2013 Harvey Awards Nominations Announced

2013 Harvey Awards Nominees Announced!

Visit www.harveyawards.org for Ballots & Submission Details!

BALTIMORE, MD (July 15, 2013) -- The 2013 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry's most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented September 7, 2013 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit, or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Thank you to all that have already participated by submitting a nomination ballot.

Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Monday, August 19, 2013. Full submission instructions can be found on the final ballot.  Voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field.  Final ballots are available at www.harveyawards.org. Those who prefer paper ballots may e-mail harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.

This will be the eighth year for the Harvey Awards in Baltimore, MD.  Look for more details soon as to how you can attend the Harvey Awards dinner.

This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 7-8, 2013.  The ceremony and banquet for the 2013 Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 7th.

The 2013 Harvey Award Nominees:

BEST LETTERER
____   Joe Caramagna, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____   Chris Eliopoulos, COW BOY: A BOY AND HIS HORSE, Archaia
____   Todd Klein, FABLES, DC Comics
____   Jack Morelli, ARCHIE, Archie Comics
____   Chris Ware, BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon

BEST COLORIST
____   Laura Allred, FF , Marvel Comics
____   Matt Hollingsworth, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Tito Pena, ARCHIE, Archie Comics
____   Ed Ryzowski, GUTTERS, the-gutters.com
____   Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP or PANEL
____   CUL DE SAC, Richard Thompson, Universal Press Syndicate
____   DICK TRACY, Joe Staton and Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Services
____   GET FUZZY, Darby Conley, United Feature Syndicate
____   MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features
____   PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, Stephen Pastis, United Feature Syndicate

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK
____   BANDETTE, Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover, http://www.monkeybraincomics.com/titles/bandette/
____   BATTLEPUG, Mike Norton, http://www.battlepug.com
____   THE DREAMER, Lora Innes, http://www.thedreamercomic.com
____   NIMONA, Noelle Stevenson, http://gingerhaze.com/nimona
____   SHELDON, Dave Kellett, http://sheldoncomics.com

BEST AMERICAN EDITION of FOREIGN MATERIAL
____   ABELARD, NBM
____   BLACKSAD: A SILENT HELL, Dark Horse
____   NEW YORK MON AMOUR, Fantagraphics Books
____   SHARAZ-DE: TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, Archaia
____   NAOKI URASAWA'S 20TH CENTURY BOYS, VOL. 22, VIZ Media

BEST INKER
____   Steve Ellis, ONLY LIVING BOY, Bottled Lightning
____   Jonathan Glapion, BATMAN, DC Comics
____   Klaus Janson, CAPTAIN AMERICA, Marvel Comics
____   Mark Morales, AVENGERS VS. X-MEN, Marvel Comics
____   Bob Smith, LIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comics

BEST NEW SERIES
____   ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios
____   HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   NEW CRUSADERS: RISE OF THE HEROES, Red Circle Comics
____   REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   SAGA, Image Comics

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT
____   Jerry Gaylord, FANBOYS VS. ZOMBIES, BOOM! Studios
____   Dennis Hopeless, AVENGERS ARENA, Marvel Comics
____   Ryan Jampole, MEGA MAN, Archie Comics
____   Mark Mariano, Happyloo, MyPalMark.com
____   David Nytra, THE SECRET OF THE STONE FROG, Toon Books

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS
____   Chad Lambert, THE POSSUM AT LARGE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CRAPTACULAR, Old School Comics
____   Ryan North, ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios
____   Dan Parent, KEVIN KELLER, Archie Comics
____   Chris Sparks, TEAM CUL DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Andrews McMeel
____   Jim Zub, IMAGE COMICS, Skullkickers

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION  FOR YOUNGER READERS
____   ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios
____   AMELIA RULES: HER PERMANENT RECORD, Simon and Schuster
____   COW BOY: A BOY AND HIS HORSE, Archaia
____   DRAMA, Schoolastic
____   SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES, DC Comics
____   THE SHARK KING, Toon Books

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
____   ALIEN: THE ILLUSTRATED STORY, Titan Books
____   ARCHIE: THE MARRIED LIFE, BOOK 2, Archie Comics
____   CURSED PIRATE GIRL COLLECTED EDITION: VOLUME ONE, Archaia
____   HEADS OR TAILS, Fantagraphics
____   KING CITY, Image

