Gene Colan, Alex Robinson, Rags Morales, and Sean McKeever Come to Baltimore!

Straight repro of their press release, but isn't it great that Gene Colan is well enough to attend?:

Gene Colan, Alex Robinson, Rags Morales, and Sean McKeever Come to Baltimore!

Baltimore, Maryland - August 11, 2008 - The Baltimore Comic-Con has just added 4 more guests to its already-packed list of attendees!

Gene Colan (Daredevil, Tomb of Dracula), Alex Robinson (Too Cool to be Forgotten, Box Office Poison), Rags Morales (Identity Crisis, Batman Confidential), and Sean McKeever (Teen Titans, Countdown) have all signed on to attend 2008's Baltimore Comic-Con.

"It's an honor and a privilege to welcome Genial Gene Colan to our show," said show promoter Marc Nathan, "and it's a real pleasure to have Alex, Rags, and Sean as returning guests this year!"

A full list of retailers can now be found on our website.

Swamp Thing co-creator and Frankenstein artist Bernie Wrightson will be the show's Guest of Honor.

He headlines a guest list that includes, in alphabetical order, Michael Bair (Identity Crisis, 52), Kyle Baker (Nat Turner, The Bakers), Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, Secret Invasion), Ivan Brandon (NYC Mech, Marvel Comics Presents), Buzz (JSA), Jim Calafiore (Exiles, Countdown), Dennis Calero (X-Factor, Countdown), Tommy Castillo (Grimm Fairy Tales, Kong: King of Skull Island), Howard Chaykin (Wolverine, American Flagg), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Darwyn Cooke (New Frontier, The Spirit), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Mighty Avengers), Steve Conley (Star Trek, The Escapist), Amanda Conner (Green Arrow/Black Canary, JSA Classified), Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts, Tellos), Steve Dillon (Punisher, Preacher), David Finch (World War Hulk, New Avengers), Ramona Fradon (Aquaman, Mermaidman and Barnacleboy), John Gallagher (Buzzboy, Roboy Red), Ron Garney (Wolverine, Skaar: Son of Hulk), Michael Golden (Micronauts, The 'Nam), Bryan J.L. Glass (Mice Templar), Mike Grell (John Sable, Iron Man), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle, Black Lightning), Dean Haspiel (American Splendor, Brawl), Adam Hughes (Catwoman), Stuart Immonen (Ultimate Spider-Man), Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Action Comics), J.G. Jones (52, Wonder Woman), Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Ultimate X-Men), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man, Empire), Rich Koslowski (Marvel Comics Presents, Sonic the Hedgehog), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Image EIC), Jim Lee (All Star Batman & Robin, Wildcats), Norman Lee (Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane), the Luna Brothers (The Sword, Girls), David Mack (Kabuki, Daredevil), Mark McKenna (Banana-Tail, Annihilation: Conquest), Bob McLeod (New Mutants, Spider-Man), Pop Mhan (Blank, Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Mike Mignola (Hellboy, Disney's Atlantis), Mark Morales (Civil War, Secret Invasion), Phil Noto (Danger Girl, Jonah Hex), Michael Avon Oeming (Mice Templar, Powers), Mike Okamoto (Hellraiser, Chaos! Quarterly), Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate X-Men, Strange), Eric Powell (The Goon), Tom Raney (Annihilation: Conquest, Ultimate Secrets), James Robinson (Superman, JSA), John Romita Sr. (Amazing Spider-Man), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts, X-Men: First Class), Andy Runton (Owly), Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween, Heroes), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man, Feast of the Seven Fishes), Jim Shooter (Legion of Super-Heroes), John K. Snyder III (Grendel), Mark Sparacio (Heroes for Hire, Captain Action), Robert Tinnell (EZ Street), Peter Tomasi (Nightwing, Green Lantern Corps), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Timothy Truman (Conan, Grimjack), Billy Tucci (Shi, Sgt. Rock - The Lost Battalion), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest, The Wicked West), Matt Wagner (Zorro, Grendel), Mark Waid (Flash, Boom! Studios), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster, Mighty Motor Sapiens), Ron Wilson (The Thing), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

The Harvey Awards will return to the Baltimore Comic-Con for the third consecutive year. The awards dinner and ceremony will be held Saturday night, September 27, 2008, following the convention's normal hours. As in 2007, the first 300 paid attendees and honorees at the 2008 Harvey Awards Ceremonies will receive a Hollywood-style bag of swag. Last year's bag included The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales - Volume 1 from Gemstone Publishing, a complete base set of the soon-to-be-released Jericho Season One trading cards from Inkworks, an exclusive pin from AdHouse Books, a Comic-Con exclusive edition of 30 Days of Night: Red Snow 1 from IDW Publishing, a Toon Tumbler from Popfun Merchandising, and an exclusive Harvey Awards keychain from LaserMach. Final ballots are presently online at www.harveyawards.org. Kyle Baker will return as Master of Ceremonies for the evening's events.

