By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 6/15/2016
Tony Fleecs had been grinding as an indy cartoonist for years, but it was his work for the My Little Pony license at IDW that got him the most attention. Now, he’s returning to creator-owned with Jeff Steinberg: Champion of Earth, written by writer and friend Josh Fialkov, for Oni Press. I talked to Fleecs […]
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/2/2016
IDW is mainly known for its publication of licensed work, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and My Little Pony. But the publisher has been transitioning lately with a renewed focus on creator-owned comics, first by acquiring Top Shelf and now by starting the Comics Experience imprint, home to some great titles like Tet and Gutter Magic. Editor Bobby Curnow is […]
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 7/10/2015
By Nick Eskey
Hasbro Entertainment, responsible for many of our favorite childhood toys, treated us press folk to a delicious breakfast accompanied by, of course, toys! Held at Café Sevilla in San Diego’s Gaslamp, the toy breakfast had not only a nice selection of food (yes, be jealous), but some great looking merchandise.
Transformers Generations: Devastator – Combiner Wars
Across the bar, there is a collection of some of Hasbro’s most sought after Comic–Con exclusives: a neon green “Transformers Generations Devastator” Combiner Wars set; the quick switch “Jem” doll; the “Pinkie Pie – My Little Pony” complete with chicken costume and “bucket of chicken” packaging; “G.I. Joe anniversary box set” with dvds, characters “A.V.A.C., Alley Viper Officer, Ralph, and Grunt,” as well as Cobra Scythe and G.I. Joe Chimera machines; “Cybertron High” Transformers box set; “Magic the Gathering Origins Planeswalker Anthology” players box set; “Marvel’s Ant-Man” action figure boxed set with miniature Ant-Man figurines; and a “Storm Trooper – First Order” boxed set with figure and book. All of these toys are limited editions to the convention and are on many a con-goer’s want list (I know someone that would stab for the Jem doll).
Jem and the Holograms – Quick Switch
Set at one station, Hasbro has trays of what look like hacked up dinosaur pieces. They are actually from Hasbro’s popular “Mashems” toy line, where kids and adults can pick and choose their parts and create uniquely fun characters and creatures. For their third line of the series they have “Jurassic,” going with the DNA splicing theme from the books and movies. If you have any of their previous Transformers or “Marvel” Mashems, then it’s possible to create a robot/hero/villain/dinosaur hybrid. Oh the humanity! More additions will be coming this fall for their Marvel line of Mashems.
Jurassic Mashems
Transformers Generations “Combiner Wars” series is a big hit for fans of the original toy from the 80’s. Combiners are Transformers robots that join together to form an even bigger, badass machine. The big appeal with these toys is that each one of the robot pieces still turn into their robot AND vehicle forms, as well as becoming joining pieces for the even bigger combiner. This “Superion” will be a must have.
My Little Pony – Pinkie Pie
And finally in ways of video games, Hasbro and “PlatinumGames” will be coming out with “Transformers Devastation.” The game is a 3rd person perspective, 3D fighter that allows players to control one of some of the franchise’s favorite robots. The art style is almost a deeper form of cell shading, with the fighting taking place in a linear platform with waves of enemies that need to be defeated. Fighting in combos is the main objective, with frequent action-time button cues that lets the character transform into their alternate form for other attacks or strategies. There will various missions to complete such as collecting, timed levels, and protect. Transformers Devastation will be out this Fall for PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX One, and PC.
Magic the Gathering Origins: Planeswalker
Keep your eyes open for all of these wonderful Hasbro toys and exclusives, either out now or coming soon.
By: Jerry Beck,
on 6/5/2015
Meghan McCarthy's success with the "My Little Pony" franchise leads to a much bigger role at Hasbro.
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By: Jerry Beck,
on 4/6/2015
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 10/27/2014
By Matt O’Keefe
For years there’s been the complaint that comics aren’t for kids anymore. I say that comic shops aren’t (necessarily) for kids anymore. While a lot of what you find in your LCS isn’t geared towards children, there are still a number of avenues where all-ages comics can gain traction. Here are nine of them.
1. The Direct Market
Tiny Titans. Art by Art Baltazar.
