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And so we wrap up this year’s with the last round of replies, and if one thing is clear it’s that a lot of  people are looking forward to a new Star Wars movie. Once again, thanks to everyone who took the time from their busy schedules to respond. Previous parts can be read here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four.

Greg Pak, writer
2015 Projects: ACTION COMICS, BATMAN/SUPERMAN, STORM, and my new online store,gregpakshop.com, where you can buy signed copies of my books!

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? Diversity. After the success of MS. MARVEL, there’s no going back. We’re going to continue seeing more and more diversity of casts and genres and art styles in mainstream and independent comics, and that’s a fantastic thing that’s healthy for the entire industry in every way.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? Diversity. Not just among casts, genre, and art style, but among actual creators. I think there was a time not too long ago when I was the only person of color writing for the big two. That’s going to change. And we’re going to see more and more women writing and drawing, and comics will continue to tap into new audiences as a result, which will be better for the entire industry.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? I got one of those fancy blenders, and it’s gonna be fruit smoothies 24/7, y’all.

Richard Starkings, writer/lettering guru

2015 Projects: ELEPHANTMEN — 60 issues and still counting! THE BEEF with Tyler Shainline and Shaky Kane! This years comicbookfonts.com New Year’s Day sale… we’ve been posting Lettering Q&A videos everyday on the Comicraft YOUTUBE channel 

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY becoming such a huge hit.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? Probably STAR WARS comics, toys and the movie!

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? THOUGHT BUBBLE 2015. Best comic festival IN THE GALAXY!

JIMMY PALMIOTTI
2015 Projects: Harley Quinn, The Con Job, Abbadon, G.I.Zombie.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014?

I think getting more women in the business and hearing from different voices with many different ethnic backgrounds as well as mainstream comics becoming more global. With this, I hope we get to a place where we look at the work with a better eye and less about the person that created it. I am hoping traditional superheroes mature a bit in the process.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015?

Hopefully it will be the direction of certain creators getting behind their own creations and the audiences out there supporting them. I also think IMAGE comics will finally beat out one of the big two companies and cause them to rethink they way they share profits and creator owned ideas.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? For me, the guilty pleasure I am now enjoying is moving a lot of what I do out of my house and into a studio surrounding and making our Paperfilms website the place to find my own future projects. That, and a couple of movies on my radar that are not franchises or part 30 of something that has already been beaten to death.

J.T. Yost, publisher/creator

2015 Projects: As a publisher (Birdcage Bottom Books): 

• A collection of short stories by Dakota McFadzean (probably a risograph printing)
• “LOUD COMIX #5″ by Jamie Vayda (featuring stories written by various southern punk-rock musicians and other riff-raff)
• “On The Other Hand” anthology (comics drawn using the artist’s non-dominant hand)
• “Bottoms Up!” anthology (stories of hitting rock-bottom and recovery)

As a distributor:

Birdcage Bottom Books continues to expand its roster of indie-comic artists and micro-press publishers with a focus on limited-edition hand-made mini comics. Our mission is to make comics without barcodes easier to find and own while allowing comic artists to focus more time on creating and less on marketing & promotion.

As an artist:

Finishing up several short comics for various anthologies (including “Not My Small Diary #18 (pets)”) and hopefully working on finishing the final issue of my “Losers Weepers” series.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? I don’t know that it’s the biggest story, but I found it interesting that several of the larger indie-comics publishers (Fantagraphics, Last Gasp, Sparkplug, etc.) have turned to Kickstarter to help fund their publishing endeavors.

My own publishing company has used it for two anthologies (“Digestate: a food & eating themed anthology” and “Cringe: an anthology of embarrassment”) with great success. Kickstarter is a great way to reach a broader audience and offer additional incentives to “pre-order” a book.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? The success or failure of The Peanuts movie will probably make some headlines.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? Visiting one of the “cat cafés” opening in NYC this year. My cats died a few years ago, and my wife is allergic (plus we have a chihuahua who hates cats). I actually don’t feel guilty about this at all, but there are some who would insist that I should be.

