Category: News

Robert L. Washington III Laid To Rest

  • News
  • June 26, 2012

robert-l-washington-iii-9084844Thanks to the efforts of the Hero Initiative and comics fans and pros, Robert L. Washington was able to receive a proper funeral.

On Monday, June 25th, a funeral service was held for Robert L. Washington III in the Bronx borough of New York City, with a second service to come in Detroit, Michigan. The service was attended by various comic book creators, classmates, and friends from Robert’s various creative, work, and hobby circles.

Through the actions of Robert’s friends from Milestone Media, Inc. and his classmates from The Roeper School, The Hero Initiative was able to use all of your donations to pay for the service and provide Robert’s mother and two of his sisters with the means to travel from Detroit, Michigan to New York and give him a proper funeral.

via The Hero Initiative.

There were over 300 contributors to his cause, and we honor them below. But the work of the Hero Initiative is not done, and they can always use more funds.  Consider donating today.

Contributors:

A. Michael Koloshinsky, Abhay Khosla, Al Ewing, Al Ewing, Alan Lee, Alex Bickmore, Alex Joss, Alex Ostroumov, Alexander Varney, Alexandra Alberstadt, Ali Kokmen, Amy Perry, Amy Voigt, Ande Tucker, Andreas Giannoukakis, Andrew Dahlhouse, Andrew Maniotes, Andrew Pepoy, Andrew Willis, Andy Khouri, Ann Busiek, Anthony Arevalo, Archi Fagan, Ardian Reynolds, Ariana Maher, Aruneshwar Singh, Ashwin Pande, Ben Slipman, Benjamin Corey, Benjamin Wilikins, Benny Gelillo, Blair Shed, Bob Heer, Braille Tshirts .com, Brandon Yates, Brian Covey, Brian Holst, Brian Rust, Brian Wood, Bruce Venne, Bryant Kotyk, C. David McDermott, C. Wichtendahl, Carl Andrew, Carlos del Rosario, Carson Rizor, Caryn Martinez, Catherine Bedard, Chapel Hill Comics, Charles Anderson, Charles Schenley, Charlotte McDuffie, Chris Baird, Chris Escobedo, Christian Berntsen, Christian Martinez-Kay, Christopher Adams, Christopher Fuller, Christopher Golden, Christopher Howard, Christopher Keels, Christopher Thorn, Claire M. Schwartz, Clayton Cowles, Colin O’Neil, Colleen Doran, Comics Conspiracy, Conjoined Comics, Courtney Wilson, Craig Hicks, Cullen Kiker, Damian Duffy, Daniel Cordon, Daniel Fish, Dark Tower Comics, Darrin Robinson, Darryl Pearle, David Brothers, David Ditmeyer, David Feig, David Fooden, David Goldfarb, David Lyons, David McCullough, David Snyder, David Worrell, Deborah Woodrum, Denis Sarrazin, Dennis Sarrazin, Derek Dingle, Derek Morton, Derek Richardson, Dewey’s Comic City, Diana Post, Don Reisig, Don Satow, Donna Herren, Donna Hutt-Stapfer, Doug Shank, Dylan Todd, Edward Barton, Egg Embry, Eric Huberty, Eric Siegel, Eric Wood, Evan Skolnick, Evelyn Lucas, Fernando Ospina, Flidget Jerome, Flop Productions, Frank Graves, Frank Jr, Gail Harris, George Kish, George Morrow, Glenn Carrere, Grady W. Smithey, Greg Matiasevich, Greg McElhatton, Greg Pak, Gregory Cashman, Gregory Secaur, Gregory Wright, Heather McKinney, Heidi MadDonald, Henry Malter, Howard Cohen, Howard Gold, Hughes Beaulne, Ian Gonzales, Ian Toledo, Jacob Boucher, Jacob Levy, Jacqueline Ching, James Mathurin, James Melvin, James Tan, Jamie Lawson, Janelle Asselin, Janet Harvey, Jared Fletcher, Jared Nelson, Jason