23rd GLAAD Media Awards Comic Book Nominees

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) promotes the image of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people in media. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

GLAAD just announced the nominations for the 23rd Annual Media Awards. There are 116 nominees in 25 English-language categories, and 35 Spanish-language nominees in 10 categories. For a full list of nominees, go here.

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 24, 2012 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square; in Los Angeles on April 21 at the Westin Bonaventure; and in San Francisco on June 2 at San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

Here are the nominees in the sole comic book category:

OUTSTANDING COMIC BOOK

Avengers: The Children's Crusade by Allan Heinberg (Marvel)

Batwoman by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman (DC Comics)

Secret Six by Gail Simone (DC Comics)

Veronica Presents: Kevin Keller by Dan Parent (Archie Comics)

X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics)

http://www.glaad.org/

Japanese Science Ficiton Novel, MM9, Also an eBook

NATURAL DISASTERS OF HIGH “MONSTER MAGNITUDE” THREATEN JAPAN IN MM9, NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU IMPRINT

Special Team Of Scientists Must Save Japan In A Gripping New Novel From The Author Of THE STORIES OF IBIS

VIZ Media’s Haikasoru imprint brings a fantastic new tale of science fiction and giant monsters to North American readers with the release of Hiroshi Yamamoto’s novel MM9, available now. The release will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. An eBook edition is also available on the Amazon Kindle, Apple’s iBooks Store, the Barnes & Noble’s Nook Books Store, and the Sony Reader™ Store for $8.99.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

The Japan of MM9 is beset by natural disasters all the time: typhoons, earthquakes...and giant monster attacks. A special anti-monster unit called the Meteorological Agency Monsterological Measures Department (MMD) has been formed to deal with natural disasters of high “monster magnitude.” The work is challenging, the public is hostile, and the monsters are hungry, but the MMD crew has science, teamwork...and a legendary secret weapon on their side. Together, will try and save Japan, and the universe!

“Hiroshi Yamamoto takes on the perennial Japanese science fiction theme—the giant monsters known as kaiju,” says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru Editor. “The B-movie monsters we know and love are basically treated like meteorological disasters along the lines of hurricanes or earthquakes by the MMD, who measures the “monster magnitude” of the various threats and uses both science and folkloric knowledge to try to save Japan from constant repeated attack. Yamamoto knows his science as well as pop culture—MM9 is both a loving parody of Japanese icons like Ultraman and Godzilla, but gives an intriguing and wild answer to the question of how such enormous creatures could exist without the laws of physics kicking it. The book was very popular in Japan, and the cinematic nature of Yamamoto’s storytelling made it easy for Japanese television to adapt into an action-adventure- science fiction TV show.”

Hiroshi Yamamoto was born in 1956 in Kyoto, Japan. He began his career as a writer and game designer with the game development company Group SNE in 1987. He gained initial popularity with titles such as February at the Edge of Time and the Ghost Hunter series. His first hardcover science fiction release, God Never Keeps Silent, became a sensation among readers and was nominated for the Japan SF Award. Other novels include Day of Judgment and The Unseen Sorrow of Winter and THE STORIES OF IBIS (which is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Haikasoru). Aside from his work as a writer, Yamamoto is also active in various literary organizations as an editor of classic science fiction anthologies and as president of To-Gakkai, a group of tongue-in-cheek "experts" on the occult.

For more information on MM9 and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at http://www.haikasoru.com/.

Gilbert Hernandez's Fatima Debuts June 2012

DARK HORSE ORIGINALS MAKE WAVES!

MATT KINDT AND GILBERT HERNANDEZ RETURN WITH NEW PROJECTS!

Dark Horse Originals is proud to announce two new amazing series from critically acclaimed creators Matt Kindt and Gilbert Hernandez!

Matt Kindt, the most original voice in genre comics, outdoes himself in his bold new espionage series, Mind MGMT. Reporting on a commercial flight where everyone aboard lost their memories, a young journalist stumbles onto a much bigger story, the top-secret Mind Management program. Her ensuing journey involves weaponized psychics, hypnotic advertising, talking dolphins, and seemingly immortal pursuers, as she attempts to find the flight’s missing passenger, the man who was Mind Management’s greatest success—and its most devastating failure. But in a world where people can rewrite reality itself, can she trust anything she sees? If you think you know what Matt Kindt can deliver, you haven’t seen anything yet!

