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COMIC BOOK JOBS: NOW HIRING? DC Comics & Harry Abrams!
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,
Nobody has to be told that it’s a crappy environment to be looking for a job. Books, newspapers, comic books – all parts of the print-related pie are dwindling faster than the Wookie-shaped cheesecake at a Star Wars-themed wedding. Here are two places that are looking for qualified comic book people. Okay, so it’s not writing and drawing, but they still look like fun gigs, if you pass the test. So study hard, whip that resume into shape and good luck!
DC COMICS, publisher of Superman, killer of Batman, and owner of Lesbian Batwoman, is looking for an “Executive Director, Publishing Operations.” Sounds like a nice suit-and-tie job with an expensive Manhattan haircut to match. But what’s that job entail? Lots of great items in the checklist of responsibilities, but the main one is: “Coordination of long term publishing plans and monitor costs/sales projections for project budgeting.” You’ll need a minimum of 7-years experience in the “comic book specialty market, mass market book or newsstand periodical sales” and the ever-elusive “management experience” to count those particular comic book budget beans. You can get more details here.
HARRY ABRAMS, the venerable artsy publisher of quality hardcovers, is looking for an “Editor, Abrams ComicArts.” This sounds like a sweet gig in one of the few potentially growing print segments: graphic novels. What do you get to do if you’re lucky to land this? You’ll “be responsible for editing and project managing titles acquired by the Executive Editor as well as acquiring individual titles for Abrams’s growing comic art and graphic novel list.” You’ll get to read a lot of comics and meet a lot of creative people, that’s what. But first, your qualifications: “10 years experience in an editorial capacity…keen understanding of the comic arts marketplace…established relationships in publishing and the comics market.” There’s more to it than that, but you can find out all the details about the job here.
If those sound like your dream jobs, what the heck are you waiting for?
(Artwork @ DC Comics, Inc.)
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WEEKEND READING: Harvey Kurtzman, Stan Goldberg, Scott Pilgrim and DC!
Posted by Tom Mason Categories:
Lots of great stuff to read on the internets this weekend.
SCOTT PILGRIM: Need a fix of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim? Total Film can hook you up. Writer Sam Ashurst has an interview with Shaun of the Dead’s Edgar Wright where he talks about his forthcoming adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Here’s a sample from Wright’s pie-hole: “On one hand it’s very faithful to the books, on the other it has become something that has the structure of a romantic comedy action film.”
(h/t Forbidden Planet International Blog)
DC COMICS: Back in the day (that would, in this case, be 1989), comic book industry veteran KC Carlson worked for DC Comics. He left Madison, WI and moved to the big city where he eventually became Richard Bruning’s assistant and learned to nearly-master New York’s 1940s umbrella-and-revolving-door technology. Recently he blogged about his experience interviewing for the job, living in New York and trying to trick Mike Gold. There’s a lot of fun stuff you don’t think about until you’ve worked in the cramped Manhattan offices of a major comic book publisher. Like where to store the original oversized paintings by Dave McKean in a pre-digital era. Fascinating stuff, especially if you remember some of your DC players from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
HARVEY KURTZMAN: An undisputed genius. His work on EC Comics revolutionized storytelling and he set a high mark for how to tell war stories in comic books. He’s the founding editor of MAD when it started as a comic book parodying other comic books, back in 1952. With his long-time friend Will Elder he created Little Annie Fanny for Playboy. Kurtzman was The Onion, The Daily Show and David Letterman of the generation that came of age in the 1950s and 1960s. He popped a culture that needed popping. Post-MAD, one of the things Kurtzman did was gather a group of fellow creators - Elder, Jack Davis, and Al Jaffee, and Arnold Roth - and launch their own humor magazine: Humbug. Fantagraphics is releasing the entire 11-issue run of the magazine in a deluxe format edition. To tease you, they’ve put the entire first issue of Humbug online. If you’re familiar with Kurtzman, you’re already going to click the link. If you’re not familiar with him, see what everyone’s talking about and click the link.
STAN GOLDBERG: Did you ever wonder who colored all those great Marvel comics of the 1960s? That was Stan Goldberg. Stan spent much of his time drawing in the classic Archie house style chronicling the adventures of the gang from Riverdale, but he was also the uncredited colorist on those early Marvel classics. He’s the guy who set the color pattern for Spider-Man’s costume, made the Hulk green and the Fantastic Four’s unitards blue. Mark Evanier has all this and much, much more about the Stan at Marvel who wasn’t named “Lee.”
