The ADD Blog at Comic Book Galaxy - Pushing Comix Forward

2008-05-13T09:40:00.002-04:00

Kunstler on The Colbert Report -- I'm not one for embedded video files, but what the hell:

Enjoy!

2008-05-12T14:53:00.001-04:00

Tom Spurgeon on Comics Pricing -- As someone who frequently quotes Tom's "The only comics that cost too much are shitty comics," truism, I feel compelled to link to Spurgeon's think-piece on whether comics are becoming too expensive.

My feeling is, look at the cover prices of Acme Novelty Library, Love and Rockets and Eightball now versus when they debuted as floppy, serial comics. I'm just as happy paying $9.99 or $16.99 or whatever they charge for them as I was when they were two or three bucks. Because they're great comics, not because it's more pages or a better format.

The only Marvel comic not currently overpriced is Criminal, which I would still buy as-is at $9.99 and be perfectly content. The average Marvel Universe title, though, would be a screw-job at fifty cents. Look at it this way: Thanks to BitTorrent technology, I can read any Marvel or DC title for free the day after it comes out. And 99 times out of 100, I don't bother even then, for free.

How about you?

2008-05-12T10:11:00.001-04:00

ADD's Guide to the Best Comics Publishers -- Freshly posted at iTaggit.

2008-05-11T07:20:00.002-04:00

Sunday Stuff -- Mother's Day is here again, my annual reminder that I didn't really plan my wedding anniversary (in less than two weeks) with any kind of budget or common sense in mind.

My mom's been gone for well over a decade now, but I still think of her often; there are people I've worked with who I know I have completely forgotten ever existed, but I must think about my mother every couple of days. I always wish I could ask for her advice on whatever the decision of the moment is, and I wish she could have spent time with my kids. She only lived long enough to see my daughter when she was a baby, and that doesn't seem fair, but of course, fairness is a fairy tale.

I'm taking my wife and kids out for Mother's Day brunch at a wonderful place up in Lake George, which we stumbled into last Mother's Day when my initial plans fell through at the last minute. This time we have reservations and everything. What could go wrong?

We saw Iron Man yesterday. It is as awesome and well-done as everyone keeps telling you. If you haven't seen it, please do. And remember to check out my list of recommended Iron Man graphic novels at iTaggit.

Chris Butcher, one of the internet's most indispensable comics resources, has given quite a gift today to anyone who runs a comics-related website or is thinking about it. Read his thoughts on what he would do if he started up a new comic book website. There's an implied and well-deserved criticism of existing, popular sites and good, strong hints for those willing to see the big picture. I would love it if Chris actually did what he's talking about, but I'd settle for all the rest of us taking the hint and getting our collective shit together.

Certainly I've gotten a sense of what he's talking about since I started blogging about comics for iTaggit. They're paying to have me on their site as an "expert blogger," and while that money isn't going to cover my rent or pay for college for my kids, it will make my monthly budgeting easier and maybe help make my summer a little more fun. Actually getting paid for what you're doing by definition makes you take it more seriously, and most of the popular "comics news sites" don't pay much, or anything to their contributors. Which is why I would have a very hard time thinking of more than three or four columnists/writers for those sites that I pay any attention to at all. The people I rely on for the very best comics writing online do it by themselves on their own sites (or with one or two people occasionally chipping in, probably for reasons other than money), and it's unfortunate that they aren't better rewarded for their work. Because as Butcher points out, if they were, there would be a hell of a lot more of it for us all to enjoy and learn from.

2008-05-08T13:46:00.000-04:00

Recommended Online Comics Resources -- If you're a regular reader here, this may all be old hat to you, but I've posted a guide to the best online comics resources at iTaggit.

2008-05-07T16:44:00.001-04:00

Blitzer and Obama -- Here's what I want Wolf Blitzer to ask Barack Obama tomorrow on CNN:

I would like to know how the Obama Administration plans to deal with the permanent energy crisis we are entering � will he find ways to encourage smaller, more realistic economies of scale at the local level? What will he do when gasoline is not only too expensive for most Americans, but very possibly not even available, at any price? If he wins in November and serves two terms, that is almost certainly something he and his Presidency will face.