Brice, Jason Deitcher, Jason Fliegel, Jason Medley, Jason VanSlycke, JBC Innovations, Jean Farmer, Jed Wasserman, Jeffrey Baumert, Jeffrey Bell, Jeffrey Lester, Jennifer Hachigan, Jennifer Killmer, Jeremy Beebe, Jesse Post, Jessica Hogan, Jim McLauchlin, Joan Beardslee, Joan Lucas, Joe Illidge, Joe Soares, Joey Robinson, John Evelev, John Figueroa, John Fortune, John Newcom, John Pappas, John Polojac, Jonathan Gelatt, Jonathan Schnabel, Jose Ferro, Joseph Cohen, Joseph Young, Josh Chamot, Joshua Reynolds, Juan Pablo Schultz, Judith Bogdanove, Justin Doherty, Justin Kim, Karen Walkowiak, Karsten Lawson, Katherine Hayes, Kathryn Fairman, Kelly Thompson, Ken Barnes, Kenneth Bartlett, Kenyon Chung, Kevin Huxford, Kevin Kluck, Kevin Maroney, Kimberly Stoltzfus, Kumate Works, Kurt Hellmuth, Kyle Gnepper, Lara Thompson, Larry Marder, Lea Harnandez, Leighton Connor, Leland Dugger, Lenette Herzog, Leon Feder, Lewis Smith, Lia Kinane, Linda Clark, Linda Dagenais, Lindsey Ljungquist, Little Shop of Comics, Lonie Beck, Luke Addington, Mackenzie Walton, Marc Dunning, Marc Siry, Marco Cordova, Margaret Lark Russell, Marie Javins, Mark Foo, Mark Lopez, Mark Smith, Marni Rachmiel, Martin Costello, Mary Glazek, Mary Sue Renfrow, Matthew Cary, Matthew Dale, Matthew Hesslin, Matthew Jackson, Matthew Rossetti, Maxwell Warner, Mayer Brenner, Megan Geldhof, Meghan Morse, Melanie Nazelrod, Miaoran Li, Michael Brisbois, Michael Hanretty, Michael Hoskin, Michael McGee, Michael Miller, Michael Perry, Michelle C. Smith, Mike and Carrie Nielsen, Mike Frame, Morgan Piatt, Nancy Porat, Nat Gertler, Nathan Alderman, Neil Cameron, Neil Curry, Nicholas Doyle, Nicole Dubuc, Nine Edgerton, Olajide Kuye, Owen Ryan, P. Jude LoCasto, Patricia M. Cotton, Patrick Gleason, Patrick McCuen, Patrick O’Connor, Patrick Pascual, Patrick Ridings, Patrick Stewart, Paul Burne, Paul Fosten, Paul Salvi, Pauline Weiss, Pedro Tejada, Peter Krause, Peter Lange, Phil Hester, Philip Lloyd, Philip Pearce, Phillip Suttkus, Rafi Stephan, Rajesh Shah, Randall Golden, Ray Cornwall, Ray Kosarin, Renee Crowl, Rens Houben, Reyes Delgado Jr., Ricardo Ruiz-Dana, Rich Thigpen, Richard Fowlie, Richard Nelson, Richard Starkings, Robert Alexander, Robert Dean, Robert Yoder, Robon Horasanian, Roger O’Donnell, Romaine Colston, Ronald Hood, Roshan Abraham, Ross Campbell, Roy Richardson, Ryan McKern, Sahar Tirband Dastgerdi, Sail Byrnes, Sail Music, Samarcand Books, Sandor Silverman, Sapna Sharma, Sarah Abraham, Sarah Worman, Saul Hansell, Scott Goeke, Scott Rowland, Sean Coverdell, Sean Darby, Sevan Ficici, Shane Hutchinson, Sharmylae Taffe-Fletcher, Shawn Manion, Shobha Kazinka, Simon Brewer, Stanley Willis, Stephanie Fisher, Stephanie Grant, Stephanie Hsieh, Stephen Barghusen, Stephen David Wark, Stephen Finch, Stephen Gerding, Steve Niles, Steve Pheley, Steven Shure, Suzanne Moran, Terry Allen, Thomas Barichella, Thomas Spurgeon, Tiara Daughtry, Tim Stacey, Tim Utsler, Timothy Finn, Tom Murphy, Tomas Bolino, Tommy Sanchez, Trisha Sebastian, Troy-David Phillips, Valentin Mata, Valerie D’Orazio, Veronne Sorensen, Walt Simonson, Warren Wannamaker, Wilfred Santiago, William Clarke III, William Cockrell, William Cucinota, William De Witt, William Messick, Wizard’s Asylum, Zachary Gabriel, and eleven anonymous contributors.

