 |
GraphicNovelReporter.com
Newsletter |
November 18, 2011 |
|
Quick Links to Features on Graphic Novel Reporter
|
|
|
Good People to Talk To
|
|
 One of my favorite things about editing GNR is the wealth of people I get to talk to on a weekly basis. This week, I was able to do interviews with two very different creators, both of whom represent how varied and far-reaching this graphic format is. First was Nate Powell, a writer/illustrator I’ve long admired and whose latest book, Any Empire, is brilliantly powerful. Reading it, I felt similar to how I did when I read Craig Thompson’s Habibi: This is an important book, one that you can hand to anyone who is unfamiliar with graphic novels but wants to get a sense of what they are capable of. It’s that kind of book, and it’s that good. It’s a look at how violence, even cartoony or comic-book violence, permeates our lives and informs our attitudes toward each other. I fully expect it to be a multiple Eisner Award nominee this year.
Next up was bestselling author P.C. Cast, who has crafted a very intense following with her House of Night prose series. The books deal with a teen vampire being schooled in the arts of her new undead life, and they have an incredible fan following. P.C. has recently begun creating comic books with Dark Horse, and rather than straight adaptations, these are “fill in the blank” books. They take place in between the prose books in the series, so they provide new stories, a new canon. They’re also drawn by one of my favorite artists, Joëlle Jones, who does this amazing, cinema-quality work.
It was definitely a pleasure interviewing both of these creators, and I hope you enjoy reading about them as well. If you’re a fan of either (or both!), you’re in for some pleasant surprises in their well-thought-out responses.
For the past few weeks, we’ve been running a special contest on GNR, allowing our readers to enter for a chance to win one of 100 free copies of the Twilight graphic novel. The contest ended this past week, and I’m happy to say the winners have been notified of their big winnings. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who entered. I hope everyone enjoys the book.
I’ve mentioned the upcoming Miami Book Fair in several past newsletters, and this week, the fair is actually upon us. I’m excited to be taking part in several comics-related events down there on Saturday and Sunday. Carol moderated the Day of Comics yesterday, which GNR sponsored. This special event had a lineup of speakers who can communicate regarding the issues affecting teachers and librarians (as well as comics in the classroom) today.
This was not just a day of talking theory about why comics work. Instead, presentations provided useful real-world applications for all attendees. The lineup included Jim Ottaviani (Feynman,Two-Fisted Science), Chris Wilson (The Graphic Classroom), Dr. Michael Bitz (The Comic Book Project) and Nadja Sailesman, director of services at the PS 175-NYC Mission Society in Harlem, NYC with a keynote from Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Level Up). (See the photo above of all the speakers with Carol.) Best of all, the entire daylong event was free. We also arranged through some of our publishing colleagues to have some terrific door prizes that were awarded at the end of the day’s events, which were so well received by the audience.
Many of the educators and librarians in the audience expressed appreciation for the program. Denise Dockstader, a fourth grade teacher from the Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, commented during one session that she "had gotten more ideas about writing in the last 30 minutes than she had elsewhere in six years of teaching." High praise indeed. We appreciate the audience members whose enthusiasm -- and great questions --- made the day fly by. Last night the entire team got together for dinner, and I could tell that everyone felt something pretty special had happened at the Day of Comics.
I’m also looking forward to the multiple panels I’ll be moderating. On Saturday at 12:30, I’ll have the distinct pleasure of introducing the Drawn & Quarterly Presents panel, featuring Seth, Adrian Tomine, and Daniel Clowes. On Sunday morning at 11:00, I’m heading up the panel Graphic Novels of 2011: Favorites and New Classics, featuring by Vera Brosgol (Anya’s Ghost), Jennifer Hayden (Underwire), Matt Phelan (Around the World), and Shannon Wheeler (Oil and Water, Too Much Coffee Man). Later that day, at 4:00 p.m., I’ll be hosting True Stories: Comics and Autobiography, a fun subject that’ll feature Jason Shiga (Empire State), Jennifer Hayden (Underwire), and Mark Kalesniko (Freeway). If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there! And be sure to check out the rest of the comics-related lineup at the Miami Book Fair by clicking here.
Scroll down to catch up on all the latest additions to GNR, including our new reviews and more. I hope you find some great new books to read and enjoy.
