This property listing would seem to indicate so.

Owner would prefer to deliver building vacant but would be agreeable to a lease back 60-100% of office/warehous space.

Developing, as they say.

[Cartoon Via American Elf.]
Retailers around the world report that Saturday’s Free Comic Book Day was a big success. Lots of kids came in, happy to be getting their free comics, potential new customers came out in large numbers, and it was a big event in and of itself. In Dearborn, MI, the Mayor even made a proclamation. All of the Image founders (including Whilce Portacio!) signed at Atomic Comics in Phoenix, AZ, an event recounted in pictures by Andy Khouri. Matt Brady went to Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find in NC. Lots of people went all over the place!

Scanning FCBD blogs entries, the majority pretty happy and upbeat. Scanning them , many are from people who dressed up as superheroes to partake in the promotions. Tim O’Shea rounds up more quotes and reports. Eric Trautmann co-owner of Olympic Cards & Comics in Lacey, WAwrites at Whitechapel:

Our big winners were OWLY, which a whole bunch of kids instantly fell in love with; oddly, the GYRO GEARLOOSE Disney issue did well for us, as well. The grownups gravitated toward Dan Dare, Hellboy, and All Star Superman, so that was nice. Good books all. Other retailers’ mileage may vary, but FCBD is always a shot in the arm for us, and a great form of community outreach, if properly marketed. If I had one gripe, it was the very short-sighted move by Marvel, not having a standalone IRON MAN for FCBD, because a rather large number of people came in looking for Iron Man. The trio issue of Iron Man, Spider Man and Hulk was okay, but most of the younger crowd were really in the throes of Tony Love after the movie–just didn’t WANT Spidey or Hulk getting in the way. Sigh.

LA Mood Comics, in London, ON, does what we’ve thought some smart comics shop should do someday and puts the Simpsons in the window.

Despite the rain, what a great day it turned out to be! Thank you Great and Loyal Customers for making Free Comic Book Day a huge success! I know we had way more people through the door than ever before! We gave out FCBD bags to each person who came in and went through 500 of them by 1:30! whew!

Here’s a picture from later in the day from the same blog:

Not everyone was COMPLETELY happy, of course. Matt at Alert Nerd writes:

Call me the Grinch What Stole FCBD, but I think a limit on the number of comics you can get sorta defeats the purpose of Free Comic Book Day. As it’s evolved, FCBD has basically come to serve two audiences: Diehard comics readers who want to get free stuff and maybe check out material they might not otherwise see, and non-readers of varying descriptions who turn up because they heard about the free stuff. Neither of these audiences is served by a limit, because no one gets to really TRY anything they don’t already WANT. Like most fans, I went into FCBD with a small list of titles I knew I wanted to check out, and it was way longer than three. So it’s possible I would have just gotten material I already was reading, like DC Universe Zero, which this store had for free (admittedly, a nice move) but which isn’t really gonna convince me to try any additional DC books, since I’m already gonna get most of them anyway.

Where there will always be questions and cavils, it sounds like comic books are now child-safe, well-liked and socially acceptable. So maybe a comic book is as good as an ice cream cone.

PLUS: Critical round-ups of this year’s offerings:

¶Douglas Wolk at Salon (you must watch a short film to read.)

¶
Occasional Superheroine

¶ Johanna part 1.

We know you probably know but it’s time to get FREE COMICS! Everything you need to know is up at the Diamond site.

May Day by Eric Drooker.

May Day by Walter Crane.

May Day in a traditional celebration around the Maypole.

May Day, akak Beltane, as it is celebrated in Edinburgh — dancing half naked around a fire.

We tried to find a picture of the traditional Beltane battle between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythur ap Greidawl for the hand of Creiddylad, as recounted in the Mabinogion, but came up empty.

Enjoy your May Day no matter how you celebrate it!

The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship was founded to remember the last King Features editor. Coloumbia born RISD student Juana Medina is the first winner, E&P reports:

A sophomore at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has won the first annual Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship from the National Cartoonists Society Foundation (NCSF).