Archie Comics hires Jim Sokolowski; promotes Alex Segura, Harold Buchholz, Paul Kaminski

  • News
  • June 26, 2012

archie-comics-announces-additions-promotions-to-companys-executive-team-5213316 Jim Sokolowski, formerly of Marvel and DC Comics, joins Archie Comics as Senior Vice President – Sales and Business Development. “Ski” will oversee the company’s sales efforts in the direct, bookstore, digital and newsstand markets and guide plans to expand the reach of the company’s iconic characters and storylines. “Ski” brings a wealth of experience to the company, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Marvel and Executive Director of Publishing Operations at DC Comics.

In addition to the new faces, Archie Comics is proud to announce the promotion of a few key staff members to executive positions.

• Harold Buchholz has been promoted from Executive Director of Publishing and Operations to Senior Vice President – Publishing and Operations. Buchholz will continue to oversee the company’s distribution, printing and packaging in order to maximize sales through various channels. Thanks to Buchholz’s diligent efforts, Archie has seen a significant spike in graphic novel output, profitability and visibility – reaching a previously untapped number of new and returning fans. Prior to Archie, Buchholz worked with Jimmy Gownley and Renaissance Press on the popular Amelia Rules! line of graphic novels and was president of Acredale Media, an all-ages comic book print brokerage and consulting service. In addition to his work at Archie, Buchholz is also a cartoonist and writer, and has taught animation and entrepreneurship on the college level.

• Paul Kaminski, editor of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, SONIC UNIVERSE, MEGA MAN, STAN LEE AND THE MIGHTY SEVEN and NEW CRUSADERS, has been promoted to Executive Director of Editorial. In his new role, Paul will oversee the editorial side of Archie’s graphic novel and comic book output and coordinate the editorial side of Archie’s entire line of titles and imprints. Kaminski saw Archie’s licensed titles, including SONIC and MEGA MAN, rise to new heights of success during his tenure as editor, and will bring his keen editorial insight and managerial style to the company as a whole. A BFA graduate of the School of Visual Arts, Kaminski brings a lifelong love of comics, music and pop culture to his work.

• Alex Segura has been promoted from Executive Director of Publicity and Marketing to Vice President – Publicity and Marketing, and will continue to oversee the company’s external messaging to the press, social media and marketing outlets. Since his arrival at Archie, the company has seen an unprecedented spike in attention and critical praise, including regular and focused news, feature and review attention in the mainstream, book trade and pop culture press, including THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, CBS NEWS, THE DAILY MAIL and more. Before coming to Archie, Segura worked at DC Comics. In addition to his publicity and marketing work for the company, Segura was also the writer of the best-selling ARCHIE MEETS KISS storyline among other stories.

Monday Mix-Up: X-Men Guernica

  • News
  • June 25, 2012

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For this week’s Mix-Up, we showcase Theamat over on DeviantArt, who presents us with his take on the X-Men as drawn by Pablo Picasso… although I wish this piece would have been titled Genosha.

See the full size piece at DeviantArt. (Hat tip: BoingBoing.)

NEW NOVEL FROM AARON SMITH- 100,000 MIDNIGHTS- NOW AVAILABLE!

  • News
  • June 24, 2012
Now available:

100,000 MIDNIGHTS

A new novel of horror and adventure by veteran pulp writer Aaron Smith

 When destiny calls from the darkness, will you embrace the shadows?
At twenty-two, Eric feels older than he is. His fascination with the past makes him something of an eccentric and he spends most of his time alone. But then he meets Siobhan. A nearly three-hundred year old creature of the night, she desperately needs Eric’s help. He comes to her aid, just barely surviving the experience, but soon realizes that he cannot go back to living without her.
Together with Siobhan, Eric goes deeper into the strange nighttime world inhabited by vampires both good and evil, towns trapped in bubbles of time, savage beast-men created by crazed scientists, and deadly mechanical angels manufactured by magic to slay the undead.
Side by side with Siobhan and her supernatural allies, Eric must go from being a normal man to becoming a warrior, facing dangers out of humanity’s darkest nightmares and wondering if he has a chance of surviving to see each new dawning of the sun.

