With both Heroes Con and Wizard World Philadelphia this weekend, it was a very busy week for news, so here’s a quick tour, as best as we can make out.

§ Top Shelf is among the first publishers to announce a comics program for Kindle:

Top Shelf announced this weekend at HeroesCon that Andy Runton’s “Owly,” the friendly all-ages title featuring forest animals speaking in pictograms, would mark the publisher’s first entry into the Amazon Kindle marketplace. The first five volumes of “Owly” are now available on Amazon’s ebook reader for $4.00 each, and a Kindle edition of the 2008 Free Comic Book Day issue can be puchased for $.99. CBR News spoke with Runton and Top Shelf publisher Chris Staros about the release.


§ Azzarello and Rags Morales on DOC SAVAGE…we’d totally read that!

Didio then revealed that DC would bring back the classic pulp hero Doc Savage via a monthly series to be written by Brian Azarello (“100 Bullets”) and drawn by Rags Morales. Morales said that the series will bring Savage into the DCU, though it will take place in an alternate universe where he will work and interact alongside such classic characters as Blackhawk and Will Eisner’s The Spirit. The world Savage lives in will also be a blend of our modern era and the classic ‘30s pulp era he comes from (“cell phones and tommy guns” as DiDio put it). No news was given about a release date yet.


§ Jeff Katz talks about the first four books from his American Origin line

Vengeance Is Mine — Writer Jeff Katz, artist Thomas Nachlik.
Daybreak — Writers Gary Whitta and Brian Lynch, artist Marco Castiello
Blastosaurus — Writer/artist Richard Fairgray
Comedy Deathray Anthology — Editor Scott Aukerman (Mr. Show)


§ Marvel signs up novelist David Liss to write The Phantom Reporter:

If you aren’t familiar with Liss, he’s been building a sterling reputation this decade. In 2000, his A Conspiracy of Paper was released; it was named a New York Times Notable Book, and garnered Liss 2001 Barry, MacAvity and Edgar awards for Best First Novel. The follow-up, 2003’s The Coffee Trader, was also named a New York Times Notable Book and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the year’s 25 Books to Remember. Since then, he’s published three more novels, and has another new one, The Devil’s Company (also featuring his recurring protagonist Benjamin Weaver) due for release later this year.


§ PLUS: Jeff Smith & Alec Longstreth on the Indie Way.

1 COMMENT

  1. A Doc Savage revival? Excellent?

    Now how about DC hires Doc Savage painter Bob Larkin to do a cover for the series?