The Comics Reporter

September 30, 2013

I Would Assume That Many Comics People Are Taking Steps To Find Out About Health Insurance Today

When I was sick in 2011, I was lucky to have health insurance. A lot of people in comics don't have any health insurance at all. In some cases this is due to bottom-line difficulties in obtaining health insurance and might even be temporary: I've gone periods of time since 2011 without decent insurance, for sure. What's worrisome to me is that I suspect a lot of people in comics don't engage with the need for health insurance or the realities of not having it not for a few months here and there but for years and years at a time.

It seems to me that some of my peers willfully deny that it's a problem that needs addressing. Others have told me they ignore or decline to seek information that they could get about options such as local programs to help pay bills -- $5 prescription pills, indigent funds -- that while in no way a panacea would at least keep some folks from getting worked up into a such state of fear when they fall sick that it keeps them from seeking healthcare when time is important because they're scared of financial ruin. Some, let's face it, make career and personal decisions over many years -- for the sake of comics -- of the kind that actively devalue having health insurance as a life priority when it may not be smart for them to do so.

I do not yet have the information or the study time in to make any sort of summary judgment about the options available to people through programs that begin to flicker to life today, but my hope is that the rest of 2013 sees a lot more of comics folk begin to engage over the long-term with this need. I could do a much better job of it myself.

In the meantime, or if this doesn't apply to you at all: you can read some cartoons about it.

posted 10:30 pm PST | Permalink

Not Comics: Mattotti Mini-Gallery

posted 9:15 pm PST | Permalink

Video Parade Extra: Gary Panter At CCAD

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Bundled, Tossed, Untied And Stacked

By Tom Spurgeon

* cover and plot synopsis for the forthcoming Blacksad. That is a very successful series.

* the hobby business news and analysis site ICv2.com had a nice piece up about Ed Brubaker approving of Marvel's plan to collect a bunch of his Winter Soldier material in a complete, one-and-done way in anticipation of next year's Winter Soldier-related Captain America movie. Brubaker is right in that Marvel has rarely been able to capitalize on movie interest by giving retailers a single point to point to. Although, on the other hand, they seem to do a pretty good job of collecting material according to featured writer.

* speaking of Marvel Comics, I ran this link last week as a noteworthy creator interview, but you could also process it as some insight into how Marvel engages with a major storyline being folded into all of its books. It sounds like a feasible plan: the Kirby Inhumans concept is under-developed compared to a lot of similar Jack Kirby creations the company manages; Matt Fraction is an interesting writer and Oliver Coipel and Joe Madureira are artists with a significant fan base in that world of comics. There's a science fiction itch that comics is beginning to uncover in the way comics does, by letting various projects and ideas kind of bubble to the surface, that might be well served here.

* Joanna Moorhead profiles Katie Green on the publication of her story Lighter Than My Shadow.

* Viz sets its sights on India. Everyone should be setting their sights on India.

* there will apparently be a new series featuring the She-Hulk character.

* new Serenity comics. New Pretender comics. New Skyman comics.

* holy crud, it's a collection of early Julie Doucet material.

* finally, I dream of the day I'll be so caught up on my publishing news that I don't miss out on such releases, but Ellen Lindner has a first book in her Black Feather Falls series available for order. I'm told that Lindner was at SPX a couple weekends ago in support of this work, published in print by Soaring Penguin, but I never saw her.

posted 9:00 pm PST | Permalink

October First Means “Break Out Your Matt Fox Galleries”

posted 8:55 pm PST | Permalink

Steve Bissette Notes Creators Of John Constantine Will Not Be Paid From A New TV Deal

Making the TV show apparently falls under the previous option. Whenever I run across deals that strain at the confines of decency in order to make sure the money stays in the hands of people that already have lots of money, I get sad twice. I get sad because I assume there's money to pay the creators and they're basically arranging it so they don't have to, and I get a little sadder because I'm certain that discovering a way to do this is someone having a laudable day at the office. It's like that scorpion riding an animal across the other river story except instead of fulfilling his natural role mid-stream the scorpion stings the carrier right as he hops off and then pushes the other animal back into the current, turning to get high fives from the other woodland creatures.

posted 8:50 pm PST | Permalink

Go, Read: Panels Breakdown On Fantastic Four #61

there's a specific point being made there that's worth exploring, but it's also fun to look at the pictures

posted 8:30 pm PST | Permalink

Random Comics News Story Round-Up

* Frank Santoro went to to three major comics events rat-a-tat style and writes about them for TCJ.

* Chris Randle on Co-Mix. John Kane on a bunch of different comics. Sean Gaffney on Vinland Saga Vol. 1 and Fairy Tale Vol. 30. John Anderson on This Is How You Die.

* Tom Bondurant takes a look at the Reign Of The Supermen story arc in all the Superman books, springing out of that time they killed that poor heroic son of a bitch. I remember having a severe negative reaction to that material, to the point I realized I couldn't even fake enthusiasm for the kind of thing.

* how Garo got its name.

* J. Caleb Mozzocco talks to Charise Mericle Harper. Bill Spurr profiles Michael De Adder. David Betancourt profiles Mark Waid. Michael Cavna talks to Burton Durand.

* not comics: Robert Lange wrote a book on his father, Jim Lange.

* it's still an exciting day when you get books back in the office, or, if you're an artist, when you first hold the new books you've done in your hands at home or in your studio. That new Seth Palooka-ville is one nattily-attired little guy.

* Mike Rhode covers Jen Sorensen receiving the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award.

* finally, Nobrow has a mission statement for you to read.

posted 7:00 pm PST | Permalink

Happy 73rd Birthday, Richard Corben!