100,000 Midnights began as a short story originally published in Pro Se Productions’ Fantasy and Fear magazine. Now, re-edited and vastly expanded into a full-length novel, 100,000 Midnights has just been released by major e-publisher Musa Publishing.

 100,000 Midnights is now available in a variety of digital formats compatible with Kindle, Nook, other e-readers, or as a PDF.

The e-book can be purchased for $4.99 directly from the publisher at www.musapublishing.com

Aaron Smith’s work has appeared in many New Pulp publications including Airship 27’s Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective series, Black Bat Mystery, Jungle Tales, Lance Star Sky Ranger Volume 2, The Masked Rider, and others. He is the author of the Dr. Watson novel Season of Madness, stories in the Pro Se Productions pulp magazines, and various stories in other anthologies. Information about his books can be found on his blog at www.godsandgalaxies.blogspot.com 

Spider-Man Week starts tomorrow in NYC

  • News
  • June 24, 2012

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To promote the release of The Amazing Spider-Man in theaters on July 3, a number of events are taking place in New York City this week, starting with the cast of the movie appearing on The Today Show tomorrow morning, and continuing across all five boroughs from museums and zoos to Yankee Stadium and the Empire State Building.

Take a look at the schedule of events here.

CBLDF Teams with NCAC and ABFFE in Defense of Alan Moore’s NEONOMICON

cbldf-teams-with-ncac-and-abffe-in-defense-of-alan-moores-neonomicon-4485692CBLDF has joined forces with the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression to write a letter in defense of Alan Moore’s Neocomicon (Avatar Press), which has recently been challenged in the Greenville, South Carolina, public library system. Objections to Neonomicon were raised by a patron after her teenage daughter checked out the book, which contains adult themes. The book was correctly shelved in the adult section of the library, and the teenager possessed a library card that allowed access to the adult section.

CBLDF joined NCAC and ABFFE in sending the following letter to the Library Board of Trustees at the Greenville County Public Library:

Dear Board Members,

On behalf of the National Coalition Against Censorship, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund we strongly urge you to keep Alan Moore’s Neonomicon in the Greenville Public Library. This book has reportedly been challenged by a member of the community who claims its “sexually graphic” images make it inappropriate for the library.

Removing this book because of objections to its content is impermissible under the First Amendment. As the Supreme Court said in Board of Education v. Pico, the Constitution does not permit “officially prescribed orthodoxy” which limits what people may read, think, speak, or say. The fact that we are confronted with images and not words does not make a difference—the courts have ruled that images, like words, constitute symbolic expression and are protected by the First Amendment.

Neonomicon is a horror graphic novel which explores themes present in the works of fantasy writer H.P. Lovecraft, delving into complex issues of race, crime and sexuality. Moore and artist Jacen Burrows use the visual nature of the graphic novel medium to more fully examine the subject matter found in Lovecraft’s original work, achieving a commentary both on Lovecraft and on the horror genre itself. The authors deliberately disturbing depictions of sexual violence are included as a critical comment on how such subject matter is handled elsewhere within the genre. The book recently won the Bram Stoker award for “Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel.” Its critical acclaim testifies to its artistic value which is aided, not eclipsed, by its sexual content.

Alan Moore is one of the most influential and acclaimed authors in both the graphic novel category and the larger literary culture. His body of work includes Watchmen, which Time Magazine named one of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923. His works also include the graphic novels V For Vendetta, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, From Hell, and Lost Girls, all of which have enjoyed tremendous critical acclaim. Neonomicon continues Moore’s explorations in appropriating classic literary characters and themes in the service of post-modern storytelling. It is an essential work by an author who is indisputably a master within his field.

