Joining already announced guests Gilbert Hernandez, Rutu Modan and Bill Griffith, this year’s SPX has added three more intelligent and exciting guests: Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch. This is one of the best balanced guest lists we’ve seen at a small press show, and we’re definitely looking forward to hitting Bethesda October 12-13.

The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is proud to add Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch to the roster of guests for SPX 2007. This years SPX will be held October 12 and October 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Matt Wagner is one of the pioneers of indie comics with his original creation of “Grendel”, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Matt also created, wrote and drew “Mage”, and has worked on a number of projects for both DC and Vertigo. His next installment of the Grendel saga, “Behold The Devil” is due to be released this November from Dark Horse.

Jeff Smith, is the creator of the celebrated epic “Bone”, which has over a half million copies in print and is now available in Italian, Spanish, German and many other foreign languages. Jeff recently completed his critically acclaimed reworking of the Golden Age hero Captain Marvel, “Shazaam! The Monster Society of Evil” for DC Comics. He has recently been named by Fantagraphics as the art designer in charge of the upcoming reprints of Walt Kelly’s classic, “Pogo”.

Kim Deitch will be at SPX to promote his well received latest graphic novel, “Alias The Cat” from Pantheon Books. Kim is one of the original “underground” cartoonists who redefined comics in the 1960’s and has also worked in the field of animation.

These creators are in addition to Bill Griffith, Gilbert Hernandez and Rutu Modan who were previously announced as guests at this years SPX.

Additional guests will be added over the next few weeks, please stay tuned for those announcements.

For further information on the artists or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at webernard@spxpo.com.

But while we’re at it, IGN has an exclusive preview of THE NIGHTMARE FACTORY, a collection of horror stories by Thomas Ligotti adapted by some of comics finest. As the editor of this book, I’m as proud as a peacock of it, and once you certify that you are old enough to look, I think you’ll agree. Left, a page from “Dr. Locrian’s Asylum” by Joe Harris and Ted McKeever.

We’re back at Stately Beat Manor, but everyone is taking it slow for the last week of summer, and so will we. In the mean time we’re catching up on our reading, taking the pulse of the people, and gearing up for exciting announcements, or at least droll japery.

It is the 90th anniversary of Jack Kirby’s birth.
Mark Evanier remembers

Jack Kirby would have been 90 years old today.

I know I write too much about Jack but that’s because people are always asking me about him. And as more time passes on this planet without him, more people ask. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard fans of his work regret that they didn’t get to meet him. His work enriched their lives in some way and they assume, probably correctly, that a personal encounter would have been even more enriching. At the very least, they could have told him what his unbounded creativity meant to them, professionally and/or personally.

So does Tom Spurgeon.

And the New York Times:

He created a new grammar of storytelling and a cinematic style of motion. Once-wooden characters cascaded from one frame to another — or even from page to page — threatening to fall right out of the book into the reader’s lap. The force of punches thrown was visibly and explosively evident. Even at rest, a Kirby character pulsed with tension and energy in a way that makes movie versions of the same characters seem static by comparison.

The frenetic action and the rooftop fighting so common on the superhero set did not just materialize out of nowhere. Mr. Kirby remembered much of it from his Depression-era youth on New York’s Lower East Side, where, he once told an interviewer, the incessant fights among rival gangs were often staged up and down fire escapes and during running battles across tenement rooftops.

More links at Blog@

by Paul O’Brien

The era of big events continues apace, as Marvel’s WORLD WAR HULK squares off against DC’s COUNTDOWN. And while WWH isn’t a sales juggernaut on quite the same scale as CIVIL WAR, it’s comfortably enough for Marvel to once again flatten DC in the North American direct market. The gap is narrower than last month, but Marvel still take the lead by 42% to 30% in dollar share, and 48% to 32% in unit share.

Marvel’s biggest new launch of the month was J Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel’s THOR, which returns from a period in limbo with vastly increased sales. Other major events include the X-books’ “Endangered Species” crossover; the debut of Matt Fraction and Barry Kitson’s ORDER; the start of the three ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST tie-in miniseries; and the interbrand promotional exercise you’ve all been waiting for, NEW AVENGERS/TRANSFORMERS.

Thanks as always to Milton Griepp and ICV2 for permission to use their figures for these calculations.

1.  THOR
07/01  Thor #39 -  39,454
07/02  Thor #51 -  37,087
07/03  Thor #66 -  33,557
07/04  Thor #82 -  36,094
=====
07/07  Thor #1  - 165,325
                   3 year  (+358.0%)
                   4 year  (+392.7%)

This may be a crossover-driven year, but July’s number one title has nothing to do with any of that. THOR has been in limbo since October 2004, when the previous series ended on sales of 49,000. However, that was due to a last-minute surge of interest, and the book had previously been selling in the 30K range. The lengthy delay in relaunching the title seems to have been caused as much by difficulties in lining up a creative team as by deliberate planning, but it’s certainly paid dividends in building up anticipation for a character who had previously been languishing somewhat.

