Disney to Acquire Marvel Entertainment from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 via the prominent comics retailer Joe Field, who suggested I borrow it. Thanks, Joe. His analysis is through the link in the picture.
My first reaction ten seconds after reading the first article is that a lot of money is going to exchange hands and the major Marvel stockholders just went from making Richie Rich's allowance to Uncle Scrooge's end of year bonus.
My second reaction is that for Disney stockholders to receive the same, this deal is going to have to work over at least a moderate period of time.
My third reaction is that the symbolism of everything they hold dear in terms of childhood-resonant stuff that has defined their lives is going to make many old-timey comics/Disney fans' brains explode.
My fourth is wondering if this is a gag because I'm really, really tired this morning. (It's not.)
My fifth is to try and recall and mostly fail in terms of how things worked out in similar deals in the past, like with the muppets -- I think most of their deals have been beneficial, but certainly they've made more money with something like the Pixar people than the Studio Ghibli people, so there has to be some sort of hierarchy and this deal is probably different anyway.
My sixth is assuming publishing remains its own man after the move from penthouse to theme park, but the fact I'm even thinking out loud about that is kind of scary -- something more likely than Disney stepping anywhere near the comics side of things is that there will be an effect in the book business, because Disney has to have better bookstore reach that Marvel's famous T-Rex style attempts to grab onto a chunk of that business in a way that matches their comics market dominance. It's fair to ask whether this will really change all that much in the comics market, as I think the answer is "maybe" and then a lot of talk about structural issues and general initiatives.
My seventh is that this basically provides a shot in the arm to Disney's film-making efforts outside of Pixar, while Marvel gets a better international framework for marketing and distributing licensed work. They would also benefit from a steady television platform with Disney's TV holdings being what they are, something Marvel hasn't really enjoyed yet.
The Conference Call: The Walt Disney Company's Agreement to Acquire Marvel Entertainment
I'm going to try and blog this through a provided special audio player that popped up as I randomly clicked on buttons in the initial press feature like a crazy person, although I'm not always sure how this kind of stuff works. The Kitaro-like music before the show begins is making me all Garfield and whatnot this still-early morning.
Wait, now it's turned into generic TV hosting music. I'm expecting Lorne Greene's voice. Or Roy Disney. Or The Watcher. No, it was a lady's. She's thanking me for my patience. She's the operator.
* 10:15 ET
Okay, we're definitely a minute or two past the expected start. My computer clock could be wrong, too. I just hope it eventually comes on. Man, the music finished. That's creepy. Wait for it... nope, new music. Do I have to type in a code or something? I'm confused.
* 10:20 ET
Okay, now it starts. We're being welcomed by the same voice in a little speech that seems geared towards the people that have called in -- mostly investor-type company representatives.
We're thanked by a Mr. Lowell Singer?? [that's it -- he's their investor relations guy] for joining him on short notice.
The news is an hour old as of right now. Bob Iger is there. Marvel people are in New York. Tom something, the CFO [Tom Staggs]. Marvel's board chairman [Morton Handel], cfo [Staggs] and lead counsel [John Turitzin, maybe?] are all there. I'll have to fill in the names later.
Bob Iger speaks first. He describes it as a stock and cash transaction to be completed by the end of the calendar year. He says it will help Disney increase its international profile and provide cross-platform opportunities to these characters. He now praises the brand-building effort. He cites Iron Man, Spider-Man and X-Men in that order -- and then cites Iron Man again as an achievement because it was not a well-known property.
He implies that they're even more valuable because of all the choices out there, as if they're one of the better prizes remaining.
He cites Disney's reach.
He compares this to the Pixar acquisition. The three basic goals apply. 1) Advance our overall revenue-generating strategy. 2) Expand Business reach. 3) Increase our profit to shareholders.
* 10:25 ET
Marvel chairman Morton Handel. I should probably know this name without looking it up.
Ha! He said he was with Bob and Tom. This is only funny if you grew up near Indianapolis, although I guess they're syndicated now.
Handel talks about their brand-building efforts, and how they're modeled on Disney's (which is true in a spiritual sense, anyway), and how Disney leads the way in terms of a company taking the next step.
Another speaker -- one of the Disney guys. He talks about Marvel in terms of assessing its value, very broad language. Synergy points: licensing sales and marketing infrastructure, particularly internationally. Third-party agreements were examined, display Marvel's value, and will be brought in where they will then be reconsidered.
Talks about the library of characters. Many not well known.
Marvel shareholders will get $30 in cash and a certain number of shares according to last Friday's close, $50 per share in value for $4 billion total. He announces that Disney will repurchase shares to get the value back up. He then strings together a bunch of broad financial terms that makes part of my brain die. It doesn't sound like a bad deal, though, and certainly it's Christmas for the major Marvel stockholders.
* 10:30 ET
The operator is going to Q&A.
It's a financial question in two parts, and I can barely make out the speaker's voice. And I'm in no way going to be able to track with Disney/Marvel executive is speaking -- sorry about that.
One of the Disney executive answers says it's a deal not driven by the financial benefits in terms of stock or those kinds of things. They anticipate a straight-forward accounting process. He cites synergies over time and an enhanced growth rate.
DVD Market -- they're encouraged by the trends they're seeing, although that market is changing beyond the general world economic changes. No matter those changes, people are interested in high-quality product, and this tends to mirror US box office. Part of their analysis was concerns of this marketplace, but the attraction of the brand plays a part. He says, "they're not bulletproof, they're not immune from the changes we're seeing," but he thinks they may function as a hedge against this.
Question: Does this deal have any impact on deals with other studios?
Answer: Deals that Marvel have been put in place will generally stay in effect -- he's complimentary of those deals.
Question: Specific examples of revenue-driven synergies? Why is 2012 the first positive year? Is it because of release schedules for Iron Man and Spider-Man movies?
Answer: Cites that Disney will build Marvel over time -- what's gone on before will continue and be enhanced. The timing of film releases has an effect on Marvel's businesses, and that's how they set their expectations. He can't quantify the synergies, but the marriage of Marvel content and Disney infrastructure should be a fruitful wedding.
Question: What about the rest of the library?
Answer: They'll dive into the library now.
Answer: Praise for Marvel's handling of entire library. Again, they're delighted by Iron Man's hit status. They don't pretend to be smarter than Marvel when it comes to this. Part of attraction of deal is the current decision-making framework for these characters, and they will rely on them to continue.
* 10:35 ET
Continued Answers: Notes that with licensing arrangements, they can continue to be attractive, but working within a one-company network removes a lot of friction and they see Marvel mirroring Pixar in this regard. "Nothing better than being one."
Question: Can you give a bit more specifically where you see the opportunities? Video games? Television? Also, what about the International side of this deal appeals?
Answer: Disney right now is running 20 hours a week of Marvel-related programming on one of its cable channels directed towards boy. Disney XD? They see this as an aid for boosting that channel internationally. That kind of reach gives them the ability to expose these characters all over the world, which Marvel could only do before in partnership with third parties. Programming serves watchers, but also serves Marvel.
On the videogame front, they like their licensing agreements -- while Disney is moving in a vertically integrated direction, they don't rule out a blend including licensed games. As these deals get near expiration, they can be re-evaluated.
* 10:40 ET
A little less than 50 percent of its licensing revenue comes from international; Disney is over 50 percent. So that's an opportunity over time.
Question: An obvious synergy area is distribution -- can you confirm self-distribution? How long would that take? Will Marvel's movies go 3-D like Disney's?
Answer: The 3-D is up to the movie producers -- again, Iron Man is cited. Regarding Marvel's current deal with Paramount -- Disney will respect that as the right thing to do and the right thing legally. Over time, it will probably be more attractive for Disney to be the sole distributor -- it reduces costs, and they'll be more aligned with Marvel even beyond the financial motive that Paramount has.
Question: Pixar and Marvel... cross-pollination?
Answer: John Lasseter met with Marvel executives fairly recently. They got pretty excited pretty fast -- they told them to slow down. There's definitely opportunity -- probably not co-branding, but talents and enthusiasms working together on all the different opportunities. Put a bunch of people like that in a room, and sparks will fly.
* 10:45 ET
Question: Bad Bug's Life/Spider-Man joke. Consumer products question. Do you think Disney's leverage with retail distributors will help Marvel-related products? Second question -- movies that aren't in production yet, which management teams will produce those films?
Answer: That kind of synergy is one of those things that people are excited about. On the studio front, they believe in their studio people but also think that Marvel knows their stuff. In their research, they're continuing to be impressed. Creative and business perspective. "Smartly, diligently, and carefully." If it ain't broke... good group of people.
Another person steps in: They don't have direct relationship in certain markets... Disney sure has that infrastructure in place. There's an opportunity to more broadly expose and develop these companies.
Question: Which companies come to mind?
Answer: They have relationships with some but not all of them -- they're at a lesser point than Disney in this regard.
Question: Share repurchase activity -- have you come out of the market and oh my god I have no idea what he's talking about. He asks to be walked through 2010. When do Sony, Fox and Paramount agreements retire?
* 10:50 ET
Answer: On amortization, generally speaking during an acquisition that will be spread out amongst the various efforts? As the conversations became more serious, they paused for some reason. On the current arrangements, they don't want to go into detail -- 1) the deal hasn't closed yet, 2) they expect to keep many deals alive past then, 3) paramount deal is five more pictures approximately.
Question: First, was there a competing bid? Second, will Marvel Films operate separately?
Answer: The deal came about because of mutual admiration. Bob Iger reached out to Ike Perlmutter a few months ago. They see each other as complimentary to what the other does. As to the second, they believe in the creative team and they don't see upsetting that apple cart.
Answer: They haven't looked at the real estate questions, but they don't anticipate moving the studio from Manhattan Beach.
Question: In Disney's fiscal 2010, they'll only have 1Q of Iron Man 2, and then they won't have a ton of profit from Thor and Captain America because of release dates.
Answer: They've counted on that.
Question: Are there benefits for Disney in the comic book marketplace?
Answer: We have a robust children's publishing business. They have a successful comic book business. They will look to broaden both companies' presence in publishing. There are possibilities there.
* 10:55 ET
Question: Praise for secrecy. Does it mark a shift away from Disney-branded deals (for Bob)? Second, there are differences from Pixar in terms of public valuation -- how do you figure the differences?
Answer (Bob): Focusing a lot on Disney because returns have been compelling vs. non-Disney branded business. But this has made them appreciate brands in general in increasingly competitive world marketplace. The Marvel brand and its characters are somewhat like the Disney brand and its characters. Not only is there growth for Marvel as Marvel, but Disney opportunities for Marvel -- the parks, the TV channels. The goal is not to rebrand Marvel as Marvel/Disney, but to grow it as Marvel.
Answer (Tom): Sometimes you can't avoid paying premium prices. They're in a strong position -- they didn't have to do this deal and neither did we. But it was beneficial. Premium company, premium assets = a full and fair price. They're confident that the benefits will create value for shareholders. Win/win.
Question: More value in relation to peak valuations or overall?
Answer: He wouldn't try to compare one deal to another like that. Pixar he thought was worth more as part of Disney and made Disney more valueable, so it will be with Marvel.
* 11:00 ET
Final Question: First, the film financing deal is collateralized by intellectual property -- how has that been impacted? Second, there's probably no company that Disney couldn't enhance -- why Marvel? What drove this particular deal? When did this become an imperative and what need does it fulfill.
Answer: It never became an imperative. We don't have any problematic/strategic holes. Nothing suggested a must-do. It's a great opportunity for both companies. A company we admire, we saw growing, that we were impressed with from a people perspective. The time is right and you move with alacrity so that's what we did. A continued desire to look for great stuff and great people and both old and new distribution forms. It's just awesome all around! Global growth is better served by bringing Marvel into the fold. Executive talent. Creative talent. Check.
Answer: As Bob mentioned, they'll respect the terms of the agreement. They won't answer questions about that deal's specifics. They reviewed it; it wasn't a big factor in their decision-making. That wasn't a concern for itself.
Thanks again, some odd legal language I don't understand, and then they all sing a Marvel Marching Society Song/Mickey Mouse Club theme mash-up. Okay, that part didn't happen.
*****
My Instant Analysis Of The Call And General Thoughts Around Noon ET
I thought there were a few interesting things here. Boy, Disney sure liked Iron Man. We now live in a world where the lingering echoes of Robert Downey's charm can drive billion-dollar entertainment deals.
More generally, it's clear that they see this as a marriage of a strong brand and pretty strong properties with licensing and platform opportunities, and I see it that way, too. Who wouldn't? I think given the compelling example that Disney folks used that Marvel content could be a boon to its boys-focused cable television network, both domestically and internationally, I'm not sure I believe them when they say that Marvel doesn't really fulfill a need within the larger Disney infrastructure for a certain kind of brand. Why not say it fills a boy need? I don't know. That just doesn't seem logical to me, although I can imagine Disney never admits needing anything, even a little bit.
The boy need thing is going to be the first shared point of analysis coming out of this thing, I bet.
It's hard not to think of Disney's attempts to resuscitate the muppets in the light of this deal, especially when they talk about how happy they are to be working with people that know their own brand and have done a good job of managing it. I get the sense that the muppet purchase did not come with an Iron Man-style recent success they could point to. It's also worth looking at how many areas Disney has explored with the muppets in terms of the reach they have that Marvel simply doesn't.
The publishing stuff is only a little ominous, although the general notion that Disney isn't going to second-guess Marvel where they have expertise would indicate that the comics side of things stands a good chance of being left alone -- except perhaps in terms of a wider platform for book distribution. Disney's big book arms moved to HarperCollins from Hachette in 2007 as I recall; Marvel is I believe currently working with Diamond in the book market and people make fun of Marvel's book program a lot, even though there are isolated mega-successes.
Okay, the more I think about it, that's the comics industry question: Diamond.
Apropos of nothing, but it's that kind of morning: doesn't Disney seem like a pretty good long-term partner in developing Thor? Is Generation X going to walk their grandchildren into Asgard past an animatronic Heimdall on a decent-looking Rainbow Bridge? A Warriors Three cartoon show on one of the cable networks? I know the first impulse is to say business as usual, because it's going to be business as usual, but one wonders if there aren't some properties that potentially fare better with Disney's wider reach and number of platforms.
That said, I totally gaped just now on the phone when asked to think of a Marvel property that's not in active development that seems like a perfect Disney property. I'm not sure that's important -- which Pixar property is a perfect Disney property? -- but you'd think one would come to mind. Millie the Model?
In a historical sense, I'm reminded of Marvel's many other corporate owners, the attempts to make a mini-Disney of Marvel in the early to middle 1990s without doing movies first which in part drove the company's overreach and bankruptcy, and the fact that every entertainment company of Marvel's generation looked up to Disney as the model, so it's sort of like hearing about an unlikely romance from your high school days being consummated via marriage.
John Jackson Miller has history on the mind as well, and even includes one of those Perelman quotes about being a mini-Disney.
Also, you can pretty much find this call for yourself through this post's first link, and I encourage you to do so. This was more about wrapping my own head around the deal, although I'm grateful for your company!
On Any Other Day This Leads: Kodansha To Let Tokyopop Licenses Lapse Official statement here. Brigid Alverson makes a good point that there's a perception that Tokyopop has turned the corner in terms of any recent problems, which makes the decision a bit more surprising. thanks, David
Matt Davies' EC Position Revived
Matt Davies, who made headlines a couple of weeks ago when he declared himself among those whose positions were eliminated during cost-cutting maneuvers for the Gannett paper the Journal News in White Plains, New York, will keep his job after all. According to published reports, the job will be shifted a bit to include some work for Gannett's Content One platform. The paper's publisher Mike Fisch told E&P that Davies will do the same amount of work and that his salary would come from a "blend of compensation," refusing to answer if this would chance the overall level of expected compensation.
Still, Davies sounds pleased and rightly. This is good news because as a recent Pulitzer winner, as one of the most respected cartoonists both under the Gannett umbrella, and as one of the highest profile cartoonists working in a non big-name newspaper, Davies' departure came across as a particularly ugly, depressing blow for the profession in harsh times. That there was no work for him through Content One -- a mechanism similar to the one through which David Horsey's position had been sustained when the Seattle Post-Intelligencer went on-line -- seemed additionally dire. This would seem a big, positive news story with which to start the Fall.
Marty Murphy, RIP
Marty Murphy, a popular fixture in west coast cartooning circles, a frequent contributor to Playboy, and a cartoonist whose style was used as the visual template for the television cartoon What 'Til Your Father Gets Home, passed away August 26 in his home. He held a number of jobs on various high-profile cartoon efforts of the 1960s through early 1990s in addition to his magazine work.
Not a lot of biographical information exists for Murphy, nor is there a lot of his work on-line. You can see what I think is page of a comic here, and a nice sketch here.
According to a message board posting from Scott Shaw!, a memorial service for the late cartoonist will be held tonight in Los Angeles, with a funeral mass on Tuesday.
Cross-Complaint Against Racism In Tintin Au Congo To Be Filed In French Court Le Parisien is among the French-language news services to note that Mbutu Mondondo is planning on a cross-complaint in French courts to his Belgium court complaint against the publisher Moulinsart for what he characterizes as insurmountable anti-Congolese racism of Herge's controversial Tintin au Congo. The article talks about the depictions in mostly ameliorative terms, talking about changes made to the text, Herge's own statements regarding the time in which his distressing depictions were drawn, and the notion that looking at a book from 1931 as if it's some sort of fresh or ongoing assault on racial identity, without at least some conception of other cultural factors whether or not this extends to forgiveness, is intellectually dishonest.
Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* the great cartoonist Eddie Campbell supplies a killer post on PS Magazine, with a side trip into cutaway imagery generally.
* the writer and critic Graeme McMillan is working his way through the modern X-Men comics and makes a good point here about the early Chris Claremont/John Byrne comics -- they established the standard formula for that series really, really quickly. One thing that I think helped in addition to the move to John Byrne as the artist collaborator is they got to jettison the space stuff for a while and focus on the other standard narrative arcs: X-Men at home, X-Men on the run, X-Men considered dead, X-Men over-matched, X-Men dealing with their own. The space opera elements were the weakest parts of the Claremont/Cockrum run -- just seeing Eric the Red depresses me 30 years later -- and were better off put in the corner for a while.
* not comics: the cartoonist Richard Thompson sums up how a lot of folks feel about Twitter. Killer background art, though.
* this is interesting: an interview with Leo McGovern, the comic book collector that was one of the people whose story was told in Josh Neufeld's AD.
* not comics: the writer Chris Allen asks if a) Stan Lee and Jack Kirby would have appreciated a joke about "The Final Solution," and b) if the average Marvel Comics editor would even get the reference.
* finally, the cartoonist Evan Dorkin has received word that the Plastic Man substitute strip he and Stephen DeStefano worked on for Wednesday Comicswill not be needed after all. That's an impressive reflection on Wednesday Comics, come to think of it.
CR Sunday Feature: Let's Refine Last Week's Best Of 2000s Comics List
I have a number of hopes with the list I'm creating of potentially great comics of the 2000s. The first is that people will find the list useful in finding new comics for themselves -- I've linked up the on-line comics list for your perusing and discovery pleasure. The second is to get people thinking about these great comics and many others. A third is that people will find this list useful as a starting point if they get roped into a best-of-decade list-making exercise at some point. I certainly don't see this as a nominees list, or a list from which everyone's choices of a top 10 or top 100 must come. I'm trying to refine the list and add too it -- for instance, as many great comics as have been suggested no one, no one including me managed to remember Get Your War On, a potential top five iconic strip of this decade, for sure. I just added Copper. I have nothing by Jason Shiga.
So while I think we're out of laundry list territory, I hope you might go over what follows and start to hold it accountable, particularly for any three or four comics/strips you think need to be there and on which we've totally gaped so far. The worse you make me feel with your e-mail, the better service you'll be providing the list.
(And thank you to everyone that helped out this week -- it was difficult at times when the formatting was so different than that which I'm attempting here, so I apologize if I somehow dropped one or more of your suggestions, but it was all appreciated.)
I'm going to be working on this list off and on all day, refining it and adding in certain books when I see a gap, gardening the crap out of this list and I hope if you're so inclined if you might take a few minutes and join me.
