Wednesday, February 23, 2011

My Funny/Silly Dwayne McDuffie Story

While watching the news this morning, I caught the back end of a news scroll saying that Dwayne McDuffie had died.  Born in Detroit, the 49-year-old McDuffie wrote comic books for DC Comics and Marvel, where he was also an editor.  McDuffie apparently died Monday following complications from surgery.

He legacy will probably be as one of the founders of Milestone Media, a company which wanted to bring diversity to superhero comics books, especially to introduce more African-American superheroes.  Milestone Comics, an imprint of DC Comics, produced such series as Blood Syndicate, Hardware, and Icon, but the most famous Milestone character is probably Static, which gave birth to the animated series, Static Shock.

McDuffie was also a writer/producer of animated television series and features.  His recent work included Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths and the just-released All-Star Superman.

Yahoo Entertainment News via the Associated Press has this obit.  Comic Book Resources broke the news of McDuffie's death and posted another article with statements from his colleagues and friends.

My story:  Years ago, I saw McDuffie at a Mid-Ohio Con.  I walked through the room where many of the creators had tables, including McDuffie.  We did that head nod to each other a couple of times, but I was too afraid to speak to him.  As someone who wanted to create African-American superhero comic books, he was like a prophet/spiritual leader to me.  He intimidated me.  How ridiculous of me. I wish I had at least said hello to him.

McDuffie was supposed to make an appearance at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles this evening.  Now, it will be a memorial.

Aaron Renier and Jason Shiga at Fantagraphics Bookstore This Evening

Aaron Renier and Jason Shiga to appear at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Wednesday, February 23.

February 15, 2010 – SEATTLE, WA. Fantagraphics Bookstore is pleased to present Aaron Renier in conversation with Jason Shiga on Wednesday, February 23 at 6:30 PM. Renier will discuss his new graphic novel, The Unsinkable Walker Bean, on the acclaimed First Second imprint. His previous book, Spiral Bound (Top Shelf, 2005), was widely heralded as a book that appealed to sophisticated readers of all ages.

Oakland artist Jason Shiga’s award-winning books also attract an all ages readership. In addition to self-published comics, his work has appeared in McSweeney’s Quarterly. Shiga’s next effort, Empire State, is due later this year from Abrams Comicarts. A limited number of uncorrected proofs of this new graphic novel will be distributed free of charge.

Renier will give a slide presentation followed by a discussion with Shiga on their unique approach to creating comics. A book signing and reception will follow. Admission is free and open to the public.

This event marks the first in a series of “Comix Talks” at Fantagraphics Bookstore featuring discussions with writers, artists, and editors of diverse comics from the Northwest and beyond.

For more information of this event, please visit the event page on the Fantagraphics website.

Listing Information:
Fantagraphics Bookstore presents the first in a series of “Comix Talks”
Aaron Renier in conversation with Jason Shiga
Wednesday, February 23, 6:30 PM

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA 98108 206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM
http://www.fantagraphics.com/


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 23 2011

DC COMICS

DEC100213 ACTION COMICS #898 $2.99

DEC100290 AMERICAN VAMPIRE #12 (MR) $2.99

JUN100292 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM SER 1 BATMAN AF PI

JUN100293 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM SER 1 HARLEY QUINN AF PI

JUN100294 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM SER 1 JOKER WITH SCARFACE AF PI

JUN100295 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM SER 1 SCARECROW AF PI

DEC100272 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #57 $2.99

MAR100355 COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU POKER SET $199.00

MAR100326 DC CHRONICLES SANDMAN STATUE $99.99

DEC100244 DC COMICS PRESENTS BATMAN CONSPIRACY #1 $7.99

DEC100197 DETECTIVE COMICS #874 $2.99

DEC100207 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #20 $2.99

DEC100178 GREEN ARROW #9 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

NOV100274 HELLBLAZER PANDEMONIUM TP (MR) $17.99

DEC100223 JLA THE 99 #5 (OF 6) $2.99

MAR100354 JLA TROPHY ROOM SINESTRO BATTERY PROP REPLICA $350.00

DEC100174 JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #20 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

OCT100268 JUSTICE LEAGUE THE RISE AND FALL HC $24.99

DEC100226 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #48 $2.99

DEC100298 NEW YORK FIVE #2 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99

DEC100234 POWER GIRL #21 $2.99

DEC100307 SCALPED #46 (MR) $2.99

NOV100278 SCALPED TP VOL 07 REZ BLUES (MR) $17.99

OCT100271 SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY HC VOL 02 $39.99

NOV100229 SHOWCASE PRESENTS JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 05 $19.99

DEC100206 TEEN TITANS #92 $2.99

OCT100311 TELARA CHRONICLES TP $17.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 23 2011

MARVEL COMICS

DEC108154 AGE OF X ALPHA #1 2ND PTG CONRAD VAR (PP #956) $3.99

DEC108148 AGE OF X ALPHA #1 AOX 2ND PTG VAR (PP #956) $3.99

DEC100572 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #655 BIG $3.99

DEC100610 ASTONISHING X-MEN #36 $3.99

DEC100686 ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 06 EXOGENETIC $14.99