Josh Elder, writer and Comics Ambassador for the US State Department (Yes, that’s really a thing.)

2015 Projects: The trade paperback for Scribblenauts Unmasked by myself, Adam Archer, Ian Hering and Saida Temofonte (with edits by Alex Antone) drops in February from the fine folks at DC Comics. I’ve got a couple additional unannounced projects from DC on the docket in 2015, the relaunch of my Mail Oder Ninja series from Andrews McMeel Publishing and about a half-dozen personal projects that have been long in the works. I’m also continuing in my role as Executive Director of Reading With Pictures and Comics Ambassador for the US State Department to promote the use of comics in the classroom all around the world.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? Amazon’s acquisition of comiXology. The world’s biggest and most influential e-retailer just bet big on comics. ComiXology itself is obviously the big winner here, but the Amazon acquisition is a clear sign that the big boys of digital content distribution think that comics could well be the next big thing. And that is very exciting indeed.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? I know of a certain something that, should it come to pass, would be a major contender for the top spot (How’s that for a tease?), but since I cannot yet speak of such matters, I’ll instead go with all the ch-ch-changes at DC Comics due to the Great Western Migration. Jobs will live, jobs will die and nothing will ever be the same again!
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? Against all reason and better judgment, I am getting crazy excited for Star Wars. The movie, the comics, even that kooky, cross-guard lightsaber. I’ve been burned so many times before, yet I still think I’ll be waiting in line opening night to return to a galaxy far, far away…

Charles Forsman

2015 Projects: Revenger

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? Conversation of gender around comics.

Guilty Pleasure: New Star Wars!

James Romberger

2015 Projects: The Late Child and Other Animals with Marguerite Van Cook, a graphic novel just out from Fantagraphics Books; plus I am currently working on the second issue of Post York for Uncivilized Books and also finishing my critical book about Jim Steranko.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? The Jack Kirby estate’s settlement with Marvel Comics/Disney that ensures Kirby’s creative credit and gives the family substantial financial compensation.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? I’d like to think it would be an epiphany in America regarding the superior quality of Hugo Pratt’s work, due to IDW/EuroComics’ new Corto Maltese reprint series.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? Now having the option to read a Marvel Comic or watch a Marvel movie without feeling like I am helping a corporation rip the Kirbys off.

Allison Baker & Chris Roberson

2015 Projects: Chris is busy scripting funny books like ALIENS and DOC SAVAGE (and a whole list of other projects he can’t talk about yet), while Allison is the Director of Operations for IDW.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? Our perspective is a little skewed because of personal involvement, perhaps, but one of the most interesting things about comics in 2014 was more about the influence of comics on another medium than about comics as a medium in itself: namely, television. Comics being adapted into successful movies is nothing new, as a quick glance at the box office results for any recent year will attest. But successful television adaptations of comics have been pretty thin on the ground in the past, with occasional standouts. But the success of THE WALKING DEAD may have signaled a changing landscape. Marvel’s AGENTS OF SHIELD will soon be joined by an AGENT CARTER spinoff. And it was announced that DC’s ARROW will be joined by FIVE new series that will air on various networks based on their comics, including one that is near and dear to our hearts, Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright’s adaptation of Chris and Mike Allred’s iZOMBIE. Recently, Sony’s Playstation Network announced plans to adapt Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming’s POWERS. And there were probably more that we’re forgetting. In the short term, we’re sure that many of us hope that the increased exposure these kinds of adaptations bring will mean for increased sales for the titles that are being adapted themselves (that’s what WE’RE very much hoping for, anyway). But on another level, it might suggest that there is a far larger potential audience for the kinds of stories these comics are telling than the comics themselves are reaching.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? There were some really interesting trends the last couple of years, with independent publishers taking increasingly large market shares and retail sales in direct market shops rebounding, in addition to more and more creator-owned titles ending up on mainstream bestseller lists. We’re still in a transitionary period, with the ground continuing to shift underneath our feet, and the biggest story in comics next year could be what the landscape ends up looking like when the dust has settled.

