Big Planet Comics interview

Greg Bennett, one of the owners of the Big Planet Comics chain, agreed to answer some questions for us in the wake of Big Monkey's closing.

Big Monkey Comics, in their closing announcement said, "It wasn't Galactus, Lex Luthor, or Dr. Doom that defeated us, but simple dollars and cents. The economy has adversely affected so many people, and we are the latest casualty." Has the economy affected the Big Planet chain?

Of course. We've had to adjust our business model with the times. Mostly we're not selling as many big-ticket items as we did before last September. But overall, we're doing just fine. Recession isn't really a bad time to be in the escapism business, if you think about it.

There are 4 Big Planet stores - 2 in suburban Maryland (Bethesda and College Park), 1 in DC (Georgetown) and 1 in Virginia (Vienna). Do you see a different clientele for the stores?

As you would imagine, spanning from suburban Northern Virginia to the university town of College Park, our clienteles are a bit varied, and there are some different seasonal fluctuations as well. But all four stores carry the same core product--good comics for people who like to read good comics--ranging from super-hero to indy.

Are comics about to top out their price again, with Marvel's raise to $3.99 per comic?

You know as much as I do. DC is at least making sure that all of their $3.99 comics have extra content that justifies the price. I think Marvel is testing the market to see if it will bear $3.99 for a standard 32-page comic.

What's selling the best now? The worst?

The best--Batman and Robin by Morrison and Quitely, Blackest Night by Geoff Johns, et al. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. Anything by Bendis, Brubaker, or Jason Aaron at Marvel. Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead and Invincible at Image. The Darwyn Cooke Parker: The Hunter GN and Asterios Polyp by David Mazzuchelli were also really big for us.

The worst--mostly extraneous mini-series by no-name creators from Marvel, and DC to a lesser extent. People are definitely not looking for more side titles to buy during the recession.

Any comments on the Disney purchase of Marvel? Any guess as to effects on comics?

Let's just say that I don't think Disney will do anything to adversely affect the value of Marvel, since they're over-paying by close to a billion dollars. And if you look at what they've done with Pixar, I think that's turned out quite well for both companies.

Any comments on DC's conversion to DC Entertainment and Paul Levitz's departure? Any guess as to effects on comics?

I don't really have a lot of information on that. My guess is that the trains will keep running more-or-less on time, and that there may be some more synergies utilized between the comics, movies, animation, and video games--probably a good thing in the long run. Paul's done a lot of great things at DC, and it sounds like he's going to continue to work with the comics there, just not as much on the administrative side. After 25+ years, he deserves a break.

Anything you're excited about coming out now?

Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys, and Monster, and Pluto--his take on Tezuka's Astro Boy. I'm not a big manga guy, but Urasawa is truly amazing. DC's weekly Wednesday Comics, Strange Tales from Marvel, Asterios Polyp, Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire, Little Lulu reprints in color from Dark Horse My guiltiest pleasure is the soap opera that is the current Superman family of titles, being written by James Robinson, Greg Rucka, and Sterling Gates--great fun, and a new chapter almost every week.

Anyone you're looking forward to seeing at SPX?

Gahan Wilson, 1980s RAW legend Jerry Moriarity, John Porcellino, Matt Kindt, whose new book 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man from Dark Horse should be out. Hans Rickheit, with his new book, The Squirrel Machine, and Josh Neufeld with his New Orleans A.D. GN. I was sad to hear that Jeff Lemire couldn't make it, but I think he has a new baby. And I'm hoping that Mark Burrier will bring some more skateboards.

Sept 14: Batman Begins in Crystal City

Crystal Screen - Superheroes

Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.

Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009

Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel

Event Fee:
Free

Hours:
Movies begin at sundown

Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.

CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.

Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.


Schedule


September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP

Another interview with Shawn Martinbrough

The former (current?) area resident is interviewed at "Talking Comics with Tim: Shawn Martinbrough," September 12, 2009 by Tim O'Shea

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 09-16-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-16-09

By John Judy

 

3 STORY: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE GIANT-MAN HC written and drawn by Matt Kindt.  No relation to Marvel's super, size-changing scientist, this is the story of the world's largest man who keeps growing until he no longer fits with his life or anyone in it.  Also growing until they no longer fit: certain metaphors.