*****
Anthologies
* Abstract Comics, Fantagraphics, (2009)
* Act-i-Vate, on-line magazine, LiveJournal.com
* An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories, series, Edited by Ivan Brunetti, Yale University Press (2008)
* Arf, series, Edited by Craig Yoe, Fantagraphics
* Art Out Of Time, Edited By Dan Nadel, Harry N. Abrams (2006)
* Best American Comics, series, various editors, Houghton Mifflin
* Bizarro Comics, DC (2003)
* Bizarro World, DC (2006)
* Book of Boy Trouble, series, Edited by Robert Kirby and David Kelly, Green Candy Press
* Canicola, series, Canicola
* Daily Ink, King Features Syndicate
* Dirty Stories, series, Edited by Eric Reynolds. Fantagraphics
* Drawn & Quarterly Showcase, series, Drawn and Quarterly
* Drawn & Quarterly, series, Edited by Chris Oliveros, Drawn & Quarterly
* Expo, series, Small Press Expo
* Flight, series, Edited By Kazu Kibuishi, Image/Ballantine
* Hotwire Comics, series, Edited by Glenn Head, Fantagraphics
* Japan as Viewed by 17 Creators, Fanfare/Ponent Mon (2006)
* Kramers Ergot, series, Edited by Sammy Harkham, Self-Published/Buenaventura Press
* Little Lit, series, Edited by Art Spiegelman and Francois Mouly, Various Publishers
* McSweeney's Quarterly Concern Vol. 13, Edited by Chris Ware, McSweeney's
* Meathaus, series, Meathaus
* Mineshaft, series, Edited by Everett Rand and Gioia Palmieri, Mineshaft
* Modern Tales, on-line magazine, Joey Manley
* MOME, series, Edited by Gary Groth and Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics
* Nickelodeon Magazine, series, Edited By Christopher Duffy, Nickelodeon
* NON, series, Edited by Jordan Crane
* Orchid, Sparkplug (2002)
* Paper Rodeo, series
* Project: Romantic, Edited by Chris Pitzer, AdHouse (2006)
* Project: Superior, Edited by Chris Pitzer, AdHouse (2005)
* Rosetta, series, Alternative Comics
* Scheherazade: Stories of Love, Treachery, Mothers, and Monsters, Edited By Megan Kelso, Soft Skull Press (2005)
* Secret Comics Japan: Underground Comics Now, Chikao Shiratori, Viz (2000)
* Serializer, on-line magazine, Joey Manley
* Shojo Beat Magazine, magazine, Viz
* Shonen Jump, magazine, Viz
* Sleazy Slice, Edited by Robin Bougie, Self Published
* The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, Black Dog (2006)
* The Funny Pages, magazine, New York Times Sunday Magazine, New York Times
* The Toon Treasury of Classic Children's Comics, Edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly, Abrams (2009)
* Wednesday Comics, DC (2009)
*****
Archival Editions and Re-Releases
* Absolute Watchmen, Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons, DC (2005)
* Alex, Mark Kalesniko, Fantagraphics
* Amy and Jordan, Mark Beyer, Pantheon (2004)
* A Small Killing, Alan Moore, Oscar Zarate, Avatar Press (2003)
* B. Krigstein Comics, edited by Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics (2004)
* Black Kiss, Howard Chaykin, Fantagraphics/Eros Comics (2002)
* Blazing Combat, Archie Goodwin, Fantagraphics (2009)
* Bloody Streets Of Paris, Jacques Tardi, ibooks
* Bone, series, Jeff Smith, Steve Hamaker, Scholastic
* Boody!, Boody Rogers, Fantagraphics (2009)
* Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Kim Deitch, Pantheon (2002)
* Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*!, Art Spiegelman
* Chaland Anthology, series, Yves Chaland, Humanoids
* Charley's War, series, Pat Mills, Joe Colquhoun, Titan
* Classic Dan Dare, series, Frank Hampson, et al, Titan
* Clean Cartoonists' Dirty Drawings Craig Yoe, Last Gasp (2007)
* Comanche Moon, Jack Jackson, Reed Press (2003)
* Complete Crumb, series, R Crumb, Fantagraphics
* Complete Dennis The Menace, series, Hank Ketcham, Fantagraphics
* Complete Dick Tracy, series, Chester Gould, IDW
* Complete Little Orphan Annie, series, Harold Gray, IDW
* Complete Peanuts, series, Charles Schulz, Fantagraphics
* Concrete, series, Paul Chadwick, Dark Horse
* DC's Greatest Imaginary Stories, Various, DC (2005)
* Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years, series, Gaylord DuBois, Jesse Marsh, Dark Horse
* Explainers, Jules Feiffer, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Fred the Clown, Roger Langridge, Fantagraphics (2004)
* Heartburst And Other Pleasures, Rick Veitch, King Hell Press (2008)
* Heavy Liquid, Paul Pope, DC (2008)
* Herbie Archives, series, Ogden Whitney, Shane O'Shea, Dark Horse
* Humbug, Harvey Kurtzman, et al, Fantagraphics (2009)
* Innocence and Seduction, Dan DeCarlo, Fantagraphics (2006)
* Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, series, Jack Kirby, et al, DC
* Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files, series, John Wanger, et al, Rebellion
* Krazy and Ignatz, series, George Herriman, Fantagraphics
* Krazy Kat Dailies, series, George Herriman Pacific Comics Club
* Krazy & Ignatz Dailies Vol 1 (1918-1919), Stinging Monkey Books
* Little Lulu, series, John Stanley, Irving Tripp, Dark Horse
* MAD Archives, series, The Usual Gang of Idiots, DC
* Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D, series, Russ Manning, et al, Dark Horse
* Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics, Paul Gravett, Running Press (2008)
* Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era Heroes, series, Bill Everett, et al, Marvel
* Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon, series, Milton Caniff, Checker Book Publishing Group
* Moomin, series, Tove Jansson, Drawn & Quarterly
* Out Our Way Sampler, J.R. Williams, Algrove (2005)
* Passionella, Jules Feiffer, Fantagraphics (2006)
* Plastic Man Archives, series, Jack Cole, DC
* Playboy's Little Annie Fannie, series, Harvey Kurtzman, Will Elder, Dark Horse
* Popeye, series, EC Segar, Fantagraphics
* Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles, Edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW (2008)
* Silver Star, Jack Kirby, Image (2007)
* Slaine, series, Pat Mills, Mick McMahon, et al, Rebellion
* Son Of The Gun, series, Alexandro Jodorowsky, et al, Humanoids
* Splendid Sundays, series, Winsor McCay, Sunday Press
* Strontium Dog: Search/Destroy Agency Files, series, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, et al, Rebellion
* Sundays With Walt & Skeezix, Frank King, Sunday Press (2007)
* Supermen, Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics (2009)
* The Book Of Leviathan, Peter Blegvad, Overlook Press (2001)
* The Classic Pin-Up Art Of Jack Cole, Alex Chun, Fantagraphics (2009)
* The Collected Doug Wright, Doug Wright, Drawn & Quarterly (2009)
* The Comics Journal, magazine, Edited By Gary Groth
* The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson, Andrews McMeel (2005)
* The Complete Dick Tracy, series, Chester Gould, IDW
* The Complete Dream Of The Rarebit Fiend, Winsor McCay, Ulrich Merkyl (2007)
* The Complete Far Side: 1980-1994, Gary Larson, Andrews McMeel (2003)
* The Complete Future Shocks, Alan Moore, Brendan McCarthy, et al, Rebellion (2006)
* The Complete Jack Survives, Jerry Moriarty, Buenaventura Press (2009)
* The Completely MAD Don Martin, Don Martin, Running Press (2007)
* The Complete Nemesis The Warlock, series Pat Mills, Kevin O'Neill, et al Rebellion
* The Complete Terry and the Pirates, series, Milton Caniff, IDW
* The Monster of Frankenstein, Dick Briefer, Idea Men (2006)
* The New Adventures of Jesus: The Second Coming, Frank Stack, Fantagraphics (2006)
* The Nikopol Trilogy, Enki Bilal, Humanoids (2004)
* The Spirit Archives, series, Will Eisner, DC
* Tijuana Bibles, Bob Adelman, Erotic Print Society (2006)
* Walt & Skeezix, series, Frank King, Drawn & Quarterly
* Where Demented Wented, Rory Hayes, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Will Elder: Mad Playboy Of Art, Gary Groth & Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics (2003)
* Willie & Joe: The WWII Years, Bill Mauldin, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Zot! The Complete Black and White Collection: 1987-1991, Scott McCloud, HarperCollins (2008)
* The New Love and Rockets Books, massive volumes, Los Bros Hernandez, Fantagraphics
* The New Love and Rockets Books, digest volumes, Los Bros Hernandez, Fantagraphics
*****
Original Long-Form Comics/Translated/Definitive Collection
* 365 Days, Julie Doucet, Drawn and Quarterly (2007)
* A Disease of Language, Alan Moore, Eddie Cambell, Knockabout/Palmano Bennett (2008)
* A Land of Make Believe, Josh Simmons, self-published
* A Treasury of Victorian Murder, series, Rick Geary, NBM
* A.L.I.E.E.N., Lewis Trondheim, First Second (2006)
* Abandoned Cars, Tim Lane, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Abraxas And The Earthman, Rick Veitch, King Hell Press (2006)
* Against Pain, Ron Rege, Drawn and Quarterly (2008)
* Alan's War, Emmanuel Guibert, First Second (2008)
* Alec: The Years Have Pants, Eddie Campbell, Top Shelf (2009)
* Alias the Cat, Kim Deitch, Pantheon (2007)
* Alice in Sunderland, Bryan Talbot, Dark Horse (2007)
* American Born Chinese, Gene Yang, First Second (2008)
* Art d'Ecco, Roger Langridge, Fantagraphics (2000)
* Asterios Polyp, David Mazzucchelli, Pantheon (2009)
* Asthma, John Hankiewicz, Sparkplug (2007)
* Batman Year 100, Paul Pope, DC (2006)
* Beauty Supply District, Ben Katchor, Pantheon (2000)
* Black Hole, Charles Burns, Pantheon (2005)
* Blankets, Craig Thompson, Top Shelf (2003)
* Bluefuzz the Hero, Jesse Reklaw (2007)
* Blue Pills Frederik Peeters, Houghton Mifflin (2008)
* Bottomless Belly Button, Dash Shaw, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Box Office Poison, Alex Robinson, Top Shelf (2001)
* Breakdowns, Art Spiegelman, Pantheon (2008)
* Brodo di Niente, Andrea Bruno, Canicola (2007)
* Burma Chronicles, Guy Deslisle, Drawn & Quarterly (2008)
* Cairo G. Willow Wilson, MK Perker, DC (2008)
* Can't Get No, Rick Veitch, DC (2006)
* Capacity, Theo Ellsworth, Secret Acres (2008)
* Carnet de Voyage, Craig Thompson, Top Shelf (2004)
* Cavalcade of Boys, Tim Fish, (2006)
* Cecil and Jordan in New York, Gabrielle Bell, Drawn and Quarterly (2009)
* Chance In Hell, Gilbert Hernandez, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Chloe, Hans Rickheit, self-published, (2002)
* Clumsy, Jeffrey Brown, Top Shelf (2003)
* Cockbone, Josh Simmons, self-published
* Cola Madnes, Gary Panter, Funny Garbage (2001)
* Curses, Kevin Huizenga, Drawn & Quarterly (2006)
* David Boring, Dan Clowes, Pantheon (2002)
* Deogratias, JP Stassen, First Second (2006)
* Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man, John Porcellino, La Mano (2005)
* Doctor Thirteen: Architecture and Mortality, Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, DC (2007)
* Dogs and Water, Anders Nilsen, Drawn and Quarterly (2007)
* Domin-8 Me! , Sessyu Takemura, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Don't Go Where I Can't Follow, Anders Nilsen, Drawn and Quarterly (2007)
* Earthboy Jacobus, Doug Tennapel
* Elvis Road, Xavier Robel, Helge Reumann, Buenaventura Press (2007)
* Enemy Ace, Garth Ennis, DC (2003)
* Epileptic, David B., Pantheon (2006)
* Exit Wounds Rutu Modan, Drawn & Quarterly (2007)
* Fancy Froglin's Sexy Forest, James Kochalka, Alternative Comics (2003)
* Fluffy, Simone Lia, Jonathan Cape
* Fox Bunny Funny, Andy Hartzell, Top Shelf (2007)
* Fun Home, Alison Bechdel, Houghton Mifflin (2006)
* Garage Band, Gipi, First Second (2007)
* Get a Life, Philippe Dupuy, Charles Berberian, Drawn & Quarterly
* Girl Stories, Lauren Weinstein, Henry Holt (2006)
* Gongwanadon, Thomas Herpich, Alternative (2004)
* Good-Bye, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2008)
* Gray Horses, Hope Larson, Oni Press (2006)
* Gus, Christophe Blain, First Second (2008)
* Hamlet, Neil Babra, Sparknotes (2002)
* Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor Volume Two, Harlan Ellison, et al, Dark Horse (2007)
* Hey, Wait... , Jason, Fantagraphics (2001)
* House, Josh Simmons, Fantagraphics (2007)
* How To Be Everywhere, Warren Craghead (2007)
* Hunter & Painter, Tom Gauld, Buenaventura (2007)
* I Die at Midnight, Kyle Baker, DC (2000)
* I Killed Adolf Hitler, Jason, Fantagraphics (2007)
* I Live Here, Various, Pantheon (2008)
* I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets, Fletcher Hanks, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Ice Haven, Dan Clowes, Pantheon (2005)
* Incognegro, Mat Johnson, Warren Pleece, DC (2008)
* In The Shadow Of No Towers, Art Spiegelman, Viking (2004)
* Inkweed, Chris Wright, Sparkplug (2008)
* James Sturm's America, James Sturm (2007)
* Jessica Farm, Josh Simmons, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Jimmy Corrigan, Chris Ware, Pantheon (2000)
* Kampung Boy, Lat, First Second (2006)
* King-Cat Classix, John Porcellino, Drawn and Quarterly (2007)
* Klezmer, Joann Sfar, First Second (2006)
* Laika, Nick Abadzis, First Second (2007)
* Late Bloomer, Carol Tyler, Fantagraphics (2005)
* Life Sucks Jessica Abel, et al First Second (2008)
* LOEG: The Black Dossier, Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill, DC (2007)
* Look Out!! Monsters, Geoff Grogan, self-published (2009)
* Lost at Sea, Brian Lee O'Malley, Oni Press (2006)
* Lost Girls, Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie, Top Shelf (2006)
* Maggots, Brian Chippendale, HWB (2007)
* Mail Order Bride, Mark Kalesniko, Fantagraphics
* Mesmo Delivery, Rafael Grampa, AdHouse
* Mister O, Lewis Trondheim, NBM (2004)
* Mon Fiston, Oliver Schrauwen, Bries (2006)
* Mother Come Home, Paul Hornschemeier (2009)
* Multiforce, Mat Brinkman, PictureBox (2009)
* Murder Mysteries, Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell, Dark Horse (2002)
* Musical Legends, Justin Green, Last Gasp (2004)
* Nat Turner, Kyle Baker, Abrams (2008)
* nEuROTIC, John Cuneo, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Night Fisher, R. Kikuo Johnson, Fantagraphics
* Ninja, Brian Chippendale, PictureBox (2006)
* Nocturnal Conspiracies, David B., NBM (2008)
* Notes On A War Story, Gipi, First Second (2007)
* Odds & Ends, R Crumb, Bloomsbury Publishing
* One Hundred Demons, Lynda Barry, Sasquatch (2005)
* Paper Rad BJ and Da Dogs, Ben Jones/Paper Rad, PictureBox
* Parker: The Hunter, Darwyn Cooke, IDW (2009)
* Percy Gloom, Cathy Malkasian, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Pride of Baghdad, Brian K. Vaughan, Niko Henrichon, DC (2008)
* Princes of Time, Jon Vermilyea, Self-Published (2007)
* Punk Rock and Trailer Parks, Derf, SLG (2008)
* Pyongyang, Guy Delisle, Drawn and Quarterly (2007)
* Quimby the Mouse, Chris Ware, Jonathan Cape (2003)
* RabbitHead, Rebecca Dart, Alternative (2004)
* Rapunzel's Revenge Shannon Hale, Bloomsbury (2008)
* Red Eye, Black Eye, K. Thor Jensen (2007)
* Safe Area Gorazde, Joe Sacco, Fantagraphics (2000)
* Salamander Dream, Hope Larson, AdHouse (2005)
* Same Difference and Other Stories, Derek Kirk Kim, Top Shelf (2004)
* Scurvy Dogs, Andrew Boyd, AiT/Planet Lar (2005)
* Shadowland, Kim Deitch, Fantagraphics (2006)
* Shortcomings, Adrian Tomine, Drawn & Quarterly (2007)
* Shrimpy and Paul and Friends, Marc Bell, HWB (2003)
* Six Hundred Seventy-Six Apparitions of Killoffer, Killoffer, Typocrat (2005)
* Skibber Bee Bye, Ron Rege Jr., Highwater/Drawn & Quarterly (2006)
* Skim, Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki, Groundwood Books (2008)
* Sloth Gilbert Hernandez, DC (2006)
* Smoke, Alex DeCampi, Igor Kordey, IDW (2005)
* Storeyville, Frank Santoro (2007)
* Summer Blonde, Adrian Tomine, Drawn and Quarterly (2003)
* Superheroes & Seamonsters, Scott Mills, SLG (2005)
* Super Spy, Matt Kindt, Top Shelf (2007)
* Swallow Me Whole, Nate Powell, Top Shelf (2008)
* Tamara Drewe, Posy Simmonds (2007)
* Temporary, Damon Hurd, Origin Comics (2005)
* Teratoid Heights, Mat Brinkman, HWB (2003)
* The ACME Novelty Library, Chris Ware, Pantheon (2005)
* The Amazing Remarkable Mr Leotard, Eddie Campbell, First Second (2008)
* The Arrival, Shaun Tan, Arthur A. Levine Books (2007)
* The Black Diamond Detective Agency, Eddie Campbell, First Second (2007)
* The Blackest Gnome, Malcy Duff, Missing Twin Publishing (2007
* The Blot, Tom Neely, I Will Destroy You Comics (2007)
* The Complete Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi, Pantheon (2007)
* The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Phoebe Gloeckner, Frog Press (2002)
* The Fate of the Artist, Eddie Campbell, First Second (20060
* The Fixer, Joe Sacco, Drawn & Quarterly (2003)
* The Frank Book, Jim Woodring, Fantagraphics (2003)
* The Freebooters, Barry Windsor Smith, Fantagraphics
* The Goddess of War, Lauren Weinstein, PictureBox (2008)
* The Invention Of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick, Scholastic (2007)
* The Last Lonely Saturday, Jordan Crane, Red Ink/Fantagraphics (2006)
* The Originals, Dave Gibbons, DC (2004)
* The Plot, Will Eisner, WW Norton (2006)
* The Red Snake, Hideshi Hino, DHP (2004)
* The Salon, Nick Bertozzi, St. Martin's (2007)
* The Ticking, Renee French, Top Shelf (2006)
* The Tourist, Brian Wood, Toby Cypress, Image (2006)
* The Wonder: Portraits of a Remembered City, Tony Fitzpatrick, Last Gasp (2008)
* Things Just Get Away from You, Walt Holcombe, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Thoreau at Walden, John Porcellino, Hyperion (2008)
* Three Shadows, Cyril Pedrosa, First Second (2008)
* Tits, Ass & Real Estate, Eve Gilbert, Fantagraphics (2003)
* Too Cool to Be Forgotten, Alex Robinson, Top Shelf (2008)
* Town Boy, Lat, First Second (2007)
* Travel, Yuichi Yokohoma, PictureBox (2008)
* Tricked, Alex Robinson, Top Shelf (2005)
* Uncle Gabby, Tony Millionaire, Dark Horse (2004)
* Unlikely, Jeffrey Brown, Top Shelf (2003)
* Utility Sketchbook, Keith McCulloch, PictureBox (2007)
* Vampire Loves, Joann Sfar, First Second (2006)
* We All Die Alone, Mark Newgarden (2006)
* West Coast Blues, Jacques Tardi, Fantagraphics (2009)
* What It Is, Lynda Barry, Drawn & Quarterly (2008)
* Why Are You Doing This? , Jason, Fantagraphics
* Will and Abe's Guide to the Universe, Matt Groening (2007)
* Wimbledon Green, Seth, Drawn & Quarterly (2005)
* Yesterday's Tomorrow's, Rian Hughes, Knockabout (2008)
* Young Gods and Friends, Barry Windsor Smith, Fantagraphics
* You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!, Fletcher Hanks, Fantagraphics (2009)
* You'll Never Know, Carol Tyler, Fantagraphics (2009)
*****
Comic Book Series
* 100 Bullets, Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, DC
* 100%, Paul Pope, DC
* 1-800-MICE, Matthew Thurber, PictureBox
* 52 Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, JG Jones et al, DC
* ACME Novelty Datebook, Chris Ware, Drawn and Quarterly
* ACME Novelty Library, Chris Ware, Fantagraphics/Self-Published
* Action Comics, Geoff Johns et al, DC
* Age of Bronze, Eric Shanower, Image
* Alias, Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos, Marvel
* All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, Frank Miller, Jim Lee, DC
* All-Star Superman, Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, DC
* Amulet Kazu Kibuishi, Scholastic
* Apocalypse Nerd, Peter Bagge, Dark Horse
* Army@Love, Rick Veitch, DC
* Astonishing X-Men, Joss Whedon, John Cassaday, Marvel
* Automatic Kafka, Joe Casey, Ashley Wood, DC
* Aya, Clement Oubrerie, Marguerite Abouet, Drawn and Quarterly
* Babymouse, Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm, Random House
* Blacksad, Juan Dias, Juanjo Guarnido, et al, Dargaud
* B.P.R.D. , Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Guy Davis, Dark Horse
* BPRD: 1946, Josh Dysart, Paul Azaceta, Dark Horse
* Berlin, Jason Lutes, Drawn & Quarterly