DEC100551 AVENGERS #10 $3.99

DEC100556 CAPTAIN AMERICA #615 $3.99

DEC100605 DEADPOOL #33 $2.99

DEC100607 DEADPOOL CORPS #11 $2.99

DEC100608 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #884 $2.99

DEC108134 FANTASTIC FOUR #587 2ND PTG QUESADA VAR (PP #956) $3.99

DEC100592 FANTASTIC FOUR #588 THREE $3.99

OCT100551 HALO FALL OF REACH BOOT CAMP #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

DEC100578 INCREDIBLE HULKS #623 $2.99

DEC100678 INCREDIBLE HULKS TP DARK SON ENIGMA FORCE $19.99

DEC100563 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #501 $3.99

DEC100557 IRON MAN 2.0 #1 $3.99

DEC100565 IRON MAN THOR #4 (OF 4) $3.99

SEP100681 MMW GOLDEN AGE MYSTIC COMICS HC VOL 01 $59.99

SEP100682 MMW GOLDEN AGE MYSTIC COMICS HC VOL 01 DM VAR ED 154 $59.99

SEP100683 MMW SUB-MARINER HC VOL 04 $54.99

SEP100684 MMW SUB-MARINER HC VOL 04 DM VAR ED 153 $54.99

DEC100625 NAMOR FIRST MUTANT #7 $2.99

DEC100624 NEW MUTANTS #22 AGEX $2.99

DEC100535 ORSON SCOTT CARDS SPEAKER FOR DEAD #2 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC100595 POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #2 (OF 5) $2.99

DEC100602 PUNISHER IN BLOOD #4 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC100553 SECRET AVENGERS #10 $3.99

DEC100659 SHADOWLAND STREET HEROES PREM HC $24.99

DEC100661 SHADOWLAND THUNDERBOLTS PREM HC $19.99

DEC100579 SPIDER-MAN #11 $2.99

DEC100569 THOR #620 $3.99

SEP100689 THOR GODSTORM HC $19.99

SEP100701 THOR QUEST FOR ODIN PREM HC $29.99

SEP100702 THOR QUEST FOR ODIN PREM HC DM VAR ED 60 $29.99

DEC100547 ULTIMATE COMICS DOOM #3 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC100543 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #154 DOSM $3.99

DEC100622 UNCANNY X-MEN #533 $3.99

DEC100690 VAMPIRE TALES GN TP VOL 02 $19.99

NOV100551 WARRIORS THREE #4 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC100618 X-23 #6 $2.99

DEC100665 X-FACTOR HAPPENINGS IN VEGAS PREM HC $19.99

DEC100620 X-MEN #8 $3.99

DEC100667 X-MEN CURSE OF MUTANTS PREM HC MUTANTS VS. VAMPIRES $24.99

DEC100671 X-MEN FIRST CLASS GN TP VOL 01 $14.99

DEC100683 X-MEN FOREVER 2 TP VOL 02 SCREAM A LITTLE SCREAM $16.99

DEC100623 X-MEN LEGACY #245 AGEX $2.99

DEC100664 X-MEN LEGACY PREM HC COLLISION $19.99

DEC100629 X-MEN TO SERVE AND PROTECT #4 (OF 4) $3.99

IDW from Diamond Distributors for February 23 2011

IDW PUBLISHING

NOV100389 ETERNAL DESCENT #6 $3.99

DEC100386 FALLEN ANGEL RETURN OF THE SON #2 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC100344 GI JOE #27 $3.99

DEC100411 KILL SHAKESPEARE #9 (OF 12) $3.99

DEC100382 SPIKE #5 (OF 8) $3.99

DEC100335 STAR TREK INFESTATION #2 (OF 2) $3.99

OCT100388 TRANSFORMERS 3 MOVIE PREQUEL FOUNDATION #1 (OF 4) $3.99

NOV100361 TRANSFORMERS RISING STORM #1 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC100367 TRUE BLOOD TAINTED LOVE #1 (MR) $3.99

DEC100423 WHITE VIPER GN (RES) $19.99

Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for February 23 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV100032 CHRONICLES OF KULL TP VOL 04 BLOOD OF KINGS OTHER STORIES $18.99

OCT100029 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF ATOM #5 $3.50

AUG100067 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 06 $49.99

NOV100044 JOHN CARTER OF MARS WARLOARD OF MARS TP $29.99

DEC100051 KING CONAN SCARLET CITADEL #1 DARICK ROBERTSON CVR $3.50

DEC100057 KULL THE HATE WITCH #4 (OF 4) TOM FLEMING CVR $3.50

NOV100041 LITTLE LULU GIANT SIZE TP VOL 03 $24.99

OCT100018 METALOCALYPSE DETHKLOK #3 (OF 3) ERIC POWELL CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC100068 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & LOST COMMAND #2 (OF 5) $3.50

DEC100070 STAR WARS LEGACY WAR #3 (OF 6) $3.50