"Comics Theorist" Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) is the subject of this English-language interview by the crew at ComicGate, a German comics news site.

The interview touches on a variety of subjects, from McCloud’s early expectations for Understanding Comics to what exactly his job description is these days. Apparently, it’s not easy to come up with a title when you’re creating comics as a study of comics.

McCloud explains:

When somebody asks me what I do, how do I answer? What words do we put down on the catalogue, or whatever? These days I say cartoonist and author. That pretty much sums it up. I do a lot of public speaking, but I am doing it as a cartoonist and an author. I would like to be a little more cartoonist and a little less author for a little while. I would like to create a graphic-novel next and I plan to spend the next two or three years of my life doing that. I think it is time after writing about how comics work to actually put those ideas into practice and try to create a work of fiction.

It’s a fairly long interview, but certainly worth a read for anyone interested in comics theory and the evolving role of technology in the comics scene.

It’s been a busy month for Y: The Last Man artist Pia Guerra. Wait, scratch that… It’s been a busy five years.

Now that The Last Man has concluded and Guerra has solidified her reputation as one of the industry’s most popular (and dedicated) modern-day artists, she can finally have some breathing room. Or can she?

In this feature at CBR, Guerra takes readers through a tour of her Vancouver studio, showing off all of the little bits and pieces of her workspace that have contributed to her success.

The whole area is like the Block of Requirement: there’s an artist’s supply store, a comic shop, mailbox outlet, coffee shop, a fabulous bistro, and even an MP’s office just downstairs. The caretaker is the coolest guy in the universe, he’s okay with us being there after hours (our usual work times) and from time to time he brings over fruit to share from his trips to the small market down the street. I really don’t know how we lucked out so well. It’s a great place to work.

Oh, and apparently she’s somewhat of a Doctor Who aficianado.

With the hope of finally something good on TV tonite, ComicMix Radio helps you fill up the rest of the day with a few pop culture tidbits that include:

• The Suicide Girls weigh in on our Who’s Your Favorite Hero survey — and Meow seems to have a thing for the guy with Bat-Ears
• New Exiles and Freddy vs Jason vs Ash both go up on the Sold Out List … with variants on the way!
• Even more American Gladiators invade the airwaves
• Saturday matinees maybe making a comeback!

There are mere hours left until we go back to the island – fill a bit by Pressing The Button!

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Whether your interests lie in the Old Republic or the New Jedi Order, it’s a good time to be a Star Wars fan. With the kickoff of Star Wars: Vector, Dark Horse Comics’ big Star Wars crossover event, the good times might be getting even better.

The crew at IGN Comics are jumping into the Star Wars mix with this interview of one of the Vector writers, John Jackson Miller. In the interview, Miller provides some explanation as to how the event will touch each of the four Star Wars series in the Dark Horse line, from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic to Star Wars: Legacy – especially without the use of time travel:

It’s been the subject of many, many different theories out in fandom. But I can say this: There is no time travel in the Star Wars universe — not in most of the conventional science-fiction senses — and that remains the case even in light of "Vector." You won’t see Luke hopping in the Tardis to go visit the Old Republic!

Well, I guess that answers my question about the potential for a Doctor Who/Star Wars crossover. sigh

With 4,100 years separating KotOR and Legacy, it looks to be an interesting storyline. As I can personally attest, these series are a great read for even the least Star Wars-savvy comics fan. Here’s hoping The Force is strong with Vector.

Criminal, the award-winning series by Captain America writer Ed Brubaker and Sleeper artist Sean Phillips, will be the focus of a weeklong promotion on MySpace, according to a recent Marvel Comics press release.

Here are the details:

During each day of this event, at http://www.myspace.com/comicbooks, readers will be treated to excerpts from the first two Criminal trade paperbacks and previews of the new Criminal Vol.2 #1 (arriving in stores this February. But that’s not all—look for behind the scenes extras that include a Criminal noir art talk interview between Eisner-winners Sean Phillips and fan-favorite Daredevil artist Michael Lark, a “Week in the Life” writer’s diary by Ed Brubaker; and a special Artist-to-Artist video featuring Ed Brubaker and Bill Hader (Superbad, Saturday Night Live).

And, of course, the obligatory statement by Brubaker:

“The chance to reach the vast network of MySpace Comic Books readers presented us with such a great opportunity, to not just promote Criminal, but to peel back the curtain a bit in a sort of DVD extras kind of way, which is something I think a lot of people will enjoy,” said Brubaker. “The fact that Bill Hader was willing to help us do this was completely overwhelming, too, and is something that I think will make an even more memorable event.”

Issue #1 of the second volume of Criminal hits shelves at the end of February.