Ladies Making Comics

Market Monday: May 15th, 2013 New Releases

Mon, 13 May 2013 23:51:59 -0400

Book of the Week

Adventure Time: Playing with Fire GN, written by Danielle Corsetto

AN ALL-NEW ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL! Join Flame Princess, alongside Finn and Jake, as she leaves the Flame Kingdom and goes on her very first adventure! Written by acclaimed cartoonist Danielle Corsetto (GIRLS WITH SLINGSHOTS) and drawn by rising star Zack Sterling (BRAVEST WARRIORS, ADVENTURE TIME). A pocket black and white edition appealing to fans of SCOTT PILGRIM and Japanese manga!

~Preview~

Firsts of the Week

Avengers: The Enemy Within #1, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick

THE OPENING SALVO TO THE HOTLY ANTICIPATED AVENGERS/CAPTAIN MARVEL FOUR PART EVENT! Can’t keep a good Captain down! Vicious echoes of the Avengers’ past are cropping up all over Manhattan…and a grounded Captain Marvel refuses to be left behind. Who is the sinister figure behind these incursions and what does it have to do with Carol Danvers’ mysterious condition? But is this villain real or just a figment of Captain Marvel’s increasingly deadly imagination?

~Preview~

Regular Show #1, art by Allison Strejlau, colored by Lisa Moore

REGULAR SHOW… IT’S ANYTHING BUT! Cartoon Network’s powerhouse series now has its own comic book series! Hot on the heels of the smash hit adaptation, ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! unveils the next all-ages comic phenomenon! Join Mordecai the Bluejay and Rigby the Raccoon, a couple of best bros in their twenties just tryin’ to chill for a bit, man. But when you’re livin’ in as crazy a world as they are, no day can be called…regular! Ask your retailer about the pre-order variant by Chris Houghton (ADVENTURE TIME, REED GUNTHER) and the incentive variant by Dustin Nguyen (BATMAN, L’IL GOTHAM)!

~Preview~

Collection of the Week

Captain Marvel vol. 2: Down TP, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Marvel NOW! Captain Marvel goes head to head with…Captain Marvel?! Former Captain Monica Rambeau returns, but what’s her problem with Earth’s new Mightiest Hero? What threat lurks below the ocean’s surface? And can both Captain Marvels stop it before they get shipwrecked? Then: Carol finally returns home…but changed. What is weakening her powers? How will the lifelong high-flyer react when she discovers she can no longer fly? What’s keeping the super hero from being super heroic, and who wants her to stay that way? And as Captain America intervenes with a surprising gift, Carol confronts a new version of an old foe: Deathbird! What happens when your enemies know your most dangerous secret? Collecting CAPTAIN MARVEL (2012) #7-11.

More new releases under the cut!

Archie & Friends Double Digest #27, co-written by Barbara Jarvie

Abracadabra! Magician extraordinaire, the Illustrious Salustri, is coming to Riverdale to perform! The magic man makes things disappear for a living, but when his doves and props go missing for real, Archie and friends set out to catch the culprit. Can they solve the mystery before the illusionist is set to perform or will he have to pull a trick out of his sleeve before it’s show time? Read “The Magic Is Gone,” the first story of this fun-filled digest!

Batgirl #20, written by Gail Simone

There’s no time to catch your breath after last issue’s shocking ending as an emotionally unstable Batgirl must confront one of Batman’s most violent foes: The Ventriloquist!

Birds of Prey #20, written by Christy Marx

The traitor revealed! Who will aid Mr. Freeze as he continues his onslaught against The Court of Owls—and how can the Birds hope to stop him?

Catwoman #20, written by Ann Nocenti

Membership in the Justice League of America is going to cost Catwoman the rest of her nine lives as Selina comes to grips with the deadly reality of her current imprisonment!

FF #7, colored by Laura Allred

Field trip…into the heart of the Negative Zone! Scott Lang has already lost a daughter… watch what happens when he puts it all on the line to save… Bentley-23? The shocking reveal of the villain pulling the strings and pitting family against family — and a rescue mission unlike anything you’ve ever seen — FF vs FF!

~Preview~

Gambit #12, colored by Rachelle Rosenberg

GAMBIT may be in over his head… JOELLE, the woman he’s fighting to save, the one he may be falling for, is on the brink of death. But could the secret she’s been keeping be the key to her survival? Meanwhile, Gambit’s former flame and current Uncanny Avenger ROGUE must decide whether she’ll help him save Joelle or bring him in. And the villainous TOMBSTONE? Well, he’s willing to cut down any and all of ‘em to get what he wants…

~Preview~

Helheim #3, art by Joëlle Jones

Rikard was raised from the dead as a weapon against the witch Groa. But his thirst for blood has waned. Tormented by his very existence, the draugr wanders the land, pursued by demonic enemies he had no desire to fight. Only when he meets a young woman named Kadlin does he learn the true price of the war between the witches.

It-Girl and the Atomics #10, art by Natalie Nourigat

“TWEENAGE FBI” Part One BETWEEN GEARS creator NATALIE NOURIGAT joins the Atomics team! Someone broke into Flem’s lab and stole a dangerous invention. It Girl picks up the crooks’ trail, only to discover it leads to a team of underage secret agents - though the real criminal mastermind is centuries older than all of them.

Judge Dredd Megazine #336, includes art by Fay Dalton, colors by Eva de la Cruz, letters by Annie Parkhouse and Ellie De Ville

Mega-City One is being held to ransom by a corporation, but Judge Dredd has a little ‘out-sourcing’ of his own to do – from the barrel of his Lawgiver! Former Chief Judge Dan Francisco continues to seek redemption on the streets of his devastated city but is revenge all that awaits him? Is the net tightening on the identity thieves in American Reaper? And the desperate fight for the colony gets off to a bad start in Insurrection III. Plus features, interviews and a chunky graphic novel reprint of Dan Abnett and John Burns’ Black Light!

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Marceline and the Scream Queens TP by Meredith Gran

JOIN FAN-FAVORITE CHARACTERS MARCELINE AND PRINCESS BUBBLEGUM FOR RIOT GRRL ROCK-FUELED EXCITEMENT IN THIS COLLECTION OF THE ACCLAIMED SERIES! Thanks to a newfound interest in music, Princess Bubblegum joins Marceline’s paranormal rock band for a tour across the land of Ooo! But when they’re threatened by everything from scenesters to beasts born of self-doubt, can they stay together long enough to make it to the RADDEST GIG EVER?! Written and drawn by acclaimed cartoonist Meredith Gran (OCTOPUS PIE) and featuring a back-up stories from some of the hottest independent talent in comics today, including Jen Wang, Faith Erin Hicks and many more!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic vol. 1 TP, written by Katie Cook

Welcome to Ponyville, home of Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and all your other favorite Ponies! Something’s not right in the town though, as some of the inhabitants are acting very, very strange! It’s up to the Mane Six to find the source of the weirdness before it’s too late

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #7, written by Heather Nuhfer, art by Amy Mebberson, covers by Mebberson and Stephanie Buscema

The new Nightmare Moon has revealed herself… and captured our stunned Ponies! With time running short for Equestria before a full-scale invasion, the only hope lies with… Spike?! And what role will Princess Luna play?

Soulfire #5, colored by Nei Ruffino

Malikai and his friends attempt to survive and defeat the onslaught of a deadly horde of destructive dragons. Meanwhile, the magical races of the Everlands might have to resort to the unthinkable in order to defeat them, fusing magic with technology! From veteran SOULFIRE scribe J.T. Krul, and featuring the amazing art of Michael DeBalfo along with fan favorite colorist Nei Ruffino, this is the SOULFIRE tale three volumes in the making! New and returning fans will NOT want to miss out as the biggest SOULFIRE story ever told continues right here!

~Preview~

Supergirl #20, cover by Emanuela Lupacchino

Supergirl is dead—Long live Supergirl! Or so it seems as the strange connection between the Karas has Power Girl becoming Supergirl again.

