Author: Kaylee Byram

2009 Harvey Awards Nominees Announced

  • News
  • July 15, 2010

The 2009 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced along with the release of the final ballot. Anyone “professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field” is eligible to vote. All submissions must be sent to the Harvey Awards before Friday, August 7, 2010. The awards will be presented by Scott Kurtz (PVP Online) at the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con on August 28.

The Harvey Awards, named in honor of the late cartoonist Harvey
Kurtzman, recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They are the comic book industry’s oldest and most respected awards, and are the only awards to have nominees selected and chosen by individuals creatively involved in the comics field.

There are over a hundred nominated names and titles, including Geoff Johns (“Blackest Knight”), Klaus Janson (“Amazing Spider-Man”), and
“The Walking Dead” (Image Comics), to choose from twenty-two categories. The categories range from Best Writer to Best New Series to Best Online Comics Work.

There is a lot of talent listed among the nominees, and voting will certainly be no easy task. Jeff Kinney (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”) was nominated in four categories, Zuda had creators and comics nominated in seven categories, and “All-Star Superman” creators were nominated in four categories. Hopefully three weeks is enough time for voters to mull over all the fantastic nominees and cast their ballots.

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New Looney Tunes Look for Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the rest of the gang

New Looney Tunes Look for Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the rest of the gang

  • News
  • June 30, 2010

A new Looney Tunes television series is on the horizon, and the 80-year-old cartoon characters are getting another face lift. Jessica Borutski spent nearly two years redesigning the Looney Tunes characters for Warner Bros., saying, “I gave them slightly different proportions that
emphasize things I always
liked about the characters. An example is Bugs’ feet. I streamlined
them and made them bigger.” When the studio released the news about the upcoming cartoon series, along with promo art, many fans were in an uproar.

Borutski experienced a backlash of criticism and negativity towards her work. Many fans found the redesigns “desthpicable”, or as CartoonBrew.com put it, “embarrassing.” Although some people embraced the new style as being fun and more modern, the media’s attention has focused on the negative reactions to Borutski’s art. Pete Emslie, a freelance artist like Borutski and an admirer of her work, expressed his take on the situation in his blog: “If these designs were of brand new characters with no previous history
in cartoons, I believe that these images would be embraced by the
majority of animation fans and recognized for how appealing they are in
terms of graphic design and feeling of inner life and personality. The
problem of course is that these are the Looney Tunes characters, with a
long illustrious past… Most of us would rather that they not be
messed with…”

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Webcomics You Should Be Reading: Gunnerkrigg Court

Webcomics You Should Be Reading: Gunnerkrigg Court

  • News
  • June 18, 2010

“Gunnerkrigg Court” doesn’t need me to play its publicist, but then again, a little extra publicity never hurt anyone. (Unless you’re Kate Gosselin…Ahem!) This webcomic has truly earned its fame and fans. It offers a crisp look, detailed environment, fine-tuned story.. everything that ultimately captivates the audiences.

Created by Tom Siddell, “Gunnerkrigg Court” follows the adventures of Antimony “Annie” Carver, a model for calm and collected characters. After the death of her mother, Annie enrolls in Gunnerkrigg Court, a boarding school devoid of nature and saturated in artificiality. The Court is filled to the brim with friendly robots, magical creatures, secretive teachers, lively students, and mystery; don’t forget the mystery. Although Annie is more comfortable around ghosts and shadow creatures than her fellow students, she soon befriends the outgoing, techno-savvy Katerina “Kat” Donlan. Together with her companions, Annie explores the Court to unveil the truths hidden within its walls — Why are the Court and Woods divided? Who exactly is Reynardine? Where is Annie’s father?

Siddell has worked on the webcomic for over five years, and avid readers are still hanging on every update, hoping to discover answers to the mysteries that plague the Court.Siddell assures his audience that by the end of “Gunnerkirgg Court,” all major mysteries will be solved. The creator throws his readers bones (i.e. clues, hints, explanations) throughout the story, some of which you may not notice unless you’ve read through the webcomic more than once. Now don’t let all this talk about mysteries intimidate you. If you’ve developed the impression that “Gunnerkrigg Court” will leave you unsatisfied due to a lack of answers, then please don’t fret. A substantial number of answers have been revealed since the start of the webcomic, and trust me, the unanswered questions are nowhere near as frustrating as LOST’s.

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Is a Live-Action Blue Beetle TV Series on the Horizon?

Is a Live-Action Blue Beetle TV Series on the Horizon?

