Thursday, June 3, 2010

Edmondson and Weldele's THE LIGHT Get Special Reprint Edition

SEEING THE LIGHT

The first two issues of Nathan Edmondson and Brett Weldele's THE LIGHT sold out at the distribution level

Image Comics announces the distribution-level sell out of THE LIGHT #1 and #2, written by Nathan Edmondson (OLYMPUS) and illustrated by Brett Weldele (SOUTHLAND TALES, THE SURROGATES). The two sold out issues will be collected under an all-new cover. Release of THE LIGHT Bumper Edition will coincide with the release of THE LIGHT #3 on June 9, 2010.

"We're excited to see that THE LIGHT is burning brightly out there," exclaims Edmondson. "This is an opportunity to let this story glow in the hands of more readers -- and we're ecstatic about that!"

THE LIGHT: In Oregon, a mysterious virus infects anyone that looks into an electric light. An abusive father blindfolds his daughter and together they escape town as people are burning alive from the inside out. A fierce, action-packed and gritty tale of survival, THE LIGHT is 28 DAYS LATER meets 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.

THE LIGHT bumper edition (APR108074), a full-color 48-page comic book collecting THE LIGHT #1 and #2, will be on sale June 9, 2010, for $4.99. THE LIGHT #3 (APR100463), a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99 will arrive in stores the same day.


Some praise for THE LIGHT:
"One new Image series that shouldn't be overlooked." -- The A.V. Club

"...many critics are calling for Nathan Edmondson's (OLYMPUS) newest horror laced offering THE LIGHT to be nominated for an Eisner Award" -- Bloody Disgusting

"THE LIGHT #1 is a great opening to an exceptionally spooky horror series that gets you right into the greatest scares that you can get." -- Comics Should Be Good

"The Light #1 is magic, a gripping, chilling tale that is ambitious and promises to be complex." -- Leroy Douresseaux - Comic Book Bin

"Edmondson and Weldele have created a fascinating meditation on the warp speed with which we now exchange and ingest information." -- Pop Matters

"When you've read this book, there's no way you won't be curious about what happens next." -- Broken Frontier


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

I Reads You Review: MIKANSEI NO. 1, VOL. 2

Creators: Majiko! with Hope Donovan (English adaptation) and Ray Yoshimoto (translation)
Publishing Information: TOKYOPOP, B&W, paperback, 198 pages, $10.99 (US), $13.99 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4278-1603-0 (ISBN-13)

Neo Takigawa lives in the 23rd century and wants to be a pop singer, although her constant singing annoys people. Neo’s other problem is that she really doesn’t fit in with the 23rd century. She prefers to let the ways of the 21st century guide her. In the 23rd century, young women are more modest than they are in the 21st century, and Neo’s extra-short skirts bring her ridicule. An accident sends Neo back to the 21st century, where she inadvertently falls in with another wannabe pop star, Saya Kuduo, whom Neo calls “Sayaya.” Now, they’re a duo trying to get a recording contract.

In Mikansei No. 1, Vol. 2, Neo and Saya’s act (Clap-Equals-Star) is getting more and more attention. After a training retreat in the woods, Ebisu, president of Ebisu Productions, begins to warm up to his latest hot act. Ebisu’s little brother, Nozomi Tsubame, even becomes Neo and Saya’s manager. Just when they are about to have their biggest moment – a much anticipated concert in the park, Neo gets word from the 23rd century. They can open a time portal for her to return to the future, but this may be the only portal that the folks from the future can provide for Neo for quite awhile. And the portal opens at the exact time the concert begins. Will she choose the past or the future?

Mikansei No. 1 is a fun kid’s comic book. There is enough of a love story to attract girls, but not so much that it will put off boys. What brings the series together in a way that attracts a broad base of readers is the comedy. This is slapstick comedy geared towards young readers, but it does have moments when older readers may have a reason to chuckle.

I think that this may be the final volume of Mikansei No. 1, which is strange because this series seems to have a lot of story left to tell in both its past (our present) and future settings.

B

Buy Mikansei No. 1 Volume 2


Miss Don't Touch Me, Part 1 Actually

I read Miss Don't Touch Me

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  I reviewed this title as part of the Bin's NBM month.