* Big Questions, Anders Nilsen, Drawn & Quarterly
* Boy's Club, Matt Furie, Buenaventura
* Captain America, Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Mike Perkins et al, Marvel
* Casanova, Matt Faction, Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon, Image
* Castle Waiting, Linda Medley, Fantagraphics
* Cerebus, Dave Sim, Gerhard, Aardvark-Vanaheim
* Cold Heat, Ben Jones, Frank Santoro, PictureBox
* Conan, Kurt Busiek et al, Dark Horse
* Concrete: The Human Dilemma, Paul Chadwick, Dark Horse
* Crecy, Warren Ellis, Raulo Caceres, Avatar Press
* Criminal, Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, Marvel/Icon
* Cryptic Wit, Gerald Jablonski, Self-Published
* Daredevil, Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, Marvel
* Delphine, Richard Sala, Fantagraphics/Coconino
* Demo, Brian Wood, Becky Cloonan, AiT/Planet Lar
* DMZ, Brian Wood, Ricardo Burchielli, et al, DC
* Dork, Evan Dorkin, SLG
* Dungeon, Lewis Trondheim, Joann Sfar, et al, NBM
* Eightball, series, Daniel Clowes, Fantagraphics
* Empowered, Adam Warren, Dark Horse
* Essex County, Jeff Lemire, Top Shelf
* Ex Machina, Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, DC
* Fables, Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, et al., DC
* Fell, Warren Ellis, Ben Templesmith, Image
* Final Crisis, Grant Morrison, J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, Doug Mahnke et al, DC
* Finder, Carla Speed McNeil, Lightspeed Press
* Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville, Ted Stearn, Fantagraphics
* Ganges, Kevin Huizenga, Fantagraphics/Coconino
* Global Frequency, Warren Ellis, et al, DC
* Godland, Joe Casey, Tom Scioli, Image
* Gotham Central Greg Rucka et al, DC
* Green Lantern, Geoff Johns et al, DC
* Gyakushu, Dan Hipp, Tokyopop
* Hawaiian Dick, B. Clay Moore, et al, Image
* Hellblazer, Various, DC
* Hellboy/BPRD, Mike Mignola et al, Dark Horse
* HERO, Will Pfeifer, DC
* Herobear and the Kid, Mike Kunkel, Astonish Comics
* Human Target, Peter Milligan, et al, DC
* Immortal Iron Fist, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, David Aja, Marvel
* Injury, Ted May, Buenaventura Press
* Invincible, Robert Kirkman et al, Image
* Isaac the Pirate, Christophe Blain, NBM
* Jimbo, book series, Gary Panter, Fantagraphics
* Jonah Hex, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti et al, DC
* Journey, Bill Messner-Loebs, IDW
* Kabuki, David Mack, Image/Icon
* King City, Brandon Graham, Tokyopop/Image
* King-Cat Comics and Stories, John Porcellino, Spit and a Half
* Leviathan, Ian Edginton, D'isreli, 2000 AD
* Little Nothings, Lewis Trondheim, NBM
* Livewires, Adam Warren, Rick Mays, Marvel
* Local, Brian Wood, Ryan Kelly, Oni
* Lone Wolf & Cub, Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima, Dark Horse
* Losers, Andy Diggle, Jock, DC
* Louis Riel, Chester Brown, Drawn & Quarterly
* Love & Rockets Vol. 2, Los Bros Hernandez, Fantagraphics
* Love & Rockets Vol. 3 Los Bros Hernandez, Fantagraphics
* Madman Atomic Comics, Mike Allred, Image
* Meat Cake, Dame Darcy, Fantagraphics
* Metabarons. Alexandro Jodorowsky, Juan Gimenez, Humanoids
* Midnight Nation, J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank, Top Cow
* Mourning Star, Kaz Strzepek, Bodega
* My Faith In Frankie, Mike Carey, Sonny Liew, et al, DC
* Mystic Funnies, R. Crumb, Fantagraphics
* New Frontier, Darwyn Cooke, DC
* New Tales of Old Palomar, Gilbert Hernandez , Fantagraphics/Coconino
* New X-Men, Grant Morrsion, Frank Quitely, et al, Marvel
* Nextwave Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen, Marvel
* Northlanders, Brian Wood, Davide Gianfelice, et al., DC
* Omega: The Unknown, Jonathan Lethem, Karl Rusnak, Farel Dalrymple, Paul Hornschemeier, Gary Panter, Marvel
* Ordinary Victories, Manu Larcenet, NBM
* Or Else, Kevin Huizenga, Drawn & Quarterly
* Owly, Andy Runyon, Top Shelf
* Palooka-Ville, Seth, Drawn & Quarterly
* Paris, Andi Watson, Simon Gane, SLG
* Paul, Michel Rabagliati, Drawn and Quarterly
* Peepshow, Joe Matt, D&Q
* Phonogram, Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, et al, Image
* Planetary, Warren Ellis, John Cassaday, DC
* Plastic Man, Kyle Baker, DC
* Pogostick, Al Columbia, Ethan Persoff, Fantagraphics
* Polly and the Pirates, Ted Naifeh, Oni
* Powers, Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Avon Oeming, Image/Icon/Marvel
* Powr Mastrs, C.F., PictureBox
* Promethea, Alan Moore, J.H. Williams III, DC
* Punisher Garth Ennis, et al, Marvel
* Queen & Country, Greg Rucka, et al, Oni
* Rainbow Orchid, Garen Ewing, BAM! Magazine
* Rapunzel's Revenge, Shannon Hale, Bloomsbury USA
* RASL, Jeff Smith, Cartoon Books
* Runaways, Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona, Marvel
* Reich, Elijah Brubaker, Sparkplug
* Sammy the Mouse, Zak Sally, Fantagraphics
* Sandman: Dream Hunters, Neil Gaiman, et al, DC
* Scalped, Jason Aaron, RM Guera, DC
* Scarlet Traces, Ian Edginton, D'Israeli, Judge Dredd Magazine/Dark Horse
* Scarlet Traces: The Great Game, Ian Edginton, D'Israeli, Dark Horse
* Schizo #4, Ivan Brunetti, Fantagraphics
* Scott Pilgrim, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Oni Press
* Seaguy: Slaves Of Mickey Eye, Grant Morrison, Cameron Stewart, DC
* Seaguy, Grant Morrison, Cameron Stewart, DC
* Seven Soldiers of Victory, Grant Morrison, et al, DC
* Shaolin Cowboy, Geoff Darrow, Dark Horse
* Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil, Jeff Smith, DC
* Silverfish, David Lapham, DC
* Skyscrapers of the Midwest, Josh Cotter, AdHouse
* Sleeper, Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, DC
* Smax, Alan Moore, Zander Cannon, DC
* Sock Monkey, Tony Millionaire, Dark Horse
* Solo, various, DC
* Speak Of The Devil, Gilbert Hernandez, Dark Horse
* Spider-Girl, Tom DeFalco, et al, Marvel
* Street Angel, Jim Rugg, Brian Maruca, SLG
* Stuff of Dreams, Kim Deitch, Fantagraphics
* Superman: Red Son, Mark Millar et al, DC
* Superman: Secret Identity, Kurt Busiek et al, DC
* Swarm, Patrick Conlon, NBM/Eurotica
* Tales Designed To Thrizzle, Michael Kupperman, Fantagraphics
* Teenagers From Mars, Rick Spears, Gigantic Graphic Novels
* The Abandoned, Ross Campbell, Tokyopop
* The Amazing Joy Buzzards, Mark Andrew Smith, Dan Hipp, Image
* The Amazing Spider-Girl, Tom DeFalco, et al, Marvel
* The Boys, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, DC/Dynamite Entertainment
* The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Frank Miller, Lynn Varley, DC
* The End, Anders Nilsen, Fantagraphics/Coconino Press
* The Fairer Sex, John Ira Thomas, Jeremy Smith, Candle Light Press
* The Filth, Grant Morrison, Chris Weston, DC
* The Goon, Eric Powell, Dark Horse
* The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill, DC/Top Shelf
* The Middleman, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Les McClaine, Viper
* The Milkmen Murders, Joe Casey, et al, Dark Horse
* The Nimrod, Lewis Trondheim, Fantagraphics
* The P. Craig Russell Library Of Opera Adaptations, P. Craig Russell, NBM
* The Pulse, Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos, Marvel
* The Rabbi's Cat, Joann Sfar, Pantheon
* The Spirit, Darwyn Cooke, J. Bone, DC
* The Umbrella Academy, Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba, Dark Horse
* The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, et al, Image
* The Winter Men Brett Lewis, John Paul Leon , Dave Stewart
* Times of Botchan, Natsuo Sekikawa, Jiro Taniguchi, Fanfare/Ponent Mon
* Top 10, Alan Moore, Gene Ha, Zander Cannon, et al, DC
* Trains are Mint, Oliver East, Self-Published
* True Story Swear To God, Tom Beland, Image
* U.S. War Machine, Chuck Austen, Marvel
* Ultimate Spider-Man, Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, Stuart Immonen, Marvel Comics
* Unstable Molecules, James Sturm, Guy Davis, Marvel
* Uptight, Jordan Crane, Fantagraphics
* Usagi Yojimbo, Stan Sakai, Dark Horse
* Vimanamarama, Grant Morrison, Phillip Bond, DC
* Wasteland, Antony Johnston, Christopher Mitten, Oni
* We3, Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, DC
* Weasel, Dave Cooper, Fantagraphics
* Wet Moon, Ross Campbell, Oni
* WildCATS 3.0, Joe Casey, DC
* Wish You Were Here, Gipi, Fantagraphics/Coconino
* Worn Tuff Elbow, Marc Bell, Fantagraphics
* X-Force/X-Statix, Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Marvel
* Y: The Last Man, Brian K. Vaughan/Pia Guerra et al, Vertigo
* Young Avengers, Allen Heinberg & Jim Cheung, Marvel
* Young Liars, David Lapham, DC
* The Seven Soliders Omni-Series, Grant Morrison and a Cast Of Dozens, DC
*****
Manga (Translated)
* 20th Century Boys, series, Naoki Urasawa, Viz
* A Drifting Life, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2009)
* Abandon the Old in Tokyo, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2006)
* Apocalypse Meow, series, Motofumi Kobayashi, ADV Manga
* Apollo's Song, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical (2007)
* Azumanga Daioh, omnibus edition, Kiyohiko Azuma, ADV (2007)
* Black Jack, series, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
* Bleach, series, Tite Kubo
* Blue Spring, series, Taiyo Matsumoto
* Buddha, series, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
* Chikyu Misaki, series, Yuji Iwahara, CMX
* Children of the Sea, series, Daisuke Igarashi, VIZ
* Clover, series, CLAMP, Tokyopop/Dark Horse
* Cromartie High School, series, Eiji Nonaka, ADV
* Death Note, series, Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata, Viz
* Disappearance Diary, Hideo Azuma, Fanfare/Ponent Mon (2008)
* Dororo, series, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
* Dragon Head, series, Minetaro Mochizuki, Tokyopop
* Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President, series, Kaiji Kawaguchi, VIZ
* Emma, series, Kaoru Mori, CMX
* Flower of Life, series, Fumi Yoshinaga, DMP
* Fruits Basket, series, Natsuki Takaya, Tokyopop
* Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa
* Future Lovers, Saika Kunieda, Deux
* Genshiken, Kio Shimoku, Del Rey
* Gon, series, Masashi Tanaka, CMX
* Good-Bye, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2008)
* Gyo, series, Junji Ito, Viz
* Honey and Clover, series, Chika Umino, Viz
* Kekkaishi, series, Yellow Tenabe, Viz
* Lone Wolf & Cub, Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima, Dark Horse
* Love Roma, Minoru Toyoda, Del Rey
* Midara, Yumisuke Kotoyoshi, Icarus Publishing
* Monokuro Kinderbook, series, Kan Takahama, Fanfare/Ponent Mon
* Monster Men Bureiko Lullaby, Takashi Nemoto, PictureBox (2008)
* Monster, Naoki Urasawa, Viz
* Mushishi, Yuki Urushibara, Del Rey
* MW, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical (2007)
* NANA, series, Ai Yazawa, Viz
* Naruto, series, Masashi Kishimoto, Viz
* Ode To Kirihito, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical (2006)
* Ooku: The Inner Chambers, series, Fumi Yoshinaga, Viz
* Paradise Kiss, Ai Yazawa, Tokyopop
* Parasyte, Hitoshi Iwaaki, Del Rey
* Path of the Assassin, series, Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima, Dark Horse
* Phoenix, series, Osamu Tezuka, Viz
* Planetes, series, Makoto Yukimura, Tokyopop
* Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, series, Naoki Urasawa, Viz
* Real, series, Takehiko Inoue, VIZ
* Red-Colored Elegy, Seiichi Hayashi, Drawn and Quarterly (2008)
* Sand Chronicles, series, Hinako Ashihara, Viz
* Scarlet Desire, series, Tohru Nishimaki, Icarus Publishing
* "Screw Style," Yoshiharu Tsuge, The Comics Journal #250, Fantagraphics (2003)
* Sexy Voice and Robo, series, Ion Kouda, VIZ
* Slam Dunk, series, Viz, Takehiko Inoue
* Slave Contract, Gorou Horikawa, Icarus Publishing
* Solanin, Inio Asano, Viz (2008)
* Sundome, series, Kazuto Okada, Yen Press
* Tekkon Kinkreet, Taiyo Matsumoto, Viz (2007)
* The Drifting Classroom, series, Kazuo Umezu, Viz
* The Ice Wanderer, Jiro Taniguchi, Fanfare/Ponent Mon (2008)
* The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, series, Eiji Otsuka, Housui Yamazaki, Dark Horse
* The Push Man and Other Stories, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2005)
* The Red Snake, Hideshi Hino, DHP (2004)
* The Walking Man, Jiro Taniguchi, Fanfare/Ponent Mon (2006)
* To Terra, series, Keiko Takemiya, Vertical
* Tokyo Zombie, Yusaku Hanakuma, Last Gasp (2008)
* Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms, Fumiyo Kuono, Last Gasp (2007)
* Uzumaki, series, Junji Ito, Viz
* Vagabond, series, Takehiko Inoue, VIZ
* Yotsuba&!, series, Kiyohiko Azuma, ADV/Yen
Works On The Subject Of Comics
* A Comics Studies Reader, Jeet Heer, Kent Worcester, UPM (2008)
* Alex Raymond: His Life & Art, Tom Roberts, Adventure House (2007)
* Alter Ego, magazine, Edited By Roy Thomas
* Alternative Comics, Charles Hatfield, UPM (2005)
* Arguing Comics, Jeet Heer, Kent Worcester, UPM (2005)
* Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front, Todd DePastino, WW Norton (2008)
* B. Krigstein Vol. 1, Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics (2002)
* Cartooning Philosophy and Practice, Ivan Brunetti, Buenaventura Press (2007)
* Charles Addams, Linda Davis, Random House (2006)
* Chris Allen On-Line, Chris Allen
* Come in Alone, Warren Ellis, AiT/PlanetLar (2001)
* Comic Art, magazine, Edited by Todd Hignite, Comic Art/Buenaventura Press
* Comic Book Resources, magazine, Jonah Weiland
* Comic Wars: Marvel's Battle For Survival, Dan Raviv, Broadway (2002)
* Comics Comics, magazine, Dan Nadel, Tim Hodler, Frank Santoro
* Erotic Comics Vol 1: A Graphic History From Tijuana Bibles To Underground Comix, Tim Pilcher, Gene Kannenberg, Abrams (2008)
* Erotic Comics Vol 2: A Graphic History From The Liberated '70s To The Internet, Tim Pilcher, Gene Kannenberg, Abrams (2009)
* Father of the Comic Strip: Rodolphe Toppfer, Edited by David Kunzle, University Press of Mississippi (2007)
* Forbidden Planet International Blog Log, Forbidden Planet
* Frederic Wertham and the Critique of Mass Culture, Bart Beaty, UPM (2005)
* Give Our Regards To The Atomsmashers!, Edited by Sean Howe, Pantheon (2004)
* Great British Comics, Paul Gravett, Peter Stanbury, Aurum Press
* Indy Magazine, Bill Kartalopoulos
* Jack Cole and Plastic Man, Art Spiegelman, Chip Kidd, Chronicle Books (2001)
* Jack Kirby Collector, Edited By John Morrow, magazine, Twomorrows
* Jog The Blog, Joe McCulloch
* Journalista! , Dirk Deppey, TCJ.com
* Kirby, Mark Evanier, Abrams (2008)
* Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, Paul Gravett, Harper Design (2004)
* Meanwhile... A Biography of Milton Caniff, RC Harvey (2007)
* Men of Tomorrow, Gerard Jones, Basic Books (2005)
* Most Outrageous: The Trials and Trespasses of Dwaine Tinsley and Chester the Molester, Bob Levin, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Newsarama, magazine, Matt Brady
* Original Art of Basil Wolverton, Glenn Bray, Last Gasp (2007)
* Outlaws, Rebels, Freethinkers and Pirates, Bob Levin, Fantagraphics (2005)
* PWCW, magazine, Calvin Reid, Heidi MacDonald, Publishers Weekly
* Reading Comics, Douglas Wolk, Da Capo (2007)
* Reading the Funnies, Donald Phelps, Fantagraphics (2001)
* Rebel Visions: The Underground Comix Revolution, Patrick Rosenkranz, Fantagraphics (2003)
* In The Studio, Edited by Todd Hignite, Yale University Press (2007)
* Rodolphe Topffer: The Complete Comic Strips, Edited by David Kunzle, University Press of Mississippi (2007)
* Schulz and Peanuts, David Michaelis, Harper (2007)
* Secret Identity, Craig Yoe, Abrams (2009)
* Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko, Blake Bell, Fantagraphics (2008)
* The 10-Cent Plague David Hajdu, FSG (2008)
* The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics Denis Kitchen, Paul Buhle, Harry Shearer, Abrams (2009)
* The Beat, Heidi MacDonald, Publishers Weekly
* The Comic Worlds of Peter Arno, William Steig, Charles Addams, and Saul Steinberg, Iain Topliss, JHU Press (2007)
* The Comics Curmudgeon, Josh Fruhlinger
* The Comics Journal, magazine, Edited by Gary Groth, Fantagraphics
* The Comics Journal Library, series, Edited by Gary Groth, Fantagraphics
* The Comics Journal Special Edition, series, Edited by Gary Groth, Fantagraphics
* The Extraordinary Works of Alan Moore, George Khoury, et al, TwoMorrows (2002)
* The Ganzfeld, magazine, Edited by Dan Nadel and Timothy Hodler, PictureBox
* The Imp, series, Edited By Dan Raeburn
* The Pirates and the Mouse, Bob Levin, Fantagraphics (2003)
* The Tarquin Engine, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey (2005)
* The Various POV collections, Mark Evanier, TwoMorrows
* Unpopular Culture, Bart Beaty, University of Toronto Press (2007)
* Will Eisner: A Spirited Life, Bob Andelman, M Press (2005)
* Will Elder: Mad Playboy Of Art, Gary Groth & Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics (2003)
* You Call This Art? A Greg Irons Retrospective, Greg Irons, Patrick Rosenkranz, Fantagraphics (2008)
*****
Participants: Tom Spurgeon, Rob Clough, Katherine Dacey, Jamie Coville, Sandy Jarrell, Douglas Wolk, Lynn Nguyen, David Welsh, Ralf Haring, Jon Ward, Bill Jennings, Alan David Doane, Jarrett Duncan, Michael J. Grabowski, Sean Rogers, Sean T. Collins, Leroy Douresseaux, John Vest, Jeremy Powell, Cole Moore Odell, Pablo Holmberg, Johnny Bacardi, Gabriel Roth, Kieran Clarkin, Amy Boese, Matthew J. Brady, Rainer Patzke, Anthony Ha, Douglas Noble, Jason Michelitch, Muriel Niederle, Patrick Brown, Craig Fisher, Mickey McLaurin, Randall Kirby. Thank you all.
FFF Results Post #178 -- King
On Friday, CR readers were asked to "Name Five Of Your Favorite Specific Jack Kirby Standard-Format Comic Books." Here is how they responded.
2. Yale University Press decision to not re-run Muhammad cartoons devolves into open accusations they're doing to suck up to Muslim world sources of endowment fundage, while it's also revealed the author basically approved of the decision.
Jack Kirby, The King of Comics, Would Have Been 92 Years Old Today
Jack Kirby, the mighty heart of the American comic book industry, would have been 92 years old today. Below is a tiny, even insignificant sample of his awesome image-making power, many of which were culled from around the Internet, for your ruminative and reflective pleasure. Long live the King.
Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* this Wizard article on webcomics featuring various on-line all-stars contains more useful information than these kinds of article tend to offer, including traffic figures and hosting costs.
* the cartoonist Anders Nilsen has arranged for a massive art and other stuff auction featuring various comics all-stars to raise money for commercials to aid in the passage of health reform. You can read about it and find everything you need link-wise to buy or simply stare at what's being offered here.
* there's a really nice article in the Chicago Reader about Scott Stantis taking the Chicago Tribune job. Basically, he's been after the job for so long it's a very different job now. Stantis starts September 1.
The Kennedy Report: Mostly Plaudits
Daryl Cagle has his devoted section of Kennedy cartoons up, and it's worth a look if, like me, you're interested in how editorial cartoonists process specific events. I suggested yesterday that Kennedy pose a specific problem in that 1) there's a dichotomy between his Senatorial accomplishments and the incident by which he's best known, Chappaquiddick, 2) it's hard to put into cartoon terms a lifetime of legislative accomplishment and advocacy, 3) you also have his death as the end of that Kennedy generation.
