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Nick mag’s annual collection hits stands

Nick mag’s annual collection hits stands

Dave Roman reports that the annual Nickelodon Magazine "Best of Comics" issue his newsstands this week. The 52-page issue collects various comics from Nickelodon’s The Comic Book, including "Viking Crush" by Dan Abdo and "Idiom-tastic Animal Detectives", by Travis Nichols, both mentioned on the list of "100 Distinguished Comics" in Houghton Mifflin’s Best American Comics 2006.

According to Dave, "Continuing the tradition of last year’s Best of Nick Mag comics, this latest collection will impress readers with an incredible variety of talent. You’ll discover work by groundbreaking comics creators such as Jordan Crane, Justin Green, Jason Lutes, James Kochalka, Michael Kupperman, Brian Ralph, Souther Salazar, Jason Shiga, Craig Thompson, Sara Varon, and many more. This special issue also spotlights several cartoonists and offers behind the scenes articles that are fun for the casual reader and a great resource for young artists."

Wikiality meets the Buffy-verse

Wikiality meets the Buffy-verse

For those who can’t tell the players without a scorecard, Joss Whedon fans have put together a comprehensive guide to the upcoming Buffy Season 8 comic series, including links to interviews with Whedon, announced series writers, and major plot points. Check back early and often.

Lost Souls reconnect

Colleen Doran reports on her blog that not only is she a featured guest at the New York Comic Con next month, but "I spoke with JMS recently, and yes, we will be going back to work on The Book of Lost Souls. I will spend the rest of the month of February wrapping up projects and then I very much look forward time with Jonathan and Mystery and the very creepy/sexy villains in the new storyline." Colleen will have art from the previous Lost Souls series with her at her NYCC booth.

Joss Whedon directing Office episode

Joss Whedon directing Office episode

From Whedonesque via our half siblings at TV Squad, we see that Joss will be directing an episode of NBC’s The Office.

And of course, there will be vampires. Or vampire bats. Or something. Maybe someone cooking with garlic.

And if you look really hard, there’s an invisible jet.

Dark Tower signing at Midtown Comics

It was late and below freezing, but when has that ever stopped real fans?

Well over a hundred people braved the elements to attend the midnight launch of The Dark Tower at the Times Square Midtown Comics, where writer Peter David and artist Jae Lee were on hand to sign copies.

Jae Lee and Peter David preparing to sign

Before midnight, Jae and Peter set up to sign– they were going to have to sign a lot of books. How many, you ask?

 

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Sight Unseen nominated for Rondo

Sight Unseen nominated for Rondo

Bo Hampton’s graphic novel Sight Unseen from Image is currently in the running for a Rondo Award in the best horror comic/graphic novel category. The writer of Sight Unseen is Robert Tinnell, who is writing EZ Street for ComicMix; Hampton and Tinnell are also co-creating Demons of Sherwood for ComicMix.

Colbert to appear at NYCC

Colbert to appear at NYCC

Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert will be appearing at the New York Comic Con February 23rd at 4:30 PM. The Colbert Report host will be supporting his new Oni Press comic book miniseries, Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen. Based on Colbert’s undistributed science fiction epic Alpha Squad 7: Lady Nocturne: A Tek Jansen Adventure and the inspiration for the series of Tek Jansen animated shorts on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen is a five-issue miniseries set to arrive in comic shops this March.

Unbeknownst to Mr. Colbert as of press time, the television star also will be receiving his appropriate due in the first of the new series of Munden’s Bar adventures set to debut at the same time. Written by John Ostrander and drawn by underground comix legend Skip Williamson, this story is a tribute to the late Munden’s Bar contributor Del Close, who also served as a teacher-mentor to folks like Colbert, Ostrander, Williamson and this writer.

Ormes Forms?

Ormes Forms?

Cheryl Lynn is seeking like-minded individuals to help establish the Ormes Society, named for Zelda "Jackie" Ormes, the first nationally syndicated black woman cartoonist. 

Cheryl "was ecstatic to receive a few e-mails about my initial search for black female comic creators from people who wanted to add names to my list. Unfortunately, I hit a bit of a brick wall when I attempted to discover recent information on some of the names given… Black women are out there creating, but unlike our peers, we have the tendency to create in a vacuum. And while other creators use message boards and activist organizations to wisely network and receive emotional support, we post our thoughts and creations on individual websites and then wonder why various activist organizations don’t reflect our viewpoints or interests…

The Ormes Society would be a bit of a stepping stone or gateway. It’d be a place where black female comic creators and fans could (1) find each other (2) share our creations (3) talk about topics that are important to us and (4) gain the courage needed to bring those thoughts and creations to the larger comic reading/creating audience. It would also be a place for editors, fans and fellow creators to find us and share their thoughts about our work and about topics that pertain to black women in comics (both in the pages and behind the scenes)." 

As ever, Cheryl welcomes email feedback regarding this newly-formed organization.  She’s also posted her initial list of black comics creators.

Webslinger

Webslinger

Books about comic books and comic book characters have grown in volume over the past few years. While some, such as Bob Handelman’s biography of Will Eisner, have received mainstream notice, many others fly under the radar.

Texas-based publisher BenBella Books has begun including comic book characters in their SmartPop series of essay collections. They dipped into the world of four-color heroes last year with collections pondering the X-Men and Superman.

Just out, in plenty of time for May 3’s release of Spider-Man 3, is their latest volume Webslinger: Unauthorized Essays on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Essayists include comic professionals, science fiction authors and other pop culture mavens. Guest editing is television writer and former DC and Marvel Comics editor Gerry Conway, who wrote a long, celebrated run of Amazing Spider-Man and provides some personal insights into the character in his introduction. The other writers are Darren Hudson Hick, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Robert B. Taylor, Lou Anders, Richard Hanley, Matthew Pustz, Michael A. Burstein, Joseph McCabe, Keith DeCandido, Robert Greenberger, Brett Chandler Patterson, J.R. Fettinger, Adam-Troy Castro, Paul Lytle, David Hopkins, Robert Burke Richardson, and Michael Marano.

SmartPop will also devote volumes to Wonder Woman and Batman, although neither are scheduled.