 

AGENTS OF ATLAS #11 by Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman.  Dragons, ex-girlfriends and killer robots clash!  Big fight!

 

ARCHIE #601 by Michael Uslan and Stan Goldberg.  Part 2 of 6, in which Archie and Veronica continue their hypothetical future walk down the aisle.  Remember, gang: They're all imaginary stories.

 

BATGIRL #2 by Brian Q. Miller and Lee Garbett.  Batgirl #6 just knows she's gonna be different!  She's gonna make this work!

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #4 by Grant Morrison and Philip Tan.  Meet the Red Hood and Scarlet.  They think they're so tough…

 

BLACKEST NIGHT #3 of 8 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.  It's almost never a good time to be Firestorm the Nuclear Man.  I mean, you're wearing a poofy 70s shirt and your hair's on fire all the time.  Even so, at the moment it's especially not good.

 

BRAVE AND BOLD #27 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  JMS comes on board with a rip-snorting tale teaming the Dark Knight and…. Robbie Reed, the guy with the Dial H for Hero doo-hickey?  Dial A for Awesome!  Gotta look!

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #3 of 5 by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch.  Steve Rogers has come unstuck in time…  Plus, the Red Skull and Dr. Doom have a meeting of the minds.  A Nazi super-villain and the megalomaniac son of gypsies.  What could go wrong?  Recommended.

 

DARK AVENGERS #9 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.  Ares, God of War discovers his kid has been working for the enemy.  Hmm, how do Greek gods deal with their unruly kids again…?  Recommended.

 

DARK REIGN LIST DAREDEVIL ONE-SHOT by Andy Diggle and Billy Tan.    Norman Osborn sends Bullseye to kill Daredevil, which is sort of like sending George W. Bush to fix the economy.  Or anything else.  Might want to look deeper into that rolodex, Mr. O. 

 

EX MACHINA #45 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.  Hizzoner Mayor Mitchell Hundred has a new enemy and a mole in his team just in time for the final storyline to get underway.  Only five more issues to go until the end of yet another great series by Mr. Vaughan.  Recommended.

 

JOHN STANLEY LIBRARY: NANCY, VOL. 1 HC by John Stanley.  Collecting the comic adventures of Ernie Bushmiller's famous tyke as written by John Stanley, the iconic Little Lulu scribe who some have called the greatest children's comics writer of all time.

 

MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN #3 by Jonathan Mayberry and Jason Shawn Alexander.  Zombie Wolverine finds his way to the "land of the rising son."  No, not Nazareth!  Japan, silly!  Marvul kan makes tie-poz!

 

MIGHTY AVENGERS #29 by Christos Gage, Dan Slott and Khoi Pham.  Scarlet Loki's mask seems to be slipping further and further down his/her nose.  But will it be too late for Hank Pym and his band of rebels?

 

THOR ANNUAL #1 by Peter Millligan, Tom Grindberg and Mico Suayan.  Thor's been turned out of Asgard and now some old enemies want a word.  Hope they like the taste of hammer!

 

ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #1 of 4 by Warren Ellis and Steve Kurth.  Bad guys are trying to jack Ultimate Tony Stark's ride.  Un-cool, bad guys!  It's Ellis so expect lots of alcohol and pain.

 

WALKING DEAD #65 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard.  "Fear the Hunters" part 4 of 5.  In which we learn that non-zombie cannibals are way worse than zombie cannibals even if they don't smell as bad. Not for kids.

 

WEDNESDAY COMICS #11 of 12 by Various Creators.  Almost time for the huge oversize coffee-table collection!