Sword of Sorcery #8, written by Christy Marx

Eclipso brings destruction to the heart of House Amethyst in an epic 30-page story! Will Amaya finally master her heritage? On this day, a princess dies!

~Preview~

To Hell You Ride #4, colored by Cris Peter

The citizens of the quarantined town are in a panic. The cold is deadly, but not how you think, and one drunk resident holds the fate of the town in his hands. Vengeance has come to the scenic resort town.

~Preview~

Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots TP, co-written by Mairghread Scott

The DINOBOTS hold the line as CYBERTRON falls! With OPTIMUS PRIME and the Ark long gone, the rest of the population makes their escape from the dying world-but SHOCKWAVE remains behind, continuing his experiments!

Wolverine and the X-Men #29, colored by Laura Martin

See the Jean Grey School of the future! The students of JGS put a time-capsule together that you can follow into the future and see what happened to all your favorite X-Men.

~Preview~

FYI: Upcoming Move, LMC Updates to Remain Irregular Until at Least July.

Sun, 12 May 2013 23:17:22 -0400

Due to an inconveniently timed restructuring of the company I work for, I have been given only a little over a month’s notice that I will be relocating from Boston to Washington DC. Fortunately, I have already secured an apartment among all the other young professionals in Arlington, so the most anxiety-ridden part of moving has been dealt with. However, this still leaves me with plenty of work- and move-related tasks and responsibilities that need to take precedence above all. So blog updates will continue to be erratic until I am settled in my new life.

On the plus side, I will have a week off between when I leave Boston and when I am expected to report to my new assignment, So I will mostly be getting a feel for my nation’s capital as a resident rather than the tourist I’ve been many, many times, But I will also have more free time for blogging (and planning ahead) as well as exploring the DC comics scene! Any advice any of my DC-based readers about what to check out (comics-related and otherwise) would be enthusiastically welcomed.

My entire immediate family will all be living in Massachusetts by the time move, so fret not, my Boston-comics scene friends! I intend to come up for the rescheduled Boston Comic Con in August and Arisia ‘14 in January, and hope to reconnect then. Massachusetts has been my home for 15 years and Boston for 8 of them. It will be strange to move, but I doubt I’ll ever truly leave.

Iron Man 3 is the best old-school James Bond movie ever.

Fri, 03 May 2013 22:01:53 -0400

(Oh look it’s my one-sentence Iron Man 3 review from my general/pop-culture Tumblr)

Market Monday: May 1st, 2013 New Releases

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:19:13 -0400

Book of the Week

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo vol. 2, adapted by Denise Mina

Vertigo presents the concluding volume of the official graphic novel adaptation of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO!

In Book 2, the mystery of Harriet Vanger’s disappearance deepens as crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the indomitable Lisbeth Salander join forces to crack the decades-old case. Together they uncover a twisted secret that may end up costing them their lives. Don’t miss the gripping conclusion to one of the most thrilling books of all time!

Firsts of the Week

New series!

The Movement #1, written by Gail Simone, cover by Amanda Conner

We are faceless. We are limitless. We see all. And we do not forgive.

Who defends the powerless against the GREEDY and the CORRUPT? Who protects the homeless and poverty-stricken from those who would PREY upon them in the DARK OF NIGHT?

When those who are sworn to protect us abuse their power, when toxic government calls down super-human lackeys to force order upon the populace…finally, there is a force, a citizen’s army, to push order BACK.

Let those who abuse the system know this as well: We have our OWN super humans now. They are not afraid of your badges or Leagues. And they will not be SILENCED.

We are your neighbors. We are your co-workers. And we are your children.

~Preview~

OMG YOU GAIZ IT’S A SESAME STREET COMIC!

Sesame Street #1, art by Amy Mebberson

Sunny Day! Chase the clouds away as Sesame Street comes to comics for the first time! Join Elmo, Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and all of your favorites in this fantastic first issue! Featured this issue, Elmo decides to become a superhero, but he doesn’t have any powers! It will be up to the always lovable Super Grover to teach Elmo that he can have any superpowers he wants, because he already has the greatest superpower - imagination! Available with 5 interlocking covers.

Collection of the Week

Castle Waiting vol. II: Definitive Edition HC by Linda Medley

THE SECOND VOLUME OF THIS CLASSIC FANTASY, NOW IN AN EXTENDED AND IMPROVED VERSION

With its long-awaited second volume, Linda Medley’s witty and sublimely drawn fantasy eases into a relaxed comedy of manners as Lady Jain settles into her new life in Castle Waiting.

Unexpected visitors result in the discovery and exploration of a secret passageway, not to mention an epic bowling tournament. A quest for ladies’ underpants, the identity of her baby son Pindar’s father, the education of Simon, Rackham and Chess arguing about the “manly arts,” and an escape-prone goat are just a few of the elements in this delightful new volume. The book also includes many flashbacks that deepen the stories behind the characters, including Jain’s earliest romantic entanglements and conflicts with her bratty older sisters, the horrific past of the enigmatic Dr. Fell, and more.

Originally released in a slightly shorter version when the series ceased publication, this new edition includes over 60 pages’ worth of brand new additional story and epilogue, and the entire book has been re-lettered in a livelier, more inviting style for an even more engaging reading experience.

It’s a light week so the rest aren’t below a cut!

Earth 2 #12, art by Nicola Scott

The drums of war begin to sound as the heroes of Earth 2 rally behind Dr. Fate—and a threat from Apokolips becomes all too real!

Planet of the Apes: Cataclysm #9, co-written by Corinna Bechko

WHAT DANGER LURKS IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE? Still recovering from the terrible cataclysm that rocked the planet, Doctor Zaius tries to maintain the fragile coalition of apes, chimps and orangutans, in an effort to ensure that the rebuilding of Ape City continues apace. But the cataclysm also shook something loose in the Forbidden Zone that could fracture Ape society as we know it…

Sherlock Holmes: The Liverpool Demon #4, co-written by Leah Moore

Drummond, now on the run, seeks shelter in Hitchcock’s Menagerie, but how long will it be before Inspector Thornton tracks him down? The final piece of the puzzle falls into place for Holmes as he and Watson return to the scene of Tom Christian’s murder. Yet the route they take is far from straight and perhaps more dangerous than even the Great Detective could imagine.

~Preview~

Ultimate Comics X-Men #26, colored by Jordie Bellaire

“NATURAL RESOURCES” CONTINUES! Fortress Utopia! The Mutant Nation is Under Siege! And General Ross is leading the charge!! Can Kitty and Mach Two work together for the good of mutantkind?! Jimmy Hudson prepares for war!!

~Preview~

Webcomics Wednesday Sticky Comics by Christiann MacAuley Sticky...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:36:57 -0400

Webcomics Wednesday

Sticky Comics by Christiann MacAuley

Sticky Comics is my (mostly) humorous bunch of random drawings, scrawlings, and comics. (If you Google “sticky comics”, you will find there’s an erotic comic series called “Sticky”, but unfortunately, that’s not my work.)…Cartooning makes me laugh, which is one of my favorite things to do ever.

Christiann’s Tumblr

(This one’s for you, Mom)

Market Monday: April 24, 2013 New Releases

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:45:14 -0400

Book of the Week

Who Is AC? GN written by Hope Larson

Meet Lin, a formerly average teenage girl whose cell phone zaps her with magical powers. But just as superpowers can travel through the ether, so can evil. As Lin starts to get a handle on her new abilities (while still observing her curfew!), she realizes she has to go head-to-head with a nefarious villain who spreads his influence through binary code. And as if that weren’t enough, a teen blogger has dubbed her an “anonymous coward!” Can Lin detect the cyber-criminal’s vulnerability, save the day, and restore her reputation? Available in Hardcover and Softcover editions.

~Preview~

Firsts of the Week

First of its return!

A Distant Soil #39 by Colleen Doran

15-year-old Liana now sits on the throne of the Avatar, a living weapon of mass destruction, the most powerful psionic in the universe. And she’s pointed directly at Earth. Back after a six-year hiatus, the final chapter of the critically acclaimed space opera series begins in a bi-monthly release from Image/Shadowline

Issues #1-38 available for free online!