The book was appropriately shelved in the adult section of the library. The fact that it was withdrawn by a minor, whose mother had given written permission for her to borrow materials from the adult section, is no basis for removing the book—an action that infringes the First Amendment rights of adult library patrons. Indeed, the removal of the book during the review process is itself problematic, since any government suppression of material because of objections to its viewpoint or content transgresses constitutional boundaries. As a legal matter, the harm has been done, even if it is later rectified.

The book meets the criteria that form the basis for the library’s collection development policy. Removing it because of sexual content not only fails to consider the indisputable value of the book as a whole, but also ignores the library’s obligation to serve all readers, without regards to individual tastes and sensibilities. If graphic violent and sexual content were excluded from the library because some people object to it, the library would lose ancient and contemporary classics, from Aeschylus’ Oresteia to Toni Morrison’s Beloved.

We strongly urge you to respect the rights of all readers to read and think freely, and to reject the notion that the views of some readers about the value of literature, or its “appropriateness”, maybe imposed on all. By keeping the books on the library shelves you will demonstrate respect for your readers and their choices, for the professionalism of the librarians who serve the reading public, and for the First Amendment and its importance to a pluralistic democratic society.

Please consult NCAC’s resource “Graphic Novels: Suggestions for Librarians” (http://ncac.org/graphicnovels.cfm) or contact us if there is anything we can do to help.

Sincerely,

Joan Bertin
Executive Director
National Coalition Against Censorship

Chris Finan
President
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression

Charles Brownstein
Executive Director
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

You can view a PDF of the letter here.

Please help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work and defense against library challenges such as this by making a donation or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

George Takei meets Kevin Keller in Archie Comics

  • News
  • June 24, 2012

In October, one gay icon meets another, in Archie Comics.

Kevin Keller #6 will co-star George Takei, best known as Lieutenant Sulu. And it was at a comic convention that George met Kevin’s creator Dan Parent and succumbed to Parent’s request that the two meet in person. George and Kevin, that is.

Here’s hoping Kevin’s future husband doesn’t get too jealous from seeing this photo…

Thanks to Buzzfeed.

Sunday Cinema: Donald F. Glut’s “Spider-Man” fan film

  • News
  • June 24, 2012

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This is the first ever documented Spider-Man fan film, and the first (unofficial) live action appearance of Spider-Man from way back in 1969. This was produced by Donald F. Glut, who at the time was writing for Warren Magazines (Creepy and Eerie) and would later go on to write Captain America, The Invaders, Conan, and Kull for Marvel, and what he may still best be known for, writing the novelization for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

This was Don’s last amateur film (he had produced many other fan films before this) before moving on to write for classic cartoons like Transformers and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.

The Point Radio: That Missing DOC SAVAGE Comic

Our coverage of the new SyFy series, SCHOOL SPIRITS, continues as we talk to the folks who also gave us CELEBRITY GHOST STORIES. Plus Spider-Man tickets sales not going to break any records, and we found that issue of DC’s DOC SAVAGE you’ve been missing.

The Point Radio is on the air right now – 24 hours a day of pop culture fun for FREE. GO HERE and LISTEN FREE on any computer or mobile device– and please check us out on Facebook right here & toss us a “like” or follow us on Twitter @ThePointRadio.

GET YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDER ON WITH ‘PRESIDENTIAL PULP’ FROM PULP EMPIRE!

  • News
  • June 22, 2012

Jim Beard’s superb cover (for his story “The Thing Under the House”)
Have you ever wondered what Presidents do in their spare time? As it turns out, a good chunk of them went on amazing adventures!
Pulp Empire proudly presents Presidential Pulp! Thrill at the adventures of Dick Nixon and the Swingers of the Unknown! Experience the supernatural adventures of James K. Polk and Ulysses S. Grant! Experience the secret missions of Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt!
With five great new stories fo adventure by Jim Beard, Travis Hiltz, Robin Reed, Caine Dorr and Robbie Lizhini, Presidential Pulp may be the most fun you will read in a New Pulp book this year!
Print copies are now available through Createspace (with Amazon editions out shortly). To sweeten the pot we are giving everyone that buys the book this weekend a $2.00 discount (only $10 a book). Just enter discount code DNPCAWQA to get the reduced rate!
Ebook fans can also get Kindle and Smashwords editions of the book for the low, low price of $2.99!
Grab your copies today!

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