The News Blog of Comics Culture
Tweet After yesterday’s news that DC Comics was dropping the Comics Code, leaving Archie the last surviving member of the Comics Code Authority…comes word that Archie has also dropped the Code, starting with books on sale in February. The move will have no effect on content: But Pellerito said Archie’s decision has nothing to do [...]
Tweet Sierra Hahn and Dave Marshall have been promoted to full editors at Dark Horse Hahn has edited many media tie-ins and original series, while Marshall has focused more on Star Wars material. Congrats to both. Dark Horse is pleased to announce the advancement of both Sierra Hahn and Dave Marshall to full-time Dark Horse [...]
Last year, writer Brett Lewis, author of the astonishing WINTERMEN, was attacked and suffered a life threatening head injury. With the help of friends, family and his own colossal stubbornness and fighting spirit, he’s still around to make us laugh and think. To celebrate his return, the Golden Apple is holding a party, and if there is ONE THING we would love to go to LA for, this would be it.
From what we’re hearing, it’s going to be a rough year in the business end of comics — the herd will be thinned. And here’s one that’s lagging behind as the hyenas circle: Russ Cochran is one of the survivors of the pre-direct market days as an independent publisher, specifically known for his extensive reprinting of the EC comics long before classic comics reprints were commonplace. His publishing company was purchased by Diamond in 1993, and formed the foundation of much of the Gemstone line of EC and Disney reprints. While Gemstone’s actual publishing has been shut down (after running up hefty printing bills), Cochran continues to put out his own line of EC reprints, licensed through the Gaines Estates. However, according to a recent mailer, even that modest business is in trouble:
I’m going to have to be completely honest with you now. My business, which has been in existence since 1971…that’s FORTY YEARS…is in financial trouble, and unless something changes soon, I will be closing my doors before 2011 is over.
Marvel and the retailing community sometimes have a love/hate/love relationship, but here’s news that they are strongly supporting members of ComicsPRO, the retailer advocacy organization, by releasing Orson Scott Card’s FORMIC WARS: BURNING EARTH #1 a day early on Tuesday, February 15th to ComicsPRO member stores. Participating stores will also sell an exclusive poster. The regular sale date is Wednesday, 2/16.
Here’s one of those announcements that looks super vague on paper but given the people involved, you know it will yield some results. ComiXology and Milton Griepp’s ICv2 are teaming up to help develop tools for retailers. ICv2 is, of course, best known for its sales estimates and business news. Although the leader in the digital comics space, comiXology has also developed a number of services for retailers, including their “pull list” — it’s not hard to see how that might work with ICv2 to give us some kind of useful metrics. Griepp is on the board of comiXology.
Craig Thompson is the Terence Malick of comics. Eight years after BLANKETS pretty much set off the whole literary graphic novel goes mainstream movement, HABIBI, his 600-page exploration of Islamic culture, will finally be released on September 20th.
Paul Hornschemeier has just opened a web store which includes things like this creepy Lidsville cover. You will buy things. His Life with Mr. Dangerous is coming out from Villard in May.
The Spider-Man musical comes to an end! Paolo Rivera drafts his dad. And how much money do artists make? All that and more in today’s linkage.
quenched consciousness is devoted to panels from the great French cartoonist Moebius, without whom there would be no HEAVY METAL, Lt. Blueberry, TRON, ALIEN, and many other wondrous things. He’s a key influence in the “global fusion” style of comics that is all the rage these days so you’d better get acquainted if you aren’t already.
The first new Wagon Christ album in 7 years (!) is due March 14th: Toomorrow. Wagon Christ is also known as Luke Vibert, aka Rephlex, Amen Adnrews, Kerrier District and many other things. If there is one artist that is a constant soundtrack for work at Stately Beat Manor, it’s Vibert — his music is melodic, cheerful, unobtrusive and always giddy. If Raymond Scott, Henry Mancini or Esquivel had been acid disco/IDM DJs they would probably have been Vibert.
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