News

In a world of empty PR speak the follow pr from Wizard about a new Chairman of the Board reads like it chugged a couple of Rockstars then doused itself with FourLoko before shooting up some crank. Look at these action verbs: excited, accelerate, momentum, increase, velocity -- just in ONE SENTENCE. That is really impressive. Whatever it is that Michael Mathews is going to do it is going to be WILD. And DIGITAL.

Via pr this morning, AdHouse publisher Chris Pitzer announced that the already much-lauded DUNCAN THE WONDER DOG by Adam Hines has won the first Lynd Ward Prize for graphic fiction. In a tweet, Drew Weing mentioned that his SET TO SEA had been named a Lynd Ward Prize Honor book. More honors may be announced when the actual PR goes out. Named for the seminal woodcut artist who created some early American graphic novels, the prize is sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries and presented to the "best graphic novel, fiction or non-fiction, published in the previous calendar year by a living U.S. citizen or resident." DUNCAN THE WONDER DOG has already been nominated for the LA Times Book Prize, and been named one of publishers Weekly's Best GNs of 2010. The book is currently sold out in print form but a second printing will be on sale imminently; a digital edition is currently for sale here.

Aaron Colter at Comics Alliance rounds up the latest news of t-shirt makers ripping off artists for ideas without paying them, including the granddaddy of them all, Todd Goldman, whose idea thievery is notorious -- his huge David and Goliath novelty company has a long, well-documented track record for necoming "majorly inspired" by other artists' ideas and then paying a little hush money when caught. We had a whole bunch of posts about Goldman's past sins up here once, but his lawyer made us take them down. Let's hope AOL has a few more resources to keep this story up, because he's a total ______ and a ________ too.

No one rocked that '60s eyeliner style like her.

Over at Warren Ellis's blog, a preview of HALF MOON, a new collaboration with Michael Avon Oeming that will feature a space girl:

Awards season is really shifting into high gear. The Doug Wright awards, honoring the best in English-language comics (or translations of French) by Canadians living at home and abroad, will be presented May 7th at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival. In addition to the three main prizes, David Boswell, creator of Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman, has been inducted into The Giants of the North, the Canadian Cartoonists Hall of Fame -- only recently we were discussing with someone far better informed than us how Boswell is a legend of the Canadian comics scene, so it's a fitting honor for him. The rest of the finalists reflect a strong slate that has been much honored in other recent awards -- the Canadian scene is kicking it!

Holy shit, James Jean. His latest show of paintings is up at the Martha Otero gallery in Hollywood and it runs until April 30. We're jealous of those who get to see it in person. Jean has also just released this limited edition silk scarf which you can buy at the link. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE RED CROSS. THe scarf retails for $385. Only 50 were made. There is a B&W version as well, same price, same run.

A few weeks ago we were ragging on Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy for insensitive tweeting, and business mistakes, but now he's in Sendai, helping with relief efforts, tweeting about it:

WOW, The Beat is so far behind in everything. If you've emailed or called or anything we apologize for being in radio silence. There is just not enough time in the day. But even so, we'll be headed to C2E2 tomorrow, first for the Diamond retail event and then the regular show. Good times! We'll have a who's where later -- please send links and party poop. BTW, were the editors of TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED obsessed with the color green? That WAS unexpected.

Nominations for the Stumptown Awards, held in conjunction with the Stumptown Comics Festival in Portland, OR on April 16-17th have been announced. Nominees were selected by a judging panel which consisted of Michael Allred (Madman), Brandon Graham (King City), Laura Hudson (Editor, ComicsAlliance.com), Michael Ring (Owner, Bridge City Comics), and Jason Leivian (Owner, Floating World Comics) and will be presented at the show.

The Eagle Awards, the long running British comics awards, have announced the 2011 nominees. Winners will be announced at the London MCM Expo in May. Online voting is now open at the above link.

Two new positions, one a new face, one a familiar one.