Juana Medina edged out almost 200 applicants for the award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award convention in New Orleans. She’ll receive her award at the Reuben banquet on May 24.

Comic News Insider’s Jimmy Aquino is shearing his locks for a good cause:

The New York Comic-Con (NYCC) is coming on April 18th-20th at the Jacob Javitts Center. It’s a big nerdy convention that will be full of comic book folk and celebrities. CNI will again have a big booth in the Podcast Arena doing live interviews, autograph signings, a charity raffle and more. And…I’ve decided to do the big cut as a charity and fundraiser event! The cut hair itself will go to LOCKS OF LOVE. And here’s where I need your help. I’m asking for a flat fee pledge of any dollar amount. $1, 5, 10, 20, a gajillion..whatever you want! We will send money off to LOCKS OF LOVE along with the hair and the rest will be used as a fundraiser for CNI to help cover expenses. I’m still working out details, but I may possibly have a celeb do the actual snip! Who knows? Maybe we’ll sing a tune. Stay tuned!

The haircut will take place on Saturday, April 19th at the CNI booth. Time is approximate, but will happen sometime between 1:00-1:30 p.m. Following the cut, as I’ve not known any other hairstyle for 20 years, a stylist will be on hand to work the new hair over. Feel free to come watch and suggest a style. Mohawk? Mullet? Bob? Heck, I wont even know until she’s done!

It’s one of the erroneous assumptions of comics that Steve Ditko is a crazy old coot who doesn’t draw comics anymore. While it is true he doesn’t draw SPIDER-MAN comics any more, aparently he toils away in his studios still working on new projects, and even the odd freelance job here and there. He is even in contact with contemporary cartoonists. And what do you know, there is indeed a new book by Steve Ditko out:

Steve Ditko’s first new book in 8 years is available now (if you discount the 2002 “Avenging World” compilation that was filled with old articles and artwork)! It is 48 pages and costs $4.95. We’ll be housing all the details here.

Ordering Information
This week’s April issue of the small-press fanzine, The Comics (put out monthly by Robin Snyder, Ditko’s co-publisher when he put out his last original book, Steve Ditko’s 176-Page Heroes Package in 2000, and the above-mentioned 2002 compilation) has the following details…

Now Available for $4.95 + 1.55 P&H in US. S&H, 4.05 in Europe

to: Robin Snyder 3745 Canterbury Lane #81, Bellingham, WA 98225-1186

Blake Bell conjectures the contents may be an updated version of essays that originally appeared in The Comics that labeled him and Gary Groth as Anti-Ditko “based on the title and cover image of our book on his career, (then-titled) Steve Ditko: The Mysterious Traveler (now retitled Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko).”

Those wishing for a copy should contact Snyder directly.

With the San Diego con news cycle increasingly taken over by mega movie marketing events it was perhaps inevitable that a few events would migrate to other venues — one such is now the Annual Friends of Lulu Awards, which are moving to MoCCA, as the following PR shows. Should be a fun party!

Nominations for the four award categories are open to all, not just members, and will be taken at the NYCC next week.

Friends of Lulu is moving the organization’s Lulu Awards event from the San Diego Comic-Con to the popular MoCCA Art Festival (aka Artfest) this year!

The annual Lulu Awards, which recognize the efforts women make in comics, will be held at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in Manhattan on Saturday, June 7 at 8:30 p.m.. Light refreshments will be served, and there will be a suggested donation of $7.00 at the door.

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, along with IDW, DC Comics and Archie Comics, is sponsoring this major event.

“We are excited to bring an award event to MoCCA Artfest, and just as excited not to be competing with the multitude of great events at San Diego Comic-Con this July. We are able to reach a larger group of people eager to see wonderful creators recognized for their hard work in this field,” Treasurer Marion Vitus notes.

On the schedule to present awards are the previous years’ award winners, including Rachel Nabors and Abby Denson, and on the roster to emcee the event is Lulu Eightball creator Emily Flake.