Even though most kids haven’t stepped foot into a comic shop, they’re still a big way that comics get into their hands. The best comic book evangelists for children are undoubtedly their parents, the ones paying for their entertainment in the first place. Parents who are comics fans themselves have every incentive to get their children invested in the hobby, which is probably why Tiny Titans, a comic that was popular with readers of all ages, was able to last 50 issues, longer than the majority of kids comics fare.
2. The Supermarket
An Archie digest. Art by Stan Goldberg.
As much success as Archie Comics has had lately in periodicals, the bulk of its sales still come from the digests people find in the checkout line. Comichron reported that Archie sold well over 2 million digests in 2013. That’s no small number, especially in an industry where the #1 book of the month generally tops out at around 150,000 copies.
3. Toy Stores
My Little Pony Micro-Series. Art by Amy Mebberson.
Stores that sell toys have recently become opportunities to sell kids comics. IDW has made great strides by offering mini comics as micro-fun packs. A fan of My Little Pony at the right Toys R’ Us, Target or Walmart has an extra chance to be exposed to comics. Because of the success from that brand, IDW even expanded to offering TMNT micro-fun packs in January.
4. The Web
Cleopatra in Space. Art by Mike Maihack.
Webcomics are a pretty obvious way for kids to be exposed to the medium, only requiring an internet connection as opposed to a car ride to the LCS. While it’s been notoriously hard for creators to make money off of webcomics, things are starting to turn around. Patreon is gaining traction as a way for creators to receive a regular income (The Beat has one!) and kids comics have the kinds of advocators who would be likely to consider pledging. Kids are also perhaps more likely to be excited by memorabilia (such as t-shirts) that serves as supplemental income for webcomic creators.
5. Kickstarter
Aw Yeah Comics. Art by Art Baltazar.
Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sites are accessible ways for creators to sell their comics to kids. Kickstarter and company have built up a large following that’s regularly browsing campaigns they might want to support. Kids probably aren’t browsing Kickstarter, but through the crowdfunder the parents who make the purchasing decisions are given an extra chance to be exposed to comics. It’s been shown that Kickstarters for comics find more success when the comics have had exposure elsewhere. To cite previous successes, Aw Yeah Comics benefited from Art Baltazar and Franco’s audience in the direct market, and Lilith Dark was previously a popular webcomic.
6. Bookstores
Amulet. Art by Kazu Kibuishi.
Major children’s book publisher Scholastic’s GRAPHIX imprint is opening the doors to all-ages comics by releasing critically-acclaimed books such as BONE, Amulet, Smile, and Missile Mouse. Imprints like GRAPHIX are near-impossible to break into, but those who do get a book published by them reap a lot of rewards.
7. Book Conventions
G-Man. Art by Chris Giarusso.
The American Library Association just opened up a spot for an Artist Alley in 2013, so the market is still ripe for conventions that are mostly attended by librarians and book fans. Libraries are often an afterthought in the comic book industry, but librarians are always looking for new stories that will reach kids. Chris Giarruso, the cartoonist behind G-Man and Mini Marvels, said on the Kids Comics Revolution podcast that the ALA Convention was his most important show of the year.
8. School and Library Visits
Smile. Art by Raina Telgemeier.
These are hit and miss, but when they hit they really hit. Raina Telgemeier, the writer/artist of Smile, reported on Gregg Schiegel’s podcast Stuff Said that she’s found a lot of success with such events. Not all visits are gearing towards selling books but, even if creators aren’t making extra revenue off sold copies, they’re steering kids towards the comics medium.
9. Activism
The Zipper Club. Art by Brenda Lopez.
This isn’t necessarily a new outlet to sell comics, but it’s a recently emerging way to gain attention. Maybe the newest form of kids comics marketing that that’s striking a cord with both comic book readers and nonreaders is activism. Comics or graphic novels that raise awareness about certain issues have recently found some success. The Kickstarter for Metaphase, a comic about an invulnerable hero who has a son with Down syndrome, raised almost $10,000. In addition, the Indiegogo-funded The Zipper Club is offering a scholarship to attend a camp for kids with heart defects similar to the one attended by characters in the graphic novel, a particularly clever way to promote kids comics through activism. It demonstrates that there will continue to be new ways to get comics exposed to children.
