---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 353 1/25/2002 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Nominated as FAVORITE COMIC EMAG in the 2001 EAGLE AWARDS! FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] Submissions, mailing address, web page [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Interviews: Shaddowfish Comics Paul D. Storrie ........... Tim O'Shea [6] A View From the Cheap Seats ........... Rich Watson [7] Stream of Babbling .................... Tim O'Shea [8] Tiny Comic Reviews .................... Tim O'Shea [9] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [10] My View: TWO OVER TEN; VAGABOND; DORK TOWER FELIX THE CAT'S MAGIC BAG OF TRICKS . David LeBlanc [11] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [12] HYPE! Section ......................... Various ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Mailed by Yahoo!: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag AOL text copies in Sci-Fi Library II - Keyword aol://4400:3990 HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring a week's worth of the online strips: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS AND DR. CYBORG by Alan Gross & Mike Oeming ----------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, FREE, please send a message FROM that account TO: ComicBookNetworkEmag-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE send a message FROM the account to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com See section [A] for the address to mail material to be reviewed. ______________________________________________________________________ All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine is Copyright 2002 by The ComicBook Network. You may freely distribute or retransmit this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Except for personal archiving, permission must be obtained from the individual authors to reproduce, retransmit, or publish any part of this magazine. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The ComicBook Network. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Back Issues, Web Page SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc. to our Emag, simply Email it to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com You must include your REAL name and a valid Email address in order to be published in this Emag. Sorry, we do not accept anonymous columns. Reviews of mainstream books are welcome and we encourage reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. If you write intelligent, coherent, and timely reviews of any comic book it will almost always be printed, so give us a shot. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. PLEASE, no material on Gaming, role playing, collectible card games or other hobbies or collectibles other than comic books. That also includes plugs for web pages UNLESS they are concerned with print comic books. We do not promote web comics as we do not consider them to be comic books. SEND US YOUR WORK ----------------- We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but any comic books sent to us *will* be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 Material is generally reviewed in the order received and be advised that we work a few weeks in advance so your review may not be in the magazine immediately. Advanced copies are therefore encouraged so the review will occur prior to your product hitting the stores. THE Comic Book Net WEB PAGE http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as all back issues and an annotated index. You'll also find important information and other neat features like links to the HTML version of the current issue of this magazine at DIGITAL WEBBING, [http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem], some of the comic companies and creators' web pages and many other Comic Book related links! You can also find some of our back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: COMICS, then choose the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. These are non-zipped text files. AOL search/keyword: aol://4400:3990 ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com One daily event I really enjoy is checking the mail. I have long ago stopped stressing about the junk mail and at least once a week on average there is a package with some comics or a graphic novel for me to review. I even get a couple unique greeting cards from comic people, like the FELIX THE CAT Happy Halloween post card with wiggly eyes attached or the Beanworld post card from Larry Marder that shows a bean waving and saying Hi David! This week brought a rather unusual item, a newspaper. It is the Jan 4 2002 edition of the Comstock Chronicle from Virginia City, Nevada. Written on the front was a note that there was an important article on pages 6 & 7. I started to read it and found it fascinating. This home town paper sponsored a fund raiser for a local cartoonist who was battling a brain infection. They auctioned off the opportunity for the winning bid to get his/her biography published in the paper. The winner then turned over the prize to the cartoonist himself, Woody Barlettani. So the two page story is about Woody who has lead a very interesting life, which includes being part of the underground comics movement in the early 1970's at The O.K. Comic Company. This was a different experience to read about. You just never know what the mail will bring. Thanks Woody, especially for the sketch on the envelope! Now, check out these news comics on the racks . . . ABSTRACT STUDIOS Terry Moore's Paradise Too #5, 2.95 CROSSGEN COMICS Crux #10, 2.95 DC COMICS Establishment #5, 2.50 Green Arrow #11, 2.50 JSA #32, 2.50 Power Company Bork, 2.50 Supergirl #66, 2.25 911 September 11th 2001 Vol. 2, $9.95\ \________PICKS OF THE WEEK! DARK HORSE COMICS / 911 September 11th 2001 Vol. 1, $9.95/ MARVEL COMICS Howard The Duck #1, 2.99 NBM Boneyard #5, 2.95 No further words of wisdom this week except to wish the New England Patriots best of luck this Sunday. They'll need it if they want to journey once again to New Orleans for a shot at the title. David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: Letters of comment, including those sent to the columnists, may be used in future issues of CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ Subj:Comic book radio show info From:nuffsaid@escape.com Hi, folks, 'Nuff Said!, the comic book interview/talk show, is still on the air and over the internet for a full hour every Tuesday at 10 PM (eastern North American time) on WBAI-FM, 99.5 in the New York City metropolitan area. There are TWO live streams (via 2600.com and escape.com) that you can get from our web site, http://www.nuffsaid.net. If one access is unavailable, try the other. Everyone with the right software (and there's a free download link from our site) should be able to get through now. In fact, I was told by one of the techies that only one show fills every slot and it ain't 'Nuff Said! (It's Gary Null.) Also, the listener lawsuits with the Pacifica Foundation have been settled at last! There is a new Board of Directors in place and things are getting back to what passes for normal at WBAI-FM, for better or worse. At least the atmosphere feels better and the WBAI listener boycott is over. Upcoming shows are: Tuesday, January 29 - A short review of the 9-11 comic book museum show at the Fire Museum, some comments on the return of the banned and fired then listener phone calls. Tuesday, February 5 - 3 1/2 hour Tolkien, Fantasy and Mythology Moorish Orthodox Cross-over Membership Drive Special with special guest Alexei Kondratiev. The WBAI-FM Membership Drive will have probably begun and we'll be doing a three and a half hour special with Bill Weinberg and Ann-Marie Hendrickson of the Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade (regularly scheduled at midnight Tuesdays). We'll be discussing J.R.R. Tolkien, author of "The Lord of the Rings;" fantasy fiction in general (comics and non-comics alike) and the mythological template that serves as the foundation of so much fantasy fiction. Alexei has a Ph. D. in linguistic anthropology, has been teaching Celtic mythology at the Irish Arts Center in NYC for over 20 years, is a member of the Mythopeoic Society and is the author of "The Apple Branch" (a non-fiction book on Celtic culture) and "Vidorix the Druid" for Evolution Comics. He speaks over 60 languages, including Elvish, a language created by J.R.R. Tolkien. WBAI-FM, 99.5, is a 50,000 watt station broadcast from the Empire State Building. Our signal usually gets out to New Haven, CT; Westhampton, L.I.; the Poconos of Pennsylvania, Orange County, NY and Trenton & Princeton, NJ. But via the internet for an even greater distance, natch. We cover the entire world of comics: golden age, silver age, contemporary, mainstream, independent, underground, foreign, strips and fandom. Hosted by Ken Gale (interviewer) with Mercy E. Van Vlack. WBAI is a Pacifica Network station (if your local station carries any Pacifica programming (such as Explorations, "Democracy Now" and Gary Null), they might be able to get 'Nuff Said! as well). For more information on the WBAI "crisis" (a lot of you have asked me about it at conventions), I highly recommend checking http://www.glib.com. It's full of information, history and links covering several different points of view and is updated frequently (sometimes several times per day). WBAI-FM, 120 Wall St., 10th flr, New York, NY 10005. --Ken Gale, producer, interviewer and co-host ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] **THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE EMAG EACH WEEK IS ON OUR HOME PAGE!** IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THE TRIVIA, GO THERE FIRST ON FRIDAY NIGHT http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet QUESTION OF THE WEEK Prizes donated by Discount Comic Book Service at www.dcbservice.com where you can order most DC, Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse comics, statues and retail products for 35% off. +Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you can stump+ +the readers! You MUST submit the correct answer with your question.+ LAST ISSUE'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Where did Defiant's "Warriors of Plasm" make their comic debut? Which publisher forced Defiant to change the title to WARRIORS OF PLASM? The Warriors of Plasm made their 1st appearance in an insert to Diamond Previews #6 in June 1993, called PLASM #0. Marvel made them change the title PLASM, because of the similarity to Marvel's UK's PLASMERS series. Daniel Wong receives Astronauts in Trouble: Live From The Moon TP from our sponsor. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: When did the Warren Publishing comic Magazine 1984 change it's name to 1994? IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE Email your guess to ComicBkNet@aol.com or just REPLY to the message if you read the Emag in your mail. DO NOT quote the entire message! You MUST allow mail from ComicBkNet@aol.com to be notified if you win. The first correct answer to reach the editor wins the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm). The editor will be the sole judge as to which guess arrived first! Messages with more than one guess will be disqualified. Winners will forfeit their prize if the Email notification is not accepted from ComicBkNet@aol.com LIMIT: ONLY ONE PRIZE every 4 weeks PER PERSON! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Network Buzz News, gossip and rumors from around the industry From www.povonline.com By Mark Evanier January 24, 2002 - 11:00 PM PST A fine artist and fine gentleman, Kurt Schaffenberger, died earlier this evening at the Shorrock Garden Nursing Home in Brick, New Jersey. Kurt was 81 and had been ill for some time with an array of ailments including diabetes and heart trouble, so this was not unexpected. Still, it comes as a blow to lose the man who will forever be "the" Lois Lane artist to those of us who grew up on his comics. Kurt was born in Germany but grew up in Hartford, Connecticut where -- here's a coincidence -- he dated my mother's best friend in high school. Shortly after getting out of school, Kurt got into comics, soon becoming one of the most important artists at Fawcett, ranking third among the Captain Marvel artists after C.C. Beck and Pete Costanza. In the fifties, after the Good Captain folded his tent, writer Otto Binder got Kurt a try-out at DC and he became the main artist on Lois Lane while also working occasionally on Superman. (He also worked for other publishers, including A.C.G., where he signed most of his work "Lou Wahl," since DC frowned on the notion of their freelancers freelancing.) In the late sixties, Kurt was moved over, against his will, to draw Supergirl. Then he got into trouble with DC management when he became the only artist to join what has been termed "The Writers' Rebellion" -- a move by several DC writers to band ttogether and demand things like reprint fees and a health plan. When the writers were tossed out, so was Kurt, who did a few romance comics for Marvel, then got out of comics and into commercial illustration for a time. Finally though, DC lured him back and he again drew Superman, as well as Super-Friends, Wonder Woman, Superboy and many other books. Some editors thought his style was "old-fashioned" and, for a time, they had him inking other artists, especially the other great Superman artist of his generation, Curt Swan. To others, he was a classic comic artist and they treasured the consistency of his work. (Offhand, I can't think of another comic artist whose work changed less over the years. 