IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: the comics equivalent to the jetpack is here

Hey kids, the future of comics is now.
Print is dead.
Resistance IS futile.
I'm not fucking around.

Not only is the iPad one giant step for the digital transition of print media (i.e. landing on the moon (which happened by the way), and making, I suppose, the Kindle, and iPhone, space chimps in this analogy), but I guess Marvel Comics are part of the launch...

The only thing keeping this from being the full on tipping point, in the immediate wholesale transition to digital, is the fact that the iPad is tied to Apple's proprietary distribution model (iBooks or whatever) and higher pricing than what's previously been established for digital downloads (see Marvel's unwieldy $1.99 price point on individual digital comics).

The bean counters will cry that 1.99 per single issue download (roughly 1/6th of a trade or graphic novel) is equivalent to a music single (roughly 1/12th of an album)... but the fact is, as on Apple's eBook pricing, it's roughly double where it should be, both in terms of cost margin, and market value.

Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong, but I'll just go ahead and sell my shit for .99 cents thanks.

To be clear, I'm not saying the iPad is the actual device that will be embraced moving forward (I'm not saying it isn't either), however, what is clear to me, is that it's the first such tablet that can adequately move things significantly forward, and combined with the major comics publishing giant's participation, and the onslaught of similar devices... this train's left the station.

So, while we may not have jetpacks, make no mistake, the digital revolution just got a big ol' "all systems go", and at least, in the early part of the 21st century, we'll have comic books back in front of billions of people, instead of thousands, as a form of cheap alternative entertainment...

So yes, fanboys, welcome to the future.
Long live the medium.

Now excuse me, I've got some work to do...

For more on the breakdown of the coming revolution, I've found ComicsBulletin has a nice digital comics column by Ryan McClellan.

And for a look at the iPad running comics in the hands of 21st century comics pioneer, Otis Frampton, have a look at his Ustream review...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Links!

Couple cool things I saw recently...

1) My buddy Ed Pun's art blog, he's got several massive posts from the recent (epic) Emerald City Comicon, giving a great feel for the show, with pics of the hall, costumes, art, and swag! Check it out HERE

ECCC was phenomenal this year, and Ed's blog is pretty darn swell in general too!

(I'll be posting my own sketches from the show here shortly!)

2) Friend of a friend and all around cool creator, Otis Frampton, is someone I've had an eye on for a while, as his art has really evolved and he's also a one man multi-media artist guru inspiration... well he recently launched a new webcomic, PLANET NOWHERE, and not surprisingly, it's VERY GOOD! Check that out HERE and see what I mean!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Shogun Trooper!

For all you kids out there who aren't old enough to have owned a Shogun Warrior in your youth... you life must suk!

For the rest of us, this is brilliant.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TSL adds tweet-ability

I have been MIA for a month online...
grew a beard
absconded to the coast
drank lots of booze

but I'm back!

More on all that later...

For now, just know, TSL is in the process of a long overdue update, and I have joined the dark side (Twitter) in an effort to streamline/simplify various online activities moving forward.

The good news is, you get more TSL wunderbar, with less Jason Martin hassle (yay!)!!

So, add me and all that.
(and also note the Twitter widget, on the side of the blog up top)

STAY TUNED

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: RoboGeisha

From the director of MACHINE GIRL and the effects specialist of TOKYO GORE POLICE (if you don't know one or both of those movies, shame on you, go rectify that) comes the trailer everyone is talking about... ROBOGEISHA!!
What?
That's not the AVATAR trailer AVATAR everyone AVATAR is AVATAR talking about?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Haven Distribution's COMICS! catalog

For all you comic book fiends out there, just want to spread the word... Diamond is cool and all that, but Haven Distribution is an alternative distributor that now has a new catalog that offers independent comics as an option to just Diamond via comic book shops.

The first issue of the new catalog, Comics!, came out recently, and you may be able to see one via your local shop, or order one, but they're also available via the Haven website, either as a free download/online or order your own print copy.
Check it out HERE

There is a lot of really cool stuff in there that you either miss via Diamond, or isn't offered by them at all... and because of that, there's a lot of oddball stuff in there too (like my stuff, lol), but if you're a fan of books outside the big publishers, you need to check this out!