If you don’t believe comics are for kids anymore, here is a counter to that, showing some of ways they’re still reaching them. This isn’t an article about how to get them into those outlets; that would be a whole series of posts. But, if you’re a creator, maybe this gives you an idea of how or where to sell your all-ages comic. Regardless, it’s nice to think about all the routes that comics still have to reach a younger audience.
Thanks to Michael Lapinski for assisting me with this article.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/9/2013
We'll have captions in a bit but here's a look at the Hasbro showroom some new stuff and classics and the biggest Transformer ever!
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/30/2012
This week saw a number of big comic releases from Marvel and DC, but who cares when this was the week My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #1 came out? PONIES, you guys! Ponies all over the place.
This week I’ll be reviewing My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #1, Hellblazer #297, Gambit #6 and Masks #1
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the unexpected mass-market hit cartoon series which came out of nowhere to hit every demographic. The series grew such a strong fanbase, in fact, that pre-orders for this spin-off comic series went ballistic, and Katie Cook and Andy Price were left with a smash hit before anybody read a word or saw a single hoof. Issue #1 of IDW’s series doesn’t pay much lip service to new fans, instead asking them to immediately catch up on a fast-paced opening story which races around a large cast of diverse and well-characterised ponies at breakneck speed. Jokes and puns and visual gags fly out from all angles, with almost every one landing. And amazingly, the creative team manage to make the book accessible without pausing to explain anything about the world the characters live in.
Cook is primarily a great humorist, and her voice for the book is immediately charming and entertaining. Whilst it’s hard for this “no-ny” (I knew nothing of the series before reading this book) to know how well she matches or moves away from the voice of the cartoon, I was pretty struck by Cook’s ability to string along an endless succession of gags whilst retaining exposition and story. She’s matched by lovely art from Andy Price, who refuses to draw stock figures from the cartoon and instead invests his own sense of life into the various galloping protagonists. His use of layout is rather spectacular, with thought given to how the panels stand alongside each other and progress the story. This isn’t spectacle for the sake of spectacle, but rather an intelligent use of page space and structure.
A lot of people were very very upset when DC recently announced the cancellation of Hellblazer, but let’s celebrate what we have left – three more issues – rather than mourn a book we might not actually read. Hellblazer has been in the hands of creative team Peter Milligan, Giuseppi Camuncoli and Brian Buccellato for a while now, although this issue is finished by Stefano Landini. The most recent issue concludes the ‘Curse of the Constantines’ storyline, which seems to finish off a number of Milligan’s dangling plot threads regarding Constantine’s family, especially his sister. Being from Liverpool himself, Milligan has proven to be one of the best Constantine writers since also-Scouse Mike Carey, with both being able to effortlessly write lines for the character which are both authentic and very, very funny.
With this being the last of a five-issue storyline, Camuncoli’s art is flagging a little here. Although he takes care to distinctively shape the big moments and standout sequences, some of the pages feature scratchier art which Buccellato can’t do much with. The story here does feature a little bit of a Milligan anticlimax, something the writer sometimes falls prey to. Whilst Constantine’s plan to save the day is funny, it is very slight indeed, and requires a leap of characterisation for the Eva Brady character. Regardless, the grasp on dialogue is spot-on and more than enough to carry the day here, setting Constantine up for a final storyline which gives him a fresh break from the past, and leaves the future unpredictable and exciting for the character.
James Asmus‘ Gambit series has been growing in confidence after a strong opening issue turned into a slightly wobbly first storyline. Each issue of the book has featured some kind of heist, and it’s to Asmus’ credit that heist 6 feels just as unpredictable as heist 1. We’re now in the middle of a storyline where the thief finds himself forced to steal from Pete Wisdom and the British MI13 team (although only Faiza Hussain also appears in the storyline so far). Asmus does light-hearted thrills nicely, although the artwork here seems to be a classic case of a Marvel title getting rushed by scheduling. Diogenes Neves is capable of better work when he isn’t under the pressure he seems to be under here, and indeed he shares art duties here with Al Barrionuevo after only one issue by himself.
It’s a shame that Marvel have recently taken to battering their artists with tighter and tighter deadlines, as it’s led to a rise of fill-ins and rushed pages. There’s a splash page here where we see the insides of MI13′s armoury, a page which was clearly intended to be filled with detail and exciting. However, it looks bare, with a few guns and bits of scrap metal lying around. Give Neves time to draw this page, I bet he’d have made it something exciting to look at. Without that time, his page does a disservice to Asmus’ story.