First of Sara Pichelli’s Art!

Guardians of the Galaxy #2, art by Sara Pichelli

While London deals with the brutal Badoon invasion, the fate of the Guardians of the Galaxy may have been decided millions of miles away.

~Preview~

One-Shot!

My Little Pony: Rarity, written by Katie Cook

Rarity is in need of some well-deserved R & R after working hard on her new fashion line. A sweet spa retreat turns sour when Rarity learns that the establishment is a little too “down to earth”! How will this resourceful pony make the best out of this “rustic” situation? Read on to find out!

~Preview~

Collection of the Week

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger - The Battle of Tull TP, co-written by Robin Furth

Roland Deschain, last of the gunslingers, continues searching for the Man in Black. Instead, he finds Tull, last stop of civilization - a town of devil grass, desert sand and despair. A town of lost souls, including Allie, the once-pretty barmaid whose encounter with the Man in Black left her saddled with a fearsome, cursed secret. Tull may seem to be on the very edge of the world, with nothing past the horizon but a steep fall to oblivion, but Roland believes otherwise: that beyond Tull lies a hidden truth that means everything to the fate of Mid-World. The Man in Black holds the key to that mystery, and Roland is going to keep following him - even through a trap set in Tull - to unlock it. Collecting DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER - THE BATTLE OF TULL #1-5.

More new releases under the cut!

Angel and Faith #21, art by Rebekah Isaacs

The time has come for Angel to make good on his promise to resurrect Giles—but at the same time, Season 9’s Big Bads, Pearl and Nash, together with Angel’s own mentor, Whistler, gather the final pieces needed to harness the last magical powers on Earth for their own apocalyptic plan. Final arc begins!

~Preview~

Castle: Deadly Storm TP, co-written by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Castle’s hero, Derrick Storm, comes to life in the pages of this all-new graphic novel! This “adaptation” of Derrick Storm’s first novel takes our hero from the gritty world of the private eye all the way to the globe-hopping intrigue of the CIA. Eisner Award-winning Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis and red-hot Osborn writer Kelly Sue DeConnick worked closely with Castle creator Andrew Marlowe to create the one thing millions of Castle fans have been asking for: their first real Derrick Storm adventure - a wall-to-wall, gritty, witty, globe-hopping detective thrill ride for fans of the hit TV show starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, as well as fans of damn good comic books.

Dark Horse Presents #23, includes work by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Another issue of 2012’s best anthology-another collection of amazing comics, natch! Premiering this issue: Dan Jolley and Leonard Kirk’s supervillain tracker Clev is back out of prison to help the FBI hunt an invisible killer, Fred Van Lente and Freddie Williams II delve into a world of psychic espionage in Brain Boy, and Peter Hogan and Phil Winslade pull you into another magical dimension with King’s Road. * Dan Jolley’s Bloodhound comes to Dark Horse!

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Gambit #11, colored by Rachelle Rosenberg

hen Gambit’s in over his head, who will answer his call for help? Enter: Rogue! And she may just have an opinion or two about Gambit’s extracurricular activities…Speaking of, Joelle has her own dark designs for Gambit’s former flame.

~Preview~

Helheim #2, art by Joëlle Jones

THE NEW SERIES FROM SIXTH GUN WRITER CULLEN BUNN AND FAN FAVORITE ARTIST JOËLLE JONES CONTINUES! “The draugr walks after death… and Death walks after the draugr.” Rikard is dead! Long live Rikard! Raised from oblivion by the woman he loved, Rikard takes his bloody fight to the doorstep of night hag Groa. But he discovers that not all the people cowering under Groa’s protection are the monsters he believed them to be.

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Journey Into Mystery #651, written by Kathryn Immonen, colored by Jordie Bellaire

Mayhem in the mess hall! Horror in the hash house! Volstagg’s daughter, Hildegund, only wanted a midnight snack! But something else is rampaging in the lower kitchens of Asgardia and she’s going to have to wake the whole house to fight it. Sif! Thor! The Warrior’s Three! Heimdall’s dog! All join forces to chain this beast once and for all. Unfortunately, everything they need to do it? Never EXISTED!

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Katana #3, written by Ann Nocenti, inked by Rebecca Buchman and Phyllis Novim

If Katana’s sword is shattered, whose souls are escaping?

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Lost Vegas #2, art by Janet K. Lee

The clock has started - Roland has 24 hours to make his move. But when he uncovers the darkest secret of LOST VEGAS, will that information help him…or will he be in even more danger? (Hint: let’s go with “more danger.) The Eisner Award-winning team of JIM McCANN and JANET LEE reunite to create a universe filled with intrigue and a high stakes heist.

The Manhattan Projects #11, colored by Jordie Bellaire

Following the dramatic events of The LOGIC REVOLUTION, what will the Science Lords of the Manhattan Projects do with an Earth they now completely control? NOTHING GOOD. The thrilling FEEL GOOD, BAD SCIENCE series continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #11: BUILDING!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #6, written by Heather Nuhfer, art by Amy Mebberson

Nightmare Moon returns! But it’s not the same old Nightmare Moon! Someone new, someone close to our heroes, has taken the mantle! What will the Ponies do when the danger hits so close to home? Read it and find out!

~Preview~

Peanuts #8, includes work by Vicki Scott and Paige Braddock

As Lucy struggles to break Linus of his new ‘weird’ balloon-blowing obsession, Linus must teach her to embrace his new found talent. Can Lucy make Linus into the ‘normal’ brother she so desperately wants him to be? Charles Schulz’s beloved creations keep going strong with all-new stories mixed with the adored Schulz original Sunday Strips!

Princeless vol. 2 #2, art by Emily Martin

Adrienne is hot on the trail of her older sister Angelica. But in order to save Angelica, Adrienne will have to face a real monster — jealousy. Meanwhile, another member of the royal family has disappeared and one of King Ashe’s closest allies may be to blame!

Star Wars: Legacy #2, co-written by Corinna Bechko

Ania Solo found a lightsaber inside a broken Imperial communications droid. Now she’s being pursued by the local police—and a determined Imperial Knight who is willing to kill to get the weapon! Fortunately, as a black-market salvage dealer, Ania has made some formidable friends of her own … The Solo family 138 years after Return of the Jedi!

~Preview~

Steed and Mrs. Peel #7, art by Yasmin Liang

Steed and Mrs. Peel enter THE SUICIDE TOWN! John Steed and Emma Peel travel up the coast to a small seaside community to investigate what should be a minor issue, but things become increasingly bizarre - and deadly - by the moment… Another all-new tale of the smashing spy duo!

Ultimate Spider-Man #22, art by Sara Pichelli

“VENOM WARS” CONCLUSION! Venom versus Spidey! The Final Showdown! How does Gwen Stacy figure into it and how will it change her and Miles’ life forever? Guest-Starring Mary Jane Watson!

~Preview~

The Unwritten #48, cover by Yuko Shimizu

In part 2 of “Orpheus in the Underworld,” Tom’s quest for Lizzie has hit a major hurdle, in that he no longer remembers who either of them is. But is it possible he’s already found her without even realizing it? And who holds the true power in Hades, where masks may hide anything—or nothing?

The Week of April 14-20, 2013 (and then some)

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:03:00 -0400

This has been a trying week for me personally, as a Bostonian and otherwise. Thankfully, none of my friends or family have been injured or killed, and the greatest tangible impact the week’s events have had on me personally is the postponement of Boston Comic Con. I will miss the energy and community of that event that I feel we could all use right now, but it is a small price to pay for the public’s safety and the first steps towards achieving justice for the losses and chaos we have gone through. (ETA: Fun Fact: it is sheer coincidence I posted this a mere 5 minutes after he was captured. Didn’t even realize he had been until I scrolled through my dash some.)

But life goes on and comics do too! I’ve missed this feature for more weeks than I’ve actually done it, but I’m going to keep intending to do it and hopefully do it more.