I'm saying this as a fan of comics, not as a sales pitch.
Sure my stuff is listed in it, but so could yours, and that's what's cool. It's a level playing field, and a way to check out a much wider selection of books.
Sure, it's cool to see the latest and greatest professionally polished corporate offerings, but we all know the underground, the alternative, is where the really exciting and cool stuff can happen!

Check it out... NOW!!!
(And spread the word!!!)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: indy comics advice

A couple articles recently from around the comics web, for aspiring (and acting) publishers (because you can never get enough advice and help)...

1) Some solid gold advice to aspiring (or current) comic book publishers from Ken Marcus, creator of Super Human Resources from Ape Entertainment, on ComicBookResources.com Robot6 blog HERE

2) Jen Contino, editor of comic news site The Pulse, with independent publisher tips HERE

Kind of basic stuff, but ya never know if there are any gems of advice one hasn't thought of before...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Hell's Angels

Over on Twitch, their weekly International Eye Candy column on AICN features a cool upcoming anime...
Check it out!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: interview on Comicon.com/PULSE

With the new SRG Presents book on the horizon, I caught up with Jen Contino from Comicon.com The Pulse, and did an interview covering my publishing from Super Real to SRG Presents, and the future ("The future Conan?")!!

Check it out HERE dear readers!

Thanks again to Jen for the hospitality!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Xomix Comix

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Cool stuff!

If in your poking around the infinite sprawl of interwebs you haven't glimpsed some of the artist blogs giving peeks at upcoming new projects, then perhaps I can help...

My good buddy Javier Hernandez will up here in Portland for the April 26-27th Stumptown Comics Fest, and he'll have a new creation in tow... Known for his indy comic turned indy movie, El Muerto the Aztec Zombie, Jav's got a new character of equal creatively blended intrigue, the forthcoming Demolition Dove!
Demo Dove looks to be a perfect blending of the pop culture zeitgeist, grindhouse/pulp inspired concepts (a concoction I'm currently brewing myself), with a timely reflection of American politics. Now politics is the great divider, but it seems the Jav-Man is savvy enough to know this, and appears to be approaching them from a higher level non-partisan view. We shall see. Either way, I, and many others are intrigued about this new creation.

You can check out more on Demolition Dove at Javier's blog HERE

Then over at Josh Howard's blog, he's put up a tease of his upcoming work (following his popular ongoing runs of Dead@17, as well as other creations like Black Harvest, or Lost Books of Eve), T-Bird and Throttle. While not much has been revealed yet, the book does look to be Josh's first efforts in a more superpowered direction (and maybe even blending in some of his love of the Transformers franchise?)... As with anything he does, I can't wait to check it out!

There's something so special, and inherently wholly unique from seeing new creator owned works brought to life as comics, so I can't help but share in my excitement!

And if you know of any upcoming creator owned works being teased out there that have you excited, be sure and let me know!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: James Jean trip out

This was featured over on The Beat (you're reading The Beat right?) and I couldn't resist... It's a simply sublime animation/advertising effort from James Jean's concept art...


Prada Animation - Trembled Blossoms from kwest on Vimeo.

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Crush Linking

It's Valentines Day, so thought I'd link to a few points of interest out there I'm crushing on right now...
A couple good write ups on the late great Steve Gerber:
THE BEAT
PERMANENT DAMAGE

A new column on BrokenFrontier.com looking at publishing/creating/starting out in comics, with the first installment on about the different options to take a book:
Delusions of Grandeur
This one looks worth following, either if you think about going this route, or wonder what's involved.

There looks like a cool new pulp inspired book, stocked to the gills with talented industry creators coming soon, as previewed in this weeks Lying In The Gutters:
Five Color Comics

And last but not least, potentially good news for Flash Gordon fans, a new publishing upstart, Ardden Entertainment, co-helmed by Rich Emms formerly of Markosia and AP Comics, has obtained a license to produce new comics based on the property, that look to take inspiration for the serials, with their own spin on it:
Newsarama feature
We'll see, we all know how the SCI-FI TV series turned out... It does look like they might have something in time for New York Comic Con, so cool! I'll be there, and will check it out!!
Here's hoping!!!

