By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/1/2013
The rumor’s provenance was impeccable: director Bryan Singer.
I can finally announce @ladygaga is joining #XMen #DaysofFuturePast as Dazzler. One of my all-time favorite characters. Can’t wait!
— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) April 1, 2013
But given the date…
Still, casting Gaga as the resident mutant singer/dancer/disco queen, it would kinda be genius.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/1/2013
And speaking of the Center for cartoon studies, perusing their front page there’s some unbelievably exciting news on a variety of fronts, including news that Jon Chad has been accepted into the US astronaut program, and news of the CCS kickboxing team triumphing over Dartmouth. What caught our eye was the news that after vewing the CCs movie, a producer thinks White River Junction would be a great setting for a reality tv series. The ‘Junc?
Charismatic and talented young people chasing their dream? Check. A picturesque, isolated location? Check. Mounting pressure and plenty of deadline challenges? Check. After the documentaryCartoon College caught a television producer’s eye, NBC exec Miles Bradford knew he had all the elements for a hit show.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 1/21/2013
For those who don't herd sacred cows, Tucker Stone's weekly comcis reviews at TCJ are always worth a read, but especially because you might miss things like him highlighting a panel of a happy space toilet from a recent issue of THE HIGH WAYS by John Byrne.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 3/19/2013
David Goyer, a Hollywood vet perhaps best known for co-writing Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, is going to direct a a new version of The Count of Monte Cristo which is billed as having “a graphic novel approach” in Michael Robert Johnson’s script.
Now what does this mean?
This experience [producing the Man of Steel Superman movie] helped Goyer land the new gig because Constantin’s approach for Monte Cristo will be akin to the refurbished take Warner Bros. did on its Sherlock Holmes movies as well as its DC heroes. In fact, one source tells The Hollywood Reporter that a buzz phrase for Monte Cristo is “19th century Dark Knight.” Constantin put an ultra-modern spin on a literary classic with Paul W.S. Anderson’s The Three Musketeers, which didn’t catch on domestically but performed solidly internationally.
You may recall that Alexander Dumas’s original tale 19th century tale featured a man named Edmond Dantes who is wrongly jailed and then emerges from prison with a new swagga persona and a plot to find a treasure he heard tell of while in the pen to help exact his revenge on those who sent him to jail. So far, so good, as far as this “graphic novel” thing goes.
The surprising twist is that Dantes (played by Ryan Gosling) has a secret lab where he builds a giant robot with the aid of a wise tinkerer played by Morgan Freeman, and is able to transfer his persona into the robot. This comes in handy when aliens attack the Earth with the goal of stopping the French Revolution. While attempting to stop the aliens, Dantes teams up with another guy named Jean Valjean (Channing Tatum) who also has a giant robot. Together the two start a team called “Le Revengeaux,” gathering an unusual gang of misfits—a reformed thief named Oliver Twist who can turn into a puddle of water (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and a feisty prostitute named Hester Prynn (Jessica Chastain) who is trained in the ancient art of Qigong.
It will be an exciting film.
PS: When I was a kid I always thought this story was called The Count of Monte Crisco and wondered what it had to do with rendered vegetable oil. Later I discovered that there was a delicious sandwich called the “Monte Cristo” consisting of a deep fried ham and cheese sandwich. Life is beautiful.
PPS: because I just can’t let this go, over the weekend I was chatting with some comical folks about the co-opting of the term “graphic novel.” One had seen a magazine feature billed as a “two page graphic novel!” I guess there are worse things to have than frivolous co-opting of the name of your literary form.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/1/2013
It started with this press release:
Coast City Comics is proud to announce the display of some rare comic books from the Golden Age, recently unearthed in Portland, Maine and estimated to be worth over $10,000 in value. The showing will be for one day only, this coming Monday, on the first of the month.
There are a variety of titles from publisher Zeus Comics, dated from the late 1940s to the mid-50s. They were found in a wall during renovation of a house in Portland’s West End by comic creator Mort Todd. The comics, considered very controversial and risqué in the 1950s, include such titles as WEIRD MENACE, RED NIGHTMARES, FORBIDDEN FANTASY, SPIKE JONES and THE BLACK LEATHER KID, among others.
These comics were the target of psychologists, politicians and concerned parents during the 50s, when comic-book burnings were regularly sponsored by towns and churches. Not many of these comics are in existence today, so even beat-up copies are valuable.These valuable publications will be on display for one day only, this Monday, from 11AM to 6PM at Coast City Comics, 634 Congress Street in Portland, Maine.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/1/2013
While nerdlebrities are a big draw at comic-cons these days, as we’ve noted in the past, trying to throw a celebrity-only show can be a dismal affair. But with the rise of nerd culture, autograph shows seem to be picking up, even on the local level. For example: while going through our mail, we found a press release for a show called The American Music & Pop Culture Expo. Sounds promising. The event was held this past weekend in a Hershey, PA gymnasium and headlining guests included Bronson Pinchot and Butch Patrick. If that was not enough to excite you:
Other guests, who will be appearing at the expo, include Paris Themmen (best known as Mike Tee Vee in the classic film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), Matt Hardy (professional wrestler), Geri Reischl (best known as Jan Brady from Sid & Marty Krofft’s Brady Bunch Variety Hour), David Orange (best known as the Sleepy Klingon from the motion picture Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), and Triston Johnson (Zombie Barn Walker from AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead).
