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Over the weekend, The New York Times ran a story on the resurgence of Archie Comics. There’s this quote in there from movie producer (and Archie Comics writer) Michael Uslan:
“I hate to denigrate comic book stores,” says Michael Uslan, a comic book historian and the writer of the wedding story line. “They are wonderful, but for a kid to buy an Archie comic or for a parent to buy an Archie comic for a kid, they are not going to go to a walk-up in a bad part of town.”
I don’t see anyone having a problem with that, do you? Cue up hurt feelings in 3, 2, 1…
Click to continue reading Comic Book Retailers Work In A Bad Part Of Town…
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Comic Book Jobs: Who’s Hiring? Future Publishing UK
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,
It’s rare to see a job like this pop up on the internets. These are usually handled internally, a recommendation from an insider or a nod to a prior intern.
Future Publishing, in Bath, England, is looking for an Editorial Assistant, a position that they claim has a competitive salary with excellent benefits. The job will have you working across all sections of three of their publications: SFX, Comic Heroes and SFX Specials. According to the post, “Most of your time will be spent writing entertaining and authoritative copy, particularly reviews and news. So if you know your Captain Britain from your Captain Jack and your Flash from your Flash Gordon, this could be the role for you!”
Their requirements are pretty simple, since this is an entry-level position. They want a “fantastic and well organized writer” with a “passion and knowledge of sci-fi.”
Click to continue reading Comic Book Jobs: Who’s Hiring? Future Publishing UK
Cheapjack Shakespeare: The Graphic Novel Play
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent,
With all this talk of comic books being turned into movies (I’m looking at you Scott Pilgrim and Green Lantern and countless others), how about one that’s being turned into…a play? And no I’m not talking about the expensive Spider-Man musical.
I’m talking about Cheapjack Shakespeare, a comedy about a summer Shakespeare company that’s falling apart as they’re “beset by infidelity, egos, ambition and a particularly ill-timed lightning strike.” Shaun McLaughlin, a reknowned comic book writer (Aquaman) and TV producer (Batman Beyond, Static Shock and various incarnations of Justice League), created the online graphic novel that debuted earlier this year. “It’s like Glee with booze and Shakespeare,” McLaughlin says.
Cheapjack Shakespeare: The Non-Musical has finalized its casting, begun rehearsals and set its premiere date for September 9th at the Alt Theatre in Buffalo, NY. Additional performances will be on September 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25.
Click to continue reading Cheapjack Shakespeare: The Graphic Novel Play
Weekend Reading: Breyfogle, Ellis, Craven, and Spider-Man Sings!
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Reviews, Independent, Marvel Comics,
I can’t believe the Spider-Man musical will hit Broadway on December 21. Are there really enough little old ladies who want to take the bus in from Long Island on a Wednesday afternoon to see an all-singing, all-dancing super-hero? That’s quite a bit different from Starlight Express and Cats, right? My prediction: It’ll close before the Tonys are announced, but then a touring version will criss-cross America for years with Jake Lloyd, Mischa Barton, Gabe Kaplan and Angela Lansbury in key roles.
Now let’s see what else is going on:
Scott Pilgrim I: Over at John Scalzi’s Whatever, guest blogger John Anderson bows down before the triumph that is Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.
Scott Pilgrim II: The Early Word takes a look at how a comic book movie adaptation might help sales of said comic and then delivers a slap to the way DC Comics handles itself. “However, those intrigued by the Green Lantern movie are unlikely to be engaged by the continuity-heavy, you-must-buy-every-single-collection tale like Blackest Night. The folks buying Blackest Night? They are already Green Lantern comics fans.”
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Breyfogle, Ellis, Craven, and Spider-Man Sings!
Comic Book Jobs: Who’s Hiring? Marvel Comics
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Marvel Comics,
Marvel Comics continues to make the hiring news with two new positions opening up. Since DC Comics hasn’t posted a new job listing in weeks, Marvel would seem to be the only major company that’s still located in Manhattan that’s in a hiring phase. Make of that what you will.
First up, the House of Ideas needs a Project Manager in Promotions that sounds like a lot of fun. You’ll get to “oversee and manage all aspects of a robust co-promotional program with worldwide partners including television, print media, premiums, digital and online content and promotional campaigns.”
