Long thought an endangered species, Klingons have been spotted lately in Texas, giving hope that this rare and beautiful species may still make a comeback from the brink of extinction.

When the Klingons walk into the Krispy Kreme on Cooper Street in Arlington, the doughnut makers try not to gawk. The 10 or so officers of the Imperial Klingon Vessel, Melota, have long hair and ridged foreheads. They wear elaborate leather and metal armor.

Mark ‘Qel’ogh-wI’ Alcala, captain of the IKV Melota, got Pat Burke’s help getting ready for the recent Klingon Ball, which raised $600 for SafeHaven of Tarrant County. Everyone in the room is curious what the Star Trek characters are doing here. They are eating doughnuts and drinking milk.

Tim Leong writes to tell us that Comic Foundry, the controversial magazine about comics will be out this week, earlier than planned.

I wanted to let you know that Comic Foundry, the new magazine about comics, will be in stores THIS WEEK!

Though we originally expected a Sept. 5th release date, we just found out the mag is debuting early — which is great because the wait is finally over. It’s been a long and arduous journey so I’m excited to get it on stands.

Comic Foundry is different because it is as diverse as the people who read comics. Although Wizard and The Comics Journal address the two very opposite ends of fandom, no one is speaking to the wide and growing number of fans who find themselves somewhere in between. Comic Foundry was created to do exactly that, defying traditional stereotypes about comic book fans with a smart, stylish package designed to draw readers of every strip into the fold. Comic Foundry will begin publishing quarterly in 2008, with our next issue in the Spring.

I hope you and your readers enjoy the first issue!

We don’t watch enough TV to make an actual joke, but this is clearly a big deal.

NBC is adding former “Veronica Mars” star Kristen Bell to the cast of “Heroes.” Peacock has snagged Bell for a key multiepisode arc of its sophomore sensation. Casting is a major coup for NBC since Bell — who plays the title character in Judd Apatow’s upcoming “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” — was reportedly being sought for several TV gigs, including a part on ABC’s “Lost.” Bell will make her first “Heroes” appearance in October. She’ll play Elle, a character described as a sexy, mysterious young lady who has ties to the supposed death of Peter, H.R.G.’s past and the future of Claire. Elle will kick off her arc by committing a serious crime, though it’s unclear whether she’s good or bad.

Japanese doujinshi con sets new attendance record.

Comiket 72 took place from August 17th - 19th. According to Mantan Web, over 170,000 fans attended Comiket 72 on day 1, 180,000 attended on day 2 and 200,000 on day 3, resulting in a total attendance of 550,000 - the highest attendance in Comiket history.

Also in above link, many links to more coverage.

Just what it sounds like/ Looks like it was lovely.

More on the Toronto Comic Arts Festival

Mark Siegel/First Second
Rey Ortega
Jasmine C
Dayuse, who says there were “smells” but we don’t believe it!
Paul Rivoche
Danielle at BlogTO
Sequential has the good and more links
An excellent write-up of the Doug Wright Awards from CBC.ca via Sequential:

“What contradictions, what energy, what tension, what struggle, what humour, what characters!” said writer Judy MacDonald, speaking on behalf of the five-member Wright Award jury.

ITEM! Quick and Flupke, two also-ran characters created bhy Tintin great Herge, are getting their adventures rereleased in India.

ITEM! Venerable Brit comics Dennis the Menace and Desperate Dan are making the jump to Distrbution via mobile phone.

ITEM! Josh Neufeld talks about his Katrina webcomic with the Toronto Star

“I’m ashamed to admit it but I’m literally working on each chapter up until the minute that it gets released. Like chapter six, we’re really trying to get it up the Sunday before the anniversary of Katrina, so I guess that would be the 26th. I just finished the script a week and a half ago and I’ve been drawing it before the script was even finalized. It’s kind of always like this, that’s just the way this project has worked.”

We don’t know who Brittany is, but she seems to be female, and she liked the MInx books, going back to our question from last week.

Growing up I wanted to read comic books but never felt like there was anything for me to relate to. The only thing I would pick up and read were the “Archie and Friends” comics, which to be honest was a little lacking in content. By taking Literature 220 where the focus was graphic novels (GN’s) I was able to see that writers and artists are trying to make comics more girl friendly with modern ideas and plots. The Minx line is a series of GN’s that is specifically focused on women and their lives.