It looks like most of them have remained soft and laudatory, several using a lion image that is either generic ("lion in winter"/"lion of the senate") or is a specific Ted Kennedy appellation with which I'm unfamiliar. I think Steve Greenberg communicated the same idea as the symbols much more effectively with his cartoon. Only one in the group brought up Chappaquiddick specifically. One cartoonist actually did use the Kennedy brothers playing football idea. I also liked Pat Oliphant's, which was odd and sad.
Gerhard Speaks On His Settlement
I wasn't aware there was anything at issue, but the artist Gerhard speaks about his settlement upon leaving his partnership with cartoonist Dave Sim, I guess in response to other statements being made. It seems like a pretty definitive statement, and it's rare to hear from the artist, who provided modeling and background art for the bulk of the publication of Cerebus. Again, I'm lacking context on this and I'm unfamiliar with the message board in question so I can't endorse anything beyond saying "there it is," but I know there are some of you for whom a development in an iconic comics business model would be worth keeping track of. (via The Beat)
Borders' Second Quarter Horror Show
The major chain bookseller Borders Group apparently saw accelerated sales decline and restructuring costs on top of that during a brutal 2Q 2009 that ended in a $45.6 million loss, notes comics business news and analysis site ICv2.com. Borders is not only a valuable business to comics by simple virtue of being a major bookselling chain, it has its own purchasing and shelving strategies that might benefit certain companies above the general loss of bookstores, if that makes any sense. Still, it's been a long time since this company has seen good news, and it's long been to the point where customers tell me they feel a difference because of these hard times in the stores themselves.
Casterman Printing Feeling Recession?
The language here seems a little baroque to me -- plus it's in French -- but if I'm reading this post correctly it's merely stating that Casterman Printing, which has been separate from the similarly-named publishing operations for about a decade, is beginning to feel the pressure of the worldwide recession and the use of Asian printers by comics companies that might typically bring them their business. At least they feel the pressure enough to complete some sort of paperwork that may eventually see them seeking help. I'm not sure there's a lot here as a story, but I've heard so little about any recent economic impact on French-language comics that it caught my attention.
PSA: Harvey Awards Ballots Due It's feels weird to boost participation in an awards whose time I think has come and gone, but while it's still there any industry awards with a degree of legitimacy deserves your professional attention. The final ballots are due tomorrow. I'd recommend a specific vote or two but while there are a lot of fine nominees -- and some strange ones -- nothing really jumps out at me in that "wow, great nominee; I hope it goes on to win that award way." I guess it would be nice if Gus and His Gang won an award. That was an underrated book from the nominations period, and I'd love to see more of his work translated so any type of awards movement would help. Anyway, please consider voting if you're eligible.
Missed It: Platinum Divests Itself From Wowio... Basically, Sort Of, Kind Of
For the entire week, I've had Johanna Draper Carlson's catch of an interview mention that a switch in ownership has been brought to digital distribution service Wowio in my bookmarks and just haven't discussed it. Brian Altounian, the president and CEO of the much-maligned comics property holding company and occasional publisher, formed a holding company that purchased Wowio back in July 1. Wowio is a noteworthy company in that for whatever reason -- and this is debated out the wazoo, as well -- it was at one time a very profitable service for its users and simply stopped being so at some point. This resulted in a company that owed folks money and was without current cash flow to pay those debts, stretching back to 2Q 2008. One would think that the basic responsibility of someone purchasing a company for its benefits would be to pay its debts, but apparently that has yet to happen, either with Platinum or, from what anyone's heard, the new holding company. The suspicion is that the re-purchase might have something to do with further non-payment, although of course you're getting into speculation at that point, understandable given the general discouragement those creators must feel.
* this is nice: the fine-looking Capcom tribute Scott Pilgrim poster mentioned here yesterday will be only $5 at the Oni Press booth at the PAX Expo with all proceeds going to the Child's Play charity. I hope they sell a kabillion.
* the writer Warren Ellis has a column over at Rich Johnston's site and it's beginning to cook -- his take on Archie Goodwin is, I think, dead-on. I think it's a better column if you sit back and take it in rather than see every declarative statement as some sort of nerd-thrown gauntlet you're being asked to honor or argue.
* this Karen Berger interview reads like there's a checklist of current and forthcoming Vertigo projects on the table between interviewer and interviewee, but I thought it interesting they went right to Fables as the current flagship. Makes sense, though.
* people always think I'm kidding when I express admiration for the Luna Brothers, but I think their comics are completely nuts in a good way, like a movie you plan to watch on HBO for ten minutes before heading to bed but it's just odd enough and funny enough you end up watching the whole thing. Like Torque, maybe. They're also hard to pigeonhole. Their second major book featured a small town beset by hot alien naked chick cannibals, but their first and third have admirably heroic female characters as leads -- one motivated by the desire to do the right thing, the other driven by white-hot rage. I can't always speak to the page to page quality of their books, and I think given the choice I'd probably rather read Japanese comics that scratch this same itch, but it's nice that there are creators working in North American comics that have this kind of pulpy, straight-ahead exuberance. Here's an interview.
* Penguin Books India, perhaps the biggest English-language publisher in that giant country full of English-language reading people who many feel would love to read some great comics if more could be provided them, is going to publish some comics works aimed at kids. It's a start.
* here's something you don't see anymore: a massively long, comic strip storyline intended for The Phantom. That's a lot of walking, even for a ghost.
* otbp: Emberley Galaxy, a tribute book to the illustrator featuring both comics and artwork by many of your favorite alt-comix talents, has finally been published.
* the illustrator and one-time strip cartoonist John Kovaleski has an all-ages book out, Great Scott: A Day In The Life.
* I take it from this announcement that there is a Liberty Comics #2 in the planning stages. That's the Image Comics book to benefit the CBLDF. I don't know if this was widely known or not -- not widely known between my ears, anyway.
* this press release for Harvey Pekar's webcomic initiative at Smith, to be called The Pekar Project, does no one any favors by comparing the artists involved to all-time jazz greats, but I look forward to seeing what the significant comics writer will do with the immediacy of on-line media and a regular ongoing gig like this one.
* the good folks at L'Association are doing a limited run of an all-in-one La Guerre d'Alan with the lovely cover shown at top.
* finally, that DC is trying to re-launch the Red Circle superhero characters is hardly news: that's been out there since May or so I think? While I don't really trawl the DC news blogs, I have noticed that Red Circle related PR is a part of their daily grind now. The thing I don't get is why there's an expectation that any of this stuff will succeed? I mean, I guess it could, I don't know anything about publishing superhero comics and DC Comics does, but what I'm not seeing is some sort of general theory as to how they expect success to find this project. And you usually see that. If anyone knows of a "we did very well with X, so our first thought was that there was room to do more comics like that and so pursued Y" statement out there, let me know. In the meantime, enjoy some cool-looking superhero designs in action, I guess.
Missed It: Creative Loafing Goes To Hedge Fund For Five Million Dollar Bid
I wanted to get a link up to this story about alt-weekly chain Creative Loafing's change in ownership, although I'm not sure what to say other than "there it is." Creative Loafing's financial difficulties -- note how much they were able to borrow in 2007 to add to the line against what the whole lot of them went for Tuesday -- are a headline-generating part of a nationwide collapse of newspapers of all kind, but particularly those that house the often creatively fertile group of alt-weekly strips.
I may re-post this in the 10 AM slot tomorrow if I can figure out another way to approach it.
Graham Wade, the cartoonist and filmmaker known best for illustrating the Christian series Jungle Doctor, recently died in Sydney. He was 78 years old.
Wade was born in June, New South Wales in 1931. He won a national comics competition during World War II, and would later describe a childhood filled with comics, both from the United States and England.
Wade initially worked in an Sydney advertising agency out of school in 1949. working with Paul White on Jungle Doctor magazine strips related to his popular autobiography. After illustrating many books in a subsequent series intended for younger readers for several years beginning in 1953, he was commissioned in the 1970s to turn some of those works into comics.
Jungle Doctor was a popular anchor for worldwide Christian entertainment in the '50s and '60s, but particularly in Australia, where individual issues of the comic may have sold up to a half million copies each. These weren't his only comics -- Wade had taken various commissions from Christian groups for a variety of other comics, according to his biography at Christian Comics International. This included the "Polar Parable" series. He also remained an active advertising and media illustrator, for both Christian and civic organization.
In the 1960s Wade was a primary mover in establishing Pilgrim, a non-profit advertising agency -- actually converted from his former employer -- that served Christian groups and organizations. He served as its CEO for several years. It remains in existence not as a functioning agency but as a group that gives out a yearly Christian media prize. Wade spent his later years on the boards of charitable agency and doing evangelical work -- the latter with a sketchbook. He also brought Nate Butler's COMIX35 Christian Comics Training Course to Sydney twice, in 1998 and 2006.
He is survived by a second wife, Ilda and is preceded in death by a first wife, Gwen. He and Gwen had three children.
This has quickly settled into a dispute over the reasons for the raid and seizure. The regional chief enforcement officer of the home ministry declared that the magazine did not have an official permit. The magazine's editor, the cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque (Zunar), a veteran cartoonist who has worked in Malaysian media for nearly 25 years, told the The New Strait Times that their permit was approved two weeks ago and they were given a serial number.
Critics have pointed to a cover image that showed Prime Minister Najib Razak on the cover and a cartoon in the interior, seen here, concerning a 2006 murder case in which he's repeatedly denied any involvement to suggest a harassment motive. Centre for Independent Journalism and Writers Alliance for Media Independence quickly condemned the raid and confiscation in a joint statement.
The Ted Kennedy Cartoon Dilemma
With the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, you can expect to see the same dilemma played out that was on display after Michael Jackson died. Only this time it's Chappaquiddick and the death of Mary Jo Kopechne versus Kennedy's distinguished Senatorial career as opposed to Thriller versus the possibility Jackson was a serial diddler of children. You can probably catch it best here at Darryl Cagle's page -- some individual cartoons will start to show up immediately, usually portraiture, and eventually Cagle will put them all under their own heading. I suspect the fact it's hard to draw a laudatory Senatorial career will work in Kennedy's favor as many may therefore go "non-direct" for their cartoon -- the obvious one being the depiction of a touch football game in heaven now that all the Kennedy boys are reunited, or something like that.
Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* the writer Garth Ennis celebrates 2000 AD, the most under-appreciated of all the great serial comics in the history of the medium.
* the writer Sean Collins continues his series of interviews with alternative comics creators working for Marvel in a chat with comedic genius Michael Kupperman, who if nothing else should clearly do all the backgrounds of panels in all Marvel's comics from now on. Also, Marvel people shouldn't be mad at me for using this Namor panel because now you know it would make a great t-shirt.
* speaking of whom, Mr. Kleefeld makes the case that comics journalism is social media. I personally consider CR a social event, it's just more the kind of party where a bunch of enthusiastic people show up on the doorstep of a completely darkened house and a grouchy old man in pajamas and bathrobe puts on his slippers and drives them home, lecturing them about life between bursts of static and Art Bell.
* finally, if you're interested in the history of superhero comics and how a changing industry can dictate content to an astonishing degree, click on the Curt Purcell links available at this Sean Collins post and have yourself a long read. The hook is a comparison of latest Green Lantern ringapalooza Blackest Night to the old Legion of Super-Heroes Darkseid plotline "The Great Darkness Saga," but I think it works better as a more general argument about how books in different eras were/are expected to work.
This Isn't A Library: New And Notable Releases To The Comics Direct Market
*****
Here are the books that make an impression on me staring at this week's largely accurate list of books shipping from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. to comic book and hobby shops across North America.
I might not buy all of the works listed here. I might not buy any. But were I in a comic book shop tomorrow I would more than likely pick them up and hide some throughout the shop for purchase during this December's No Comics Wednesday.
*****
JUN090324 KING CITY #1 $2.99
The first issue of Brandon Graham's comic as reclaimed from its Tokyopop-induced limbo, and a fine check-me-out issue if you've wondered after him as a cartoonist.
JUL090986 LITTLE FLUFFY GIGOLO PELU TP VOL 01 (A) $17.95
I have no idea of the background on this one, but I think it's Junko Mizuno and that's good enough for me.
JUN090910 COLOR EARTH GN VOL 03 COLOR OF HEAVEN $16.99
The last of Dong Hwa Kim trilogy of stories about a young girl becoming a woman, the intimacy of the relationship she shares with her mother, and how flat-out naughty everything in nature is.
MAY090750 MUPPET SHOW TP $9.99 JUN090788 MUPPET SHOW TREASURE OF PEG LEG WILSON #2 (OF 4) $2.99
That's a consumer-friendly price point for a collection of the first four Roger Langridge Muppets comic, and you can also follow along with the current serialization if you want. Win-win.
FEB090061 GANTZ TP VOL 06 (MR) $12.95
The only manga series I've heard of with a new volume out this week.
JUN090667 CEREBUS ARCHIVE #3 $3.00
This is like digging through Dave Sim's studio desk drawers.
JUN090146 BATMAN AND ROBIN #3 $2.99
Morrison and Quitely, rhymes with delight-ly; to be Morrison and a talented artist whose name I can't remember as of next issue.
JUN090143 BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #1 (OF 6) $3.99
This was going to be called Batman: We've Run Out Of Titles until the weekly scrabble game in Paul Levitz's office.
JUN098460 WEDNESDAY COMICS #1 (OF 12) 2ND PTG $3.99 JUN098461 WEDNESDAY COMICS #2 (OF 12) 2ND PTG $3.99 JUN090142 WEDNESDAY COMICS #8 (OF 12) $3.99
Still not sure I'm ready to make a $50 commitment, but it's nice to know I'll have that option.
JUN090039 USAGI YOJIMBO #122 $3.50 JUN098217 CAPTAIN AMERICA #601 2ND PTG COLAN VAR $3.99 JUN090539 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #133 $2.99
Random mainstream or sort-of mainstream series issues, of at least reasonably high repute.
*****
The full list of this week's releases, including some titles with multiple cover variations and a long, impressive list of toys and other stuff that isn't comics, can be found here. Despite this official list there's no guarantee a comic will show up in the stores as promised, or in all of the stores as opposed to just a few. Also, stores choose what they carry and don't carry so your shop may not carry a specific publication. There are a lot of comics out there.
To find your local comic book store, check this list; and for one I can personally recommend because I've shopped there, albeit a while back, try this.
The above titles are listed with their Diamond order code in the first field, which may assist you in finding comics at your shop or having them order something for you they don't have in-stock. Ordering through a direct market shop can be a frustrating experience, so if you have a direct line to something -- you know another shop has it, you know a bookstore has it -- I'd urge you to consider all of your options.
If I didn't list your comic, it's because I was busy planning my two week vacation away from comic books in late December/early January.
Meth Pipeline Was Using Collectible Comics To Front For Drug Profits
Unsealed records indicate a massive methamphetamine network bringing the drug into Colorado from Phoenix that was busted on August 14 used collectible comic books as a way to launder the money. Two ringleader brothers and thirty-nine others were indicted; all but one are currently in custody. The group was also accused of using various local women as drug mules in an operation that may have operated somewhere between $500,000 and $2,000,000 a in total business a month bringing the drug into an area where police had been successful in dismantling local production. As for the comics angle, the police reported a half-million "at least" in comic books were seized, although how they arrived at that figure I have no idea. I'm also not sure how laundering works, but collectibles are largely a cash industry and the value in comic books can vary wildly -- both factors I would think has to help. It's unclear whether any comics had been sold, or what will happen to the seized books.
The Comics Industry's Unsexiest Issue
Here's a great example about how the network of direct market comic book stores may be on the thin side and why this is a concern. A Lewiston, Maine pop culture retailer seems to have picked up comics because the small city's comic book store has apparently closed down. Great news, of course, except that someone had to have stepped in or residents of the second biggest city in the state would have to drive an hour a more to look at comics. One also has no idea as to the depth and breadth of the new store's commitment to the product line, which one supposes by all logical standards is modest -- I wouldn't dare prescribe otherwise. If like me you believe in the comic book model as one of many effective ways to sell comics to people, the thought of such stores continuing to blink off of a US big board should cause some concern. Is enough being done to ensure basic coverage? We know that comics can survive off the newsstands, but will comics survive off the newsstands and off of Main Street?
The 2009 Ignatz Jury was Lilli Carre, Vanessa Davis, Robert Kirby, Scott Mills and Laura Park. As it's a subject that's come up in the past with the Ignatzes, it may be worth noting that two of the judges were nominated for awards: Carre, Davis. It's my understanding the judging is currently done in isolation and judges aren't allowed to vote for themselves, and as such I'm assured that nothing odd or unsavory took place as far as the mechanics go. Judges simply felt the work of those cartoonists were nomination-worthy. In the incident that makes this noteworthy, involving Frank Cho, this was not the case and a judge did advocate on his own behalf. Having judges nominated at all is still deeply weird-looking, leads to bad publicity in that the subject seem to come up every time it happens and I think the awards would be better off just making that simple exclusion of not being eligible the year you're judging. It's not like this idea hasn't been presented to them in the past, though.
* do some comics fans really call Captain America, Thor and Iron Man "the Trinity" with a straight face? I guess so. Huh. Well, I hope if they come back they do so as hectoring dickweeds, the way they were initially put together as a group in the still underrated Thomas/Buscema/Palmer era. (I think those were aliens, anyway.)
* speaking of old Marvel Comics, this group of iconic panels is a pretty good one. There are a couple of shrugged-shoulder ones, but I guess that's to be expected. I'd suggest that the Incredible Hulk panel they really want is the one of Bruce Banner screaming that comes right after the one they use of Bruce Banner saving Rick Jones. I haven't looked at it, but I would imagine there has to be a panel from the Jack Kirby-drawn Hercules/Thor battle that could be used -- that's an iconic issue of old Marvel Comics. The panel of Daredevil holding onto Sub-Mariner's ankle from that Wally Wood-drawn issue pops to mind, and I'd swap Wolverine's first appearance for his busting out of Mesmero's freak show chains early in Byrne's run. Also, how about the panel with all the dead Avengers in the living room of the suburban house owned by Korvac? It'd be nice to have Gene Colan, but the panel I and every comics fan over 40 most remember by Colan is of the Black Widow drying her hair after taking a shower. More than any of those, Howard the Duck walking out of the bushes is the true must-have.
* not comics: in writing about the gaming industry event Gen Con just past, the writer Kenneth Hite turns a nice phrase about the feeling of returning to a convention you've been to many times over the years: "Fan or pro, there's the moment of reorientation into ritual space -- the Indianapolis Outside Time, where it's always mid-August, and you can't quite remember where you left the Omni."
* missed it: August 19 was the ten year anniversary of Ted Rall filing suit against Danny Hellman. I don't go to the TCJ message board any longer, and I'm certain they talked about it over there somewhere.
* this article on Prince Valiant in the Philadelphia Inquirer turns into a meditation on the state of the comic strip. You know, there was a time when I was a kid when Prince Valiant was considered the highest achievement in comics by a lot of people. It's not, at least not for me, but Valiant is a surprisingly entertaining read and certainly still easy on the eyes. I sort of think that a whole kind of story represented by Prince Valiant is fading from popularity, not just a delivery form.
* finally, I really, really like the idea of calling December 30 "No Comic Book Day," and I'm not sure I can even explain why.
Wichita Retailer Sees Assets Seized
According to a local media report, the personal and corporate assets of Tim Warren, owner of Wichita, Kansas retailer Agents of Comics/Agents Comics and Games, has been seized by revenue department for various back taxes. The shop's web site suggests the store is being moved and invites customers and retailers to a meeting about various matters tomorrow night.
Paul Levitz's ICv2.com Interview: We Turn Our Eyes To John Jackson Miller
Paul Levitz has one of his every-year interviews up with the comics business and news analysis site ICv2.com (one, two, three). It's the usual broad marketing-speak and thus worth reading only for the speaker's pedigree relative to, say, someone on one of DC's blogs saying the same thing -- that DC owns rights to characters that might be of interest to whatever develops as far as a mobile platform delivery service, motion comics or whatever, isn't exactly breaking news. Mr. Levitz does sound a bit feistier than usual this year, to my mind. The big story that people are no doubt picking up on on the other sites is Levitz' claim that bookstore sales' downturn are manga related and that he can actually track Watchmen fans as they head back to the store. I'm hoping that one of the comics number people out there -- like Mr. Miller -- can look at one or both of those claims and see if there's a whiff of evidence in recent numbers of either phenomenon. Did Maus really enjoy a sales bump on either side of the Watchmen movie?
Go, Look: Evan Dorkin Draws The Brotherhood Of Evil Mutants I miss bad guy teams a) with "evil" in their name, b) not made up of a videogame-style collection of effective powers but merely a group of grumpy-looking jerks.
Your Danish Cartoons Hangover Update
* CR favorite Matthias Wivel weighs in on the Yale University Press/censorship matter with a fine post here.
* the writer Diana West -- with whom I'm completely unfamiliar, so if her work has a context that's obvious to everyone but me, I apologize -- pens a longish piece on the potential that Yale's decision may have something to do with making a play for various sources of endowment fundage within the Muslim world as opposed to what's been claimed by the school. (I really hate that just getting into this stuff puts me on the side of dudes who wear bowties.)