1960 Schaffenberger art was virtually identical to 1990 Schaffenberger art.) Kurt himself was a charming gentleman who reminded you of a classic character actor of the forties. He was handsome, gallant and impossible to dislike. My most vivid memory of him is from a convention in the mid-seventies when he started doing freebee sketches for fans. Instantly, he was mobbed and, fearing someone would be trampled, he announced that he would stay until everyone around him got a drawing...and he did. He stayed there for at least three hours, whipping out the neatest-looking Lois doodles you ever saw, complete with her classic pillbox hat and the famous Schaffenberger smile. If you knew Kurt, you knew where that smile came from. +++++ HOWARD THE DUCK #1 RUFFLES TAIL FEATHERS! Hey, True Believers! HOWARD THE DUCK has landed -- and has already ruffled plenty of tail feathers! We received word yesterday that his first issue under the MAX imprint was allocated to retailers around the world by 15%. This was a result of a printer error. Normally, comics are packed 300 copies per case, but this issue was packed 250 per case. This went undetected because no one at the printer made note of the change that caused the 15% shortage of inventory to Diamond Comics Distributors. The good new is, we have worked things out with the printer and Diamond so that retailers will receive the balance of their orders for next Wednesday, the 30th. We apologize for this shortage, and wish to assure all of the retailers and readers that the debut issue by Steve Gerber and Phil Winslade will soon be winging into stores across the globe! And, hey, if you can't wait a week, then you need to fly into your local comics shop today! Bill Rosemann Marketing Communications Manager Marvel Comics SPIDER-MAN & JOHN ROMITA, JR. UNITE TO SAVE CHILD! Super Hero And Artist Present "Saving Baby Jordan"! Two-year old Jordan Atherton, the niece of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and INCREDIBLE HULK artist John Romita, Jr., was diagnosed just after Thanksgiving with Medulloblastoma, a cancer which occurs in the brain and spinal column. A golf-ball-sized tumor was removed from Jordan, but she still faces months of chemotherapy and other treatments to eliminate the remaining cancer cells from throughout her spinal column. Jordan's baby brother is due in May and will be born during the time of her most aggressive treatments. In an effort to raise money to help save the infant, John's wife Kathy is organizing the "Saving Baby Jordan" Fundraiser, which will feature live and silent auctions, as well as appearances by John, Cy Young Award winners Randy Jones and Jack McDowell -- and even Spider-Man himself! WHAT: "Saving Baby Jordan" Fundraiser WHEN: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Wednesday, January 23rd WHERE: The Rancho Bernardo Inn 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive Rancho Bernardo, CA 858-675-8500 COST: $25.00 per person, ($15.00 ages 4 - 12, Free for 3 and under) Includes appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. A no-host bar will be available. ITEMS: Lear jet trip to Lake Tahoe, Hawaii condo, golf packages, San Diego Padre skybox tickets, sports memorabilia, Spider-Man original artwork & signed comics, and much more! For more information, please contact Kathy Romita (ph: 858-449-6612 or 858-350-6755). HEROES AUCTION SHATTERS EXPECTATIONS! 20 Historic Pieces Raise Over $60,000.00! An all-star list of artists, police officers, firemen, and art-lovers gathered in the prestigious Club 101 to pay tribute to the Heroes of September 11th -- and in the process raised a staggering amount of money for the Twin Towers Fund! From Chris Claremont to Adam Kubert, some of the industry's most talented creators -- who all contributed to Marvel's HEROES tribute posterbook -- assembled in New York City to see their work sold in a charity auction. And when guest-host Kevin Smith took the microphone, the crowd -- filled to standing-room-only capacity -- knew they were in for a special night.. But it wasn't until the winning bids were tallied that all present realized just how amazing the auction was. 20 paintings and illustrations were auctioned, raising a staggering $66,750.00! Considering that the estimated bids would total a little over $20,000.00, this final amount raised was indeed impressive. The highest bid went to Alex Ross's HEROES cover painting -- which raised $10,000.00 alone -- followed by a $7,000.00 winning bid for the HEROES back cover illustration by Marvel Editor In Chief Joe Quesada and Todd McFarlane -- purchased by Joe's wife, Nanci Quesada! The icing on the cake? Kevin Smith outbid himself to purchase a painting by Brian Stelfreeze! The artwork's creators and the winning bids included: 1. Neal Adams $4,600 2. J. Scott Campbell $800 3. Richard Corben $800 4. Mike Deodato $4,000 5. Gene Ha $800 6. Sam Kieth $6,000 7. Adam Kubert $900 8. Joe Kubert $1,350 9. Jim Lee $2,000 10. Jae Lee & Neil Gaiman $900 11. Frank Miller $6,500 12. Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons $1,600 13. Tom Palmer $3,000 14. George Pérez $1,500 15. Joe Quesada & Todd McFarlane $7,000 16. John Romita Sr. & Jr. $5,000 17. Alex Ross $10,000 18. Steve Rude $3,000 19. Bill Sienkiewicz $3,500 20. Brian Stelfreeze $3,500 Total Winning Bids $66,750 "The auction for HEROES was a great event," said Marvel Editor and event organizer Andrew Lis. "It showed what we could accomplish as an industry, and the potential we all have to do good. It was amazing to see members of the FDNY and NYPD, U.S. Marines, comic art dealers, industry professionals, models from Glamour Magazine, and reporters from the New York Times and New York Post, all united for a common cause: to help others get through one of our nation's most trying times." "Words cannot describe what an incredible night the Heroes Auction turned out to be," stated Quesada. "All around you could see New York's Finest and Bravest hob-knobbing with comic book legends like Neal Adams and Tom Palmer. It was truly a sight to behold! I want to thank all those who came to the event and contributed to this wonderful cause. Also in need of great recognition are all of the writers and artists who donated to this project. Keep in mind that we're not done yet! There's a very large online auction coming up shortly, so stay tuned for details!" For additional information on the online auction, please contact Nadia Mannarino of All Star Auctions (www.allstarauctions.net, 201-652-1305, nadia@allstarauctions.net). MARVEL OVERHAULS TRADE PAPERBACK LIBRARY! Adds 46 Titles To The House's Backlist! Someone must have borrowed Thor's hammer over the weekend, because the Marvel trade paperback backlist has been completely leveled and rebuilt! With reader demand for trade paperbacks at an all time high, mighty members of The House -- equipped with flashlights and hardhats -- ventured into the Marvel vaults, deterrmined to count and classify each book in our growing trade paperback library. The result? 46 new titles have been added to the backlist and are ready to ship! "We've seen explosive growth both in the number of titles added to our backlist, and subsequent trade paperbacks sales," said Marvel Marketing Communications Manager Bill Rosemann. "So to ease the ordering process, we've weeded out every title that is no longer in stock and have added dozens of new titles that have been printed over the last several months. Now retailers and readers will find some of our most popular collections -- including six new Essential volumes, seven new Spider-Man collections, and nine new X-Men titles -- back in stock and ready to move out!" The 46 volumes now added to the backlist and available for order include: Essential Avengers Vol. 2 Essential Avengers Vol. 3 Essential Fantastic Four Vol 3 Essential Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 Essential Silver Surfer Vol. 1 Essential X-Men Vol. 3 The Art of Marvel Comics hc Avengers: Clear & Present Dangers Banner! Black Panther: The Client Black Widow Blade: Sins of the Father Captain Marvel: First Contact Daredevil: Ninja Daredevil/Spider-Man Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller vol. 2 Daredevil Visionaries: Kevin Smith Fantastic Four: Flesh & Stone Fantastic Four Visionaries Incredible Hulk: Dogs of War Incredible Hulk: Ground Zero Inhumans Iron Man: The Mask & The Iron Man Marvel Boy Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 2 hc Nick Fury: Scorpio Punisher: Circle of Blood Sentry Thor: Across All Worlds Thunderbolts: Justice, Like Lightning Spider-Girl Spider-Man: Coming Home Spider-Man: Spirits in the Earth hc Spider-Man's Tangled Web vol. 1 Spider-Man Visionaries: Todd McFarlane Ultimate Marvel Team-Up Ultimate Spider-Man vol. 2 Marvel Masterworks: Uncanny X-Men vol. 2 New X-Men: E is for Extinction Ultimate X-Men vol. 1 Wolverine: Blood Debt X-Force: New Beginnings X-Men: Children of the Atom X-Men: Inferno X-Men: The Origin of Generation X X-Men: Poptopia Retailers and readers can find the revamped backlist in the next Diamond Previews catalog. And you can learn more about Marvel -- and even read free Marvel DotComics -- at www.marvel.com! NEW WAVE OF HEROES MEDIA COVERAGE! Hey, True Believers! The HEROES phenomenon continues, this time with CBS, UPN, the AP and other large news organizations shining the spotlight on the comics community's efforts to salute and help the true heroes of September 11th! Earlier today, Marvel editor Andrew Lis, who helped organize the recent HEROES charity auction (which raised over $66,000.00 for the Twin Towers Fund) and the "Heroes Among Us" exhibit (currently running at the New York City Fire Museum), appeared with artist Dean Haspiel (MUTIES #3) and David Gabriel (Executive Director of the New York City Comic Book Museum) on CBS This Morning, the nationally broadcast news program. CNN also aired a small segment on the auction and exhibit on Tuesday, January 22nd. Also on Tuesday, New York regional television stations for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and UPN ran segments promoting the "Heroes Among Us" exhibit. In addition, Marvel trade paperback designer Matty Ryan appeared on the Big Apple's own NY1 news station, also plugging the HEROES effort. Meanwhile, New York's print journalists are also adding to the movement, with the New York Daily News (page 14) and New York Newsday (page A14) running articles yesterday, and the New York Post (page 17) covering HEROES today! And you should be on the lookout for newspaper coverage throughout the nation, as the Associated Press has added coverage of the "Heroes Among Us" exhibit to their newswire. "Heroes Among Us" is an exhibit by the New York City Comic Book Museum (NYCCOMICBOOKMUSEUM.org), which contains works created by comic artists in tribute to the heroes of September 11th. The exhibit compromises several major publishing houses (including Alternative Comics' 9-11: Emergency Relief) and over 100 of the top artists of the medium. With its third major retrospective, the New York City Comic Book Museum hopes to provide a lasting tribute for all New Yorkers to remember America's heroes. You can tour the exhibit at the New York City Fire Museum, located on 287 Spring Street in good ol' New York City. For more information about HEROES, or A MOMENT OF SILENCE, please contact: Bender/Helper Impact: Jeffrey Klein or Adam Fenton; Phone: (212) 689-6360; E-Mail: jeff_klein@bhimpact.com or adam_fenton@bhimpact.com Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go give an interview to a camera crew from MSNBC, who are currently in The House filming a segment on, you guessed it... HEROES! Bill Rosemann Marketing Communications Manager Marvel Comics +++++ 9-11: Emergency Relief - much more media coverage Date:1/23/02 12:35:11 PM Eastern Standard Time From:jmason@indyworld.com The various comic book charity benefit books related to the September 11 tragedy are generating a substantial amount of mainstream media coverage. On Tuesday, January 22, CBS and CNN ran national television segments about the Heroes Among Us comic art exhibit presented by the NYC Comic Book Museum at the NYC Fire Museum featuring artwork from Marvel Comics' Heroes and Moment of Silence and Alternative Comics' 9-11: Emergency Relief (ISBN 1-891867-12-1; Alternative Comics) -- the exhibit opened yesterday. Also on Tuesday, January 22, New York regional television stations for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and UPN ran segments promoting the Heroes Among Us exhibit. Diamond Comic Distributors today added Alternative Comics' 9-11: Emergency Relief to their Star System to allow for faster reorders of the book for their customers. The Star System code for 9-11: