Saturday, December 30, 2006
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Posted by
Tom
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12/30/2006 10:25:00 AM
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Dan Vado is answering questions about publishing.. sort of on his livejournal account. Really if you want to hear about Dan on publishing at Slave Labor go read Neil's interview with him over at newsarama. Alot of the questions I would have with an offer like that are ones that clearly he won't answer because it's related to how they operate (where do you get your stuff printed, how did you hook up with Hot Topic, etc.) But it's nice of him to try to impart his experience to the masses regarless.
Overwhelmingly the questions so far have been related to Slave Labor's submissions policy. Dan posted up some pretty good rules of thumb for submitting to SLG. Which I think is pretty applicable to any indie publisher. Dan doesn't handle submissions anymore. Those responsibilities are handed over to Jennifer Guzman (SLG's editor-in-chief). Here's a real gem from his post..
'If today's Jennifer were looking at my submission pile 10-12 years ago she would have probably rejected Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and Lenore. This isn't a knock on Jennifer nor a knock on Roman or Jhonen's work back then, it just
points out a basic difference in approach between then and now and a basic
difference in approach between Jennifer and I.'
--Tom (permalink)
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Friday, December 29, 2006
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Posted by
Tony
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12/29/2006 03:29:00 PM
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geeky conundrum
What would happen if a stormtrooper from Star Wars fired on a redshirt from Star Trek?
Redshirts always get killed. But stormtroopers can never hit anyone. Hmmm.
Redshirt death medley
--Tony (permalink)
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Posted by
Tony
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12/29/2006 11:32:00 AM
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I saw the sign, which opened up my eyes, I saw the sign
The 1990s are back, baby!
I walked into the Laughing Ogre the other day, and who do I see but Lloyd? Lloyd! When I got back into comics in 1999, Lloyd was one of my pushers at Comic Town Westerville! I thought he was out of the game for good.
So if you're in the shop and you see a redheaded guy with sideburns, tell him Tony says hi.
And on that same visit, I'm perusing the new comics and what do I see but a new Sandman Mystery Theatre? When budgetary concerns caused me to stop reading comics in 1996, Sandman Mystery Theatre was one of the last books I dropped.
Apparently, the new Sandman restarts the series with a new character and a tenuous tie to Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman. I read the first issue and ... I'm reserving judgment.
Well, actually, I have no clue what happened in that issue. Something about jihadists and burning people. I couldn't tell what happened in 1997, what happened in the present, and what was a dream sequence. Also, the new main character is kind of a douchebag. One of the things that made the original Sandman Mystery Theatre so good was that Wesley and his companion Dian were such neat people.
Hopefully it gets better in the second issue.
To download the first issue of the original Sandman Mystery Theatre, click here.
--Tony (permalink)
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Thursday, December 28, 2006
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Posted by
Dara
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12/28/2006 08:17:00 PM
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Fuck you, Blogger. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.
From their equally shitty "help" pages:"While the new version of Blogger is no longer in beta, some users with certain types of blogs will not immediately be able to switch to it. We'll be adding support for these blogs as soon as possible, so everyone can join in the fun. But for now, if you have a very large blog (more than a couple thousand posts + comments), you'll need to hold off for a bit.
Note that, even if your blog is eligible to switch, you may not have the link to do so on your dashboard. We are starting out by just switching over a limited number of accounts, but we'll add more and more as time goes on." So basically, we'll plaster "new and improved" all over the place, but won't let you switch. Oh, and on top of that, we won't tell you why; instead we'll bury the info in some help file you have to search 30 minutes to find. And just so we can really screw you, we'll break the group blog feature on your current blog, so none of the other people in your group can post.
Assholes.
--Dara (permalink)
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Posted by
Dara
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12/28/2006 05:57:00 PM
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Even the "new and improved" Blogger SUCKS ASS
God holy fucking damn I hate Blogger!
From their worthless "help" page on switching your existing account to the "new" Blogger:"If you haven’t yet switched, click "Old Blogger" and use the same Blogger account you’ve always used, or — and this is the better choice — click "Switch Now" button."