* finally, I suspected as much despite the spin of the first news announcement: author Jytte Klausen supports the decision.
Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* here's how comic book legend Marie Severin enjoyed her 80th birthday.
* when I was a younger man, I was pop culture savvy to the point that a mini-trend could develop and I could spew forth some reasonably convincing theory as to why that was. Now that I'm no longer that young, things happen like a sudden, nostalgic interest in Bill Watterson, and I have no idea why they've developed.
* Johanna Draper Carlson asks an interesting question about unresolved plotlines in comic books. I find the topic compelling because it means different things according to different comics -- the 1970s Omega The Unknown had a conclusion, just not the one intended for it by its creators, while a lot of independent comics merely go away. The real treasure in such a conversation would seem to me not to point out comics that ended but how these sprawling storylines have a push-pull aspect to them: some of them are dumb and made up without any ending in mind and then go away, many are then rescued by writers who liked the storyline as a reader and/or are looking for a bit of narrative juice by resolving an old bit of business.
* I love the name "Penny Kenny" and I love the thought of making "dark and edgy" into "dark and edgy and skeevy" from now on.
* please God, let my life go well enough that one day I have this chair.
* not comics: the retailer and prominent blogger Mike Sterling runs back into the room to start kicking the prone corpse of the under-performing Watchmen film.
* finally, there's a large twitter-based discussion on the nature of comic book journalism here. I don't think a whole lot about these sort of issues anymore because a) I don't care, b) I just want to write more effectively and to the point -- how that reflects back on me isn't up to me and I'm old enough now that comics constant parade of self-regard seems boring rather than invigorating, c) elements of these discussions always aggravate me (like the overly-simplistic conflation of journalism and sourced investigative journalism), d) as one of the reasons I'm not attracted to comics industry gossip is because it's relentlessly lame, it's hard for me to claim I've been tempted.
CR Sunday Feature: Let's Start Making A List -- Works To Consider For Best Of Decade, 2000-2009
It was suggested to me earlier this week that naming the top 100 comics for the years 2000-2009 is going to be more difficult than naming the top 100 comics for the 20th Century was ten years ago. To that end, I've begun compiling a list of potential comics to include: for use in making such a list, to eventually encourage others who wish to make such a list, and because it's fun to make lists of really good comics.
I'll use as many as I can. Feel free to suggest, one, two or 20. It all helps. This is a list of those comics a reasonable person might consider for a top 100 list, not a first draft of a top 100 list, so you don't have to make a specific case for anything you'd like to see included. On the other hand, I have a pretty good nose for sniffing out information dumps on behalf of one's self, one's friends or one's company. I hope that we'll get some genuine gut reactions. There's been so much good work out there and I hope you'll want to share that with others.
(I've broken it down into Anthologies, Archival Editions, Original Long-Forms and Definitive Collections, Comic Books, Manga, Newspaper, On-Line, and Works About -- there's not particular argument being made, it's just to keep any one list from being too humongous!)
*****
Anthologies
* Abstract Comics, Fantagraphics
* An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories, series, Edited by Ivan Brunetti, Yale University Press
* Arf, series, Edited by Craig Yoe, Fantagraphics
* Art Out Of Time, Edited By Dan Nadel, Harry N. Abrams (2006)
* Best American Comics, series, various editors, Houghton Mifflin
* Bizarro Comics/Bizarro World, DC Comics
* Book of Boy Trouble, series, Edited by Robert Kirby and David Kelly
* Canicola, series, Canicola
* Dirty Stories, Edited by Eric Reynolds. Fantagraphics
* Drawn & Quarterly Showcase, Drawn and Quarterly
* Drawn & Quarterly, Edited by Chris Oliveros, Drawn & Quarterly
* Flight, series, Edited By Kazu Kibuishi, Image/Ballantine
* Hotwire Comics, Edited by Glenn Head, Fantagraphics
* Japan as Viewed by 17 Creators, Fanfare/Ponent Mon
* Kramers Ergot, Edited by Sammy Harkham, Self-Published/Buenaventura Press
* Little Lit, Edited by Art Spiegelman and Francois Mouly
* McSweeney's Quarterly Concern Vol. 13, Edited by Chris Ware, McSweeney's
* Meathaus
* Mineshaft
* MOME, Edited by Gary Groth and Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics
* Nickelodeon Magazine, Edited By Christopher Duffy, Nickelodeon
* NON, series, Edited by Jordan Crane
* Orchid, Sparkplug (2002)
* Paper Rodeo
* Project: Romantic, Edited by Chris Pitzer, AdHouse
* Project: Superior, Edited by Chris Pitzer, AdHouse
* Rosetta, Alternative Comics
* Scheherazade: Stories of Love, Treachery, Mothers, and Monsters, Edited By Megan Kelso, Soft Skull Press (2005)
* Secret Comics Japan: Underground Comics Now, Viz
* Shojo Beat Magazine, Viz
* Shonen Jump, magazine, Viz
* Sleazy Slice, Edited by Robin Bougie, Self Published
* The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, Conde Nast
* The Funny Pages, New York Times Sunday Magazine, New York Times
* The Toon Treasury of Classic Children's Comics, Edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly, Abrams
* Wednesday Comics, DC Comics (2009)
*****
Archival Editions and Re-Releases
* Absolute Watchmen, Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons, DC Comics (2005)
* Amy and Jordan, Mark Beyer, Pantheon
* B. Krigstein Comics, edited by Greg Sadowski
* Black Kiss, Howard Chaykin, Fantagraphics/Eros Comics
* Blazing Combat, Archie Goodwin, Fantagraphics
* Bone, series, Jeff Smith, Steve Hamaker, Scholastic
* Boody!, Boody Rogers, Fantagraphics
* Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Kim Deitch, Pantheon
* Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*!, Art Spiegelman
* Clean Cartoonists' Dirty Drawings Craig Yoe, Last Gasp
* Comanche Moon, Jack Jackson
* Complete Crumb, R Crumb, Fantagraphics
* Complete Dennis The Menace, Hank Ketcham, Fantagraphics
* Complete Dick Tracy, Chester Gould, IDW
* Complete Jack Survives, Jerry Moriarty, Buenaventura Press
* Complete Peanuts, Charles Schulz, Fantagraphics
* Concrete, digests, Paul Chadwick, Dark Horse
* DC's Greatest Imaginary Stories, Various, DC
* Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years, Gaylord DuBois & Jesse Marsh, Dark Horse
* Explainers, Jules Feiffer, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Heartburst And Other Pleasures, Rick Veitch, King Hell Press
* Herbie Archives, Ogden Whitney & Shane O’Shea, Dark Horse
* Humbug, Harvey Kurtzman etc, Fantagraphics*
* Innocence and Seduction, Dan DeCarlo
* Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, series, DC Comics
* Krazy and Ignatz, series, George Herriman, Fantagraphics
* Krazy Kat DailiesVolumes 1,2,3 (1921-1923), Pacific Comics Club
* Krazy & Ignatz Dailies Vol 1 (1918-1919), Stinging Monkey Books
* Little Lulu, John Stanley and Irving Tripp, Dark Horse
* Little Orphan Annie, series, Harold Gray, IDW (2008)
* MAD Archives Volume Two, The Usual Gang of Idiots, DC
* Magnus Archives, Russ Manning
* Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics, Paul Gravett, Running Press
* Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era Heroes Vol. 3 (1950s Sub-Mariner by Everett)
* Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon, Checker Book Publishing Group
* Moomin, series, Tove Jansson, Drawn & Quarterly
* Out Our Way Sampler, J.R. Williams, Algrove
* Passionella, Jules Feiffer Fantagraphics
* Plastic Man Archives, Jack Cole, DC Comics
* Playboy's Little Annie Fannie, Harvey Kurtzman, Will Elder, Dark Horse
* Popeye, series, EC Segar, Fantagraphics
* Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles, Edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW (2008)
* Splendid Sundays, series, Winsor McCay, Sunday Press
* Sundays With Walt & Skeezix, Frank King, Sunday Press
* Supermen, Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics
* The Book Of Leviathan, Peter Blegvad, Overlook Press (2001)
* The Classic Pin-Up Art Of Jack Cole, Alex Chun, Fantagraphics
* The Collected Doug Wright, Doug Wright, Drawn & Quarterly
* The Comics Journal, Edited By Gary Groth
* The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson, Andrews McMeel (2005)
* The Complete Dick Tracy, Chester Gould, IDW (Starting with Vol 7) (2009)
* The Complete Dream Of The Rarebit Fiend, Winsor McCay, Ulrich Merkyl (2007)
* The Complete Far Side: 1980-1994, Gary Larson, Andrews McMeel (2003)
* The Complete Humbug, Harvey Kurtzman et al, Fantagraphics
* The Completely MAD Don Martin, Don Martin, Running Press
* The Complete Terry and the Pirates, series, Milton Caniff, IDW
* The Monster of Frankenstein, Dick Briefer, Idea Men*
* The Silver Star, Jack Kirby, Image
* The Spirit Archives, series, Will Eisner, DC Comics
* Tijuana Bibles, Bob Adelman, Simon & Schuster
* Walt & Skeezix, series, Frank King, Drawn & Quarterly
* Where Demented Wented, Rory Hayes, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Will Elder: Mad Playboy Of Art, Gary Groth & Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics (2003)
* Willie & Joe: The WWII Years, Bill Mauldin, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Zot! The Complete Black and White Collection: 1987-1991, Scott McCloud, HarperCollins (2008)
* The New Love and Rockets Books, Los Bros Hernandez, Fantagraphics
*****
Original Long-Form Comics/Translated/Definitive Collection
* 365 Days, Julie Doucet, Drawn and Quarterly (2007)
* A Land of Make Believe, Josh Simmons, self-published
* A Treasury of Victorian Murder, series, Rick Geary, NBM
* A.L.I.E.E.N., Lewis Trondheim
* Abandoned Cars, Tim Lane, Fantagraphics
* Abraxas And The Earthman, Rick Veitch, King Hell Press
* ACME Novelty Datebook, series, Chris Ware
* Against Pain, Ron Rege
* Alan's War, Emmanuel Guibert, First Second (2008)
* Alec: The Years Have Pants, Eddie Campbell, Top Shelf (2009)
* Alias the Cat, Kim Deitch, Pantheon (2007)
* Alice in Sunderland, Bryan Talbot
* American Born Chinese, Gene Yang
* Amulet Kazu Kibuishi
* Asterios Polyp, David Mazzucchelli, Pantheon (2009)
* Asthma, John Hankiewicz, Sparkplug (2007)
* Aya, series, Clement Oubrerie and Marguerite Abouet (2007)
* Babymouse, series, Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
* Batman Year 100, Paul Pope DC Comics
* Beauty Supply District, Ben Katchor
* Black Hole, Charles Burns, Pantheon
* Blankets, Craig Thompson, Top Shelf (2003)
* Bluefuzz the Hero, Jesse Reklaw (2007)
* Blue Pills Frederik Peeters
* Bottomless Belly Button, Dash Shaw, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Box Office Poison, Alex Robinson
* Breakdowns, Art Spiegelman, Pantheon (2008)
* Brodo di Niente, Andrea Bruno, Canicola (2007)
* Burma Chronicles, Guy Deslisle, Drawn & Quarterly (2008)
* Cairo G. Willow Wilson, DC
* Can't Get No, Rick Veitch
* Capacity, Theo Ellsworth, Secret Acres (2008)
* Carnet de Voyage, Craig Thompson, Top Shelf
* Cavalcade of Boys, Tim Fish, (2006)
* Cave-In, Brian Ralph, Highwater
* Cecil and Jordan in New York, Gabrielle Bell
* Chance In Hell, Gilbert Hernandez, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Chloe, Hans Rickheit, self-published
* Clumsy, Jeffrey Brown, Top Shelf
* Cockbone, Josh Simmons, self-published
* Cola Madnes, Gary Panter
* Curses, Kevin Huizenga, Drawn & Quarterly
* David Boring, Dan Clowes
* Daybreak, Brian Ralph, Bodega
* Deogratias, JP Stasse, First Second (2006)
* Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man, John Porcellino, La Mano
* Dogs and Water, Anders Nilsen
* Domin-8 Me! , Sessyu Takemura, Fantagraphics/Eros Comics
* Don't Go Where I Can't Follow, Anders Nilsen, Fantagraphics
* Dungeon, multiple series, Lewis Trondheim and Joann Sfar, NBM
* Earthboy Jacobus, Doug Tennapel
* Elvis Road, Xavier Robel, Helge Reumann, Buenaventura Press (2007)
* Empowered, Adam Warren, Dark Horse
* Enemy Ace, Garth Ennis, DC
* Epileptic, David B., Pantheon (2006)
* Exit Wounds Rutu Modan, Drawn & Quarterly (2007)
* Fox Bunny Funny, Andy Hartzell, Top Shelf
* Fun Home, Alison Bechdel, Houghton Mifflin (2006)
* Garage Band, Gipi, First Second
* George Sprott, Seth
* Get a Life, Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian, Drawn & Quarterly
* Girl Genius, Studio Foglio
* Girl Stories, Lauren Weinstein
* Gongwanadon, Thomas Herpich
* Good-Bye, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2008)
* Grey Horses, Hope Larson, Oni Press
* Gus, Christophe Blain, First Second (2008)
* Gyakushu, Dan Hipp
* Hamlet, Neil Babra, Sparknotes
* Hey, Wait... , Jason, Fantagraphics
* House, Josh Simmons, Fantagraphics
* How To Be Everywhere, Warren Craghead (2007)
* Hunter & Painter, Tom Gauld, Buenaventura
* I Killed Adolf Hitler, Jason, Fantagraphics
* I Live Here, Various, Pantheon (2008
* I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets, Fletcher Hanks, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Ice Haven, Dan Clowes, Pantheon (2005)
* Incognegro, Mat Johnson, Warren Pleece, DC
* In The Shadow Of No Towers, Art Spiegelman, Viking (2004)
* Inkweed, Chris Wright
* Isaac the Pirate, Christophe Blain, NBM
* James Sturm's America, James Sturm (2007)
* Jessica Farm, Josh Simmons, Fantagraphics
* Jimbo in Purgatory, Gary Panter
* Jimbo's Inferno, Gary Panter
* Jimmy Corrigan, Chris Ware
* Journey Vols. 1-2, Bill Messner-Loebs, IDW
* Kampung Boy, Lat, First Second (2006)
* King-Cat Classix, John Porcellino, Drawn and Quarterly (2007)
* Klezmer, Joann Sfar, First Second
* Laika, Nick Abadzis, First Second (2007)
* Late Bloomer, Carol Tyler, Fantagraphics
* Life Sucks Jessica Abel, et al First Second
* Little Nothings, series, Lewis Trondheim, NBM
* LOEG: The Black Dossier, Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill,
* Lone Wolf & Cub, series, Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima, Dark Horse
* Look Out!! Monsters, Geoff Grogan, self-published
* Lost at Sea, Brian Lee O'Malley
* Lost Girls, Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie, Top Shelf
* Maggots, Brian Chippendale, PictureBox (2007)
* Mesmo Delivery, Rafael Grampa, AdHouse
* Metabarons
* Mister O, Lewis Trondheim, NBM
* Mon Fiston, Oliver Schrauwen, Bries
* Mother Come Home, Paul Hornschemeier
* Multiforce, Mat Brinkman, PictureBox
* Musical Legends, Justin Green, Last Gasp
* Nat Turner, Kyle Baker
* nEuROTIC, John Cuneo, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Night Fisher, R. Kikuo Johnson, Fantagraphics
* Ninja, Brian Chippendale, PictureBox
* Nocturnal Conspiracies, David B., NBM
* Notes On A War Story, Gipi, First Second
* One Hundred Demons, Lynda Barry
* Owly, series, Andy Runyon, Top Shelf
* Paper Rad BJ and Da Dogs, Ben Jones/Paper Rad, PictureBox
* Paul, series, Michel Rabagliati, Drawn and Quarterly
* Percy Gloom, Cathy Malkasian, Fantagraphics (2007)
* Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi, Pantheon
* Pictures of Sad Children, John Campbell
* Powr Mastrs, series, C.F., PictureBox
* Pride of Baghdad, Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon
* Princes of Time, Jon Vermilyea (2007)
* Punk Rock and Trailer Parks, Derf, SLG (2008)
* Pyongyang, Guy Delisle, First Second
* Quimby the Mouse, Chris Ware, Fantagraphics
* RabbitHead, Rebecca Dart
* Rapunzel's Revenge Shannon Hale
* Red Eye, Black Eye, K. Thor Jensen (2007)
* Safe Area Gorazde, Joe Sacco, Fantagraphics (2000)
* Salamander Dream, Hope Larson, AdHouse
* Same Difference and Other Stories, Derek Kirk Kim
* Scott Pilgrim, series, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Oni
* Scurvy Dogs, Andrew Boyd
* Shadowland, Kim Deitch
* Shortcomings, Adrian Tomine, Drawn & Quarterly (2007)
* Shrimpy and Paul and Friends, Marc Bell, Highwater
* Six Hundred Seventy-Six Apparitions of Killoffer, Killoffer, Typocrat
* Skibber Bee Bye, Ron Rege Jr., Highwater/Drawn & Quarterly
* Skim, Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki
* Sloth Gilbert Hernandez, DC (2006)
* Smoke, Alex DeCampi
* Storeyville, Frank Santoro (2007)
* Summer Blonde, Adrian Tomine
* Superheroes & Seamonsters, Scott Mills
* Super Spy, Matt Kindt, Top Shelf (2007)
* Swallow Me Whole, Nate Powell, Top Shelf (2008)
* Swarm, series, Patrick Conlon, NBM/Eurotica
* Tamara Drewe, Posy Simmonds (2007)
* Temporary, Damon Hurd
* Teratoid Heights, Mat Brinkman, PictureBox
* The Abandoned, Ross Campbell
* The ACME Novelty Library, Chris Ware, Pantheon
* The Amazing Remarkable Mr Leotard, Eddie Campbell, First Second
* The Arrival, Shaun Tan (2007)
* The Black Diamond Detective Agency, Eddie Campbell
* The Blot, Tom Neely (2007)
* The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Phoebe Gloeckner, Frog Press (2002)
* The Fate of the Artist, Eddie Campbell, First Second
* The Fixer, Joe Sacco, Drawn & Quarterly (2003)
* The Frank Book, Jim Woodring, Fantagraphics (2003)
* The Goddess of War, Lauren Weinstein, PictureBox
* The Invention Of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick, Scholastic (2007)
* The Last Lonely Saturday, Jordan Crane, Red Ink/Fantagraphics
* The Mythology of an Abandoned City, Jon J Muth, Tundra Publishing
* The Rabbi's Cat, series, Joann Sfar, Pantheon
* The Red Snake, Hideshi Hino, DHP (2004)
* The Salon, Nick Bertozzi (2007)
* The Ticking, Renee French, Top Shelf
* The Wonder: Portraits of a Remembered City Volumes 1-3 Collected, Tony Fitzpatrick, Last Gasp)
* Things Just Get Away from You, Walt Holcombe, Fantagraphics
* Thoreau at Walden, John Porcellino, Hyperion (2008)
* Three Shadows, Cyril Pedrosa, First Second (2008)
* Times of Botchan, series, Jiro Taniguchi, Fanfare/Ponent Mon
* Tits, Ass & Real Estate, Eve Gilbert, Fantagraphics
* Too Cool To Be Forgotte, Alex Robinson, Top Shelf (2008)
* Too Cool to Be Forgotten, Alex Robinson
* Town Boy, Lat (2007)
* Travel, Yuichi Yokohoma, PictureBox (2008)
* Tricked, Alex Robinson
* Uncle Gabby, Tony Millionaire, Dark Horse (2004)
* Unlikely, Jeffrey Brown, Top Shelf
* Utility Sketchbook, Keith McCulloch, PictureBox (2007)
* Vampire Loves, Joann Sfar, First Second
* We All Die Alone, Mark Newgarden
* West Coast Blues, Jacques Tardi, Fantagraphics
* Wet Moon, Ross Campbell, Oni
* What It Is, Lynda Barry, Drawn & Quarterly (2008)
* Why Are You Doing This? , Jason, Fantagraphics
* Will and Abe's Guide to the Universe, Matt Groening (2007)
* Wimbledon Green, Seth, Drawn & Quarterly (2005)
* Wish You Were Here, Gipi, Fantagraphics/Coconino
* You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!, Fletcher Hanks, Fantagraphics (2009)
* You'll Never Know, Carol Tyler, Fantagraphics (2009)
*****
Comic Book Series
* 100 Bullets, Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, DC
* 100%, Paul Pope, DC/Vertigo
* 1-800-MICE, Matthew Thurber, PictureBox
* 52 Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, JG Jones et al, DC
* Acme Novelty Library, Chris Ware, Fantagraphics/Self-Published
* Action Comics, Geoff Johns et al, DC Comics
* Age of Bronze, Eric Shanower, Image
* Alias, Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos, Marvel
* All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, Frank Miller and Jim Lee, DC Comics
* All-Star Superman, Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, DC Comics
* Apocalypse Nerd, Peter Bagge
* Army@Love, Rick Veitch, DC Comics
* Automatic Kafka, Joe Casey and Ashley Wood
* B.P.R.D. , Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and Guy Davis, Dark Horse
* BPRD: 1946, Josh Dysart, Paul Azaceta, Dark Horse
* Berlin, Jason Lutes, Drawn & Quarterly
* Between Four Walls/The Room, Lorenzo Mattotti
* Big Questions, Anders Nilsen, Drawn & Quarterly
* Boy's Club, Matt Furie, Buenaventura
* Captain America, Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Mike Perkins et al, Marvel
* Casanova, Matt Faction, Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon, Image
* Castle Waiting, Linda Medley, Fantagraphics
* Cerebus, Dave Sim and Gerhard, Aardvark-Vanaheim
* Cold Heat, Ben Jones and Frank Santoro, PictureBox
* Conan, Kurt Busiek et al, Dark Horse
* Concrete: The Human Dilemma, Paul Chadwick, Dark Horse
* Criminal, Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, Marvel/Icon
* Cryptic Wit, Gerald Jablonski, Self-Published
* Daredevil, Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, Marvel
* Delphine, Richard Sala, Fantagraphics/Coconino
* Demo, Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan
* DMZ, Brian Wood, Ricardo Burchielli, et al.