Emergency Relief is 14976. Today, Wednesday January 23 finds the mainstream media providing much more coverage for the benefit books: The NY Daily News has an article on page 14 of the paper featuring a photo of 9-11: Emergency Relief contributing cartoonist Dean Haspiel standing by his artwork as well as snapshots of pages from Marvel's Heroes at the Heroes Among Us exhibit along with a lengthy article about the show and the various comic book projects. Newsday ran a brief description of the Heroes Among Us show on page A14 under a photo of a retired fireman looking at exhibited artwork. The NY Post ran a brief story on page 17 about the Heroes Among Us exhibit. The article is on-line at: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/39670.htm The Associate Press has added coverage of the Heroes Among Us exhibit and has added images from the exhibit and the benefit book to their newswire. The Richmond Times-Dispatch ran a lengthy article today in their Flair about 9-11: Emergency Relief and promoted the store signing at Richmond Comix scheduled for Saturday January 26 [ Located at 8523 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, Virginia 23235. For more info about that book signing: Phone: 804-330-3460; E-Mail: richmix@home.com (Frank Miller); Web: http://www.richmondcomix.com/ ] -- the article is on-line at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/flair/MGBQREBKSWC.html Richmond, Virginia's Punchline magazine's current issue features 9-11: Emergency Relief as the cover feature and article, with interviews with a number of the cartoonists involved in the book that will be at the Richmond Comix book signing. The article is on-line at: http://www.lestercat.net/punchline/ContentDisplay.php4?UID=209 We are currently experiencing domain server problems for http://www.indyworld.com/ -- these problems will hopefully be corrected soon (a few days hopefully?) --- The New York City Comic Book Museum: http://www.nyccomicbookmuseum.org The New York City Fire Museum: http://www.nycfiremuseum.org 9-11: Emergency Relief: http://www.indyworld.com/relief The New York City Comic Book Museum logo: http://www.indyworld.com/pics/NYCCBM.eps or http://www.indyworld.com/pics/NYCCBM2.eps The Alternative Comics logo: http://www.indyworld.com/pics/altcomics.eps The cover to 9-11: Emergency Relief: http://www.indyworld.com/pics/911.cover.tif or http://www.indyworld.com/pics/911.cover.jpg The cover to Heroes: http://www.indyworld.com/pics/heroes.jpg The cover to A Moment of Silence: http://www.indyworld.com/pics/mos.jpg The American Red Cross name is used with permission of the American Red Cross and does not constitute an endorsement, express or implied, of this book. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the American Red Cross to support its lifesaving relief efforts in communities everyday. For more information on this promotion, please contact Heidi Seiffert at seifferth@usa.redcross.org. About The American Red Cross The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $3.0 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2000, the Red Cross also trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provided direct health services to nearly 2.6 million people and delivered more than 21 million locally relevant community services. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to 40 locations around the globe, and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families. For more information about 9-11: Emergency Relief, please contact: Alternative Comics Publisher Jeff Mason at 503 NW 37th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609-2204. Phone: (352) 373-6336. E-Mail: jmason@indyworld.com The American Red Cross name is used with permission of the American Red Cross and does not constitute an endorsement, express or implied, of 9-11: Emergency Relief. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of 9-11: Emergency Relief will be donated to the American Red Cross. For more information on this promotion, please contact Heidi Seiffert at the American National Red Cross, 431 18th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006. For more information about Marvel, Heroes, or A Moment of Silence please contact: Bender/Helper Impact: Jeffrey Klein or Adam Fenton; Phone: (212) 689-6360; E-Mail: jeff_klein@bhimpact.com or adam_fenton@bhimpact.com +++++ CROSSGEN HIRES TWO INKERS AND COLORIST Tom Ryder, Chris Garcia And Brad Vancata Join Artistic Stable TAMPA, FL., January 24, 2002 - Continuing its planned growth, CrossGen Comics has added three additional creators to its already burgeoning roster. Tom Ryder joins the staff as inker for the May releasing Way of the Rat, working over the pencils of Jeff Johnson. Working with Johnson and Ryder is colorist Chris Garcia, who comes on board to round out the team on Way of the Rat. Inker Brad Vancata joins CrossGen to work over the pencils of Andy Smith. Initially, Vancata will work with Smith on relief issues, beginning with Negation #6. The two will then move on to their own title sometime in late 2002. Tom Ryder began inking comics professionally upon his graduation from the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in 1991. He immediately went to work at Valiant Comics and spent five years there inking titles such as X-O Manowar, Solar, Man of the Atom and Shadowman. In 1996 he left the comic industry to work on storyboards for animation. He has worked on 'Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles,' 'Jackie Chan Adventures' and 'Men in Black: The Series.' "With our plans for continued growth, it becomes a necessity to find creators that can not only do a great job, but can fit into the studio environment we have set up," CrossGen Art Director Bart Sears said. "Tom Ryder is just that person. He'll make a great addition to the team on Way of the Rat and his personality will fit in really well with everyone else here." Chris Garcia began as a colorist at WildStorm in 1997. After four years he began a freelance career that brought him work from Marvel Comics, Avalon, Pennyfarthing Press, and CrossGen Comics. It was his work on CrossGen's Mystic and Chronicles that got him the offer to join the company full-time. "Finding colorists that live up to the extremely high standards that have been set by CrossGen's existing coloring corps isn't easy," said Sears. "Chris' work for us in the past showed that he had what it took to fit in talent-wise, and we jumped at the opportunity to bring him on-board full-time." Brad Vancata is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. Upon graduation in 1989, he went on to work in Marvel Comics' offices in New York City. After working as an inker and colorist during this time, Vancata went freelance, and began working on a variety of titles, such as Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man: Lethal Foes, and various X-Men titles for Marvel Comics, Bloodshot for Acclaim Comics, Stormwatch for WildStorm, and Impulse, Superman, and the mini- series, Aquaman: Time & Tide for DC Comics. As well as working on comics, Vancata's done storyboards for various projects, including public service announcements, short films, and video game cinematics. In addition, he also had a major role in doing conceptual design artwork, graphic design, and actual ride artwork for the 'Adventures of Spider-Man' multi-media ride in the 'Islands of Adventure' theme park at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Just previous to coming to CrossGen, Vancata worked in the video game industry for Interplay Entertainment Corp., producing level design art, conceptual art, and texture mapping for some of the first generation of video game titles for Sony's PlayStation 2. "I'm really excited about the opportunity to come and work at CrossGen," Vancata said. "I've been away from comics for a while, successfully working in other venues, and it took a company like CrossGen to bring me back. I've worked for a number of big-name entertainment companies in my career, and CrossGen has the same thing going for it as these others - a commitment to professionalism and quality that you can see in the work produced." Tom Ryder and Chris Garcia have already relocated to CrossGen's Florida-based studio and Brad Vancata will make the move in early March. +++++ Diamond Comic Distributors Celebrates 20th Anniversary! In February, Diamond Comic Distributors will celebrate its 20th year of operation, marking two decades of serving specialty market retailers and suppliers! A lifelong comics reader who became a successful retailer in 1978, Diamond President and CEO Steve Geppi was well-versed in both the artistic and commercial aspects of the industry. When an area distributor folded in 1982, Geppi – with the encouragement of many of his fellow retailers – filled the void by creating Diamond. His clear understanding of the products, services, and respect that retailers deserved and expected from a distributor helped him draft an effective business model for his then-fledgling company, the tenets of which still benefit Diamond and its customers 20 years later. Under Geppi's careful guidance, Diamond's family of employees helped nurture that small, local operation into the internationally known distributor that it is today, helping more than 4,000 specialty market retailers around the world maximize their profits by bringing them the best products and support available. Utilizing all the benefits of the computer age, Diamond's programs have expanded to include a host of high-tech services and ordering tools, such as Diamond Online, Previews Online, and more, and will continue to grow to meet the needs of the 21st century. "When I look back at what Diamond has accomplished since I founded it 20 years ago, it astounds me how many things have changed," said Geppi. "But what astounds me even more is how much we've been able to adapt to those changes while remaining, essentially, the same: We bring retailers the widest possible variety of products from a diverse selection of suppliers. We help retailers sell those products with a full spectrum of support services and programs. And we treat retailers with the respect they deserve as the people who make us successful. "As Diamond celebrates its 20th anniversary, we find ourselves facing an ever-changing set of challenges and opportunities," Geppi continued. "As in the past, we look forward to working with our suppliers and customers to ensure continued success for everyone involved." +++++ 10th Muse, Demonslayer Pair Up in First Avatar/Image Crossover Demonslayer and Alan Moore's Glory artist Marat Mychaels adds another high-profile project to his schedule with the announcement of 10th Muse / Demonslayer, the first official crossover involving Avatar Press and Image. The face off between the TidalWave Studios Rena Mero-inspired character and Mychaels' popular Demonslayer will be released as a full color one-shot with issue 1/2 prelude written by Robert Lugibihl, drawn by Mychaels, and featuring Robert Jones inks and Nimbus colors (both also of Alan Moore's Glory). 10th Muse / Demonslayer is scheduled to ship in April from Avatar Press. "I love Marat's artwork," says Playboy magazine star and former WWF champ Rena Mero. "He did a great job with my character the Muse. I can't wait to see more." Mero's involvement with the 10th Muse character she inspired has helped make that title one of the most successful new comic launches in recent memory, with the debut issue weighing in at 6th on Diamond's monthly sales charts, and her continued participation has brought the title a substantial audience outside of the traditional comics market as well. "Getting involved in a project with the lovely Ms Mero would have been the only reason I needed to green-light this crossover," laughs Avatar Press editor-in-chief William Christensen. "But there are a number of other elements that are going to make this a great book for fans of both 10th Muse and Demonslayer. Marat Mychaels, Robert Jones, and Nimbus Studios have been working together for several months on Alan Moore's Glory and everybody on that team is hitting on all cylinders creatively, as Glory readers know." "It's also cool to be doing a crossover with an Image book after all this time," notes Christensen. "Although Avatar has published a number of titles that Image has also published, this is the first actual Image/Avatar crossover. Working with Darren Davis and TidalWave has resulted in a project that's going to please comic fans as well as Rena's legion of fans outside of comics." "This is the first crossover we have done with another company," explains TidalWave Studios editor-in-chief Darren Davis. "I am looking forward to sharing the Muse with another fanbase at Avatar. I think DemonSlayer is a cool concept and cant wait to see her interact with the Muse. From what I have seen so far, the production value on these books are top notch." "I've been a big fan of Rena Mero, so naturally working on a Demonslayer crossover with 10th Muse is something I jumped at the chance to do," adds artist/writer Marat Mychaels. "I'm putting the same sort of love into the pages as I did on Alan Moore's Glory and I am very proud with how this book is turning out." Rena Mero-inspired Emma Sonnet, the forgotten Muse, uses the power of her birthright to battle evil in the courtroom by day and in the shadows at night. Demonslayer is the story of Jaclyn Hayes, an archeologist trained in both mind and body by a group of enigmatic monks in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. Avatar Press has carved a niche for itself as a publisher that pushes the boundaries between mainstream and independent with titles such as Strange Kiss and Dark Blue from Warren Ellis, Garth Ennis and John McCrea's Bigger Dicks, Steven Grant's Mortal Souls, Alan Moore's Glory, company-owned characters such as Pandora and Webwitch, other high-profile titles such as Avengelyne and The Coven, and long-running anthology title Threshold. Now in its fifth year, Avatar has published over 300 comic books since 1997. 