BEST ANTHOLOGY
____   DARK HORSE PRESENTS, various, Dark Horse
____   DISTRICT COMICS, Matt Dembicki, Fulcrum Publishing
____   ONCE UPON A TIME MACHINE, Andrew Carl, Dark Horse
____   TEAM CUL DE DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Chris Sparks, Andrews McMeel
____   WOMANTHOLOGY: SPACE, Mariah Huehner, IDW

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
____   BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS, VOL. 2, Archie Comics
____   CAME THE DAWN AND OTHER STORIES, THE EC COMICS LIBRARY, Fantagraphics
____   CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES, Dark Horse Comics
____   DAVID MAZZUCHELLI'S DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN: ARTIST'S EDITION, IDW
____   POGO: BONA FIDE BALDERDASH VOL. 2, WALT KELLY'S POGO, Fantagraphics

BEST COVER ARTIST
____   David Aja, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Steve Ellis, ONLY LIVING BOY, Bottled Lightning
____   Jenny Frison, REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   Adam Hughes, FAIREST, Vertigo Comics
____   Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, or JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
____   ALTER EGO MAGAZINE, TwoMorrows Publishing
____   JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR, TwoMorrows Publishing
____   TEAM CUL DE DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Andrews McMeel
____   MARVEL COMICS: THE UNTOLD STORY, HarperCollins
____   ROBOT 6 WEBSITE, Comic Book Resources

SPECIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
____   BUILDING STORIES, Chris Ware, Pantheon Books
____   CURSED PIRATE GIRL COLLECTED EDITION: VOLUME ONE, Jeremy Bastian, Archaia
____   DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI'S DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN: ARTIST'S EDITION, Scott Dunbier, IDW
____   TEAM CUL DE DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Chris Sparks, Andrews McMeel
____   THE ART OF BETTY AND VERONICA, Victor Gorelick and Craig Yoe, Archie Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM ORIGINAL
____   BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon
____   THE CARTER FAMILY: DON'T FORGET THIS SONG, Abrams ComicArts
____   MY FRIEND DAHMER, Abrams ComicArts
____   RICHARD STARK'S PARKER: THE SCORE, IDW
____   THE UNDERWATER WELDER, Top Shelf

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
____   BATMAN, DC Comics
____   DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____   HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   LOCKE AND KEY, IDW
____   RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studios
____   SAGA, Image Comics

BEST WRITER
____   Matt Fraction, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Joe Hill, LOCKE AND KEY, IDW
____   Tim Seeley, REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   Scott Snyder, BATMAN, DC Comics
____   Brian K. Vaughan, SAGA, Image Comics
____   Mark Waid, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics

BEST ARTIST
____   David Aja, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Greg Capullo, BATMAN, DC Comics
____   Mike Norton, REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   Chris Samnee, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____   Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST CARTOONIST
____   Jaime Hernandez, LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES, Fantagraphics
____   Jeff Lemire, THE UNDERWATER WELDER, Top Shelf
____   Terry Moore, RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studios
____   Chris Ware, BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon
____   Adam Withers and Comfort Love, RAINBOW IN THE DARK, uniquescomic.com

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
____   BATMAN # 12, DC Comics
____   BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon
____   HAWKEYE # 1, Marvel Comics
____   LOCKE AND KEY: GRINDHOUSE, IDW
____   THE MIRE, BeckyCloonan.net
____   SAGA # 1, Image Comics
____   TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE #8, Fantagraphics


Congratulations to all of the nominees!  If you know a nominee, please pass on the good news using email, Facebook, and Twitter.

Please submit any corrections to harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.  We try our best to list nominees correctly, and want to know if there is an error.

The Harvey Committee and the Baltimore Comic-Con will make every effort to contact all nominees.  If you are a nominee and you do not hear from us by July 25, please contact us at harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.  We would love to discuss your involvement in the ceremony and the Baltimore Comic-Con.

For additional information about Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, visit www.harveyawards.org or harveyawards.blogspot.com.

The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 7-8, 2013. For more information, please visit the website, Twitter, or Facebook pages.