2008-05-07T07:58:00.002-04:00

Lyrics I've Had in My Head a Lot Lately -- By the Talking Heads, from the album True Stories:

We live in the city of dreams
We drive on the highway of fire
Should we awake
And find it gone
Remember this, our favorite town.

Probably my favourite song on my favourite Talking Heads album, it seems to apply both personally and globally...

2008-05-05T07:28:00.003-04:00

Amazing Things About Me -- Here's just a few of the things I have learned about myself by reading a comments thread at Comics Should Be Good:

1) I want to move in with James Kochalka.

2) I "assume a binary continuum" of "good" comics vs. "evil" comics.

3) I am "not a person but rather a highly advanced computer program that is able to effortlessly generate article after article of blowhardism."

4) I've "chosen a side, and [am] writing propaganda for the home team."

5) I "fulfill all the popular negative stereotypes of the 'professional critic.'"

Rebuttals:

1. I would not move in with James Kochalka until baby Oliver is out of diapers. I've changed enough diapers for one lifetime, thanks very much.

2. It's not so much good versus evil comics, as good versus evil comics "fans."

3. Since I actually am a highly advanced computer program that is able to effortlessly generate article after article of blowhardism, I can't really argue with #3.

4. I'm not sure, but I think this one means I am gay. Which would explain why I want to move in with James Kochalka, actually. God damn it, these people may be on to something.

5. Not so, I lost my ascot years ago and can't afford a new one.

Apropos of Nothing

If, after learning all these new and amazing facts, you would like to expose yourself to more of my blowhardism, please do check out my newest articles at iTaggit.

2008-04-30T19:40:00.003-04:00

Comics Blogging at iTaggit -- I've posted my first article about comics at iTaggit. Take a look, and please consider joining the site if you like what you see. I plan to post two or three articles a week there, and I hope you'll check it out.

2008-04-27T16:57:00.005-04:00

The Albany Comicon -- My wife and I brought our kids to today's Albany Comicon at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road.

Calling it a "comicon" is a bit of a stretch -- it really was just a dealers' room and a modest artists alley populated by local and regional creators like John Hebert, Todd Dezago and Matt Smith. There were no panels and really nothing at all to do except browse the dealers' wares and meet the creators, unless you count hanging out with friends, which luckily we got to do.

Former FantaCo stalwart Rocco Nigro and I had a great chat, and I asked him to keep an eye out for his former FantaCo compatriot Roger Green, who had said he might attend. Soon enough, Roger appeared as well, and we were able to spend some time chatting about FantaCo, and my and Roger's sadly never-realized plans for a regular column about the FantaCo era for -- remember this? -- "The New Comic Book Galaxy." That unrealized idea is probably my biggest regret about CBG; I really, really wanted to host -- and more importantly, read -- Roger's memories of that time. Luckily he still talks about those days from time to time, and a little bird tells me he plans at least one big post on the subject this summer.

The most fascinating, and frankly moving, part of my talk with Rocco and Roger today was hearing Roger recount his experiences the week cartoonist and FantaCo employee Raoul Vezina died. I remember that time, and Raoul, quite well, I miss him and his work more than I can ever really explain, and as I mentioned to Roger and Rocco, I remain amazed to this day that no one has really created a proper tribute to Raoul and his work on the internet.

Anyway, talking to Rocco and Roger was definitely the highlight of my day at the Albany Comicon -- it was a decent first effort, I guess, but the complete lack of any artcomix/alternatives/undergrounds/mini-comics/manga really left me pretty ambivalent about the event. Not that I was surprised, but it would have been nice if there had been some diversity beyond the relentless superheroes and Star Wars skew, which was in evidence virtually at every dealer's table. Getting together with friends and fellow bloggers is great, but it would have been really nice to come home with an armload of comics to read, and I came home with nothing (other than a freebie copy of The Daredevil Chronicles to replace my dog-eared copy).

But anytime Rocco and Roger want to get together and talk comics, FantaCo, or anything else, man, my schedule is wide open. Get in touch, guys.

Update: Roger's account of the convention is up now. Unlike Roger, I didn't win anything in the hourly raffles, although my ticket was off by only one digit late in the day...I'm glad he took home some swag, though.