Becky Cloonan; @beckycloonan

2015 Projects: GOTHAM ACADEMY (DC) SOUTHERN CROSS (IMAGE)
What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? Comics are for everyone! Diversity took the spotlight this year, diversity in creators, characters and fans. Yes there was a lot of ugly stuff, but I like to remember the positives and there was a lot of good discussions and progress made too. Publishers are paying more attention to how they are hiring and marketing, and who is reading. I love comics and looking back on this year it makes me really happy and proud to be a part of this community. Serious feels.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? Creator owned books are going to own 2015. Like how they owned 2014 except even more.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? I am going to learn all the lyrics to Journey’s Separate Ways specifically to rock at karaoke.

Tom Hart, cartoonist, educator

2015 Projects: Rosalie Lightning, due hopefully in 2015, from St Martins Press

Continued running of The Sequential Artists Workshop with guest workshops in 2015 by Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree) and Aidan Koch (q, The Blonde Woman, etc.)

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? Oversized archive books

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? The decline of ink as medium of choice

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? Reading Amanda Palmer’s book, the Art of Asking. That probably doesn’t count, does it?

Adam Koford, writer/cartoonist

2015 Projects: I just hit #2600 with the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats at HOBOTOPIA.com with no end in sight (though I am sending them underground for a while), and I wrote the Spider-Man Play Set for Disney Infinity 2.0.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? The success of the Guardians of the Galaxy film and the subsequent ubiquitousness of Rocket and Groot.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? DC’s move west will be fun to watch.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? My kids have got me hooked on HeroClix, so I’m a little too excited for the upcoming Spider-Man Symbiotes figures.

Alex Segura, writer/editor

2015 Projects: Writer of crime novels and comics, Archie Comics PR guy and Editor of Dark Circle Comics

What was the biggest story in comics in 2014? Comics are everywhere. It isn’t just movies – but TV, video games and more. Selfishly, I also felt like the ARCHIE #1 news caught a lot of people by surprise. I also feel like Image continues to defy preconceptions about what a “big publisher” is in comics, dovetailing nicely with what cable TV seems to be doing.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2015? For me, it’s the launch of Archie’s superhero imprint, Dark Circle Comics with THE BLACK HOOD, THE FOX and THE SHIELD. Overall, I think it’ll be a continuation of what we’ve seen over the last few years – creators getting to tell their own, personal stories/creating their own characters as their livelihoods, as opposed to something done between work-for-hire gigs. I think you’ll also see that influencing how IP-owning companies approach their own characters and promote them.         Los Bros Hernandez

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2015? I don’t believe in guilty pleasure – but I’m always happy when there’s more Achewood!

Hello everyone out there in the Land of Blog, it is I once again. The scariest Sith that will be trick or treating at your house this year, Darth Bill (just don't put any rocks into my trick or treat bag, man I hate when that happens)!!!!!!!!!!





From the classic Television Special "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."


Well I have a special treat for all you guys out there who love comics and graphic novels. Josh Elder author of such great graphic novels as "Mail Order Ninja" and various comic books has given me this very exclusive interview. Josh was here this summer at ImaginOn for the highly successful "Kids Love Comics! Workshop for Aspiring Artists & Young Fans" and more recently here in Charlotte for the Library System's "Novello Festival" earlier this October.

Mr. Elder on the left with Michele Gorman from the "Kids Love Comics Event"

1) What was/or were the first book and/or books you read as a kid that made you think “wow?”

Pretty much all of 'em. Books and comics have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I can't imagine my life without them. Here a few that totally changed my life, though:

The Oz books by L. Frank Baum

Hatchet by Gary Paulson

Anything by Mark Twain

Anything by Robert L. Heinlein

Any comic I could get my hands on. Especially GI Joe, Transformers, Spider-Man, Calvin & Hobbes and my number one hero of all time... Superman.

2) What gave you the idea for “Mail Order Ninja” and some of the very cool characters in the books?

