PW Comics World

10/23/2020

Why Africa's animation scene is booming

Why Africa's animation scene is booming

While the film sector struggles to produce new content, the global demand for animation has soared.

10/23/2020

The comeback of Afrofuturism, a black SciFi movement - BBC Reel

The comeback of Afrofuturism, a black SciFi movement - BBC Reel

As the US election approaches, we take a virtual cross-country trip and ask our American friends fundamental questions around Americanness. The fourth episode looks into the comeback of Afrofuturism, a cultural movement where black authors and artists envision a SciFi future. From Octavia E. Butler....

10/23/2020

Acclaimed comics creators Alex de Campi and artist Erica Henderson join forces to bring fans of psych-horror their pulpy, pulse-pounding graphic novel 'Dracula, Motherf**ker!' just in time for Halloween. Both creators are interviewed on Books on Tap Live, PW's author video interview series moderated by PW senior news editor Calvin Reid. Sponsored by Image Comics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIN_LRsMKZM&feature=emb_logo

10/23/2020

2020 Prism Awards recognize trailblazing queer comics

The 2020 Prism Awards were held in a virtual ceremony on Saturday, October 17th, 2020 and Sunday, October 18th, 2020.

The annual award ceremony was held online in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

10/22/2020

Panel Mania: Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1: Dune by Frank Herbert

'Dune', Frank Herbert’s 1965 global bestseller and landmark epic science-fiction novel, has been adapted into a graphic novel by a creative team that includes Herbert’s son, Brian Herbert, an acclaimed science-fiction author in his own right, and novelist and comics writer Kevin J. Anderson, with art by Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín. This is a 9-page excerpt.

'Dune', Frank Herbert’s 1965 global bestseller and landmark epic science-fiction novel, has been adapted into a graphic novel. In this nine-page excerpt, the novel’s key character Paul Atreides and his family members prepare to travel to, and take control of, the planet Arrakis, the only source ...

10/22/2020

Post-Pandemic Comics: IDW’s New Publisher Looks Ahead

The appointment of Nachie Marsham and Blake Kobashigawa took place amid a Covid-19 pandemic lockdown that has severely disrupted retail distribution in the book trade as well as direct market comic shops. PW talked to Marsham and Kobashigawa about how IDW plans to adapt to a comics and graphic novel marketplace that has been reshaped by the pandemic.

'PW' talks with newly appointed executives, IDW publisher Nachie Marsham and IDW v-p of sales Blake Kobashigawa, about adapting to a comics and graphic novel marketplace that has been reshaped by the pandemic.

10/20/2020

DC ends relationship with distributor UCS

DC and UCS Distributors are ending their Direct Market partnership as of January 1, 2021, as announced in letters to comic book retailers from DC and UCS, respectively.

UCS and Lunar were DC's surprise replacement for Diamond this spring but now UCS and DC are parting ways in 2021

10/19/2020

Give Comics Hope, Binc Partner to Help Comics Shops

Give Comics Hope, a new nonprofit fund raising initiative designed to provide financial support to direct market comics shops suffering under the pandemic, has been organized by former Diamond Comics v-p Bill Schanes in partnership with the Book Industry Charitable Foundation.

Give Comics Hope, a nonprofit fundraising initiative to provide financial support to comics shops suffering from the pandemic, has been organized by former Diamond Comics v-p Bill Schanes in partnership with the Book Industry Charitable Foundation.

10/19/2020

Jim Killen Joins Rebellion Publishing

Longtime B&N graphic novel and fantasy buyer Jim Killen, laid off by the bookselling chain in June, will join U.K. sci-fi, fantasy and graphic novel house Rebellion Publishing, working from New York City.

Longtime B&N graphic novel and fantasy buyer Jim Killen, laid off by the bookselling chain in June, will join U.K. sci-fi, fantasy and graphic novel house Rebellion Publishing, working from New York City.