Minx has one particular book that I would like to discuss and that is “The P.L.A.I.N Janes”. I think that this book is great for representing every girl there is out there with their characters, plot and use of language. Both the artistry and the text play a big part in attracting women to comics and GN’s.

Bodog, an online gambling/MMA/music/TV etc type website apears to hear that these graphic novels are HOT, as they have pacted with some excellent comics peep for the adventures of poker-playing, crime solving secret agents. PR to follow:

Multimedia powerhouse Bodog Entertainment is continuing its expansion into the digital entertainment industry, branching out into uncharted realms of amusement by announcing a deal to release a graphic novel created by top comic talents Adam Slutsky, Shawn Martinbrough and Joseph Phillip Illidge.

The graphic novel will make its debut at a major comic event in 2008. The book will detail the story of the Ayre Force, a group of secret agents from the realms of poker, mixed martial arts and music in the Bodog Universe. The team will be lead by globe-trotting mastermind Calvin Ayre.

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Scottish mystery writer Ian Rankin knows how to make headlines! Just recently he stirred up a bee’s nest of controversy by suggesting that lesbians write the most graphic crime fiction. He’s also pals with yet another Scottish mystery writer, Denise Mina, and says he will be following in her shoes to write HELLBLAZER, because apparently that’s what the Scots do. Just last week, he was caught yapping on a panel on graphic novels at the Edinburgh International Book Festival with Mina and Alan Grant (who is also Scottish).

But Rankin’s detective work isn’t confined to his writing. Apparently he also uses his power of sleuthing to spy on yet ANOTHER local scribe, one J.K. Rowling.

The Sunday Times newspaper quoted Ian Rankin, a fellow author and neighbor of Rowling’s, as saying the creator of the “Harry Potter” books is turning to crime fiction.

“My wife spotted her writing her Edinburgh criminal detective novel,” the newspaper, which was available late Saturday, quoted Rankin as telling a reporter at an Edinburgh literary festival.

“It is great that she has not abandoned writing or Edinburgh cafes,” said Rankin, who is known for his own police novels set in the historic Scottish city.

Well whether you believe this “My pal’s wife saw it” story or not, we’d say Rowling would be a lock for a mystery writer, what with all the mysteries that kept us guessing for a decade in the Harry Potter books. However, she shouldn’t share any of her plot points with Rankin, because obviously the guy is a blabbermouth.

UPDATE: Okay now Rankin has tried to clarify that this was just a joke.

This is a joke that got out of hand. There were 600 people in the audience, and only one person didn’t laugh.

[Photo via the Forbidden Planet Blog]

If you’ve noticed a bit of slacking here at CBM of late it’s because…well, it’s August and we’re slacking. Pretty simple. Call it the Summer Fun Blogging Hours. Not that we could have as much fun as Betty and Veronica are having in heir Summer Fun special, because that just isn’t possible, but we are attempting to wrest some fun out of this summer. Not that we’ve been to the beach yet — or will be going this summer — or been to PS 1, or done too much of anything usually deemed “summery.” But we’re trying, by God. We’re trying. Later this week we’re going on a sabbatical to Ultima Thule, but hopefully it will give us a chance to catch up and even work on a few longer pieces since based on our own observations, pretty much everyone else has Summer Fun on the mind, too.

In the spirit of the season, we will be posting more Summer Fun covers this week. Because they just don’t make them like that any more. The time when a comics anthology was a children’s companion on the long drive to the lake house are long gone. Today you’re more likely to see a grown man bringing some comics with him on the train. Such is progress.

The Doug Wright Awards for the best in Canadian cartooning were presented last night, and the winners are:
Best Book: Joe Ollman, This Will All End in Tears (Insominiac Press)

Best Emerging Talent: Rebecca Kraatz, House of Sugar (Tulip Tree Press)

Giants of the North Hall of Fame: Rand Holmes (1942-2002)

Aiyi yi, there is so much cool stuff going on in Toronto this weekend surrounding TCAF, the Toronto Comics Arts Festival. For all the most relavant details, head over to Chris Butcher’s blog or the Beguiling or ever the TCAF site itself.