10th Muse / Demonslayer is a one shot with issue 1/2 prelude story coming in April 2002 from Avatar Press. The full color saga will be written and drawn by Marat Mychaels, inked by Robert Jones, and colored by Nimbus. For more information, email info@avatarpress.net or see our website at www.avatarpress.com. +++++ FUNKY, A NEW COLLABORATION BASED COMIC STUDIO OPENS ITS DOORS TO CREATORS. Kwanza Osajyefo Johnson to lead group of creative talents into the publishing arena BROOKLYN, NY, January 22, 2002 - Funky Comics has officially begun its membership drive. Founded by former Marvel.com employee and writer, Kwanza Osajyefo Johnson, Funky Comics is a newly forming collaboration studio where artists of all sequential art disciplines will work together to bring their creations to readers everywhere. "There are a lot of talented comic book people out there. They are self-publishing, soliciting work from larger companies, and some have yet to even venture forward into this awesome medium. The thing is, most of them are doing it own their own, pencilers without writers, inkers without pencilers, all running around after their day-jobs trying to bring their art to the people." Devoted to a life-long dream of dazzling the comic community, Kwanza realized that as a writer, it would take a lot of time, effort, and money to produce and promote his ideas by himself. He also knew that with DC Comics new "closed door" policy and the competition for work at Marvel the odds were stacked against bringing his work to the public. While the benefits of working for a major company guaranteed distribution and promotion, it could not warrant creative freedom or adequate financial compensation. In addition, the industry is currently dominated by one genre of comic book- the odds are intimidating. Realizing that he does not need to face these obstacles alone, Osajyefo Johnson seeks to create a studio that would put creative teams together to develop the various comic projects of its members. Through solicitation and via the studio's website, Funky is actively seeking editors, writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, letters, web and graphic designers to aid in the development of the studio. Under a philosophy he dubbed Funk Theory Osajyefo had this to say. "A lot of us are out there busting our butts writing, drawing, and pouring our time and money into submissions and proposals just so we don't have to work at the Gap anymore. If five dudes are trying to get the art job for CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS, and only one gets it, what happens to the other four cats? They put a lot of work into something that will just get them a page rate, plus they didn't create the character nor do they own it. Nothing is wrong with that (for the guy that gets the job) but Funky Theory is about helping each other out and putting our creativity to work for ourselves. We're not getting paid to submit, so we might as well put that energy into doing our own thing." Funky Comics is looking to have at least five projects in the works for the website's inaugural launch in April and is currently soliciting talent and looking at the works of artists and web talents of varying tastes and disciplines. Those interested can contact the studio via their website at http://www.funkycomics.com With a dedication to bring other genres of comics to the mainstream, Funky Comics is a partnership that seeks to become one of the world's most prominent creation studios. Funky is focused on bringing its creators' work to publishers and promoting it to both the comic and non-comic reading audiences. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR FUNKY: Kwanza Osajyefo funkycomics@hotmail.com YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR RETURNS: EXCITING RADIO ADVENTURE BROUGHT TO YOUR COMIC BOOK The golden age of radio was never this exciting! Springing from the "theatre of imagination," Moonstone books is thrilled to announce the development of YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR for their upcoming NOIR FICTION line. Billed as "insurance investigator with the action-packed expense account," YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR ran in radio serial format from 1949 until 1962. Developed by Jack Johnstone, Johnny Dollar became the embodiment of the American detective developed by Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Bringing the radio drama to the printed page are the creative team of David Gallaher [former Marvel.Com writer/editor and of the upcoming BRAND NAME] and Eric Theriault [creator of VEENA and FLIRT]. "I was thrilled that publisher Joe Gentile gave me the opportunity to develop this project. As a loyal listener of golden age radio, I am excited and honored to bring this project to life. I am equally excited to be working with the very talented Eric Theriault. Upon seeing Eric's samples from VEENA, I realized how utterly perfect he'd be for this project." Gallaher describes the book's teaser as follows: My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends-- It gives a lovely light! - Edna St. Vincent Millay "The fires that burn brightest burn fastest. On the trail of a theater arsonist, suicide, betrayal, and revenge upstage Johnny Dollar. His suspects? An actress without a past, an actor without a future, a director driven with a hidden agenda and a penniless producer. Get ready for passion, thrills, and suspense as Moonstone Books proudly presents: The illustrated adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account - America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator... Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar!" Moonstone Books is the publisher of prestige format graphic novels. Their titles include THE PHANTOM, VAMPIRE, THE HAT SQUAD, and the ROBIN HOOD. For more information, please visit their website at: http://www.moonstonebooks.com +++++ From the SPLASH PAGE of Comicon.com at: http://www.comicon.com/splash/ SUPERHEROES TO BATTLE TERRORIST 'BRAINWASHING'! SUPERMAN, SPIDER-MAN SET TO INVADE AFGHANISTAN! January 21: Sharad Devarajan, of New York based GOTHAM ENTERTAINMENT has bought the South Asian rights to market Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics and Mad Magazine and plans to use them to prevent kids in Pakistan and Afghanistan "from being brainwashed." Devarajan, who only last year interned at DC Comics' New York offices, has plans to distribute free copies of the comics, translated into Urdu, by March or April in both countries. He plans to follow up with editions in Marathi, Punjabi and Telugu. GOTHAM has also sewn up marketing rights in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. His company already reaches an estimated 1.5 million readers every month in India, selling 13 monthly magazines in English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam. The INDIAN EXPRESS is reporting: "After food packets from the sky and messages on the radio, comics may be another way of selling American values and pop culture and project America as a ''great country''. Devarajan intones, ''The best way we can hope to reverse the message of hate being spread by terrorists is to provide a counter balance to the young innocent children they are targeting. I believe the values and morals our superheroes represent will paint a strong picture of what America really stands for.'' According to the INDIAN EXPRESS, Devarajan believes "the comics could act as a safety net for the children here who have become ''victims of fanatical predators '' who take advantage of their hopelessness''. ''All the characters in the comics represent universal values: bravery, courage, responsibility. Many of the young children we will be targeting in the poorer markets feel there is no hope or opportunity for them,'' says Devarajan. ''My resolve was only strengthened after seeing the video released a few weeks back showing Osama and his gang gloating over the destruction of the World Trade Center,'' he adds. ''No fictional villain ever created comes close to the evil these men displayed. Their attitudes and actions represent the worst in mankind and the opposite of everything our superheroes stand for.'' +++++ From the Comics Continuum at http://www.comicscontinuum.com/: JENNIFER GARNER TALKS DAREDEVIL/GOLDEN GLOBES ROUNDUP Jennifer Garner said that playing Elektra in the Daredevil movie is a "distinct possibility" following her win at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night. Garner, who stars in ABC's Alias, was interviewed by E! after winning as Best Actress in a Television Drama. Garner confirmed she is in talks for the role, but didn't quite say it's hers yet. "I think I kick Ben Affleck's butt," Garrner said, referring to Daredevil's star. "If I get that one." Jennifer Connelly, who will play Betty Ross in Universal's The Hulk, won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in A Beautiful Mind. James Franco, who is playing Harry Osborn in Spider-Man, won for his role in TNT's James Dean television movie. Smallville's Tom Welling was a presenter during the ceremonies on NBC. X-Men stars Hugh Jackman (Kate and Leopold) and Halle Berry (Monster's Ball) were also nominated, but did not win. Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote Batman Forever and wrote Batman Beyond, won for Best Screenplay for A Beautiful Mind. ADV Films has acquired the home video distribution rights to the classic anime series, Southern Cross, from Harmony Gold. Southern Cross will be presented in a Japanese-language version with English subtitles only. ADV's release of Southern Cross marks the first time all 23-episodes of this anime series have ever been made available to North America in an original, uncut form. Southern Cross was originally released in Japan as a Japanese-language series, and was first seen in North America in an English-dubbed format as Robotech: Robotech Masters, the second act in the 85-episode Robotech series. The series was modified to fit into Robotech continuity, with several script and scene changes made to the original Japanese episodes, including changes to various characters' names and relationships. +++++ From Newsarama at http://www.comicon.com/Newsarama/ GAIMAN SUES MCFARLANE "It's about respecting creator's rights, and about sticking to contracts and agreements once they're made." - Neil Gaiman, 01/25/02 That was how Neil Gaiman explained his side of today's events to Newsarama as the battle between him and Todd McFarlane over Miracleman went up another notch today. The writer/author has filed suit against McFarlane and his companies in Federal Court in Madison, Wisconsin. According to Gaiman's publicist, Andy Heidel, the lawsuit concerns McFarlane's unauthorized use of characters created by Gaiman, as well as McFarlane's wrongful claim to the Alan Moore/Neil Gaiman authored comic property Miracleman. The nine-count suit includes allegations of fraud and copyright violations and non-payment of royalties regarding the comic characters "Angela," "Cogliostro" and "Medieval Spawn," that Gaiman created. In a press release, Gaiman said: "This suit is not about the money, it's about respecting the rights of the creator and keeping promises." Co-lead counsel for Mr. Gaiman in this lawsuit, Kenneth F. Levin, a nationally known trial lawyer and expert in comic art rights noted: "We did everything we could to get this solved outside the courts." Mr. Gaiman is joined as a plaintiff by Marvels and Miracles, LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company which owns the Miracleman rights of acclaimed writer Alan Moore and of illustrator Mark Buckingham, the original artist on the Miracleman comic books which Mr. Gaiman authored, and Mr. Gaiman's rights. The plaintiffs' attorneys also include Madison, Wisconsin trial attorneys Alan Arntsen and Jeff Simmons of the international law firm Foley & Lardner, supported by Madison, Wisconsin attorney Jon Manzo. The Foley & Lardner trial team also includes Mark Hellmann, one of the country's leading intellectual property attorneys. The nine counts listed in the lawsuit are: Count I: derogation of moral rights a.. Gaiman is the true and rightful author of Spawn® issue nine, the Angela™ mini-series, portions of Spawn® issue 26, the characters therein and derivative works thereof. b.. Defendants have exploited