Now THIS is what the ‘Birds Of Prey’ TV series should have been like…
Gail Simone, take note. D’Oh! Gail wrote this episode– I didn’t see the credits because it hasn’t aired in America yet. Thanks, Andrew.
Hat tip: Hugh Casey and Lisa Sullivan.
Author: Glenn Hauman
Bob Harras named DC Comics Editor-In-Chief
Yowza…
New York, NY, September 27—Robert Harras has been named Editor-in-Chief, VP, DC Comics, it was announced today by DC Comics Co-Publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio. Harras will oversee editorial for DC Comics, DC Universe, MAD Magazine and Vertigo and will be based in New York City, reporting directly to the Co-Publishers. Harras becomes the company’s first Editor-in-Chief in nearly 10 years since the position was held by Jenette Kahn from 1981 to 2002.
“Bob Harras’ personal and creative integrity is respected and renowned throughout the comic book industry,” said Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher. “As an editor, he provides invaluable insight into storytelling and character.”
“We could not be more excited to make this announcement,” said Dan DiDio, DC Comics Co-Publisher. “Bob is a tremendous evaluator of talent, character and story. He is a proven leader who brings a keen understanding of the marketplace to the position.”
Prior to being named Editor-in-Chief, Harras was the Group Editor, Collected Editions at DC Comics.
Before joining DC Comics, Harras was the Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics from 1995 to 2000.
Countdown to Breach revival in 3… 2… 1…
Popularity of Kevin Keller Leads to First Ever Archie Comics Second Printing
Archie Comics’ Kevin Keller– the first openly gay character in Riverdale– has been welcomed enthusiastically by Versace, the New York Times, and fans from every corner of the world. To celebrate the sold out first printing of Kevin Keller’s debut issue, Veronica #202, Archie Comics is going back to the press for a special limited edition variant cover print run.
Already selling for double the cover price on online auction sites like eBay, Kevin Keller’s debut issue has become highly coveted world-wide. The special limited edition variant cover print run of Veronica #202 will feature a remastered and recolored cover.
“We never thought Kevin Keller would become so hot so fast!” exclaimed Archie Comics Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “It’s been a thrill to see how well people have welcomed Kevin into their lives. His introduction was always just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive. It just made sense at the time and we couldn’t be happier to have such widespread and enthusiastic support behind Kevin’s continued presence at Archie Comics!”
Kevin’s limited edition variant cover issue of Veronica #202 will be available through ArchieComics.com and in comic shops beginning October 6th and in limited quantities at the 2010 New York Comic Con taking place October 8-10.
Kevin’s next appearances will take place in Veronica #204 & #205.
‘Crazy Sexy Geeks’ Asks… Is Batman Really Crazy?
For decades, the question has been asked… is it sane to spend millions of dollars and obsessively micro-manage your life to go out and beat up muggers dressed as a giant bat with a young boy following you around? Well, in the return of Crazy Sexy Geeks, comic book historian Alan Kistler discusses the mental state of Batman
with three forensic psychiatrists, the founders of Broadcast Thought.
Take a look– and then give us your thoughts in the comments section!
Want to win ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy on Blu-ray?
Of course you do, it’s new and shiny and out in stores today
— but we’re not giving it away to just anyone.
Send a note telling us who you think the lead character really is in The Lord of the Rings (and why) to @ComicMix
on Twitter (you can click the link below) by Thursday, September 16th,
and a winner will be chosen at random. (If you’re not a member of the
Twitterverse yet, you Luddite, you can also just comment below.) There is
a runner-up prize as well, with extra ‘LOTR’ goodies, including a
poster. We’ll announce the lucky buggers on
September 17th. Here are some ground rules:
Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
To enter, send who you think is the lead character in ‘Lord of the Rings’ and why to @ComicMix on Twitter or comment below (not anonymously, of course).
Your entry must be posted before Thursday, September 16th, 8 PM Eastern Time.
You may enter only once. No being tricksy now– we hates that.
One grand prize winner and one runner-up will be selected in a random
drawing. One Grand Prize Winner will receive The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Theatrical Editions + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]
(valued at $99); One Runner-up Winner will receive
‘Lord of the Rings’ merchandise (valued at $49).
Eleven years without tides…
Some days I think I can still see it there in the night sky…
What’s really horrible is the entire controversy over people wanting to replace it with a giant crescent moon, but some yo-yos think that’s too Islamic.
Amazing what a difference (less than) a year can make in comics
I wrote this a year ago last Friday. Amazing how time flies, doesn’t it?
Nine years on, I am hereby declaring it’s okay to watch this trailer again
No, we aren’t going to forget– but we aren’t going to let it paralyze us any longer either, or keep us from being kind.
If you feel like paying your respects, go watch 110 Stories. Or give a pint of blood today. Or help a scout troop. Give two Korans for every one that’s burned. Or just build something. Illegitimis non carborundum.
Labor Day and the Cost Of Doing Business in Comics
Five hundred dollars.
When people talk about putting regular, old-fashioned comic books online, keep that $500 in mind.
That’s about how much it costs for an average page of comic book art, in terms of labor. Figure $100 for the writer, $150 for the penciller, $130 for the inker, $90 for the colorist, and $30 for the letterer. Those numbers go up and
down depending on talent and publishers, but that’s a nice round number for us to work with.
Let’s consider another number: 22. That’s the average page count for a monthly comic book story. It’s also the number of pages most average pencillers can produce a month. Neat coincidence.
Now start multiplying. That means a penciller will make $3300 a month, or $39,600 a year. With covers, round that up to $42 grand a year. Not a lot of cash there. And the penciller’s the highest paid talent on the book. A writer will make $2200 a month, and nobody pays him to write covers. He’ll probably have to write two books a month to make his nut. And so on.
But if you’re expecting professionals to create your comics, that’s what you’ll have to spend.
Graphic novels? From scratch? You’re looking at about 120 pages minimum– that’s $60,000 in labor costs. Unless you’re economizing and doing a lot of the work yourself, that’s going to almost insurmountable unless it’s commissioned by somebody– most writers don’t have a spare $48,000 to spend on an outside artist. This, of course, is one reason why many “literary” graphic novels are solo jobs– David Mazzuchelli, Darwyn Cooke, Alison Bechdel, Brian Fies, et cetera– because the economics simply aren’t there to support five hungry mouths.
Any proposal for getting books in print in paper– or publishing online– has to keep those numbers in mind. You either have to generate enough money to cover those upfront costs, or find some way to mitigate or reduce them.
So how would you do it? (And no, you can’t pay in Monopoly money.)
Monday Mix-Up: ‘Comic Sans Man’
The unholy melding of bad comic book superheroics and bad comic book lettering…
Never has the phrase “Will he save the world… or destroy it?” seemed so apt.
