Got $100,000 or so to Spend on Comics?
Hey, we're in the middle of a recession and all, but you never know what people have lying around in their wallets. Or in their attics. Take this Dallas man, Ralph Chicorel, who was just recently reported to be holding on to some very special comic gems. Turns out that Ralph, now 78, has been collecting for a very long time and has copies of such classics as Batman #1 and Marvel Mystery Comics #9.
-- John HoganGraphic Novel Day at BEA
If you're in the New York area, or if you're planning on coming in for BookExpo America, don't miss out on the graphic novel content during the weekend. Saturday's program Hot Fall Graphic Novels for Libraries (from 2:30 to 3:30) looks promising. I haven't seen any other programs that seem to be graphic- or manga-specific, but if I hear of any others, I'll post them here. But even without the programs, graphic novels will be a big part of the weekend, with several comics and manga publishers well-represented at the expo.
-- John HoganThe Green Hornet Returns
Dynamite Entertainment has announced not only that they will be bringing the Green Hornet back to comics, but also that they have a great lineup of talent ready to do it. Director Kevin Smith (a longtime comics fan) is set to write it (nice job there), and the artists look amazing too: Alex Ross, John Cassaday, and David Finch.
Batman and Robin: Together Again for the First Time
I've been enjoying the new Brave and the Bold series on Cartoon Network, mostly because it's a playful escape from the deadly serious Batman (why so serious, indeed), but also because it has a nice respect for comics history within its stories. Little touches make all the difference for longtime fans.
X-Men Animated DVDs Now Out
Back in the '90s, before live-action feature films starring Batman, Spider-Man, and the X-Men were all the rage, comics fans relied on animation for their video fixes. And while comic books have long been a staple of Saturday morning cartoon fare, the animated features in the '90s took on new life, with more serious storytelling, better animation, and a general leap in quality (see the animated Superman and Batman series for other examples).
The New Yorker Previews the New Clowes
The New Yorker has a peek at the new book Daniel Clowes is working on. After Ghost World and David Boring, everyone is eager to see what Clowes has up his sleeve next. This one sounds pretty interesting: a commentary on the nuclear family that parodies the Sunday funnies. No release date for this yet, not even a title at this point, but it's good to see Daniel out there and to hear that he's working on something new.
-- John HoganA Little Wolverine Talk
Chris Claremont prefers his Wolverine little. He revealed tonight at MoCCA's discussion on Wolverine: Inside the World of the Living Weapon that he prefers to think of Logan the way he was envisioned way back in the mid-'70s: as about a 5'3" guy with serious animalistic issues. But other than that, Claremont noted, the 6'4" Hugh Jackman does an excellent job bringing Wolverine to life on the movie screen.
Claremont and Manning Discuss Wolverine
The Wolverine hits keep on coming, and it's about to get really interesting with a very special event upcoming at the Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art (MoCCA). MoCCA is a great local institution here in Manhattan devoted to preserving and promoting the comic art form. Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29th, they're presenting Chris Claremont and Matthew K. Manning in a candid conversation about Wolverine, taking place from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at MoCCA's Soho location
-- John HoganPryde and Glory
Kitty Pryde has done her part to help save the world ever since she was 13, when she joined the X-Men. Now she's helping fight hemophilia! More than 70 artists have contributed their own takes on Kitty Pryde for a special auction that will benefit the Oregon Hemophilia Treatment Center. The auction is being sponsored by Portland's Floating World Comics, which is where the event will be held on Thursday, May 7th, from 6 to 10 p.m. The shop is located at 20 NW 5th Ave., #101.
Dublin the Fun
It's my first time in Dublin, and of course I couldn't resist visiting a comics shop here. Thanks to Stephen Robson from Fanfare UK and reader Tara for 
pointing me in the right direction of some great places. Today, I stopped by Forbidden Planet on Compton Quay and picked up some things. Nice store! And nice to see that it was so crowded on a lazy Friday afternoon. It always makes me happy to see a comics shop doing brisk business.