By the way, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like our home page on Facebook! We use those social media outlets to keep our fans fully aware of all our latest news and updates. It’s a great way to keep in touch.
Till next time…Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading!
John Hogan (john@bookreporter.com)
|
|
CREATOR INTERVIEW
The Empire Strikes Back: The Nate Powell Interview
|
Following up a book as moving and well-received as Swallow Me Whole would seem like a great challenge. It’s one that Nate Powell met with Any Empire, his broad, ambitious look at how violence permeates our society. We caught up with Nate to discuss what this book meant to him and the important message he wants to bring across with it. By John Hogan
|
Click here to read our interview with Nate Powell.
|
|
Cast Away: P.C. Cast on House of Night
|
|
Bestselling prose author P.C. Cast branches out into comics with her supernatural House of Night comics. But these aren't just adaptations of her popular books. Instead, these fill in the blanks in between books, offering new insights into her characters and her stories. Here's her take on working in comics. By John Hogan
|
Click here to read our interview with P.C. Cast.
|
|
BEYOND THE PAGES
Alexander Finbow
|
Writer, actor, director, and producer, and now heading up Renegade Entertainment, Alexander Finbow has led a diverse and exciting career. Starting up a comic book company, along with a host of other talented creators, is his latest endeavor, and perhaps the most exciting. We talked to him about what it takes to get a new comic company off the ground these days.
|
Click here to read our interview with Alexander Finbow.
|
|
EVENTS & CONVENTIONS
|
|
The Miami Book Fair is here! GNR has a great presence there, which began with the School of Comics on Thursday. The lineup for this big day included Gene Luen Yang, Jim Ottaviani, Chris Wilson, and Dr. Michael Bitz, and gave teachers rare insights into using comics in education. Even more comics-related content ensues over the weekend, including two panels moderated by GNR’s John Hogan. Get all the details for the fair here! |
Get all the details for all the comics programming for the Miami Book Fair here!
|
|
EXCERPT
Marksman
|
Sixty years ago, the oil ran out and debts were called in. Civil war followed, which splintered America into warring fiefdoms. New San Diego is a technocratic utopia that offers the last bastion of peace and prosperity, provided you live within its walls. Drake McCoy is its best protector. McCoy, an expert marksman, defends the city from the numerous threats in the wasteland outside the walls. But when the oil rich Lone Star state sends a powerful army to steal New San Diego's energy technology, even Drake's leadership and skill may not be enough to fend off the siege. Here's a preview of Marksman, by David Baxter, Dave Elliott, Javier Aranda, Garry Leach, and Jesica Kholine.
|
Click here to read our excerpt from Marksman.
|
|
NEW VIDEO TRAILERS ARE HERE!
|
New graphic novel trailers are out! Look for previews of Shame (featuring watercolor art from the legendary John Bolton!) and many more!
|
Click here to watch the videos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FICTION REVIEWS
|
Yiddishkeit edited by Paul Buhle and Harvey Pekar
Informative and imaginative, Yiddishkeit is an important and intriguing look into the past of Jewish culture, while providing inspiration for Jewish culture’s future. Reviewed by Brian Rubin
True Blood: Tainted Love by Marc Andreyko, Michael McMillian, Joe Corroney, and Stephen Molnar
Tainted synthetic blood brings out the worst in vampires who drink it, including Jessica, who’s trying to have a good night at a makeshift prom. Reviewed by Danica Davidson
Suicide Girls by Steve Niles, Brea Grant, Cameron Stewart, and David Hahn
Inspired by the website, Suicide Girls transports the blend of goth, punk, retro, "alternative"-styled pinup girls into the realm of sequential art. Not simply repackaged as adult comics, the graphic novel portrays the heroines as a covert, rebel organization fighting a global war against an oppressive, autocratic regime. Reviewed by Nathan Wilson
|
Click here to read all our fiction reviews.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| TEEN REVIEWS |
Halcyon by Marc Guggenheim, Tara Butter, Ryan Bodenheim, and Mark Englert
Creating yet another superhero team is a risky venture, but writers Marc Guggenheim and Tara Butters manipulate the often static stereotypes in new and fascinating ways with Halcyon. Reviewed by Nathan Wilson
Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and Other Steam-Powered Stories by various
Valve Presents is a crossover between two popular forms of media that have always had a hard time seeing eye-to-eye. And though this collection would be great fun for people who’ve never played the three video games from which each story takes its elements, experienced gamers who’ve spent lots of time in these comics’ digital worlds are in for a treat: comics that not only accurately capture the fun of these games, but also add to the experience of the games themselves. Reviewed by Brian Rubin
Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad by Evan Dorkin
For 23 years, Evan Dorkin has angrily and intermittently created a series of ultra-violent comic strips featuring the aptly named Milk and Cheese, a couple of food products with human faces who are filled with more rage and hatred than a single printed page could possibly contain. Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad collects their entire legacy into one seething, cathartic package. Reviewed by Colin David
|
Click here to read our teen reviews.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| COMING SOON: November 16th and November 23rd |
|
Here’s what is out this week...and next!