You may want to save this link for later because they’re having malware issues right now, but Comics Should Be Good at Comic Book Resources has revealed the audience-chosen Greatest Gail Simone Stories Ever Told! Basically all of Secret Six is there, but so are a few arcs of Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman, Welcome to Tranquility, and her still-uncollected Deadpool run (the Deadpool Classic series is about to catch up to it soon, though.) It’s a fun walk down memory lane and makes me want to reread all of them!

Alison Bechdel’s blockbuster memoir Fun Home has been adapted into a musical, which will debut in October at the Public Theater in New York City:

FUN HOME
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron
Based on the Alison Bechdel book
Directed by Sam Gold
October 1 - November 3, 2013

From four-time Tony Award-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change) and Tony-nominee Lisa Kron (In The Wake,Well) comes a fresh, daring new musical based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires. Directed by Sam Gold, FUN HOME is a groundbreaking, world-premiere musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.

The musical was developed at the prestigious Sundance Institute’s Theater Lab last year.

Posy Simmonds has reacted to last week’s passing of ex-UK Prime Minister Margaret “Iron Lady” Thatcher with a picture-book style fairytale called “King Ironsides” available over at The Guardian. It’s extremely amusing, even to an American who only really knows Thatcher’s legacy from Meryl Streep’s The Iron Lady and whatever I picked up from the complaints of my LSE poli-sci student friends when I lived in London.

The Paris Review visited Miriam Katin’s studio, where I learned for the first time that she was an animator on one of my all-time favorite TV shows, Daria. She also had this great anecdote about being the oldest person to work at MTV:

I get a phone call, and she says to me, this girl, “This is human resources. You’ve made a mistake on your birthdate.” And I say, “Oh, well, I always make mistakes. What did I do?” And she says, “Well, you wrote you were born in 1942.” I say, “Yes?” So she says, “I’m sure you meant 1982.” “No.” “1972?” “No.” Now she’s getting spooked. I mean, everyone around there is an infant. I say, “Look, let me make it easier for you, I was born in 1942, and I am still alive and working.” She was totally freaked out. It was a such a great story, MTV used it in training sessions.

Bonus Art Thing:

You’ve probably seen Hanie Mohd’s art nouveau superheroine ballgown pin-ups before. Now you can buy prints and tee-shirts from WeLoveFine.com!

Other Things I Do!

It’s a new season of Mad Men, which means it’s a new season of the Mad World Podcast! With Between the Panels and Geeks of Doom’s William Goodman and #Television editor Tahlia Hein, we discuss the latest episodes and you can listen to it! The usual podcast exhortions apply: Subscribe! Review!

Also, I finally caved and started a personalish Tumblr where I currently post sporadically about other pop culture things, but which will likely soon devolve (or evolve, depending on your perspective) into reblogs of cat gifs.

Market Monday: New Releases for April 17, 2013

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:56:26 -0400

Featured Book of the Week

muZz vol. 1 by Foo Swee Chin

There is heaven and hell for those dearly departed remembered by the living, but muZz is the place where unspoken, untold dreams and secrets go when those who made and hid them expired. On the train heading towards muZz, a girl wakes up and finds herself unable to remember anything about herself and surrounded odd creatures. From Nightmares & Fairy Tales co-creator Foo Swee Chin comes this new graphic novel filled with the vivid imagery only she can deliver.

Collection of the Week

Angel & Faith vol. 3: Family Reunion TP, art by Rebekah Isaacs

Angel’s quest to resurrect Giles has brought an old friend to London-Willow! Tensions run high as these two confront the loss of Giles, but before blood can be shed, Willow has a proposition. She’ll help Angel on his quest if he’ll help her find magic. To do that, she’ll need Connor to get them into Quor’toth, a hell dimension where magic runs deep. Collects issues #11-#15.

More of this week’s new releases under the cut!

2000 AD #1828, with writing by Emma Beeby, colors by Eva de la Cruz, and letters by Annie Parkhouse and Ellie De Ville

All You Need Is Blood! A Hard Day’s Fight! Penny Slain! Yes, pop pickers, these and many more lethal hits are winging their way to you with Zombo: Planet Zombo by Al Ewing and Henry Flint in 2000 AD Prog 1828! Also in this week’s Prog – is Judge Hamida getting forgetful or has her new foe claimed Mega-City One’s greatest lawman? The plot thickens in Stickleback: Number of the Beast! And have the ne’er-do-wells found their prize only to lose it again in Tharg’s 3rillers: The Ghostship Mathematica? 2000 AD Prog 1828 is on sale this Wednesday from selected stores and digitally worldwide through the 2000 AD app or DRM-free in the 2000 AD online shop at shop.2000adonline.com.

~Preview~

Adventure Time #15, art by Shelli Paroline, covers by Emily Warren, Nidhi Chanani, and Spike Trotman

A STAND-ALONE ISSUE LEADING INTO THE NEW ARC! A PERFECT JUMPING-ON POINT FOR NEW READERS! Join Jake the Dog and Finn the Human in this totally topsy-turvy take on the land of Ooo! The best all-ages series of 2012 continues!

~Preview~

Astonishing X-Men #61, written by Marjorie Liu

Part 5 OF X-TERMINATION! The Extermination are poised to devour both the AOA and our Earth! A final goodbye between Wolverine and AOA Jean Grey!

~Preview~

Birds of Prey #19, written by Christy Marx

There is a traitor on the team—so who is the member that threatens to tear the Birds of Prey apart?

Captain Marvel #12, co-written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, colored by Jordie Bellaire

The issue that will kick off a Major Captain Marvel and Avengers event! Still grounded from flying, Captain Marvel takes on a different and dangerous kind of bird—DEATHBIRD! Handicapped, but determined Carol risks her powers and her life! PLUS: The unstoppable evil that’s been pulling Deathbird’s strings!

~Preview~

Catwoman #19, written by Ann Nocenti

Catwoman needs help—but what is the only place the Justice League of America can take her?

Mara #4, art by Ming Doyle, colored by Jordie Bellaire

The military is keen to co-opt Mara, now that her abilities are maturing, and they aren’t above using her soldier brother to convince her. They offer to “accept” her again, and she rightly rejects it for the crap that it is. Cut off not only from friends and family, but now from her country, where can she go now? Brian, Ming, and Jordie raise the stakes.

~Preview~

Plume #3 by K. Lynn Smith

What starts off as a celebratory reunion with Vesper and her father Magnus quickly turns to a fight for life. It looks as though Magnus has made some enemies in his global quest for magic artifacts, and even Corrick may not be able to help stop those determined to gain their power.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #19, colored by Nei Ruffino

What horrors lie beneath the mask of the Red Hood?

~Preview~

Sword of Sorcery #7, written by Christy Marx

What is the great evil Constantine unleashes on Gemworld, and why is Amethyst powerless to stop him?

Market Monday: April 10, 2013 New Releases

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:50:49 -0400

Featured Book of the Week

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and funny memoir, Lucy traces key episodes in her life thus far, framed by what she was eating at the time and lessons learned about food, cooking, and life. Each chapter is bookended with an illustrated recipe-many of them treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy’s original inventions.

~Preview~

Firsts of the Week

Ultron #1AU, written by Kathryn Immonen

Ultron took over the world. Ultron killed the heroes. Ultron…is your father. When you’re Victor Mancha, android teen Runaway, “daddy issues” doesn’t quite cover it.

~Preview~

Collection of the Week

M3 TP, written by Erica Schultz

M3 is the award-winning crime thriller about an assassin’s search for the truth. It follows Machiavella Maria Marcona, an assasin hunted by FBI agent Christopher Morris, the son of one of her victims. When Machiavella’s handlers turn against her, an unlikely alliance is formed.

~Preview~

More new releases under the cut!

