Weekend Reading: Spider-Man, Steve Gerber, John Scalzi and Dr. Goyle

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials, Reviews, Independent, Marvel Comics,

If you’re at C2E2 this weekend, I hope you’re having a great time. And if you’re not at C2E2, what’s your problem, buddy?

This is the weekend that I close out a lot of tabs and polish off some links that have been in my inbox for a couple of weeks. But if you haven't caught these stories yet, that makes them new, right?

Daniel Best has been on fire lately with his posts on Gary Friedrich and the Archie Comics lawsuits. He’s got another good one up now - a look at the behind-the-scenes backstabbery and finger-pointing surrounding the Spider-Man musical.

I like this political cartoon by Monte Wolverton.

Creator/writer/artist Howard Tayler (Schlock Mercenary) talks about writing, especially sub-plots, and he illustrates his points with comic strips.

Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Spider-Man, Steve Gerber, John Scalzi and Dr. Goyle

Cousin Corinne’s Reminder #2: Dean Haspiel & Tim Hamilton

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent,

USA Today reports on a new literary magazine that's straight out of Brooklyn.

It's Cousin Corinne's Reminder. Now why should you care?

Because it's got a full color comics section packed with contributions from Tim Hamilton, Joan Reilly, Michele Fiffe, Dean Haspiel and Jen Ferguson. My pal Tim calls Cousin Corinne's Reminder a "cool new lit mag," and who am I to argue as the second issue hits the stands.

According to the editors, "Cousin Corinne's Reminder is bi-annual journal published by BookCourt, which features writing, comix, photography, and art."

If you're in the Brooklyn area on Wednesday, January 26 from 7-10pm, drop in at Bookcourt (163 Court St.) for the official launch party for the second issue.

There will be an opening performance by George Emilio Sanchez. Readings by Priscilla Becker, Todd Colby, Stanley Crouch, Catherine Lacey, and Adam Wilson.

Click to continue reading Cousin Corinne’s Reminder #2: Dean Haspiel & Tim Hamilton

Comic Con International 2010: Super Ray and Dean Haspiel

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Reviews, Television, IDW Publishing,

One of the things I enjoy most about the San Diego Comic Con is that I can always find stuff I didn’t know existed before I trundled down an aisle and stumbled across it.

The Birth Of Super Ray was one of those. Created by Jonathan Ames and Dean Haspiel, and published by IDW, the black-and-white, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch, ashcan-sized delight ties into Ames’ TV series, Bored To Death on HBO. You know, the one with Zach Galifianakis, Ted Danson and Jason Schwartzman.

The Birth Of Super Ray stars a stylized Galifianakis as a guy who - thanks to a subway accident - inadvertently becomes Super Ray, a character that the Galifianakis character created as a webcomic. Now, Super Ray has “a great responsibility to guard and protect Brooklyn.” The Birth of Super Ray is a fun, silly comic; a great freebie to drop into my bag as I made the rounds. My only “complaint” is that the whole thing wasn’t in color. The cover coloring is so awesome, I’d've liked to have seen it throughout.

If you missed your copy, you can download it from the HBO website.

[Artwork: Cover to The Birth of Super Ray, © HBO]