However, Asmus does seem to be rapidly building his world for the book, with a rising cast and some nice character moments for the main character. He doesn’t write anyone as an idiot in order to make somebody else look good – Pete Wisdom, Faiza Hussain, Gambit and Cich are all juggled nicely between each other here. The Gambit character has also benefited hugely from the retooling Asmus has given him, with a better direction, personality and motivation than he’s had in a decade. The best sequences in the issue are the ones with Gambit in them, as the focus, and that’s because Asmus has done such a great job of making the character exciting to be with again.
It appears that the pre-sales for Dynamite’s team-up book Masks have been stonking, and a massive success for the company. Written by Chris Roberson and with this first issue painted by Alex Ross, the series teams up Zorro, The Spider, The Shadow and The Green Hornet for a pulp nostalgia trip. Being somewhat unfamiliar with all the characters, this first issue left me a little confused, but with a sense that Roberson is heading somewhere good. Green Hornet provides the perspective for readers, as we follow him interact with first The Shadow, and then the rest of the heroes. I’m not entirely certain what Zorro’s role in the book is at present – he might have appeared, but I really can’t tell if that was him or not. The introduction of The Spider is also blatantly tacked on, albeit in a hilariously camp manner that I couldn’t help but enjoy. Roberson seems to be having a lot of fun here, and Ross is clearly having a ball.
Roberson allows for the reader to view the story as a camp homage just as much as he writes a pulp narrative, here, balancing the two different styles neatly. The story is simultaneously involving and completely ridiculous nonsense, but in the most enjoyable manner possible. He also makes sure to write for Ross, whose painted pages are far less static than you might expect. The fight scene towards the end is a particularly well-done sequence from the pair, while the conversation sequences aren’t overshadowed by dead-eyed staring from everybody involved – as can be the case for painted work. Ross reminds that he’s an excellent storyteller as well as painter with this issue, and it’ll be interesting to see how the story progresses beyond here. It’s a qualified success, in that it’ll play far better to fans who already love and know the characters than it will bring in and keep new readers.
– As a final note! Let’s take a moment to praise letterer Cory Petit, who is currently working on X-Men Legacy. This is a book with a myriad things happening in the word balloons, and Petit’s ability to juggle it all is pretty incredible. It’s probably one of the most demanding comics I’ve seen, and he manages to take everything Si Spurrier throws at him — and make it work.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 7/13/2012
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No particular rhyme or reason, just gonna shoot them out as items. Each bullet is hyperlinked, click on the headline to read more!
A permanent Trickster location will open in the coming year in Berkeley, California, and there are plans to bring Trickster pop-ups to other shows. If you’re at San Diego Comic-Con and want more information on Trickster events, visit the official website.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 7/12/2012
Isn’t it great when the comic book industry do something which is perfect? IDW have just announced that they will be publishing a new ‘My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic’ series, written by Katie Cook and drawn by Andy Price. Bronies (and… fonies?) of the world, celebrate! Likely by eating a delicious sugarlump or two before going out into the yard for a bit.
The series will start in November. In lieu of any artwork from the announced series, here’s a pony drawn by Tony Harris being ridden by a zombie drawn by Cook.
Extra! If you want an idea of what Price’s art is like, you can find more of his work on his DeviantArt account. Stuff like this:
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 7/1/2012
.
What’s been going on this weekend?
As Yahoo reports (via AP):
["Friendship is Magic" creator Lauren] Faust told The Associated Press at BronyCon on Saturday that she never imagined the show would be such a hit with teenage boys and young men. She said her main target was little girls, but she hoped to draw in moms and perhaps some boys with strong characters and compelling story lines.
“We live in a society where saying that something is for girls is the equivalent to saying that something is stupid, or saying that something isn’t worthwhile,” Faust said.
“I think that’s awful and I think that kind of attitude needs to be changed,” she said. “And these men are doing it. … They’re proud that they’re forward-thinking and modern enough to look past this misogynistic attitude.”
Faust said she, like the Bronies, is disturbed at the negative images some people have about men who like the show.
