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Danny Fingeroth: Writing Comic Books & Graphic Novels

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Marvel Comics,

DarkhawkIf you’ve ever wanted to learn how to write comics from a guy that actually writes comics professionally and whose credits include “Spider-Man Editor,” then there’s a workshop just for you.

My pal Danny Fingeroth (who’s the VP of Education at the Museum of Comic And Cartoon Art - aka MoCCA - in NY) is starting up a new session of his 6-part interactive online workshop called  Writing Comics And Graphic Novels. The once-a-week course will start on November 5th and run ‘til December 17th for two hours each session.

The great thing about an online course is that you can take it from anywhere in the world as long as you pay attention to the time zone!

From start to finish, Danny will teach you “how to develop your story from initial idea to finished script. Story and character development are covered, as well as script creation. Other topics will include finding the right artist to draw your story and navigating the ever-changing state of the world of comics publishing.”

Click to continue reading Danny Fingeroth: Writing Comic Books & Graphic Novels

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Go Now: Green Valley Book Fair

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

Green Valley Book FairI love a book sale and one of the best ones in the country is the annual book clearing house that goes on several times a year in Mt Crawford, VA. It’s the Green Valley Book Fair.

I’ve written about them before, and what a great place they are for a variety of terrific remaindered books. In addition to all the usual categories, they always have a nice selection of graphic novels and trades at discounted prices and it’s impossible to get out of there without dropping $50 (at least).

Opening day is October 6 and the sale runs through October 21 and then it’ll close for a while so they can restock.

Click to continue reading Go Now: Green Valley Book Fair


Kickstarter: Micah Ian Wright’s Duster OGN

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent,

Duster OGNMicah Ian Wright (you might remember him from his comic book work on Stormwatch: Team Achilles, or on the TV series The Angry Beavers and Constant Payne) is returning to comics.

The project is a big one, a 215-page graphic novel called Duster, and the fund-raising began this week at Kickstarter, my favorite site to find new and interesting comics. Micah’s posted the first 39 (!) pages for viewing at the site (in full color as a free download). You can’t go wrong with 39 pages of free comics.

Joining Micah on the book is his co-writer Jay Lender (who’s written for Phineas and Ferb and Spongebob Squarepants).

The book is being illustrated by a pair of excellent Argentine artists, Cristian Mallea (Gayolas, El Eternauta) and JOK (known for his work on Mixtape and Redball 6).

Says Micah, “Duster takes place at the close of the European conflict in World War II, and tells the story of a war-widowed female cropduster pilot who must defend her daughter and her neighbors against a planeload of escaping Nazis who have crashed in her West Texas town. The action-packed story examines women's changing roles in society during the war years and after.”

Click to continue reading Kickstarter: Micah Ian Wright’s Duster OGN


Quote Of The Day: The Raven

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies,

The Raven

“The investigation becomes a sort of dark scavenger hunt, shot by director James McTeigue with the stylized comic-book artificiality that characterized his V for Vendetta; indeed, The Raven seems as if it would be more comfortable as a graphic novel than as a movie.”

-- Jay Stone, Movie Critic

Be sure to check out our other notable quotes!


Bye-Bye Borders, It’s Been Fun

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

Too Much Coffee Man

Now that Borders has jumped headlong into bankruptcy, it's revealed that they're deep into Diamond Comic Distributors for $3.9 Million. They also owe Penguin Books $41 Million.

As part of the bankruptcy, Borders will be closing something like 200 of their stores.

I already get my books from Amazon, but with my local Borders closing, where the heck am I going to get my coffee?

[Artwork: Too Much Coffee Man © Shannon Wheeler]


Graphic Novels Outsell Snooki

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Television, Dynamic Forces, Image Comics,

Chew Vol 1It appears that nobody wants the read a book that Snooki claims to have written. The tanned and tiny "star" of MTV's Jersey Shore had her first novel, A Shore Thing published about a month ago. Since then, it's sold less than 9000 copies.