2008-04-25T10:33:00.000-04:00

Albany Comicon This Sunday -- Show of hands, are you attending? Respond in the comments.

2008-04-22T16:06:00.001-04:00

TABEL KAT SEZ:

2008-04-22T14:20:00.002-04:00

Fantagraphics Ditko Book to Debut at MoCCA -- Here's the good news from Fantagraphics:

"STRANGE & STRANGER: THE WORLD OF STEVE DITKO" to debut at the MOCCA Art Festival (June 7/8th).

Fantagraphics Books is proud to announce that Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko � the first critical retrospective of Steve Ditko, the co-creator and original artist of the Amazing Spider-Man � will make its much-anticipated debut on Saturday June 7th, 2008 at the MOCCA Comics Art Festival. The author, Blake Bell, will be on hand both days at MOCCA to sign copies of the book and will debut his slide show presentation on Ditko�s work as part of the festival�s programming. As well, a bookstore signing event at Jim Hanley�s Universe will take place during the festival weekend.

In addition to updates, teasers, and media news on Bell�s Steve Ditko web site at www.ditko.comics.org, readers will be able to keep abreast of updates on the book�s Facebook and MySpace pages, as well as multiple radio and print appearances. For example, Wizard magazine will be running a 6-page feature, excerpting from the Amazing Spider-Man chapter, in its July issue � out in early June). Also, beginning tomorrow, the book�s Introduction will be posted on www.fantagraphics.com, with an additional excerpt being made available to Fantagraphics� 20/20 Club members.

Available in comic book stores nationwide in mid-June, and in mainstream book stores in early July, the book will explode many of the myths of Ditko�s career, as well as present reams of rare and unpublished Ditko artwork. All at once, the book functions as a biography of the artist, and an examination of his work (spotlighting over 300 images) with commentary on what makes Ditko one of history�s greatest sequential storytellers from the author and some of comics most skilled and articulate comic creators.

2008 will mark the year when Steve Ditko fans the world over will have the opportunity to celebrate the artist�s 50-plus year career with this definitive volume from Blake Bell and Fantagraphics Books.

TITLE INFORMATION:
Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko
By Blake Bell
$39.99 Hardcover
220 pages, full-color, 9� x 12�
Diamond order code: MAR08 3707
ISBN 978-1-56097-921-0
PUBLICATION DATE: June 2008

2008-04-22T08:50:00.002-04:00

Noah Berlatsky on "A Future for Comics" -- The Comics Journal's Noah Berlatsky has posted his thoughts on my essay "A Future for Comics," which appears in The Comics Journal #289, the current issue.

Berlatsky's a sharp writer, so I can't really argue with his conclusions, except to note that I hope he's wrong and that great comic book stores continue to thrive.

I also hope you'll pick up this issue of The Journal; it's the second of their new format, and features a lengthy interview with writer Robert Kirkman as well as the usual boatload of great writing about comics. And I think Ken Smith is even missing this issue, so it's actually all about comics and comprehensible to those of us without Stephen Hawking-level IQs.

2008-04-14T13:42:00.002-04:00

If I Picked The Eisners -- The 2008 Eisner Award nominations have been released, and I've boldfaced my selections. If nothing's bold in a given category, I either haven't read any of the nominees or have no preference.

Best Short Story
* Book, by Yuichi Yokoyama, in New Engineering (PictureBox)
* At Loose Ends, by Lewis Trondheim, in Mome #8 (Fantagraphics)
* Mr. Wonderful, by Dan Clowes, in New York Times Sunday Magazine
* Town of Evening Calm, by Fumiyo Kouno, in Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms (Last Gasp)
* Whatever Happened to Fletcher Hanks? by Paul Karasik, in I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets! (Fantagraphics)
* Young Americans, by Emile Bravo, in Mome #8 (Fantagraphics)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
* Amelia Rules! #18: Things I Cannot Change, by Jimmy Gownley (Renaissance)
* Delilah Dirk and the Treasure of Constantinople, by Tony Cliff (self-published)
* Johnny Hiro #1, by Fred Chao (AdHouse)
* Justice League of America #11: Walls, by Brad Meltzer and Gene Ha (DC)
* Sensational Spider-Man Annual: To Have or to Hold, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca (Marvel)