10/17/2020

More To Come 443: Tea Fougner King Features Interview

This week More to Come's Heidi “The Beat” MacDonald talks to Tea Fougner, editorial director of comics at King Features, about her career, syndicated digital comics, the evolution of webcomics, finding new voices and this week's controversial revival and redesign of the venerable Mark Trail comics strip by Jules Rivera.

This week More to Come's Heidi “The Beat” MacDonald talks to Tea Fougner, editorial director of comics at King Features, about her career, syndicated digital comics, the evolution of webcomics, finding new voices and this week's controversial revival and redesign of the venerable Mark Trail comi...

10/16/2020

DC Future State: A Glimpse Into The Future of the DC Universe!

DC Future State spotlights the World’s Greatest Super Heroes in fresh new roles, with all-new characters taking up their iconic mantles. DC Future State features an incredible array of creative talent, combining award-winning writers and artists with new voices from the worlds of TV, movies and animation.

DCComics.com: Welcome to the Official Site for DC. DC is home to the "World's Greatest Super Heroes,” including SUPERMAN, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, GREEN LANTERN, THE FLASH, AQUAMAN and more.

10/15/2020

From the 2015 More To Come Podcast Archive: PW interviews animator and comics artist Sydney Padua about her new comics work, 'The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage', an equally smart and hilarious biographical comic inspired by the lives of 19th century polymaths Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, creators of the first computer program and computer, respectively. Padua also discusses her own eclectic background, the book's origin as a webcomic and more

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=409

10/12/2020

Canada’s Indigenous Comics Artists Redress History

In May 2019 PW spoke with the creators of 'This Place: 150 Years Retold', an anthology of indigenous comics creators who retell the history of Indigenous people in Canada as part of a national effort to retell the painful history of Canada’s indigenous people. PW talked with the creators when the book was released in 2019.

In this Q&A, PW talks with a number of creators from 'This Place: 150 Years Retold,' an anthology of graphic stories that retell the troubled history of Canada’s indigenous people, which will be published this month by Highwater Press.

10/11/2020

The Virtual Brooklyn Book Festival panel "Stand Up, Speak Out, Make Comics" examined protests against war and incarceration in the 1970s with Jared Reinmuth (Big Black: Stand at Attica), Derf Backderf (Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio), present-day combat with everyday systemic aggressions visited on race and disability with A. Andrews (A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex and Disability) and Bianca Xunise (Be Gay Do Comics, Six Chix). Moderated by Matt Lubchansky, editor of The Nib.

Video of the panel is archived here:
https://brooklynbookfestival.org/event/stand-up-speak-out-make-comics/

10/08/2020

2020 Harvey Awards Winners announced; Yang wins two - The Beat

Gene Yuen Yang, wins in two categories for Dragon Hoops and for Superman Smashes the KIan

2020 Harvey Awards Winners announced; Yang wins two - The Beat

10/08/2020

The Virtual Brooklyn Book Festival presented a panel with PW senior news editor Calvin Reid moderating a discussion on the 15th anniversary of the Graphix imprint with a slate of Graphix creators that include Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright (Twins), Maria Scrivan (Nat Enough), Kristen Gudsnuk (Making Friends: Back to the Drawing Board), and Chris Grine (Animporphs #1: The Invasion). Pictured is artist Shannon Wright, artist on 'Twins.'

The video of the panel can be found at:
https://brooklynbookfestival.org/event/graphix-con/

10/08/2020

PSU Press Launches Graphic Mundi Imprint

The Penn State University Press will launch Graphic Mundi, a new fiction and nonfiction graphic imprint, in spring 2021. The new imprint will build on the press’s Graphic Medicine series, but expands the subject matter to include graphic works on the environment, human rights, and social justice as well as health and medicine.

Penn State University Press will launch Graphic Mundi, a new nonfiction graphic imprint, in spring 2021. The new imprint will build on the press’s Graphic Medicine series and expand beyond healthcare into social justice, the environment, and human rights.

10/08/2020

The 100 Most Influential Sequences in Animation History

At @vulture, @DotandLine editors Maher and Vilas-Boas Recap 100 key segments in animation from 1892 (Théâtre Optique by Charles-Émile Reynaud) to 2019 (Steven Universe).