Which is fine and dandy, except when I log in to my old Blogger account there is no fucking "Switch Now" button!
I hate this thing. Hate it with all my soul.
--Dara (permalink)
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Wednesday, December 27, 2006
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Posted by
Dara
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12/27/2006 10:57:00 PM
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Awesomely awful NRA-produced propoganda graphic novel
Go check out Wonkette for their scathing review of "Freedom In Peril: Guarding the 2nd Amendment in the 21st Century", a crazy-ass propoganda book produced by the NRA. Snark aplenty from the Wonkette gang: "Scary Fact: Most Negroes are, in truth, illegal aliens who work with the Super Asian-Mexican-Black Gang, known as the 18th Street Loco Al Qaeda Kommu-Nizzle Boyz." (in reference to the chapter illustration below)
boingboing has more details on the upcoming book. The consensus seems to be that the illustrations are by Chris Gall. Some readers who downloaded the leaked PDF file did some investigating and posted the actual text from image placeholders. Apparently instructions to the illustrator, like the following:"(20) Idea: Criminal gangs are in all communities and of all races. Concept: Clearly Asian, black, white and Latino gang members."
--Dara (permalink)
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Posted by
Dara
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12/27/2006 10:44:00 PM
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Friends of the Ferret get reviewed
Steven Grant did his end-of-the-year review blowout over at his column this week. Both Tom Williams and Tim Fischer's mini-comics got reviewed. Steven's usually pretty brutal..."S.P.B. Rise - ...I don't know if I'd say (yet) that it's good, but at least it's different and interesting.
Space Pilot Girl - ...it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to cap off a story mainly about women sexing porcine aliens with a feminist manifesto." But you know what they say about publicity. So did you guys see a noticeable visitor spikes on your websites?
--Dara (permalink)
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Monday, December 25, 2006
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Posted by
Dara
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12/25/2006 11:25:00 AM
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Monda Morning "Guess the Artist"
Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!
I was planning on posting a holiday-themed page today, but ran out of time looking for one. So instead, here are a couple of guys who don't know the meaning of the holiday spirit. And I think it's an easy page to guess, so consider that my little gift to you all...
(click image to villianize)
(previous weeks: 9/12/2005, 9/19/2005, 9/26/2005, 10/3/2005, 10/10/2005, 10/17/2005, 10/24/2005, 10/31/2005, 11/1/2005, 11/2/2005, 11/3/2005, 11/4/2005, 11/5/2005, 11/6/2005, 11/7/2005, 11/14/2005, 11/21/2005, 11/28/2005, 12/5/2005, 12/12/2005, 12/19/2005, 12/26/2005, 1/2/2006, 1/9/2006, 1/16/2006, 1/23/2006, 1/30/2006, 2/06/2006, 2/13/2006, 2/20/2006, 2/27/2006, 3/6/2006, 3/13/2006, 3/20/2006, 3/27/2006, 4/3/2006, 4/4/2006, 4/5/2006, 4/6/2006, 4/7/2006, 4/8/2006, 4/9/2006, 4/10/2006, 4/17/2006, 4/23/2006, 5/1/2006, 5/8/2006, 5/15/2006, 5/22/2006, 5/29/2006, 6/5/2006, 6/12/2006, 6/19/2006, 6/26/2006, 7/3/2006, 7/10/2006, 7/17/2006, 7/24/2006, 7/31/2006, 8/7/2006, 8/13/2006, 8/21/2006, 8/28/2006, 9/4/2006, 9/11/2006, 9/18/2006, 9/25/2006, 10/2/2006, 10/9/2006, 10/16/2006, 10/23/2006, 10/30/2006, 11/6/2006, 11/13/2006, 11/20/2006, 11/27/2006, 12/4/2006, 12/11/2006, 12/18/2006)Labels: guess the artist
--Dara (permalink)
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Thursday, December 21, 2006
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Posted by
Tony
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12/21/2006 03:14:00 PM
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memories of Gib
Today's Gib's last day at the Ogre -- you'll be missed, Big Guy.