Is that really what is has come to?
“Hey Dad, what did you do in the 80s?”
“I was a sleepy Klingon, son. They need 40 winks or it’s the Doomsday Machine over and over again.”
As for the Zombie Barn Walker— did you SEE how many zombies were in that barn????? How do you know it was really him?
We have nothing against those who brushed with fame using the scrapings from the fame lint remover to make a buck or two but…give us working cartoonists any day. No matter how dismal the comics industry may seem at times, it’s got to be better than being known as the third Romulan from the left.
So how was the event? Chris Mautner of Robot 6 went and seems to have had a good time.
The event itself was a bit like a schizophrenic flea market. At one table you might find a gentlemen selling vintage toys. A few steps away someone else might be selling vinyl records. Across the way someone else might be selling dolls, or hot sauce, or antiques or a mish-mash of stuff that suggested they had recently cleaned out their basement. One inventive gentleman was selling light switches with decoupaged Marvel comic book characters on them.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 3/1/2012
Although we get all the PR, we haven’t been covering Vivid’s Axel Braun directed series of porn parodies of geek-beloved franchises because, well, it’s not really in our target demo. However a recent release backs up what we’ve been told by porn industry insiders for quite a while: these nerd-themed parodies are the only hot category in the original porn business as homemade sex tapes and VOD have changed the entire distribution model. As Braun told Die Screaming:
A: The geek community is heavily tied to science fiction, comic books, and superheroes. With the mainstream movie industry focusing on these types of projects in recent years, geeks suddenly became a very important target audience. They are incredibly dedicated fans, excellent critics, and their massive networking can literally make or break a movie. When the proliferation of the Internet killed DVD sales, I decided it was time to stop trying to lure back the typical porn consumers from the dark side of free adult content, and I went after a different demographic. Geeks were an ideal target, and being one of them it was fairly easy to know what they wanted: parodies of cult movies, TV shows, comic books, or superheroes, infused with obvious deep knowledge of the subject matter, tons of nerdy references, and obsessive attention to detail. And boobs. How could I lose by being so totally awesome?
The moral of the story? Identifying market trends quickly helps you stay on top of a fast evolving marketplace.
That and….BOOBS.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 3/7/2012
Mocking the comfy tropes of The Family Circus is a joke that never gets old. Or as Stephen Colbert put it last night, “We’re getting all relaxed and average.”
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 3/15/2012
What really happened in Jakarta???
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/9/2012
Yahoo Answers….the raw id of our unknowledge….the cry for help in a darkling plain of the unknown. Some lass named Jann wandered in there and asked:
Where can I see DC or Marvel comics online for free?
I want to see those comics, or that style, like superheroes, I’m not interested in Manga
So again she wrote:
Additional Details
There most be an online site were you can see them for free, like scanned or something like that
You can’t; I’m afraid you’ll have to buy them. Comic books aren’t like manga, there isn’t anywhere on the internet where you can read them– for free, at least.
But if Jann is reading this….check out our Webcomics category…lots and lots of free comics to read on the Internet right there. If you search and search, there are even a few Marvel and DC comics for free on the internet.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/20/2012
You’ve always wanted to see Darkseid painted in the style of Francis Bacon, haven’t you? Just admit that you have or things will go badly for you.It’s part of the latest “The Line It Is Drawn” sketchup at Comics Should Be Good, and there is much more of that ilk, like Black Canary Scream and so on.
This particular painting is the work of Nick Perk. You can see lots more of his funny mashups if you poke around that site.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/27/2012

we’re outta here.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 12/5/2012
We’re hearing that DC Comics is in turmoil today after popular lunch spot McGee’s changed their bean salad recipe: instead of cannellini beans, the salad now contains navy beans, and the change has everyone upset.
Rattled staffers have been complaining bitterly. “Cannellini beans are mild in flavor and hold their shape well,” said one prominent editor. “Navy beans don’t have the nut-like flavor I prefer.”
The complaints were said to be especially harsh over at MAD, where one worker was heard to say “This is the worst lunch ever.” Another summed it up succinctly: “Bean Crisis.”
A series of meetings is being planned to cover lunch options and how to drive internet traffic with meaningless headlines.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 12/12/2012
Eisner nominated writer Ian Boothby is probably best known for his work on The Simpsons comics, but he also contributes to the Canadian humour radio programme, The Irrelevant Show. Now all his superhero themed sketched have been collected in one webisode.:
As an appetizer for the coming season, we’ve put together some of our favourite Superhero sketches in a special Webisode! You’lll hear Superman is a Jerk, Woman-Man, and the Supervillain Lifetime Achievement Award, plus many more. Enjoy, nerds and non-nerds alike!
