Category: News
Martha Thomases: The Needles And The Damage Done
Twice a week, I teach knitting to people with cancer and caregivers. Most of you probably think of knitting as something serene, a hobby for little old ladies (current and future). However, when I teach, my instructions are filled with images of guns and shooting, stabbing people with knitting needles, and when I make a mistake, I threaten my materials with unspeakably filthy and unnatural acts.
I do this when I teach for a couple of reasons. Most important, it makes the techniques easier to remember. However, for this group in particular, it gives a sense of control. These people have so little control in their lives that it’s great to have control over knitting needles and yarn.
It’s powerful. When you’re staring the possibility of dying in the face, it’s good to have something that makes you feel powerful.
This is a long, roundabout way of getting to the intersection of a couple of trends I see in our beloved graphic story medium. As I wrote last week, the industry has a sad tendency to throw away creative talent when it is deemed to be “old.” There is also a pathetic paucity of work by women, racial minorities, and people whose identify as queer.
Things are slightly better outside of the Big Two (Marvel and DC). but not much. Not really.
This is a problem. It’s a problem in many media (especially broadcast news, but that’s another rant) but it seems to me that comics is one of the worst. It seems like a paradox, but by appealing to a cultural ideal of straight, white young men, comics may be stuck in a closet of marginalization.
We all have impulses and emotions. Many of these are not welcome by the larger society in which we not only live, but rely on for daily support. I think it’s healthy and mature to work out inappropriate feelings with the vicarious experience of entertainment.
Specifically, when we feel angry at our lives and helpless within are mortal bodies, we need power fantasies. Hence, in other mass media, we get not just superhero stories. but police procedurals, sword and sorcery, House and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
There’s other emotions that are inappropriate to express in our daily, public lives. We don’t show grief or sadness or lust. Men don’t show nurturing. These feelings are for private time, or for working out with art.
There are books and movies for these feelings. Dreary foreign films about death, silly romantic comedies with Katherine Heigl or Kate Hudson. This movie, which is one of the most bleak, self-loathing things I’ve ever seen. Sometimes, I need Carey Mulligan to hate herself so I don’t have to hate myself.
There are some brilliant graphic novels that appeal to these audiences, but they are few and far between.
There is nothing wrong with having a target audience. That’s effective marketing (note: marketing is not the same as editing, or publishing). However, if one plans to have an entertainment conglomerate and see some growth, one needs to occasionally try for other audience segments, or at least other audience moods.
In the meantime, if you see any bald-headed women making socks, watch your ass.
PULP AND COMICS INVADE EARTH STATION ONE
This week, Earth station One podcast hosts Mike Faber, Mike Gordon, and the 2013 Pulp Ark Award-Winning Best Author Bobby Nash give the spinner rack a few turns and take a look at some of our favorite non-superhero graphic novels and collected trades – no capes allowed! Joining us for some comic chat are Doctor Q (The Rachet Retrocast), Jason De La Torre (Transmissions from Atlantis), and Josh Wilson (Mad Norwegian Press). We are also joined by New Pulp Author Mark Ellis, who discusses the very superhero-ish team, the Justice Machine. But can they save him from the dreaded fate that is The Geek Seat? Tune in for the answer, plus the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!
Join us for yet another episode of The Earth Station One Podcast we like to call: Our Favorite Non-Superhero Graphics Novels and Trades at www.esopodcast.com
Direct link: http://erthstationone.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/earth-station-one-episode-154-our-favorite-non-superhero-graphics-novels-and-trades/
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| ESO’s merry hosts: Faber, Nash, Gordon |
Next on Earth Station One…
Yo, Joe!!!
Next week, the Earth Station One crew enlists. That’s right, Mike, Mike, and Bobby report for duty as part of America’s highly trained special missions force, known as G.I. Joe. ESO takes down Cobra forces while looking back at the Joes’ history from comic books, the various cartoon series, the conventions, the toys, and the upcoming live action movie starring The Rock and Bruce Willis. Plus, the ESO Khan Report goes on the road to Joelanta, Atlanta’s premier G.I. Joe convention. And if that wasn’t enough, just wait until you see who we strap into The Geek Seat this week. Plus, we’ll have the usual rants, raves, shout outs, and ESO’s Khan Report! It’s going to be another fantastic episode next week at Earth Station One. Now you know.