I had purchased a number of old comics off of ebay and in these old comics were ads for outrageously fraudulent items like X-ray glasses and weight-lifting programs that promised to add 20 lbs of muscle in as many days. So I thought it would be awesome if you could order your very own ninja through the mail. My friend said "Dude, that's the best idea you've ever had." He was right, and that afternoon I developed pretty much the entire premise of "Mail Order Ninja."

3) Who do you consider some of your biggest influences as a comic/graphic novel creator?

My biggest influences -- especially on my work aimed at younger readers -- are the Looney Tunes and comic strips like Calvin & Hobbes. Those are works that are aimed at children yet are enjoyable for audiences of any age. And the older you get, the smarter and funnier they actually become.

Aside from Bill Waterson and Chuck Jones, my biggest influences as a comic writer would have to be Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. They're constantly evolving, constantly taking risks and exploring new territory -- they're never content to stick with a formula or emulate a past success. Every story I write should be different and/or better than anything I've done before or else why do it?

4) Why do you think it's cool for boys to read?

Because reading is cool. It's the only way you get to really be a part of the story -- even playing a videogame you're just another character. When you read you're a part of the story in every way and the story can't get told without you.

5) Is it cool for boys to write/draw? Why?
Of course it is! Writers and artists are the people who truly shape the world. Plus it's fun!

6) Who was your favorite comic book character when you were a boy? Do you have a favorite character now?

That one's easy: Superman. He's the first and greatest superhero of them all -- the wellspring from which all other superheroes came. I've been a fan of the character for literally longer than I can remember (I had a pair of Superman pajamas as a little boy that I wore to bed pretty much every night without fail) and today I have a Superman tattoo on my right bicep of which I'm quite proud.

I've actually gotten to write Superman stories for DC Comics over the past few years and that has been a real dream come true for me.

7) What is your favorite sport?

Football, no doubt. I played it in high school and it remains the only sport I really follow today. Anything can happen on any given play in any game -- it's what makes football so incredibly unpredictable and exciting. That and I'm a big fan of watching big dudes hit each other really hard.

8) What do you like to do for fun?

I like to read and I like to write (I certainly chose the right career then, didn't I?). I enjoy my football and am a big movie buff. In fact, every week or so I get a group of friends together for "Bad Movie Night" and we all watch really terrible movies with the goal being to have the best joke of the night at the movie's expense. I like to visit museums whenever I can and I also do a lot of biking here in Chicago during the summer months.

9) What is your favorite book you have written?

Probably "Mail Order Ninja." It's easily my best-written work and is the one that I still find funny each time I read it. Though I am working on a story called "Dear Superman" that is very near and dear to my heart that will most likely take the top spot if and when it's published.

10) Which do you like better--cheeseburgers or pizza? What do you like on them?

Why do I have to choose? I'll going to use a bit of lateral problem solving and just have a cheeseburger pizza instead!

Well, now that Darth Bill has extended his hand in peace to Master Jedi Zack, we'll probably have a little quiet for a while. At least long enough for them (and you!) to read Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli and write about it. That gives me time to make an admission--I owe an apology to Sophia, one of the girls at Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy who have tried the hostile takeover of our blog. I'd written about the mean and sneaky girls who attempted this vicious takeover but I met Spophia last Friday when I happened to be at MRSA and she is very nice. (Her friend Mary wasn't there but I found out that she's nice also) I felt bad for what I'd written, so I apologized to her then and apologize to all the girls at MRSA now. They are all very nice.

So why, then, do they want to attempt a hostile takeover of our blog? They're all so nice--why would they try to invade and conquer our beloved home? This puzzled me for a long time. Then I figured it out--they are so awestruck by the greatness of boys that they want to enter our territory and find out what makes us so great!! Of course!!! They are so amazed at all the books we've read and how good our reviews have been that they want to join us! Why, then, we welcome you!. Send in those reviews. The more you send, the more you'll be like us!! And, please, all you boys at MRSA and everywhere else, send in more reviews so that the girls will see how great and cool we truly are!!!!!

