'The Further Adventures of the Whistling Skull'

One of the most interesting comic book titles in years is Wildstorm’s The Further Adventures of the Whistling Skull. http://tinyurl.com/y3thryh

'Hordes: Primal MK II'

Privateer Press is publishing the 256-page Hordes: Primal MK II  core rulebook in both hardcover and softcover. http://tinyurl.com/y3qt9de

Marvel Details New 'X-Men' Titles

A bevy of new “Number Ones” were revealed at the “X-Men Panel” at C2E2. http://tinyurl.com/y2aca4o

WotC, 'Magic' Get a Shout Out!

Hasbro sales went up 8% in Q1, with revenues of  $672.4 million vs. $621.3 million in Q1 2009. 

http://tinyurl.com/y7polju

Cartoon Boy UPDATE 04/20/2010

John Kerschbaum updated Cartoon Boy. http://tinyurl.com/y72vxmx

Marvel JULY 2010 SOLICITATIONS PREVIEW - IRON MAN

Preview Marvel's IRON MAN titles shipping July 2010, then come back for the FULL Solicits on Apr 20! http://tinyurl.com/yyra55e

CBR Review: The Unwritten, issue 12

"The Unwritten" presents a chilling one-off story that will keep you from ever looking at Winnie the Pooh the same way again. http://tinyurl.com/y7are5v

Google Drops Scanlation Site from Search Results

Request alleges that site with unauthorized translations has "child pornography" http://tinyurl.com/y4hhgzm

Global Freezing Strip 0081 (Blog@Newsarama)

Find out more about Global Freezing here on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays or at ComicsByEgg.com. http://tinyurl.com/y5v3gx7

Maybe a few more people will actually buy it this time!

Casanova is back, baby! And it's at Marvel, through their Icon imprint. Whoo-bleepin'-hoo!!!!!!!!!
Sadly, it will probably sell many, many, many more copies even though the original was $1.99 per issue and this ... won't be (to be fair, the issues will be combined, so the price won't be too prohibitive). But damn, [...] http://tinyurl.com/y58odmm

Mike Mignola Vs Ethan Van Sciver ? Gun Possibly Involved!

In a Facebook post that has spread elsewhere, Mike Mignola described his C2E2 experience.
Back from Chicago–A very nice show marred only by the big shot professional I had to sign next to all weekend–He brought ... http://tinyurl.com/y58hce6

C2E2: BOOM! Studios Panel

From a brand-new "Farscape" threat to the return of Cthulu to a line of family-friendly Stan Lee created titles, BOOM! Studios treated C2E2 attendees to news, previews and more than a tease or two. CBR News was there. http://tinyurl.com/y5l2b9e

When Words Collide - Monday, Apr 19th

Tim reflects on the tale of two conventions, one in New York, one in Boston, and doesn't mention C2E2 at all - okay, maybe a little. He also notices a growing trend and finds yet another reason to talk about Jack Kirby. http://tinyurl.com/y5af2vv

AMERICAN VAMPIRE issue #1 Now Sold Out!

The amazing new series AMERICAN VAMPIRE by creator and co-author Scott Snyder, master of horror Stephen King and artist Rafael Albuquerque is going back to press for a second printing just days before issue #2 goes on sale.
If you haven’t picked it up yet-and your store still has copies left, pick up a copy [...] http://bit.ly/aqF66V

MARVEL HOTLINE: Grace Randolph on HER-OES #1

	MARVEL HOTLINE: Grace Randolph on HER-OES #1 Writer Grace Randolph talks MARVEL HER-OES #1 on sale April 21, 2010!	From: MARVEL Views: 0 0 ratings
	Time: 02:19	More in Entertainment

http://tinyurl.com/y79kfya

DC Comics Solicitations for July, 2010

DC Comics has released solicitation information and images for new comics and products shipping in July 2010, including the latest from "Brightest Day," "Ex Machina" 50, JMS' "Superman" and "Wonder Woman" and more. http://tinyurl.com/y6dvem8

Danielle Leigh's Reading Diary -- Honey Hunt volume 4

Even though I make an attempt to review manga titles aimed at adult readers -- or manga that I think has a lot of  "crossover" appeal to U.S. comic book readers -- in the blog, I also don't want to neglect my 5 year love affair with shojo.  I open with this thought as I [...] http://tinyurl.com/y4bvf6r

Take a look at the variant covers to BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 and WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1

Still recovering from that Cassaday image? Understandable. So are we. But we’ve got two more images that’ll help get you to Tuesday with a smile on your face. Specifically, Andy Clarke’s variant to BATMAN AND ROBIN 12 and Aaron Lopresti’s WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1 cover.
[...] http://tinyurl.com/y296sa7

Lying In The Gutters ? 19th April 2010

It’s going to be an American comic-free week in the UK, thanks to a certain cloud of volcanic ash doing its business all along the western front. Still, we’ve had blue skies without a wisp ... http://tinyurl.com/y6k9a5c

My Comic Book Shoppe - Heroes & Dragons

Regular reader Louis Bright-Raven was nice enough to send along an article about his local comic book store, Heroes & Dragons in Columbia, South Carolina: "The Southeast's Coolest Comics Shop!" Read on below the cut!