First some quick event:

* TONIGHT: JOE MATT RETURNS TO TORONTO and THE 2007 DOUG WRIGHT AWARDSInnis College Town Hall, 2 Sussex, @ St. George (two blocks south of St. George TTC)6:30pm-8:30pm. $5.00. Tickets available at the door.More info at http://torontocomics.com/tcaf/events.html#kk

* TOMORROW NIGHT: TCAF PARTY: SONGS & PICTURES- Live Musice featuring Kupek, Little Brown Bat, and RagniSneaky Dees, 431 College St. @ Bathurst, Second FloorSaturday, August 18th, Doors Open at 9PM. $5 Cover.More info at: http://torontocomics.com/tcaf/events.html#sath

* ALSO TOMORROW NIGHT: Indiana Jones: Rock Vs ComicsUFO CLUB HALL, 39 Lisgar St, Toronto, ONSaturday, August 18, 2007 at 10:00pm. No CoverDancing, DJing, Live art and more.

A couple of links about stuff people are doing:

Comics Bakery/Dave Roman
Chip Zdarsky!

The Comics Reporter interviews Butcher:

SPURGEON: What is it about TCAF that you think works as an actual show when compared to other conventions, the actual show itself and not the scene it creates?

BUTCHER: The atmosphere. No offence intended to SPX, but coming out of that fateful car trip the one thing we all decided is that we didn’t want to be a “Hotel Con.” Being in Toronto, despite being your neighbour to the north and all, it’s just a different type of city with a different vibe than the states. We want to do a show that’s integrated into the everyday of Toronto, that engages the populace as well as appealing to the comics devotee. Our locations have always been adjacent to the University district, either in historical buildings (a lovely old church in 2003, a 100+ year old University building in 2007) or smack-dab in the middle of the street in 2005

Finally coverage in the local alt.weekly, the Toronto Eye, with cover boy Paul Pope.

We’re sad not to be going to this event — it only unfolds once every two years after all — but we trust our pals and gals will send us full reports. Have fun, kids.

Brian Hibbs writes to remind us that Douglas Wolk gathers with several of his Savage Critic compatriots at Comix Experience:

This Friday, August 17th, from 4 to 7 PM, Comix Experience is very happy to host DOUGLAS WOLK, international bon vivant, Savage Critic, and author of the most excellent Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean

Join us for an afternoon of book signing, comics theory, continuity debate, and, unless I miss my guess, beer.

Plus, since we’re in San Francisco, I’d say odds are frankly terrific that we’ll also have Jeff Lester and Graeme McMillan on hand (well, after they get off work), so four, count them four Savage Critics to pontificate!

Be there or miss the most insider comics afternoon of the summer!!

Vulture reveals another literati going graphic, Cold Caller’s Jason Starr:

Q: I understand you’re working on a graphic novel for DC Comics.

A: I can’t really talk in depth about it, but it’s an original graphic novel and a supernatural thriller. The end-game is to release it in 2008. I was really into graphic novels and comics as a kid, but it kind of got lost over the years. I’ve just started seeing the artwork come in from the artist, and it’s really exciting to see what’s in my head interpreted like that on the page.

Regular readers, and people who know The Beat know how much we adore legendary animator Floyd Norman. Many were the times during our Disney days when Norman would stand in our office and deliver a succinct but pithy truth that has stood with us to this day. Luckily readers can enjoy the Norman point of view in his columns at Jim Hill Media, and today he pens a great one which explains that sometimes the true test of a true visionary is accepting something that you don’t agree with:

Maybe Walt Disney wasn’t the first “control freak” in history, but he was certainly worthy of that dubious title. Every story idea, art style and casting choice in a motion picture had to go through Walt first. When you worked for Walt Disney you either became Walt Disney or you went somewhere else. Your story ideas had to be acceptable to Walt. Your art styling had to match Disney’s artistic sensibility. The studio was the perfect reflection of its founder.

Knowing these things, would it surprise you to know that the Old Maestro actually encouraged dissension in the ranks? Would you be shocked to know Walt Disney allowed his artists and writers to pursue their own vision even though it might be in total opposition to the accepted Disney style?

To be sure, Walt Disney was an enigma. On one hand, he wanted things done his way, and he was not tolerant of opposition. Having said that, how does one explain the latitude he often gave those who traveled a different path? Some might say he was only giving those “radicals” enough rope to hang themselves so he could be done with them. Such was not the case. The Old Maestro may have ultimately rejected their ideas, but he was perfectly willing to allow those ideas to be pursued.