Best Continuing Series
* The Boys, by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson (Dynamite)
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, by Joss Whedon, Brian K. Vaughan, Georges Jeanty, and Andy Owens (Dark Horse)
* Naoki Urasawa's Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
* The Spirit, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
* Y: The Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and Jose Marzan, Jr. (Vertigo/DC)

Best Limited Series
* Atomic Robo, by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegender (Red 5 Comics)
* Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, by Peter David, Robin Furth, and Jae Lee (Marvel)
* Nightly News, by Jonathan Hickman (Image)
* Parade (with Fireworks), by Michael Cavallaro (Shadowline/Image)
* The Umbrella Academy, by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba (Dark Horse)

Best New Series
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, by Joss Whedon, Brian K. Vaughan, Georges Jeanty, and Andy Owens (Dark Horse)
* Immortal Iron Fist, by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, David Aja, and others (Marvel)
* Johnny Hiro, by Fred Chao (AdHouse)
* The Infinite Horizon, by Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto (Image)
* Scalped, by Jason Aaron and R. M. Guera (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids
* Amelia Rules! and Amelia Rules! Funny Stories, by Jimmy Gownley (Renaissance)
* Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, edited by Jeremy Barlow (Dark Horse)
* Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 and Mouse Guard: Winter 1152, by David Petersen (Archaia)
* The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, by Peter Sis (Frank Foster Books/Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
* Yotsuba&!, by Kiyohiko Azuma (ADV)

Best Publication for Teens
* Laika, by Nick Abadzis (First Second)
* The Mighty Skullboy Army, by Jacob Chabot (Dark Horse)
* The Annotated Northwest Passage, by Scott Chantler (Oni)
* PX! Book One: A Girl and Her Panda, by Manny Trembley and Eric A. Anderson (Shadowline/Image)
* Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow, by James Sturm and Rich Tommaso (Center for Cartoon Studies/Hyperion)

Best Humor Publication
* Dwight T. Albatross's The Goon Noir, edited by Matt Dryer (Dark Horse)
* Johnny Hiro, by Fred Chao (AdHouse)
* Lucha Libre, by Jerry Frissen, Bill, Gobi, Fabien M., Nikola Witko, Herve Tanquelle et al. (Image)
* Perry Bible Fellowship: The Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other Stories, by Nicholas Gurewitch (Dark Horse)
* Wonton Soup, by James Stokoe (Oni)

Best Anthology
* Best American Comics 2007, edited by Anne Elizabeth Moore and Chris Ware (Houghton Mifflin)
* 5, by Gabriel Ba, Becky Cloonan, Fabio Moon, Vasilis Lolos, and Rafael Grampa (self-published)
* Mome, edited by Gary Groth and Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics)
* Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, edited by Jason Rodriguez (Villard)
* 24Seven, vol. 2, edited by Ivan Brandon (Image)

Best Digital Comic
* The Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl
* Billy Dogma, Immortal, by Dean Haspiel
* The Process, by Joe Infurnari
* PX! By Manny Trembley and Eric A. Anderson
* Sugarshock!, by Joss Whedon and Fabio Moon

Best Reality-Based Work
* Laika, by Nick Abadzis (First Second)
* The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam, by Ann Marie Fleming (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group)
* Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow, by James Sturm and Rich Tommaso (Center for Cartoon Studies/Hyperion)
* Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm, by Percy Carey and Ronald Wimberly (Vertigo/DC)
* White Rapids, by Pascal Blanchet (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Graphic Album--New
* The Arrival, by Shaun Tan (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
* Bookhunter, by Jason Shiga (Sparkplug Books)
* Essex County, vols. 1-2: Tales from the Farm/Ghost Stories, by Jeff Lemire (Top Shelf)
* Exit Wounds, by Rutu Modan (Drawn & Quarterly)
* Percy Gloom, by Cathy Malkasian (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album--Reprint
* Agents of Atlas Hardcover, by Jeff Parker, Leonard Kirk, and Kris Justice (Marvel)
* Godland Celestial Edition, by Joe Casey and Tom Scioli (Image)
* James Sturm's America: God, Gold, and Golems, by James Sturm (Drawn & Quarterly)
* Mouse Guard: Fall 1152, by David Petersen (Archaia)
* Super Spy, by Matt Kindt (Top Shelf)