And then of course, the news that the new Clone Wars CG animated TV show will bow in movie theaters this August!!!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Wizard Texas panels I wish I saw

Interesting con wrap up on Blog@Newsarama for this past weekends Wizard World Texas. I had a few friends at the show, a couple for the first time, so I'm anxious to here how they did, and their take on it (it's the only Wizard show I haven't done, and I'm not too impressed with their other shows).

Mainly of note, are some panel roundups...
One with the actress Laura Vandervoort from Smallville who plays Supergirl... something about her, and that role (I really like the character Supergirl), she seems like the perfect fit (almost makes me want to watch the show for the first time since it's series debut)... I also would put her on the short list to star in the movie version of Super Real!

But even better, there were some cool notes/quotes from the Michael Golden comics storytelling panel! Yowza!! To have attended that!!
Mr. Golden is my favorite all time comic artist (I picked up Micronauts #7 off the spinner rack all those years ago, and he did the first 12 issue run there plus many covers, as well as covers on another childhood favorite, ROM Spaceknight, and a single issue of Star Wars that was my favorite of that lengthy run!), and the only creator I geeked out and went fanboy on, waiting at his table to get signatures at this years Emerald City Comic Con!!

Pop on over and check it out HERE

IN CASE U MISSED IT: SDCC 07 attendance

With San Diego Comic-Con International growing larger and larger, and with rumors of numbers being up to around 140-150k at this year's event, along with unprecedented sellouts, the general consensus was that the show had grown again considerably from 06 to 07.
Not so, according to ComicBookResources.com and the show's organizer, David Glanzer...

Let's get to what everybody wants to talk about - the numbers. What was attendance like at Comic-Con in 2007?

We actually just got our numbers in and the number is 125,000 individuals.

Interesting. Considering people were bandying about numbers like 140,000+ over the weekend, I think that number is going to surprise a lot of people.

I think you're right. We're very meticulous about our numbers. We made sure to get rid of duplicates and make sure that the people who are counted are people who actually attend the show. Remember, one person who attends 4 ½ days is only counted once. It's a very large facility and 125,000 people is a lot of people. Last year we had about 123,000, so we saw a little increase this year. We're very meticulous about our numbers.

Do you have any idea how many of those were exhibitors and how many were press?

Exhibitors was about 9,000 and I don't have the break down for press, but the preliminary numbers we had look to be about 3,000 press.

Another prevailing rumor about the con is that, due to the overcrowding, it must be moving, Anaheim, Vegas, somewhere? Soon?
Again, nope...

One of the perennial rumors following the close of a Comic-Con show is how the show is too big for the San Diego Convention Center, it's reached capacity - which you have - and you're fleeing San Diego the following year for another city that can handle your growing needs. So, to put those rumors to rest, remind us again how long you're contracted with the San Diego Convention Center.

We've contracted through 2012.

So there you have it, Comic-Con International will be in San Diego way off into the far flung future. Check out the whole article though, as they address other big questions like panel space, hotel space, and pedestrian traffic to and from the con.
Click HERE for the full scoop.

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Working in comics?

I've linked before to notes from Todd Allen regarding the digitalization of comics, now it appears ComicBookResources.com have given him his own bi-weekly column, PUBLISHING FOLLIES

It started just recently, and there have only been two installments so far. It looks like Todd is shedding some light on what it REALLY means to work in comics, by sharing information on what job openings in the industry pay comparatively to the outside world in the first installment, and looking at some current openings with the bigger companies and what they may mean for digital comics. Very interesting.

The first column can be found HERE
And the second can be found HERE
___

Also, I caught a column over on Newsarama.com called ONE STEP, that features a great primer for how to approach breaking into comics, that was both helpful and very easy to digest.

Check that out HERE

I thought this was a new column, but then I saw the 14 previous versions linked at the bottom, and this is actually just a new installment from one that was started last year by Jim Zubkavich, who worked with Udon Comics.
If I recall correctly, Jim broke down getting into comics via the portfolio process...

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Star Wars turned 30 a week ago...