Kim Deitch and Megan Kelso at The Strand Bookstore in NYC

KIM DEITCH AND MEGAN KELSO CELEBRATE THEIR NEW GRAPHIC NOVELS AT THE STRAND ON JUNE 24

Fantagraphics Books and New York's The Strand Bookstore are proud to present an evening with acclaimed graphic novelists Kim Deitch and Megan Kelso on June 24, talking about and signing their new graphic novels THE SEARCH FOR SMILIN' ED (by Deitch) and ARTICHOKE TALES (by Kelso).

Kelso will be making a rare return to New York since moving back to her hometown of Seattle, WA a few years ago. She will give a multimedia talk called "Big and Small": How do you construct a story that includes the big wide world, history, culture, sweeping events like war and political change, but that also includes personal, intimate character-driven things like friendship, family relationships, love, sex, babies and dying? How do you meld the two together into a believable whole? How do you humanize important historical players, kings, queens and presidents, and also show how the personal lives of ordinary people are affected by grand events that take place outside their doors? This are the essential questions that Kelso asked herself throughout the creation of Artichoke Tales, and she answers them through examples of her own work, as well as other artists who are engaged with similar issues, from Joe Sacco to Lynda Barry.

Meanwhile, underground comix and New York legend Deitch will present a visual tour through his "universe," which features a a sprawling, multi-generational cast of characters both fictional and real, spanning comics and animation history of the 1920’s and 30’s through the present day, with a particular focus on his latest epic, The Search for Smilin' Ed. Deitch will explicate his incredibly intricate yet organic page and panel constructions, which he employs with unparalleled excellence in the creation of structurally complex narratives concerning equally complex characters.

These lively talks will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience and book signing.

Listing information:
WHO: Megan Kelso and Kim Deitch
WHAT: Multimedia talk and book signing
WHERE: The Strand Bookstore, 12th & Broadway, New York, NY
WHEN: Thursday, June 24, 7PM

ARTICHOKE TALES is the long-awaited graphic novel from Megan Kelso, a six-years-in-the-making family saga spanning three generations and an entire continent. This coming-of-age story is about a young girl named Brigitte whose family is caught between the two warring sides of a civil war, taking place in a world that echoes our own, but whose people have artichoke leaves instead of hair. Influenced in equal parts by Little House on the Prairie, The Thorn Birds, Dharma Bums, and Cold Mountain, Kelso weaves a moving story about family amidst war. Kelso’s visual storytelling, uniquely combining delicate linework with rhythmic, musical page compositions, creates a dramatic tension between intimate, ruminative character studies and the unflinching depiction of the consequences of war and carnage, lending cohesion and resonance to a generational epic. This is Kelso’s first new work in four years; the widespread critical reception of her previous work, THE SQUIRREL MOTHER, makes Artichoke Tales one of the most eagerly anticipated graphic novels of 2010.

THE SEARCH FOR SMILIN' ED is the latest of Kim Deitch’s graphic novels to showcase his obsessive burrowing into the nooks and crannies of vintage American popular culture. A long-gone children’s show host propels Deitch into a pop-culture investigation.

Where Deitch's earlier books focused on the earliest days of the animation industry (in THE BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS), the history of comic strips (ALIAS THE CAT), and vintage movie serials (SHADOWLAND), THE SEARCH FOR SMILIN' ED explores the surreal landscape of children’s TV shows. Launched on his latest investigation by a remark from his brother about a shared childhood favorite (“Y’know, I heard that when Smilin’ Ed died... his body was never found!”), Deitch begins to uncover some mysterious things about the kiddie-show host and his malevolent sidekick, Froggy the Gremlin. Ranging across the entire twentieth century, replete with flashbacks and stories within stories, The Search for Smilin’ Ed! is a narrative whirligig that shows Deitch at his wildest and woolliest.


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Eagle Awards Announces Talent Competition

LONGRUNNING COMICBOOK AWARDS LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE TALENT SEARCH

THE EAGLE Awards committee is to offer untried talent a chance to demonstrate their abilities before a global audience.

Unveiled at last weekend’s Bristol International Comics and Small Press Expo, the Eagles Initiative provides a unique platform from which the next generation of writers and artists can promote their storytelling ability in an increasingly competitive market.

"I've always thought the Eagles could take a far more progressive and proactive role in the comics industry, especially within the UK which has such an untapped and unsupported pool of talent," explains Initiative director Barry Renshaw. "When I was asked to rebrand the Eagle Awards themselves last year, I pitched the idea of the Initiative to the committee and it soon snowballed into something far more expansive."