There’s a variant cover on this issue, of course, but that’s largely beside the point. I had this down as a surefire top ten book, and a probable top five, but I’m surprised to see it doing quite as well as this. A very promising start.

(more…)

§ Toronto Fan Expo link round-up at Sequential.

§ Round-up of cupcakes in comics courtesy Rachel Kramer Bussel:

§ Jon Spencer Geek explosion interview at Daily Cross Hatch. BTW, Spencer’s wife, if we recall, is Boss Hog’s Christina.

What are you reading [comic-wise, naturally]? The Pushman & Other Stories by Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Silverfish by David Lapham, B.P.R.D., Fear Agent, Batman, Jeff Smith’s Shazam, The Pride by Brian K. Vaughan, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, and anything by Sfar and/or Trondheim.

Venerable Victorian postcard subject serves as setting for POSTCARDS signing:

Ventnor, NJ writer Chris Stevens and Brooklyn, NY artist Gia-Bao Tran will be signing copies of Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened (Villard Books; On-Sale Now), at Lucy the Margate Elephant historical landmark on August 29, 2007. Stevens and Tran are the creators of “Blue,” the lead story of the graphic novel anthology, which pays homage to the innocent age of Atlantic City.

“Blue” is the story of an Atlantic City native returning home and trying to find a connection with his grandmother, a woman who’s not as sharp as she used to be. An image of Lucy on a postcard becomes their means of escape into the landmarks (and relationships) of their past. Creators Stevens and Tran will be signing copies of Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened at the building that inspired it all—Lucy the Margate Elephant.

Where: Lucy the Margate Elephant
9200 Atlantic Avenue
Margate, NJ 08402
When: Wednesday, August 29th
2 – 4PM

Harvey Pekar’s appearance on No Reservations aired last night but we’re sure you can catch it in reruns.

John Green, Disney Adventures freelancer recounts the end of the magazine
— and by the way folks, he’s now looking for work and anyone who doesn’t hire him is stupid.

I can’t say it’s completely unexpected. When I started at the magazine almost ten years ago, I recall a big meeting about the fate of the magazine within my first few weeks. Basically, the decision seemed to be that the need for Disney to have a kids magazine out there was greater than the need for Disney to be making lots of money off said kids magazine. It’s subscription rate was great, and always has been, but ad sales have been on a steady decline. For a long time no one was really worried about that, though (other than of course people in the ad sales department.) So long as kids were still buying the magazine (or, parents buying their kids the magazine), Disney was going to make it for them. And if the magazine was in any real danger, the impression everyone got was that it would be reformatted, restructured, phased out, phased in, or something. At worst, I expected a “This is your last year” kind of scenario, so the “That’s it, finish what you’re doing and go home” scenario that has happened came as a bit of a shock.

Related: Drew Weing on his strip WULF AND MERL.

We’re back online but still off the grid. Full service resumes tomorrow.

All us nerds know plenty of these viral websites tied into things like the new Batman movie or LOST. Now, there’s actually one tied into a good old-fashioned comic.

Last week, news about a website tied into the most recent issue of CHECKMATE began circulating on various comic book forums. In the story, the new head of security (CASTELLAN) at the headquarters of the espionage organization set up a sophisticated computer system to defend their castle. We need that he (former supervillain CARL DRAPER) has set up a website into which he is linked cybernetically.

Well, as it turns out, that website actually exists. Once you get past the password protection on the site, the user is hooked into a Wiki created by Draper full of his notes about Checkmate, their members and a load of DCU heroes and villains.

On the Comic Bloc forums, the issue’s co-writer Eric Trautmann, was fairly coy about the website’s creation and whether he had anything to do with its creation.

Regardless of who made it, it is a great way for a DCU nerd to kill a couple hours on the computer, looking up stuff about The Calculator or Count Vertigo.

Posted by Mark Coale

The Beat has been unavoidably detained in a remote location, and will return later in the day.

Ad Age reports that after 17 years, Disney has cancelled Disney Adventures magazine, with the November issue the last one.

Disney Publishing attributed its decision to an effort to better focus resources and maximize long-term growth potential through new magazine and book initiatives.