Don’t take our word for it, read the whole thing, with pictures.

Above: Ward Kimball, a maverick if ever there was one.

§ A high school rival of artist Michael Turner comes to grips with the present day:

Years later, a co-worker in my design department brought in a comic book magazine that listed the top artists in the comic industry – you know, the movers and shakers. Guess who was high on the list?

My Jr. High art buddy graduated to the big leagues. And now- apparently, he was better than me – “much”, “way”, “uber” better than me. He was starting his own company after helping create a Witchblade craze at Top Cow. There was even talk of James Cameron making a movie based on his latest character. This dude was hot and getting hotter, and when I looked at the picture of him in the article I could see that same look of – “What? Of course I’m a success. Why wouldn’t I be?”

As you can imagine, I was thrilled for the guy that I instantly hated with 20 years of jealousy (interest compounded daily). You see, I was a bicycle graphics designer, a job I was happy to have – until I read the article. I was happy with my paycheck – until I imagined his.

§ Mark-Oliver Frisch looks at Marvel’s announced new books:

Rather than putting all their eggs in one basket (see the competition’s Final Crisis), Marvel announced a whole bunch of potential free-standing sales juggernauts at the recent major conventions. Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi doing Astonishing X-Men: Second Stage certainly fits that bill. Although it likely won’t be up there with the Whedon/Cassaday run commercially, I wouldn’t underestimate Ellis’ appeal. The British author is currently seeing something of a second spring, with a slew of critically acclaimed projects like Fell, Nextwave and Thunderbolts under his belt, most of which are also selling respectably, and a well-received novel out. Coupled with up-and-coming newcomer Bianchi, who knows, maybe it’s just the right mix to get people excited. Creatively, Ellis tends to be hit and miss with existing work-for-hire concepts; we could end up with another Thunderbolts, or we could end up with another Iron Man.

Superheroes WORKED OUT to stay fit! Stan Kleefeldposts excerpts from the 80s Marvel Strength & Fitness Book:

[Via Val]

Think San Diego was stressful? Imagine half a million otaku streaming through Tokyo Big Sight hunting for their favorite doujinshi. :

About 36,000 organizations will put cartoons, novels, music and game software programs on sale at Comic Market.

[snip]On Friday, products related to animation and game programs will be on display, followed by cartoon and music products on Saturday.

Popular animation and cartoon characters will also appear at “Costume Play Plaza.”

Via Kevin Melrose, Hotto Sutu has a more practical preview:

About 2 weeks before a ComiKet event goes down (winter or summer) you can find the ComiKet catalog in just about any store in Akihabara or Nipponbashi. Today, they have two different versions fitting your tastes either A. ComiKet catalog Book form! or B. ComiKet catalog CD form! If you are planning on attending ComiKet it is mandatory to get a catalog and plan out your routes and what has low stock and high stock. The advantage ,though, of the CD form is that it allows you to color code the items you plan on picking up. So you can grade it , for example, Dark blue being your first stop to light green being your last stop.

Phil Gascoine, a veteran of the British comics scene who worked on such american books as UNKNOWN SOLIDER, died this week after a short illness. This interview serves as a memorial and a place to post tributes:

Artist Phil Gascoine left school aged 15 and worked in an art studio until leaving to complete two years National Service.
As a freelancer, Phil drew for several girls’ comics for over 10 years, including such titles as DC Thomson’s Bunty and School Friend, and IPC’s much-admired Jinty. Among many other boys adventures strips, he’s well known for his work on Battle Action!, on The Sarge.
In addition to work for Marvel UK, Phil also drew strips for the US market, including The Unknown Soldier, The Punisher and various titles for DC Vertigo such as Shade The Changing Man.

We had a hard time finding much of Gascoine;s work on the web, but managed to find this Epic series he illustrated at last.

Zeitgiest-baring tidbits keep creeping out regarding last weekend’s Wizard World Chicago. As the “end” of “big con season” it’s a time for reflection and observation.

First, Kate Willaert teases with the provocative title What You Didn’t Read In The Chicago Panel Reports, namely, fans confronting Marvel’s Joe Quesada with Mary Jane questions for 25 minutes at a stretch.

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loans student citi bank

Those who carry their loan franchise commercial s in pockets of their pants are putting their potency at great danger.