Review: NUMBERCRUNCHER #1

NUMBERCRUNCHER #1 (OF 4)
TITAN COMICS – @ComicsTitan

WRITER: Si Spurrier
ART: P.J. Holden
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S., £3.99 U.K. (August 2013)

Numbercruncher is a new four-issue comic book miniseries from writer Si Spurrier (X-Men: Legacy) and artist P.J. Holden (The 86ers).  Venerable United Kingdom publishing concern, Titan Publishing Group, Ltd., now has a comic book division, called Titan Comics.  Numbercruncher is one of several titles Titan Comics is launching this summer.

Numbercruncher #1 introduces Bastard Zane, Operative #494.  In what amounts to a strange afterlife of numbers, data, and accounting, Zane is a bailiff for the Karmic Accountancy, where he pushes paper and occasionally deals with souls that break the rules of the afterlife.  The big boss of the afterlife is the Divine Calculator, an elderly white man who maintains the “soulpool,” in which “souls are counted, processed, and – sometimes – questioned.”

Richard Thyne is a brilliant young mathematician who dies young and enters the afterlife.  However, Richard wants more time with Jessica Reed, the woman he loves.  He makes a deal with the Divine Calculator and Bastard Zane to be reincarnated in his lover’s lifetime, but there is a twist/complication.

Honestly, regarding it concepts, I am not especially interested in Numbercruncher.  What does make the book worth reading is Spurrier and Holden’s execution of the progression of the narrative.  Numbercruncher has a wicked sense of humor, and the creators are mean-spirited and/or cruel towards their characters.  However, they do it with humor and with the best of intentions – for their readers, if not necessarily for their characters.  That is what interests me – the humor and the interaction between the characters – and not necessarily this series’ concept of an afterlife.

This early in the series, I’ll say that Numbercruncher looks to show its funny streak.  Just how imaginative it is will be seen over the course of the series.

B+

www.titan-comics.com
www.facebook.com/comicstitan

Review: RED SONJA Volume 2 #1

RED SONJA, VOL. 2 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

WRITER: Gail Simone – @GailSimone
ARTIST: Walter Geovani
COLORS: Adriano Lucas
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Nicola Scott
VARIANT COVERS: Amanda Conner, Fiona Staples, Jenny Frison, Colleen Doran; Stephanie Buscema (subscription cover)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

Based on the character created Robert E. Howard and Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith

For Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated February 1973), writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith created a high fantasy sword and sorcery heroine.  She was named Red Sonja and was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Cimmerian.

Red Sonja has appeared in comic books for forty years, with the character spending the last decade at Dynamite Entertainment.  Dynamite Entertainment is re-launching their ongoing Red Sonja comic book series with Gail Simone as writer and Walter Geovani as artist on a new title, Red Sonja, Volume 2.

Red Sonja, Volume 2 #1 opens with a brief look into Red Sonja’s past.  Three years later, she is sleeping off a drunk, which is interrupted by thieves and by Nias and Ayla – her self-appointed bodyguards.  Now, a former benefactor (so to speak), King Dimath needs Sonja’s help.  Sonja agrees, and her reward is a ghost from her past.

In interviews she has given for Red Sonja, Volume 2, writer Gail Simone has spoken of taking the character in a direction that is different from past interpretations.  Simone is one of the few female writers who have broken into the white boys’ club that is comic book writing for Marvel and DC Comics in a way that has allowed her to be prolific and influential.  And she is not really like her male colleagues.

Simone’s Red Sonja is fiery and aggressive, not icy and reserved – as the character has been in the past.  She is not really an alpha female.  It’s like this: because it is a penis or royal penis does not mean Sonja has to submit or bow to it.  Simone’s Red Sonja is truly liberated from having her life defined by men being in control.  Simone’s presentation of the character makes this book worth a look, because the plot is merely standard sword and sorcery material.