2000 AD #1827, includes writing by Emma Beeby, colors by Eva de la Cruz, and letters by Annie Parkhouse and Ellie de Ville

Shelley is knocking some heads together and seeing what pops out – in this case it’s cogs and sparks, as Dandridge: The Copper Conspiracy hots up with some shiny robot action! Also in this week’s Prog – Judge Dredd and Judge Hamida begin to narrow their search for the suicide cult preying on Mega-City One’s remaining population, there are bizarre goings-on under the streets of London in Stickleback: Number of the Beat, was bringing Zombo back from the dead a good idea in Planet Zombo, and we begin a new three-part Tharg’s 3rillers with a quest for a mythical ghostship in The Ghostship Mathematica!

~Preview~

Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake #4 by Natasha Allegri

THE FAN-FAVORITE ADVENTURE TIME SERIES CONTINUES! The Flame Boy rescued by Fionna and Cake has a secret. The critically acclaimed new series, written and drawn by FIONNA AND CAKE creator and ADVENTURE TIME storyboard artist Natasha Allegri continues! DON’T MISS THE HOTTEST SERIES OF THE YEAR!

~Preview~

Archer and Armstrong #9, art by Emanuela Lupacchino

What cosmic madness has turned Armstrong’s naive teenage ally into a madman with a thirst for universal genocide? Can Valiant’s immoral immortal defeat the evil inside Archer before his brother enacts the ultimate sanction? And once the stardust has settled, what will be the next battle for the undying Eternal Warrior?

~Preview~

Avenging Spider-Man #19, colored by Rachelle Rosenberg

Spider-Man is Doctor Octopus!!! There! Now, that we’ve got that off our chests… The mysterious being known as SLEEPWALKER stalks Spider-Man in the waking world, while something far more horrible has invaded his dreams! And what nightmares will the Superior Spider-Man’s dreams unleash on the world?

~Preview~

Batgirl #19, written by Gail Simone

Will a battle of sibling rivalry lead to a death in the family?

Batman #19, inked by Sandra Hope

Who would cause Bruce Wayne to use a gun?

Fearless Defenders #3, colored by Veronica Gandini

WARRIOR WOMAN joins the Defenders! Who is she? And why is she back from the dead? Plus! A city of silent superheroes. And: Defenders vs. Doom Maidens!

~Preview~

The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #6, colored by Kate Finnegan

Jack Pumpkinhead gives us a bit of Oz’s history… as well as his own.

Saga #12, art by Fiona Staples

Prince Robot IV makes his move.

Shrugged vol. 2 #2, colored by Beth Sotelo

An evil unlike any other has made its way back to Perspecta and he’s going to teach everyone there the true meaning of the word fear. Meanwhile, Theo’s troubles have only just begun as his new teacher isn’t quite what he seems and the recent arrival of Lou, the pretty girl on Theo’s track team, has the What If Mafia on overdrive. How can Ange hope to keep Theo’s focus on graduating, and how is it that Dev is screwing things up worse??

Supurbia #6, written by Grace Randolph

Summer in SUPURBIA continues, only from Grace Randolph and Russell Dauterman! Alexis and Jake grow closer as they investigate the suspicious presence of Hunt Tech, Hector Hunt’s company, at the Superhero & Weapons Expo…Paul travels off-world to break the news of his divorce to his ambassador parents…Jeremy struggles with the prospects of life as the single father of a super-powered son… And Gio infiltrates a top-secret weapons deal that will have ramifications for the entire neighborhood!

~Preview~

This weekend is MoCCA Fest in NYC, and that’s where...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:16:11 -0400

This weekend is MoCCA Fest in NYC, and that’s where I’ll be! If you’re a lady and are going to be around Friday night, come to the Drink and Draw Like a Lady event at THE PRODUCTIVE, 40 W. 38th Street, 5th Floor.

I can’t wait to meet and discover a bunch of new lady creators and great work over the weekend!

Webcomics Wednesday Connie to the Wonnie, by Connie...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:41:02 -0400

Webcomics Wednesday

Connie to the Wonnie, by Connie Sun

WELCOME! This blog is a personal project I started in August 2011 with the goal of drawing and posting an illustrated status message a day - I haven’t stopped since. Every weekday morning, I get up, draw a cartoon, and post whatever I can manage to get done before going to work. I began cartooning daily to let go of perfection and figure out if I had anything to say. What I’ve learned in the process is that we all do. What’s your status message today?

Market Monday: Release Date April 3, 2013

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:49:33 -0400

Featured Book of the Week

Letting It Go HC by Miriam Katin

The world of Holocaust survivor and mother is turned upside down by the news that her adult son is moving to Berlin, a city Katin has villainized for the past forty years. As she struggles to accept her son’s decision, she visits the city twice, first to see her son and then to attend a Museum gala featuring her own artwork. What she witnesses firsthand is a city coming to terms with its traumatic past, much as Katin herself is. Letting It Go is a deft and careful balance: wry, self-deprecating anecdotes counterpoint a serious account of the myriad ways trauma inflects daily existence, both for survivors and for their families.

Katin’s follow-up to We Are On Our Own

Firsts of the Week

Princeless vol. 2 #1, art by Emily Martin

Adrienne is back! The princess who ran away is back along with her new friend, Bedelia the girl blacksmith and her loyal guardian dragon Sparky. Now that Adrienne has escaped, she has her eyes set on freeing her sisters. First up is the most beautiful girl in all the kingdom, Angelica. However, things will not be easy for our heroines as the King believes Adrienne is dead and has put a bounty on her killer: Adrienne.

The Last of Us: American Dreams #1, co-written and art by Faith Erin Hicks

The comics-exclusive prequel to the new game from Naughty Dog! Creative director Neil Druckmann teams with breakout comics star Faith Erin Hicks to present the story of thirteen-year-old Ellie’s life in a violent, postpandemic world. A newcomer at a military boarding school, Ellie is reluctant to toe the line, which earns her new enemies-and her first glimpse of the world outside.

More of this week’s releases under the cut!

Age of Apocalypse #14, Colored by Cris Peter

PART 3 of X-TERMINATION! - FINAL ISSUE! The multi-verse is being consumed! No one is safe as our heroes split up to fight a war in two universes.

~Preview~

Are You My Mother? TP by Alison Bechdel

Now in softcover! Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home was a pop culture and literary phenomenon. Now, a second thrilling tale of filial sleuthery, this time about her mother: voracious reader, music lover, passionate amateur actor. Also a woman, unhappily married to a closeted gay man, whose artistic aspirations simmered under the surface of Bechdel’s childhood - and who stopped touching or kissing her daughter goodnight, forever, when she was seven. Poignantly, hilariously, Bechdel embarks on a quest for answers concerning the mother-daughter gulf.

Chicagoland Detective Agency vol. 5: The Bark in Space, written by Trina Robbins

Chicagoland can’t get much weirder than this: Raf, Megan, and Bradley have been abducted by aliens from the planet Fnarf III! And not just your ordinary, everyday aliens, either. These extraterrestrials are intelligent canines, as smart as Bradley, who come from a world where dogs rule and humans drool. And they have a case Bradley can really sink his teeth into: the Fnarfian princess has gone missing, and the space-dogs need help from planet Earth to track her down. After uncovering zombies, mummies, were-mutts, and ghosts, is the Chicagoland Detective Agency up to the job of investigating their first interstellar caper?

Disney Fairies vol. 11: Tinker Bell and the Most Precious Gift, written by Tea Orsi, art by Manuela Razzi, Marina Braggio, and Roberta Zanotta

When Clank disappears it’s up to Tink to bring him back, hopefully in time for his surprise party! It’s the anniversary of Sparrow-Man Clanks’s arrival in Pixie Hollow, and all of the Fairies plan to throw him a surprise party. Clank, hurt that everyone seems to have forgotten about him, wanders away and is lost. Bobble and Tinker Bell team up to find Clank in the forest. Can they find their friend and still keep his party a surprise?

Earth 2 #11, art by Nicola Scott

As Dr Fate emerges as the latest hero on Earth 2, what other heroes make a most unexpected appearance?