Scott and Dargis discuss why superhero movies are so popular, and what sort of meaning can be gleaned from the genre.
DARGIS They’re certainly avatars of reaction in how they justify and perpetuate the industry’s entrenched sexism. You just have to scan the spandex bulges in “The Avengers” to see that superhero movies remain a big boys’ club, with few women and girls allowed. Yes, there are female superheroes on screen, like Jean Grey from the “X-Men” series, but they tend not to drive the stories, while female superheroes with their own movies never dominate the box office. Most women in superhero movies exist to smile indulgently at the super-hunk, to be rescued and to flaunt their assets, like Scarlett Johansson’s character in “The Avengers,” whose biggest superpower, to judge by the on- and off-screen attention lavished on it, was her super-rump.
University of North Texas professor Shaun Treat teaches “Mythic Rhetoric of Superheroes” in the UNT Department of Communication Studies.
Half of the University of North Texas students in professor Shaun Treat’s summer class had never read a comic book.
His WordPress blog can be found here. The amazing syllabus is here! What’s on the reading list?<
By: Debbie Reese,
on 3/29/2011
I did not know that there is a new My Little Pony television show being aired...
I watched a segment today, prompted to do so by reader, DV, who told me about a recent episode called "Over a Barrel."
You can see the whole episode on YouTube... This is the second half:
In it, the ponies visit a western town of ponies that have planted apple orchards all around the pony town. The orchards are on the lands belonging to the buffaloes. The ponies did not know the land belonged to the buffaloes.
The buffaloes use that land "for stampeding." It is their "sacred tradition" to stampede. The buffaloes want the ponies to take the trees down.
The ponies say they've worked hard to get those trees planted and growing, and therefore do not want to take them down.
Neither group backs down, so, they have a fight at high noon.
The town ponies are led by a sheriff; the buffaloes have a chief. In the fight, the ponies hit the buffaloes with pies that knock the buffaloes out. The chief is barreling down on the sheriff. He is hit by a pie and everyone thinks he is dead. Sad music plays. But, apple pie filling drizzles down to his mouth, and he wakes up. He loves the pie.
They settle the dispute. The ponies keep the orchard and land. In return, the buffaloes get apple pies and apples.
Sound familiar?
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 5/1/2009
It didn't take long after the announcement of Hasbro and Discovery's new kids' channel for advocacy groups to come out to voice their concerns against the joint venture. From a statement released by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free... Read the rest of this post
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By: Gregory Gunther,
on 3/30/2009
I'm getting in just under the wire, but here is 'My Little Pony' illustration. I used my signature skewed design. And of course it has to be pink.
By: FrankenBarry,
on 3/28/2009
Bonus post for: "My Little Pony"
Where are they now? It was off to the glue factory for Pinkie Pie after she crashed, and burned during the final lap of the My little Derby.
© 2009 Barry/Right-Hemisphere Laboratory
My Blog
By: Jay,
on 3/27/2009
By: Jack Foster,
on 3/23/2009
I don't really have a mustang...but if I did......
By: mike r. baker,
on 3/23/2009
By: Jutta,
on 3/23/2009
Bubbles was racing down the hill looking for a muddy spot to fall in. She stopped suddenly and laughed. "What a silly sight," she said. Hanging upside down in a tree like a monkey was Applejack. "How did you get up there?" asked Bubbles. Applejack whinnied in embarrassment. "I was jumping for apples. I jumped so high that I caught my heels on the branch." Bubbles sighed. "Your appetite for apples is always getting you in trouble, Applejack!" Then she helped Applejack out of the tree, and was treated to a fine red apple from her thankful friend.
Quote from here
By: elvia montemayor,
on 3/20/2009
By: FrankenBarry,
on 3/20/2009
"My Pretty Maggot, my Pretty Maggot, brush and comb her hair..."
An adorable baby horsefly... almost a pony! Also available: My Pretty Earwig, My Pretty Hissing Cockroach, My Pretty Head Louse, and My Pretty Dung Beetle... collect 'em all!
© 2009 Barry/Right-Hemisphere Laboratory
By: aeneadellaluna,
on 3/20/2009
Tony and Josh. The old Bendis Board alumni. glad to hear that both of you are still cranking it out.
‘
Congrats, guys.
–ron ‘Shwicaz’ thibodeau