Gaiman's works commercially and otherwise, without proper attribution to Gaiman. c.. Defendants have derogated Gaiman's moral rights as a creator under section 6b is of the Berne convention, United States law and foreign law. Count II: Copyright Infringement-Angela™ d.. Gaiman holds valid U.S. copyrights to the character Angela™ by virtue of his authorship and valid U.S. copyrights Nos. TX 5-352-460, TX 5-276-922, TX 5-276-923, TX 5-276-924, VAu 481-446, VAu 481-424, VAu 481-439, TXu 966-575, TX 966-576. e.. Defendants have received significant income from the willful exploitation copying, reproduction, adaptation and derivative use of Gaiman's copyrighted works related to Angela™. Defendants have done so without Gaiman's consent, or under a requirement to pay Gaiman royalties. f.. Defendants' conduct constitutes copyright infringement in violation of 17 U.S.C. § 1001 et. seq. Count III: Copyright Infringement - Cogliostro™ and Medieval Spawn™ g.. Gaiman holds valid U.S. copyrights to the characters Cogliostro™ and Medieval Spawn™ by virtue of his authorship and valid U.S. copyrights Nos. TX 5-352-460 and TX 5-352- 461. h.. Prior to the effective date of the 1997 Agreement, Defendants received significant income from the willful exploitation, copying, reproduction, adaptation and derivative use of Gaiman's copyrighted works related to Cogliostro™ and Medieval Spawn™. Defendants have done so without Gaiman's consent or under an obligation to pay Gaiman royalties. i.. Defendants' conduct constitutes copyright infringement in violation of 17 U.S.C. § 1001 et. seq. Count IV: Breach of Contract j.. Defendants breached the 1997 Agreement by, inter alia, filing for a federal trademark application on the "Miracleman™" name, and interfering with Plaintiffs' use of the Miracleman™ intellectual property. k.. Defendants breached the 1992 and 1997 Agreements by, inter alia, failing to pay Gaiman the agreed upon royalties for exploitation of the AngelaT intellectual property and other intellectual property held by Gaiman. l.. Defendants breached the 1992 and 1997 Agreements by, inter alia, interfering with Gaimin's right to do and commercially benefit from publication "one-offs" and by interfering with Gaiman's right to do and commercially benefit from a Randy Bowen Design Angela™ statue. m.. Defendants breached the 1997 Agreement by, inter alia, attempting to rescind the 1997 Agreement without ground. Count V: Fraud n.. Defendants committed common law fraud by entering into the 1997 agreement with no intent to abide by its terms. o.. Specifically, Defendants made representations to Gaiman during the negotiation of the 1997 Agreement, such as that Gaiman would be transferred the Defendants' full rights and claims to the Miracleman™ character, and that Gaiman would be paid royalties and be given proper attribution for Defendants' exploitations of his works. Defendants made these statements and others with full knowledge that they were false, and with the intent to not abide by them. p.. Evidence of the Defendants' intent during negotiation is provided by McFarlane's nearly contemporaneous declaration to the United States Patent and Trademark office in an intent-to-use application for a United States trademark registration on the name "Miracleman™". q.. Gaiman justifiably relied on the Defendants' intentional misstatements in that he abided by the terms of the 1997 Agreement and did not pursue royalties for the use of his works related to the characters Cogliostro™ and Medieval Spawn™. Count VI: Violation of the Lanham Act § 43(A) r.. The Defendants willfully used a false designation of origin in connection with their exploitation of Gaiman's works in Spawn® issue nine, Spawn® issue 26 and the Angela™ series and derivatives thereof. Defendants engaged in "reverse palming off" by refusing to attribute credit to Gaiman for his works and derivatives thereof. s.. On information and belief, such falsely designated goods are likely to cause and have already caused confusion among the relevant consumers. t.. On information and belief, such falsely designated goods have entered and significantly impacted upon interstate commerce. u.. Gaiman has suffered and will continue to suffer injury as a direct and proximate result of Defendants' conduct. v.. Defendants have willfully violated the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). w.. Gaiman has no adequate remedy at law, and will continue to suffer injury unless Defendants are restrained by this Court. Count VII: State law False Advertising x.. The Defendants' actions in willfully reverse palming off Gaiman's works in Spawn® issue nine, Spawn® issue 26 and the Angela™ series and the characters therein as works of their own creation, is likely to deceive relevant consumers as to the origin of the Gaiman's works. y.. On information and belief, consumers have been confused as to the origins of Gaiman's works falsely attributed to be the works of Defendants. z.. Defendants have willfully violated Wis. Stat. § 100.18(1). aa.. Gaiman has suffered and will continue to suffer injury as a direct and proximate result of Defendants' conduct. ab.. Gaiman has no adequate remedy at law, and will continue to suffer injury unless Defendants are restrained by this Court. Count VIII: Promissory Estoppel ac.. Defendants promised Gaiman under the 1992 Agreement, inter alia, an ongoing ownership interest in the intellectual property related to Spawn® nine and the characters therein created by Gaiman, royalty payments at rates equal to or better than those Gaiman was receiving under his DC Comics Sandman® contract, and ongoing attribution for his work. ad.. Defendants promised Gaiman under the 1997 Agreement ongoing attribution for his works, royalty payments according to the terms of the 1997 Agreement, proper accountings, rights of one-off publishing, on-going rights and entitlements in respect of the character Angela™, and quitclaim of and non-interference with the rights to the character "Miracleman™". ae.. These promises were of a type that Defendants should have reasonably expected would induce action or forbearance of a definite and substantial character on the part of Gaiman. af.. Gaiman did, in fact, rely on such promises, in that he, inter alia, authored Spawn® issue nine at considerable cost of his own time, he conveyed his works to Defendants without a written contract, and he did not pursue Defendants for royalty payments for Cogliostro™ and Medieval Spawn™ for profits and revenues generated after the effective date of the 1997 Agreement. ag.. Injustice can be avoided only through enforcement of Defendants' promises. Count IX: Declaratory Judgment ah.. An actual and justiciable case or controversy exists between Gaiman and Marvels and Miracles L.L.C, on the one hand, and the Defendants, on the other hand. ai.. Defendants have publicly revealed their intention to exploit all of Gaiman's works related to Spawn® issue nine, Spawn® issue twenty-six, the Angela™ series, and Marvels and Miracles' intellectual property relating to Miracleman™ without permission from Gaiman or Marvels and Miracles and/or without adherence to their existing promises and contracts, involving publication without proper acknowledgement and without accounting for or paying of royalties. Defendants have, inter alia, published Gaiman's works and derivatives thereof without acknowledgment, accounting or royalty; applied for federal copyright registrations on Gaiman's works without disclosing Gaiman's authorship to the copyright office; and filed for federal trademark registrations on the name "Miracleman™" without disclosing Marvels and Miracles' interest, or those of its predecessors-in-interest, in the mark. aj.. The conduct of the Defendant is imminent, and such conduct will harm Plaintiffs' legal rights. ak.. Plaintiffs therefore seek a declaration of rights from this Court, stating: a) that Gaiman is the proper owner of copyrights to the text of Spawn® issue nine, the text of Spawn® issue 26, Angela™ series issue 1, AngelaT series issue 2, Angela™ series issue 3 and the character Angela™. b) that any of the alleged copyrights registered by Defendants which cover works authored by Gaiman or which involve rights transferred to Gaiman are invalid, unenforceable, and nullities; c) that Defendants are required to properly account for and pay royalties to Gaiman under the terms of the 1997 Agreement or, in the alternative, to properly account for and pay royalties to Gaiman under the terms of the 1992 Agreement; d) that as of the effective date of the 1997 Agreement, Gaiman was the proper owner of any intellectual property or other rights or claims in the character Miracleman™ owned or claimed by McFarlane or any other Defendant, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, equitable rights, foreign rights and common law rights over which McFarlane or the other Defendants have asserted a claimed ownership; e) that McFarlane and the other Defendants received no rights to any of the Miracleman™ intellectual property from the Eclipse bankruptcy or said bankruptcy's Trustee, and have no such rights; and, f) that Defendants' intended actions in exploiting the Miracleman™ intellectual property will infringe Marvels and Miracles' intellectual property rights. Prayer Wherefore, Plaintiff Gaiman respectfully requests: a. damages in an amount to be determined at trial; b. an order directing Defendants to account for royalties due to Gaiman and to conform to the terms of the 1997 Agreement or, in the alternative, for an order directing Defendants to account for royalties due to Gaiman pursuant to the terms of the 1992 Agreement, or alternatively, an order directing Defendants to account for all of their income and profits from the intellectual property rights of Gaiman to permit the Court to assess royalties due to Gaiman therefore; c. a declaration setting forth the rights of Gaiman as enumerated in Count IX; d. an award of treble damages under the Lanham Act; e. an award of punitive damages; f. an award of statutory and special damages for copyright infringement; g. an award of his costs and reasonable attorneys' fees expended in this action; h. an award of double damages under Wis. Stat. § 100.18(11)(b)(2); and i. such further relief as the Court deems just and reasonable; and wherefore, Plaintiff Marvels and Miracles respectfully requests: a. a declaration setting forth the rights of Marvels and Miracles as enumerated in Count IX; b. an award of their costs and reasonable attorneys' fees expended in this action; c. an award of punitive damages; and d. such other relief as the Court deems just and reasonable. Newsarama contacted the offices of Todd McFarlane Productions for comment, but no one was immediatley available to comment on the lawsuit. MARVEL TO OFFER DOTCOMIC SUBSCRIPTIONS? Electronic versions of comics got the spotlight in an article in Monday's Chicago Tribune by Todd Allen. Looking at how comics are making the slow transition to the Internet, the article looks at www.UnboundComics.com, StanLee.net, Comicon founder Steve Conley's Astounding Space Thrills, and Marvel's DotComics. One of the main questions posed by the article is how to make online comics profitable for creators, and while the micropayments of Unbound Comics and advertisement-based "Tooncasting" of AST are mentioned, of particular interest is Marvel's COO Bill Jemas revealing that Marvel will soon be selling subscriptions to online, "dotComics." "There will be a point where it becomes easy for us to give you a subscription online," Jemas said in the article. Allen's article also said that Jemas mentioned plans to experiment with discounted subscriptions to electronic editions of a handful of Marvel titles in about six months. Jemas was traveling Monday, and unavailable for immediate comment or clarification. Currently, a wide selection of Marvel's a selection of Marvel's dotComics are available for free at the publisher's website, while a small selection, including dotComic versions of Origin #1 - #3, Iceman #1, and Amazing Spider-Man #37 require potential viewers to register at Marvel.com for access. Once registered, individuals can download a dotComics viewer to their computer, as well as free copies of all current dotComics. In short, Marvel already has the mechanism in place for dotComic subscriptions, and Jemas comments could simply mean that the publisher will start charging for downloads, and presumably making the dotComic versions of titles available the same day as (or earlier than) they are released in comic shops. Currently, Marvel's dotComics are available online roughly two weeks after their print debut. Allen previously reported in the Tribune that Marvel will soon be adding dotCom downloads to their base circulation numbers, and will consider them when calculating advertising rates. The move, according to Marvel, is expected to add 500,000 dotComics readers to Marvel's roughly three million monthly readers of all its titles. WEAPON X ONGOING TO LAUNCH THIS SUMMER Newsarama has learned a new Weapon X ongoing series by Frank (Wolverine) Tieri and Georges (Deadpool) Jeanty will premiere this July from Marvel, spinning out of the characters and events from