Best Archival Collection/Project--Comic Strips
* (The Complete) Dream of the Rarebit Fiend, by Winsor McCay (Ulrich Merkl)
* Complete Terry and the Pirates, vol. 1, by Milton Caniff (IDW)
* Little Sammy Sneeze, by Winsor McCay (Sunday Press)
* Popeye, vol. 2: Well Blow Me Down, by E. C. Segar (Fantagraphics)
* Sundays with Walt and Skeezix, by Frank King (Sunday Press)

Best Archival Collection/Project--Comic Books
* Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus, vol. 1, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Marvel)
* Apollo's Song, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
* The Completely MAD Don Martin, by Don Martin (Running Press)
* Daredevil Omnibus, by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson (Marvel)
* I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets! by Fletcher Hanks (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material
* The Arrival, by Shaun Tan (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
* Aya, by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Obrerie (Drawn & Quarterly)
* Garage Band, by Gipi (First Second)
* I Killed Adolf Hitler, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
* The Killer, by Matz and Luc Jacamon (Archaia)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material--Japan
* The Ice Wanderer and Other Stories, by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
* MW, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
* Naoki Urasawa's Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
* New Engineering by Yuichi Yokoyama (PictureBox)
* Tekkonkinkreet: Black & White, by Taiyo Matsumoto (Viz)
* Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms, by Fumiyo Kouno (Last Gasp)

Best Writer
* Ed Brubaker, Criminal (Marvel)
* James Sturm, Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow (Center for Cartoon Studies/Hyperion)
* Brian K. Vaughan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Dark Horse); Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC), Y: The Last Man (Vertigo/DC)
* Joss Whedon, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Dark Horse)
* Brian Wood, DMZ, Northlanders (Vertigo/DC); Local (Oni)

Best Writer/Artist
* Jeff Lemire, Essex County: Tales from the Farm/Ghost Stories (Top Shelf)
* Rutu Modan, Exit Wounds (Drawn & Quarterly)
* Shaun Tan, The Arrival (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
* Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #18 (Acme Novelty)
* Fumi Yoshinaga, Flower of Life; The Moon and Sandals (Digital Manga)

Best Writer/Artist--Humor
* Kyle Baker, The Bakers: Babies and Kittens (Image)
* Fred Chao, Johnny Hiro (AdHouse)
* Brandon Graham, King City (Tokyopop); Multiple Warheads (Oni)
* Eric Powell, The Goon (Dark Horse)
* James Stokoe, Wonton Soup (Oni)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
* Steve Epting/Butch Guice/Mike Perkins, Captain America (Marvel)
* Pia Guerra/Jose Marzan, Jr., Y: The Last Man (Vertical/DC)
* Jae Lee, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (Marvel)
* Takeshi Obata, Death Note, Hikaru No Go (Viz)
* Ethan Van Sciver, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps (DC)

Best Painter or Multimedia Artist (interior art)
* Ann-Marie Fleming, The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group)
* Eric Powell, The Goon: Chinatown (Dark Horse)
* Bryan Talbot, Alice in Sunderland (Dark Horse)
* Ben Templesmith, Fell (Image); 30 Days of Night: Red Snow; Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse (IDW)

Best Cover Artist
* John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Lone Ranger (Dynamite)
* James Jean, Process Recess 2 (AdHouse)
* J. G. Jones, 52 (DC)
* Jae Lee, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (Marvel)
* Jim Lee, All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (DC); World of Warcraft (WildStorm/DC)

Best Coloring
* Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! (Renaissance)
* Steve Hamaker, Bone, vols. 5 and 6 (Scholastic); Shazam: Monster Society of Evil (DC)
* Richard Isanove, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (Marvel)
* Ronda Pattison, Atomic Robo (Red 5 Comics)
* Dave Stewart, BPRD, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cut, Hellboy, Lobster Johnson, The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse); The Spirit (DC)
* Alex Wald, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)