~Preview~

My Boyfriend is a Monster vol. 7: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, written by Robin Mayhall, art by Kristen Cella

Serena Stevens is already popular in her new school, so popular she has two guys interested in her. Self-assured Lance is a football star, and introverted Cam is an intellectual who gets nervous just working with her on their English project about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In a town with a single-minded obsession with football, Lance is a great catch, but there’s something unique about Cam. Between the two of them, Serena has the perfect boyfriend - if she can figure out how to keep them apart.

My Boyfriend is a Monster vol. 8: A Match Made in Heaven, written by Trina Robbins, art by Yuko Ota/Xian Nu Studio

Life isn’t exactly paradise for aspiring artist Morning Glory Conroy. Anxious about an upcoming comics festival and worried about her best friend Julia’s deteriorating home life, Glory has enough to juggle without also being swept off her feet by the guy Julia likes. Gabriel is the answer to every girl’s prayers: sweet, full of wonder at the world, and divinely handsome. But does he count as a real boyfriend if his overbearing guardian forbids even kissing? Not to mention the added complication of his mischievous cousin Luci trailing Glory’s every move just to cause trouble.

Planet of the Apes: Cataclysm #8, co-written by Corinna Bechko

BURIED DEEP BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES! Left to their own devices, Milo and Cornelius must find their way out of the dark and survive long enough to warn Doctor Zaius of the grave threat bubbling in the dark…

Ultimate Comics X-Men #25, colored by Jordie Bellaire

“NATURAL RESOURCES” CONTINUES! Utopia thrives, but at what cost? Mach Two’s jungle insurgency Eyes In The Sky - who’s watching the mutants?

~Preview~

Webcomics Wednesday Spindrift, written by Charlotte English, art...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:33:42 -0400

Webcomics Wednesday

Spindrift, written by Charlotte English, art by Elsa Kroese

Spindrift is a weekly updated comic featuring a modern fantasy story about intrigue, warfare, family, love and betrayal. The story follows the conflict between the close-minded, conservative Alar race and their mortal enemies, the power-hungry Ildrei. And one young woman who gets caught in between…

As half-Alar, half-Ildrei, Morwenna’s existence offends both races. She and her companions must find a way to navigate the conflict - and attempt to bring peace between the two sides.

Market Monday: March 27, 2013

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:20:17 -0400

Featured Book of the Week

Husbands HC, co-written by Jane Espenson, with art by Natalie Nourigat and Tania del Rio

Written by Husbands creators Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Brad Bell, this is the comic-book continuation of the sitcom phenom. Husbands tells the story of famous gay newlyweds Brady and Cheeks, who sparked a media firestorm when they woke up legally wed after a drunken Vegas weekend. Now, a mystical wedding gift launches the couple on a series of adventures-a tongue-in-cheek journey through iconic genre realms-filled with obstacles that threaten to tear them apart. Follow Brady and Cheeks into a superhero showdown, a fairytale fantasy, a Holmesian mystery, an epic galactic battle, a madcap high school romp, and a saucy secret-spy thrill ride. Includes bonus “making of” material and a special introduction.

~Preview~

Firsts this Week

First of a new creative team!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #5, written by Heather Nuhfer, art by Amy Mebberson, covers by Stephanie Buscema and Amy Mebberson

Attention, everypony! Get ready for another unforgettable adventure in the land of Equestria. Twilight Sparkle and gang are confronted with a perilous new danger in the form of a long-unseen enemy! See how the Magic of Friendship prevails in the start of a brand new story arc!

Not so much a first as a one-shot but still awesome!

Time Warp #1, includes a story by Gail Simone

Let’s do the time warp again! It’s time for another fantastic Vertigo anthology filled with spectacular sci-fi stories. Robots, deep space and lots of time travel twists by a bevy of comic greats and the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. Damon Lindelof and Jeff Lemire bring us a blast from DC’s past, plus another installment of the “Dead Boy Detectives” from Toby Litt, Buckingham and Victor Santos, Matt Kindt presents a stirring story of man vs. machine—and so much more!

~Preview~

Collection of the Week

Astonishing X-Men vol. 11: Weaponized, written by Marjorie Liu

It’s the explosive aftermath to the year’s most talked-about wedding! The X-Men are on the run, and Northstar accepts a deadly assignment. Meanwhile, newlywed Kyle learns the hard way marrying Northstar also meant marrying his family. And in this case, that means the X-Men! Will Kyle and Northstar survive their first married mission? Meanwhile, Susan Hatchi reveals her connection to the X-Men. How long can the team survive with her nanobombs circulating through their bloodstreams?As Hatchitech weapons start appearing around the globe and civilians are caught in the crossfire, the X-Men must make a decision: take down Hatchi or save their teammate Karma! Plus: Someone is attacking friends and associates of the X-Men, and it’s up to Wolverine and his team to stop them. Collecting ASTONISHING X-MEN (2004) #52-56 and ANNUAL #1.

More new releases under the cut!

2000 AD #1825, includes writing by Emma Beeby, colors by Eva de la Cruz, letters by Annie Parkhouse and Ellie de Ville

All hail the new flesh – the gentleman zombie, ZOMBO, returns to 2000 AD with a new series from the insane imaginations of Al Ewing and Henry Flint! Also in this week’s Prog – the net closes on the mysterious wannabe assassin in Judge Dredd, things take a turn for the odd in Dandridge, it’s time for a bit of geek power in Tharg’s 3rillers, and the plot thickens in Stickleback! 2000 AD Prog 1825 is on sale this Wednesday from UK stores and digitally worldwide through the 2000 AD app or DRM-free in the 2000 AD online shop at shop.2000adonline.com.

~Preview~

Angel & Faith #20, art by Rebekah Isaacs

Angel is ridiculously close to his goal of resurrecting Giles-when he’s suddenly sidetracked, forcing an unlikely partnership between Faith and Spike. Tensions run high as Slayer and vampire hit the mean streets of London …

~Preview~

Astonishing X-Men #60, written by Marjorie Liu

PART 2 of X-TERMINATION EVENT! With Nightcrawler wreaking havoc on the very fabric of reality, Wolverine calls in his street team. Confronted with the doppelganger of their dead friend, will the team be able to do what’s necessary to stop him? PLUS: Wolverine versus Wolverine!?

~Preview~

Betty and Veronica Double Digest #211, written by Kathleen Webb

It’s a lovely spring day, perfect for a walk - or so Veronica thinks! Riverdale’s resident fashion maven attempts to trek to Betty’s, but as it turns out, her luxurious outfits are no match for the temperamental weather. Can Veronica withstand the elements on her journey or will her imported attire be sunk? Read “Spring for Cover,” the lead story of this jam-packed digest!

FF #5, colored by Laura Allred

The mystery that is…Medusa!

~Preview~

Finding Gossamyr #4, art by Sarah Ellerton

The companions have arrived at the city of Neksis, where the people hail Denny as a savior but treat Jenna and her friends as little better than prisoners. Tensions increase when Jenna’s guardianship is called into question and things she’d prefer to keep hidden are revealed in this dramatic conclusion to the first arc of Finding Gossamyr!

Hack/Slash #25, art by Elena Casagrande, variant cover by Jenny Frison

“FINAL,” Conclusion. Cassie battles Samhain to the death. Q: Who will survive and what will be left of them? A: Not everyone, and very small bits. The blood spattered, panty-flashing saga of HACK/SLASH comes to an end in this epic issue!

~Preview~

Journey Into Mystery #650, written by Kathryn Immonen

BERSERKERS GONE…well, YOU KNOW! Sif battles to contain one of her Berserker pals’ murderous rampage..! Can she come to terms with her new abilities and serve Asgard…? The GUT-RIPPING CONCLUSION!!

~Preview~

Peanuts #7, includes stories by Vicki Scott, art by Stephanie Gladden and Paige Braddock, and colors by Lisa Moore and Nina Kester

Rock and Bowl! The Peanuts gang is headed to the bowling alley, and no one wants to win that coveted tournament trophy like Charlie Brown! If you’re looking for laughs, this issue is a full strike! Ask your retailer about the Franklin 1st appearance variant cover!