The new Lulu Awards date, in June instead of July, means the nominations are right around the corner; nominations will be open to non-members this year and begin at the joint MoCCA/Friends of Lulu table at the New York Comic-Con starting Friday, April 18.

Look for more details on the Friends of Lulu blog.

§ Milton Griepp seeks panelists for two NYCC panels:

Call for NYCC Panelists!!

For two panels on Friday–on manga retailing and Seuling New York shows.

We’re rounding out our panels on the two topics above, both of which will take place around mid-day on Friday, April 18th at New York Comic Con. If you’re a retailer attending the show that’s willing to share your experience in manga retailing; or were a dealer, guest, or otherwise involved in the Phil Seuling New York shows that has some good Phil stories, please contact Milton at MGriepp@icv2.com asap. Also, if you have photos taken at one of Phil’s New York shows, especially of Phil, please scan and e-mail. Thanks!

§ Kelly Sue DeConnick seeks babies:

Is anyone else taking babies or kids to San Diego? Our nanny really wants to come with us — which would be great — but we’re trying figure out if it’s financially plausible. If she could sit for more kids than just Henry while she’s there, it would help. Anyone…?

[Link via Tom Spurgeon]

Dean Haspiel is editing a new online comics anthology for SMITH Magazine:

“Everybody has one. And, no matter how close or how far, we all live next to someone, and we all have a Next-Door Neighbor story,” says NDN Editor Dean Haspiel. “With this in mind, I asked some of my favorite storytellers and cartoonists to create their favorite NDN stories so that we at SMITH Magazine could share them with you over the next year.”

New installments of Next-Door Neighbor will appear every two weeks on online storytelling community, SMITH Magazine.

The first wave of stories launches with an urban “daymare” titled “Next-Door Neighborless” written by novelist Jonathan Ames and illustrated by Nick Bertozzi, whose graphic novel The Salon, was hailed as among the best comics of 2007. Upcoming stories feature the talents of Kevin Colden, John Cebollero, Joan Reilly, Ed Piskor, and Miss Lasko-Gross. The second wave will be announced in June and includes a super-secret, special first-time writer/artist matchup.

We don’t know why the comment table keeps crashing. Our tech team is looking into it around the clock and will not rest until the gremlin is caught!

As usual, the Hero Initiative will have all sorts of activites and signings at New York Comic-Con. They’re auctioning off a super-duper VIP package which you can bid on here. They’ll also have a Gwen Stacy/Mary Jane Look-a-like contest, judged by John Romita. Cheesy and corny? You bet, but it’s for a good cause.

Ladies! People who aren’t Ladies! The comics social event of the season is now the fashion event of the season as well, with the first-ever GWEN AND MARY JANE LOOKALIKE CONTEST at the New York Comic Convention April 18-20! So dig out those go-go boots, and we’ll all have to face it, Tiger—We’re about to hit the jackpot!

And a man who oughtta know will determine who’s belle of this ball! Legendary Spider-Man artist John Romita Sr. will judge the contest! John is the FIRST artist EVER to draw Gwen and MJ, so make sure your getup is spot-on!

“I look forward to trying to choose which blonde and redhead most resembles Gwen Stacy and MJ Watson at the New York Con April 19th. It’s bound to be tough work, but someone has to do it,” joked John Romita Sr.

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Lawrence Klein writes to tell us of a spotlight on a very very deserving artist: the great Joe Staton. The veteran cartoonist behind E-Man, Scooby Doo and countless other books will have an art exhibit at the Storefront Artist Project in Pittsfield, Mass. this August. A series of events will tie in with the exhibit. More info in the jump

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Michael Keaton’s Batman costume from Batman Returns is up for auction and it’s expected to fetch $60-80K :

The impressive outfit from the 1992 sequel, directed by Tim Burton, includes Batman’s black rubber body suit, boots and gauntlet gloves with serrated fins.

It also comes with Batman’s rubberised cape and iconic cowl, which Bruce Wayne wears to mask his true identity.

