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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.”

Back when we interviewed Jeffrey Brown about his movie at Sundance, he mentioned an upcoming humor book called Darth Vader and Son that features gentle humor on the topic of Darth as dad to Luke.

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.

Cheryl Lynn has the scoop:

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]

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.

The internet FTW once again.

via Splash Page.

A book on farts illustrated by Lisa Hanawalt, with an attached soundboard?

Where do I sign up?

Via Funny or Die, the ecological wonderland of 80s TBS is recalled.

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.”

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.

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.

YouTube user BronyVids has been sharpening his/her Final Cut skills on My Little Pony Mash-ups, and it is WATCHMEN’s turn. We had no idea My Little Pony looked so good and we totally want to watch it now.

Click for the larger version. Also notice how they ran out of time on some of the photoshopping.

Via Dave G.

And as we head off to the weekend….via Tyler Walpole at The Gutters

via Alex Segura

As we predicted last week, the Rob Granito team is attempting to get their second act rolling with a round of tell-all interviews. You may recall (it was all so long ago and little noted) that Granito is a person of dubious artistic skill who has been going around to comics shows for 15 years selling copied art that he’s passed off as his own. Now, Comics Cube reports a letter is making the rounds:

Dear Comics News, Blogs, and Journalists:

March 2011 was a month that the comics industry, and comics fandom, was not expecting! A month where suddenly comics websites became ‘TMZ-like’, and scandal and tabloid excitement erupted. This was due to the controversial Rob Granito.

We ask you to consider looking past personal feelings and judgement to consider the following:

-A Facebook Group about Robert Granito had over 3,000 members in less than a week

-Websites such as comicsalliance, Wired, and many others made Rob Granito a major headline

-An entire convention panel is due to Rob Granito, called ‘How Should An Artist React To Being Granito’d'?

So, regardless of personal judgement you must admit that Rob Granito creates controversy- and controversy attracts attention. Rob Granito gets attention. Rob Granito gets people talking.

The Blog owner at All Things Geeky even explained how he had thousands of visitors to his site when he had never experienced that before. Rob Granito has gotten more attention and caused more talking amongst his detractors and his fans than any other comics professional!

Now is YOUR chance to take advantage of this red-hot story. As Charlie Sheen has proven in the mainstream media, controversy sells. It has been proven, and suggested by the convention fans blog that Rob Granito is the Charlie Sheen of Comics. And just like Charlie Sheen caused MAJOR headlines with his controversial 20/20 interview, now YOU can get Rob Granito to sit for an interview for your site or blog!

Rob Granito will live up to his image as the bad boy of comics, who admits he has made some mistakes (but who hasn’t?) but also points out that comics fandom at large does not know the WHOLE story. Find out how Rob Granito began as an artist. Discover what his experience was with the legendary Dave Stevens. Find out what REALLY went down with Mark Waid. Learn how Rob feels about the comics professionals who have derided his name in the past few weeks like Ty Templeton Jamar Igle, Al Rio, and more!

We assure you Rob Granito will live up to his interview commitments. We guarantee candid, explanatory revelations. Rob Granito proved he shook up the world in March 2011! Now watch him light up the Spring comics schedule. “I will keep going to conventions”, he says. Also, why did BleedingCool decide to break the Rob Granito story out of nowhere? Why was it pursued with such a fever? “There is more there that you dont know about”, says Rob.

ALL WEBSITES: the following is a list of Rob’ interview fees

-e-mail interview (20 questions ONLY) $150.00 PayPal
-30 minute phone interview $200.00 PayPal
-1 Hour Phone or Skype interview $250.00 PayPal

Thank you for your time. We look forward to working with you.
Alison c/o
Robert Gra

15 Comments on Rob Granito launches pay-for-chat plan; plan fails, last added: 4/7/2011

Display Comments

Joseph said, on 4/7/2011 10:38:00 AM

He really is just like Charlie Sheen, in that I wish they would both just go away.

JasonNewcomb said, on 4/7/2011 11:00:00 AM

I invented interviews so Rob must send me a 14% royalty check when he gets interviewed.

Jason A. Quest said, on 4/7/2011 11:00:00 AM

I’ve never charged $250/hour. Especially not just for doing it over the phone. And even when I did it over the phone, I never faked it.

abc said, on 4/7/2011 11:07:00 AM

so let me see if i got this straight. this guy gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar and decides that his best course of action is have everybody pay to hear him defend himself. are these folks out to lunch?

faboofour said, on 4/7/2011 11:15:00 AM

OK. OK. I see. I get the picture.

My complete and sincere apologies to one and all for trying to discuss this #!!%**#% rationally.

Yeah, I still think it’s a matter of degree, but I had no idea the degree difference was between absolute zero and the heart of the sun.

I get the anger now. Boy, do I get the anger now. I’m truly sorry I didn’t research the details with an eye to emotions.

‘Cause this is just– just—

Could I share your pitchfork? If you need someone to hold a torch, I can help….

Kate Fitzsimons said, on 4/7/2011 11:17:00 AM

Dear Rob Granito,

You are not a highly paid television actor who many people, for some reason, find funny enough to watch every week. Your post-trainwreck entertainment career will be proportionately smaller.

$250 per hour, no. Free drinks at San Diego Comic-Con, yes.

Susie Lee said, on 4/7/2011 11:18:00 AM

This reinforces my theory that he’s doing it for attention (the money is just icing on the cake).

Seriously, stop talking about him in public and he’ll go away.

LunarMadman said, on 4/7/2011 11:32:00 AM

Just don’t look, just don’t look…

Russell Lissau said, on 4/7/2011 12:10:00 PM

In my 20-plus years as a professional journalist, I have never ONCE been asked to pay an interview subject for an interview. I think the gossip tabloids pay subjects for stories, but I don’t recall ever hearing of it in the traditional media. Let alone the bloggers and web journalists who cover the comics biz. This is just ridiculous.

Al™ said, on 4/7/2011 12:53:00 PM

Hmm, he has the self promotion thing figured out. He certainly is multi-faceted.

Chris Hero said, on 4/7/2011 12:58:00 PM

What if we all chip in and go on this together? Can we all be on the phone call together? Tell me that wouldn’t lead to hilarity….

Tom Mason said, on 4/7/2011 1:04:00 PM

But once you pay him, he sends you an old Comics Journal interview with Dave Gibbons.

Snikt Snakt said, on 4/7/2011 1:34:00 PM

Rob Granito will NOT stop, he has no shame. I can see him ripping off old people for their social security checks….

Bill Scurry said, on 4/7/2011 2:38:00 PM

This is a bad call. I’d rather share a bottle of Corona with Russell Brand.

Torsten Adair said, on 4/7/2011 4:49:00 PM

That Jamar Igle… what a trouble maker!

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