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 5/19/2011
Famed comic book spoofer Rob Granito to has finally answered some direct questions, and didn’t get paid to do so, which is awesome. . But the origin of such things as Jay Didillo, Granito’s non-existent collaborator on a non-existent DC book, is strangely prosaic: Yeah, again this is something else I didn’t explain when I should have, and it’s blown up in my face! I met an editor at a Con a few months back, and he gave me his card, and as best as I can remember, his name sounded like that. He said he was looking for up and coming artists for a Batman book about different eras of Batman or whatever, and he would keep me in mind. It happened! I just lost his card and can’t remember the other specific details, but nobody can prove it didn’t happen. I’m sorry my memory isn’t absolutely perfect but I meet a lotta people at shows.
This guy and Newt Gingrich should team up for a new Straight Talk Express! Gingrich could explain how talking to the press rattles him badly, and Granito can unprove things that also never didn’t happen. Also. But he does contend that “I’m not running for office or something.” and there’s no fun in that, alas.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 5/26/2011
NY Mag’s Vulture blog goes where no man had dared: How Vulnerable Are Superheroes’ Crotches? A Vulture Investigation, providing a detailed look at how the Magnuttos have been protected in various superhero films. Some — Night Owl, Thor — keep everything in one iron-clad package, but others — Spider-Man, Green Hornet — just leave the family jewels sitting out there. Tsk tsk tsk.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 5/31/2011
Given all the talk of late about geek girls, this Onion story from 2004 seems pretty dated:
Osley attended the convention from Friday to Sunday, freely and confidently mingling with the 85 percent male crowd at the Hilton Burbank Airport and Convention Center.
“From the moment she walked in the door, Paulette was the object of admiring glances,” Martin said. “Everywhere she went, men were awkwardly trying to make conversation with her, flirting with her using Farscape dialogue, and inviting her to season-finale-watching parties in their hotel suites. Although she only came in 14th in the trivia contest, her adorable blush, her nervous giggle, and the fact that she was female earned her many admirers.”
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/1/2011
Via Funny or Die, the ecological wonderland of 80s TBS is recalled.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/14/2011
A book on farts illustrated by Lisa Hanawalt, with an attached soundboard?
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 1/27/2012
The internet FTW once again.
via Splash Page.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 1/31/2012
Recently, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich declared his support for the idea of a moon colony. Even more recently, he was roundly mocked for this even though manned space flight is one of the glories of American history. Wired asked space enthusiast Warren Elliswhat he thought of the plan:
I get the impression he didn’t really get warmed up until he reached Florida. Speaker Gingrich, as a “historian,” will be well aware that Nixon announced the Space Shuttle program to replace the closing Apollo program in order to retain Florida and keep the aerospace industry on his side. With Shuttle closing, it’s the most obvious thing in the world to walk into Florida and say, “I will give you all the money to build stuff.” You’ll probably see him do the same in California.
The ruckus prompted cartoonist Sam Henderson to rerun his own thoughts on moon colonization utilization non humans.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/3/2012
In a stellar move that has stunned the comics community and has quieted critics who have claimed that DC isn’t making proper strides in regards to ethnic and racial diversity, DC has released information concerning the final prequel project in the powerful Before Watchmen arsenal. Newsstand Boy by creators Eric Wallace and Scott McDaniel was announced this morning by DC’s co-publisher Dan Didio.
[Thanks, Martha Cornog]
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/8/2012
Back when we interviewed Jeffrey Brown about his movie at Sundance, he mentioned an upcoming humor book called Darth Vader and Son
Well, he’s now posted some cover sketches on his blog.
And here’s the final cover.
The book is out from Chronicle in May.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/14/2012
Not only is it the Simpson’s 500th episode this weekend
Not only did creator Matt Groening get his star on the Walk of Fame today
But RALPH WIGGUM is getting his own comic book later this month.
It’s part of a new quarterly series of Simpsons One Shot Wonders focusing on other more obscure Simpsons castmembers, including Bart Simpson’s pal, Milhouse; the adventures of Li’l Homer Simpson; and an issue dedicated entirely to Maggie Simpson. Future issue will even take fan suggestion into account, so let’s all get out there and prepare our Patty and Selma campaign.
Creators include Sergio Aragonés (MAD Magazine, Groo the Wanderer), Mike Kazaleh (The Adventures of Captain Jack), Carol Lay (“Story Minute,” The Big Skinny), James Lloyd (The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover Crisis), Jesse McCann (Scooby Doo), and Mary Trainor (The Simpsons Library of Wisdom).
“At signings and conventions, interest in Ralph is always off the charts. I’m happily amazed by the wide swatch of people who claim him as their most beloved ‘Simpsons’ character,” says Nathan Kane, Bongo Comics creative director, in a statement. “Not only is Ralph Wiggum an Everyman, he’s Everyman’s unintentionally hilarious, and unflappable younger brother.”
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/15/2012
I know we link to these every time, but you don’t want to miss them. In her review ofThe Vow for Vanity Fair Lisa Hanawalt nails the sidekicks this time. We’d also note that her venues are getting bigger and bigger. Hanawalt ftw.
I can seriously think of no better person to fill this role! Can’t wait to see this!