  • News
  • June 17, 2010

 

When Geoff Johns, DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer, disclosed on his Twitter page that DC and Warner Bros were “hoping to develop a live-action show” starring the Blue Beetle, the news spread aggressively quick. To alleviate fans’ growing excitement and curiosity, Johns posted photos and more news about the proposal on DC’s official blog, The
Source. The site has indeed been the source of Blue Beetle related hubbub, as screenshots of Blue Beetle’s transformation sequence have spread widely across the net. Johns and his team created a clip showing Jamie Reyes’ scarab activating his suit, a clip that Johns will showcase at the San Diego Comic-Con.

With Smallville ending after its next season, WB could replace it with another DC Universe television series. However, would a Blue Beetle live-action show be received as well as Smallville was? Superman is an iconic character, while Blue Beetle is comparatively lesser known. There is also the issue of the Blue Beetle comic book cancellations. Some speculate that if Blue Beetle comics ultimately get canned due to poor sales, then how well would a television series fare? On the other hand, Blue Beetle gained a loyal fan following after Infinite Crisis back in 2006. Reyes also made several appearances in Cartoon Network’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Johns tweeted, “Blue Beetle’s going to appear in most of the Brave and the
Bold’s this year,” which is promising news for the superhero. The new publicity may give Blue Beetle a chance to make it to the small screen.

Perhaps we shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves. Johns stated in his post on The Source, “This isn’t final. This isn’t greenlit. It’s only a test that was done.
We still have a long way to go to see if we can get this off the
ground and a lot of people to jump on board.” While it’s exciting to witness superheroes come to life, maybe we shouldn’t get our hopes up just yet with this teaser alone?

Rik Levins: 1950-2010

Rik Levins: 1950-2010

  • News
  • June 17, 2010

Richard “Rik” Levins, a penciller for well over a hundred comic books, passed away June 12, 2010. He died peacefully at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. Levins was born on October 15, 1950, in Somerville, New Jersey. He is survived by his wife Sandra, nieces Robin and Lynn, nephew Robert, and great-nephews Kenneth and Johnathan.

Before launching a career in the comic book industry, Levins worked for the US Postal Service. He later attended art school, which lead him to become a successful artist. He penciled covers and pages for titles such as Avengers, Femforce, The Shade, X-O Manowar, and many others. He is best known for penciling Captain America from 1991 to 1994, where he worked with writer Mark Gruenwald. Levins drew for several publishers, including Marvel, AC Comics, Acclaim, and Innovation.

Levins switched to working with computer art, and became a game developer and modeler. He followed this path for fifteen years, the last seven of which he spent instructing labs for Full Sail University’s (in Winter Park, Florida) gaming department. Levins never stopped contributing his time and talent to comic books, and worked on graphic novels up into his later years. Some of his final projects were Avengers: Galactic Storm, Death Hawk: The Soulworm Saga, and Nosferatu: Plague of Terror.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service for
Richard at 5:00 PM., Friday, June 18th with visitation at 4:30 at the
Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, 7520 Aloma Ave., Winter
Park, FL. 32792.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard’s memory to
Moffitt Cancer Center “Gifts of Memory” at www.moffitt.org/giving or the
American Cancer Society. Please sign and view the family guest book at www.baldwinfairchild.com.

Little Orphan Annie: Goodbye, comics; Hello, Broadway

Little Orphan Annie: Goodbye, comics; Hello, Broadway

  • News
  • June 12, 2010

After 86 years in publication, Tribune Media Services announced the cancellation of the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip. On June 13, Sunday papers will showcase the last strip featuring America’s favorite redheaded orphan. 

Harold Gray’s “Little Orphan Annie” was once published in hundreds of newspapers, but is now seen in fewer than twenty. The strip will end on a cliffhanger, with Daddy Warbucks wondering what happened to Annie during her latest encounter with the Butcher of the Balkans.

Steve Tippie, TMS’s vice president of licensing, said that while Ted Slampyak and Jay Maeder, the artist and writer of “Little Orphan Annie,” produced terrific story strips, there weren’t enough resources to keep the comic syndicated.

Annie has had a hard knock life, surviving the Great Depression, World War II, and countless adventures. Despite the comic strip’s cancellation, this is not the last we’ll see of Annie and her canine companion, Sandy. Tippie said that while it is very unlikely “Little Orphan Annie” will be revived in newspapers, “that doesn’t mean that Annie won’t come back … whether it’s [in] comic
books, graphic novels, in print, electronic. It’s just too rich a vein
[not] to mine.”

In fact, Annie will return to the limelight much sooner than some may have expected.

Producer Arielle Tepper Madover announced that she will bring the musical Annie back to Broadway in the fall of 2012. Madover said that Thomas Meehan, who wrote the book for the 1977 Annie musical, will update the script to accommodate modern audiences. In 1997, Annie returned to Broadway but was ill received, and failed. Though she didn’t give an explanation as to why the 1997 Annie failed, Madover believes her musical will succeed because Meehan and her creative team will modernize the show, and will more likely resonate with audiences.