Comics luminary Gilbert Hernandez envisions his strangest, most thrilling future yet in Fatima: The Blood Spinners, a horrifying new take on zombies! A drug called “spin” offers the wildest trip imaginable, followed by its users’ inevitable, rapid deterioration into undead flesh eaters. Despite the side effect, the drug is so popular that the human population is dying out! With no cure to be found, the beautiful, lovesick Fatima may be the only thing standing between the survivors and the apocalypse. Get ready for four issues of zombies, drug lords, and gorgeous women!

Also, announced last week was multiple Harvey and Eagle Award winner Peter Bagge’s Reset, which leads off the Dark Horse Originals variant-cover program.

Reset #1 is on sale April 18, 2012, and features a variant cover by Matt Kindt!

Mind MGMT #1 is on sale May 23, 2012, and features a variant cover by Gilbert Hernandez!

Fatima #1 is on sale June 20, 2012, and features a variant cover by Peter Bagge!

Afterschool Charisma: The New Adventures of Hitler

I read Afterschool Charisma, Vol. 5

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).

"X-O Manowar" Returns May 2, 2012

VALIANT Launches X-O MANOWAR With NYT Bestseller VENDITTI & Eisner Winner NORD

On May 2nd, New York Times best-selling author Robert Venditti (The Surrogates, The Homeland Directive) and Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord (Conan) launch X-O Manowar #1, the debut issue of the all-new Valiant Universe!

"Cary is knocking it out of the park with this book. His pages look incredible and Rob's pitch is one of the best I've ever read," said Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons. "These guys are putting together a remarkable #1 issue."

Born into battle and raised under the oppressive thumb of the Roman Empire, Aric of Dacia is a beloved figure among his men and a leader of the Visigoth people. But when he's taken prisoner after a brutal encounter with an alien strike force, he must capture the X-O Manowar armor - the most powerful weapon in the universe - if he's to save his family and return to his people. But when he arrives he finds 1,600 years have passed and the most primitive man on Earth - a man out of time - now wields a weapon capable of incalculable destruction

"Some may consider him a barbarian, but Aric is a seasoned battlefield tactician and a warrior capable of taking down some of the world's greatest adversaries with only his wits and a broadsword," said Venditti. "So what happens when you hand this so-called primitive the universe's most powerful weapon and drop him in the modern day? It's a recipe for one of the most compelling action stories you'll see on the stands in 2012."

"I'm having a blast working on X-O Manowar," added Nord. "I've tackled warring barbarian hordes, alien armadas and destroyed pretty much everything in between. This is going to be an epic in every sense of the word."

During X-O Manowar's initial run, the smash hit series sold over 8 million copies and featured work from a distinguished roster of comics luminaries including current Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada, former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, and comics legends Barry Windsor-Smith and Bob Layton.

"Powerful storytelling has been our first priority since day one and, together, Rob and Cary are proving to be a truly visceral combination," said Valiant Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. "Together, their work on X-O Manowar is defining the size, scope and intensity of the Valiant Universe."

"X-O Manowar was one of the many reasons that Valiant became a legend in its time," added Valiant CEO Jason Kothari. "This is an all-time classic character and we have big plans not just for him, but the rest of the Valiant Universe."

X-O MANOWAR #1
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Covers by ESAD RIBIC & CARY NORD
ON SALE MAY 2nd!


About Valiant Entertainment
Valiant Entertainment is a character-based publishing and licensing company that owns and controls some of the most cherished comic characters ever created across all media worldwide. Since their creation in 1989, Valiant characters have sold 80 million comic books and have been the basis of a number of successful video game franchises. Valiant's extensive library includes over 1,500 characters, such as X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman, Ninjak and Archer & Armstrong.