 

X-FACTOR #48 by Peter David and Valentine DeLandro.  Okay, that's it.  Madrox the Multiple Man has simply got to start cleaning up his mutant duplicates!  I'm not normally one to judge but at least when I leave my laundry all over the floor it doesn't develop a will of its own and start trying to kill my teammates.  Just sayin'…

 

X-MEN: LEGACY ANNUAL #1 by Mike Carey, Daniel Acuna and Mirco Pierfederici.  This sort of begs the question: How much legacy can you have if you're only up to your first annual?  But at least it has a cover drawing of Wolverine that looks like he's a fan-boy in a costume contest.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Comic-Book Fan Adam Besenyodi

 2009 Fall for the Book festival  (www.fallforthebook.org) in Fairfax:

3:00pm

 Comic-Book Fan Adam Besenyodi

When: Tue, September 22, 3pm – 4pm

Where: Grand Tier III, Center for the Arts, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, Virginia 22030 (map)

Description: Besenyodi discusses his new book, Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic-Book Fan, praised by Wired as a "a great study in emotional psychology and the things in life that really get our brains ticking and our hearts pumping."

Cory Thomas interview

Scott Nickel has 20 Questions with Cory Thomas at his A Nickel's Worth blog Thursday, September 10, 2009. Thomas, whose strip is in the Post, used to be a cartoonist at Howard University.

Post doesn't like Whiteout, 9

Whiteout is based on Greg Rucka and Steve Leiber's graphic novel, which I enjoyed. However, the Post's review begins ""Whiteout" is so staggeringly bad that it achieves a kind of transcendent poetry." For more, read "Kate Beckinsale in 'Whiteout': Darkness Falls on Antarctica," By Dan Zak, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, September 11, 2009.

Cavna's review of '9' was sent to the Weekend ghetto (perhaps by him?), a section sadly diminished and rarely worth looking at now. To see what he wrote, go to "Animation That Thrills The Eyes, Not the Heart," Michael Cavna, Washington Post Friday, September 11, 2009. The Times wasn't too fond of it either - "Caught Between Ice and a Coldblooded Killer," By A. O. SCOTT, New York Times September 11, 2009.

Third Eye Comics of Annapolis featured

Third Eye Comics of Annapolis is featured on Graphic Novel Reporter - "Bestseller Lists September 9, 2009: Annapolis, MD," September 10 2009, listing their top-selling comics.

John Kovaleski's Shelf Porn includes Harvey Pekar: Conversations

John and I have communicated back and forth a bit after meeting at SPX. We swapped books, and I see Harvey Pekar: Conversations on his signed book shelf at "Send Us Your Shelf Porn!" by Chris Mautner,* September 9, 2009. Chris notes that John has a new book he'll be selling at SPX, and he's usually got some minicomics too - I'll be stopping by his table.

I love looking at pictures of people's libraries, but this is the first time they've looked back. So to speak.


*I also know Chris from the late, lamented Comix@ mailing list.

Baltimore City Paper 8th comics contest out

The current issue of the Baltimore City Paper has the results of its 8th comics contest.

Ullman covers City Paper!

Rob Ullman returns to do an illustration for the Washington City Paper! I've really missed his work - I don't even read Savage Love anymore without Rob's drawing to pull me in.

PR: Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter as Guests for SPX 2009

Small Press Expo Announces Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter  as Guests for SPX 2009

Bethesda, Maryland; September 9, 2009 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter as guests for SPX 2009.

Jerry Moriarity will be making only his second festival appearance ever at this year's SPX. 

 Jerry has exhibited his work at Corridor Gallery, Kamikaze, Printed Matter, at the Visual Arts Museum of the School of Visual Arts, and, most recently, in a 2004 show at the CUE Art Foundation curated by Art Spiegelman. Jerry has worked as a painter, an illustrator, and a cartoonist. Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly first published several episodes of Jerry's "Jack Survives" series of comics pages in issues of RAW Magazine, and published a now deeply out of print "Jack Survives" collection in 1984. This year, Buenaventura Press has published an updated, definitive hardcover collection of "Jack Survives,"  including never before published comics pages and paintings with an introduction by Chris Ware.

R. Sikoryak is a contributor to The New Yorker, Nickelodeon Magazine, Drawn & Quarterly, The Onion, Mad Magazine and LA Weekly in addition to Art Spiegelman's ground breaking Raw. His work has also been featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His long running series of literary masterpieces re-imagined in the style of various famous comic characters and cartoon artists has been collected by Drawn and Quarterly and published as Masterpiece Comics. Masterpiece Comics collects all of the previously released collisions between fine literature and the comics world, in addition to new pieces added to the series.