* Dork, Evan Dorkin, SLG
* Dr. 13
* Eightball, series, Daniel Clowes, Fantagraphics
* Ex Machina, Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, DC
* Fables, Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, et al., DC
* Fell, Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith
* Final Crisis, Grant Morrison, J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, Doug Mahnke et al, DC Comics
* Finder, Carla Speed McNeil, Lightspeed Press
* Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville, Ted Stearn, Fantagraphics
* Ganges, Kevin Huizenga, Fantagraphics/Coconino
* Global Frequency, Warren Ellis
* Godland, Joe Casey, Tom Scioli, Image
* Gotham Central Greg Rucka et al, DC
* Green Lantern, Geoff Johns et al, DC Comics
* Hawaiian Dick, B. Clay Moore, et al
* Hellblazer, DC Comics
* Hellboy/BPRD, Mike Mignola et al, Dark Horse
* HERO, Will Pfeifer, DC
* Herobear and the Kid, Mike Kunkel, Astonish Comics
* Human Target
* Immortal Iron Fist, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, David Aja, Marvel
* Injury, Ted May, Buenaventura Press
* Invincible, Robert Kirkman et al, Image
* Jonah Hex, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti et al, DC
* Kabuki, David Mack, Image/Icon
* King City, Brandon Graham
* King-Cat Comics and Stories, John Porcellino, Spit and a Half
* Livewires, Adam Warren and Rick Mays, Marvel
* Local, Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly
* Losers, Andy Diggle, Jock, DC
* Louis Riel, Chester Brown, Drawn & Quarterly
* Love & Rockets Vol. 2, Los Bros Hernandez, Fantagraphics
* Love & Rockets Vol. 3 Los Bros Hernandez, Fantagraphics
* Madman Atomic Comics, Mike Allred
* Meat Cake, Dame Darcy, Fantagraphics
* Midnight Nation, J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank, Top Cow
* My Faith In Frankie, Mike Carey
* Mystic Funnies, R. Crumb
* New Frontier, Darwyn Cooke, DC
* New Tales of Old Palomar, Gilbert Hernandez , Fantagraphics/Coconino
* New X-Men, Frank Morrsion, Frank Quitely, et al, Marvel
* Nextwave Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen, Marvel
* Northlanders, Brian Wood, Davide Gianfelice, et al.
* Omega: The Unknown, Jonathan Lethem and Karl Rusnak and Farel Dalrymple and Paul Hornschemeier and Gary Panter, Marvel
* Or Else, Kevin Huizenga, Drawn & Quarterly
* Palooka-Ville, Seth, Drawn & Quarterly
* Paris, Andi Watson and Simon Gane, SLG
* Peepshow, Joe Matt, D&Q
* Planetary, Warren Ellis and John Cassaday, DC
* Plastic Man, Kyle Baker
* Pogostick, Al Columbia, Ethan Persoff, Fantagraphics
* Polly and the Pirates, Ted Naifeh, Oni
* Powers, Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, Image/Icon/Marvel
* Promethea, Alan Moore & J.H. Williams III, America's Best
* Punisher Garth Ennis et al, Marvel
* Queen & Country, Greg Rucka et al, Oni
* Rapunzel's Revenge, Shannon Hale
* RASL, Jeff Smith, Cartoon Books
* Runaways, Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, Marvel
* Reich, Elijah Brubaker, Sparkplug
* Sammy the Mouse, Zak Sally, Fantagraphics
* Sandman: Dream Hunters, Neil Gaiman et al
* Scalped, Jason Aaron, RM Guera, DC
* Schizo #4, Ivan Brunetti, Fantagraphics
* Seaguy: Slaves Of Mickey Eye, Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart, DC
* Seaguy, Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart, DC
* Seven Soldiers of Victory, Grant Morrison et al, DC Comics
* Shaolin Cowboy, Geoff Darrow, Dark Horse
* Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil, Jeff Smith, DC
* Shouldn't You Be Working?, Johnny Ryan
* Silverfish, David Lapham
* Skyscrapers of the Midwest, Josh Cotter, AdHouse
* Sleeper, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, DC
* Sock Monkey, Tony Millionaire, Dark Horse
* Solo, various, DC Comics
* Speak Of The Devil, Gilbert Hernandez, Dark Horse
* Spider-Girl, Tom DeFalco, et al, Marvel
* Street Angel, Jim Rugg, Brian Maruca, SLG
* Stuff of Dreams, Kim Deitch, Fantagraphics
* Superman: Red Son, Mark Millar et al, DC
* Superman: Secret Identity, Kurt Busiek et al, DC
* Tales Designed To Thrizzle, Michael Kupperman, Fantagraphics
* Teenagers From Mars, Rick Spears
* The Amazing Joy Buzzards, Mark Andrew Smith and Dan Hipp
* The Amazing Spider-Girl, Tom DeFalco, et al, Marvel
* The Boys, Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, DC Comics/Dynamite Entertainment
* The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, DC Comics
* The End, Anders Nilsen, Fantagraphics/Coconino Press
* The Fairer Sex, John Ira Thomas, Jeremy Smith
* The Filth, Grant Morrison and Chris Weston, D
* The Goon, Eric Powell, Dark Horse
* The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, America's Best/Top Shelf
* The Middleman, Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine
* The Milkmen Murders, Joe Casey
* The Nimrod, Lewis Trondheim, Fantagraphics
* The Originals, Dave Gibbons
* The Pulse, Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos, Marvel
* The Spirit, Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone, DC Comics
* The Tourist, Brian Wood
* The Umbrella Academy, Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, Dark Horse
* The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman and Various, Image
* The Winter Men Brett Lewis, John Paul Leon , Dave Stewart
* True Story Swear To God, Tom Beland, Image
* U.S. War Machine, Chuck Austen, Marvel
* Ultimate Spider-Man, Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, and Stuart Immonen, Marvel Comics
* Unstable Molecules, James Sturm and Guy Davis, Marvel
* Uptight, Jordan Crane, Fantagraphics
* Usagi Yojimbo, Stan Sakai, Dark Horse
* Wasteland, Antony Johnston and Christopher Mitten
* We3, Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, DC
* Weasel, Dave Cooper, Fantagraphics
* WildCATS 3.0, Joe Casey, DC
* Worn Tuff Elbow, Marc Bell
* X-Force/X-Statix, Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Marvel
* Y: The Last Man, Brian K. Vaughan/Pia Guerra et al., Vertigo
* Young Avengers, Allen Heinberg & Jim Cheung, Marvel
* Young Liars, David Lapham
* The Seven Soliders Omni-Series, Grant Morrison and A Cast Of Dozens, DC
*****
Manga (Translated)
* 20th Century Boys, series, Naoki Urasawa, Viz
* A Drifting Life, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2009)
* Abandon the Old in Tokyo, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2006)
* Apocalypse Meow, series, Motofumi Kobayashi, ADV Manga
* Apollo's Song, Osamu Tezuka
* Azumanga Daioh, series, Kiyohiko Azuma, ADV/Yen
* Black Jack, series, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
* Bleach, Tite Kubo
* Blue Spring, Taiyo Matsumoto
* Buddha, series, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
* Chikyu Misaki, Yuji Iwahara, CMX
* Children of the Sea, series, Daisuke Igarashi, VIZ
* Clover, series, CLAMP, Tokyopop/Dark Horse
* Cromartie High School, series, Eiji Nonaka, ADV
* Death Note, series, Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata, Viz
* Disappearance Diary, Fanfare/Ponent Mon
* Dororo, series Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
* Dragon Head, series, Minetaro Mochizuki, Tokyopop
* Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President, series, Kaiji Kawaguchi, VIZ
* Emma, series, Kaoru Mori, CMX
* Flower of Life, series, Fumi Yoshinaga, DMP
* Fruits Basket, series, Natsuki Takaya, Tokyopop
* Fullmetal Alchemist
* Future Lovers, Saika Kunieda, Deux
* Genshiken, Kio Shimoku, Del Rey
* Gon, series, Masashi Tanaka, CMX
* Good-Bye, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2008)
* Gyo, Junji Ito
* Honey and Clover, series, Chika Umino, Viz
* Kekkaishi, Yellow Tenabe
* Lone Wolf & Cub, Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima, Dark Horse (2000-2002)
* Love Roma, Minoru Toyoda, Del Rey
* Midara, Yumisuke Kotoyoshi, Icarus Publishing
* Monokuro Kinderbook, series, Kan Takahama, Fanfare/Ponent Mon
* Monster Men Bureiko Lullaby, Takashi Nemoto, PictureBox (2008)
* Monster, Naoki Urasawa, Viz
* Mushishi, Yuki Urushibara, Del Rey
* MW, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical (2007)
* NANA, series, Ai Yazawa, Viz
* Naruto, series, Masashi Kishimoto, Viz
* Ode To Kirihito, Osamu Tezuka, Vertical (2006)
* Ooku: The Inner Chambers, series, Fumi Yoshinaga, Viz
* Paradise Kiss, Ai Yazawa, Tokyopop
* Parasyte, Hitoshi Iwaaki, Del Rey
* Path of the Assassin
* Phoenix, series, Osamu Tezuka, Viz
* Planetes, series, Makoto Yukimura, Tokyopop
* Pluto
* Real, series, Takehiko Inoue, VIZ
* Red-Colored Elegy
* Sand Chronicles, Hinako Ashihara, Viz
* Scarlet Desire, Tohru Nishimaki, Icarus Publishing
* "Screw Style," Tsuge in TCJ 250
* Sexy Voice and Robo, series, Ion Kouda, VIZ
* Slam Dunk, Takehiko Inoue
* Slave Contract, Gorou Horikawa, Icarus Publishing
* Solanin, Inio Asano
* Sundome, Kazuto Okada, Yen Press
* Tekkon Kinkreet, Taiyo Matsumoto, Viz
* The Drifting Classroom, series, Kazuo Umezu, Viz
* The Ice Wanderer, Jiro Taniguchi
* The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Eiji Otsuka and Housui Yamazaki, Dark Horse
* The Push Man and Other Stories, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly (2005)
* The Red Snake, Hideshi Hino, DHP (2004)
* The Walking Man, Jiro Taniguchi, Fanfare/Ponent Mon
* To Terra, series, Keiko Takemiya, Vertical, Inc.
* Tokyo Zombie
* Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms, Fumiyo Kuono, Last Gasp
* Uzumaki, Junji Ito, Viz
* Vagabond, series, Takehiko Inoue, VIZ
* Yotsuba&!, series, Kiyohiko Azuma, ADV/Yen
*****
Newspaper Comics
* Cul-De-Sac, Richard Thompson
* Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau
* Dykes to Watch Out For, Alison Bechdel
* Ernie Pook's Comeek, Lynda Barry
* Fair Game, Stephanie Piro
* Franklin Fibbs, Hollis Brown and Wes Hargis
* Life in Hell, Matt Groening
* Lio, Mark Tatulli
* Maakies, Tony Millionaire
* Mike Luckovich's Editorial Cartoons, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
* Monkeyhouse, Pat Byrnes, LATS
* Mutts, Patrick McDonnell
* Opus, Berke Breathed
* Pat Oliphant's Editorial Cartoons, syndicated
* Pearls Before Swine, Stephan Pastis
* Rehabilitating Mr. Wiggles, Neil Swaab
* Rocky, Martin Kellerman
* Speed Bump, Dave Coverly
* Steve Bell cartoons in the Guardian
* The Boondocks, Aaron McGruder
* The Pain: When Will It End?, Tim Kreider
* Tom The Dancing Bug, Ruben Bolling
* Tom Toles' Editorial Cartoons, Washington Post
* Zippy, Bill Griffith
* Zombies in Toronto, Chester Brown
Works On The Subject Of Comics
* A Comics Studies Reader, Jeet Heer, Kent Worcester
* Alex Raymond: His Life & Art, Tom Roberts, Adventure House (2007)
* Alternative Comics, Charles Hatfield
* Arguing Comics, Jeet Heer, Kent Worcester
* B. Krigstein Vol. 1, Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics
* Cartooning Philosophy and Practice, Ivan Brunetti, Buenaventura Press
* Charles Addams, Linda Davis
* Comic Art, magazine, Todd Hignite
* Comic Book Resources, magazine, Jonah Weiland
* Comic Wars: Marvel's Battle For Survival, Dan Raviv
* Comics Comics, Dan Nadel, Tim Hodler, Frank Santoro
* Erotic Comics Vol 1: A Graphic History From Tijuana Bibles To Underground Comix, Tim Pilcher, Abrams
* Erotic Comics Vol 2: A Graphic History From The Liberated '70s To The Internet, Tim Pilcher, Abrams
* Father of the Comic Strip: Rodolphe Toppfer, Edited by David Kunzle, University Press of Mississippi (2007)
* Frederic Wertham, Bart Beaty
* Give Our Regards To The Atomsmashers!, Edited by Sean Howe
* Indy Magazine, Bill Kartalopoulos
* Jack Cole and Plastic Man, Art Spiegelman and Chip Kidd, Chronicle Books
* Jog The Blog, Joe McCulloch
* Journalista! , Dirk Deppey, TCJ.com
* Kirby, Mark Evanier
* Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, Paul Gravett, Harper Design
* Meanwhile... A Biography of Milton Caniff, RC Harvey (2007)
* Men of Tomorrow, Gerard Jones
* Most Outrageous: The Trials and Trespasses of Dwaine Tinsley and Chester the Molester, Bob Levin, Fantagraphics (2008)
* Newsarama, magazine, Matt Brady
* Original Art of Basil Wolverton, Glenn Bray, Last Gasp
* Outlaws, Rebels, Freethinkers and Pirates, Bob Levin, Fantagraphics (2005)
* Reading Comics, Douglas Wolk (2007)
* Reading the Funnies, Donald Phelps
* Rebel Visions: The Underground Comix Revolution, Patrick Rosenkranz, Fantagraphics
* In The Studio, Edited by Todd Hignite
* Rodolphe Topffer: The Complete Comic Strips, Edited by David Kunzle, University Press of Mississippi (2007)
* Schulz and Peanuts, David Michaelis
* Secret Identity, Craig Yoe, Abrams (2009)
* Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko, Blake Bell
* The 10-Cent Plague David Hajdu
* The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics Denis Kitchen, Paul Buhle, Harry Shearer, Abrams
* The Comic Worlds of Peter Arno, William Steig, Charles Addams, and Saul Steinberg, Topliss
* The Comics Curmudgeon, Josh Fruhlinger
* The Comics Journal, magazine, Edited by Gary Groth, Fantagraphics
* The Ganzfeld, magazine, Edited by Dan Nadel and Timothy Hodler, PictureBox
* The Imp, series, Edited By Dan Raeburn
* The Pirates and the Mouse, Bob Levin, Fantagraphics (2003)
* Unpopular Culture, Bart Beaty
* Will Eisner: A Spirited Life, Bob Andelman
* Will Elder: Mad Playboy Of Art, Gary Groth & Greg Sadowski, Fantagraphics (2003)
* You Call This Art? A Greg Irons Retrospective, Greg Irons and Patrick Rosenkranz, Fantagraphics
*****
Participants: Tom Spurgeon, Rob Clough, Katherine Dacey, Jamie Coville, Sandy Jarrell, Douglas Wolk, Lynn Nguyen, David Welsh, Ralf Haring, Jon Ward, Bill Jennings, Alan David Doane, Jarrett Duncan, Michael J. Grabowski, Sean Rogers, Sean T. Collins, Leroy Douresseaux, John Vest, Jeremy Powell, Cole Moore Odell, Pablo Holmberg, Johnny Bacardi, Gabriel Roth, Kieran Clarkin, Amy Boese, Matthew J. Brady, Rainer Patzke
FFF Results Post #177 -- Sing
On Friday, I asked CR readers to "Name Five Songs You'd Like to See Turned into Comic Stories and Your Artist of Choice." This is how they responded.
1. "Dedicated Follower of Fashion," The Kinks -- Chynna Clugston-Flores
2. "Up the Junction," Squeeze -- Jamie Rich/Joelle Jones
3. "Enola Gay," OMD -- Russ Heath
4. "Tessie," Dropkick Murphys -- Kurt Busiek/Mark Bagley
5. "Mr. Garfield," Johnny Cash -- John Cassaday
*****
Tom Spurgeon
1. "Breakfast In Bed," Dusty Springfield -- Carol Tyler
2. "Singring and the Glass Guitar," Utopia -- Kaz Strzepek
3. "Just One Of Those Things," Cole Porter -- Darwyn Cooke
4. "The Piano Has Been Drinking," Tom Waits -- Doug Allen
5. "Under The Cherry Moon," Prince -- Walt Holcombe
*****
Michael Grabowski
1. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It," REM -- Gary Panter
2. "Fingertips," They Might Be Giants -- Ron Rege, Jr.
