§ J. Caleb Mozzocco looks at the remains of WildStorm in the New 52 with a focus on Stormwatch, and he has some sharp words for the overall art style:
What I found most interesting in this portion of the book is how many artists were involved with these designs: Hamner (Jenny, Adam, Apollo, Midnighter, Jack), Lee (J’onn), Sepulveda (Engineer, Projectionist) and even Joe Prado (Eminence of Blades). Crazy Jane, a character featured rather prominently in Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol run, was apparently also considered for inclusion in the cast, and even designed. They apparently did a lot of work and had a lot of talented folks behind these designs, but when it came time to actually draw the comic, the designs are almost always buried by coloring effects or weird storytelling choices (The Eminence of Blades, for example, spends most of the first six issues wearing a space suit, so he just looks like a generic astronaut holding some glowing blue swords).
§ Brigid Alverson and Jesse Post discuss Why Children Aren’t Reading Digital Comics (And What Might Make Them Start)
You mentioned on your blog that digital is just a small slice of the kids’ comics market. Why do you think that is?
I think that was actually a stat about children’s’ publishing in general, but it certainly applies to comics. Kids like to show off their books, trade them with friends, bring them to school in their backpacks, draw in the margins, and file them away on a bookshelf. I’ve personally moved almost all of my music and movie library to digital because I’m satisfied with the abstract idea of owning a file stored in the cloud, but kids have a more tactile relationship with the stuff in their bedrooms, including books. When I worked for Disney Adventures, a kids’ entertainment magazine, I was always surprised by how much our readers valued physical aspects of the magazine, like its small trim size and the paper quality.
§ I did not know what to expect when I saw a story entitled The Women of St. Louis Comic Con–but, of course, it was cosplayers:
The stereotype of comic book readers as overweight, nerdy men has been pounded into bits since Comic Book Guy made his debut on The Simpsons more than twenty years ago. That much was evident this past weekend at the first-ever Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con, held at America’s Center (701 Convention Plaza). Jon Gitchoff brings back these photos of the women of Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con for the Riverfront Times.
There are 76 photos and some are spectacular and some are sexy and some are carrying knives and swords.
But of them all, it was Robin who made me say, “Hey now, what is happening here?”
§ Elsewhere, there was a night of comic book burlesque including this.
§ But this guy seemed to have a great time at the show proper.
§ Did we forget to mention that Lisa Hanawalt was was nominated for a James Beard Award?
“I was super-surprised — I never realized that the Beard Awards had a category for ‘Journalism/Humor,’ and I’m just thrilled to be nominated alongside some of the chefs I illustrated,” Hanawalt, an Ignatz Award winner who will appear at this year’s Small Press Expo, tells Comic Riffs. “Now I’m trying to figure out how to get a Tony award via comics. … ”
§ Area man baffled by notoriously baffling comic book.
I had kind of low expectations about WWStL (after a ten-year attendance streak, I gave up on the Chicago one 4 or 5 years ago), but I was really impressed with the show. Lots of tangible excitement, and HUGE crowds, particularly right at opening on Friday, which surprised me. Even Sunday wasn’t bad, and with the blizzard I was expecting a ghost town. Anx as an Artist’s Alley exhibitor, i thought we did exceedingly well. Looking forward to next year’s con! Here’s hoping they can get more publishers involved, though…the only one with a booth was local n00bs Lion Forge, who were throwing money around like nobody’s business.
That Robin cosplay photo disturbs me.
Robin looks to be more than packing a punch.
~
Coat
Comments are closed.