That’s all for this Friday. I’ll be back soon with more great stuff from all over.
(Artwork © Bryan Lee O’Malley)
Final Crisis 7- My Take
Posted by Todd Matthy Categories: Reviews, DC Comics,
I really don’t know what to say. Final Crisis 7 is a perfect summary of the Final Crisis series. It reads like a plate glass window smashed by a sledgehammer. Every scene is a piece of shattered glass that tries to re-assemble itself back into a window. Whether it was successful or not is your opinion (by the way, check out Dave and Joel‘s opinions). I apologize for the jumpy nature of this review, but this issue is going to require a lot more re-readings before I comprehend everything.
Click to continue reading Final Crisis 7- My Take
Superman Beyond
Posted by Todd Matthy Categories: Reviews, DC Comics,
After months of waiting, the second installment of Superman Beyond has arrived. For those that don’t read the series or forgot what happened in the previous issue, during “Final Crisis” Lois Lane was caught in an explosion and is dying. The only way Superman can save her is by embarking on an epic quest to obtain an elixir of bleed (think: elixir of life). On his fantastic voyage through the multiverse Superman encounters alternate versions of himself - the Earth-S Captain Marvel, A Nazi Superman, Captain Adam (Doctor Manhattan), and Ultraman - saves “Comic Book Limbo”, and does battle with Mandrakk the Dark Monitor. Whew, did I miss anything?
Anyway, this issue begins with Comic Book Limbo under siege and Superman rallying forgotten heroes like Merryman to its defense. Once that is finished it’s time for Superman to enter the world of the Monitors and defeat Mandrakk to obtain the elixir.
Click to continue reading Superman Beyond
DC Comics Review: Batman: Confidential #25
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics,
This is the final chapter of the “Batman: Confidential” storyarc, “Rites”. I’ve blogged about this story before and how it’s been a breath of fresh air over the past few months in contrast to what Grant Morrison has been doing over in “Batman”. Overall this was a very good story. It’s a story so good that I think it would be accepted by fans if this story was incorporated into the current Batman continuity.
The story continues with the rogue police officer looking to get revenge on the Joker for tricking his wife into committing suicide. The story has no surprise endings really. The cop doesn’t kill the Joker obviously and Batman of course comes in to save the day. However, there are some cool moments like the birth of Arkham Asylum where the Joker tortures his fellow inmate the rogue cop with cruel jokes about his dead wife.
The cover of this issue gives away the ending as the story comes full circle and shows the Batman bringing in a new villain to police headquarters for booking - the Riddler. The writer of this story Andrew Kreisberg is a Hollywood writer and producer. I doubt he would give up his day job to come and work for the comic industry full time. It’s our loss as he has done a fine job here. Scott McDaniel is on the money here as always with the art work.
The next storyarc is the introduction of the 1960s Batman TV show villain King Tut into Batman comics. Whether this story will be in continuity I have no idea. The story will be written by Christina Weir and Nunzio DeFilippis who wrote the very underrated “New Mutants” relaunch a few years back and its next incarnation “New X-Men Academy X”. I’ll be sticking around as there won’t be any Bruce Wayne/Batman stories hitting the stands for a while. Whose idea was it to kill off Batman as we enter his 70th year of publication? Nice move!
The World According to Todd: Best of 2008
Posted by Todd Matthy Categories: Collecting, Editorials, Reviews, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
Figure Caption: You gotta love Supergirl!
It’s that time of year again when we look back at the year and see what lived up to our expectations and what fell flat on its face. So without further ado…here is MY Best of 2008.
Book of the Year: Captain America
When my friends ask me what the best comic out there is, this is my answer. Every month, Brubaker mixes social commentary, superhero history, and pulse pounding action into a symphony of awesomeness. As icing on the cake there is always a new twist or a new piece of character development that makes aspiring writers (like myself) bang their heads on a table wishing they thought of it. Damn you, Ed. Steve Epting’s artwork continues to be realistic and energetic with fun homages to great artists like Steranko.
Worst Book: Countdown to Final Crisis
Wasted time. Countdown to Final Crisis was an over-hyped highlight reel of the DC Universe that promised to set the stage for Final Crisis. Not only did it not set the stage for Final Crisis, it didn’t do much of anything except steal minutes from my life I’ll never get back. That and about $156 from my wallet.
