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Quote Of The Day: Dan Mishkin on Amethyst
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,
"With the mini-Amethyst boom that’s going on right now, I’ve read something like the following a couple of times this week: 'In the 1980s, DC Comics invented Amethyst to try to tap into a girl audience.' Which manages to make the company sound both more creative and more crass than the reality I remember.
To clarify: DC didn’t invent Amethyst, Gary Cohn and Ernie Colón and I did; and no one at DC was telling writers and artists back then to come up with a way of reaching a girl audience.
But where the folks at DC -- Jenette Kahn and Paul Levitz in particular -- deserve huge credit is in the fact that they supported Amethyst even though they knew it had *very little chance* of selling well in the comics market of the time.
Click to continue reading Quote Of The Day: Dan Mishkin on Amethyst
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Jan Strnad: The Summer We Lost Alice
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics, Independent,
I’ve talked before about my friendship with Jan Strnad - we go way way to the days when Jesus rode a dinosaur, and he was the guy who taught me the secrets to writing comics.
Jan’s cred includes a ton of collaborations with Richard Corben, some of the best of the old underground comix, the occasional work for Marvel and DC (Sword of the Atom), a run on Dark Horse’s Star Wars comics, animation writing (Darkwing Duck), indy comics (Dalgoda) and novels.
I read and enjoyed the heck out of his first novel, Risen, and I’m pleased to report that he’s got a new one coming out this month. Jan’s always been drawn to darker, fantastical material, and The Summer We Lost Alice continues down that path as a supernatural mystery.
Here's what it says at Jan's website:
Click to continue reading Jan Strnad: The Summer We Lost Alice
Quote Of The Day: Superman & Wonder Woman
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,
“Can't you hear Diana Prince whining to Hippolyta, 'Kal-El isn't just any superboy, Mother! He's the only one who truly understands me and loves me for who I am!' while Kal-El is whining something similar to the hologram of Jor-El? This better not turn into Twilight for fanboys.”
Lance Mannion, writing about the happy coupling of Superman and Wonder Woman
And be sure to check out our other notable quotes.
[Artwork: Superman & Wonder Woman]
Weekend Reading: Chaykin, Kubert, Harrison and Harlan
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Site Features, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
You know how you can tell that Summer's over? There aren't any more big budget super-hero movies coming out. Fortunately, there's all kinds of stuff on the internets to keep us occupied.
Beau Smith writes about the late Joe Kubert.
Tom Spurgeon writes about Harry Harrison.
I would’ve watched the heck out of any Daredevil movie that was done like this trailer:
Comic Strip of the Day talks about Richard Thompson and his decision to retire from Cul de Sac because of illness.
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Chaykin, Kubert, Harrison and Harlan
Joe Kubert, RIP
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,
It’s hard to believe that Joe Kubert passed away. His work was such a large part of my comic book experience and his war comics are so ingrained on my psyche that it feels like the passing of a great man of literature.
From Sgt. Rock, to Enemy Ace, to Tarzan and dozens more, his work never disappointed. His covers were dynamic, fluid, and never looked like anyone else’s. I could spot Kubert art a mile away. I loved his covers on Son Of Tomahawk, and I really liked a tryout series of his called Firehair, about a red-headed boy raised by native Americans.
And as much as I loved his war comics, it was his Tarzan that was a revelation to me. I’d read the Gold Key stuff which I found stiff and unexciting, but when I picked up the first issue Kubert did for DC, I was amazed at how he got me to like a character I was never really interested in.
Years later, I was fortunate enough to be involved in the publication of one of Joe’s graphic albums, Abraham Stone, at Malibu Comics. Here’s how that came about.
Click to continue reading Joe Kubert, RIP
Weekend Reading: Batman, Doonesbury, Killraven and Kickstarter
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Reviews, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
So the Olympics are finally over, and that means it's time to talk about real heroes, right? Y'know, the ones in capes!
For most of us, we have the belief that Bill Finger is the true creator of everything that made Batman great. Here’s why.
Jake Hinkson looks at The Dark Knight Rises and the other two parts of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy: “Unlike the set-bound comic-gothic theatrics of Tim Burton's Batman films or the plastic sex-toy quality of Joel Schumacher's films, Batman Begins is a full on epic.”
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Batman, Doonesbury, Killraven and Kickstarter
Comic Con International: 2012
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials, Reviews, DC Comics,
Comic Con International has come and gone already. Naturally, my Comic Con experience is quite a bit different from most people. I’ve been going for quite a while, have a lot of friends and acquaintances that I see there, and have an established routine of places to be at certain times.
I got there too late on Wednesday for what some reported was a raucous Preview Night, so my convention didn’t start until Thursday morning.
Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter has a rundown of convention memories from around the internet. (And congratulations to Tom for his Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Journalism. It’s well-deserved.
Click to continue reading Comic Con International: 2012
Roger Slifer Could Use A Hand
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Television, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
You’ve probably seen this all over the internets, but a little more won’t hurt. Veteran comic book writer Roger Slifer was hit by a car this past weekend.
Roger worked for both DC (where he created Lobo) and Marvel (where he worked on Avengers and Marvel Two-In-One), and later produced and/or story-edited the TV shows Jem And The Holograms, Transformers, Street Fighter and others.
Here’s the story, as reported by Flint Dille:
“Roger Slifer is in intensive care after being run over in a hit and run on Friday Night around 1:00. We had originally thought of keeping this quiet, because Roger is a fairly private guy, but as word is out and time might be of the essence if we're going to find the hit-and-run driver, I'll post what I know.
Click to continue reading Roger Slifer Could Use A Hand
Comic Book Jobs: DC Comics’ Publicity
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,
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]
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Oliver Nome Could Use a Hand
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,
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]
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