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My New Year’s Resolutions For 2011

Disney AfternoonI don’t like NYR’s for the simple reason that I never keep them. Lose weight, eat healthier, start smoking just so I can fail at quitting.

But this year, well, this year, I’m sure to keep some of these resolutions. Won’t you join me?

10. I will read many more webcomics, bookmark them and recommend them.

9. I won’t buy a Marvel or DC comic at a price point greater than $2.99.

8. But yet I will buy all the hardcovers from The Library of American Comics.

7. Read even more independent comics. I think that’s where the real interesting stuff is and has always been.

6. I will download more comics to my iPad. I’ll pay for them, too.

5. Figure out which movie will make less money: Green Lantern or Thor.


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Coke Zero releases first location based game, LiveCycle

Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Games, New Apps, Free Apps

livecycle app

Who knew Coke Zero would be in the forefront of gaming innovation? Last week, Coca-Cola released "the first ever location-based videogame" called LiveCycle.

LiveCyle is based on Disney's TRON: Legacy film and the premise of the game is to move around the real world real to create a Light Wall and derezz your opponents, and avoid being derezzed by theirs. The Coke Zero websites offers a trailer of the game which makes it seem like a pretty fun idea, though there is a lack of actually gameplay. Real gaming innovation or interactive advertising? You decide! Play the game and let us know in the comments!

Live Cycle is available in the iTunes stores for the low, low price of $0.00. Download it here.


Weekend Reading: Joe Casey, Thor, Dr. Spektor and Drew Friedman

Superman ChristmasThe War on Christmas is nearly done for another year, and there’s just enough time left for the War on New Year’s. Let's see what you should be reading this week:

Joe: This is simply a great, honest and open interview with Joe Casey, comic book writer/creator and co-creator of Ben 10. Perfect holiday reading from interviewer Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter.

Thor: So there’s some controversy from an all-white group that’s upset that Marvel has cast an actor of color to play a Norse God in Thor. Ricky Sprague at Project Child Murdering Robot has a thought or two.

Polly: Animator Michael Sporn is happy that Dean Mullaney’s new book has arrived (as am I). Polly and Her Pals: the Complete Sunday Comics 1925-1927 comes from Dean’s The Library of American Comics via IDW.


Weekend Reading: Star Blazers, Shazam! And Monty Python

Star BlazersMovies, TV, and video games! This week had it all. And even some stuff about comic books. Let’s take a look:

Star Blazers: There’s a new live-action Star Blazers movie coming, and Forces of Geek has 7-minutes of it. You know you want to see it, twice.

Mike Grell: Here’s a short interview with the writer/artist on Warlord and Jon Sable Freelance. “Grell plans more with his popular Jon Sable character and has hopes that Starslayer may make its way to the movies.”

New Comics Friday: Gary Tyrrell at Fleen catches up on some webcomics he was previously unaware of.

Raven: Comic Book Resources is reporting that the CW is interested in a TV series on the mysterious Teen Titans character. This is a way better idea than Aquaman or Green Arrow. I also like it because that means my pal Marv Wolfman gets some checks (as does George Perez) for creating her.


Comic Book Jobs: Interns Wanted

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Television

Unemployed ManEveryone's gearing up for Intern Season again and here are some of what's available in the world of comics and related fields.

A "TV/Film Production Company and Comic Publisher in Brentwood" (that's Los Angeles for you non-natives) wants a Winter Intern. This company "focuses on comic book-based film and television in both live action and animation. Some prior experience in entertainment preferred for this unpaid position.

Riot Games, creators of League of Legends, wants a Creative Design Intern for their Los Angeles office. Lots of qualifications and job duties, so you'll be putting in the time and effort. Compensation goes one of two ways: college credit, or some kind of payment commensurate with your experience.

Disney Publishing is looking for a Creative Development Intern to work on Disney's Family Fun magazine. It's a magazine for parents with kids aged 3-12. Remember it's Disney so "positive attitude is a must!"

Good luck, job seekers!