Oboy! Lots more pictures of ScarJo to be featured on The Beat as she’s just been cast in Frank Miller’s Spirit Movie as a femme fatale named Silk N. Floss.:

For “The Spirit,” Miller’s adaptation of the classic Eisner film noir comic strip series, Johansson is in final negotiations to play a dangerous beauty named Silk N. Floss. Eisner’s strip was known for its women with dangerous curves, and Miller is intent on keeping that tradition. Floss is a sexy and intelligent secretary with a vindictive instinct, making her the perfect accomplice to the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson), an evil mastermind.

Gabriel Macht is playing the title character, a detective who fakes his own death in order to fight crime in Central City as the masked man known as the Spirit. Production is scheduled to start in October, with the film scheduled to be released domestically by Lionsgate in 2009.

We’re more excited than a panda in a lawn furniture showroom to hear this news, and to show it, we’ve posted TWO pictures of the glamourous starlet, who perviously co-starred in GHOST WORLD to earn her nerd stripes.

You boys play nice now.

Here you go. At long last the Ellison/Fantagraphics settlement agreement. Basically everyone agrees not to say nasty things about each other any more, Ellison’s interview is removed from future printings of THE WRITERS, the offending paragraphs are removed from the upcoming history of Fantagraphics while they get to post a rebuttal on the internet. Also, everyone is responsible for their own legal bills. Fantagraphics can’t solicit any more defense fund contributions, but can continue to sell those that have already been donated.

And then, everyone goes home.

Mike’s brother Matt has posted the following: :

First, let me thank everyone who has expressed their condolences online and over the phone. We have been, frankly, overwhelmed by all the good will from all over the world. I don’t think our parents fully understood (nor did Mike) just how much he was loved and admired. To get us through this, my wife and I have spent a couple of sleepless nights reading the postings here and at Newsarama (thank you, Matt Brady) and the John Byrne Forum and it’s helped a great deal. Most touching of all was Cully Hamner’s heartfelt eulogy at Newsarama. Thank you so much, Cully. You are a beautiful man.

Now to the hard part. Mike will have two funeral services.

First, there will be a public viewing this Friday (August 17th) from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service at 1113 West Main Street in Durham, NC, followed by a chapel service at 2:00. This will be open to any of Mike’s friends and colleagues who’d like to attend. Please come prepared to share a Mike story. I plan on putting you on the spot. It would really help our Mom and Dad through this.

Second, at a time to be determined, there will be a private service for Mike’s family in Lynchburg, where we grew up.

As mentioned before, in lieu of flowers, if you’d like please send donations to the A.S.P.C.A. (aspca.org) or to the Hero Initiative (heroinitiative.org). I had previously mentioned the CBLDF but, having time to think about it, I realized that the Hero Initiative was more Mike’s style. Those wishing to contribute to the CBLDF anyway, please feel free as it’s a worthwhile cause as well.

You should check out Wieringo’s art gallery and read Tom’s collection of memories. The sadness grows in the telling. And Tom Brevoort notes that Wieringo died on August 12 — the same day that Marvel editor Mark Gruenwald dropped dead of a sudden heart attack at age 43. Certainly the memory of both these fine men will live for a long time.

Prolix Steve Bissette has a very very long review of STARDUST and observations on the role of illustrators in film and great links and why Charles Vess getting his name on the movie is a good thing and tons of obscure history, like this:

In fact, the exile of mere “illustrators” to this limbo of no screen credit is sadly emblematic of the ‘creator rights’ era of comics publishing, save for those key works that were wholly creator-owned and comics-creator originated (e.g., Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Crow, Fish Police, The Tick, etc.). Things are better than they were pre-1980, but the illusion that the creator rights battles have been fought and won is a pervasive and destructive one. When, in 1986, cartoonist Bill Wray adapted to comics the short story “Eight O’Clock in the Morning” by Ray Nelson (aka Radell “Ray” Faraday Nelson), published twenty years earlier in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, for the short-lived Eclipse Comics anthology Alien Encounters under the title “Nada,” he arguably created something new: a collaborative work with new, unique elements. It was Bill Wray’s adaptation, not the original F & SF pulp publication of the story, that brought Nelson’s story to the attention of filmmaker John Carpenter, who loved it. Carpenter contacted both the writer’s agent and Eclipse Comics to buy the rights to both and adapt them himself (scripting under the screen pseudoname “Frank Armitage”) into the film They Live (1988).