I was on the road for the big Memorial Day camp outing (where I obtained a copious dosage of poison oak I'm just now starting to recover from) when the big Star Wars 30th anniversary came about. Not that I needed to do anything to celebrate it, there'll be plenty more anniversaries...

I did catch the History Channel's Legacy Revealed special on Memorial Day though (which was advertised in comics btw), and that was pretty cool. It really examines the story and it's elements and where the themes and ideas came from, which was interesting to see the saga broken down like that.

And although there are no more movies to come from Lucas (insert joke/zinger here), there are TV shows in production, the first of which is the CG animated CLONE WARS, which looks to be a more serious take on the incredibly awesome Genndy Tartakovsky animated shorts (the best Star Wars since the original trilogy IMHO). You can check out the just released preview at the Star Wars website HERE

I'm down with the animated style here, but I know it'll turn off others, too bad for them. I really liked the one scene with the Jedi (Anakin?) hopping from one flying bot to the next... need to see it in full screen though.

I'm all for the TV shows and other media extensions of the property. I remember back in the early 80's when they created a Star Wars radio show, and I got all worked up about it, but it ran during the middle of the day. Well my parents were kind enough to let me out of school the first day (because I was in such a fever over it), and I camped out by the AM radio waiting for the show, only to be woefully disappointed. It was either incredibly short, or didn't have any real content that day (or both). Oh well. I'm sure the TV shows will be much better :)

IN CASE U MISSED IT: I LOVE STAR WARS!

Look, I really don't understand why the mass majority find Empire the best of the trilogy, and at the time Return was my favorite (though in retrospect it's clearly the original), but let's not argue over which of the series was the best, and just all agree that Star Wars was the greatest set of films. ever. made. bar none.

What's that? You weren't old enough to see Star Wars in the theater, or you're criminally miswired so as not to agree with me and the ba-jillions who feel the same?
Well fuck... what a shame.

Do you like Star Wars though?
Really like it?

Good!
Me too!!

So, if you're like me, hearing about this book may sound too good to be true. How about a "making of" that's not only all encompassing, but well constructed, and get this, largely compiled during the creation, or just after, of the 1977 film?
I know I must put down the comics long enough to get and read my copy.
What better way to transport back to that magical time in the late 1970's, when a series of films totally blew your mind and swept you, hyperspeed, to a long time ago... yadda yadda yadda.

Check out this review on AICN for THE MAKING OF STAR WARS HERE

There are also some nice behind the scenes photos included.

I know I'll be getting myself the hardcover...

30 years, wow, I remember discussing with my friend "10 years, so long ago" when I was just a mere dumb-ass teen listening to my Joshua Tree cassette-tape circa the summer of 1987, and getting pseudo-rabid for the release of the remastered editions 10 years ago...

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Future Formats?

Over on the always informative comics blog THE BEAT, Heidi covers discussions on the format crossroads the US industry has come to, spurred by some OGN creators musing on ramifications of that process vs monthly production (specifically in terms of revenue generation), which then spurs all kinds of thoughts and speculation on where we're heading...
Is this the death of monthlies?
Are Graphic Novels/OGN/TPB/Manga and the bookstore market the future?
Is it digital?
Digital to trade?

Hop on over and check it out HERE
and again HERE
There are some very interesting points and views shared.

As for my thoughts an independent publisher in the direct market?
From what I'm reading, seeing, and hearing around the industry, the market is definitely less promising than it was even 2 years ago, and new approaches are fast becoming the norm, as opposed to first starting out with monthly serialization via comic shops.
More and more are forced to start out via the internet, or trade, as selling in the low range of distributed independent publishing is simply not viable.
And I muse more and more on a hybrid of the trade first approach...
Smaller collections, or page counts, somewhere between a monthly and a trade.
The pros of which would be yielding a higher price point (and conversely fewer runs at a printer) than a monthly, but also yielding more frequency in the market than the straight-to-trade approach, thus allowing for more chance at revenue and exposure than publishing less frequently.
Something I've not really seen anyone doing.
To me, with Diamond's thresholds being set at about where a moderately successful indy can hope to distribute, that is around 1k in distribution at the current 3-4$ cover price, it behooves one to go for the higher price point of the trade, at a 10-15$ cover to find a better chance at success.
So why not try something in between, say a 2-4 issue length collection/format (anywhere from 48-96 pages, as opposed to 120-200), priced in the 5-10$ range, that one could release about twice a year (as opposed to every 12-18 months)?
A lower price point than a trade for readers to try, with a higher price than a monthly (and less runs at a printer) to allow for more opportunity for profit in sales.
(This would also make it easier theoretically for a self/small-publisher to maintain schedules, a huge challenge for those attempting serial publication in this position)
Which of course, as with straight to trade, could still be serialized first via the web.

