Culture

Comic strip historian and pioneer Bill Blackbeard has died at age 84, it has been reported. Blackbeard had been in a nursing home for some years, and passed away on March 10th. As the outpourings of appreciations have shown, Blackbeard was, perhaps more than any other individual, responsible for the emergence of comic strips and (by extension) comic books as a legitimate source of art to be treasured and preserved on an institutional level.

The Hugo Award nominations for SF have been announced, and they include not only the traditional Graphic Novel category, but a few comic-centric nominations in other categories, notably, SCOTT PILGRIM Vs. THE WORLD in the Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form category. The compleet list below.

The Hugo Award nominations for SF have been announced, and they include not only the traditional Graphic Novel category, but a few comic-centric nominations in other categories, notably, SCOTT PILGRIM Vs. THE WORLD in the Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form category. The compleet list below.

This month marks the tenth Free Comic Book Day. The first debuted during the perfect storm of Spider-Man and Book Expo America New York. Ten years later, we see a plethora of movies based on well-known and obscure comic books, as well as numerous books aimed at young readers. (Of the 37 comics being offered during Free Comic Book Day, at least 21 of 37 are kid-friendly.) Ten years ago, comics were still a sideline medium, garnering some press. Today, there are bestseller lists, and book publishers such as Rizzoli, Abrams, and Random House have joined the burgeoning market dominated by DC, Marvel, and others. I don’t know what was offered back in May 2002. I do remember DC Comics announcing All-Star Batman at Book Expo, but the other titles featured in the first ever Graphic Novel Pavilion are a haze. Perhaps I’ll do a look back. Meanwhile…

Illustrator/animator/visual storyteller Shaun Tan gets profiled in the Sunday NY Times Magazine, the traditional anointing of a major creative figure.

As promised, here are more photos of Stumptown: the comics festival and the parties that just won't quit!

And as we head off to the weekend....via Tyler Walpole at The Gutters

What is the greatest convention moment of all time? It might just be described in this post!

BY JEN VAUGHN - This past weekend, The Beat left the wet and mountainous regions of the East Coast for the wet and mountainous regions of the West Coast to revel in the majestic small press show that is Stumptown Comics Festival. Having recently moved from the Doubletree Hotel to the Oregon Convention Center, more artists and cartoonists would be to showcase their work for eager audiences.

The Comics Journal's new cartoonist diary features Pascal Girard's MoCCA journal and we're already severely flattered. In case anyone is wondering, Pascal, you're #1!

via Alex Segura

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