From Bugs Bunny to Spike Spiegel to Miles Morales, retracing 128 years of an art form that continues to draw us all in.

10/04/2020

Graphix Con - Brooklyn Book Festival

Join moderator Calvin Reid as he marks the 15th anniversary of the Graphix imprint with Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright (Twins), Maria Scrivan (Nat Enough), Kristen Gudsnuk (Making Friends: Back to the Drawing Board), and Chris Grine (Animporphs #1: The Invasion) at the Brooklyn Book Festival 2020.

Friendship can be super complicated, really intense, and totally embarrassing—especially when magic sketchbooks, broken hearts, alien adventures, and loads of family drama are involved! Join comics expert Calvin Reid as he celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Graphix imprint with Varian Johnson ...

10/04/2020

Brooklyn Book Festival
2:00pm EST
October 4, 2020

Makers of the Road: Writing Hidden History. Joe Sacco (Paying the Land), Dave Chisholm (Chasin’ the Bird: Charlie Parker in California), and Emei Burell (We Served the People) discuss bringing unseen or undertold history to light. Moderated by PW senior news editor Calvin Reid.

https://brooklynbookfestival.org/event/makers-of-the-road-writing-hidden-history/

10/04/2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Brooklyn Book Festival 2020 Comics and Graphic Novel Programming - Brooklyn Book Festival

The Brooklyn Book Festival's Full Schedule of Comics and Graphic Novel Panels! Check It Out People!

The Brooklyn Book Festival champions graphic novel creators and programming from around the globe in an array of discussions.

10/03/2020

More To Come 441: October Stargazing Special

This week on More to Come's October Stargazing segment, Calvin Reid talks with PW graphic novel reviews editor Meg Lemke about three books with starred reviews: David Chisholm’s vivid graphic biography 'Chasin’ The Bird: Charlie Parker in California'; Katy Skelly’s quietly vicious graphic novel 'Maids', and Sophie Yanow's 'The Contradictions,' a quirky autobiographical account of a college year spent abroad.

This week on More to Come's October Stargazing segment, Calvin Reid talks with PW graphic novel reviews editor Meg Lemke about three books with starred reviews: David Chisholm’s vivid graphic biography 'Chasin’ The Bird: Charlie Parker in California'; Katy Skelly’s quietly vicious graphic nove...

09/23/2020

The hell that is remote learning, explained in a comic

Here’s a webcomic about what one week of online school is like for my 7- and 5-year-old kids.

Here’s what one week of online school is like for my 7- and 5-year-old kids.

09/22/2020

DC to Launch DC Universe Infinite Comics Subscription Service

In a move anticipated after the recent launch of HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s video on demand streaming service, DC Comics announced that DC Universe, a separate but similar service offering DC films, TV shows, comics, and an online community, will be transformed into a digital comics subscription service in January 2021.

DC Comics announced that DC Universe, a video on demand streaming service offering DC films, TV shows, comics, and online community, will be transformed into a digital comics subscription service in January 2021.

09/19/2020

More To Come 439: Jeff Trexler Redirects the CBLDF

This week on More to Come, Calvin Reid interviews Jeff Trexler, newly appointed interim executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, about the present and future of the CBLDF in the wake of the resignation of its former executive director. A life-long comics fans and sexual harassment legal reformer, Trexler discusses the need to institute anti-harrassment policies, update the CBLDF’s mission, expand services, and prepare the CBLDF to begin a formal search for a permanent executive director.

This week on More to Come, Calvin Reid interviews Jeff Trexler, newly appointed interim executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, about the present and future of the CBLDF in the wake of the resignation of its former executive director. A life-long comics fans and sexual harassment le...