the pages of not-so-coincendently, Wolverine and Deadpool. While Marvel has opted not to release too much information about the series, it is known that Sabretooth plays a large role in the series, perhaps as the leader of a team of operatives. UPDATED: TRANFORMERS/G.I. JOE CROSSOVER...SORT OF UPDATED with Transformers: G1 #1 solicitation copy below - While the sentient robots of The Transformers and the super-soldiers of G.I Joe may not logically inhabit the same fictional 'universe', both properties do inhabit the same hearts of a certain generation of fan. Both toy lines manufactured by Hasbro in the 80's, made popular by animated TV series and both published as comic books by Marvel during that time, the two universes actually collided once in a G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover in the pages of Marvel's G.I. Joe series. While the properties' current license holders, Devil's Due (Image) and Dreamwave, may not be planning on a crossover storyline - at least there are no plans at this time - they are making plans to at least capture the spirit of the link the universes share, in a summer treat for fanboys of both. According to Dreamwave's Adam Fortier, the two imprints have just agreed to series of two 'crossover' mini-posters, to be published in the centerfolds of May's Transformer: G1 #2 and G.I. Joe #6, respectively. The Dreamwave/Transformers mini-poster will be drawn by Pat Lee and feature the villains – the Decepticons and Cobra, while Devil's Due/G.I. Joe contribution will sport the heroes, the Autobots and the 'Joes, drawn by series artist Steve Kurth. Fortier said he also hopes to print larger versions of the poster for giveaways for this summer's Chicago and San Diego comics conventions. Speaking of Transformers: G1, here is an excerpt from the solicition copy of issue #1, due to ship in April. "Long thought dead by the inhabitants of Earth, we discover that the classic metal warriors of Generation 1 are far from gone. But where have they been for so long, and why only now have they chosen to return? And who is the mysterious man called Lazarus and what is his plan?" BREAK OUT THE HIP FLASK Last summer, Comicraft announced plans for comic book starring their 'mascot' Hip Flask, the "hard boiled hippopotamime hero", and this week the company provided Newsarama updated plans for Hip Flask, including new preview cover images. "In celebration of our Tenth Anniversary this year, Comicraft is producing not one, but two major comic book projects (totaling seven issues) featuring our hard-boiled (but soft-centered) hippopotamime hero, Hip Flask, and that's just for starters," the company announced. "The first, Pulp Science Fiction #1:Unnatural Selection is a 32-page one-shot that brings readers the long-awaited 'Origin of Hip Flask' by Richard Starkings, Joe Casey and Ladronn. That will be followed by another 32-page one-shot Hip Flask #0, which will serve as a prologue to the 'Pulp Science Fiction Thriller' Hip Flask: The Big Here & The Long Now." All of these projects are written by Starkings and Casey and illustrated by Ladronn. Unnatural Selection is expected to go on sale this summer. Hip Flask #0 and then Hip Flask: The Big Here & The Long Now are tentatively scheduled to debut later in the year. Comicraft also announced another Hip Flask project in the works, Captain Stoneheart & The Truth Fairy. Described as a "Grim Tale of Piracy and Broken Hearts on the High Seas", that project will be written by the Steampunk creative team of Joe Kelly and Chris Bachalo. Format and release date are not yet confirmed, as work on the project will begin when Bachalo completes his commitments to Cliffhanger and DC Comics, though Comicraft is tentatively eyeing a summer, 2003 release. DC HEROES RECALL THEIR FIRST TIMES This May DC is writing a new page in their storied history by telling new tales of some of their heroes' "first times". No, these won't be stories written by Kevin Smith and distributed in men's locker rooms around the country. DC Firsts is a series of four, 48-page specials, showcasing a different pair of DC characters and a "special first moment" they shared. "First and foremost, these stories are meant to be fun," explained DC Coordinating editor Ivan Cohen. "They're not a crossover in any sense, and they're not intended as continuity 'patches' or any other sort of way to fix things that were never broken in the first place. "We've got a really intriguing mix of characters and creators, and I think the results are something that will be a pleasure for fans of Superman, Batgirl, Flash, Green Lantern, etc. "Aside from all being, well .. good … the only other thing linking the books are their design and the fact that they'll all have covers by Kevin Nowlan. Cohen also provided details on all four of the special one-shots... "DC First: Superman/Lobo sees Keith Giffen - who introduced Lobo way back in Omega Men - returns to the character for a story that kind of started us on the path to this whole group of specials. "The Lobo appearances on the Superman animated series were really well- received, and the characters have a certain 'Odd Couple' quality when they're together - one's the ultimate (can I use that word?) boy scout, the other, the universe's biggest barroom brawler. Lobo's current situation in Young Justice kind of keeps him from having a logical reason to run into Superman, so we decided to tell this story as a 'first meeting' with neither character having any real insight into the other's M.O., etc. It's a no-holds-barred fight that has all the carnage --courtesy of artists Cliff Rathburn and Rob Leigh and editor Dan Raspler - that anyone could want. "DC First: Batgirl/The Joker features a story we've told before, but in a new way. We did the first meeting of Barbara Gordon and the Joker once before (in the Prestige Batman: Batgirl one-shot), but this time, the story finds the current Batgirl hearing the story of the horrors that the Joker's put Barbara through, and decides to go after him for revenge. "Writer Steven Grant's script also allowed for two firsts-within firsts: Bill Sienkiewicz is drawing the main story while soon-to-be Birds Of Prey writer Terry Moore is drawing an eight-page flashback sequence. It's the first time either Bill or Terry have drawn Batgirl and it's a real treat. Lysa Hawkins edits. "DC First: The Flash/Superman is going to surprise people who think the idea of a Superman vs. the Flash race is something that's been done before. Here's the twist: This time it's Jay Garrick - the original Flash - racing Superman for the first time, and they're actually chasing after modern Flash Wally West, as part of a plot by Kadabra, who hasn't been seen in The Flash in quite a while. "Geoff Johns - who loves this kind of stuff as much as anybody in comics - wrote the script, with Rick Burchett - hot off the 10-Cent Adventure - and Prentis Rollins on the art. Joey Cavalieri edits. "DC First: Green Lantern/Green Lantern is the only retelling of a classic DC story among the First specials, but it's one long overdue for a post-Crisis, post-Zero Hour update, as we look back to the first adventure Golden Age Green Lantern Alan Scott and Silver Age Green Lantern Hal Jordan ever shared. "The original story introduced the ancient baddie named Krona - whose search for the origin of the universe created everything Crisis would eventually undo - and was the first story to star the two GLs side-by- side. In this version, written by Ben Raab with art by Robin's Pete Woods (inked by Rob Stull, edited by Michael Wright), Alan tells the story to modern GL Kyle Rayner, revealing some new details and offering insights into the distinct qualities of all three of the Green Lanterns. Plus, the Green Lantern Corps appears, which will make a lot of fans extremely happy." Of course, with any project of this kind, the natural question is, 'Will we see more of them in the future', and Cohen) had an answer for it… "When we started talking about doing the Firsts, the list of possible stories covered a couple of pages, and I suspect the message-board community will give us even more possibilities to think about once these come out," he responded. "We're not planning to do any more of these one-shots just yet, but if readers enjoy these books as much as we hope they will, we're more than willing to visit the First again." +++++ From Comics2Film at http://www.comics2film.com JEREMIAH -------- Showtime has announced a debut date for Jeremiah, MGM Television Entertainment and Platinum Studios' new comic-based sci-fi show. The series will be launched with a two-hour movie airing Sunday, March 3, 2002 at 8:00pm (ET/PT). Jeremiah stars Luke Perry (Oz) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Malcolm & Eddie) and was created for television by fan-fave sci-fi and comics creator J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Rising Stars). Jeremiah is based on the Platinum Studios' award-winning graphic novel series by Belgian author Hermann Huppen. Set in the future, the series focuses on Jeremiah (Perry) who must navigate his way through a world populated by the survivors of a deadly epidemic that spared only those who had not yet reached puberty. Now those same survivors must find their way in a decadent civilization and attempt to create a new world order of hope. Jeremiah marks a couple of firsts for comic related projects. It is the first European comic book to be adapted as a live-action, U.S. TV series. It is also the first TV series developed by Platinum's Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, who shepherded Men In Black from indy comic to becoming the highest-grossing comic-to-film adaptation of all time. After the feature-length debut episode, hourly episodes of the show will air in its weekly time-slot on Friday Nights at 10:45pm (ET/PT). The 20-episode is being produced by Jeremiah Productions, Inc. in association with Lions Gate Television and Platinum Studios and will be distributed by MGM Worldwide Television distribution. ASTERIX AND OBELIX: MISSION CLEOPATRA ------------------------------------- Just a week before its release in France, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra has hit a speed bump in the form of rapper Joey Starr. According to Variety there is a legal flap over the use of Starr's hit single "Gazelle". Filmmaker Gilles de Maistre claims he purchased the rights to use the song in his low-budget film Ferocious. The filmmaker is seeking damages of $134,000. De Maistre claims that he had a contract to use the music in his movie but the record producer turned the rights over to the bigger-budgeted Asterix when those filmmakers showed an interest in it. Ferocious was completed in 2000 and will finally see release in France on April 17. The Paris High Court will hear the case later this week, according to Variety. Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra is the sequel to Asterix and Obelix Vs. Caesar, one of the most expensive and successful French movies ever made. The movie will open on 900 screens in France next week. http://www.variety.com BLADE 2 ------- This spring, Blade returns to the big screen and he's got more trouble to contend with than ever before. In Blade 2, Blade is forced to team-up with a group a vampire assasins called the Bloodpack in order to stop the Reavers, a new species of mutated vampires. Fans of Blade are now being treated to an official preview of the new film, including peeks at production sketches and cast photos, as well as screensaver and wallpaper downloads. The preview can be found at http://www.blade2.com/preview. When prompted, enter "BLADE2" as your username and "NOMAK" as your password. The content featured inside is more than enough to whet a fan's appetite while waiting for the film's theatre release. CONSTANTINE ----------- According to Hollywood Reporter, director Tarsem Singh has dropped out of Warner Bros' Constantine, the film based on the Vertigo comic series Hellblazer. The trade states budgetary concerns as the reason for the director's departure. It is unclear now what course the film will continue upon and whether the controversial star of Constantine, Nicolas Cage will remain on board. