Tag: Top News

Dynamite has had a lot of news this week in the busy Toy Fair/ComicsPRo period, including an exciting crossover event the return of two iconic heroes, and a new merchandise line. Here's a digest version:

While The UK Guardian tooketh away on Monday with a trolling column by a known gadfly, but they gaveth back today with this piece on how studying comics is vital to future civilizationby Christopher Murray on his courage at the University of Dundee:

What makes Harley Quinn so popular? Abraham Riesman digs into her history to try to find answers.

Cosplay AFTER death? Yes.

The Hellboy universe expands once more with the re-introduction of Frankenstein to Mignola’s ever expanding cast.

Brett Ewins an influential artist for many features in 2000 AD artist has passed away. He was known for his collaborations with Peter Milligan, Brendan McCarthy and Steve Dillon, including work on Future Shocks ABC Warriors, Bad Company, Judge Anderson and Rogue Trooper. He co-created the important alternative comics anthology Deadline, home of Tank Girl, with Dillon, and drew Johnny Nemo for the title. In later days he was beset by mental troubles, and had serious run ins with the police, after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. 2000 Ad confirmed his death on their FB page.

TCAF, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival will be held May 9-10th this year, with a whole week of events, art exhibits, screenings. Special programming events include the CSSC-SCEBD Academic Conference, Library & Educator Day, Word Balloon Academy, and Comics Vs. Games 4. IN other words, it jam packed with stuff to see and do. As for programming the first spotlight has been announced: Drawn & Quarterly's 25th anniversary, which is certain to bring out some top notch sessions.

Yesterday feathers, panties and twitter feeds were ruffles by this piece in the Guardian entitled When did the comic-book universe become so banal? It was written by an art critic named Jonathan Jones , and while moaning about Scott McCloud and Chris Ware (the poor man's Paul Klee) it finally came round to true greatness:

The Valentines State’s first comic con of the year wrapped up over the romantic weekend. Jimmy Jay, Amazing Arizona Comic Con organizer, didn’t let a hallmark holiday get in the way of putting on his three-day annual comic book convention on Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 15. The event kicked off with an intimate panel with Spawn Creator Todd McFarlane and the New York Times best selling Batman artist, Greg Capullo. They signed someone's baby.

Well, this is a bit of a wounder. I alluded in an earlier post on the Angoulême comics festival that the attendance was being disputed, and in a must read wrap-up of the 2015 festival Matthias Wivel covers everything and has a much more knowledgable breakdown of the dispute. In the past it has been a tenet of faith that 200,000 people attend the festival, which fills an entire medieval style town on a hill. This number has been cited as a reminder of how the French love their comics, how robust the European comics scene is, and in general how Angoulême is heaven on earth for comics lovers. While all of that remains true, it now seems that festival organizers may have been inflating the attendance a tad and it's more like...15,000-20,000.

Has it really been 25 years since Valiant's characters first roamed the shelves? Since enthusiastic kids Jim Shooter, Bob Layton and Barry Windsor-Smith made a go of it? I guess so, because Valiant is making a hoopla of their 25th anniversary just in time for Free Comic Book Day in May, with a big special 25th Anniverasry collection, variant covers and more assorted hub bub. Here's the long version:

DC isn't the only comics company moving office—IDW just announced a move to a former Navy barracks within the historic NTC in Liberty Station...