Tickets are now available for sale. For more information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, email cardscomicscollectilbes@yahoo.com or call (410) 526-7410. The guest list, ticket information, directions, and other information can be found on the convention's website or on its MySpace page.

For more information about the Harvey Awards, including sponsorship opportunities, e-mail baltimorecomiccon@yahoo.com.

Local Maryland family creates comic magazine

In addition to Bash!, JJ Express is a magazine based in suburban Maryland for and by children - see "Brother and sister team up to create literary magazine: Wootton High duo wants youth to affect social change," by Erin Donaghue, The Gazette August 1 2008. Jack and Jenny Chen created the magazine and it's available for order online. The current issue has a comic strip on radium women workers which interests me.

Washington City Paper Cover Illustration

Today's City Paper cover story is illustrated by Danny Hellman.

OT: Comic book books by my friends

Gene Kannenberg's got his book "500 Essential Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide" out - he didn't write or pick all of the entries as the publisher had a strong voice in this - but I'm sure there's plenty to pick a fight with him about it it anyway.

Similarly, Paul Gravett's The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics appeared in my comics store today. There's a long interview with Paul on the Forbidden Planet blog.

Buy them both - you won't be sorry.

Jason Rodriguez and Chris Piers Article

Jason Rodriguez and Chris Piers are featured in an article about careers - "Getting Ahead: The Write Stuff," by Rachel Kaufman Express, August 13, 2008.

http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/08/wednesday_getting_ahead_the_write_stuff.php

Over in the Examiner, they note Jim Henson's career, including some of his works as a University of Maryland student cartoonist along with the Muppets, are on exhibit at the Smithsonian's Ripley Center (the underground one). The article isn't online.

The Pekar book uncorrected proof

I visited John Lent's house to look at his collection of books yesterday, along with librarians (small l!) of Congress Sara and Martha and our Secret History of Comics poster Warren Bernard. John's the publisher of the International Journal of Comic Art so he had a advance uncorrected proof of the Pekar book and I got to see it for the first time.

How's that for an author photo?!

Publishers Weekly on Baltimore's Otakon

See "Fans Flock to Baltimore's Otakon," By Kai-Ming Cha and Erin Finnegan, PW Comics Week August 12, 2008.

OT: New National Geographic exhibit and book

Mark Jenkins, a buddy of mine at National Geographic, has a new exhibit on photographers going up in the lobby of the building at 16th and M St, NW. Here's blurb for the book that will follow later:

ODYSSEYS AND PHOTOGRAPHS (ISBN: 978-1-4262-0172-1; Nov. 11, 2008; $40) chronicles the rich and surprising history of four iconic National Geographic field men -- Maynard Owen Williams, Luis Marden, Volkmar Wentzel and Thomas Abercrombie -- told by those who knew them best, along with 200 stellar images, many never before published.

Comics blogs proliferate at media sites

I guess all the superhero movies have gotten old media paying attention to comics. The Wall Street Journal has run an astounding amount of articles on them lately for example. Blogs at major media sites specifically on comics are popping up like superhero movies too.

I've linked to the new Washington Post Comic Riffs, Zadzooks at the Washington Times and Examiner blogs recently, but there's some other new ones popping up, like the Los Angeles Times Hero Complex which just celebrated a birthday - Hero Complex: The first month, Aug 12 2008.

One I just found today is MTV's Splash Page - of which they claim, "You've turned the page to the place where panels and popcorn meet. From coverage of comic-inspired flicks to that buzzed-about graphic novel that's being primed for the big-screen, you'll find it all here at MTV's Splash Page. Check throughout the day for breaking news, exclusive chats with Hollywood stars and comic legends, and first looks at the blockbusters of tomorrow."

Steve Duin's blog at the Oregonian has been going a while, but is one of the best.

OT: Aug 12, 14: Crime writer George Pelecanos appearances

One of Washington's best crime fiction writers, George Pelecanos, will be speaking tonight at Politics and Prose in DC at 7 pm (202-364-1919) and on Thursday at 7:30 pm at Borders in Bailey's Crossroads just outside of Arlington (703-998-0404). Pelecanos is also known for his writing on the tv show The Wire, but his novels have all been set in DC and are full of the region outside of the monuments. The City Paper has a cover story article on him by Mark Athitakis, who said such nice things about this blog, and the Express has an online interview in which he says, "When I'm writing, I'm writing for Washingtonians."