Visit: ValiantUniverse.com
www.facebook.com/ValiantComics
www.twitter.com/ValiantComics

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 18 2012

DC COMICS

NOV118004 ANIMAL MAN #2 2ND PTG $2.99

NOV110133 BATMAN #5 $2.99

NOV110136 BATMAN #5 COMBO PACK $3.99

NOV110142 BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #4 (OF 7) $3.99

NOV110146 BIRDS OF PREY #5 $2.99

NOV110186 BLUE BEETLE #5 $2.99

NOV110116 CAPTAIN ATOM #5 $2.99

NOV110152 CATWOMAN #5 $2.99

NOV110119 DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #5 $2.99

NOV110217 DIABLO #2 (OF 5) $2.99

NOV110216 END OF NATIONS #3 (OF 4) (RES) $2.99

NOV110230 FABLES #113 (MR) $2.99

NOV110157 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #5 $2.99

NOV110227 HELLBLAZER #287 (MR) $2.99

NOV110189 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #5 $2.99

NOV110153 NIGHTWING #5 $2.99

NOV110150 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #5 $2.99

OCT110254 SECRET SIX THE DARKEST HOUSE TP $16.99

NOV110132 SUPERGIRL #5 $2.99

OCT110251 SUPERMAN WAR OF THE SUPERMEN TP $14.99

NOV110180 THUNDER AGENTS VOL 2 #3 (OF 6) $2.99

NOV110222 TINY TITANS #48 $2.99

SEP110187 WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS AFTERMATH HC $22.99

NOV110111 WONDER WOMAN #5 $2.99

NOV110225 YOUNG JUSTICE #12 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 18 2012

MARVEL COMICS

NOV110531 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #678 $3.99

NOV110493 AVENGERS #21 $3.99

NOV110525 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #3 WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE $3.99

NOV110642 DAKEN X-23 COLLISION TP $19.99

NOV110529 DAREDEVIL #8 $2.99

NOV110633 DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 06 $29.99

NOV110591 DEADPOOL MAX 2 #4 (MR) $3.99

NOV110486 DEFENDERS TOURNAMENT OF HEROES #1 $5.99

NOV110649 ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 05 NEW ED $19.99

SEP110685 ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 08 NEW ED $19.99

NOV110475 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #7 (OF 12) $2.99

NOV110614 FEAR ITSELF JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY PREM HC $19.99

NOV110616 FEAR ITSELF THUNDERBOLTS PREM HC $19.99

NOV110585 GENERATION HOPE #15 XREGB $2.99

NOV110550 GHOST RIDER #8 $2.99

NOV110510 HALO FALL OF REACH INVASION #1 (OF 4) $3.99

NOV110491 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #512 $3.99

NOV110508 JOHN CARTER A PRINCESS OF MARS #5 (OF 5) $2.99

NOV110509 JOHN CARTER OF MARS WORLD OF MARS #4 (OF 4) $3.99

NOV110540 LEGION OF MONSTERS #4 (OF 4) $3.99

NOV110636 MARVEL FIRSTS 1970S TP VOL 01 $29.99

NOV110637 MARVEL POINT ONE II TP $24.99

AUG110688 MMW ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH HC VOL 04 $64.99

AUG110689 MMW ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH HC VOL 04 DM VAR ED 174 $64.99

NOV110547 MOON KNIGHT #9 $3.99

NOV110640 NEW DEFENDERS TP VOL 01 $29.99

NOV110578 NEW MUTANTS #36 XREGB $2.99

NOV110539 SIX GUNS #4 (OF 5) $2.99

NOV110667 SPIDER-MAN DAREDEVIL BY LEE BERMAJO POSTER $8.99

SEP110631 SUPERIOR #7 (OF 7) (MR) $4.99

NOV110552 THUNDERBOLTS #169 $2.99

NOV110641 TWELVE TP VOL 01 $16.99

NOV110619 ULTIMATE COMICS HAWKEYE BY HICKMAN PREM HC $19.99

NOV110515 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #6 WITH DIGITAL CODE (RES) $3.99

NOV110576 UNCANNY X-FORCE #20 XREGG $3.99

OCT118157 UNCANNY X-MEN #2 2ND PTG PACHECO VAR XREGB (PP #1001) $3.99

NOV110564 UNCANNY X-MEN #5 $3.99

NOV110533 VENOM #12 $2.99

NOV110668 WINTER SOLDIER POSTER $8.99

OCT118158 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #2 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR XREGG (PP #1001) $3.99

NOV110549 WOLVERINE PUNISHER GHOST RIDER OFF INDEX MU #6 (OF 8) $3.99

NOV110624 X-23 PREM HC VOL 02 CHAOS THEORY $19.99

NOV110644 X-FACTOR TP VOL 12 SCAR TISSUE $19.99

AUG110685 X-MEN BY CLAREMONT AND LEE OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 DM VAR ED $125.00