Joshua Cotter is the creator of the mini-comics Fun and Self Help. He won the Isotope Award for mini-comix in 2004 for Skyscrapers of The Midwest, which was collected into a graphic novel and published by Adhouse Books, with both the mini-comics and full graphic novel garnering rave reviews. Joshua was also nominated for Ignatz, Harvey and Eisner Awards. He is currently doing commercial work and painting while developing his next comics oriented project,  tentatively called Nod Away.

Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter are in addition to the previously announced guests Gahan Wilson, Paul Karasik, Carol Tyler, Josh Neufeld, John Porcellino and Willy Linthout.

SPX will be held Saturday, September 26 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 27, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.

For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

MTV's Pekar interview online

Here's a short interview with Harvey. Print it out and tuck it in the back of my book.

EXCLUSIVE: Harvey Pekar Talks Webcomics, Art And His New Series, 'The Pekar Project'
by Rick Marshall
MTV's Splash Page blog 9/8/09

I just read the first 5 strips that are up and liked them all. I hope there will be a collection of these too.

Newspapers on '9'

'9': 1 Part Plot, 1 Part Casting, 7 Parts Wonder
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 9, 2009


The Riffs Interview: Tim Burton & Jennifer Connelly Were Deeply Drawn to the Beguiling '9'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 9, 2009

In a Grim, Mysterious World, a Burlap Hero With a Heart of Golden Fuzz

By A. O. SCOTT

New York Times September 9, 2009

OT: Gustave Verbeek's Upside-Down comic reprinted

Here's some PR from Pete Maresca which I'm passing along because they do such good work. I've bought every one of their book so far.

Sunday Press Turns Comics World "Upside-Down" with New Book on Gustave Verbeek

Sunday Press Books announces the latest in its highly-acclaimed series of comic strip reprints. "The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek" offers a complete run of the artist's most famous creation and a sampling of his other work in comics and art.

 

Palo Alto, CA, September 6, 2009 -- A new collection from Sunday Press Books reprints a complete run of Gustave Verbeek's "Upside-Downs of Little Lady Lovekins and Old Man Muffaroo" (1903-1905), digitally restored and presented in their original size and colors. Also featured are a complete run of Verbeek's "Loony Lyrics of Lulu" (1910) and a sampling of his long-running "Terrors of the Tiny Tads" (1906-1914). A compilation of 25 early cartoons and paintings by Verbeek for magazines and illustrated books (1900-1915) fills out this large hard-bound volume. For collectors, there is an insert sheet of 12 "Tiny Tads" postcards, reprinting a 1907 promotional set.

 

Gustave Verbeek, as the book's introduction explains, was a truly international artist: a Japanese citizen of European descent, he trained in Paris, then moved to New York to become one of the most original contributors to the emerging art of the comic strip. His Sunday comic, "The Upside-Downs," is one of the wonders of the comic world. This fantasy story came in two parts: the first is read like a regular comic, then turn the page upside down and the images transform to illustrate the continuing story.

 

Verbeek was born in Japan, son of a Dutch educator and missionary. He studied art in Paris where he did his earliest cartooning as a part of the famed "Chat Noir" theatre group. He then moved to New York, creating cartoons and illustrations for Harper's, Scribner's, Century, Judge, and other magazines. His work in comics and illustration are a curious combination of Japanese, French, and American styles and cultures.

 

Verbeek illustrated numerous children's books in the early 20th century, as well as working in Expressionist painting and monotypes. He created Sunday comic strips in the earliest years of the medium; first for Pulitzer's New York World, then for the New York Herald, where he created his famed "Upside-Downs," and continued to draw comics there for 15 years. His work has influenced, directly or indirectly, Maurice Sendak, Dr. Seuss, Charles Schulz, and many other illustrators and cartoonists.