The demise of Disney Adventures, which was introduced for tweens in 1990, closely follows the end of fellow child soldier Nick Jr., which MTV Networks closed with the April issue. It isn’t clear that there’s any particular exodus of children from magazines, but proliferating competition and rising costs are knocking out big magazines at a fairly regular clip these days; adults for their part have lost Premiere, Jane, Life and Child so far this year.

While DA still had a healthy circ of over 1 million, ad pages were down — a common complaint among magazines — and that sealed its fate.

DA was of course, The Beat’s old stomping ground for many years, and this announcement fills us with a bittersweet feeling. With its vast circulation, and stand alone comics spin-offs, “Comic Zone” this was one of the lone lights for children’s comics during the darkest days of the comics industry, and over the years published such cartoonists as Jeff Smith, Evan Dorkin, Art Adams, Christine Norrie, Rick Geary and many others. Selling ads was always a challenge however, and the slowly eroding ad market for magazines couldn’t have helped.

But it was fun while it lasted, creating the comics adventures of TailSpin, Rescue Rangers, Toy Story, Timon & Pumbaa, Pirates of the Caribbean and many others. The “DA Kids” grew up to read and buy comics and helped show that comics weren’t just for grown ups after-all.

PR:

In memory of Mike Wieringo, who passed away Aug. 12, Project: Rooftop has announced an open call for redesigns of Bart Allen (Impulse/Kid Flash/The Flash), the character created in 1994 by Wieringo and Mark Waid.

Submissions will be accepted through Sunday, with the best entries showcased during a special “Wieringo Week,” which also will feature some of the best costume work from Wieringo’s career.

“Mike had a timeless appreciation for these awesome characters and enjoyed the heck out of online costuming/drawing events, so I think he’d really dig this kind of fun being held in his honor,” writes Project: Rooftop founder Dean Trippe. “Whether you consider yourself a friend, fan, or both, come join us in remembering Mike Wieringo, whose incredible artwork and unfailing kindness continue to serve as a source of unending inspiration and joy.”

For full details, visit the Project: Rooftop website at www.projectrooftop.com.

Sequential weighs in with a very lengthy interview with Kevin Boyd, whose move from the Paradise comicon to the Toronto FanExpo has written a new chapter in the long running - but now relatively dormant- fued between the two shows:

In the relatively small world of Toronto comics fandom it is a story of almost Biblical proportions: Kevin Boyd, long-time promoter of the Paradise Toronto Comicon, has left Paradise for arch-rival, Hobbystar Promotions, owner of the Toronto FanExpo.

Boyd, along with Paradise Comics owner Peter Dixon, had been co-promoter of the Paradise conventions since 2002. He announced his move to Hobbystar last month through several online venues.

Boyd’s move came as a surprise to many, given the recent acrimony between Hobbystar and Paradise. Boyd was an active player in these disputes, even going so far as accusing Hobbystar of “aggressive counter-programming tactics” in 2006.

Boyd’s move was being talked about at San Diego, and the piece has tons of background info:

“The two sides met many times last fall to try to resolve something, and while no agreement was reached, we’ve been trying to get along and the conflict has pretty much disappeared and the Paradise Comicon had this year to stand or fall on it’s own without interference. The Stop Hobbystar people closed the blog up in the spring, feeling it had served its purpose. They’ve also worked out their concerns with Hobbystar and will be at the show in August. Most of the industry didn’t like the conflict, but remained neutral in their actions as they saw merit in supporting both.”

§ Former Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Mar has become the latest celeb to add a comic book to their multi media presentation, which also includes a “Viking-themed film.”

The ambitious bass player has decided to release all her current projects at once, proving she’s the ultimate ‘triple threat’.
Fans who buy her second solo album, Out Of Our Minds, can also check out her short film and comic book, released under the rocker’s initial pseudonym MADM.
Auf Der Mar tells Billboard.com, “I was basically building relationships because those comic book companies are crossing over into film and video games.

§ Brian K. Vaughan: ‘The Aaron Sorkin Of Comics’? Given the fate of STUDIO 60 this might not be considered the most complimentary comparison, but be that as it may, MTV has a profile on the writer up.

Super colorist Steve Hamaker posts the first in a series of video tutorials on his coloring techniques. viagra 30sec0.03 level xanax forcovetous all tramadol aboutday viagra 1100 tramadolxanax .25 withdrawal mgviagra ligne achat enmg 100 tramadol 800ct Map

Via FLOG, a warehouse find:

We recently did an audit of our Comics Journal back issue inventory to compare what’s listed in the online store vs. what we have in our warehouse, and discovered that there were a bunch of issues that were in stock but not listed. So, after a long absence, the following issues are available for purchase once again. Quantities are limited, so order online (tip: search the online store by stock code: #48 is cj048, #133 is cj133, etc.) or call 1-800-657-1100 today!