Best Lettering
* Jared K. Fletcher, Catwoman, The Spirit (DC); Sentences: Life of MF Grimm (Vertigo/DC)
* Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! (Renaissance)
* Todd Klein, Justice, Simon Dark (DC); Fables, Jack of Fables, Crossing Midnight (Vertigo/DC); League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier (WildStorm/DC); Nexus (Rude Dude)
* Lewis Trondheim, At Loose Ends, Mome 7 & 8 (Fantagraphics)
* Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #18 (Acme Novelty)

Special Recognition
* Chuck BB, Black Metal (artist, Oni)
* Matt Silady, The Homeless Channel (writer/artist, AiT/PlanetLar)
* Jamie Tanner, The Aviary (writer/artist, AdHouse)
* James Vining, First in Space (writer/artist, Oni)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
* Comic Art #9, edited by Todd Hignite (Buenaventura Press)
* Comic Foundry, edited by Tim Leong (Comic Foundry)
* The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)
* The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael
* Newsarama, produced by Matt Brady and Michael Doran

[TIE]

Best Comics-Related Book
* The Art of P. Craig Russell, edited by Joe Pruett (Desperado)
* The Artist Within, by Greg Preston (Dark Horse)
* Manga: The Complete Guide, by Jason Thompson (Del Rey Manga)
* Meanwhile... A Biography of Milton Caniff, by R. C. Harvey (Fantagraphics)
* Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean, by Douglas Wolk (Da Capo Press)
* Understanding Manga and Anime, by Robin Brenner (Libraries Unlimited/Greenwood Publishing)

Best Publication Design
* (The Complete) Dream of the Rarebit Fiend, designed by Ulrich Merkl (Ulrich Merkl)
* Complete Terry and the Pirates, designed by Dean Mullaney (IDW)
* Heroes, vol. 1, designed by John Roshell/Comicraft (WildStorm/DC)
* Little Sammy Sneeze, designed by Philippe Ghielmetti (Sunday Press)
* Process Recess 2, designed by James Jean and Chris Pitzer (AdHouse)
* Sundays with Walt and Skeezix, designed by Chris Ware (Sunday Press)

Hall of Fame
Judges' Choices
* R. F. Outcault
* Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
Nominees (4 will be selected by voters):
* Matt Baker
* John Broome
* Reed Crandall
* Rudolph Dirks
* Arnold Drake
* George Evans
* Creig Flessel
* Graham Ingels
* Mort Meskin
* Tarpe Mills
* Gilbert Shelton
* George Tuska
* Mort Weisinger
* Len Wein
* Barry Windsor-Smith

2008-04-08T19:20:00.002-04:00

Outrageous Book of the Week -- I want to bring your attention to this week's release of Most Outrageous: The Trials and Trespasses of Dwaine Tinsley and Chester the Molester, new in softcover by Bob Levin and published by Fantagraphics Books.

Levin is one of the most gifted writers about comics ever, and one of the previous books remains one of my most cherished volumes about the subject. I can't tell you how often I pluck this off the shelf and read an essay or two. It gets me excited about writing and excited about comics every time I crack it open.

Much more information at the Fantagraphics website.

2008-04-07T09:08:00.006-04:00

End of the World Watch -- Paul Krugman, writing for the New York Times, looks at why food prices are going through the roof. And they likely won't be coming back down.

2008-04-06T06:47:00.004-04:00

Order BLUESMAN Now! -- The BLUESMAN graphic novel is now available for preorder at your local comic book store.

Here are the details you need to have to make sure your retailer can get you a copy:

Bluesman Collected Edition HC
Diamond Order Code: APR084026
ISBN 1561635324
220 pgs, B&W, HC, 6x9

BLUESMAN is the creation of Rob Vollmar and Pablo G. Callejo, whose first graphic novel was The Castaways. BLUESMAN was serialized in three volumes and was an amazing read, with both Rob and Pablo showing great growth over The Castaways, which was pretty terrific to begin with. But they really blew the doors off with BLUESMAN, and this hardcover is bound to be a beautiful collection of one of my favourite comics of the past decade.

More details at The BLUESMAN Project, which was overhauled a bit over the weekend to reflect the pending hardcover release. Please take a look and make sure you let your retailer know you want BLUESMAN.

