Comics

With the Green Lantern movie underway for delivery in 2011, the emerald warrior is getting all kinds of promotions to make sure that by the time Ryan Reynolds has been on 100 junkets, everyone will know who Green Lantern is. And to that end, he's already being licensed out the wazoo. For instance, the Asbury Park Press tells us that Green Lantern is getting his own roller coaster at the Great Adventures in New Jersey. The ride -- 15 stories of 63 mph mayhem -- will open to coincide with the movie.

Mark Andrew Smith alerts us that The New Brighton Archeological Society, the children's adventure comic he created with artist Matthew Weldon can now be read free online. The Book One: The Castle of Galomar is being serialized with a new page being uploaded every day.

Photo by Shawn Hoke. More Nara on view at the Asia Society.

by Paul O'Brien The big launch for July is the new ongoing X-MEN series, which duly makes its debut at the top of the chart. Also this month, as the X-books' "Second Coming" crossover ends, the Daredevil-centred SHADOWLAND event begins. The Young Avengers return in AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE. And from the Icon imprint, there's the debut issue of Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev's SCARLET. Needless to say, Marvel were once again the top company in the direct market, leading DC by 43% to 35% in terms of unit share, and 39% to 32% in dollars.

Wherever there are people and pens, comics seem to spring up. This long, comprehensive story on comics in Cambodia documents the emergence of a cartooning scene through the dust and haze of past political upheaval as a bunch of young folk try to make their dreams come true:

Filipino comics artist/self-publisher Gerry Alanguilan (Elmer), was supposed to deliver an address at a symposium called "Future of the Book" but he was forced to bow out, so instead he posted his speech for all of us to read. While reading the whole thing is the best way to approach it, the gist can be conveyed. Although Alanguilan is basically married to the idea of print publishing, he thinks it can exist with digital:

For more information.

This year's Small Press Expo was so wonderful that we can't stop reading about it! It's the first time in a while that it wasn't too cold or too hot but just right at an indie comics show we've attended and that made it special. PLUS, SVA and MICA and CCS and MCAD and SCAD have been turning out lots and lots of excellent new cartoonists and the established people are putting out great stuff and there is real excitement everywhere. There are tons of 'em, including this video made by Steven Greenstreet...we selected a few because they were interesting or especially charming.

Yet another step towards complete digital distribution as Marvel and Graphic.ly announced a deal to sell Marvel Comics via graphic-ky's desktop application. Single issues will be available via both digital download to desktop and some mobile devices, including such titles as Iron Man; Kick Ass; Amazing Spider Man; Captain America, and Astonishing X-Men. While comics have been getting establish on handheld devices, selling them via a stand-alone desktop client has been having a harder time getting off the ground; this should change that. Desktop downloads have the advantage of being readable when offline of benig able to be shared among devices.

More here: Emma Is a Pirate: Via Richard Cook.

Vanessa Davis and her delightful Make Me a Woman are coming to several towns near you in the coming months:

Just a very quick moment to jot down a few thoughts on SPX. (My "official" report will be in PWCW tomorrow.) In short, it remains the summer camp of comics, with a bunch of people who are there for love just hanging out, talking, drawing, drinking, smiling and laughing.