Heroes & Dragons is located at 1563-B Broad River Road in Columbia, South Carolina 29210. The web site is [...] http://tinyurl.com/y28ayoh

Morris County school specializes in training comic-book artists

BY CHUCK O'DONNELLChristian Mejia sifts through a pile of drawings on his desk as he sits in design class, hoping to spend the next 15 minutes before lunch on an assignment in which he must create a comic book... http://tinyurl.com/y6wqjet

Following "The Further Adventures of the Whistling Skull"

WildStorm announced "The Further Adventures of the Whistling Skull" on Saturday at C2E2 and CBR News has all the details after speaking with co-creators Tony Harris and writer B. Clay Moore. http://tinyurl.com/y6tulau

Kick Ass @ C2E2

Newsarama had a chance to chat with Aaron Johnson and Chloe Grace Moretz, the stars of "Kick Ass", at C2E2 2010. http://tinyurl.com/yyo98z2

It?s Good To Be The Dream King – Part One

I have been writing these in chronological order, but from now on I’m going to channel Lost by doing a flash forward, a flash sideways, a flashback or maybe even a flash dance – whatever suits me.
By their sheer brilliance The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen and Maus all pushed the potential and the acceptance of [...] http://tinyurl.com/y2g5qkp

RIP: Carl Macek (1951-2010) | Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation

Carl Macek, a pioneer of bringing anime to America, died of a heart attack on Saturday, April 17th. He was 58. Jerry Beck, who founded Streamline Pictures with Macek in 1988, has his thoughts here, and the conversation is ongoing in the comments.
It was Macek who put together three Japanese cartoons — Macross, [...] http://tinyurl.com/y25zm2d

i am at the mercy of the volcano gods. less than 48 hours away from departure, and i'm still not

certain if Chris and myself will be able to get on a plane bound for Stockholm, Sweden. (If we DO get to go, it's good thing i'm checking weather reports... it's supposed to SNOW the day we arrive! Yikes!)

• former intern, current ink-stud, and soon-to-be CCS grad Jen Vaughn thankfully took some snaps of our set-up at MoCCA this last weekend. Thanks Jen!

Here are three of those amazing Swedes: from left to right, Mats Jonsson, Kolbeinn Karlsson, and Simon Gärdenfors.

Mats and Kolbeinn.

Jen and Leigh.

Leigh and Chris.

• Cool, Colleen Coover and Paul Tobin talk Gingerbread Girl with Newsarama at C2E2 this last weekend!

• How cool is it that three of our graphic novels are recently nominated for Eisner Awards. (The Eisner Awards, if you're new to comics, are the equivalent of the Motion Picture Academy Awards. So to win an Eisner is like winning an Oscar.) That said, for my money, Kevin Cannon's epic Far Arden was misplaced, and should have been nominated for Best Original Graphic Novel, and not Best for Kids nod. But trust, i ain't complainin'! And big ups to Eddie Campbell (Alec: The Years Have Pants) and Jeff Lemire (Essex County) for their noms in the Best Graphic Album: Reprint category.

And let me tell ya folks, these weren't nominated for no reason. They are works of shear beauty.

• Cartoonist and animator extraordinaire Graham Annable has a swell new set of prints available. I know i might sound like a broken record on the matter, but is one of my favorite storytellers, in any medium. I'm not a big horror fan in general, but the macabre nature of his stuff hits all the right notes. Very very intellectual, scary, and often times laugh-out-loud funny.





Here's his most recent one right here. And there are 36 more on The Grickle Channel.

Oh, and also make sure to buy his awesome new comics collection, edited by my pal Diana Schutz, The Book of Grickle.

• How bitchin' is this Sweet Tooth cover by Jeff Lemire?!

• So, i just did some comics shopping, and also received some books in trade from my pals Joe and Eric over at Image. There's some real nice stuff coming out these days. But two books kind of let me down. On the plus side, holy wow!... Peter Bagge's Other Lives from Vertigo is one tight package. Can't wait to dive into that one.

And while i'm not big on floppies, i picked up a mad-crazy comic called Lose #2, by Michael Deforge and Koyama Press. This is some freaky weird shit and utterly compelling.