And knowing is half the battle.
ESO wants to hear from you. What are your favorite G.I. Joe memories from the comics, TV show, movies, or the toys that started it all? Let us know at www.esopodcast.com, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. We just might tread yours on the show.
Merkabah Rider’s Ed Erdelac Rides Into The Book Cave
New Pulp Author Ed Erdelac visits the Book Cave to introduce the listeners to his series Merkabah Rider.
Read the first three pages of Merkabah Rider and a couple of reviews here.
Listen to The Book Cave Episode 221: Ed Erdelac now at http://thebookcave.libsyn.com/the-book-cave-episode-222-ed-erdelac
Cast Your Vote in Round 3 of the Mix March Madness 2013 Webcomics Tournament!
UPDATE: Round 3 of the Mix March Madness 2013 Webcomics Tournament has ended! Vote in the Round 4 Sweet 16 now!
We started with over 300 webcomics, and we’re down to 32, while we’ve exposed thousands of people to new webcomics and raised over $750 for the Hero Initiative. Voting for this round lasts until 9PM EDT on Saturday, March 16, so get your votes in.
And now you can log in using Twitter to vote!
Soderbergh’s “Last” Film, Side Effects, Due on Disc in May
Universal City, California – From Academy Award®-winning director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Contagion) comes this suspenseful tale of intrigue starring Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street), Academy Award® nominees Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network) and Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Anna Karenina), and Academy Award® winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago, Ocean’s Twelve).Side Effects will be available on Digital Download on May 7, 2013 as well as Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on May 21, 2013 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
After her husband (Tatum) is released from prison for insider trading, Emily (Mara) begins suffering from terrifying anxiety and turns to psychiatrist Dr. Banks (Law) for help. But when Banks prescribes an experimental drug for her, the side effects have chilling and deadly consequences. Full of unexpected twists, Side Effects is the sexy psychological thriller that critics are calling “wildly unpredictable!” (Marlow Stern, Newsweek).
The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack allows fans to watch Side Effects anytime, anywhere on the device of their choice. It includes a Blu-ray™ disc, a DVD, a Digital Copy and UltraViolet™ for the ultimate, complete viewing experience.
• Blu-ray™ disc unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound.
• DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing the movie in more places, both at home and while away.
• Digital Copy provides fans with a choice of digital options to watch on devices such as iPhone®, iPad®, Android™, computers and more.
• UltraViolet™ is a revolutionary new way for fans to collect their moves and TV shows in the cloud. UltraViolet™ lets consumers instantly stream and download to tablets, smartphones, computers and TVs. Now available in both the United States and Canada.
BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY™ and DVD):
• ALIZA WEBSITE EXPERIENCE
• BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF SIDE EFFECTS
• ABLIXA COMMERCIAL – the fictional drug portrayed in the film
• INTENIN COMMERCIAL
CAST AND FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum, Vinessa Shaw and Ann Dowd
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: Scott Z. Burns
Casting by: Carmen Cuba, c.s.a.
Executive Producers: James D. Stern, Michael Polaire and Douglas E. Hansen
Producers: Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Gregory Jacobs and Scott Z. Burns
Co-Producers: A. Sasha Bardey and Elena de Leonardis
Director of Photography: Peter Andrews
Production Designer: Howard Cummings
Editor: Mary Ann Bernard
Costume Designer: Susan Lyall
Music by: Thomas Newman
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK:
Street Date: May 21, 2013
Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Number: 61123859
Running time: 1 Hour, 47 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen
Rating: Rated R for sexuality, nudity, violence and language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD:
Street Date: May 21, 2013
Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Number: 61123858
Running time: 1 Hour, 47 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: Rated R for sexuality, nudity, violence and language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Harvey Awards 2013 Nomination Ballot now online!