Click to continue reading The World According to Todd: Best of 2008
DC Comics Review: Batman #681
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics,
The conclusion to “Batman: RIP” is finally here. The last issue saw Batman entering Arkham Asylum as his back-up personality The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh to rescue Jezebel Jet from the Black Glove and the Joker.
Grant Morrison stated in an interview with Comic Book Resources that what would happen to Batman in this storyline would be “so much better than death. People have killed characters in the past, but to me, that kind of ends the story! I like to keep the story twisting and turning. So what I am doing is a fate worse than death. Things that no one would expect to happen to these guys at all.” When I read this, I became very intrigued. What would happen to Bruce Wayne when the story was over? Well, the story is over and I’m still wondering what the big deal was.
(Spoilers)
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Batman #681
Read More 
| Comic Book Resources
Batman dead?! So says DC Comics February Solicitations
Posted by David Torres Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,
The advance February solicitations for the final issue of “Nightwing” goes as follows: “As Robin, Dick Grayson fought alongside Batman as part of the Dynamic Duo, the greatest crime-fighting team in history. As Nightwing, he teamed up with his peers to combat injustice in the Teen Titans and the Outsiders. Now, Dick Grayson faces the most important battle of his life. Batman is dead. The Mantle of the Bat must be passed, but it will require all of Dick’s training and skills to carry out the last wishes of Bruce Wayne and protect Gotham City.”
Over at the solicitations for the last issue of “Robin” which also comes out in February, we have the following stated: “Gotham City has found a new hero and his name is Robin – but with a battle for Batman’s cowl looming, is Tim Drake ready to become something more?” Now, if Bruce Wayne was dying, I seriously doubt DC would have that written in their advance solicitations two weeks before the end of Batman: R.I.P.
As previously stated in my blog in regards to DC’s plans for the Post-R.I.P. world of Batman, Grant Morrison has stated that Batman will not be dying and that he has plans for something better than just killing off Batman. I believe him. I think for whatever reason, everyone will think Batman is dead, but in reality he will be in hiding. I’ve read on message boards that Batman will become a New God during Final Crisis - which is also written by Grant Morrison. I don’t think that will happen. To be honest as of right now, I have NO IDEA what Grant Morrison has in store for Batman in “Batman” #681 the final issue of R.I.P. I do think it will be shocking and it will probably anger a lot of fans - but isn’t that what happens all the time?
Read More | Comic Book Resources
DC Comics Review: Batman Confidential #23
Posted by David Torres Categories: Reviews, DC Comics,
The “Batman: Confidential” series has not been great. The first story arc of Batman vs Lex Luthor was okay. The new Joker origin storyline by Michael Green started off good, but by the end it became kind of blah for me. I read the advance solicitations of the current storyline “Do You Understand These Rights?” a few months ago and thought it sounded interesting. So far, I’m really enjoying it.
The story began in last month’s issue with Batman bringing in the Joker for booking at the Gotham City Police Department for the first time ever. The first issue ended with the Joker stealing the home phone number of one of the detectives who were booking him. He used his one phone call to call the detective’s wife and pretend to be a doctor with the news that she was dying of a disease and that it would be slow and painful death; he said it would be best if she ended her life. One of the cruelest things the Joker has ever done in comics. This issue is part two and is even better than the previous one. With an ending you won’t believe. It involves the Joker and a peanut.
Click to continue reading DC Comics Review: Batman Confidential #23
Read More | DC Comics
The Case of Batman vs. Batman
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels,
Oh, the comedians are going to have a field day with this. In a just-strange-enough-to-work, headline-grabbing lawsuit, Batman will face off against the minds behind The Dark Knight. But will the case ever see the inside of a courtroom?
Batman isn’t just a comic book character who first appeared on the scene in 1939 (then called the Bat-man), it’s also an oil-producing town in Turkey. Batman has been refining the fuel since 1955 and boasts Turkey’s oldest refinery. But now, the issue of name infringement has been raised.
Huseyin Kalkan, mayor of Batman, has legally filed suit against Christopher Nolan (who directed The Dark Knight) and Warner Bros. in hopes of gaining a cut of royalties from the film (sure, aren’t there enough to go around?).
Click to continue reading The Case of Batman vs. Batman
Read More | E! Online
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