 

"The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek" includes a foreword by science and mathematics scholar Martin Gardner, who has authored nearly 100 books, including "The Annotated Alice in Wonderland" and numerous volumes on mathematical puzzles. His interests in children's literature and puzzles merge in his admiration of Verbeek's work. The book's introduction is by comics scholar Jeet Heer, with contributions by "nonsense comics" specialist Marco Graziosi, and renowned comic strip historian, Richard Marschall.

 

This is the first complete collection of Verbeek's "Upside Downs" and the only one in the original size and colors since 1904. Editor/Publisher Peter Maresca states, "As with our other Sunday Press collections, we restored the Sunday pages to simulate the look of the comic strips at they appeared 100 years ago."

 

Sunday Press Books is a specialty publisher restoring and reprinting classic American comic strips in their original size and colors. The "The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek" is the sixth book from Sunday Press. The first Sunday Press collection, "Little Nemo in Slumberland, So Many Splendid Sundays" (2005) received rave reviews and testimonials from around the world. Both this book and its sequel, "Little Nemo in Slumberland, Many More Splendid Sundays" received the coveted Will Eisner Award for Excellence in Comics. The first four Sunday Press publications received a total of seven Eisner nominations. Sunday Press collections have been printed in French, Spanish, and Russian editions. Also from Sunday Press in 2009 is L. Frank Baum's, "Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz." More information is available at www.sundaypressbooks.com or via email: info@sundaypressbooks.com

 

"The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek"

120 pages, 11 x 16 inches, color, $60

ISBN - 09768885-7-2

EAN - 978-0-9768885-7-4

NY Times continues to be the comics fan's paper

In today's paper - Tom Tomorrow's cover for Pearl Jam - Bad Luck Turns Good: That's Rock 'n' Roll, By BEN SISARIO, September 8, 2009.

In tomorrow's - a story on a Disneyana exhibit - Blowing the Pixie Dust Off Disney’s Archives, By BROOKS BARNES, September 9, 2009

New comics on Thursday!

Don't forget - comics are a day late due to the holiday.

Three comic postcards

I found three comic postcards of interest over the weekend. We saw another postcard from this series last year -


Oysters Rockefeller postcard by Canadian cartoonist Jeff for the Hilton of Canada in the 1960s. Anybody know anything about Jeff? I find it a little weird that I've found two of these cartoons in DC.

We also saw another one from this 1907 4th of July / Independence Day series by Gene Carr-


British cartoonist Tom Browne's "Joys of the Ocean" postcard is new though. I'm not sure what the sailor's words mean.


The British National Archives apparently had an exhibit that included some of these postcards.

Big Monkey Comics to close

This is the announcement on their website. That's two comic stores to close this year (the Fantom Comics store in Tenleytown closed, although the one in Union Station remains open).

GOOD-BYE!
September 07, 2009 11:00 AM

It's the end of an era. Big Monkey Comics is closing our doors at the end of this month. It wasn't Galactus, Lex Luthor, or Dr. Doom that defeated us, but simple dollars and cents. The economy has adversely affected so many people, and we are the latest casualty. Last year alone Virginia last 45% of its comic book shops due to the economic downturn and we are sad to say that we now join their number.

We will no longer be receiving any new comics. We realize that this is a massive inconvenience and apologize profusely for how this may affect your reading schedule.

Everything in the store is now 50% off. Please come and clean us out. Anything that is not sold will have to be unloaded at pennies on the pound. We need to liquidate and we can think of no better way to do it than to pass on savings to you, the customer. We appreciate your business and support and this is our final way of saying thank you.

Starting this weekend, Big Monkey will only be open Friday and Saturday, 12:00 - 8:00 through our last month of business. Since there are no new comics coming in, we hope you will be able to walk out with a bundle of books on the weekend.

You have 3 weeks to pick up your subscriptions. After that we are putting all books on the shelves.

Thank you all again. Your continued patronage and support have meant the world to us. It's always sad when a comic book store closes, and it's sadder when it is ours. I hope you are all able to find a new place to pick up your weekly comics and hope to see you at the sale.

Sept 7: Batman & Robin in Crystal City

Crystal Screen - Superheroes

Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.

Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009

Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel

Event Fee:
Free

Hours:
Movies begin at sundown

Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.

CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.

Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.


Schedule

September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP