Monthly Archive: August 2008

Comic-Con’s Graphic Novels Panel: Full Audio

  • News
  • August 3, 2008

Journalista recently posted the full audio from Comic-Con’s "World of Graphic Novels" panel in downloadable MP3 format. The panel features a discussion moderated by Tom Spurgeon of The Comics Reporter with panelists Nick Abadzis, Eddie Campbell, Alex Robinson, Rutu Modan and Adrian Tomine.

I attended this panel during the convention and it was a nice, thought-provoking and often funny discussion about graphic novels and the process that goes into creating them. I highly recommend the recorded audio from it.

On a side note, Journalista plans to take down the audio on August 31 — so if you’re interested in hearing the panel, get the audio before it disappears.

“Atomic Robo,” Webcomics and the Eisner Nod

  • News
  • August 3, 2008

atomicrobo-00-9630252Over at CBR, David Press recently spoke with the creators of the Eisner-nominated Atomic Robo about the origins of the series, their checks-and-balances creative process and the surprise nomination they received at this year’s Eisner Awards. The series chronicles the adventures of a self-aware robot created by Nikolai Tesla and commissioned to combat supernatural threats to the U.S.

I found the interview especially interesting due to writer Brian Clevinger’s roots in the webcomic scene as the creator of 8-bit Theatre. Now that Robo has managed to find its way into the spotlight, however, the print series has become the top priority for Clevinger and artist Scott Wegener.

The next adventure for the character, taking place in a new volume of the series titled Atomic Robo and the Dogs of War and hitting shelves August 13, finds the robot in action during World War II.

“I mean, don’t freak out, we’re not doing Band Of Brothers And Also A Robot. We’re very much aware that people pick up Robo comics to have fun, and frankly we’d get bored with it ourselves if we didn’t deliver on that. Everything we see is from Robo’s perspective, and he’s still a young ‘bot in this story. To him, it’s one big adventure. Not in a frivolous way, but let’s face it, he knows he’s bulletproof and he takes advantage of that to thwart enemy soldiers at every opportunity.”

Head over to CBR for more on Atomic Robo, as well as some pages from the upcoming issue.

Marvel Universe and Marvel Legends Images From Comic-Con

  • News
  • August 3, 2008

Hasbro recently sent over a pile of images from the new 3.75" Marvel Universe figures that debuted at Comic-Con International last weekend, as well as the two new "Build-A-Figure" lines that premiered. Since it’s that typically slow post-SDCC weekend, I figured I’d post them here.

Seen here are two of my favorite figures from the lines, Black Bolt from the Ares Build-A-Figures and Captain America from the new Marvel Universe line. I’m not even a very big fanof Cap, but something about that figure is really impressive. As for Black Bolt, well… he’s just another one of my favorite characters in the Marvel U. ‘Nuff said.

 

I’ve posted a big ol’ gallery of the rest of the figure photos Hasbro sent over after the jump.

 

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“Venom” Spin-Off Film Moves Forward?

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  • August 3, 2008

The Hollywood Reporter recently indicated that Spider-Man spin-off project Venom could be moving forward, with the Sony hoping to revive the web-slinger’s movie franchise much like the upcoming Wolverine spin-off looks to accomplish with the X-Men film franchise. The article also notes that the attention Heath Ledger’s Joker is receiving with regard to The Dark Knight has made studios rethink the viability of a villain in a lead role.

Of course, first they’ll have to get past a few pesky details… like, for instance, deciding on a script and a lead actor.

The studio had commissioned a draft of the script from Jacob Estes, a writer of the specialty film "Mean Creek," released several years ago by Paramount Classics. He’s also attached to the Plan B drama "The Gifted."

But the studio is considering going in a different direction from Estes’ script and is seeking writers for a new draft.

Casting also is no simple matter. Topher Grace played the character in the film, but agents have been eyeing the role for their clients, as Sony is not yet convinced the actor can carry a tentpole picture.

Well, all I can say is that it really can’t be any worse than the Daredevil spin-off, Elektra… can it?

“Welcome to Hoxford” Preview

Newsarama recently posted a first-issue preview of Welcome to Hoxford, the latest series by writer/artist Ben Templesmith. He’s one of the best there is these days when it comes to crafting scary stories that not only tell a tale, but make you feel it, too. Feel free to check out a few issues of Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse if you’re a doubter.

Here’s how IDW describes the series:

PREVIEW INTENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES — IDW has provided Newsarama with an exclusive preview of this month’s Welcome to Hoxford #1 – Ben Templesmith (writer & artist & covers) – Acclaimed writer/artist Ben Templesmith (Wormwood Gentleman Corpse) creates his newest horrific comic book right here! In the debut issue of Welcome to Hoxford, Raymond Delgado isn’t welcome at all. Rather, he’s the newest inmate at the Hoxford Correctional Facility and Mental Institution. He has no hope of release, parole, rehabilitation, or decent conversation. On a good day, he’ll tell you he’s Zeus and only bite your arm off. Literally. On a bad day, you won’t have time to scream to the prison guard for help. But Dr Jessica Ainley, his doctor for five years, wants to help Ray and can’t understand why the newly privatized, corporately run prison, won’t give her access to her patients. And why are people always transferred into Hoxford, but no records show anyone ever transferring back out…? Full Color · 32 pages · $3.99 * AUGUST 2008

As the solicit text indicates, the series is fairly graphic (and so are the preview pages) — so consider yourself warned.