The 1977 musical Annie, which lasted six years on Broadway and won a Tony Award for best musical, was based off Gray’s “Little Orphan Annie.” With the comic strip ending this week, it is encouraging to see that Gray’s redheaded legacy will continue to charm audiences for years to come.

Webcomics You Should Be Reading: Lackadaisy

Webcomics You Should Be Reading: Lackadaisy

  • Uncategorized
  • June 7, 2010

Hear ye, hear ye! WYSBR is now in session! I hope everyone has been keeping up with their webcomic reading. There are many webcomics to explore and rave about, so lets not waste any time. We’ll start this segment with a personal favorite of mine: Lackadaisy.

Created by Tracy J. Butler, this webcomic takes place in St. Louis during the 1920’s Prohibition. Lackadaisy focuses on the adventures that ensue when running a speakeasy, an establishment that illegally serves alcohol. The stakes are high as characters risk everything to save their cherished speakeasy from being crushed by the competition.

You may be wondering why the characters are a bit on the furry side. Butler’s characters are all anthropomorphic cats, but don’t let that give you the wrong impression. These aren’t the type of furries that make you wonder what the heck “yiffing” is. You can’t help but be charmed by these fluffy cats. Each character has a unique personality that is projected through smart, snappy dialogue and wonderfully detailed expressions.

Speaking of details, Butler never holds back when it comes to detailing every aspect of Lackadaisy. Clothes, furniture, vehicles, and architecture are exquisitely designed to capture an American 1920’s atmosphere. The talented Ms. Butler sucks readers into Lackadaisy‘s lively St. Louis, which is fine with me because it’s an exciting, dramatic place full of colorful characters.

For the past few years, Lackadaisy has gained attention, praise, and thousands of fans. Butler’s webcomic won her the 2007 Webcartoonists’ Choice Awards for Outstanding Newcomer, Artist, Character Rendering, and Anthropomorphic Comic. More trophies were added to Butler’s cabinet after winning the 2008 Webcartoonists’ Choice Awards for Outstanding Artist, Black and White Art, Character Rendering, and Website Design. Many people would agree: Lackadaisy is full of win.

If you like the roaring 20’s, cool cats, or impressive webcomics in general, then give Lackadaisy a read. Chances are you’ll find something you love about it.

Superheroes Banned from Los Angeles?

Superheroes Banned from Los Angeles?

Superheroes have been banned from Los Angeles’ streets after
numerous complaints were filed against them.

According to the LAPD, costumed street performers harassed visitors
for tips in exchange for their services. Several actors were accused of aggressive
panhandling and loitering. Approximately a dozen characters were arrested while others were cited and asked to leave Hollywood Boulevard.

For years the Walk of Fame was where everyone could see their favorite movie
and comic book characters. Many actors donned costumes not only to entertain tourists but to make a living, as
seen in the acclaimed 2007 documentary Confessions of a Superhero. Christopher Dennis, who has portrayed Superman for 19 years, and Joe McQueen, who has been the Incredible Hulk for 10
years, are angered and confused by the actions taken against the costumed characters.
Both actors starred in the “Confessions” film, but despite their fame and
experience they too will be arrested if caught wearing costumes on the streets.

McQueen claims that the situation is un-American. Most of
the actors had stayed on public property (disputing the loitering charges) and
had not been aggressive with tourists. Dennis and others believe that a
few bad apples have spoiled it for all costumed street performers.

There has been talk of organizing a protest against the L.A. City Council’s decision to ban costumed crusaders, but no one knows what the future
holds for the actors. One thing is certain– Hollywood Boulevard
will be less lively without the beloved characters patrolling the streets.

Win a contest by explaining this picture of Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi

Win a contest by explaining this picture of Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi

John Scalzi, President-elect of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, has announced that he and
writer/actor Wil Wheaton are hosting a fan fiction contest.

The rules are simple– just write a story
explaining this painting by Jeff Zugale, which may be one of the most epic works ever posted on the internet. Yes, that’s Scalzi as an armor-clad orc, facing off with Wheaton, who is wielding a spear, riding a unicorn-pegasus-kitten,
and sporting a clown sweater, while surrounded by lava-oozing volcanoes.

The person who submits the best story will be paid ten cents for every written word, a special pack of books from Subterranean Press, and the story will appear in an electronic chapbook about the picture. The chapbook will include stories written by Scalzi, Wheaton, Norton Award winner Catherynne Valente, and author Patrick Rothfuss. The chapbook will be sold online, and will donate proceeds to the Lupus Alliance of America.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to create a fantastic story to go along with Zugale’s picture, then give the contest a go. Check out Scalzi’s blog here for more details and guidelines. 

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