2008-04-04T11:10:00.006-04:00

The Education of Hopey Glass -- There's probably not a more perfect comics reading experience than immersing yourself in a Love and Rockets collection; they're all representative of the very best that comics can aspire to be, and The Education of Hopey Glass stands out as a premier example.

The book collects over a dozen short stories by Jaime Hernandez, stories that originally appeared in the now-complete L&R Vol. 2 (Vol. 3 will be an annual series of graphic novels). The focus in the first half of the book is mostly on Maggie's on-again, off-again lover Hopey, and the second half of the book is given over to the misadventures of Ray as he falls into orbit around Vivian, AKA "The Frogmouth."

Every story in this volume is sublimely rewarding and narratively fulfilling. By now Love and Rockets really is like going home for longtime readers. The characters have, decades after their creation, become as much a part of the reader's life as any friend or family member, with all the hope for their well-being and amusement at their foibles that that suggests. Much is unsaid about Hopey's attractions and aspirations, but by watching her actions, at the eye doctor, at home, at work, learning to drive -- we love her as Maggie does. How could you not?

Ray is more challenging a character than Hopey, because he's not as honest with himself or others as she is. But ultimately he's easy to relate to because his frustrations and desires mirror our own. Both the Ray/Frogmouth and the Hopey stories feature Angel, a sexy, full-figured young woman who is the focus of the best story in the book, a four-pager about her tossing a ball around with her dad and talking about her hopes and the unfair limitations she's facing.

The effect of Love and Rockets, as any individual book or as a decades-long experience, is always a cumulative one. I read these stories when they were serialized in periodical form, and I loved them. Taken together, re-worked into one long story broken up into chapters focusing on the various characters, a different focus reveals itself and I appreciate them even more. Most comics aren't as good the second time you read them, but Love and Rockets stories are always better with repeated exposure -- like spending time with loved ones you cherish and adore. Just exactly like that, in fact.

2008-03-29T04:10:00.003-04:00

Truth and Actual Justice -- Amazing news on the Superman legal front. Here's good commentary from:

* Christopher Butcher

* Uncivil Society

Expect tons more from everyone on Monday.

My take is basically that, contracts and legal niceties aside, whenever a company or corporation benefits from its employees' or contractors' work in a way that neither party could have anticipated, and which results in unimagined and unimaginable magnitudes of revenue for the company or corporation, it's not just the ethical thing to do to recognize the actual creators of the unexpected windfall; it's good business. A large reason why DC and Marvel have been so creatively bankrupt for decades (save the occasional, almost accidental Moores and Morrisons) is because generations of creators have now seen that there's no real reason to give your creative best when working-for-hire in the virtual superhero sweatshops.

This is how we have ended up with truly, indisputably shit superhero writers like Loeb, Johns, Bendis, Straczynski and the rest of the Fan Fiction Age of Superhero Comics seen as visionaries, when they are just enthusiastic typists exercising wrongheaded stewardship of international storytelling treasures on a massive, tragic scale.

In the 1930s, '40s, '50s and '60s, the ideas good and bad flew fast and furious, a decades-long surge of new characters, settings and tropes that endured for years and years and years. In the 1970s and '80s, when creators saw how criminally awful people like Siegel and Shuster and Simon and Kirby were ultimately (mis-)treated by the companies they allowed to exist and thrive in the first place, the floodwaters of creativity receded to a trickle of new ideas. How many enduring characters have been created, work-for-hire, at Marvel and DC since 1975? Elektra comes to mind -- along with Marvel's ultimately going back on any promises they made to her creator, Frank Miller. How many successful superhero movies are being made about characters created work-for-hire in the past thirty years? Face it, the good superhero ideas were virtually all created by writers and artists who got the shaft from the corporations they made the mistake of trusting with their best interests, their livelihoods, their very ability to feed their families.

So, I don't know exactly what the consequences of this decision are, but it can only be seen as a landmark day for creators rights, and a shot across the bow to two arrogant, shortsighted corporations that, if they had better treated the people that created the entire foundations of their existence, would be far better off these days and facing far less ill-will, among intelligent readers, among the creative community, and inside the legal system, which has finally meted out a little truth and justice in a seemingly never-ending battle.