Let me take this opportunity to tell you about something really fun: our WordPlay Saturday here at Imaginon. It will be Saturday, October 11. There will be bands, activities, crafts, and lots of fun stuff. There will also be some authors who'll speak and answer questions and sign books, including Charles Smith, Jr., who writes poems about sports, and graphic novel author Josh Elder (who does Mail Order Ninja and The Batman Strikes). Click here and here to find out more and even see a video about it! The Book Brunch with the authors will be from 9:30 am--11:00 am, WordPlay will be from 11:00 am--4:00 pm, and the authors will sign books from 11:30 am--1:oo pm.

Hope to see you there,

Carl

Hi guys,
Man, summer is here and things are loony here at the library (busy, busy, busy)!!!!! "This Sith, methinks, has misplaced his mind!!!!!!!!!" he says out loud to no one in particular. Take a look at these before summer and during summer pictures of me working at the library.

<-------Before

I am very sorry to report that, because I ran out of room for pictures on the digital camera, I was not able to get a picture of Scott Sava in action at the event. He really did an awesome job and I found him to be an extremely talented and nice guy. Some of the books he makes are The Dreamland Chronicles, Pet Robots and Ed's Terrestrials.




Jay Piscopo (middle) with Rich and Jimmy Dash who works on The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli.











These guys really did an awesome job and so did everyone who attended. A terrific time was had by all!!!!! Check it out:













































If you want to learn more about these guys' work, I suggest the following web sites:

http://www.kidslovecomics.com/

http://www.captneli.com/

Well, to complete my post, I'm going to give you the skinny on some really excellent graphic novels I have read recently:


Transformers Animated, Volume 1 adapted by Zachary Rau - I don't know about you guys, but I love the Transformers!!!!! Well, this is the first graphic novel in a series about them and how they came to be on planet Earth. The Autobots (the good guys) are Optimus Prime (mechanized form - Fire Truck), Bulkhead (mechanized form - S.W.A.T. Assault Cruiser), Ratchet (mechanized form - Ambulance), Bumblebee (mechanized form - Undercover Police Cruiser) and Prowl (mechanized form - Motorcycle). The Autobots' evil adversaries are the Decepticons. Some of the Decepticons are Megatron and Starscream (mechanized form - Jet Fighter). This first volume sets the stage for how the Autobots and Decepticons reach Earth and what they are fighting over the Allspark. This is a cool graphic novel with great characters and action-packed adventure.


Warriors: Warrior's Return, Volume 3 created by Erin Hunter, written by Dan Jolly and art by James Barry - This is the concluding volume in the story of Graystripe's search to find his clan with Millie accompanying him. As they continue their adventure and journey to find where the cat clans have relocated or even if they still exist, Graystripe grows angrier as he sees what the twolegs have done to his former home and the way he is treated by them in general. Greystripe despairs that they may have even destroyed all the cat clans. Millie keeps his hopes up and insists that they continue forward on their journey, no matter what, to find what has become of the clans. This graphic novel can be read alone but if you can get your hands on the first two volumes (The Lost Warrior and Warriors Refuge), which the library carries, I highly recommend reading the entire trilogy. This is very good stuff!!!!!


Marvel Adventures Avengers: The Dream Team, Volume 4 by Jeff Parker & Leonard Kirk - If you want to read about a team of superheroes that kicks butt; well, my friend, look no further!!!!! The Avengers are made up of Marvel Comic's biggest and best heroes. The Avenger are Storm, Iron Man, Giant-Girl, Spider-Man, The Hulk, Wolverine and Captian America. This graphic novel collects Marvel Adventures the Avengers #13 - 15 and Giant-Size Marvel Adventures the Avengers #1. In this volume we get to see the mighty Avengers team up with Thor, one of my favorite Marvel heroes, in Asgard. It seems trouble is brewing for Thor and his fellow Asgardians in the form of Malekith and his fellow dark elves who have joined with the Frost Giants to destroy Asgard and all the gods who reside there. Will the Avengers be able to turn the tide in this battle of epic preportions? And this is just one of the four stories in this volume. Read this graphic novel for guarenteed thrills and excitement.

Well guys, I think I said a mouthfull. So until next time, peace,

Bill