3. "Let's Pretend We're Married," Prince -- Gilbert Hernandez
4. "DMSR," Prince -- Jaime Hernandez
5. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," The Proclaimers -- James Kochalka
*****
Mark McMurray
1. "Holland, 1945," Neutral Milk Hotel -- Steve Ditko
2. "Gene Autry," Beulah -- David Mazzucchelli
3. "New Cobweb Summer," Lambchop -- Chester Brown
4. "Package Thief," Superchunk -- Steve Bissette
5. "California," Joni Mitchell -- R. Crumb
*****
Michael May
1. "Take on Me," a-ha -- Tatsuo Yoshida
2. "Voices Carry," 'Til Tuesday -- Colleen Coover
3. "Sixteen Tons," Tennessee Ernie Ford -- Eric Powell
4. "The Wanderer," U2 featuring Johnny Cash -- Darwyn Cooke
5. "One Night in Bangkok," Murray Head -- Mike Mignola
1. "Two-Headed Boy," Neutral Milk Hotel -- D'Israeli
2. "A Song for Europe," Roxy Music -- John Wagner/Alan Grant/Ian Gibson
3. "Spies Like Us," Paul McCartney -- Fred Hembeck
4. "Tiny Feet," The Heart Throbs -- Seth
5. "International Rescue," Fuzzbox -- Akira Toriyama
*****
Gary Usher
1. "I Ain't the One," Jessi Colter/Waylon Jennings -- Jessica Abel/Matt Madden
2. "Luchenbach, TX," Waylon -- Jaime Hernandez
3. "How Far To Little Rock?" The Stanley Brothers -- Johnny Ryan
4. "Superman," Donna Fargo -- Fred Hembeck
5 "I Got the Hoss," Mel Tillis -- Bob Boze Bell
*****
Buzz Dixon
1. "Raspberry Beret," Prince -- Vaughn Bode'
2. "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)," Meatloaf -- Frank Miller
3. "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," Fess Parker -- Frank Frazetta
4. "I Kissed A Girl," Jill Sobule -- Erika Moen
5. "Nessun Dorma," Luciano Pavarotti -- Jack Kirby
1. "Cygnus X-1," Rush -- John Severin
2. "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway," (entire album), Genesis -- Steve Ditko
3. "Locomotive Breath," Jethro Tull -- Ben Templesmith
4. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," They Might Be Giants -- Roger Langridge
5. "Existential Blues," Tom Stankus -- Kevin Cannon
*****
Fabio Antibas
1. "The KKK Took My Baby Away," The Ramones -- Peter Bagge
2. "We Suck Young Blood," Radiohead -- Gabrielle Bell
3. "Gouge Away," Pixies -- Simon Bisley
4. "Set the Controls to The Heart of The Sun," Pink Floyd -- Jack Kirby
5. "Fairies Wear Boots," Black Sabbath -- Sam Kieth
*****
Ben Towle
1. "Cocaine Blues," W. A. Nichol's Western Aces -- Jack Jackson
2. "Tom Joad," Woodie Guthrie -- James Sturm
3. The rap from "Rapture," Blondie -- Jim Woodring
4. "Only Skin," Joanna Newsom -- Dame Darcy
5. "Shut Down," The Beach Boys -- Peter Bagge
*****
Mark Mayerson
1. "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance," Gene Pitney -- Jack Kirby
2. "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," Gene Autry -- Walt Kelly
3. "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa," Napoleon XIV -- Steve Ditko
4. "The Monster Mash," Bobby Pickett -- Dick Briefer
5. "Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," Brian Hyland -- Owen Fitzgerald
*****
Douglas Mullins
1. "Spillane." John Zorn -- Al Columbia
2. "Girl/Boy Song," Aphex Twin -- Tom K
3. "Bassism," Sun Ra -- Frank Santoro
4. "Murder in the Red Barn," Tom Waits -- Richard Corben
5. "I against I," Bad Brains -- Jaime Hernandez
*****
Adam Casey
1. "Kentucky Rain" Elvis Presley -- Jeff Lemire
2. "Harper Valley PTA" Jeanie C. Riley -- Gilbert Hernandez
3. "Racing In The Streets" Bruce Springsteen -- Sean Phillips
4. "White Lightning" George Jones -- Darwyn Cooke
5. "Fight for Your Right" Beastie Boys -- Johnny Ryan
*****
Justin J. Major
1. "Race for the Prize," The Flaming Lips -- Chris Ware
2. "Iron Man," Black Sabbath -- 4th World Era Jack Kirby
3. "Kerosene," The Bottle Rockets -- Gilbert Hernandez
4. "Midnight Rider," The Allman Brothers -- Jean Giraud
5. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos," Public Enemy -- Steve Ditko
*****
Ben Ostrander
1. "Streets of Laredo," Marty Robbins -- Jordi Bernet
2. "Closing Time," Leonard Cohen -- Moebius
3. "You Can Call Me Al," Paul Simon -- Crumb
4. "The Boxer," Simon & Garfunkel -- Hugo Pratt
5. "A Boy Named Sue," Johnny Cash -- Frank Miller
1. "Wolverton Mountain," Claude King -- Basil Wolverton
2. "Jackson," Johnny Cash & June Carter -- Jack Jackson
3. "King of the Road," Roger Miller -- Frank King
4. "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight," Hank Snow -- Chris Ware
5. "The Box it Came In," Wanda Jackson -- Jack Kamen
1. "Me And My Monkey," Robbie Williams -- Carmine Infantino/Joe Giella
2. "Timothy," The Buoys -- Johnny Craig
3. "Pleasant Valley Sunday," The Monkees -- Al Wiseman
4. "Rocky Racoon," The Beatles -- Nick Cardy
5. "Charlie Brown," The Coasters -- Charles Schulz
*****
Wayne Blackledge
1. ''Mothership Connection," Parliament -- Jack Kirby
2. "Mack The Knife" (any version) -- Chester Gould
3. "Mongoloid," Devo -- Charles Burns
4. "Wichita Lineman," Glen Campbell -- Joe Kubert
5. "King Bee," Slim Harpo -- Will Elder
1. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," Beatles -- Winsor McCay
2. "Hurricane," Bob Dylan -- Chris Ware
3. "Warm Beer and Cold Women," Tom Waits -- Sean Phillips
4. "Karma Police," Radiohead -- Paul Pope
5. "Mojo Pin," Jeff Buckley -- Dave McKean
1. "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," Bob Dylan -- Jim Woodring
2. "Fish & Bird," Tom Waits -- Tony Millionaire
3. "American Without Tears," Elvis Costello -- Carol Tyler
4. "The Rake's Song," The Decemberists -- Edward Gorey
5. "Oh! You Pretty Things," David Bowie -- Jack Kirby
*****
Christopher Duffy
1. "Fancy (Don't Let Me Down)," Reba McIntyre -- Maurice Vellekoop
2. "Destination: Venus," The Rezillos -- Jaime Hernandez
3. "Marie Provost," Nick Lowe -- Rick Geary
4. "The Great Big Dog," Laurie Berkner -- Karl Kerschl
5. "Just a Friend," Biz Markie -- Laura Park
*****
Kristy Valenti
1. "Doris Daytheearthstoodstill," Future Bible Heroes -- Jack Kamen
2. "Leather and Lace," Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood -- Matt Baker
3. "Calculator," Micachu and the Shapes -- Jason Shiga
4. "Pollen," Mirah -- Colleen Coover
5. "No Guilt," The Waitresses -- Jaime Hernandez
*****
Trevor Ashfield
1. "Living on a Prayer," Bon Jovi -- Jack Kirby
2. "Walking on Sunshine," Katrina and the Waves -- Brian Lee O'Malley
3. "Something Cool," Anita O'Day -- Dupuy/Berberian
4. "The Streak," Ray Stevens -- Roger Langridge
5. "Outskirts," James McMurtry -- Bill Sienkewicz
*****
Danny Ceballos
1. "Chimes of Freedom," Bob Dylan -- Darryl Cunningham
2. "I Know," Fiona Apple -- John Porcellino
3. "These Arms of Mine," Otis Redding -- Lynda Barry
4. "No Aloha," The Breeders -- Lilli Carre
5. "The Last Time I Saw Richard," Joni Mitchell -- Seth
1. "Down Down," Stauts Quo -- Dean Haspiel
2. "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," Slade -- Hunt Emerson
3. "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," Meat Loaf -- Chip Zdarsky
4. "Theme From Spider-Man," Paul Francis Webster & Robert "Bob" Harris -- Jim Mahfood
5. "Flash," Queen -- Tony Millionaire
*****
Skipper Pickle
1. "Tapestry," Carole King -- Charles Vess
2. "Horrendous Disc," Daniel Amos -- Gabriel Ba
3. "Red Barchetta," Rush -- Bruce Timm
4. "Telegraph Road," Dire Straits -- Cameron Stewart
5. "And Dream of Sheep," Kate Bush -- Linda Medley
*****
Sean T. Collins
1. "Silent Shout," The Knife -- Charles Burns
2. "Juanita/Kiteless/To Dream of Love," Underworld -- Grant Morrison/Frank Quitely
3. "Strawberry Fields Forever," The Beatles -- Jim Woodring
4. "Search and Destroy," Iggy & the Stooges -- Jaime Hernandez
5. "Duel of the Iron Mic," GZA/Genius -- Rafael Grampa
*****
Stergios Botzakis
1. "He Came Back," Mighty Mighty Bosstones -- Evan Dorkin
2. "Big Iron," Marty Robbins -- Tim Truman
3. "Creeping Death," Metallica -- Simon Bisley
4. "California Girls," Beach Boys -- Jaime Hernandez
5. "Me and My Monkey," Robbie Williams -- Philip Bond
*****
Frank Santoro
1. "New York," Sex Pistols -- Kaz
2. "Forming," The Germs -- Gary Panter
3. "Knowledge," Operation Ivy -- Bobby Madness
4. "Ugly," Fishbone -- Kyle Baker
5. "Rat Race," Specials -- Evan Dorkin
1. "Thunder Road," Bruce Springsteen -- Ennis/Dillion
2. "You Can't Do That," Beatles -- Bryan Lee O'Malley
3. "Indiana Wants Me," R. Dean Taylor -- Brubaker/Epting
4. "Hollywood Nights," Bob Seger -- Darywn Cooke
5. "Hey, Hey What Can I Do," Led Zeppelin -- Cameron Stewart
*****
Michael DeForge
1. "Excuse Me, But I've Got Someone to Kill," Johnny Paycheck -- Jose Munoz
2. "She Brakes for Rainbows," The B'52s -- Jay Stephens
3. "There Stands the Glass," Webb Pierce -- Drew Friedman
4. "Sandy," The Country Teasers -- Tim Lane
5. "Nobody Loves You When You're Old and Gay," Dead Fingers Talk -- Ivan Brunetti
1. "All This Useless Beauty," Elvis Costello & the Attractions -- Matt Wagner
2. "Happiest Girl," Depeche Mode -- Ross Campbell
3. "Somebody Got Murdered," The Clash -- Naoki Urasawa
4. "Twilight," Antony & the Johnsons -- Craig Thompson
5. "Tea for the Tillerman," Cat Stevens -- Joelle Jones
*****
John Burgess
1. "I Wish I Had A Girl That Walked Like That," Henry Lee Summer -- Rob Liefeld
2. "Ballad Of The Green Berets," Barry Sadler -- Tony Millionaire
3. "We Are The World," Lots Of People -- Henriette Valium
4. "Pfft, You Was Gone" Archie Campbell And Dan Tapp -- Dupuy/Berberian
5. "Summer Lovin'," John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John -- Mark Beyer
*****
Charles Brownstein
1. "Aces High," Iron Maiden -- Garth Ennis/Alex Toth
2. "Caboose," Johnny Dowd -- R. Crumb
3. "Kaw-Liga," Hank Williams -- Theo Ellsworth
4. "Altar of Sacrifice," Slayer -- Tom Neely
5. "Werewolves of London," Warren Zevon -- Lisa Hanawalt
*****
Johnny Bacardi
1. "Kiko and the Lavender Moon," Los Lobos -- Jaime Hernandez
2. "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)," Blue Oyster Cult -- Mike Allred
3. "Northern Sky," Nick Drake -- Paul Pope
4. "Life Itself," George Harrison -- Brendan McCarthy
5. "Queen of the Hours," Electric Light Orchestra -- Mike Kaluta
*****
Uriel A. Duran
1) "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," The Tokens -- Bill Sienkiewicz
2) "Sweat," Oingo Boingo -- Kristian Donaldson
3) "Alone, Jealous and Stoned," Secret Machines -- Jhonen Vasquez
4) "Hyper-Ballad," Bjork -- Sonny Liew
5) "25 Minutes To Go." Johnny Cash -- Francesco Francavilla
*****
Andrew Horton
1. "Batman Theme," Neil Hefti -- Grant Morrison/Frank Quitely
2. "Spiderman Theme," Paul Webster/Robert Harris -- Stan Lee/Steve Ditko
3. "Everything's Archie," Neil Brian Goldberg -- Don DeCarlo
4. "Spread Your Evil Wings And Fly," James Kochalka -- Alan Moore
5. "March of the Sinister Ducks," Alan Moore -- James Kochalka
1. "Mothership Connection," by Parliament -- Kyle Baker
2. "Sympathy For the Devil," by the Rolling Stones -- Joe Sacco
3. "Don't Worry (If There's Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go)," by Curtis Mayfield -- David B
4. "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts," by Bob Dylan -- Chris Blain
5. "Thankful 'N Thoughtful," by Sly & The Family Stone -- Dean Haspiel
*****
Andrew Mansell
1. "One for My Baby (And One More For The Road)," Frank Sinatra -- Seth
2. "City of New Orleans," Arlo Guthrie -- Harold Gray
3. "Crossroads," Robert Johnson -- Robert Crumb
4. "Puff the Magic Dragon," Peter, Paul & Mary -- Walt Kelly
5. "Raised on Robbery," Joni Mitchell -- Jessica Abel
1. "Strange Fruit," Billie Holiday -- Johnny Ryan
2. "Nazi Rock," Serge Gainsbourg -- Art Spiegelman
3. "Hot Fudge," Anal Magic & Rev. Dwight Frizzell -- Jeffrey Brown
4. "Baby Baby Please (Just a Little More Head)," 2 Live Crew -- Adrian Tomine
5. "Somebody Come and Play (Sesame Street)," Joe Raposo -- Al Columbia
1. "Robot Rock," Daft Punk -- Moebius
2. "She's Your Lover Now," Bob Dylan -- Jeffrey Brown
3. "White Light Generation," Ladytron -- Ai Yakazawa
4. "Can't Hardly Wait," The Replacements -- Julie Doucet
5. "Love Will Tear Us Apart," Joy Division -- Walter Simonson
First Thought Of The Day
Part projection from Sesame Street clips, part Roger Langridge's fault, part the way my own mind processes dreams: I'm now remembering details from multiple episodes of The Muppet Show that do not exist, like the one where Miss Piggy locks Anne Hathaway in the theater basement.
Quote Of The Week
"dead pol columnist robert novak always looked like how i imagined reggie van york of archie comics would look in his senior years" -- John Siuntres
*****
today's cover is from one of the great publications of the underground comix era
Your Danish Cartoons Hangover Update
* here's a fine round-up of links pertaining to the decision by Yale University Press not to run the Danish Muhammad Cartoons or any other illustrations of Muhammad in Jytte Klausen's new book The Cartoons That Shook The World. It's pretty much all there: statements that are alarmist and even outright false, statements that run counter to the arguments made in the book they're publishing, the negative commentary that's out there from various columnists, the fact that Klausen seems to have been sort of kept in the dark about details of this strange vetting process. It's worth a read, but what a depressing mess.
* I still wonder how much a bad book contract plays into this -- it's hard for me to think that any author with a good contract as to what they'll be allowed to do can have a book and not be granted something as fundamental as showing the cartoons. I mean, even our dopey contract for the Stan Lee book wouldn't have put us in a position of not being able to run a photo of Stan Lee. Maybe there are different standards with an academic press, I don't know.
* on the other hand, the publicity is such this book might do very well -- at least in terms of academic books -- because of these actions, and that's maybe something to keep in mind as a second wave of opinions develop.
* one thing I hope for is that the lack of illustrations will be front and center when and if people decide on the ultimate value of this book. It sounds like a respectable, well-researched book, but I hope reviewers don't fall for that trap where the book is judged as if these publishing decisions were beyond anyone's control. The lack of cartoons is a choice on the same level as anything in the book's selection of interview subjects or the scope of the studies involved: it should have a definite impact on how the work is viewed.
* here's a statement by one of the experts contacted by the Press, and while at least this person's views don't seem to run totally counter to the press release, which is an improvement, I'm not sure the specifics of the statements match up. There's a big difference between declaring something a gratuitous publication -- a judgment with which I disagree -- and noting past actions and making an argument for a likelihood of violence, which is what seems to have been claimed by the Press.
* I'm not sure how legitimate this is, and any road paved in part with rhetoric where the notion of Saudi money gets bandied about in just those terms is usually a road with at least one exit to wackadoodle-land, but the general idea that if an academic press is going to be swayed by general political predictions they could also be swayed by specific financial interests doesn't sound like it should be completely off the table.
* finally, it's not like Anders Fogh Rasmussen has stopped having to answer questions about the whole affair. It's hard to imagine this helps him in his current position; whether it hurts, I can't tell.
* from Bart Beaty comes word that Bludzee, the available-in-multiple-languages strip for the iPhone that the great Lewis Trondheim spoke of during his spotlight panel at CCI, will make its debut in 9+ days. Here's an article; here's the official site with sample strips and a countdown clock. The article notes that the character resembles the Angouleme Festival mascot and that Trondheim is using this opportunity to scratch his longstanding itch to do an American newspaper strip. It will cost 8 Euros a year.
* the writer Kevin Church looks at his own comics on the Kindle DX and likes what he sees and what he can imagine in terms of freed shelf-space and an easier carry-around future. There are certainly comics out there being offered that way -- Armageddonquest is a book that's been recently promoted in terms of a Kindle edition.
* Sony announced that Marvel, Image, Archie and IDW comics would be available for download via the Playstation store and that titles would continue to be added. Or they announced a couple of those publishers and others piped up subsequently, I'm not sure. Here's a fine rundown of what should soon be available and from what deals/channels.
* the Spider-Woman motion comic featuring work by Alex Maleev and Brian Michael Bendis has apparently done well downloads-wise during its initial few days available on iTunes. I know this because after a long night drinking with a really mean genie last April, every time someone out there types the words "motion comic" I barf a little bit into my mouth. If I remember correctly, Marvel's been pushing this thing since NYCC, so I'm not exactly sure where this fits into their overall release schedule for the effort, or even if there's a non-motion version of it. If I'm halfway understanding how this works -- a big "if" -- I guess it could reflect the tenor of the time: launch work and keep launching it in various platforms and see what clicks.
* the long roll-out for the Longbox project now includes impressive-looking video. I would break from that post's writer and suggest "Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang" by Monte Video and the Cassettes as appropriate background music, but that's always my suggestion for appropriate background music.
* the audience and media coverage for that Persepolis 2.0 effort continues to grow.
* finally, Brigid Alverson has a nice post up here about Tokyopop finally getting some of its once-canceled series and paid-for efforts up on the Internet to be finished, I think as part of a more general Internet initiative. It's weird to see this material treated in a semi-cavalier fashion, and it may suggest there's just way more content out there than readers for that content -- not to mention it's really depressing to call art "content."
John Jackson Miller Still Exists
Here's a funny post by writer and numbers guru John Jackson Miller on being one of the people who had at least some information they provided mangled by famed one-man journalistic train wreck Jayson Blair back, before this blog was an ongoing affair. I hadn't known the comics connection with Blair, although it's not exactly a badge of honor. Apparently he didn't do a baseline good job of that, either.
* Pam Noles sent in this link to a listing for a UCLA series of Spoken Word lectures/presentations/interviews dominated by comics people, and I totally missed posting it until now. Sorry, Pam! Speaking of that list, how have none of the big book companies put together a graphic novel version of Santaland Diaries?
Missed It: Brooklyn Library Restricts Access To Tintin In The Congo
The only thing that strikes me about this move is that I wonder if there isn't a step between having the book and its distressing, ugly portrayal of Africans on the shelves and totally unavailable unless you ask the librarians to see it via special access. I mean, it's been a long time since I was going to the kids room at the Muncie Public Library downtown branch, but it seems there were certain books that I had to have permission from my parents to access but I could still access them once I secured that permission, like a piece of yellow paper related to that book I had to take home and have signed? I don't know. Gotta be tough to be a librarian. This is probably where I should make a joke about A Separate Peace being kept out of the hands of children so as not to expose them to it sucking, but these stories drain the energy right out of me. I don't have an answer; I don't even have a clever stand.
As noted, this is the same book that Borders moved from the kids section to the adult section a couple of years back, causing a similar number of nervous looks and fingers being worked under collars in response.
Shawn Nyland-Hoke Puts Minis-Focused Size Matters Review Blog On Hiatus
The writer Shawn Nyland-Hoke appears to be indefinitely suspending his Size Matters mini-comics review blog, citing basic issues of life getting in the way of the once thriving, still surviving small press resource. The blog will stay on-line as an archival resource, and Nyland-Hoke does not rule out returning to it in some form in the future. Still, this sounds to me like the end, and I wanted to thank the writer for paying such close attention to a worthy and maybe even fading element of comics expression when fewer and fewer people are doing so. I wish him luck in all future endeavors. The linked-to post contains a short list of similarly-focused sites compiled by Nyland-Hoke. I would have no way of knowing if The Comics Journal still has a minimalism column, but I'm guessing maybe not.
Comics Festivals Look The Same Everywhere In The World...
... except for the national political figures sitting behind the table being caricatured. I keep imagining asking her if she knows when Jason Little is going to be back at his table and if he brought any minis. Another difference is that the North Bethesda Marriott isn't likely to be bombed between shows. Interesting article.
Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* here's a nice article on the French version of the Comics Code. This could be all made up and I wouldn't know.
* the LA Timesprofiles Firas Alkhateeb, the artist who did the Obama as Joker Photoshop manipulations that led to one of those 16-hour periods of strident, talk-radio style idiocy a couple of weeks ago.
* the designer and author Chip Kidd talks about the DC Comics cover templates and logos he's done for some sort of column at the New York Times. One of the things I thought was a shame about there being so many Crisis on Whatever crossovers and covers over the last year is at least in the three shops I visited, the books became their own separated-out ghetto rather than be allowed to pop out against a backdrop of all the current comic books.
* the publisher has won French language publishing rights to Joe Sacco's forthcoming Footnotes In Gaza, and will put out their edition in January.
* in who gives a crap but it's pretty high up on my google searches news, an article at the Huffington Post notes that both Chicago dailies have conservative cartoonists now. I guess this united could mean Mayor Daley might only serve 80 years instead of 100.
* here's a detailed synopsis of the Jeph Loeb presentation from the Comics and Media thing that ICv2.com had the Wednesday before Comic-Con International last month.
* the Drawn and Quarterly boys went to visit Michel Choquette and saw some of the art discussed in this week's cover feature on The Comics Journal #299.
* finally, I missed this list of influential mainstream American comics industry comics writers by Justin Zyduck. His list is:
1. Stan Lee, 2. Alan Moore, 3. Chris Claremont, 4. Neil Gaiman, 5. Jerry Siegel, 6. Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, 7. Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein, 8. Harvey Pekar, 9. Warren Ellis, 10. Gardner Fox, 11. Mort Weisinger, 12. Len Wein, 13. Grant Morrison, 14. Brian Michael Bendis, 15. J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen, 16. Roy Thomas, 17. Steve Gerber, 18. Denny O'Neil, 19. Frank Miller, 20. Carl Barks, and 21. Geoff Johns.
Off the top of my head, my list would go:
1. Stan Lee, 2. Alan Moore, 3. Chris Claremont, 4. Charles Biro, 5. Jerry Siegel, 6. Bill Finger, 7. Harvey Kurtzman, 8. Don McGregor, 9. Warren Ellis, 10. Gardner Fox, 11. Steve Englehart, 12. Len Wein, 13. Grant Morrison, 14. Will Eisner, 15. Mark Waid, 16. Roy Thomas, 17. Steve Gerber, 18. Denny O'Neil, 19. Frank Miller, 20. Archie Goodwin and 21. Jim Shooter.