2008-03-27T13:53:00.002-04:00

The Best Current Comics -- This thread at The V has me thinking of what current comics I am enjoying the most at the moment. This is actually a tough one of me, now that I am out of the habit of weekly comic shop visits but not quite in the category of "waiting for the trade." But here's my list:

Punisher MAX
All-Star Superman
Love and Rockets
Scott Pilgrim
D&Q's Yoshihiro Tatsumi reprint series
Criminal
Anything Frank Santoro touches (Cold Heat, Storeyville, Incanto)
Godland

Not many regular titles are grabbing me these days; I was loving Conan under Busiek and Nord but not so much now they're gone. I want to love everything Ed Brubaker touches, but Captain America's art is a total turnoff to me, and Daredevil hasn't really excited me as a character since the end of Born Again.

I've ordered Steven Grant's Two Guns in trade, but some of the issues were sold out so I was unable to read it in singles once I heard it existed. Tom Spurgeon is quite right today when he notes that a lot of publishers aren't getting enough word out about their books.

I am still getting Morrison's Batman, but I haven't liked an issue since the JH Williams trilogy of issues. Since it's Morrison, I am holding on in hopes it will come together again, a privilege I reserve pretty solely for Moore and Morrison.

2008-03-25T02:02:00.004-04:00

David Brooks on Hillary's Fall -- Here's a good piece on why Hillary's days are numbered no matter how you slice it, and why she should get out of the way now to ensure that the right thing happens on Election Day, 2008. Every day she stays in the race against Obama at this point endangers us all and puts us at risk of another four years of the kind of illegal thuggery that has defined the past eight years of American politics under the obscene, lawless Bush "administration."

If you had told me a decade ago that I would be praying for Hillary to fail even as Rush Limbaugh urges his listeners to vote for her, man, I'd have had you institutionalized. But that's just how upside-down and inside-out current political reality is. Hillary -- a woman who once championed universal health care for all and is now in the pocket of the idea's most vicious opponents -- is Al Gore and John Kerry all over again, weak in will but resolute in her refusal to get out of the way of better candidates because it's her "turn." And the last vestiges of hope I have for this destroyed American political system lies solely in the hands of Barack Obama.

Not that President Obama is facing any glorious future either, as these pieces at Market Watch, CNN and Jim Kunstler's blog indicate.

2008-03-24T17:36:00.004-04:00

That Salty Air Shipping This Week -- Good first graphic novel from cartoonist Tim Sievert, available starting Wednesday in better comic shops and bookstores. Here's my review.

2008-03-24T13:35:00.002-04:00

Bending Comics Clarification -- Just a note to make sure everyone understands my post earlier today about the clerk bending the comics as he checked out my purchases was not about a comic book store. It happened in a mainstream newsstand/drugstore-type outlet (one which I imagine has been gone for decades).

Seems some have misunderstood both the post and my intentions in posting it. More than anything, it was just an exploration of a strong memory from my early teens, with no greater agenda than that.

2008-03-24T06:02:00.005-04:00

The Monday Briefing -- Hi, I'm back and feeling better. Thank you.

It was a busy weekend of posting, so I thought I'd summarize what's new here the past couple of days:

* I reviewed Mark Evanier's Kirby: King of Comics.

* I wrote about the forgotten foods of my childhood; then Chris Allen did, too.

* Finally, I wrote about the trauma of bent comics, which in retrospect I noted was my first experience with comics activism.

* Also of note today, Tom Spurgeon presents his Best of 2007. It's a good, long piece about great comics. And I agree with him about Paul Karasik's story at the end of I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets, it really does not belong in the book and takes away from its near-perfection. Well, Tom doesn't think it's near-perfect, he didn't care for the format, either, apparently, I'd guess because it looks like a museum catalog of what are essentially dog-eared old pulp comics. And he's not far from wrong, although I loved the book (and still do). But now that I've seen it, I bet the perfect format might have looked something more like Image's Next Issue Project #1? A facsimile-style effort would suit those comics just wonderfully. And since they're presumably public domain...hey, I'm just sayin'.

Before I got sick I was compiling the results of my poll on your comics retailing experiences, and I hope to wrap that up and present it to you here in the next week or so.

Enjoy your Monday.