09/19/2020

Panel Mania: My Broken Mariko by Waka Hirako

In manga artist Waka Hirako’s My Broken Mariko, a new work of josei manga (or Japanese comics designed for mature women), Tomoyo, a young professional woman, is shocked to learn that Mariko, her closest friend, has committed suicide. But Tomoyo also knows Mariko has secretly suffered physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her father since she was a child. In this 8-page excerpt, Tomoyo decides to avenge the unnecessary death of her friend and honor her life by stealing Mariko’s ashes from her abusive father and taking her friend on a final journey together to memorialize her life. My Broken Mariko by Waka Hirako will be published by Yen Press in September.

In Waka Hirako’s 'My Broken Mariko,' Tomoyo, a young professional woman, is shocked to learn that Mariko, her closest friend, has committed suicide. But Tomoyo also knows Mariko’s father has abused her since she was a child. In this 8-page excerpt, Tomoyo decides to she avenge the unnecessary de...

09/19/2020

Cover Reveal: Krosoczka Launches Graphic Memoir and Web Series

National Book Award finalist Jarrett Krosoczka has returned to his adolescence in Sunshine, his second graphic memoir for teen readers, the cover of which is revealed here, while he continues his web series on drawing for kids, and prepares to launch a series for teens later this week.

National Book Award finalist Jarrett Krosoczka returns to his adolescence in 'Sunshine,' his second graphic memoir for teens, the cover of which is revealed here.

09/19/2020

Penguin Random House organized Book Your Summer Live, an in-house virtual book fair in August, that featured a PRH debut authors panel (clockwise from top l.): a sign-language interpreter, designer/editor Chip Kidd, moderator, and comics writer David Walker who discussed his work on the graphic bio 'The Life of Frederick Douglass,' and the forthcoming graphic nonfiction work, 'The Black Panther Party,' a history of the revolutionary urban organization.

https://www.bookyoursummerlive.com/lets-get-graphic-novels

09/19/2020

New York Comic Con Goes Metaverse

The New York Comic Con Metaverse, will be held October 8–11 via YouTube. Show organizers hope that the lessons they have learned over the first six months of virtual cons will lead to a more vibrant and compelling fan event.

New York Comic-Con is taking its mammoth real-world presence into a new virtual space, dubbed the Metaverse.

09/11/2020

More To Come 438: Christian Cooper Writes a New DC Comic

This week the More to Come crew—Calvin Reid, Heidi “The Beat” MacDonald and Kate Fitzsimons—react to Central Park birder Christian Cooper’s new digital comic for DC; Superstars flocking to Kickstarter, Allegiance Comics at Walmart; an 'Adventure Zone' payment dustup; a 'Shonen Jump' sexual violence petition; and congratulate cartoonist Keith Knight on the airing of his new TV comedy ‘Woke’ on Hulu.

This week the More to Come crew—Calvin Reid, Heidi “The Beat” MacDonald and Kate Fitzsimons—react to Central Park birder Christian Cooper’s new digital comic for DC; Superstars flocking to Kickstarter, Allegiance Comics at Walmart; an 'Adventure Zone' payment dustup; a 'Shonen Jump' sexual...

09/10/2020

Suave, always caffeinated, and woke for years, acclaimed indie cartoonist Keith Knight premiered his new TV comedy show, 'Woke,' last night on Hulu. Its got terrific actors, great writing, and Keith is executive producer and writer. You best check it out.

09/08/2020

Reunited! The More to Come podcast crew—(l to r) Heidi “The Beat” MacDonald, MTC producer Kate Fitzsimons, PW senior News editor Calvin Reid—met for a look-in-the-eyes-in-person reunion for the first time since March! After six months talking via Skype & texting, we hung out at the pandemic street-version of Eataly on 23rd St near the PW offices. It was awesome to actually see my cohosts and talk podcast talk. The three MTC podsketeers ruminated on surviving (so far) the pandemic, comic books and manga (of course), streaming stuff, and the crazy world we live in at the moment (there was also calamari, beer (double IPA), wine, Italian soda). Go to PublishersWeekly.com/comics or the Apple podcast app to get the More to Come podcast, PW’s weekly podcast on graphic novel & comics publishing. #MoreToCome2020