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail: subscribe@ZENtertainment.com MTV Orders SPIDER-MAN Cartoon - MTV has ordered a new SPIDER-MAN animated series, which is expected to premiere later this year. The series follows the MARVEL Comics character during Peter Parker's college years. http://www.mtv.com FOX Developing GARFIELD Movie - According to The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, FOX has optioned the film rights to John Davis' GARFIELD comic strip. A live-action film, featuring a computer-generated Garfield, will focus on the sibling rivalry between Garfield the cat and Odie the dog. It will be written by TOY STORY scribes Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. http://www.foxmovies.com Smith Reveals Some BLACK CAT Plans - NEWSARAMA reports Kevin Smith's first MARVEL story featuring Black Cat will be a four-issue SPIDER-MAN / BLACK CAT miniseries expected to launch in May. The mini will then lead into Smith's ongoing series featuring the character. "Aside from our main story, we've got something happening to Peter that's going to rock his world and change all the books forever," Smith told NEWSARAMA. Smith will end his run on DC Comics' GREEN ARROW with issue #15. http://www.comicon.com/newsarama http://www.marvel.com http://www.newsaskew.com Morrison Returns To VERTIGO With THE FILTH - Writer Grant Morrison is returning to DC/VERTIGO Comics with the 13-issue limited series THE FILTH, launching this spring. Illustrated by Chris Weston (The Invisibles) & Gary Erskine (War Story: Johann's Tiger), THE FILTH is a twisted thriller where nothing is what it seems, full of extra-dimensional espionage, disease pathology, sex and violence, prosthetically-equipped dolphins, indolent nano-technology, co-opted reality and the notion of identity itself. http://www.dccomics.com Comic Website Becoming a Magazine - COMICS CONTINUUM creator Rob Allstetter is turning his website into a 64-page quarterly magazine, published through BLUE LINE PRO. The print mag will focus on comics being turned into movies, TV, and animation, starting with a spotlight on the SPIDER-MAN movie franchise in May's premiere issue. http://www.comicscontinuum.com +++++ From the DC Comics Online Newsletter at http://www.dccomics.com DC Comics Online Newsletter 1/22/02 SPECIAL EDITION DC COMICS ANNOUNCES EDITORIAL RESTRUCTURING: KAREN BERGER PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE EDITOR - VERTIGO MIKE CARLIN PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE EDITOR - DCU DAN DIDIO JOINS DC COMICS AS VICE PRESIDENT - EDITORIAL Several changes have been made in the DC Comics Editorial Department, Paul Levitz, Executive Vice President and Publisher announced today. Karen Berger, formerly Executive Editor - VERTIGO is now Vice President - Executive Editor, VERTIGO. Mike Carlin,, formerly Executive Editor - DCU is now Vice President - Executive Editor, DCU. Dan DiDio, former Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs for Mainframe Entertainment, joins the DC staff as Vice President - Editorial. In this newly created position, DiDio will work closely with the editorial leaders of all of DC's imprints on project acquisitions, talent relations and the shared goal of keeping DC the most creatively innovative and diverse publisher in comics. Berger and Carlin continue to report directly to Levitz, as will DiDio. Karen Berger, Vice President - Executive Editor, VERTIGO After graduating from Brooklyn College in 1979, Karen Berger joined the DC editorial staff, and within a few years, became known as an editor who sought to push mainstream comics into new territories. Her early series of note include AMETHYST, PRINCESS OF GEMWORLD, WONDER WOMAN, and the now legendary SWAMP THING. Wishing to push comics further, she created the VERTIGO imprint in 1993, now seen as the definition of cutting edge comics in the industry. In addition to publishing groundbreaking series such as THE SANDMAN, PREACHER, TRANSMETROPOLITAN, and 100 BULLETS, she moved VERTIGO into further recognition with a strong line of original graphic novels and best- selling collected editions. Levitz commented, "Karen has been one of the great editorial pioneers of her generation, building a new audience for comics with the VERTIGO line, and new ways for us to work with the creative community. It's a pleasure to recognize her contributions, and I look forward to more years of working together." "There are many great things about working at DC all these years, but probably the best has been the company's support of taking creative risks to expand the boundaries of the medium," said Berger. "I'm grateful that DC has given me the opportunities and autonomy to publish the creative and diverse visions of so many talented writers and artists. We've only just begun to show what this medium is capable of." Mike Carlin, Vice President - Executive Editor, DCU While a student at New York's High School of Art and Design, Mike Carlin was an intern at DC Comics. He went on to study with Harvey Kurtzman and Will Eisner at the School of Visual Arts. Upon graduating, he began his professional comics career writing and drawing features for Marvel Comics' Crazy Magazine, and was soon hired as an editor for the super-hero comics. In 1986, he returned to DC Comics, where he achieved national celebrity for the "Death of Superman" series of comics, which he edited. As Executive Editor, he is responsible for everything that happens to the DC super-heroes. Levitz said, "Mike has one of the toughest jobs in comics, keeping the greatest and longest-running line of heroes fresh and faithful to their history at the same time. He tackles it with spirit and courage, and a terrific track record, and I'm happy to recognize his contributions and to have him a key part of our team for the future." "This is just a really cool development for a guy who only ever wanted to work with Superman since he was 7-years-old!" said Carlin. "And having started as an intern at DC in 1974, it's a particular honor to receive this latest vote of confidence. But I guess now I'll have to go out and buy a tie!" Dan DiDio, Vice President - Editorial DiDio is a native of Brooklyn, NY and graduate of Brooklyn College. He began a television career in 1981 at CBS where he worked at a variety of positions until moving to Capital Cities/ABC in 1985. At ABC, DiDio served as Public Relations Manager for the three New York based Daytime Dramas and then moved to Los Angeles to become Executive Director of Children's Programming. There he was responsible for Saturday morning programs and After School Specials and served as Program Executive on such series as Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Hypernauts, Madeline, Dumb and Dumber, and Reboot. In 1996, DiDio joined the computer animation company, Mainframe Entertainment as a freelance story editor and scriptwriter for the series Reboot and War Planets. Later he became its Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs where he oversaw development, distribution, marketing, and promotion as well as merchandising and licensing of all Mainframe's television properties. Among the projects he has developed are Weird-Ohs, Beast Machines, Black Bull's Gatecrasher and Jill Thompson's Scary Godmother. He is currently the cowriter of DC's SUPERBOY with Jim Palmiotti. "Dan combines a lifelong love of comics with years of working in creative management positions in the related field of animation, said Levitz "This is an exciting time in comics history, with new creative opportunities opening for us all, and it's wonderful to have another talented executive coming on board to help us seize them." DiDio said, "Comics have always been an important part of my life and I've enjoyed finding ways to incorporate them into my career. By joining DC Comics, I look forward to being part of the premier comic company, working side by side with some of the true innovators in the field. For me, it's a dream job come true." +++++ From Rich Johnston, THE 2000 SQUIDDY JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR, in his ALL THE RAGE Gossip Column at: http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com RUMOUR BARRIER "I accept that the following material is rumour and gossip, intended to entertain only. "I won't repeat the information inside as fact. I understand if I want the truth, I will go to Silver Bulletins. "I enter freely with my mind open and my blinkers off." Now, onto the rumours. Angels, Agents, And Avengers The Passing Of Angels Angel Passage: A CD Review This is the fourth in a series of linked Alan Moore CDs, recorded pieces of performance art by Moore and his crew, this time classical musician, Tim Perkins. This is a sub brand of an earlier performance, The Grand Egyptian Moon And Serpent Theatre Of Marvels, this production is known as Angel Passage. It tells of a story of a young boy growing up in London and how his experiences of "filthy splendour" shape him. "He redrew the city with his eyes and collaged angels in among the harvesting". A boy who could see angels in his world. And the boy grows up in a magical and disturbing world, tied down to street names or areas of the city - "London inhaled him". And then he begins to live. Unnamed, it bears comparison to an early chapter of From Hell where the world is seen by the William Gull, only identified at the end by name in darkness. And so it is here, although enough biographical details are included for those who do know the man and his works to latch on towards the beginning. For those who don't, the performance creates an astounding picture of the subject's cathartic moments, his hallucinations and inspirations in seeing angels, prophets, spirits and demons around him, including that of his dead brother, inspiring not just his art but also practical solutions to printing it. Named or unnamed, the effect would have been the same. But without the naming, there is initial (or constant) uncertainty as the listener second guesses the author. Again, Moore places strong emphasis on location. Individual street names provide a grounding for a fantastical tale, from Soho to Lambeth to Felpham, each is painted in it's glory and repugnance by Moore's description. Angel Passage is a very tangible affair. As with the previous three released CDs, Angel Passage is constructed with a rich variety of musical styles and instruments. It starts with a big band track which turns into a twisted melody and continues through the album taking on the feel of a bad themed rock album - especially when the classic synthesiser sounds come out. Eric Clapton licks from Edge Of Darkness merge with those familiar stings from eighties Doctor Who. It works, it disturbs and bounces off Moore's words, hideous and formidable, less wordplay than previous albums, more inventive phrases "he plays his business cards close to his chest", "he takes the decade personally". There are reprises from previous albums within, both musical passages, notes to Moore's interest in the death of Princess Diana, and the comparison with what was with what is, with a viewer from the past being confronted with the present. Overall, this is a more disturbing performance art than others but one than ends on an uplifting high note. While works like Birth Caul, Grand Egyptian and, to a lesser degree, Highbury Working were of more bittersweet nature. There were gags. There's far fewer here. Yet neither is there depression, more a forceful feeling of 'this is what was, this is what is'. Best enjoyed solo, with the lights turned down, a bottle of red wine and a good smoke. And maybe a not-too-old episode of Doctor Who playing on UK Gold in the corner. And if you don't know the subject of the piece of his works, the end of the piece is probably the beginning of discovery. Angel Passage can be bought from http://www.stevenseverin.com and will most likely be made available at www.amazon.com eventually. You can read a previous review of Highbury Working here. Now on with the usual mixture of news, rumour, gossip, plugs and looks behind the curtain of the comics industry. Idol Hands While everyone's been fussing about Warren Ellis' exclusive contract to DC, the real Ellis fans have been pointing with big hands, wearing colourful costumes, standing on their ties and shouting "Look! Look!" in the direction of http://www.artbomb.net - a website dedicated to reviewing the best graphic novels and presenting new original graphic work online from the same creators. Up now is Colleen Doran and Warren Ellis' Superidol. Go to http://www.artbomb.net now. And by the way, what is this project Ellis has lined up for Oni? This Has An Instruction Value Of 9 Out Of 10 X-Changes Apart from the X-Factor visual that's been doing the rounds, looks like there's plenty of other upheavals to come for the Xbooks. I hear that X-Force, Cable, and Deadpool are being cancelled, only to be relaunched under new names and new numbers. Probably all #1 though.. X-Force becomes X-Statics, Deadpool becomes Agent X, and Cable becomes Soldier X. And Marvel's sales get another quick shot in the arm. As a result, Marvel will get more books with X in the title, new issue ones all round... and may have to stop paying that pesky royalty to Louise Simonson, Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld for creating the books or titular characters. When asked about the rumoured changes, Marvel were bloody evasive. This Has A Rumour Value Of 6 Out of 10 Tempe Fired! More news from McFarlane Toys - and more firings. I hear three have gone from the Tempe offices and the McFarlane Toys President in New Jersey has also been given the heave ho. More to come? This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out of 10 Impulse Decision It's back.... One of those rumours that never goes away is back with a vengeance. And this time it's from a decent source. DC are preparing to cancel Impulse. Impulse fans, if you want to do something about it, now's the time. This Has A Rumour Value Of 6 Out of 10 Chucking Scripts We see that Steven Grant is to write a fill in for Birds Of Prey. Considering that the incredibly prolific Chuck Dixon has left DC with a veritable battalion of scripts before he announced he was moving to DC, one wonders why this is? Could it be that old DC vs CrossGen rumour rearing its ugly head again? This Has A Rumour Value Of 6 Out of 10 Missing in Action Mike Grell, one of the more admired Green Arrow creators has, apparently completed and been paid for a Connor Hawke/Shado mini- series. The arrival of Kevin Smith on the Green Arrow series meant that it was shelved. There are no plans to publish it now, as DC don't believe the demand is there. Other recent projects languishing in DC's limbo include the Authority Widescreen special, a completed Lobo special by Alan Grant and Frank Quitely, Warren Ellis' last Hellblazer issue, and the contents of the Elseworlds Eighty Page Giant, save for the Superbaby story. Finished, paid for, and only available to be read by a select few. This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out of 10 Contracts In Disguise So what are the details of the Pat Lee Dreamwave Transformers comics line? Here's what I've heard: Dreamwave had to pay $100,000 for the Transformers licence. They also have do give percentage points on revenue, coupled with strict production deadlines. They have to provide promotional artwork (including the content of the free comic packaged with the new toy) for no cost. This Has A Rumour Value Of 3 Out of 10 Moment Of Embarrassment So just how different were the scripts for the Nuff Said issues published by Marvel to the final product? One change widely noted occurred in Uncanny X-Men #401. Joe Casey wrote Page 11- Panel 2: "In the middle of the bed, completely laid out on his back, spread eagle like a sexual slave, is Rudolph Giuliani (since this is the silent issue, we can get away with this if we're smart about it... not naming him by name, try to get his likeness as close as possible. Those in the know should absolutely get the joke... the one or two X-Men readers who might be at all politically aware...)