Fans of Red Sonja and of Gail Simone will want to try Red Sonja, Volume 2.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Rin-ne: The Black Cat Ranking Exam

I read RIN-NE, Vol. 12

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 17 2013

DC COMICS

MAY130263 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO #2 (MR) $2.99
MAY130190 ANIMAL MAN #22 $2.99
MAY130204 BATMAN 66 #1 $3.99
MAY130162 BATMAN AND CATWOMAN #22 $2.99
MAY130208 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #18 $3.99
MAR130269 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT HC CYCLE OF VIOLENCE (N52) $22.99
APR130221 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT TP VOL 01 KNIGHT TERRORS (N52) $16.99
MAY130171 BATWOMAN #22 $2.99
MAY130170 BIRDS OF PREY #22 $2.99
APR130261 BLACK ORCHID TP (MR) $16.99
MAY130255 FABLES #131 (MR) $2.99
MAY130182 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #22 $2.99
MAY130243 HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #4 $2.99
MAY130103 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 (TRINITY) $3.99
MAY130106 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 COMBO PACK (TRINITY) $4.99
MAY130121 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #6 $2.99
MAY130198 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #22 $2.99
MAY130146 SUPERGIRL #22 $2.99
APR130230 SUPERMAN PHANTOM ZONE TP $14.99
MAR130280 TALES OF BATMAN ARCHIE GOODWIN HC (RES) $39.99
MAY130118 WONDER WOMAN #22 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

APR130286 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY RAFAEL GRAMPA $79.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 17 2013

MARVEL COMICS

MAY130659 A PLUS X #10 NOW $3.99
MAY130687 ALL NEW X-MEN #14 NOW $3.99
MAY130607 AVENGERS #16 INF $3.99
APR130726 AVENGERS ACADEMY TP FINAL EXAMS $19.99
MAY130614 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #17 NOW $3.99
APR130725 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS TP $29.99
MAY130696 CABLE AND X-FORCE #11 NOW $3.99
APR130727 CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER TP VOL 04 $19.99
MAY130681 DEADPOOL #13 NOW $2.99
APR130732 DEADPOOL BY DANIEL WAY COMPLETE COLL TP VOL 01 $34.99
MAY130665 FANTASTIC FOUR #10 NOW $2.99
APR130631 FF #9 NOW $2.99
MAY130652 IRON MAN #13 NOW $3.99
APR130728 MIGHTY THOR AND JIM TP EVERYTHING BURNS $19.99
FEB130617 MMW DOCTOR STRANGE HC VOL 06 $69.99
MAY130637 MORBIUS LIVING VAMPIRE #7 NOW $2.99
MAY130618 NOVA #6 NOW $3.99
MAY130704 POWERS BUREAU #6 (MR) $3.95
MAY130684 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #7 NOW $3.99
NOV110592 SCARLET #7 (MR) $3.95
MAY130635 SUPERIOR CARNAGE #1 NOW $3.99
MAY130604 THANOS RISING #4 INF $3.99
MAY130655 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #10 NOW $3.99
MAY130670 THUNDERBOLTS #13 NOW $2.99
APR130734 ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN BY BENDIS PREM HC VOL 04 $24.99
MAY130622 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #25 $3.99
MAY130694 UNCANNY X-FORCE #8 NOW $3.99
APR130724 UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 07 FINAL EXECUTION BOOK 2 $19.99
MAY130596 WHAT IF AVX #2 $3.99
MAY130703 WOLVERINE MAX #9 (MR) $3.99
FEB130616 WOLVERINE MAX TP VOL 01 PERMANENT RAGE $17.99
MAY130697 X-FACTOR #259 $2.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for July 17 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IDW PUBLISHING

MAY138225 X-FILES SEASON 10 #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAY130375 COLONIZED #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAY130307 DINOSAURS ATTACK #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAR130395 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #3 $3.99
MAY130344 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO TP VOL 07 $19.99
MAY130337 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAY130369 HALF PAST DANGER #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAR130343 JUDGE DREDD CAM KENNEDY COLLECTION HC VOL 01 $49.99
MAY130367 MARS ATTACKS TP VOL 02 ON ICE $19.99
MAY130289 ROCKETEER HOLLYWOOD HORROR HC $21.99
MAY130288 ROCKETEER HOLLYWOOD HORROR HC DM ED $21.99
JAN130459 STRANGE WORLD OF YOUR DREAMS COMICS MEET FREUD & DALI HC $29.99
MAY130301 TMNT ADVENTURES TP VOL 05 $19.99
MAY130299 TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES #4 ALOPEX $3.99
MAY130356 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE TP VOL 04 $19.99
MAY130353 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #93 [DIG/P+] $3.99