who have yet to pick up and slip to the last page of BRIGHTEST DAY #23, we'll put this in the jump.
DO NOT CLICK UNLESS YOU WANT SPOILERS.
NOT KIDDING.
SPX unveils 2011 flyer by Craig Thompson — UPDATED with more guests
Besides being a lovely flyer, several new guests are revealed in this flyer by Craig Thompson, including Diane Noomin and Chester Brown. Thompson's long awaited HABIBI comes out this fall and should be a HOT topic of conversation.
Tom Fowler is drawing VENOM
Apparently Rick Remender and Tom Fowler are teaming up on Marvel's VENOM comic...and it looks INSANE. More insanity in the link.
Ward Sutton covers the Village Voice
This week's Village Voice is the Cartoon issue, to tie in to MoCCA Fest, and regular Voice contributor Ward Sutton has done the cover. Sutton is known for his ability to mimic other art styles, but this time, we do believe he's topped himself -- esp. with Marlys Wonder Woman and Rusty Brown Bumstead.
BUT...see next item.
Teen Boat signed to Houghton
They said it would never happen but it has: Teen Boat is being collected as a book by Clarion/Houghton Mifflin -- created by Dave Roman and John Green, Teen Boat, the story of a boy who can transform into a small yacht, has long charmed readers with a series of mini comics combining "the angst of being a teen with the thrill of being a boat." There's even a trailer, above. PR below:
WonderCon 11: DC announces Retro-Active
It's one last go-round for some classic DC logos and characters with DC's new RETRO-ACTIVE mini-event, which features creators and characters from the '70s, '80s, and '90s with a series of one-shots. Each decade has been given it's own, era-appropriate logo.
PREVIEW: PETROGRAD
PETROGRAD is an upcoming GN by Phil Gelatt and Tyler Crook about the death of Russian strongman Gregorii Rasputin, coming in August. Oni released some preview pages here:
Industry Movers School Ya
Art schools and apprenticeships find themselves more popular than ever, let's all tip our hats to inspiration artist Rudolph Töpffer's for his creation of boarding school for boys. While anyone can teach themselves and become successful on their own, a lot of the specialty schools allow access to equipment, connections, mentorship of working professionals and opportunities in a condensed amount of time that are priceless.