Eagle Awards chair Cassandra Conroy commented, "When Barry came to me with the idea I thought it was the best way to expand and relaunch the Eagles brand; considering the Eagles receive global recognition I believed this would help the industry discover new talent not just from here and the USA, but from places we wouldn't perhaps expect."

In what is an unprecedented global talent search, entrants will be asked to submit an original self-contained illustrated story. The thousands of projected entries will be assessed by a hand-picked jury of comics readers, which will present a final dozen to the panel of judges comprising many of the comics industry's top talents. Among those who have already agreed to participate are Peter Bagge, Karen Berger, Chris Claremont, David Finch, Dave Gibbons, Geoff Johns, Gilbert Shelton, Jeff Smith, Bryan Talbot, Ethan Van Sciver, Mark Waid and Brian Wood.

The judges will select a top three from the final 12 with the winner be awarded a £1,000 cash prize. The runner up will win £500 with the third place submission being given £250. All three stories are to be included in the Initiative Anthology, which will be released as a print publication and in multiple languages across the digital media.

"The Initiative is the first stage in a several year plan to reform the Eagles into a tool for developing new talent, for educating young people about the potential in the medium, and to help connect the many disparate elements of the comics industry together," added Renshaw. "As an example, we have creators, editors, publishers, journalists, festival organisers, distributors and academics from across the world among our judges.”

Established as an annual event and with the emphasis very much on storytelling, the inaugural competition aspect gets underway on July 1, 2010, when the Initiative will open for submissions.

Expressing his support for the Eagle Initiative, BOOM! Studios editor-in-chief Mark Waid said, “This medium is nothing without new talent, young blood, and fresh perspectives.

“It's our responsibility to nurture the next generation of creators and share what we've learned – and, in return, learn from and be energised by them. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get into this,” added Waid whose numerous writing credits include Kingdom Come, The Flash, Impulse, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Irredeemable.

A fellow judge, former Wonder Woman and Avengers artist Mike Deodato Jr said, “Getting a foot in the door of any business, in addition to talent and skills, is often a matter of ‘who you know’ – or, more important, who knows you. Some people do it through attending art schools. Others are lucky enough to land savvy agents who teach as well as trawl for jobs. Many don't get such opportunities. If the Eagles Initiative can get more fresh talent into the sights of editors and fans, that's a great thing – for the talent in particular and for our industry in general.”

For further details on the Initiative, a full list of judges and complete submission guidelines, go to http://www.eaglesinitiative.com/. For press enquiries, contact director Barry Renshaw: editor@enginecomics.co.uk. For further details on the Eagle Awards, contact Cassandra Conroy: eagleawards@gmail.com.


ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry's longest established awards. Unique in that they reflect the people's choice, they are awarded by fans who vote for their favourite in each category of the awards. They are named after the fondly remembered 1950's British comic anthology Eagle, and were originated by two British fans, Mike Conroy and Richard Burton. The awards proved to be successful, with American publishers such as Marvel Comics announcing their victories with pride. They have relaunched in 2010 with a new look, a new mandate and a new vision for the future.

ABOUT BARRY RENSHAW:
Barry Renshaw has been an active creator in the UK independent comics industry for over a decade, as publisher of his own Engine Comics imprint, the award winning Redeye Magazine, and the popular How to Self Publish - A Rough Guide, as well as running or appearing at various workshops, seminars and panels over the years. He was asked to join the Eagle Awards committee in 2009 to help reinvent the brand, and saw an opportunity for the Awards to play a more progressive and proactive role in the comics industry. The Initiative is the first part of that expanded role.

ABOUT CASSANDRA CONROY:
Cassandra Conroy has been a regular presence on the UK convention scene for several years. In 2008, her father Mike Conroy handed over the running of the Eagle Awards to Cassandra, who has worked on Eaglemoss’s Classic Marvel Figurine Collection and DC Comics Super Hero Collection.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to I Reads You, my blog about the things I read (mostly comic books, comics, and related books) and about the things I come across worth reading (mostly about comic books, politics, and entertainment). Sometimes I’ll comment on “real” books and the mass media.

My name is Leroy Douresseaux, and I have another blog: http://www.negromancer.com/. I also write for the Comic Book Bin, which has its own iPhone app

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