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Weekend Reading: Bill Finger, Pixar, Toth and Calvin & Hobbes
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Interviews, Reviews, DC Comics, Independent, Marvel Comics,
Yeah, yeah, Avengers-mania is dying down and we’re back to counting the days until San Diego, right? Well, I am. In the meantime, let's read:
Want some story-writing advice from the gang at Pixar? Of course you do.
There’s no doubt that without writer Bill Finger, Batman wouldn’t be Batman. Booksteve’s Library has read and enjoyed Bill, The Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman by Marc Tyler Nobleman. “Bob Kane was rather a self-serving individual who rarely did anything himself when he could get someone else to do it for him.” One of those someones was the writer Bill Finger.
Longbox Graveyard blogger Paul O’Connor has a companion gig: a regular column at Stash My Comics called The Dollar Box. Start here.
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Bill Finger, Pixar, Toth and Calvin & Hobbes
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Weekend Reading: Avengers, Beau, Gareb And The Ultraverse
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
Everyone is still talking about Joss Whedon's The Avengers.
Emmy-winning writer/producer/director Ken Levine got a kick out of The Avengers, but it’s not his favorite comic book movie.
The Avengers is now the third highest-grossing US movie of all time.
And they're even screening it on the International Space Station
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Avengers, Beau, Gareb And The Ultraverse
If you’re still looking for a ticket to Comic Con International in San Diego this year, you might try getting a job at DC Comics. They’re looking for a Publicity Manager for their New York office.
You’ll be doing all the famous press-based work: networking with members of the press, working your contacts to create PR opportunities, stay on top of whatever editorial is doing, and provide daily content for DC’s news blogs. There are lots of requirements, including a minimum of 5 years pr experience, excellent communication skills, established press relationships, experience in publishing or related fields, and the ability to keep a secret. Knowledge of comics and/or DC characters is a plus.
And what about the convention in San Diego? This: “Ability to travel (domestically) approximately 25%.” So no doubt there’s a hotel room and a convention badge in your future with this job.
Good luck, job seekers!
[Art: Green Lantern, © DC Comics]
Read More 
| DC Comics
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The life of a freelancer is never easy, but when you’re young and ailing and in financial difficulty, it can suddenly be just awful.
Artist Oliver Nome, a highly regarded comics artist, is having a medical crisis and could use a helping hand. Blog @ Newsarama’s Graeme McMillan has the details and if you can spare it, I can’t think of a better cause.
[Artwork: by Oliver Nome, from his DeviantArt page]
According to news reports, Dan DiDio at DC has announced that one of their major characters will soon come out as gay. Apollo and Midnighter could not be reached for comment.
[Artwork: Apollo and Midnighter from The Authority, © DC Comics]
Read More | Comics Beat
Quote Of The Day: Dan DiDio on Before Watchmen
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,
"I hope he looks at them with an open mind and a chance to understand this is a love letter to what he created, and more importantly that the strength of his work is allowing other people to grow and tell other stories which will hopefully inspire other creators along the way. In the way he was inspired by the creators when he was younger, we're hoping these ideas and these books are inspiring new people, so that we continue to grow the comics business as a whole."
- Dan DiDio on Alan Moore and Before Watchmen
Be sure to check out our other notable quotes!
[Artwork: Before Watchmen, not by Alan Moore and © DC Comics]
Read More | Dan DiDio
As you all know by now, Green Arrow has finally gotten his own series. Only they’ve had to shorten it to just Arrow for reasons known only to Television Network Naming Executives.
Maybe that’s the secret to getting comic books on television though. Dropping the first part of their name must make them more dynamic and appealing.
Green Arrow sounds sort of old-fashioned and comic booky. But Arrow is hip and full of power and urgency.
With that in mind, I’d like to propose my own list of 10 classic DC characters that could easily be on TV with new dynamic - and shortened - names:
10. Twins
9. Miracle
Click to continue reading New This Fall: DC Comics’ Arrow
Joe Shuster Superman Original Art Auction!
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Collecting, Editorials, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
If you’ve ever dreamed about owning an original piece of Superman artwork by co-creator and artist Joe Shuster, now’s your chance.
Longtime original art dealer Larry Shell is offering a rare piece of American comics history this week in a fast-paced auction.
It’s a full color Joe Shuster recreation to the cover of Action Comics #16 (the original issue went on sale in 1938). According to Shell, this recreation was drawn in 1983 and “is one of only a very few cover recreations that Shuster did and is 100% his work.” It was originally owned by Wendy and Richard Pini (Elfquest).
The original measures a large 15” x 20” in size and is rendered in lead and colored pencils, which gives the image the soft quality of pastels.
You can see a photo of Joe Shuster with the original piece here.
Click to continue reading Joe Shuster Superman Original Art Auction!
Read More | Joe Shuster Auction
I used to rank Jack Kirby’s Fourth World series as my favorite of all his post-1970s comic book work, with Mister Miracle as my favorite title. Over the years, that shifted.
My favorite Fourth World title became Jimmy Olsen because of two things: (1) it’s such a whacked out, imaginative take on the Olsen universe and (2) it’s the first time anyone thought about Olsen as a character instead of the victimized afterthought he was for years in the Mort Weisinger comics.
But since then, my favorite has shifted once more. It’s Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth. What began with the basic elements of Planet Of The Apes turned into an epic of post-apocalyptic Earth. Animals are in charge, humans are slaves or playthings, and only Kamandi stands as the last hope for mankind.
It’s been a long time since I read individual issues. I picked up a bunch on sale for $1 each during Free Comic Book Day, and Kamandi #14 was one of them, the earliest in the pack.
Click to continue reading Kamandi #14 by Jack Kirby
Weekend Reading: Avengers, Alan Moore, Before Watchmen, and Don McGregor
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Interviews, Movies, Reviews, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
I once met Alan Moore, had dinner with him in fact. A dinner that included Stephen Bissette and John Totleben.
I must stress that they did not have dinner with me at my invitation - I was at the table as a guest of Gary Groth and Kim Thompson from Fantagraphics. Also in attendance was Dave Olbrich. The creative trio - currently on DC’s Swamp Thing - was on their way to NY and had stopped in at the Fantagraphics offices to meet with Gary and Kim and head for Chinese food. And I got to tag along.
I spent a couple of hours listening to Moore and his companions regale the group with story after story. At no point did I ever think of Alan Moore as crazy. In fact, I thought he was one of the smartest guys I’d ever met. He was also not like anyone I’d met either before or since. He was different, alright. But crazy? No. Weird? Hardly.
Which brings me to this:
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Avengers, Alan Moore, Before Watchmen, and Don McGregor
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