This despite a massive pr push that's seen the little orange pumpkin rolling from TV appearance to TV appearance.

9000 copies.

How does that compare to graphic novel sales? John Jackson Miller at The Comics Chronicles has the scoop.

In 2010, Image's Walking Dead Vol 1: Days Gone Bye sold 43,900 copies, DC's Blackest Night hardcover (19,200), Image's Chew Vol. 1 (13,600), and Dynamite's Boys Vol. 6 Self-Preservation Society (11,100). And that's just a sampling.

In all, some 38 graphic novels outsold Snooki's book and that's just using GN sales figures from the direct market.

Click to continue reading Graphic Novels Outsell Snooki


Comic Book Jobs: Tokyopop Intern

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, TokyoPop,

Lady Kanoko

The Los Angeles-based manga empire of Tokyopop is looking for “a well-rounded intern” for their Foreign Sales department. You’ll work directly with their International Rights Manager assisting in “research, marketing, editorial, administrative and design work.”
 
You’ll have to be “fluent in written Japanese, have excellent written and oral communication skills and some technical aptitude, as well as a general interest in manga and graphic novels.” 
 
You’ll be using both a Mac and a PC, with all the usual office-based programs. And if you know Japanese slang, and have a familiarity with American and Japanese/Asian culture, it’s bonus points for you.
 
The internship doesn’t pay, you have to be in L.A. for the duration, and while the schedule of work is flexible, your hours have to be regular.
 
Good luck, interns!
 
[Artwork: The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko from Tokyopop]

Borders Delays Payments

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

 

Borders BooksBorders Books is not going to have a happy new year in 2011 and neither are any publishers in their brick-and-mortar stores.
 
 
"The company reiterated an earlier disclosure that without refinancing, it could violate its existing credit agreements in the first quarter of 2011 and ‘experience a liquidity shortfall."
 
This is bad news for publishers and especially bad news for comic book publishers. In the past, when even a small distributor has gone under, it’s deeply affected comic book publishers and pushed several into either lean times or bankruptcy.

Click to continue reading Borders Delays Payments


Comic Books Jobs: Checking Out Craigslist

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials, Movies,

Comic Book GuyIf you have the gift of retail, draw fast, love to intern or want to sell some of your stuff, Craigslist has quite the deals for you.

In Boston, The Million Year Picnic comic book store in Harvard Square has “immediate openings for part-time employment.”

If you have “retail, customer service or sales experience” that’d be a huge plus.

A knowledge of comic books and graphic novels is helpful “but not required. You do have to be able to show up for work every Wednesday morning because that’s new comic day.

Click to continue reading Comic Books Jobs: Checking Out Craigslist


Derek Ruiz, Daniel Sampere Adapt Bestselling Novel The Alchemist

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Reviews,

The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel

Similar to novel-to-film adaptations, comic book conversions become more popular with each bestselling phenomenon (even Lady Gaga and Stephenie Meyer have made their mark in the medium). Not surprisingly, Paulo Coelho's successful allegory The Alchemist quickly found a home in the graphic novel world at Harper Collins.
 
Adapted by Derek Ruiz and inked by Daniel Sampere, The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel does not flow like a history-heavy, action-packed journey drama one needs to re-read several times to fully understand its message. Instead, Ruiz penned Coelho's new take on the classic tale of following one's heart.
 
The story, set against the backdrop of early 20th century Spain and Egypt, follows Santiago, a young man on a quest to fulfill his personal legend -- his destiny. Educated as a boy, Santiago chooses to live the life of a shepherd in hopes of traveling and seeing the world first-hand. A recurrent dream pointing toward hidden treasure soon thwarts his plan, and he then meets an interesting array of folks (what good is a self-discovery trek without those?) along the way.

Click to continue reading Derek Ruiz, Daniel Sampere Adapt Bestselling Novel The Alchemist


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