Culture

We're sad and yet glad that the World Cup is over. Sad because it was fun and exciting and we actually hung out more with friends than we have in months because we were always getting together to watch the game, and sharing it with pals worldwide through Twitter. Although the Netherlands-Spain final was the kind of shitty game that makes people who don't like soccer continue to not like soccer, it wasn't representative of the tourney as a whole. Sad because there was so much to see and ponder in "the beautiful game." But we're also glad because things that are fun and exciting are the most fun and exciting when they come and go and leave you wanting more. Of course, the breakout star of the Cup was not Ronaldo or Kaka or Messi but an unassuming mollusk whose psychic powers amazed the world. Yes, it was Paul The Psychic Octopus whose stunning 8-for-8 predictions have left scientists and sports fans reeling with questions regarding cephalopod intelligence, the possibilities of psychic powers, and tentacled understanding of the passing game and the offsides rule.

This week: Jim Lee and Tom Brevoort reveal astonishing new publishing policies; "Brand New Day" ends, maybe; Mark Waid is sick of superhero comics; Gary Groth comments; and more.

Tomorrow's Times includes a comic by Art Spiegelman about his experiences collaborating with the Pilobolus Dance Company.

If you're not friends with artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones on Facebook, you are missing out on lots of art, like this gorgeous sketch which Jones gave us permission to post here in honor of Cat Blogging Friday.

The recently revamped by Matt Fraction MANDARIN? The revitalized under Paul Cornell LEX LUTHOR? Or ... this guy?

Have you been fretting about what to get Sean T. Collins for his birthday? Worry no more! Wearable, usable art company Poketo has just announced Perverse Universe, a limited edition wallet series that "offers a view into the mad minds of Matt Furie, Louie Cordero, and Jon Vermilyea."

Barry Deutsch a.k.a. Ampersand has an eagerly awaited graphic novel --Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword, based on his long-running webcomic -- coming out in a few months, but he's also a political cartoonist, as seen at his Leftycartoons.com website. Warning: leftist views! Click

Everything's coming up Vinnie Colletta! After some brisk discussion here and elsewhere on the inking giant, John Morrow writes to say that...

I went to the American Library Association trade show and conference in Washington DC. I was slated to moderate a panel during the three...

Announced via PR yesterday, Devil's Due, the long-running indie publisher is leaving Diamond as their distributor, for both books and periodicals, and...

The New York Times reports on the new manga eye fad, popularized by Lady Gaga, of giant contacts that make you look like...

Over the recent holiday weekend, we had occasion to spend a fair bit of time going through posts from the Old Beat, clearing out some spam and trying to clean up the database for various purposes. Along the way we were forced to violently relive the last few years of the last decade. It all seemed so simple once. So many news stories that never went anywhere -- a few we jotted down for future investigation, but there were also things like this fellow who spent money in 2007 to announce his new blog. Now it's only a reseller placeholder. They had such big dreams, but those big dreams crawled under a rock to die.