The Peninsula Libraries Comic Arts Festival (PLCAF) kicks off Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Foster City with a small press expo and keynote by Kazu Kibuishi. Ryan North, Svetlana Chmakova and Jason Shiga are scheduled to appear later in the month. All it took was an idea. Two San Mateo County […]
COVER REVEAL: The end of the Amulet saga nears in Vol. 8: Supernova
Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series has quietly become one of the most loved graphic novel series for kids over the last decade. I say “quietly,” because most comics industry people don’t mention it, but I see kids reading it on the streets and around town all the time. It’s a #1 NY Times Bestseller and is […]
The Beat Annual Creator Survey 2017 Part 2: Liam Sharp, Kwanza Osajyefo and more on what 2017 will bring
More pundits and creators weigh in on where they see the comics industry going, what inspires them and maybe a hint of news or two.
Graphix is 10 and reveals covers to new Craig Thompson and Jenni and Matthew Holm
When Scholastic launched its Graphix imprint 10 years ago, graphic novels were a novelty, if you can pardon the expression, in the mainstream publishing world. And kids comics were an unknown quantity—comics shops didn’t want them and bookstores didn’t know what to do with them. In the first wave, there were many miscues and misunderstandings at many houses along the way. But Graphix wasn’t the one making them. Granted, starting out a line with Jeff Smith’s Bone is about as much a sure thing as possible—6.9 million copies in print and counting. But picking Raina Telgemeier to do a Babysitter’s Club relaunch and eventually Smile, and Kazu Kibuishi to publish his Amulet series weren’t as sure—but they sure paid off. Along the way Graphix has picked up multiple Eisner Award wins and nominations, a Stonewall Book Award, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor, an Edgar Allan Poe nomination, and 14 New York Times bestsellers. They’ve published many more top cartoonists such as Doug TenNapel, Greg Ruth, Mike Maihack and Jimmy Gownley. And there’s more to come.
Cherry-picking the Eisner nominations: 5 comics you NEED
Okay, I put my hand up: I feel inordinately and stupidly pleased when comics I’ve loved and enjoyed are nominated for awards, particularly those that have been overlooked in coverage or recognition. Sometimes I even feel a little important; ‘Zainab, I tell myself, you are reading the RIGHT THINGS’ (I’ll take my validation wherever I […]