A spokesman for auctioneers Profiles In History said: “This is a complete costume, from head-to-toe, with the zipper in the back to allow entry for Keaton.

Chris O’Donnell’s Robin suit from Batman & Robin is also up, with an expected price of a mere $8-10,000.

On the fifth anniversary of the start of America’s dumbest war ever, Public Enemy #1 Osama bin Laden reportedly dissed the Mohammed cartoons in one of those messages he periodically releases.

In the message, addressed to the ‘intelligent ones’ in the European Union, bin Laden said that publishing the ‘insulting drawings’ was a greater crime than Western forces targeting Muslim villages and killing women and children.

And the ‘reckoning for it will be more severe,’ he said, according to a transcript of the message provided by the Virginia-based IntelCenter.

Referring to a series of cartoons published in Danish newspapers, the Al-Qaeda leader also warned: ‘if there is no check on the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions.’

We’ve got to hand it to the big cheese of Al Qaeda, he’s on the right track here. Publishing cartoons IS a far worse crime than killing women and children. You can kill a man (or woman or child) but you can’t kill an idea.

Let freedom ring.

Lovable toon robot cat DORAEMON has been appointed Japan’s cartoon ambassador!

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura appointed the cat an “anime ambassador,” handing a human-sized Doraemon doll an official certificate at an inauguration ceremony, along with dozens of “dorayaki” red bean pancakes — his favorite dessert — piled on a huge plate.

Komura told the doll, with an unidentified person inside, that he hoped he would widely promote Japanese animated cartoons, or “anime.”

“Doraemon, I hope you will travel around the world as an anime ambassador to deepen people’s understanding of Japan so they will become friends with Japan,” Komura told the blue-and-white cat.

The move is part of Japan’s growing use of its immense pop culture influence on a more formal and governmental basis — like the International Manga Award established last year.

Doraemon, a fun loving robot cat sent from the future to aid a schoolboy, debuted in 1969 as a manga. Created by Fujiko F. Fujio, Doraemon has appeared in 1344 manga stories, and been adapted into an even more popular anime series. In 2002 he was voted one of 22 Asian Heroes by Time Asia magazine

As ambassador, the helpful blue feline — or at least a movie ABOUT him — will engage in a whirlwind tour set to include Singapore, China, Spain, France, and other countries.

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Back in the neolithic times when The Beat first started working at Publishers Weekly, there was usually one graphic novel panel at the yearly Book Expo America. This year, they are having a whole programming track devoted to the form. Truly, 2008 is THE YEAR OF THE SYMPOSIUM. PR:

BEA’s Graphic Novel Day on Saturday, May 31 kicks off with a star-studded breakfast presented by Diamond Book Distributors, which will then be followed by more than ten conference sessions featuring industry leaders talking about a range of subjects from design and marketing, to what’s hot and what’s next. The entire day of activity is sponsored by New York Comic Con (NYCC), which is also run by Reed Exhibitions, organizers of BookExpo America (BEA). BookExpo America will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 29 – June 1, 2008.

As noted, the day begins with a breakfast which will be hosted by Jeff Smith and will include speakers Jeph Loeb, Mike Mignola, and Art Spiegelman, a line-up of award-winning comics and graphic novel creators who have played major roles in the evolution of the graphic novel format in North America. They will discuss the latest trends in graphic novel publishing and offer some predictions on the format’s future growth. The breakfast, which is presented by Diamond Book Distributors, will take place in Room 403AB. The cost is $25.

“I am incredibly pleased that our graphic novel activity is so significant, and I’m very grateful to Diamond for helping to organize such a terrific breakfast,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President and Show Manager for BEA. “Since I run both BEA and New York Comic Con, this is sort of like a dream come true. I get to take one big show, in this case New York Comic Con, and give it a little home inside our other big show! Without a doubt, the strength of the content and personalities involved in our graphic novel programming this year give credence to the explosive impact graphic novels are having on the publishing and book retail industry.”

