The Titles of Fall
Diamond's John Shableski hosted a panel on the Hot Fall Graphic Novels this Saturday at BEA. He was joined onstage by librarians Eva Volin, Christian Zabriskie, Jesse Karp, and Barbara Moon, and together the panel put together a very comprehensive list of the biggest books coming this fall. Thanks to them all for putting together such a nice spectrum of titles, and for conveniently grouping them according to age group. Here's the complete list of graphic novels they picked.
Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith (3–6)
-- John HoganStitches Is the Big Book at BEA
I'm enjoying BookExpo America a great deal and will post more about it later, particularly the graphic novel panel that took place yesterday. But first, three quick thoughts about the presence of graphic novels and manga at the show.
Top Shelf 2.0 Turns 1
Congratulations to Top Shelf for the one-year anniversary of its webcomic anthology Top Shelf 2.0! The site is posting a new comic every day from Monday through Friday, a huge endeavour considering it's got some of the most eclectic and interesting material, ranging from kids' stuff to adult fare. Go there and be sure to check out Kagan McLeod's Infinite Kung Fu series, a fun ride with gorgeous art to boot.
-- John HoganCheck the Booths at BEA
Going to BookExpo America this weekend? I am, and I’m looking forward to walking away with a lot of free books. (Just being honest here.) I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the comic publishers present there and meeting both Robert Kirkman and Frank Cho from Image.
-- John HoganSome Recommended Reading
I recently managed to get around to a book I've had for a while: Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft. It's by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez and published by IDW, and aside from being a nice little tribute to H.P. Lovecraft, it's got some of the most genuinely chilling and creepy moments in comics in a long time. The second and third pages alone were just plain frightening, and the book is made even scarier by the little nuances the creators throw in along the way.
As Seen on TV
I continue to be impressed by Iron Man: Armored Adventures. The Nicktoons show employs some incredibly impressive animation. I wasn't sure I'd like it at first, but it turns out it's sensational. The animation techniques are beautifully done, with an amazing array of depth and texture giving the series a great look. The writing lives up to the art too, and I like the vocal cast a lot; they're not overdone the way some animated series can be. Iron Man's been paired up with Wolverine and the X-Men, another series I love.
-- John HoganGot $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.