~Preview~

Plume #4 by K. Lynn Smith

Reeling from recent events, Vesper and Corrick manage to find safe haven in a nearby desert town, but that doesn’t mean the locals are eager to help them track down those who want them dead. A saloon girl of “questionable” talents may be the only person with the guts to help them.

Savage Skullkickers #1, colored by Misty Coats

SAVAGE SKULLKICKERS: a modern reinterpretation that gets back to the roots of these timeless characters. It’s a bold new direction, a continuing story and a newly added adjective! Our twentieth issue is brand a new #1! Welcome to comic math. P.S. Retailers: Rack this comic beside other new “Savage” comics you may have hanging around the shop. We won’t mind.

Sherlock Holmes: The Liverpool Demon #3, co-written by Leah Moore

At William Brown Museum, Holmes and Watson examine the clawed remains of curator Christopher Connor and find themselves on the trail of a mysterious missing object. Inspector Thornton has to deal with the bloody aftermath of crime lord Drummond’s somewhat unorthodox approach to dog fighting, while down at the docks a visit is paid to a vessel by the name of Matilda Briggs.

~Preview~

Star Trek #19, art by Claudia Balboni

As excitement builds for the upcoming film sequel, the ongoing STAR TREK comics series shows fans the events that shaped the lives of the beloved Enterprise crew! In this issue we discover what led young Montgomery Scott to devote himself to engineering, as we witness his first steps on the journey that would take him across the galaxy! Overseen by Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci, this all-new tale sheds light on a classic character!

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Prisoner of Bogan #4, art by Jan Duursema

Even as the Je’daii close in on the mysterious Xesh and his mad ally Daegen Lok, a third party has entered the chase-a powerful woman from Xesh’s past.

The Unwritten #47, cover by Yuko Shimizu

“Orpheus in the Underworld” part 1! Still on his quest to bring Lizzie back from the dead, Tom Taylor has made it as far as Hades—but he’s left his memories behind in the waters of Lethe. Now he’s face-to-face with the king of the underworld, who’s got his own sinister agenda and no good reason to offer Tom an Orpheus deal…

~Preview~

Weekly Cool News Round-Up: March 17-23, 2013

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Some expanded thoughts and heads-ups on news items curated throughout the week.

Some follow-up thoughts on Phoebe Gloeckner, Diary of a Teenage Girl, and ubiquitous question of “autobiography” in comics. I was having lunch with my mom today, and though she’s not much of a comics reader, she’s a fantastic and supportive mother who reads this blog because it’s a thing I do. She mentioned that she started to read the interview with Gloeckner I posted earlier in the week and commented on her vehement annoyance at being asked about the “autobiographical nature” of her work. I replied that, as far as I could tell, Gloeckner’s teen years did involve a good deal of drug and sexual abuse, and like any creator she draws on her experiences for material to write about, but she couldn’t and/or wouldn’t point to specific instances in her work as things that actually happened. Sort of offhand, I concluded, “When you think about it, that’s an intensely personal thing to ask someone.”

I had never thought of it that way before, but it is sort of ridiculous how much comics criticism harps on the “autobiographical” part of semi-autobiographical comics, as if the value in the works are in that they “happened” rather than being great works of comics. Maybe it’s because we’ve got the gold standards of Maus and Fun Home, both of which have the overarching theme of their creators trying to understand their respective fathers. So we can’t deal with the idea that, by contrast, Jimmy Corrigan is a book about estranged fathers by a cartoonist who was estranged from his father, but is not about that particular man and his father. And that attitude gets really voyeuristic and creepy when you apply it to work like Gloeckner’s.

I don’t think anyone does it maliciously or lasciviously, but interviewers should really be more mindful of what they’re actually asking someone when they ask if their work is autobiographical. In the case of Phoebe Gloeckner, she has essentially spent decades being asked “Is this how you were actually raped in real life? Were you really prostituted out for drugs by someone you trusted?” and so on. Would you ask anyone those questions in real life? If you answered yes and are not a social worker or a therapist, go sit in the corner and think about your life choices. Your horrible, horrible life choices.

Are you a Mexican comics creator? Editorial Resistencia might be interested in your work! Founded in 1999 by former magazine editor Josefina Larragoiti for writers in niche genres ignored by the Mexican mainstream publishers, they started publishing graphic novels in 2007. So far, as far as women go, they’ve published Cecilia Pego’s Visiones y Evasiones. No idea what their policy on Chican@ creators is, but they appear to have a very open editorial policy, so it can’t hurt to ask!

A cool-looking Kickstarter this week, Irish comics collective Zenpop is trying to raise £5,000 to publish their rainbow-themed first anthology Chroma. The majority of creators involved are women, including Leeann Hamilton (Finn & Fish) and Anthea West (The Earthbound God), which is a nice thing to remember when you read the fabulous Maura McHugh’s recent post on women being left out of an “Irish Comics Month” event.

Bonus Art Thing

No idea if the artist was a woman on this, but the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library posted this early manga image on their blog. It’s from 1921 and is about Japanese women’s liberation of the time:

Webcomics Wednesday Valkyrie Squadron by Jules Rivera Valkyrie...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:38:25 -0400

Webcomics Wednesday

Valkyrie Squadron by Jules Rivera

Valkyrie Squadron follows a crew of four young women part of an alliance with all of humanity to fight a war against the autodrones (robots) in space. The drones have been attacking innocent colonists for reasons unknown to the Alliance. The story opens on the Valkyries during a routine rescue mission that takes a very strange turn. As the mystery unfolds behind the mission’s bizarre twist, more and more clues to the whereabouts of the missing colonists will come to light. The tide of the war has changed. Which way will it go?

About three years ago, actress and playwright Marielle Heller...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:51:49 -0400

About three years ago, actress and playwright Marielle Heller adapted Phoebe Gloeckner’s raw and unflinching Diary of a Teenage Girl for the stage, and now she has posted what appears to be a teaser trailer for a film version!

The story revolves around 15-year-old Minnie Goetze, who lives in San Francisco in the 1970s, emerging from a neglectful homelife into an out-of-control haze of adolescent confusion and self-discovery, involving sex, drugs, street life, and suicidal feelings.

Gloeckner is one of my favorite artists, though I have trouble reading even her short stories due to the intense relationship I feel towards her characters, all of whom suffer abuse of one form or another (so trigger warnings abound!). Sean T. Collins recently posted an unpublished interview with Gloeckner from 2003 where they discuss how she handles a lot of upsetting material in a way that doesn’t sensationalize it. Which, in my opinion, is what makes it so upsetting. It is nigh impossible to keep emotional distance from a Phoebe Gloeckner story—it is just too real. In addition, her art style, due to her training as an anatomical artist, is very realistic, making the characters come to life in the reader’s mind far more intensely than most other artist.

Collins also discusses how her work is almost totally ignored by the comics establishment except in the context of “women in comics”. While this is less true now than it was in 2003, I agree that Gloeckner is still criminally underappreciated, in far too small a proportion given her talent. Hopefully this film will help correct that oversight and bring her work both comics and mainstream attention.

Market Monday: March 20, 2013

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:30:55 -0400

Featured Book of the Week:

When David Lost His Voice HC by Judith Vanistendael

David has terminal cancer. His wife becomes progressively consumed by the looming shadow of death while his daughters struggle to be as helpful as possible. Meanwhile, David soldiers on, not wanting the tumor to rob him of everything, including the chance to see his granddaughter grow up. Vanistendael’s extraordinary art and sensitive text provide a powerful portrayal of a family preparing for life after unimaginable loss.

~Preview~

Firsts this Week:

Christy Marx’s first issue!

Birds of Prey #18, written by Christy Marx, cover by Emanuela Lupacchino

Mr. Freeze is out of Arkham Asylum and looking for revenge on the Court of Owls! His first target? The newest member of the Birds team, Strix! And if that wasn’t enough trouble for the girls, this issue introduces The Daughters of the Dawn who are abducting people with super powers…starting with a certain prisoner at Belle Reve!

~Preview~

First of a new series!