SDCC: The (Maybe) Imminent Demise of Monthly Comics

  • News
  • August 2, 2008

I know, I know. More news from San Diego? A full week later?

Apologies all around, but this is too interesting to pass up. Newsarama has a recap of a panel where a few industry folks discuss the potential demise of comics in their monthly, floppy form.

Douglas Wolk and Joe Keatinge are the headliners, and everyone has a different opinion with plenty of insight to back up their thoughts. Things went toward the chicken and egg argument, as illustrated by this quote from retailer Carr D’Angelo:

Wolk asked D’Angelo about difference between the return on investment between monthly comics and graphic novel.

“We call them our perennials,” he said, about graphic novels that always seem to sell. “If we can find a new product we can turn endlessly, it’s like what Scrooge McDuck wants, a machine that turns lead into gold.” He named Persepolis and Blankets as examples, saying his investment was virtually guaranteed when he ordered them – unlike with monthly comics.

“I can never have too many Y the Last Man trades,” D’Angelo said. “It’s an endless supply of business. But I couldn’t do that if there weren’t 60 issues in the first place, building up goodwill, and building up an audience, and building up reviews.”

ComicMix Radio: Steven Moffat On Taking Command Of Doctor Who

Even for an established and award winning television writer like Steven Moffat, taking command of a 45 year old universe is a little daunting. In the first part of our exclusive ComicMix interviews with the top BBC talents, he tells us his outlook for the future, plus:

  • Dave Gibbons shares his reaction to seeing The Watchmen come to life
  • The creator of Scream turns to comics
  • What is was like to camp out under the full moon last night waiting for Breaking Dawn

No spoilers here – really  just Press the Button!

 

And remember, you can always subscribe to ComicMix Radio podcasts via badgeitunes61x15dark-1725408 or RSS!

 

 

Comics Heal Poland-Israel Relations

  • News
  • August 2, 2008

There’s a neat story in the Jerusalem Post about a comic book exhibit that’s aimed at easing the sometimes strained relationship between Israeli and Polish citizens.

Lingering anger from the Holocaust apparently has left something of a schism between the two peoples, and comic books are seen as one way of healing those old wounds.

If you didn’t know, 2008-2009 is Israel-Poland year. One of the many events taking place in this framework is the launching of Polisra, the first Israeli-Polish comic book – to be featured at an exhibition at Holon’s Israeli Cartoon Museum and at the Tel Aviv comic books festival. The Polish Mickiewicz Institute, which initiated the book, hopes it will be a channel in creating dialogue on topics considered taboo in the two nations’ histories. …

[Publisher Amital] Sandy views Polisra as an opportunity to deal with history and the stereotypes connected to it. One story in the book, for instance, portrays a Polish woman who buys a picture of a Jew counting money for her new house. According to Polish tradition, such a picture brings prosperity to a new home. When no such prosperity arrives, the woman complains of the picture’s failure to the salesman. The next frame depicts the salesman in his villa, surrounded by such pictures, exclaiming that, "It works for me!"

"Humor is a great method to examine our values. It takes a situation, flips it upside down, and gives the viewer a whole new perspective on it," Sandy says.

 

New “Watchmen” Posters Echo Originals

  • News
  • August 2, 2008

The Watchmen posters that debuted at Comic-Con are now online, and dang– they’re just like the promo posters from the original miniseries.

Don’t believe me? Compare and contrast:

Larger versions of these images, as well as the rest of the promo posters, are posted after the jump.

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SDCC: Little Earthquakes, by Martha Thomases

  • News
  • August 2, 2008

It’s nearly a week since Comic-Con ended, but still it haunts my dreams. I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, then the fifth largest city in Ohio (behind Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Akron), yet there were more people in the San Diego convention center.

I think all of them walked by our booth.

If they were any other place, I wouldn’t know about it, because I left the booth only to go to the bathroom and to the Black Panel (for different reasons, as I hope is obvious). The bathroom at the center back of the exhibit hall was usually not crowded and always clean, which is more than I can say for any of the other ladies’ rooms.

The Black Panel was packed. I arrived ten minutes early, which usually allows me my choice of seats, but this time, I was forced to navigate among strangers. Even though this event doesn’t get the hype of the movie panels, or the television shows, or even the video games, it’s really, really fun. There is music and dancing (not by me, you’ll be happy to know, but by people who know how to dance), and lots and lots of laughs. Also, people who have been seriously moved by comics get up and, in the guise of asking questions, testify to the power of graphic story telling.

I also got to leave the booth when my friend, Tiger, who is seven years old and was staying with us so she could read Mars, decided she wanted to find her father, who had a meeting at the Dark Horse booth. This was only about two aisles away, but it took us more than 15 minutes to get there. Not only did we have to stop and look at anything that might potentially be a toy display, buy we had serious problems avoiding backpacks. Now, I understand the appeal of the backpack – you can carry a bunch of stuff, and still have your hands free, and yet, you are not wearing a purse, thereby asserting your manly manliness. And my problem is not with backpacks, per se, but with backpacks that are stuffed so full that you, the wearer, are no longer aware of the dimensions. A backpack that is more than six inches deep is a deadly weapon, especially to those humans who are not yet tall enough to avoid getting whacked in the head by the bottom corner of your stuff. (more…)

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