A listing of the old issues is in the link. cellphone ringtone mata amberingtones arabic from lebmaniafree ringtone armymall cingular t ringtones atfree ringtone verizon audiovoxringtone maria avethomas ringtones j bringtone boys bad cope Map

When he isn’t writing comics or radio plays, Terrance Griep Jr. is also known as midwest wrestling villain Spiderbaby, surely one of the more unusual side jobs among comics. Griep writes to let us know that this weekend he had a lot of activities:

1. Finished a manuscript.

2. Finished an article.

3. Became the NLW Midwest Heavyweight Champion.

4. Tried Fast Fixin’ Chicken Dipping Sticks for the first time and found that I really like them.

Congrats to the new champ!

The “Life Without Fair Courts ” cartoon contest was launched this spring together with Prism Comics and Diamond Comic Distributors, along with The Advocate as exclusive media sponsor. There were over 25 entries from all over the country, including two international entries from Poland. The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges including artist Mikhaela Reid who was commissioned by Lambda Legal to draw the “Life Without Fair Courts” cartoon series, DC Comics Editor Joan Hilty, freelance illustrator and comic book artist Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman, Infinite Crisis), and Sean Kennedy, News Editor at The Advocate. Nearly 2,000 people voted to select the winners.

“The goal of our Courting Justice project, which designed and carried out the ‘Life Without Fair Courts’ cartoon contest, is to help the community better understand what our lives and the lives of all Americans would be like without a fair and impartial judicial system,” said Hector Vargas, Deputy Director of Education and Public Affairs at Lambda Legal. “The artists turned complex ideas into compelling graphic art in ways that make it easy to understand the impact of the court system on our everyday lives.”

(more…)

We’re a sucker for a good email title:

Critically acclaimed comics creator Mark Haven Britt will be appearing at Comic Relief in Berkeley, CA on Saturday, August 25th, 2007 from 5 to 7 P.M.. The Xeric Award-winner will be promoting the release of his new Image Comics original graphic novel, FULL COLOR.

Publishers Weekly says about FULL COLOR, “Xeric Grant-winner Britt offers a dark, unrelenting story of petty drug dealers, spoiled rich kids and a tormented woman on the edge of oblivion in a truly unsettling one-sitting read… Typeset lettering and jagged, angular, almost angry thought balloons contribute to the book’s singular tone and style. The title belies that the story is told in stunning black-and-white–this story could be told no other way.”

FULL COLOR (MAY071852) is a 176-page black and white graphic novel with a cover price of $15.99. The ISBN is he ISBN is 978-1582408408.

More information on FULL COLOR can be found at www.markhavenbritt.com .

Comic Relief is located at 2026 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, CA. For more information, visit the store website at www.comicrelief.net.

ringtones through bluetooth online

Even with this information, the State of California recently passed ringtone uploader i870 phone law that requires drivers over the age of 18 to use a hands-free device while using the phone in the car.

Blake Bell is celebrating Hernandez Brothers week, and of course you don’t have to ask us twice to join in the fun. Bell is posting mp3’s of a 1989 interview of Gilbert Hernandez by Gary Groth and throwws in a few observations:

Interesting that, in part one, Gilbert name checks Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko as inspirations/influences. And it’s fantastic to see that Gilbert has the work ethic of both those creators. Every time I turn around, Gilbert’s producing new work that is consistently well drawn, with a unique narrative. His latest work is a mini-series for Dark Horse Comics entitled, The Devil You Know. Go here for a preview and “trailer” from the Dark Horse site. In an era where my favourite indie artists seem to produce a book a year, Gilbert also has another full-length graphic novel coming out from Fantagraphics called, Chance In Hell.

We praise Beto’s prolific nature! Praise him with great praise!

It’s not too often that we get an actual newsmaker writing in to respond to our snark, so we’re giving screenwriter Josh Olson a special mention as he chimed in on THE BEAT comments yesterday to clarify the upcoming Oz film which he is writing and Todd McFarlane is producing. The short version is that McFarlane’s controversial toy line is NOT an inspiration for the film, and Olson seems to be genuinely enthusiastic about capturing the actual Oz books, which are kinky enough, believe us. While he still hasn’t given us his plans for the Hungry Tiger and the Patchwork Girl, since he did write one of our favorite David Cronenborg movies, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Hayden Panettiere has just passed her 18th birthday which apparently means she legal to drive or something. The websites which specialize in photos of female celebs in bikinis (one of which we snagged the above from) have been having a field day with Panettiere, who plays the cheerleader on HEROES, for a while. Is it just us or is she were 26 would no one be particularly interested in this lively and charming lass?