I'll be going to the Thursday signing at Borders if anyone wants to meet up.

Cavna's Luckovich interview

Missed this one last Friday somehow - "The Interview: Political Cartoonist Mike Luckovich," Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (August 8).

Examiner starts comics blog too

I think this one is based out of Texas, but Brian Steinberg is writing the Comics Examiner blog as of August 6th apparently. He links to Cavna's Comic Riffs blog, but through a Houston paper link.

Express recommends anime program at Smithsonian

... In the "Anime: Young Artists Residency" program, from Aug. 11 to Aug. 14 in the Sackler Gallery. See "Beyond Pokemon: Anime for Young Artists," by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi, Express.com (August 11 2008).

Frank Cho interview

Maryland cartoonist Frank Cho spoke to Newsarama recently - "Frank Cho Re-Ups with Marvel for Exclusive," By Benjamin Ong Pang Kean, Newsarama 2008-07-29.

Make Mine Marvel - 1968!

I bought an interesting book today at the local con - The Full-Color Guide to Marvel Silver AGe Collectibles from M.M.M.S. to Marvelmania by J. Ballman (Totalmojo Productions, 2007, $29.95). I just love books like this that list the little-known byways of our hobby. As the title promises, this is full of color photographs of all the tchotchkes and merchandising Marvel did in the 1960s. There's stuff in here I never knew existed. Comics have never existed independently of merchandising, and this is a nice overview of Marvel's early modern years.

J. Ballman's from Maryland and is working on a 2nd edition of this book, but I'm glad I noticed and picked up this one. I'd recommend it to any Marvel or merchandising fan. I don't know if he goes to the Dunn Loring CapCon show regularly, but you can probably catch him there and check out some of the neat Marvel toys at his table too.

Brad Meltzer interview

Here's a longish (for Wizard) interview with our former local writer, "WIZARD Q&A: BRAD MELTZER
The best-selling author kills the DC Universe in 'Last Will and Testament' and tells the truth about his latest novel, 'The Book of Lies'" By Andy Serwin, 8/08/2008.

Suprise appearance by Pekar on NPR

Harvey speaks briefly in this "Remembering The Birth Of Superman," by Daniel Barnett,
National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Saturday, August 9, 2008.

Time-Warner about to get it wrong again?

An extensive article discusses possible plans by Time-Warner, the behemoth that owns DC Comics as well as Batman - according to this article "Holy Cash Cow, Batman! Content Is Back," By TIM ARANGO, New York Times August 10, 2008, they're suddenly convinced that owning content and not distribution systems is the way to make money.

The article, and perhaps the chief executive, seem to miss the point. First we read:

For now, Mr. Bewkes is staking the company’s future on three big content providers: Warner Brothers, Turner Broadcasting (which includes TNT, TBS and CNN) and HBO. To ramp things up on the entertainment front, he’s also been overseeing internal discussions about acquisitions in film and television — including a possible takeover of NBC Universal, should its parent, General Electric, decide to sell, according to executives and bankers who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose details of the discussions.

and then this follows:

It is less clear how the Time Inc. unit, which publishes magazines like Time, People, In Style, Fortune and Sports Illustrated, meshes with Mr. Bewkes’s strategy. According to Time Warner insiders, the company is likely to shrink the publishing unit to just a handful of the most profitable titles. Some analysts predict that Time Warner might try to sell the publishing unit en masse, but only if market conditions improve.

I'm not sure what that means for DC Comics, but I think it's worth noting that Warner Bros. wouldn't have had Batman to make a movie about if it wasn't for the comic book company. They've already sold Warner Books, presumably another source of content and one that is doing graphic novels now.

Pay me a few million dollars and I'll come up with some good ideas like making cable companies profitable by providing good service and shows people want to see.

Legendary comic book store owner Greg Bennett makes recommendations

So I popped over to Zadzooks' new Washington Times website to add a link over there on the right and was startled to find "Legendary comic book store owner Greg Bennett provides a pair of recommendations for comic book lovers every week." So far he's provided recs for August 3, July 27, July 20 and July 13.

Geez. I don't know why I even started this blog. Greg runs the Georgetown Big Planet these days, and I probably see him once a month. But do I hear about this? Noooo...

Zadzooks on DC's Chemistry Set comic book writer

See "ZADZOOKS: Chemistry Set writer Dougan has lots of stories to tell," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, August 7, 2008.