November 16
Bad Doings, Big Ideas: A Bill Willingham Deluxe Edition
Vertigo
Batman and Robin, Vol. 2: Batman vs. Robin
DC Comics
Batman: No Man’s Land, Vol. 1
DC Comics
The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks
2000 A.D.
Deadpool Team-up, Vol. 3: BFFs
Marvel Comics
Deadpool, Vol. 7: Space Oddity
Marvel Comics
Doc Bizarre MD
Image Comics
Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life
IDW Publishing
Dreamer, Vol. 2
IDW Publishing
Flash: The Road to Flashpoint
DC Comics
Gladstones School for World Conquerors, Vol. 1
Image Comics
Green Lantern: War of the Green Lanterns
DC Comics
Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners, Vol. 4
Marvel Comics
The Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine
Marvel Comics
MPD-Psycho, Vol. 10
Dark Horse
Richelle Mead: Dark Swan Storm Born, Vol. 1
Sea Lion Books
Scalped, Vol. 8, You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
Vertigo
Skullkickers, Vol. 2: Five Funerals and a Bucket of Blood
Image Comics
Snake Eyes, Vol. 1
IDW Publishing
Thor: World Eaters
Marvel Comics
Thunder Agents, Vol. 1
DC Comics
Ultimate Comics Doomsday
Marvel Comics
Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and Other Steam-Powered Stories
Dark Horse
Wally Wood: Strange Worlds of Science Fiction
Vanguard Productions
Wasteland, Vol. 6: The Enemy Within
Oni Press
Wolverine and Black Cat: Claws 2
Marvel Comics
November 23
Batgirl, Vol. 3: The Lesson
DC Comics
Batman: The Black Mirror
DC Comics
Battlestar Galactica: Origins Omnibus
Dynamite Entertainment
Boys, Vol. 9: Big Ride
Dynamite Entertainment
The Complete Invincible Library, Vol. 3
Image Comics
The Definitive Flash Gordon & Jungle Jim, Vol. 1
IDW Publishing
5 Ronin
Marvel Comics
Fly, Vol. 1
Zenescope Entertainment
Garth Ennis: Complete Battlefields, Vol. 1
Dynamite Entertainment
Gotham City Sirens, Vol. 2: Song of the Sirens
DC Comics
Green Lantern Omnibus, Vol. 2
DC Comics
Grimm Fairy Tales: Sinbad
Zenescope Entertainment
Kato Origins, Vol. 2: Hellfire Club
Dynamite Entertainment
Lovecraft Library, Vol. 1: Horror Out of Arkham
IDW Publishing
The Mighty Thor by Fraction, Vol. 1
Marvel Comics
Nightly News Anniversary Edition
Image Comics
Richard Stark’s Parker: The Martini Edition
IDW Publishing
Preacher, Book 5
Vertigo
Rocketeer Jetpack Treasury Edition
IDW Publishing
Showcase Presents Batman, Vol. 5
DC Comics
Skaar, King of the Savage Land
Marvel Comics
Sonic the Hedgehog Select, Vol. 4: Zone Wars
Archie Comics
Spider-Man: The Origin of the Hobgoblin
Marvel Comics
Super Dinosaur, Vol. 1
Image Comics
Thor: Heaven and Earth
Marvel Comics
Ultimate Comics: Captain America
Marvel Comics
Ultimate Comics: The Death of Spider-Man: Fallout
Marvel Comics
Uncanny X-Force: The Dark Angel Saga, Book 1
Marvel Comics
|
Click here to see what's coming soon!
|
|
|
|