Somehow i missed #2 of Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan's Demo. #1 & #3 were simply awesome... this team rules, and the first Demo series is one of the very very few titles where i think the floppies trump any collected printed. (I'll need to get that run bound.) In any case, i've been a fan of Brian's work since way back, and Becky's work here is nothing short of a triumph. Her work is growing in leaps and bounds. (And, hey Brian, when are we going to see all-in-one collected editions of Channel One and The Couriers?)

There appears to be (drumroll please) yet another new comics publisher here in Portland, called Revival House Press. I picked up yet another floppy in Mike Bertino's Trigger #1, and boy am i stoked!! I've been following Mike's work almost since i started in comics way back in the mid-90s. I know he's been doing lots of painting (beautiful stuff, too) but it's really awesome to see Mike back into comics. He's the real deal.

Somehow i missed the tasty Oishinbo A la Carte series of manga books until recently. "... a fascinating journey through the world of cooking and food culture." I'm sold!! Published by Viz, i have two volumes so far, and plan to score as many as i can lay my hands on. This series has exquisite unifying design and yet each book is identified by it's own color scheme. Written byTetsu Kariya and drawn by Akira Hanasakihe, the art, concept and execution are all outstanding. Highly recommended.

Now, in the disappointment phase of this post, two books i was totally anticipating came out, and i'm afraid i'm going to have to pass on them. Please keep in mind... i'm usually a sunshiny and (as Mom used to say) If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say, Don't Say Anything kind of guy, and my beef is with the production of these books, not the content, creators, or publishers. First, Dash Shaw's Body World. I love Dash and i love his work. He's a forerunner in contemporary formalism and great fun to talk comics with. But as beautiful as the art is, the way this book is read (flipped on its side and read top to bottom, end over end) drives me nuts. (Marvel's recent Spider-Man daily comic strip collection did the same thing.) This is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Sorry. Also, Craig Yoe (who is a flipping genius comics historian, and whose praises i sing loudly and often on this blog) put out a collected edition of Dan DeCarlo's Jetta comics. The DeCarlo content is fabulous, but why oh why did Craig feel fit to pad the book with upwards of 30 pin-up by various artists... if anything, maybe half a dozen would be acceptable, but on my budget, this just won't fly. I want DeCarlo.

Finally, on the mind-bendingly gorgeous side of the spectrum, two books from Image came in that blew by little brain wide open. I've read a lot of good things about I Kill Giants, by Joe Kelly and Jm Ken Niimura, and if reads half as good as the magnificent oversized hardcover collection, then am i in for a treat. Then, Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein's Viking: The Long Cold Fire... maybe the most sumptuous, luscious, ass-kicking oversized hardcover in my vast library. Fuck me!, this is so cool it hurts. Like, as in Vikings are breaking down my door and taking advantage of me hurts. A "must-have" if ever there was one.

http://tinyurl.com/y4xh4jz

Best Shots Comic Reviews: FLASH, SIEGE: LOKI, More

The Best Shots team is back with some more comic reviews, covering books from DCU, Marvel, Vertigo, and more http://tinyurl.com/y3db6zb

Kick-Ass #1 In Audience And Dollars ? Just

This should have been Kick-Ass‘ weekend. The superhero dark comedy based on the Marvel comic book had expected to clear over $30 million this weekend but didn’t even make $20 million. There was also the ... http://tinyurl.com/y4n7b7a

Video watch: Tim Gunn looks at superhero cotumes

http://tinyurl.com/y6wstkb

Look! It Moves! #44 by Adi Tantimedh: The Decade Of The Percussive Thriller

Bought and played SPLINTER CELL: CONVICTION last weekend. Good fun, especially if you like your action shooter games focused on commanding your hero to shoot two or three enemies in the head with a ... http://tinyurl.com/y5ectzg

C2E2: Archaia

At Chicago's C2E2, Archaia discussed their present and future in the digital world of comics and announced an all new brand extension banner. Black Label, specifically dedicated to Hollywood partnership titles. http://tinyurl.com/y4amsjb

Advance Ultimate Comics Solicitations, July 2010

Marvel Comics has released solicitation information for Ultimate Comics shipping in July 2010, including "Ultimate Comics New Ultimates" #3 by Jeph Loeb and Frank Cho. http://tinyurl.com/y2heula

Volcanic Ash Cloud Moves Iron Man 2 Premiere From London To Los Angeles

It appears that Iron Man’s onboard propulsion system is a bit rubbish for dealing with tiny particles of volcanic ash.
And that’s why the world premiere of Iron Man 2, which was was due to kick ... http://tinyurl.com/yy9po5u

REVIEW: "Batman" #698

Greg McElhatton reviewed "Batman" 698 featuring a story by Tony Daniel with art by Guillem March and gave the book 3.5 stars, saying "Daniel and March work well together...it's nice to see each of them providing a satisfying read." http://tinyurl.com/y2wvkpg