Man, that's kind of hard. It's not like these are all the makers of my favorite comics, but for instance with Mark Waid his focus on memorable storytelling moments over broader definitions of narrative in superhero comics was a huge thing for those kinds of comics -- Grant Morrison responded to it in a big way, for one. With someone like Steve Gerber, he wasn't a direct influence -- I wish he were; I'd love more comics like that -- as much as he re-set certain boundaries for certain kinds of comics and allowed people more room to express themselves in a certain way. And so on.
* the webcomics-focused blogger Gary Tyrrell notes that the last episode of Scary Go Round is schedule for September 11 with the new feature by John Allison ready to that next Monday.
* the first guest on the first War Rocket Ajax podcast is Matt Fraction. I want as many high-quality podcasts as possible to launch until I lose the compulsion to launch one of my own, so get to it, everybody.
* I'm not sure this is all-the-way new news, but DC will be reprinting Stuck Rubber Baby in 2010, with an introduction by Alison Bechdel. (The current edition has one I believe by Tony Kushner.) SRB was part of the 1994-1995 mini-explosion of substantial graphic novels that was in my opinion a flat-out preview to the publishing landscape we enjoy now on an almost month-to-month basis. It was also I believe finished with the help of Howard Cruse selling original pages as he went along instead of merely enjoying the fat advance he would no doubt enjoy were it being published for the first time today.
* finally, this column by J. Caleb Mozzocco on Previews listings for DC Comics notes that any long time ago initial plans that suggested their current Blackest Night event series would remain mostly or entirely self-contained obviously changed, and there seem to be a fine number of crossovers of that event into various titles and mini-series. Maybe not a crisis-number of crossovers, but plenty.
I'm not sure what to make of this, but I guess it's a cartoon satirizing Zionist education that the magazine Forward declined to run. Extended chimp metaphors go over well with just about no one, it seems. (thanks, Robert Boyd)
Your Danish Cartoons Hangover Update
* the writer Christopher Hitchens weighs in on the matter of Yale University Press deciding not to run any images of Muhammad in a book about the use of cartoon images of Muhammad that eventually led to a spate of riots, protests, political turmoil and deaths. Although what he says it true, I think I would come at it from a different angle than Hitchens does, that the pursuit of the full truth outweighs any reasonable consideration of risk in this case and any unreasonable ones as well. No one's quite pointed out how weird it is for the Press to be publishing a book that says the violence that erupted was not a cultural flashpoint but the result of a series of political manuevers, while treating the book as the potential agent for a cultural flashpoint.
* here's the official statement that the Press is distributing:
Yale University Press will publish The Cartoons That Shook the World, by Jytte Klausen, this November. The Press hopes that her excellent scholarly treatment of the Danish cartoon controversy will be read by those seeking deeper understanding of its causes and consequences.
After careful consideration, the Press has declined to reproduce the September 30, 2005 Jyllands-Posten newspaper page that included the cartoons, as well as other depictions of the Prophet Muhammad that the author proposed to include.
The original publication in 2005 of the cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad led to a series of violent incidents, and repeated violent acts have followed republication as recently as June 2008, when a car bomb exploded outside the Danish embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing eight people and injuring at least thirty. The next day Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the bombing, calling it revenge for the "insulting drawings."
Republication of the cartoons -- not just the original printing of them in Denmark -- has repeatedly resulted in violence around the world. More than two hundred lives have been lost, and hundreds more have been injured. It is noteworthy that, at the time of the initial crisis over the cartoons in 2005–2006, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Boston Globe declined to print them, as did every major newspaper in the United Kingdom.
The publishing of the book raised the obvious question of whether there remains a serious threat of violence if the cartoons were reprinted in the context of a book about the controversy. The Press asked the University for assistance on this question.
The University consulted both domestic and international experts on behalf of the Press. Among those consulted were counterterrorism officials in the United States and in the United Kingdom, U.S. diplomats who had served as ambassadors in the Middle East, foreign ambassadors from Muslim countries, the top Muslim official at the United Nations, and senior scholars in Islamic studies. The experts with the most insight about the threats of violence repeatedly expressed serious concerns about violence occurring following publication of either the cartoons or other images of the Prophet Muhammad in a book about the cartoons.
Ibrahim Gambari, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and senior adviser to the secretary-general, the highest ranking Muslim at the United Nations, stated, "You can count on violence if any illustration of the Prophet is published. It will cause riots I predict from Indonesia to Nigeria."
Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed, dean of the Under-Secretaries-general, under-secretary-general of the United Nations, and special adviser to the secretary-general, informed us, "These images of Muhammad could and would be used as a convenient excuse for inciting violent anti-American actions."
Marcia Inhorn, professor of anthropology and international affairs and chair of the Council on Middle East Studies at Yale, said, "I agree completely with the other expert opinions Yale has received. If Yale publishes this book with any of the proposed illustrations, it is likely to provoke a violent outcry."
Given the quantity and quality of the expert advice Yale received, the author consented, with reluctance, to publish the book without any of these visual images.
Yale and Yale University Press are deeply committed to freedom of speech and expression, so the issues raised here were difficult. The University has no speech code, and the response to "hate speech" on campus has always been the assertion that the appropriate response to hate speech is not suppression but more speech, leading to a full airing of views. The Press would never have reached the decision it did on the grounds that some might be offended by portrayals of the Prophet Muhammad. Indeed, Yale University Press has printed books in the past that included images of the Prophet. The decision rested solely on the experts' assessments that there existed a substantial likelihood of violence that might take the lives of innocent victims.
I hope I'm allowed to do that, but will take it down if I'm not.
* I'm still curious as to how the author is locked into publishing this version and can't take it elsewhere.
* the American Association of University Professors was quick to condemn the decision, although this would impress me more if I had ever heard of them before.
* finally, some good news: authorities in the Netherlands have apparently declined to prosecute Geert Wilders for showing the cartoons on television, nor will they prosecute the television station.
DCD To Skip Shipments After X-Mas
Retailer and blogger Chris Butcher unearthed in his latest dealings with Direct Market giant Diamond Comics Distributors that they won't be shipping comics on the week of December 28. They've cited the way that the holidays fall this year that any retailers receiving their shipments via 3-Day UPS would be squeezed during Christmas week in order to get the packages done and then squeezed again during New Year's week in terms of having them delivered, so that all of those stores wouldn't get their material until early January. So they'll skip a week.
I don't know that it really means all that much, but thinking about it for a second a few things come to mind. First, it's sort of creepy to have services interrupted, the same way the first time you see a former all-night diner closed you think there's something wrong with the universe. Second, New Comics Day is a spur to get people into the shops and on the Wednesday after Christmas I remember my brother and I being flush with cash from various aunts and uncles and grandparents and spending a bit more than usual. Third, it's not hard to imagine some comics run so up against the edge of disaster that doing without the weekly cash infusion of new comics could be a hardship. Fourth, some stores may resent the fact that they're able to pay for one-day delivery and others aren't and why do they get to decide when the comics are shipped. Fifth, some stores may resent having to rack two weeks worth of comics that next Wednesday, and the loss of business when customers try to match their one week's worth of budget to that two-week shipment. So not an earth-shaking thing, but one to note.
Jacq Cohen Moves From Dark Horse To Fantagraphics As New Publicist
Jacq Cohen, who held the title of publicity coordinator at Dark Horse Comics in Portland is apparently moving to Fantagraphics in Seattle to join their efforts as a publicist. I learned about this here, but it looks like PW also ran a news brief yesterday that mentioned the hire. At Comic-Con International in July, Fantagraphics announced an earlier promotion of longtime publicity and marketing guru Eric Reynolds to an associate publisher position. I do know that not all of the Dark Horse talent with whom Cohen was working knew of the imminent departure, although that seems normal for something just-announced.
Eric Reynolds was nice enough to take a few second and comment on the brand-new news as much as he was able to: "Yes, Jacq Cohen has been hired. Her start date is October 1, and the hire was just finalized this week, so it's still very new and some details are still to be hammered out," he wrote CR. "Essentially, though, Jacq will become our new publicist. I will still handle certain promotional responsiblities, but Jacq will take on even more. Her hiring will allow me to focus more on bigger projects and key releases. I think all of our books and authors will be better served by having both of us around to shoulder the load. We're excited, and I know she is, too."
Not Comics: Bill Wyman On Newspaper Failure & Why Reasons Aren't Discussed
I've been meaning to say so for a few days, but I thought this was a pretty good article from someone named Bill Wyman on the decline of newspapers. I don't agree with all of Wyman's assumptions (or would state them differently) nor do I feel the proposed solutions always work (it's my understanding certain newspapers saw gains in the '70s not by ignoring world issues but by consistently tying them into local concerns, an approach that seems wholly worthwhile), and I still think there are reasons left unexplored. For instance, Wyman cites slow technological change in newsrooms, but I'd say an even more worrisome trend is that when technological change has come to many newsrooms it has rarely come with an adjustment in expectations or workload. Wyman gets at this a bit when he notes that a big newspaper could essentially fire all of their culture writers and install dueling columnists to cover through original reporting what used to be the beat for eight or maybe even ten people including a lot of wire service material. Anyway, it's an aggressive piece and full of food for thought.
Go, Bookmark: Derek Kirk Kim Blog I either totally missed out on this springing to life or just haven't visited in a long, long time; either way, I'm the jerk
Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* one of the least talked-bout issues in DM sales is coverage, and this news report highlights the fact that there seems to be four stores serving Oahu now, down from what it used to be a decade or more ago and perhaps bound to go down again in the future.
* this article spotlighting some horrific moments from the DC Omega Men series notes that getting a narrative charge out of shocking turns of violence didn't start with the more famous comics of Alan Moore and Frank Miller. (via)
* the writer Sean T. Collins suggests that this month's sales chart is fuel for his theory that all things being roughly equal, Marvel event comics are going to do better than DC event comics.
* it's kind of hard to understand what's going on in this article, but my guess is that iconic comic shop They Walk Among Us is closing, the owners are keeping the web site and the name, and then either they or perhaps a chain is opening up something called Ace Comics in early October. Beats me, though.
* wait a minute: that "Archie marries Veronica" press a few weeks back was for a comic just now coming out? That's odd.
* not comics: Jeet Heer pens a poignant and -- for those us not customers, this is nice -- concise tribute to the independent bookstore Pages Books & Magazine.
* not comics: Robert Novak, a Goldwater-era political reporter turned Bush II-era political tool and a man whose increasingly fierce visage served as sort of a Dorian Gray's portrait for modern conservatism, is dead at age 78.
* people keep e-mailing me this article about book sales' relationship to movies, but I'm not sure why I want to stick around for parts two and three when in fact some movies have driven readers to books: Ghost World (exponentially more sales post-movie), Watchmen (anticipatory, but who cares when you're selling that many books?) and I believe Hellboy (which casts doubt on the "one movie to one book" theory) are all titles that have done well with exposure in movie form.
* there's a nine-page preview from cartoonist Brandon Graham's King City #1 here.
* not comics: this is a lovely quote about the people that attend Comic-Con International from the director Park Chan Wook: "Perhaps these people in their ordinary lives are friends and neighbors and we look at them and think they’re a strange bunch. But for four days of the year they have the opportunity to be the mainstream, to be on the main stage. They have the opportunity to find an outlet for their enthusiasm and their passion. It was a moving thing, to see this."
* finally, there's a lot to pull out of Chris Butcher's massive post on the New People cultural center, much of it related to comics. Even the distinctions being made about type of retail space and type of customer is worth noting, I think.
Another Employee Lay-Off At Wizard?
I'm hearing from the usual sources that Benji DeJohn, who had been moved from west coast sales representative to running the Chicago and Philadelphia shows earlier this year, has been let go. I have no information other than that, although one of the folks suggested it wasn't related to anything in terms of finance-related personnel moves, as many believe many of the moves over the last few years have been. Those sources haven't been wrong yet, but Tiger Woods was 14-0 going into final rounds of majors with leads on Sunday morning, too, so I guess anything's possible.
This Isn't A Library: New And Notable Releases To The Comics Direct Market
*****
Here are the books that make an impression on me staring at this week's largely accurate list of books shipping from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. to comic book and hobby shops across North America.
I might not buy all of the works listed here. I might not buy any. But were I in a comic book shop tomorrow I would more than likely pick them up and surreptitiously mop my brow.
*****
APR090829 COMICS JOURNAL #299 $11.99
Massive Bob Levin article about Quixotic 1970s comics anthology = must-buy.
JUN090261 AIR #12 (MR) $2.99
I would have lost any bet I could have possibly made on this comic lasting twelve issues, so allow me to tip my cap in respect.
JUN091048 AD NEW ORLEANS AFTER DELUGE GN $24.95
Josh Neufeld and Pantheon launch this book about Katrina survivors in time for the anniversary tie-in coverage and in a part of the year which guarantees little in the way of high-profile feature story competition comics-wise.
MAY091061 NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 04 $12.99 MAY091062 OOKU INNER CHAMBERS GN VOL 01 $12.99
Your well-regarded manga series of the week. I'm guessing with the latter one, but it's sure hotly anticipated and the manga fans usually aren't that wrong about something.
JUN090382 INVINCIBLE #65 $2.99 JUN090394 VIKING #3 (MR) $2.99 JUN090528 DAREDEVIL #500 $4.99
Your well-regarded comic book series issues of the week. Five hundred issues of Daredevil kind of freaks me out.
JUN091035 WET MOON GN VOL 05 (MR) $14.95
We're between 11 to 23 months before the inevitable Ross Campbell reconsideration, so if you want to be cool this time Christmas 2010 start getting these volumes now.
*****
The full list of this week's releases, including some titles with multiple cover variations and a long, impressive list of toys and other stuff that isn't comics, can be found here. Despite this official list there's no guarantee a comic will show up in the stores as promised, or in all of the stores as opposed to just a few. Also, stores choose what they carry and don't carry so your shop may not carry a specific publication. There are a lot of comics out there.
To find your local comic book store, check this list; and for one I can personally recommend because I've shopped there, albeit a while back, try this.
The above titles are listed with their Diamond order code in the first field, which may assist you in finding comics at your shop or having them order something for you they don't have in-stock. Ordering through a direct market shop can be a frustrating experience, so if you have a direct line to something -- you know another shop has it, you know a bookstore has it -- I'd urge you to consider all of your options.
If I didn't list your comic, it's because I was busy cleaning my automatic weapon for tonight's town hall meeting.
Standing against a trend of wave after wave of editorial cartoonist position eliminations, the Chicago Tribune, one of the country's leading newspapers and a publication without a full-time editorial cartoonist since Jeff MacNelly passed away in 2000, has announced its hiring of Scott Stantis of the Birmingham News. Stantis is one of the few cartoonists -- maybe the only cartoonist -- to be widely praised as working in the same general territory as the much-respected MacNelly: a mostly conservative cartoonist capable of self-criticism better known for working to a high standard than for his political views.
Like MacNelly, Stantis is also a syndicated comic strip creator, having launched Prickly City in the summer of 2004. I believe that the Tribune dropped Prickly City at one point -- I don't remember why -- although I also think Stantis has been a constant presence on the Tribune on-line collection of work by various prominent editorial cartoonists.
The press release issued by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists -- a group for which Stantis is past president -- tie Stantis' hiring into the Tribune's public effort to become a crusading newspaper and add value to the print edition in tough times for all such publications.
In more good news, the Birmingham News has announced its intention to replace Stantis with another full-time staffer.
Analysts: July 2009 DM Estimates
The comics business news and analysis site ICv2.com offers their usual array of lists, estimates and analysis regarding the performance of comic books and graphic novels in the Direct Market of comic and hobby shops, this time for July 2009.
The big news to my eye would be the flood of summer-related extra product that entered the market from the comic book side -- the Green Lantern-related stuff for that Blackest Night superhero zombie multiple ring attack thingamaroo DC has going on, a double-up on one of the the Spider-Man titles going into an issue number-related anniversary, issues of something called Dark Reign Marvel is doing (I think this is Norman Osborn taking over the government apparatus part of the Marvel superhero universe; it sounds like a really depressing Homecoming Dance theme), and the "Captain America is coming back" stuff. There's even an issue of a Final Crisis-related mini-series in the top 30, the Legion of Super-Heroes one that didn't have near-enough arms being pulled off to suit me. In fact, reading that comic kind of underlined the whole swappable nature of those events, in that despite lurching into view from last year's non-Green Lantern, time-bending tomfoolery it didn't feel super-dated as much as generically-based, at least to my eye. Any crisis in a storm; Armageddon as background noise.
Anyhow, I think ICv2.com's view on this is that it was a good month for sell-in on comic books, both in terms of overall sales (the first two-month uptick since last Fall) and where the sales are coming from (they note the difference in sales at position #300). I can't help but wonder how much real health is there, though. That's a lot of extra product for a not very huge gain, some of the most important stuff was tricked out in sales incentives out the wazoo and if you look at the two issues of a Spider-Man comic on sale there's such a huge jump between the more regularly-titled issue and the one with a couple of zeroes in it you have to wonder after the audience. I remain impressed at the ability of these companies to find tens of thousands in extra sales on individual event titles and a few thousand here and there as things go, but I think I'd feel better for that market if I received more indication that the audience were growing over time in this New Golden Age of Comics instead of what seems like a mostly-existing audience being engaged differently month-to-month: a New Aging Of Comics.
Also, it seems that the price point is now $3.99 on a majority of top 25 titles -- that probably happened earlier and I'm just now noticing -- and I'm even dumber when it comes to figuring out anything to say about the graphic novels chart. I guess it's nice they moved a few thousand The Hunter books in that market (it's worth noting that many of the best shops for that book are the ones more likely to buy from other sources; ditto Asterios Polyp), and that there's still a market for Preacher collections.
Go, Read: Twin Obituaries For Longtime Tintin Translator Michael Turner
Michael Turner, a member of the longtime translation team for the English-language versions of the Tintin series, died in early July at age 80. There are two fine obituaries for Turner at Bear Alley and at the Telegraph that would fairly dwarf anything I could put together independently of the information featured there. If you have the time and even half the inclination I encourage you to read one of them.
It's a great story. If I have it correctly, he and partner-in-translation Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper were junior employees at Methuen who offered their services for free in order to get Tintin into English through a proper book publisher as opposed to abortive attempts to push the feature through youth-oriented comics magazine. Getting the first couple of works into print allowed for a gushing review of the kind that used to occasionally change popular arts history. What's even more fascinating is the leeway they were given to make the subsequent translation friendlier to the British cultural experience, while at the same time there were hard and fast rules around certain phrases. Anyway, text translation is a severely undervalued skill when it comes to comics, and Turner was clearly one of the more important players in that sub-field in comics history.
Multiple Pros Answer: What's Your Opinion Of The Term "Graphic Novel"? Right here -- this should be as widely linked-to as any stand-alone article this week. I don't have a dog in this fight: I think it's a useful term for describing a general format, and increasingly irrelevant for describing a certain sensibility of or ambition for comics. This year doing a "graphic novel" panel at Comic-Con was the first time I had no pre-nervousness about the term being difficult or unaccepted or hard to figure out or worth spending time debating, and it only rattled around a bit for one question within the panel itself. Anyway, there's that. That Neil Gaiman answer is funny, too.
Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* the writer Don MacPherson gets real figures on how much security and traffic control costs Comic-Con International.
* a cartoonist with four strips and six places to post them reduces his workload by consolidating the on-line portion of his collective venues. This is one of those stories where the real story was the craziness that was going on before as opposed to the change being made.
* we all miss letters column -- those of us of a certain age, anyway -- but only Mark and Sergio are doing something about it. Actually, I'm sure other people are, too. Well, crap. Hey, all these link presentations can't be winners.
* it's only for comic book characters, so 
* the cartoonist Anders Nilsen has arranged for a massive art and other stuff auction featuring various comics all-stars to raise money for commercials to aid in the passage of health reform. You can read about it and find everything you need link-wise to buy or simply stare at what's being offered 
It's feels weird to boost participation in an awards 
* 
* I'm not sure how I managed to miss this, but in the comments to 
* the illustrator and one-time strip cartoonist John Kovaleski 
Wade initially worked in an Sydney advertising agency out of school in 1949. working with Paul White on Jungle Doctor magazine strips related to his popular autobiography. After illustrating many books in a subsequent series intended for younger readers for several years beginning in 1953, he was commissioned in the 1970s to turn some of those works into comics. 
This has quickly settled into a dispute over the reasons for the raid and seizure. The regional chief enforcement officer of the home ministry declared that the magazine did not have an official permit. The magazine's editor, the cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque (Zunar), a veteran cartoonist who has worked in Malaysian media for nearly 25 years, told the The New Strait Times that their permit was approved two weeks ago and they were given a serial number. 
* the writer Sean Collins continues his series of interviews with alternative comics creators working for Marvel 
* do some comics fans really call Captain America, Thor and Iron Man "the Trinity" with a straight face? 
* when I was a younger man, I was pop culture savvy to the point that a mini-trend could develop and I could spew forth some reasonably convincing theory as to why that was. Now that I'm no longer that young, things happen 
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* the Spider-Woman motion comic featuring work by Alex Maleev and Brian Michael Bendis 
* the cartoonist Jon Adams made a Spider-Man 
* the designer and author Chip Kidd talks about the DC Comics cover templates and logos he's done 
* the cartoonist Paul Rainey's webcomic The Book Of Lists 
* 
* 
* the critic and cultural historian Jeet Heer 