The conference panels which are scheduled on Saturday, May 31 include:

* Designing a Graphic Novel: From Concept to Comic
* Graphic Novel Distribution, Bookstores, and the Direct Market
* What’s Hot, What’s Good, What’s Next in Graphic Novels
* The New Comic Book to Film Machinery: What’s Next and Who is Buying What from Whom
* What Retailers & Librarians Should Know About Video Games and Gamers
* Manga’s New Generational Trade-Up: The Publishers’ Quest for New Readers
* Emerging Voices & Artists: The Graphic Novel Edition
* Building a Graphic Novel Section for Kids and Teens
* Sex in Graphic Novels
* Graphic Novel Buzz: Editors Share List Hightlights
* The New Literacy: How Graphic Novels, the Web, and Video Games are Changing the Way We Process Information

Following in the footsteps of Fantagraphics and Drawn & Quarterly, Picturebox, the Brooklyn-based art comix publisher, is opening a store in Gowanus, Brooklyn!

First, we are opening a retail store in Brooklyn’s sunny and breezy Gowanus, Brooklyn. The PictureBox Departmental Store will carry the full range of PictureBox publications as well as an international array of visual books, prints, editions, comics, clothing and stationary. It is a shopping experience you will never forget. Please join us on Saturday, March 22nd for the grand opening. Refreshments will be served.

Saturday, March 22nd
6 - 9 pm
PictureBox Departmental Store
121 Third St.
Brooklyn NY 11231

Second, we are now accepting pre-orders for GARY PANTER online at pictureboxinc.com. A handful of copies (as well as some Gary rarities) will be available at the store opening. For all Gary Panter book news, please check http://garypanterbook.com/

To Rich Johnston on the birth of new daughter Alice Grace Johnston!

Dark Horse and Universal have announced a 3-year production/distro deal. Universal is putting out this year’s HELLBOY 2 (which was long without a studio; HELLBOY 1 was at Revolution). With the success of Sin City, 300 and 30 Days of Night (which Dark Horse also had a production credit on, despite it being published by IDW) it’s a nice proven brand for Hollywood. Up next: the Goon movie, perhaps?

Universal Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment have signed a three-year production and distribution agreement that establishes a studio home for all of Dark Horse’s creative properties going forward. The agreement was jointly announced by Marc Shmuger and David Linde, Chairman and Co-Chairman of Universal Pictures; and Mike Richardson, founder and President of Dark Horse.

Under the terms of the deal, Universal would have creative access to all Dark Horse characters and properties, as well as any material that Dark Horse might acquire on its own and want to develop as a motion picture. In addition, Dark Horse would have the opportunity to distribute movies through Universal.

Universal Pictures is opening Hellboy II: The Golden Army, directed by Guillermo del Toro and based on Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse Comics character, on July 11, 2008.

“Dark Horse is one of the most creative and innovative brands in the entertainment industry, as well as an incredibly supportive home for some of the most exciting storytellers working today,” said Shmuger and Linde in a joint statement. “Their unique connection to youth culture is proven, and we are thrilled to be part of their expanding film production work.”

Mike Richardson responded, “We’ve worked with many studios and have had several great experiences, but we are particularly happy to be joining forces with Universal Pictures in this deal. We feel a real connection with their vision and the energy and creativity they bring to developing our properties. We are also excited by the option that we’ll have to independently produce our own material and distribute it through
Universal; their flexibility in this collaboration is what we were looking for, and we’re glad we found it.”

Donna Langley, President of Production, Universal Pictures, added, “We are very much looking forward to working with Dark Horse’s talented writers and artists, and to realizing their wealth of creative content onscreen.”

Dark Horse Entertainment is represented by Endeavor and The Gotham Group.

Buck Rogers, the early sci-fi comic strip icon is coming back to the comics from Dynamite Entertainment. Rogers debuted as “Anthony” Rogers in a couple of stories in Amazing Stories by Philip Francis Nowlan; syndicate executive John Flint Dille teamed with artist Dick Calkins to create the familiar “Buck Rogers” comic strip. Rogers was later seen in a TV show that coined the annoying phrase “Bidi! Bidi!” and Erin Gray’s appearance as Wilma Deering fueled countless fantasies in boys around the land, at least accoring to anecdotal evidence we’ve heard.