I first met Gib around 1995 or so. I was in town from Athens, and someone suggested I hit that store. He recommended me "Stray Bullets," which true to form, was a great book.
(I stopped collecting "Stray Bullets" around 1999. I think I've missed maybe three issues that have come out since then. I should go back and fill in that run.)
Anyway ... feel free to leave Memories of Gib in the comments, or heck, just run out to the Ogre and give him a hearty handshake.
--Tony (permalink)
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Posted by
Tony
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12/21/2006 09:15:00 AM
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Posted by
Matt Kish
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12/21/2006 09:14:00 AM
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COMICS WISH LIST FOR 2007
Since Tom did his "best of 2006" post, I thought I would look ahead a bit and do a post about what I am wishing for in the world of comics for 2007.
THINGS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED AND I AM EXCITED AS HELL ABOUT
-A second DC Archives collection of Kamandi issues.
-Marvel Masterworks: Adam Warlock, Volume 1 collecting the earliest adventures of the man-god and some of Gil Kane's finest work. Gil Kane is also a man-god.
-The first Fourth World hardcover collection, reprinting Kirby's magnificent unfinished opus in chronological order.
-A thorough collection of Joost Swarte's comics and art from Fantagraphics.
-Vertical Inc.'s next Osamu Tezuka reprint Apollo's Song.
-I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets: The Comics of Fletcher Hanks collection from Fantagraphics. This guy's stuff is just so bizarre and so obtuse and so amazing it beggars description. There is a brief taste in Dan Nadel's "Art Out of Time" collection from 2006, check it out. Or just Google 'Fletcher Hanks.' I'm serious.
THINGS WHICH WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN
-A second volume of Tove Jansson's Moomin strips collected and reprinted by D & Q.
-A second volume of Segar's Popeye strips collected and reprinted by Fanta.
-A DC Archives collecting the Golden Age Dr. Fate issues.
-Essential Rampaging Hulk.
THINGS WHICH MIGHT HAPPEN SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN TANTALIZING HINTS
-A collection of underground legend Rory Hayes' art and comics.
-The heavily hinted at by Marvel's Cory Sedlmeier but not yet confirmed Marvel Masterworks: Deathlok, Volume 1 hardcover. Luther Manning rocked my world as a kid.
-Paul Pope's art monograph PulpHope finally getting printed and released.
-Kramer's Ergot 7.
-PictureBox Inc. finally putting out Brian Chippendale's Maggots.
-A better, bigger Basil Wolverton art and comics collection.
-A hardcover collection of Marc Bell's fine art and comics. From PictureBox Inc. again, I think.
PURE WISHFUL THINKING
-A full color hardcover or trade of Kirby's Devil Dinosaur. Pure awesomeness.
-A DC Archives for the short 8 issue run of Kirby's OMAC. Done in one!
-A collection of Mat Brinkman's Multi-Force strips from Paper Rodeo.
-A beautiful and definitive reprint series for Walt Kelly's Pogo, preferably from Fantagraphics since they do such a nice job with the Krazy Kat and the Popeye.
-Marvel Essentials of ROM, the Micronauts, the Shogun Warriors, and Crystar the Crystal Warrior.
-An American printing (and translation) of Osamu Tezuka's Dororo.
-For Jeffrey Brown to stop. Just, please, stop.
-Ditto James Kochalka. That goes for the music too, buddy.
-A photo of Tom Williams shirtless and a soul kiss from Dara Naraghi. Hey, they're comic related!
So what's your 2007 comic wish list?
