Update #13
January 18th, 2007 - My Must Read Stories feature returns for round #13 and we're playing a little catch-up as it's been a couple weeks. In this column, I work to tie together a solid taste of not-to-be-missed comic blog reading (or in some cases just plain fun links) from across the web and boil them down to 13 topics I think are worth highlighting and sometimes commenting on. So, without further delay, onward to our very latest set of 13...
State of the Industry- The Comics Reporter [link] is back after a rough bought of internet woes over the holidays (returning January 5th) and we're glad to be reading their column once again! In one recent and quite interesting update [link], they've pointed out that ComicsPRO has released a position paper on convention sales of comic books. Comics Worth Reading [link] calls it a bully tactic and Alan David Doane does some great follow-up [link] summing up several perspectives. Also worth reading is Doane's article on the future of comics [link] which was just posted today.
Wizard Shakes up Keith Giffen - Giffen used to have a column at Wizard. He now has a column at CBR. His explanation of why that's the case [link] is serious not-to-be-missed reading.
Writer's Strike Takes Out ComicCon? - Everyone has been talking about how the Hollywood Writer's Strike may impact the San Diego ComicCon. The issue was first raised over on The Beat by Peter Sanderson [link] and was followed by conversation at EW [link], Wired [link], The Beat [link] and ComicMix [link, link] before being finally put to rest by the San Diego Union-Tribune [link]. Tempering fears as well is the fact that hotels for the Con are already starting to sell out [link].
Wind Blows In A New Direction! - Boom! Studios North Wind has broken new ground over the past couple weeks proving that a title can simultaneously launch on-line and in print and benefit from the experience. In this case that benefit was a complete and speedy sell out! Could this have some reevaluating their take on internet distribution? Here are a few articles looking at the topic from Blog@Newsarama [link, link, link, link, link] and the Beat [link, link]. There are others, but these seemed to cover the topic best.
Get your Who on - Are you a fan of the modern Doctor Who series? Do you find yourself looking to the past for some perspective on the series? We advise you visit the DIY Doctor Who DVD Guide [link] at Blog THIS! Pal. I'm working my way through Gordon's viewing plan and I'm having a blast digging into this classic series.
Wonder Woman does Playboy - Sure, we can't get a quality Wonder Woman film (which I'm confident Whedon would have written given free reign) or a dependable comic series but we can certainly see her nude in Playboy. The controversial issue depicting models dressed as the Amazonian princess with painted costumes hits newsstands with the February 2008 issue. The issue isn't nearly as interesting as the discussion of women in comics which has sprung up around the blogesphere. Let's lead with Laura Hudson's post [link] over a Myriad Issues. She ties in several articles. Mike Sterling [link] makes the interesting point that significantly more people will see this cover in one month than an entire year of the comic Wonder Woman series.
Publicity Seekers - Okay, ComicScout calls it by a different name [link], but their recent post charting which creators are getting interviewed by the mainstream comic news sites struck me as interesting.
Talking with Paul Levitz - I'm dipping a bit back into December, but if you missed Newsarama's conversation with DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz, you should jump back and give both part 1 [link] and part 2 [link] a read. Interesting that Marvel's Dan Buckley wasn't willing to engage in a similar talk.
Printer Woes - The Beat (and other sites) is reporting [link] that Quebecor (Canadian printers that produce most Marvel, DC, and Image comics) is in a serious financial crisis. Newsarama [link] explains why this won't have a large impact on big three.
How could they miss us? - Sadly (though not entirely unexpectedly) Comic Related didn't make EW's list of the 100 Greatest Websites [link]. There's always next year. On the up side The Beat, Comics 101 and Newsarama did!
No Oscar for Persepolis - In what many view as a serious sub [link] Persepolis was left out of the animated category for this year's Oscars. Bad Oscars, bad!
The Big Three - It's worth noting that Dave Sim, Terry Moore and Jeff Smith are all returning with new series in 2008. Yet Another Comics Blog [link] is calling 2008 a make-or-break year for self publishing. I can't say I agree as I think self publishing is the future of comics (especially in this new net revolution) but that's an article for another day.
Start A Webcomic - Here are 50 tools [link] to make it happen.
Until next time, cheers!
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