Dynamite’s version of the character will have covers by Alex Ross and John Cassaday, according to president Nick Barrucci. Dynamite’s agreement with the Dille Estate also allows for the creation of Buck Rogers comics, collections, including classic material, comics-based fine art prints, posters, action figures, trading cards, statues, and other high-end collectibles.

This Tuesday, 3/11 we’ll once again be guests on The Comic Book Club, the weekly talk show about comics. This time we’ll be part of a “State of the Industry Summit” along with Kiel Phegley, John DiBello and Brian Heater. Brian’s announcement of the gig is actually way funnier than anything we could write, but it is always good fun to gchat with Alex, Justin and Pete, and you should some down if you’re in the nabe, or even if you’re somewhat nearby, say on the Eastern Seaboard.

The show starts at 8 and takes place at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street. Admission is only $5. Cheep!

We’re happy to report that the Jess Fink vs Hot Topic brouhaha has been ended with a satisfying and righteous conclusion:

“I would like to first and foremost, appologize for this situation. It is very important to us to support artists and their ventures and it just makes my stomach turn when something like this happens. We in NO way would have written this artwork if we had known it was someone else’s design. We work with many vendors that sell us “generic” artwork and we put our faith in those vendors to not sell us stolen or immulated artwork.”

On top of this she offered that they would like to buy some of my designs.

Also from what she said I have a feeling no one is going to be buying anything from “NewBreedGirl” for a long time.

I don’t know if I will in fact do the designs for Hot Topic or not yet, but all I really wanted in the first place was for the shirt to not be sold and so I think I am satisfied with how this all turned out, and that I didn’t have to take it to court.

I hope this isn’t an anti-climactic ending for anyone, I am not going to blow up Hot Topic with a rocket gun or brake any one’s neck bones, but I think I am happy with it.

In yet another happy turn of events, Rachel Nabors has had a very successful fundraising to finance the extensive dental work she needs:

It’s official. We’ve raised at least $5,000 toward my jaw surgery! Let’s see, that either covers the braces or half of the surgery (provided it doesn’t involve widening the roof of my mouth). Last I checked tonight, we were at $5,588.04 USD. I still need to use part of that for shirts, but we’re over five grand! Wooooo!!! Check out that bar graph!

Once in a while we have to just state the obvious…The Beat is beat. We’re tuckered, knackered, all in…however you like to put it. We’re only human and something has to give. And that something is staying up all night to write this, like we usually do. So…we’re regrouping, recouping and drinking fluids.

We will have our reports on the Dupuy and Berberian and Drew Friedman events up later (with photos) but in the meantime you can read about the former here at Satisfactory Comics and the later here, in an excellent post by Brian Heater which really needs little amplification.

In the meantime…WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE 3G IPHONE SO WE CAN GET ONE? WHEN WHEN WHEN???

ComicsPRO the comics retailer advocacy group, is taking over running 24 Hour Comics Day, which was previously administered by About Comics’ Nat Gertler. The org called it a move that “furthers its mission to expand the comics’ market.” Dates for 2008 will be announced soon.

24HCD is a scheduled challenge during which single artists attempt to create a full 24 page comic story in 24 consecutive hours. Past 24HCD events have seen comic pros and aspiring cartoonists participate at special events in comic book stores and other venues around the world. ComicsPRO is taking over the administration of 24HCD as a way to support the creation of new comics’ material and also to promote and support comics’ retailers. Past 24HCD events have generated substantial press coverage for participating cartoonists and retailers. The event also gives retailers a creative way to get involved with public schools, libraries, universities, and local art communities.

Additionally, Ohio State University will house all of the submitted 24 Hour comics’ entries, providing a permanent home to 24HCD archives within its Cartoon Research Library, which already boasts a large collection of original art and regular comic art exhibits.

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