--Matt Kish (permalink)
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Posted by
Dara
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12/21/2006 08:20:00 AM
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
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Posted by
Tom
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12/20/2006 09:28:00 PM
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Best/Worst of 'O6
I'd thought I would gather my thoughts on some of the stuff I've enjoyed over the past year. I've been catching myself picking up some more mainstream this year. But it's mostly from writers or artists I like. I can't tell whether it was from burnout or what but picking up every title that Bendis, Brubaker or Wood pens can be too much of a good thing. Not everything can be a 'winner' I guess. Doesn't matter who's writing it but I'll never pick up a Avengers or Captain America comic. I will however pick up a copy of a Fantastic Four comic drawn by Paul Pope (coming out next year possibly?). Even if it's only 12 pages. Something that's finally wearing on me is continuing to pick up monthlies. I think I'm going to try jumping to a trade only route next year and see if I can hold out. It was great seeing Jordi Bernet doing American comics. My webcomic reading has really picked up since the onset of groups like Act-I-Vate. Though I'll never read Penny Arcade or Diesel Sweeties anytime soon. So in a fit of random order here's my lists...
The best:
- Still the Ignatz series from Fantagraphics
- The Showcase presents Teen Titans. this is balls out funny when you read it today.
- Curses. If you've never read any Kevin Huizenga, this is a good primer. New Ganges comes out next year from the Ignatz line from Fantagraphics.
- Fun Home
- Moomin
- Get a Life. Dubey & Berberian.
- Meathaus:Head Games.
- The Escapist. The best thing I've read yet from Brian Vaughn. Also sports another impressive list of artists on covers and interiors.
For the mainstream crap I'd say Criminal, DMZ, and Deadman. Morrison back on Batman was really fun. Really incouraging news that DC is starting up their girl friendly line MINX next year and it's not faux manga. Thanks to Morrison's new found popularity, I'm finally getting all the Doom Patrol trades I always wanted. If I ever see that run of Excaliber in trade form I'll definitely be a happy boy. That stuff was like crack as a teen.
Not so minky (or middle of the road):
- I fell off the Daredevil kick (and can't get back on)
- Batman 100. The art's gorgeous as always but Pope really needs to either start working with a writer or stop listening to Frank Miller.
- Local: uneven series that I had high hopes for coming off of Demo.
- Scott Pilgrim (kinda confusing this go round but fun in parts)
- Monologues for the Coming Plague. Funny funny read but I really wish he had went back and not drawn everything on a cocktail napkin
- Mome. For the love of God- stop including SOPHIE CRUMB in Mome. Hear that sucking sound? That's the sound of Sophie sucking the life out of what would otherwise be the perfect anthology.
Balls out rotten:
- publishers who still promote their books way before they're even in the can (or waiting till the next big indie show). ex. Moomin, Pulphope.
- weak biocomics with amazing production value: It's an ongoing problem that won't go away anytime soon. Lucky by Gabrielle Bell, pretty much anything penned by Jeffrey Brown.
- obnoxious crossover events. I'm on the side of anyone who can stop the madness of Civil War.
- still All Star Batman.
- edit: Totally meant to put Nextwave up on here. I was actually excited by some of the press on it. Then I picked up the first two issues. Dorkin could of got the job done in 6 pages. Mercifully canceled due to a conflict with the artist (who I kinda liked).
Stuff I may never get to see till the next big indie show: The Mourning Star and Brian Ralph's Daybreak from Bodega. Which I hear is awesome but can't find anywhere. Think I'll try the Wexarts bookstore next. They had a whole stack of the new Mark Bell anthology.
So what did you enjoy this past year?
--Tom (permalink)
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Monday, December 18, 2006
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Posted by
Sean McGurr
on
12/18/2006 10:44:00 PM
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Black and McGurr Web Comic
Steve and I are jumping into the wonderful world of Web comics. Our story will debut the first week of January, but you can see some teaser art by Steve now at the Web site. Look for updates once a week at my site and check out some behind the scenes work by Steve on his journal.
--Sean McGurr (permalink)
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Posted by
Dara
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12/18/2006 07:52:00 AM
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Monday Morning "Guess the Artist"
Ok, last week's page was pretty easy. Let's see what you think of this week's page...
(click image to get ahead...get it? get a head? ha!)
