Comics

Sony Online Entertainment has a lot going on for this November's launch of the DC Universe Online game, including a fan event featuring Jim Lee and Marv Wolfman and a block party at SOE's hq. VIP Beta keys will be available at all the events, as well.

Dark Horse's complete panel and portfolio schedule is up here, but here's their in booth signing schedule, with everyone from Denis Kitchen to Gerard Way to Milo Manara to Felicia Day.

FREAKSHOW #1 by David Server, Jackson Lanzing and Joe Suitor highlights the offerings at Ape Entertainment.

DC's Vertigo blog, Graphic Content, has announced that "Shoot" by Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez is finally going to see print as part...

by Marc-Oliver Frisch DC Comics' periodical business had one of its better months in May, thanks to a host of new launches that were received...

Dirk White, formerly of Dark Horse, has joined IDW as Director, Retail Marketing, a new position. AnnaMaria White has been promoted to Director, Marketing and Public Relations. Together the moves suggest that IDW is serious about increasing their market share through renewed retail efforts.

Scott Pilgrim promo fever is hitting 105˚ in advance of next week's San Diego Comic-Con, sure to be known in future years as "The Scott Pilgrim One." To wit, various Twitter feeds have been capturing the progress of a giant Scott Pilgrim banner being erected over the Hilton Bayfront hotel. Yowsa. Scott PIlgrim creator Bryan Lee O'Malley has a thorough list of events he's involved with, including his midnight signing appearance in Toronto, where it all began. (We'll have more details on midnight events in a few days.)

This is the other superhero movie sneak peak making the rounds, the first look at Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. This still has met with very mixed reaction on the new, looking as it does kind of .. Marvel Studios-ey, if you know what we mean. Since Norse gods don't wear wife beaters, getting the look right is very important.

By Matthew Murray Buffy returned to its usual position of top selling "indie" book this month, but its the last issue before it goes on...

And speaking of RED, the upcoming all-star film loosely based on the Ellis/Hamner miniseries, a bunch of teaser character posters are being released, and...

Via Warren Ellis, the cover to a NEW edition of TWO-STEP, his collaboration with Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti: You know how this project started?...

A busy month, as SIEGE wraps up, and the Heroic Age books begin, including the debut issues of both AVENGERS and SECRET AVENGERS. The "World War Hulks" crossover begins, "Second Coming" continues in the X-books, and the new ASTONISHING miniseries ship their first issues. Once again, Marvel had the largest share of the North American direct market, beating DC by 46% to 35% in terms of units, and 41% to 31% in dollars. For the benefit of any new readers, bear in mind the following disclaimers. These are estimates of orders placed by stores in the North American direct market. They don't include sales on newsstands, or to other countries (such as the UK). And most of this material will be repackaged in collected editions or made available online, so there will be further sales in other formats. On the other hand, we don't know whether the retailers managed to sell everything they ordered. With books that have been around a while, the retailers presumably have a fairly good idea of how many copies they can sell; with new launches, there's a bit more guesswork involved.