Author: Elayne Riggs

Hamilton to pen Blake tale for Marvel

  • Uncategorized
  • May 30, 2007

anitablakehc-6825111Marvel has announced that author Laurell K. Hamilton, creator of the popular Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series of books from which the company (in conjunction with the Dabel Brothers) has adapted comics, will be writing an original story for its upcoming Anita Blake hardcover coming out in July.

The story "marks Hamilton’s comic book debut, as she presents her first story ever written for the comic book medium." Really good to see Marvel actively courting female authors, particularly the ones whose creations have spawned such popular and best-selling product for them.

ELAYNE RIGGS: On owning one’s errors

elayne200-8887329"Sorry seems to be the hardest word" – Bernie Taupin

As I alluded to in last week’s column but didn’t have the space nor desire to go into at length, the comics blogosphere isn’t the only place wherein disagreements among feminists have cropped up lately.  From time to time debates occur as well amongst political liberal and progressive feminist bloggers who otherwise agree on many major principles and actions.  The latest example is the talk about whether blogger Jessica Valenti’s new book Full Frontal Feminism is inclusive enough of the experiences of women of color (certainly not an unfamiliar argument in the comics scene either, as Cheryl Lynn ably demonstrates).

The discussion is a bit involved for anyone coming into it without any background, although Feministe blogger piny has a helpful collection and timeline of sorts here), but I mainly wanted to talk about how Feministe’s Jill Filipovic posted to the critiques of her glowing review of Jessica’s book, as I think it’s a good example of how to graciously acknowledge when one realizes one has wronged others, and apologize accordingly.  You know, what we used to call civility.  The relevant excerpts appear at the end of this column — and that’s just her introduction! (You can read the whole thing here.)

Now granted, Jill is fairly well known and respected in the feminist blogosphere, but at the moment her real-world influence is somewhat limited. Can you imagine anyone in an actual position of power and privilege crafting that kind of a response?

(more…)

Illegal Surfer coins tarnished

Remember when I expressed surprise about the Silver Surfer quarters being retouched by the Franklin Mint, opining "one would assume the US Mint rather exempt from messing with our legal tender just to hawk a film" by 20th Century Fox?

Turns out I was right.  According to MSNBC, the mint "said in a news release Friday that it learned of the promotional quarter this week and advised the studio and The Franklin Mint they were breaking the law. It is illegal to turn a coin into an advertising vehicle, and violators can face a fine."

The Franklin folks insist "putting the character on the coin didn’t alter the integrity of the coin," and say they didn’t mean to break the law.  Isn’t that the Monica Goodling defense?

A memorable week

Hope you’re having a terrific Memorial Day weekend, at least in the US; readers from elsewhere in the world must content themselves with, we hope, lovely spring or fall weather.  Regardless, what better way to while away a lszy Sunday than with a week of ComicMix columns?:

Of course, for your listening pleasure we present Mellifluous Mike Raub‘s most recent podcasts:

Hope your memories of this weekend are happy ones!

Green comics coming

  • Uncategorized
  • May 25, 2007

wetlands-logo_-6694071Via PulpSecret, the Activism Center at Wetlands Preserve takes a look at The Paper Problem, specifically Adam Weissman’s quest to get comic book companies to get comic book publishers to consider using more environmentally-friendly paper.  The collective’s "Greening the Comics Industry Campaign seeks to shift the comic book industry to use of 100% post-consumer recycled paper and to reduce overall paper use."  To that end, the WP folks are offering Forest Defense Internships.

If this sounds good to you, here’s the online application form.  As PulpSecret notes, internships are unpaid positions, but they look terrific on resumes.

Manga Nobels established

Anime News Network reports, "In a press conference following a meeting of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s cabinet on Tuesday morning, Japanese Foreign Minister Tarō Asō announced the creation of an ‘International Manga Award’ for manga artists and creators from outside Japan."

Asō, known for being an outspoken manga fan, said "I want to make the award like the Nobel Prize of manga, to enhance the voice of Japanese pop culture and subculture." Asō will lead the task force which will establish the award, funding for which will come from the Japan Foundation, Japan’s endowment to support international relations.

Candidates for the prize will come from general applications and recommendations by publishers in Japan and overseas. Slice of SciFi reports, "June 22 will be the day the Award Committee, comprised of manga artists and publishers, releases their list of final nominees for the award. Japan’s governmental body of ministers will pick the winner and three runner-ups on July 2, 2007."

Kesel and the Jets

nationaltriumph-5484738In the category of "familiar names in not so familiar places," editor Barbara Randall Kesel (late of CrossGen, Dark Horse and DC) has a new gig — overseeing a comic entitled The National Triumph League, which will be cowritten by New York Jets fullback Darian Barnes.

The Jets’ official site is already publicizing this venture, including an interview with Barnes where he discusses the comic (about 4:50 into the video) and mentions their nascent web home. 

A bit more from the book’s colorist, Jason Embury: "The National Triumph League is the story of super powered teams, battling to capture villains in a competitive environment for points, and deals with the real life issues concerning the pressure and notoriety of being a professional athlete and life in the public eye.  A fun new twist on standard superhero fare."  Barnes is cowriting the book with Josh Goldfond, and the art will be by Jim Muniz, with coloring by Embury and lettering by Jason Hanley.

Barnes notes that the book is still looking for a publisher, but one assumes that a professional NFL player won’t have any trouble funding this kind of enterprise.

Vader under arrest

  • Uncategorized
  • May 25, 2007

Via Forbidden Planet: A Star Wars fan Down Under "was making his way to a 30th anniversary photo shoot earlier today ‘dressed in black and carrying a backpack with a replica laser blaster poking out the side’ when he ‘alarmed diners at a food court in central Melbourne.’ According to Reuters, the 32-year-old was quickly "surrounded by armed police, forced to the ground, and handcuffed,’ and will now be charged with possessing an unregistered firearm."  Emphasis ours. More from the Herald Sun.

Oh, and here’s the Beeb’s video take on the American celebrations for SW‘s 30th.

Superman takes Bollywood

Today’s YouTube find comes courtesy of BoingBoing, so you’ve probably already seen it, but what the heck. Presenting Govinda as Superman and Kimi Katkar as Spider-Woman:

Govinda’s shoulders may not be all that broad, but he really knows how to work that cape. I wish they still made American musicals like this…

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