(previous weeks: 9/12/2005, 9/19/2005, 9/26/2005, 10/3/2005, 10/10/2005, 10/17/2005, 10/24/2005, 10/31/2005, 11/1/2005, 11/2/2005, 11/3/2005, 11/4/2005, 11/5/2005, 11/6/2005, 11/7/2005, 11/14/2005, 11/21/2005, 11/28/2005, 12/5/2005, 12/12/2005, 12/19/2005, 12/26/2005, 1/2/2006, 1/9/2006, 1/16/2006, 1/23/2006, 1/30/2006, 2/06/2006, 2/13/2006, 2/20/2006, 2/27/2006, 3/6/2006, 3/13/2006, 3/20/2006, 3/27/2006, 4/3/2006, 4/4/2006, 4/5/2006, 4/6/2006, 4/7/2006, 4/8/2006, 4/9/2006, 4/10/2006, 4/17/2006, 4/23/2006, 5/1/2006, 5/8/2006, 5/15/2006, 5/22/2006, 5/29/2006, 6/5/2006, 6/12/2006, 6/19/2006, 6/26/2006, 7/3/2006, 7/10/2006, 7/17/2006, 7/24/2006, 7/31/2006, 8/7/2006, 8/13/2006, 8/21/2006, 8/28/2006, 9/4/2006, 9/11/2006, 9/18/2006, 9/25/2006, 10/2/2006, 10/9/2006, 10/16/2006, 10/23/2006, 10/30/2006, 11/6/2006, 11/13/2006, 11/20/2006, 11/27/2006, 12/4/2006, 12/11/2006)Labels: guess the artist
--Dara (permalink)
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Sunday, December 17, 2006
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Posted by
Dara
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12/17/2006 11:23:00 PM
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Blogger admits it's a piece of sh*t
Well, well, look who's got a "new and improved" version of their software. I like how they basically admit that the current Blogger is a buggy, piece of crap application and the new version is "more reliable". And then there's this big selling point: "Say goodbye to the dreaded 'Publishing...' spinner."
Nice.
By the way, file this under the definition of irony: I've been getting the "dreaded 'Publishing...' spinner" while trying to publish this very post! Maybe if I'm lucky, it'll finally publish after the 10th try...
--Dara (permalink)
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Posted by
Dara
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12/17/2006 11:16:00 PM
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Link-O-Rama
Courtesy of Wendy:
Top 10 Dirtiest Names in Sports - You thought the kids teased you in school? I'd hate to think what these guys went through before they became famous (or semi-famous, as the case may be.) Pete LaCock, Harry Colon, and more.
Heroes vs. Lost: The Rumble in the Sci-Fi TV Jungle - TV geek pits the two shows against each other in a snarky, funny, knock-down, drag-out fight. Categories like "Least Annoyingly Self-righteous Male Lead with a Background in Medicine and Emotionally Unavailable Fathers" and "Better Young Black Kid With Special Powers and Bad Dads".
--Dara (permalink)
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Thursday, December 14, 2006
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Posted by
Sean McGurr
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12/14/2006 08:50:00 PM
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PANEL: Travel Review
The first review I've seen for PANEL: Travel is out at Optical Sloth. Generally a positive one:
Once again, nice work with the production value here. As the theme is travel, this is made up like a passport. The usual cast of suspects are brought together here again, which is quickly becoming a good thing in my book.
--Sean McGurr (permalink)
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Posted by
Craig
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12/14/2006 12:32:00 PM
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Way Back Machine
 Not all the comics I wax nostalgic about were mine when I was a kid. Many moons ago, there were no comic stores, no conventions (outside of major cities, anyway), no mylar-bound back issues. The books rotating through the pharmacy shelf on any given week were all the comics in the world—those and the ones in my closet, and in the collections of a couple other kids in the neighborhood. If the kid a couple houses down had that Hulk comic with the Wendigo’s first appearance, you might get to see it while visiting his house, but at the end of the day it was locked back up among his possessions, tantalizingly out of reach. Trading comics was an enjoyable pastime which saw the value of a certain issue determined not by dollar amounts or grading of condition, but by just how much I like this book. Everyone had a couple comics they desired mightily that the neighbor kid just wouldn’t let go of; Travis Parker wouldn’t give up Captain America #253, so it didn’t actually become mine until Groveport got its own comic shop years later. Nevertheless, I remember it fondly.