The ballot for the 2013 Harvey Awards is now available. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry’s most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. The 26th Annual Harvey Awards will be presented Saturday, September 7th, 2013 as part of the Baltimore Comic-Con.
For the first time, Harvey Awards nomination ballots may be submitted using an online form. If you are a comics professional, you can vote online at harveyawards.org/2013-nomination-ballot/. This will enable easier and faster methods for the professional community to submit their nominees. Ballots are due for submission by Monday, May 6th, 2013.
Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators: those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. The Harvey Awards are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals.
In addition to being available on the website, ballots will be sent to all major publishers and distributed at comic conventions. We look forward to your participation and input in this process, and we look forward to seeing you at the Baltimore Comic-Con and the Harvey Awards.
The Harveys would not be possible without the generous sponsors of the Awards. Sponsors for the last year’s 2012 Harvey Awards included The Baltimore Comic-Con; Boom! Studios; Captain Bluehen Comics; Cards, Comics, and Collectibles; ComicMix; ComicWOW!; ComiXology; DC Entertainment; Geppis’s Entertainment Museum; Insight Studios Group; Painted Visions Comics, Cards, & Games; Richmond Comix and Games; Steve Conley’s Bloop; and Write Brothers Inc.
Companies and individuals interested in sponsoring the 2013 Harvey Awards can contact harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com
This year’s Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 7-8, 2013. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 8th. Additional details about the Harvey Awards and the awards ceremony will be released over the next few months.
With a history of over 26 years, the last 8 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in 22 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.harveyawards.org
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 7-8, 2013. For more information, please visit http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
This Week’s New Comics: March 13, 2013
This week’s list of new comics in stores is sponsored by Manhattan Comics and Comixology. Buy new comics now!
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MIKE BARON’S ‘BIKER’ DEBUTS FROM AIRSHIP 27!
THE BIKER IS HERE!
Airship 27 Productions is delighted to announce the release of a brand new crime thriller by one of the finest talents in genre fiction today; Mike Baron!
From the award winning creator of Nexus and Badger, comes a tale of terror and suspense set against the backdrop of the Outlaw Biker culture. Josh Pratt is an ex-con turned private investigator. A woman dying of cancer hires him to find the son she gave up as a baby. The child’s father is a sadistic sociopath named Moon who has vowed to kill her for abandoning them.
Josh is the BIKER, caught up in a race for survival against a human monster on the road between heaven and hell at the end of which lies either salvation or damnation. Baron spins a tale of unrelenting suspense and horror that moves across his narrative landscape like the roar of a chopper’s engine. Creating memorable characters and authentic backgrounds, this is an amazing, quality crime thriller unlike anything you’ve ever read before. The man who shook up the comic industry with his revolutionary stories now turns his limitless imagination to the world of crime fiction and the result will blow you away.
“Mike Baron tells a story like nobody else in the business,” says Airship 27 Productions Managing Editor, Ron Fortier. “For years he’s captivated comic fans with his innovative tales of the erratic kung-fu Badger and the star-spanning, philosophical avenger, Nexus. Now he’s entered the world of crime and horror fiction to rousing applause from fans everywhere. We at Airship 27 Productions are very excited about bringing readers his latest novel; a riveting, no-holds-barred winner. BIKER simply rocks!”
Featuring illustrations by artist Joseph Arnold and designed by award-winning Art Director, Rob Davis, BIKER is a punch-to-the-gut reading experience even the most jaded thriller fan will be cheering.
“Hard-boiled. Hard-edged. Hard-core. Hard to put down until you get to the last page.”
Charles Saunders, author of Imaro and Damballa.
AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – Pulp Fiction For a New Generation!
Now on sale (https://www.createspace.com/4204985)
On Kindle within 2 days.
At our Airship 27 website as a PDF download for $3.
(http://robmdavis.com/Airship27Hangar/index.airshipHangar.html)
Within a week at Amazon and (www.IndyPlanet.com)
