News

Hit records and stellar nerdlebirty status aren't always enough to steer a retail ship through the shoals of hard business realities. System of a Down's drummer John Dolmayan apparently learned that the hard way, as this sale for Torpedo Comics shows. The online retailers inventory and even domain name are being auctioned off to pay creditors.

Via PR, word that Midtown Comics will be opening a downtown branch in the Wall St. area very this fall. With two existing branches...

Even as the previous item showed graphic novel sales down from last year, Sandy Bilus has posted a list of books to look forward...

The week saw a scaled down direct-to-video sequel to 2002's "epic battle' between Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman for copyrighs to characters Gaiman created in an issue of Spawn. Out of all the press reports we've seen, Gaiman's own account, blogged today, is by far the most clear and accurate -- well, he is a beloved author after all:

Sean T Collins rounded up reactions from creators and fellow publishers on the closure of Buenaventura Press, and it's all sad, sad sad. WE've heard bits and pieces of the story behind the story, and that's all sad too. Some of it can be pieced together with some googling, but we'll respect Alvin's wishes for privacy at this time and just reiterate out hope that he can continue to find a way to contribute to this golden age of comics art.

It's been a while since we wrote about The Venture Brothers, our favorite psychoanalytical adventure satire cartoon, but the show's animatic editor, Thomas Bayne has organized an auction of Venture-related artwork, including storyboards, roughs and so on, with all proceeds benefitting Colbert Nation's Gulf of America Fund. Creator Jackson Publick writes:

The pundit/cartoonist turns 50. :

Although there has been no official confirmation, close family friends have reported that EC artist Al WIlliamson has passed away. The youngest of the EC artists, Williamson joined the legendary crew at the age of 20, finding kindred spirits in

Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel and Angelo Torres

, the group known as the "Fleagle Gang." All shared a love of classic illustration -- influenced by Alex Raymond and Hal Foster -- which found expression in a lush, romantic style based in classical drawing.

Via PR, Gary Friedrich, a seminal figure of Marvel in the 60s and 70s and co-creator of Ghost Rider, and the late Otto Binder, without whom there would be no Supergirl or Krypto or hundreds of other comics, are the two latest recipients of the Bill Finger Award. This honor is presented annually at the the San Diego Comic-Con to honor one living writer, and one deceased who have made significant contributions to the comics industry.

Via PR, electronic publisher WOWIO has purchased the webcomic site DrunkDuck from Platinum Studios. Just to make it all neat and tidy, Platinum once...

There's a new superteam in town, Calvin Reid reports at Publishers Weekly -- brought together to face a mighty foe that threatens our very...

We're not necessarily going to make a cottage industry out of running all these "record setting art sales" PR pieces, but given the recent...