This comic by Roger Stern and John Byrne is another masterpiece of compression; at the beginning, we see Cap stop a convenience store holdup Dirty Harry-style, complete with a “do you feel lucky, punk?” moment, before moving on to struggling commercial artist Steve Rogers on a date with a supporting cast member, followed by a discussion of the show they saw (Oklahoma). There’s more characterization in those few pages than three trade paperbacks. Only then does Steve get the call from Jarvis that an odd message has arrived at the mansion for Captain America. The colorful Avenger is soon transported to a setting of gothic horror and mystery as he hops a jet to England. A series of gruesome murders has attracted the attention of the residents of Falsworth Manor, who sent Cap the message in a code he hasn’t heard since the days of World War II. Gloom and foreboding fill every panel, effectively distilling the essence of a Conan Doyle or Stoker tale into comic form.
 What follows is an Invaders reunion, but the group isn’t ready to spring into action. The formerly nimble Spitfire is an aging widow, and her father, old man Falsworth (aka the original Union Jack), is confined to a wheelchair, gone senile in the eyes of his family as he shouts out the window for the Nazis to get out of his yard. It turns out he has sent the message across the Atlantic, having been convinced that the grisly “Slasher” murders are actually the work of his own estranged brother and wartime nemesis, the vampiric Baron Blood. Everyone knows Blood’s body is still being kept under guard in the Tower of London, but Cap agrees to investigate out of respect for the history he shares with his fellow Invader.
 Turns out to be a good idea; in a series of creepily atmospheric panels, Cap demonstrates that a different body has been switched for the vampire’s. Their old enemy is indeed on the loose. As the story progresses, an Agatha Christie-like lineup of cast members is introduced one by one as hints of a mortal accomplice are dropped; the country doctor with the tragic past, the Falsworths themselves, including Spitfire’s young son and his scruffy art school acquaintance. Before the two-part story is over, one will be revealed as Baron Blood, another will become a new Union Jack.
 What strikes me most about this issue is the parallels Roger Stern has drawn between the cast of characters and the imminent threat. A palpable sense of regret hangs over the meetings with Cap and his wartime friends as he sees them in their decline, shadows of their former selves, while he is still in his physical prime. As the threat of a vampire hovers over them all, his old friends gathered around him are symbolically undead themselves. This subtext reflects the gloom of the macrocosm the action is taking place in, and if Stern didn’t do it deliberately it’s a very happy accident.
Back to the story: Cap uses himself as bait to draw out Baron Blood, and the battle ensues. I really like this villain; being a vampire is a little odd for an origin story, but in the Marvel Universe perhaps it’s not so illogical when you’re handed a bunch of abilities that qualify as superpowers to decide to pick out a costume and fight superheroes. It’s got to beat dressing up like a Victorian count or one of those goth wankers.
 The issue ends on a cliffhanger, as Blood calls on his army of rats to attack the Manor residents and puts Cap under a hypno-zap. The last page shows the Baron about to sink his teeth into Cap’s neck as his friends look on in helpless horror. It wasn’t until years later, when Jake’s Comics opened up in Groveport that I got my own copy of this issue and it’s conclusion, and learned that vampire fangs have a tough time with chain mail.Labels: way back machine
--Craig (permalink)
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Posted by
Matt Kish
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12/14/2006 10:33:00 AM
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Darwyn Cooke at the Criterion Collection
Darwyn Cooke has created cover art for 4 new Criterion Collection DVDs. The titles are The Haunted Strangler, Corridors of Blood, the Atomic Submarine and First Man Into Space and they can all be seen here. Really amazing art, but I would expect nothing less from Mr. Cooke. Here are my two favorites...
--Matt Kish (permalink)
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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
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Posted by
Tom
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12/13/2006 08:50:00 PM
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