Thursday, January 10, 2008

Starting Off Strong in 2008

Shameless plug and tooting-of-one's-own-horn warning:
Comics & Classics gets a write-up in Diamond Comic Distributor's retailer's magazine Dialogue this week. In "Retailers: Things Look Great in 2008," Comics & Classics is profiled, along with five other retailers, who reveal their plans for growing the market and pleasing their customers.

In 2008, Comics & Classics will offer free art classes for youth ages 13 - 18 and a summer writing program.

Publishers Weekly Comics Week's critics have voted for top honors in 2007 and Rutu Modan's Exit Wounds and Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together come out on top with five votes each. Followed closely (with four votes) by All-Star Superman Vol 1, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier, I Killed Adolf Hitler, Shooting War, and Tekkon Kinkreet: Black and White. Read more at http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6514737.html
Or, go to Jeff Jensen's article in Entertainment Weekly Online, "The Best Comics of 2007."
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20167020,00.html

Marvel to release The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home #1

Writers Peter David & Robin Furth and artists Jae Lee & Richard Isanove reunite for the five-issue limited series based on Stephen King's bestselling epic that begins where the The Gunslinger Born left off. The series has been wildly successful and drawn in new readers to the comic medium.

With other writers, such as Jodi Picoult (Wonder Woman: Love and Murder) and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasures and the introduction of other cultures and stories, such as the line of comics from Virgin Comics and their Nick Cage Voodoo Child, Ed Burns' Dock Walloper, and now even Jenna Jameson has a comic out, Shadow Hunter, it seems like everyone is wanting to jump into the comic arena. Which, though great in the short terms, hopefully has long-term positive effects on the market. It is questionable whether the comic-inspired movies have had a real effect on sales of actual comic books or trades. It is nice to see more comic lines on the racks.

Post your comments on Jensen's best comics in 2007 and your nominations. What did you enjoy in 2007? Lately, I've heard raves about DC's "Simon Dark" and Vertigo's "Army @ Love."

If you live in Jacksonville, pick up the Jan. 10th issue of E U Newspaper and read the article "Locally Inked" about our friends of AlphaCat Comics. We look forward to the release of their books at the Orlando 2008 MegaCon in March (more at http://www.alphacatcomics.com/).