Star Wars: Legacy II - Prisoner of the Floating World #1, co-written by Corinna Bechko, colored by Rachelle Rosenberg

Despite her famous heritage, Ania Solo is just a girl trying to make her way in a galaxy gone bad. But it all gets worse when she comes into possession of a lightsaber and an Imperial communications droid - and discovers she has been targeted for death!

~Preview~

Collection of the Week:

Doctor Who: The Forgotten HC, art by Pia Guerra

DOCTOR WHO: THE FORGOTTEN presented in an oversized hard cover collection! Stranded in a strange museum that’s dedicated to him, and with The TARDIS lost, The Doctor and Martha Jones must make sense of their surroundings, hindered by one small fact-The Doctor has lost the memories of every one of his previous incarnations! With items relevant to each Doctor in their possession, The Doctor and Martha must try to use them to regain total recall before it’s too late.

More of this week’s releases under the cut!

Adventure Time #14, art by Shelli Paroline, covers by Liz Prince and Ming Doyle

FINAL ISSUE OF THE ARC! Finn and Jake are trapped inside a digital world…who can rescue the heroes? Find out in the latest installment of ‘the best comic of 2012!’ An all-ages sensation!

~Preview~

Barry’s Best Buddy HC, by Renée French

What’s waiting for Barry at the end of the walk? The ridiculous hat his friend Polarhog forces on him? No, that’s only a distraction from the real surprise! Kids will crack up over this funny friendship and be all the more moved by the book’s genuinely poignant ending. From the talented mind of Eisner-nominated cartoonist Renée French, this Level 1 book will be a treat for the youngest beginning readers, to be read aloud with a grown-up or all on their own!

~Preview~

Captain Marvel #11, co-written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, colored by Jordie Bellaire

NEW Deathbird! Terror from the skies as Captain Marvel confronts a new version of an old foe! Can’t keep our girl down. Captain America gives Carol new wings in the form of old wheels. What would happen if your enemies knew your most dangerous secret? Captain Marvel is about to find out!

~Preview~

Catwoman #18, written by Ann Nocenti

Guest-starring Batman! In the fallout from “DEATH OF THE FAMILY,” Catwoman and Batman spend a night at the museum—fighting over stolen art!

~Preview~

Damsels #6, co-written by Leah Moore, art by Aneke

From the tales of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid and Snow White comes Damsels! As Rapa, Red, Talia and Heinrich journey through the Enchanted Forest toward Villeneuve, Rapa’s memories begin to return in earnest. The royal cavalcade is ambushed on the road to the kingdom, forcing Queens Talia and Rapunzel to fight for their lives. Meanwhile Queen Belle, plagued by her conscience begins to wonder if she herself might be cursed.

~Preview~

Dark Horse Presents #22, includes work by Caitlin R. Kiernan and Kel McDonald

In this jam-packed issue of DHP, Mike Richardson interviews artist extraordinaire and Shaolin Cowboy creator Geof Darrow! Plus, delve into the alternate history of Howard Chaykin’s Custer, enjoy the return of Steve Moncuse’s Fish Police, and read new comics by Patrick Alexander!

~Preview~

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Ranbow Dash one-shot, cover by Amy Mebberson

The next in a series of spotlights focusing on everyone’s favorite Ponies! Rainbow Dash takes her job patrolling the skies very seriously, but she may have met her match when a group of mischievous cloud gremlins threaten to block out the sun! Rainbow Dash will have her hooves full when it comes to these pint-sized menaces!

Saga #11, art by Fiona Staples

It’s an intergalactic family reunion, as Hazel’s parents and grandparents join forces to escape a dying world.

Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus, co-written by Louise Simonson

This unforgettable epic is collecting in this massive edition including SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #17-26, SUPERMAN #73-82, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #496-505, ACTION COMICS #683-691, JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #69, SUPERMAN: THE LEGACY OF SUPERMAN #1 and GREEN LANTERN #46. Includes chapters of “World Without a Superman,” bonus materials and more!

Sword of Sorcery #6, written by Christy Marx

Amaya becomes the Lady Regent of House Turquoise and discovers the startling truth behind its power! A mysterious evil originating from Nilaq is now on Earth, and John Constantine doesn’t like that one bit! And in the backup feature, Stalker must defeat Lucifer to save his scion!

~Preview~

Ultimate Spider-Man #21, art by Sara Pichelli

VENOM WAR CONTINUES As his father lies in critical condition, Miles is desperate to solve the mystery of the new VENOM!! How does the villain know so much about Miles? Miles turns to the one person who can help him… Gwen Stacy!

~Preview~

X-Termination #1, co-written by Marjorie Liu

THE X-TERMINATION EVENT STARTS HERE! Joining together the teams from ASTONISHING X-MEN, AGE OF APOCALYPSE and X-TREME X-MEN, and spinning out of the pages of UNCANNY X-FORCE. AOA Nightcrawler just wants to get home…and he doesn’t care if he takes out our world to get there. Wolverine versus Nightcrawler!

~Preview~

inkt|art Open for Submissions from Comics-Journalists!

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:46:22 -0400

inkt|art Open for Submissions from Comics-Journalists!:

inkt|art is a new online critical and scholarly journal about women in comics. They are currently seeking submissions for their Spring 2013 issue, on the topic of “comics journalism”—not journalism about comics, but:

nonfiction, from women who are doing some kind of reportage through comics–whether through travel comics, narratives, interviews, or researched work.

Comics journalism has been growing the past few years, notably from cartoonists like Susie Cagle and Molly Crabapple, both of whom were arrested at different Occupy protests. A tablet magazine, Symbolia, was recently launched as a dedicated platform for comics journalism.

If you’re a woman comics creator doing any kind of nonfiction comics, why not think about submitting?

Weekly Roundup of cool news: March 10-16, 2013

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:18:00 -0400

The arts scene is flourishing in post-revolution Egypt and comics are no exception! A new organization, Mazg (which means incorporation or blending), seeks to teach comics creation and establish a proper comics industry in Egypt. It was founded by four women, Mona Al-Masry, Naglaa Koora, Sara Al-Masry and Nevien Adel, who have “different experiences in cultural administration, human rights activism and art”. Their goals include bringing comics workshops to the provinces, translations of foreign comics, and establish an Egyptian comics festival.

In case you were wondering, above is the panel of Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis that got it yanked from a 7th grade curriculum in Chicago Public Schools. The Chicago-area ALA has released a statement.

This week was a good week for crowdfunding! (If you’re trying to make a movie based on a recentish cult TV show, anyway). Two comics fundraisers that caught my eye. Graham Cracker Comics store, also in Chicago, hosts a regular Ladies’ Night, and several of its regulars have put together an anthology! They’re trying to raise $1000, and are currently over a quarter of the way there. A mere $2 gets you a digital copy and $10 gets you a physical copy as well! Also, Every/Body, a follow-up to the pro-marriage equality anthology Little Heart, is an anthology discussing body and gender, and they are just $200 shy of hitting their $2500 goal!

Also, just a reminder that I have a Crowdfunding board on Pinterest, with many other worth projects to check out!

Quick Shout-Outs:

Congratulations are in order to G. Willow Wilson for her prose novel debut Alif the Unseen being longlisted for the Orange Women’s Prize for Fiction! A good reminder to check it out, and maybe also pick up her first graphic novel Cairo, her Vertigo series Air, or her YA fantasy GN Mystic!
Cate Blanchett could be bringing New Yorker cartoonist Marisa Acocella Marchetto’s Cancer Vixen to HBO! She’d be playing Marchetto herself and co-producing as well.
Over on CBR, Josie Campbell conducted a fantastic interview with Trina Robbins and Joyce Farmer about the early days of women’s underground comix.

Bonus Art Thing:

Tonight I’m having a bunch of friends over to watch Skyfall and possibly Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace if a) they want to stay that long and b) I can convince them that QoS is actually pretty good if your watch it right after CR. So have a Kate Beaton-inspired “Ooh Mr. Bond: A Fan Fiction” mash-up.

(The least accurate part of this comic is Silva’s hair being dark.)