Publishers

Well, looks like this Valiant relaunch is going to go places we've never gone before. The first issue of X-O Manowar will have a QR Voice Variant—"the world's first QR code-augmented, talking comic book cover!" Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic supplies the art. On Wednesday, a preview poster will be shipped to local comic shops so you can preview the technology, which involves a QR code, a smart phone and a steady hand.

Remember how we keep telling you that kids' graphic novels are the fastest growing segment of the US GN market? One of the reason for the spurt is that the books keep getting better. For example, GIANTS BEWARE! from First Second by writer Jorge Aguirre and artist Rafael Rosado. It's a pretty simple tale:

Here's more of the promo art that came out over the weekend from various Image projects, mostly released at CBR or on Twitter. Previously, MARA and CHIN MUSIC.

Here it is, the stunning conclusion of new titles shipping in February! Since this is Oscars weekend, I've included some award winners below! Hugo! Edgar! Carnegie! Stoker! Even Shamus! (No, not that one!) Lots of adaptations! One is a comic based on a movie based on a prose novel!

It's a very sleepy Sunday at the Image Expo. Retail hasn't started big Sunday markdowns yet, but there's one booth with 50% off or $5/tpb. On the other hand, there is a trickle of cosplay starting.

By Todd Allen Charles Brownstein is starting out with a history of comics censorship. Step 1: the Senate inquery sets up the Comics Code. Step 2: The...

It seems there is another convention at the Oakland Convention Center/Marriott today. Another "image" convention.

By Todd Allen Vaughan says he missed doing a monthly series and Jay Faeber had been on him to do something at Image. Vaughan had earmarked...

Day two and attendance is up a bit. I'm hearing a couple long time residents talking about how much larger the crowds at Wonder Con were, the last couple years it was in this venue. To me, it looks about right for the first year of a new show. the amount of space to move around on the floor is roughly what you'd be looking for at a business to business show (as opposed to consumer shows, where you pack them in like sardines). You could add maybe 20% before it started getting to be annoying trying to move around the floor.

One of the new books announced at the Image Expo, CHIN MUSIC, by Steve Niles and Tony Harris, via.

After a year of endless speculation—would it be Michael Rooker? Tom Savini? John Hawkes?—the role of The Walking Dead's ultra-badguy The Governor has finally been cast : English thesp David Morrissey. As we say at Stately Beat Manor, when in doubt, go Brit. Morrissey is a BAFTA-winning actor who has starred in a number of UK productions such as Meadowlands, State of Play, and The Deal.

With Image Expo's first day put to bed (the CBLDF party may still be raging on, but I had to cut out early to navigate some San Francisco transit construction), there's one strong theme coming out: Creators as People.