C2E2: BOOM! Studios and Explosive 2010 Plans

The BOOM! Studios and BOOM! Kids panel held at C2E2 went over the rest of 2010 and what fans can expect from the publisher http://tinyurl.com/y665rf3

Dynamite Comics On Sale April 21, 2010

Dynamite Entertainment has provided CBR with advance looks at new comics on sale this Wednesday, April 21, including "Queen Sonja" #6, Garth Ennis' "Battlefields" #5 and "Kato Origins: Way of the Ninja" #1. http://tinyurl.com/y5uqtfl

Preview: Battlefields - The Firefly and His Majesty: Part Two

Stiles and his crew are going Tiger-hunting, which is all very well so long as your intended prey has no idea you're coming. But the last days of the Third Reich prove to be a savage time, and as British and Waffen SS tanks stalk each other through the wretched gloom of the German winter, tragedy is never far away.
Suggested for mature readers. http://tinyurl.com/y5qlqks

John Cassaday Covers "Superman"

DC Comics has announced that John Cassaday will be the new regular cover artist for "Superman" starting with issue 701, joining new writer J. Michael Straczynski and interior artist Eddy Barrows on the title. http://tinyurl.com/y68swmu

Reviewing the First C2E2 with Show Director Lance Fensterman

Alex, Justin and Pete probe the future of C2E2 - and other ReedPop Exhibitions - with show boss Lance Fenstermen. http://tinyurl.com/y3zzwrs

C2E2: ARCHAIA - Announcements Galore! New Series, Digital

Archaia may be a small publisher, but they have TONS of big news coming out of C2E2 this weekend! http://tinyurl.com/yyhcewz

C2E2: Guarding the Secrets of a New X-MEN Ongoing Series

Writer Victor Gischler and editor Axel Alonso try to keep details of the new X-MEN ongoing series under wraps http://tinyurl.com/yyqggs7

Heading back from Chicago

Well, that was a show, huh? By the time you read this, I’ll be frantically packing my meager belongings into my ratty suitcase and preparing to head back to the Big Apple after an amazing C2E2 convention. Were you at the show? What’d you think? Were you watching the news from afar? Share your experiences [...] http://tinyurl.com/y4ftdo9

Review: Will Eisner?s The Spirit: The New Adventures Archives (Blog@Newsarama)

Will Eisner’s The Spirit: The New Adventures Archive Written & Illustrated by Will Eisner, Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Angus McKie, Neil Gaiman, Eddie Campbell, Steve Oliff, Tracey H. Munsey, Chris Shadoian, Jim Vance, Dan Burr, Ray Fehrenbach, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Tracey Anderson, Daniel Torres, Mark Kneece, Bo Hampton, Ashley Underwood, Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Will [...] http://tinyurl.com/y35o55k

ARCHIE COMICS SHIPPING JULY 2010

ARCHIE COMICS SHIPPING JULY 2010 ARCHIE 611 PART TWO OF FOUR IN THE MAN FROM R.I.V.E.R.DA.L.E. ACTION THRILLER "R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. Dissembled": The evil organization C.R.U.S.H. is planning to infect all of Riverdale High with the insidious Formula Z! Can Archie, THE... http://tinyurl.com/y633jyu

VERTIGO COVER GALLERY

AIR 23

CINDERELLA Vol. 1

DAYTRIPPER #8

DEMO Vol. 2 #6

DARK ENTRIES pbk

DMZ 55

FILTHY RICH pbk

GREEK STREET 13

HAUNTED TANK collection

HELLBLAZER 269

HOUSE OF MYSTERY 27

iZOMBIE #3

JOE THE BARBARIAN #7

THE LOSERS Book 2

MADAME XANADU 25

NORTHLANDERS 30

SCALPED 40

SWEET TOOTH 11

UNKNOWN SOLDIER 22

THE UNWRITTEN 15

THE UNWRITTEN #2

http://bit.ly/bU53m3

C2E2 I: the wrap-up

[Photo via Mekanicat's flickr set.]

Incredibly, The Beat is on the move AGAIN. While we’re in transit back to base, a few quick thoughts on C2E2, based on dozens of conversations with publisher, creators, and attendees.
• It was a good first time show. This was repeated over and over by just about everyone we spoke with. [...] http://tinyurl.com/y3n4gxg

Seth Kushner's Culturepop UPDATE 04/19/2010

Seth Kushner updated Seth Kushner's Culturepop. http://tinyurl.com/y3wqyn9

Monday Runaround ? Feeling Very Grounded

C2E2Watch: The Chicago Tribune post-match-analysis of the Chicago show.
At that moment, a woman at the next table stood and walked away. Her cell phone tumbled from her coat pocket and landed quietly on the ... http://tinyurl.com/y7mzn7h