[Artwork: The Adventures of Unemployed Man from Little, Brown & Company]


Top Ten Things I’m Thankful For This Year

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics

Walt Disney's Comics & StoriesThanksgiving is that wonderful time of year where we celebrates parades, football, days off from school and work, and something else I've entirely forgotten about. Here are some things I'm giving thanks for in 2010.

Naturally, your list may vary, and be a lot less selfish than my own.

10. My TSA date, Officer Pat Downe, had soft hands.

9. The iPad. Is it wrong to want 2 of them?

8. Library Book Sales: I scored a Pogo book, Quincy’s World by Ted Shearer and Don Martin Grinds Ahead! All for less than a buck total.

7. The debut of Oh, Brother! by Bob Weber, Jr. and Jay Stephens. Funny, funny strip.

6. Five Guys Burgers & Fries: If you’re going to eat, Five it up.


Comic Book Jobs: Disney Publishing

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials

Mickey Mouse & Walt DisneyDisney Publishing Worldwide is the publishing arm of The Walt Disney Company. They develop “original, award-winning content...including Disney books, magazines and comic books.”

Based in White Plains, NY, they need a Digital Managing Editor to “oversee the digital content making process from concept through posting of final files.”

 


President Bob Foster And Myron Moose

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent

Myron MooseMr. Natural and Fritz The Cat (Robert Crumb). Cheech Wizard (Vaughn Bode). Dirty Duck (Bobby London). Wonder Wart-Hog (Gilbert Shelton).

All of them are great underground comic book characters. But they're not my favorite. For my money, cartoonist Bob Foster created one of the greatest underground comic characters of all time, Myron Moose.

Foster published Myron Moose Funnies in the early 1970s and they were later re-published by Fantagraphics in the late 1980s, along with Moose strips that originally appeared in Marvel's Crazy.

Foster's also had the kind of career that a lot of people would look at and go "cool!"

He's been an animator for Hanna-Barbera (among others), lived in Europe where he wrote  tons of comics - including Donald Duck - for Walt Disney Publishing and later was the editor of Walt Disney's Comics & Stories, and other Disney-based titles.


Boom! Floyd Gottfredson And Mickey Mouse

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent

Mickey Mouse 304Boom! starts January off with a bang. I haven’t seen this get the attention it deserves so I’m going to give it a shout-out here. Boom! Studios, as part of their Boom! Kids division, has been publishing the Disney Comics for a while now and the results have been impressive.

Now, in January 2011, with Mickey Mouse And Friends #304, they’re publishing something that’s driving me nuts with anticipation.

In that issue, part of their 70 Years of Walt Disney Comics celebration, they’re reprinting a classic Mickey story written by Bill Walsh (go ahead, check out his IMDB credits; I'll wait) and illustrated by Floyd Gottfredson.

It’s “The Pirate Ghost Ship!” and this will be the first time it’s been printed since 1944. This special 40-page issue  also features two other stories, another Gottfredson classic called “Laundry Blues” and a Goofy story by Romano Scarpa.


Jim Korkis: The Vault Of Walt Disney

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies

Vault of Walt

Mr. Jim Korkis and I have a history that goes back to the dawn of time. His knowledge of comics and cartoon history is astounding and the number of people he's met and interviewed over the years makes Jay Leno seem like a hermit.

Back in the days of Malibu Comics, I hired Mr. K to write some text pieces and introductions to many of our comic strip reprints. They were fascinating and entertaining and I always found out stuff I didn't know – he was the pre-Google Google for certain topics. And his work would arrive many days before his deadline.

I also had the privilege of editing two big softcover books of his, written with his then-frequent collaborator John Cawley, another guy who knows more about animation than Don Bluth forgot. One book was Cartoon Confidential, one of my favorite books I ever got to work on.

The other was the Animation Art Buyer's Guide and Price Guide, which was an inexpensive book about buying, selling, pricing animation art and stuff to look for and look out for.

Read More | Jim Korkis Interview

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