Or, another variation a friend mentioned they were attempting with their next OGN, don't start serializing on the web until your work is complete (or at least enough for a collection), so you can offer the print version to the web readers immediately, and potentially capture more sales from readers not wanting to wait out the serialization? (The opposite of the current popular approach of collecting as you go)

Just a couple of ideas on future format/approach to publishing comics I've not heard discussed...

What do you think?

IN CASE U MISSED IT: New comic available from Super Real creator Edward Pun!

The fabulous issue 2 variant cover artist, and contributor to the recent Super Real Special, Edward Pun, is releasing a new comic at the upcoming Emerald City ComiCon...

BETSY MAE BITE

I've seen pages from this before, and I can tell you it'll be really nice!

Check it out HERE

IN CASE U MISSED IT: LITG

If you regularly follow comics but not Rich Joshnston's column on CBR, LYING IN THE GUTTERS, what's wrong with you?
Yes it's a gossip column, but Rich has been doing it for years and is plugged into the industry like no other, and aside from "gossip" there's always plenty of good solid content.

Take this week for example, short but sweet, there were still a couple of salacious items:

He's got another link to Todd Allen, author of THE ECONOMICS OF WEBCOMICS, and his summation of the Captain America media blitz, which really boils down the failures of the market to capture sales from this mainstream media event (as it often fails on every occasion).
Check that out HERE
It's a good read.

There's also a spiffy preview to what could be a HUGE new book from master writer Warren Ellis, BLACK SUMMER. What looks to be Ellis's evolution of The Authority via Avatar, likely in the next issue of Previews.
I'll be sure and put this on my pull list, you may as well too, or you'll just end up chasing copies after the fact...

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Digital rumblings

Since I like to muse about the EVENTUAL conversion of the market/medium to digital here on TSL, there were a couple solid notes on the movement in the last couple weeks, spurred by some announcements from NYCC about some of the bigger industry players plans for potential digital distribution.

First there was a link in Rich Johnston's LYING IN THE GUTTERS NYCC wrap up to a well informed piece from Todd Allen:
Found HERE

Then there was a more recent piece on Newsarama questioning a cross section of retailers about their thoughts on digital:
Found HERE

Basically, Marvel announced they're working on something, DC is rumored to be (but perhaps more slowly than their opposition), and Top Cow announced an odd two step of a plan that partners them with IGN.com.

As I've often noted, with the ease, dramatically lower expense, and potentially massive reach, digital is the future and WILL suplant print, it's just a matter of time, and if the big comic book publisher players make a move, it could happen very fast.

IN CASE U MISSED IT: All the Rage

I think I've mentioned SilverBulletComicBooks.com's ALL THE RAGE column here before, it's the long running comics gossip column (original home to industry gossip icon Rich Johnston). Since I've followed it over the last couple years, it's changed hands a number of times. Recently a new columnist stepped in, Steven Saunders, and he's brought along with him a more robust format. Instead of just relying on advance info and straight gossip, Steven has broadened the scope to look at all of the comics landscape, featuring independent comics, webcomics, and UK comics, to name a few, on a regular basis.

Look, there is so much good stuff out there besides the cool books from the big publishers, that it's challenging to find and keep a pulse on all of it, when the majority of what's covered everywhere (print/web/whatever) is from the bigger guys. So I can certainly dig on someone who's of the same mind as me, exploring everything comics have to offer, searching for the good stuff others miss, and then trying to share it with the rest of us!!

Give the column a try, it posts every monday, and besides the usual "guess what I heard" on all things comics, there are tons of links to books and projects worth checking out further. I know I've already discovered serveral things in the few weeks Steven's been onboard!

ALL THE RAGE can be found HERE