Click to continue reading Comic Book Jobs: Who’s Hiring? Marvel Comics
The Expendables V. Eat Pray Love V. Scott Pilgrim
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Independent,
Let’s see…what movie should I see this weekend? Well, there’s The Expendables with Sylvester Stallone (who also directed), Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Gary Daniels, and cameos by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. All manly men getting ready to punch each other and others, shoot each other and others, and mouth off a bunch of one-liner catchphrases. Plus, added bonus: I’ve met Gary Daniels when he was wearing the original Hardcase costume for a proposed Ultraverse movie.
Then there’s Eat Pray Love where I can watch Julia Roberts be sad because she had to leave her happy marriage, take a pile of money that no one else has and travel around the world to wherever she wants, eat what she wants and have everyone she meets absolutely adore her. I like fantasy movies, but they need to have swords.
But there’s also some indy film starring Michael Cera and directed by that guy who did Shaun of the Dead. It’s called Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and it appears to be based on a comic book or something. Anybody know anything about it?
[Artwork: promo poster for Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World]
Comic Con International 2010: Zach Weiner And Chris Jones
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Reviews, IDW Publishing,
Captain Excelsior is a webcomic that I discovered late. I met Zach Weiner at the 2008 San Diego Con and he gave me an ashcan of his webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal he was handing out. That led me to his website which had a link to Excelsior. See how this whole “internet thing” works?
Captain Excelsior was almost completed by then so I went back to page 1 and read through the previous installments all in one sitting. Created by Weiner and illustrated by Chris Jones (artist on Grumps), the series is about Captain Excelsior, a super-hero who’s having some issues.
One of his sons has no super powers, another might be gay, his high-strung daughter can’t find a date for the prom and she kills people when she gets angry, his ex-wife is getting remarried and he’s having trouble navigating the dating world because, well, he’s a doofus. He’s a better super-hero than he is a father, but he’d have to be: he’s a terrible father.
Click to continue reading Comic Con International 2010: Zach Weiner And Chris Jones
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| Captain Excelsior
Preview: The Walking Dead #76
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Reviews, Television, Image Comics,
While the past issues (not to mention the publicity behemoth that is Comic Con) of The Walking Dead have prompted readers to tune into AMC when October rolls around, AMC’s website is now showing love to series readers with a 6-page preview of issue 76.
Wondering what happens to Rick after trusty Michonne’s blow to his head? Check out the preview after the jump and make sure you snatch up a physical copy—in your local comic book store today!
Click to continue reading Preview: The Walking Dead #76
Read More | AMC
Comic Con International 2010: Gerry Conway’s Hardy Boys
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials, Independent,
It’s fun wandering through the San Diego Comic Con and shuffling past the cosplayers, the Twi-hards and the “battle-fatigued” fans and then finding a booth with something cool in it, even if it’s only the announcement that something cool is forthcoming.
A friend of mine mentioned that he had a meeting with Jim Salicrup, the head guy at Papercutz and that reminded me that I hadn’t been to their booth yet to see what’s up. Naturally, I didn’t bother to look them up in the program book – I went wandering like a tourist trying to find the food court at Mall of America. And like magic, the Papercutz booth did appeareth before me.
After a brief chat with Salicrup himself – we almost know each other – and the woman who dresses up as Papa Smurf, I grabbed some promo information, bought a copy of The Smurfs comic book (for $1 it was one of the bargains of the con), and lurched back into traffic.
Click to continue reading Comic Con International 2010: Gerry Conway’s Hardy Boys
Read More | Papercutz
I was scanning the job listings the other day and found a bunch of teaching jobs. Somewhere between Composition I and II and Finance instructors, I found an opportunity for someone to teach Literature of Comic Books and the Graphic Novel. Where was this class when I was a lazy student?
The job awaits you at the Art Center Design College in Tucson, Arizona. Job duties of the graphic novel instructor are typical teacher stuff: “Instruct students according to the established curriculum provided by the General Education Department, grade all assignments, quizzes, and exams, and attend all instructor meetings.”
You need the usual requirements, and there are benefits including a “potential for full time faculty positions” and a “stable work environment.” Both of which cannot be overstated.
If you’d rather “do” than “teach,” here’s an odd listing that’s been up for awhile. It might already be filled, but I can’t find confirmation of that.
Click to continue reading Comic Book Jobs: Comic Strips and Graphic Novels
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