." Readers will note that the artist changed this to Bill Clinton... was this script written before the 11th of September perhaps? This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out of 10 Say Uncle This week, Mark Millar is in Bulgaria. It's a little known fact but Bulgarian law allows the shooting of any Scottish comics creators by muskets. Happy hunting, boys… This Has A Rumour Value Of 1 Out Of 10. You know if he does get shot out there, i'll feel really guilty. Paul Levitz Has No Balls In previous columns and postings I may have referred to Paul Levitz's giant elastic band ball. I now understand that the ball in fact is owned not by Paul, but by his assistant, Linda. In fact she has two large balls. Paul, I repeat, has none. All The Rage thanks two DC employees for pointing out this error. This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out of 10 Stories That Never Were About World That Never Were Earlier this week, John Byrne revealed two plotlines from previous stories that never happened, with a similar theme.. First was that the Spider-Man creative team's proposed revamping of Spider-Man's world in a Bobby Ewing style. First, the creative team would have put Peter Parker through the worst of it, until he considers ending it all. At that point, he'd find himself on the bridge where Gwen Stacy died, offering his soul if the clock could have been turned back to simpler times. At which point the Shaper Of Worlds does just that, remaking Spider-Man's world to when he was back in High School, but with the current book's supporting cast, taking place in the modern day. Eventually confronting the Shaper, he discovers nothing can be changed, and his memories of the old world slowly fade away. The team decided though that this kind of event would be too "cosmic" for Spider-Man, who has a "street level" tone. Read John's full message here. John also revealed his much-speculated original ending for his West Coast Avengers run, one that had been built up and planned for before being nixed by then Marvel Editor In Chief, Tom DeFalco. John says that Immortus had been travelling through dimensions, finding the moment where that reality split from the Marvel Universe and cutting it off, so that there would be only one timeline left. WCA readers say these sequences happening as fascinating but then- unexplained snippets within the main plots of the book. Immortus was to use the Scarlet Witch's power to change probabilities by altering events retroactively to do this and create a final reality where the first battle between Avengers and Kang (another version of Immortus) resulted in Kang winning. Time has been changed and the world is a nasty one, ruled by Kang. But this reality caught up to a previous event, where Thor had saved the Black Knight by placing him in a dimensional pocket outside of time and space (and unaffected now by Immortus' meddlings). He pops out with full memory of the way the world should be and starts putting a team together to make things right. You can read John's original post here. This Has A Blast From The Past Value Of 9 Out of 10 Colleen Dorant Colleen Doran is on Dave Sim's mailing list. And while this once epitome of womanhood according to Sim doesn't read Cerebus anymore, she did check out the inside front cover after a tipoff. She wrote on the Warren Ellis Delphi Forum: "I don't know if I'm the only one who got a shock from this, but has anyone out there read the inside front cover of the latest Cerebus? I was shocked by it and not in a women-and-strap-ons- Cerebus kind of way. Dave got samples in 1993 from a guy named Nicholas Zivkovic (anyone heard of him?). Though Dave did not think much of the fellow's art, he liked the writing enough to file it away for future reference. He liked it so much (by Dave's own admission WITHOUT PERMISSION of Mr. Zivkovic), Dave lifted some of the writing from Zivkovic's comic samples and used portions of it in the latest Cerebus. I kid you not. Dave is holding a $100 check for payment and some sketches so if this guy ever comes forward, he will give Zivkovic the money for the unauthorized use of the writing. I cannot wrap my brain wround this. He did not get this guy's permission to use his work. It's amazing to me. If Marvel or DC had done it, there'd be a lawsuit. I would really like to know what other people think of this. I am floored. I can't believe a pro would do something so bizarre. It is just going to make it harder on every other pro when fans start claming "So-and-so used my work and didn't get permission!" because here is a pro who has done it and doesn't care. This shows an utter lack of regard for the primacy of the author." The comic in question was distributed later in the week, and a rereading discovers the letter is dated October, which means the author in question could have replied and granted permission. Or indeed it could also be a complete fake. But if nothing else the writing style does imply hypocrisy based on Dave Sim's previous stance on creator's rights and especially a certain Bill he once signed... So does this count as work for hire, Dave? This Has A Rabble Rousing Value Of 8 Out Of 10 ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Interviews Tim O'Shea tim_jen@mindspring.com [Tim O'Shea is a 32-year old desktop publisher who lives in Atlanta with his wife and son. Tim has been reading comic books on a weekly basis since 1977.] Used with permission of www.the comicreader.com Part Scholarly/Part Mythology/Hard to Put Into Words: Chatting with Some of the Folks Behind ShaddowFish Comics Some works just are just beyond my ability to describe. Rather than doing Shaddowfish Comics an injustice by inaccurately describing their entertainment/educational/archaeological mission, I'll just recommend that you visit its website (www.sfcomics.com). I e-interviewed the following folks from Shaddowfish: * Adam Mock: cover design and conceptual artwork * Imran Javed: penciler * Ken Anderson: inker * Paul Ohslon: is an ArcheoAstronomer and acts as a research liaison between the SF Expedition teams of South America, the Polynesian Islands, and the Southeastern European Continent. He translates archaeological research into readable articles for the fans of Of The Cobra. Paul has performed several site investigations and played a critical role in many of the earlier investigate & capture expeditions. My thanks to them and Shaddowfish's David Dentler for their time and thoughts. -Tim O'Shea, TCR News TCR: What kind of research and prep work is required of the artist? Mock: I personally try to workout every other day. You need to when you're under the watchful eye of David Dentler! Ohlson: The artists work closely with sketches, etches, or tracings made by archaeologists, descriptions of text or items found, and photos of artifacts, which are supplied by the research teams. Anderson: Dave's script is only slightly less complex than the actual research, but weekly meetings with the entire staff (save John Wilson) keep all of us on track. Javed: My research includes everything from medieval, Greco-roman, ottoman, Turk, and Islamic architecture reference, to observing the organic lines and shapes in nature. I also use photos I've shot on my journeys to Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Jerusalem. TCR: Do you feel a great deal of pressure tackling such a complex project, or is it more a fun labor of love? Mock: Pressure is too tame a word for this line of work. Anderson: Yes to both. The fun part is the complexity, and trying to tell a story as best we can interpret given what sporadic information we have available. Javed: For me, it's more of a challenge and a labor of love. The challenge lies in being faithful to the material while maintaining a solid sequential narrative flow. TCR: What are some of your artistic influences? Mock: "The Master of the Macabre" Bernie Wrightson for his vision and legacy; and, Alex Horley for his smooth and playful style. Alex is fast becoming one the top artists in the business, and it's a real honor to have him doing a pin-up for issue #2. Also Franchesco, for his skill and warm personality. Franchesco is truly a comic artist for the fans. He always has a smile and the time to look at an aspiring artist's artwork and offer practical and helpful advice. Anderson: Brom, Campbell, and anyone who gave up a little in hopes of getting a lot out of what they love. Javed: Of course, being in comic book form, I look at a lot of comic book artists; Charles Vess, Duncan Fredrego, Chris Bachalo, David MAck, John Buscema, John Romita SR. and JR. However I look at a lot of painters and older illustrators, such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Gustav Dorey, Picasso, and the drawings of Renoir. I don't feel my work reflects and one artist specifically. Throw them all together, add a pinch of my own sensibilities, and there you have my style. TCR: Again given the complexities, how long does it take to do a cover/one page of an issue for ShaddowFish Comics? Mock: This really depends on what the story is trying to convey. Our covers are trying to get away from convention "splash" cover art by utilizing some of the top models in the action and romance genre. We try to either give you a glimpse into the story about to be presented. Or we try to convey the range of emotions that are brought forth through the main characters. We did this with the cover of Tzimtzum, which was modeled by William Hainsworth. Upcoming models will include Stacy Walker, Teri Byrne, Cherif Fortin, and the team of Leland and Leslie Burbank. Each cover can take quite a while to create since we have to work photo shoots and costumes into our schedule. I'm also very excited about the guest artist contributing their talents to each issue. Alex Horley and Melanie Klegerman are just a couple of names fans can look forward to. Anderson: For me, it can be a few hours or days, depending on Imran's pencils and any revisions I may encounter. Javed: It depends on the pacing of the page, but it can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a few days. Most of the work goes into designing the layouts of the page. That's the actual thinking part. After the composition has been decided the pencilling is fairly quick and fun. TCR: Some of the concepts addressed in the books are quite esoteric, cosmic, and almost existential. How challenging is it to take something abstract and portray it in an engaging manner? Mock: A great question for Pablo Picasso! He was the master of engaging abstract. It's quite a challenge, but yet it all works out. It also helps that David will constantly shout in your ear, "Carry on my wayward son! There'll be peace when you are done!" Anderson: If any storyline is good, it becomes its own character. I think Dave has done that here, but our challenge is putting a face to that character. Even with creative license, that can be difficult. The first issue, Prologue, addressed this by toning down the visual while setting up the reader with something firm to stand on for the upcoming issues. We chose John Haack for that task because of his simple and well-defined approach. Future issues will have a more traditional feel but still keep to the storyline in seamless fashion. Javed: Because the material is so different it actually gives you more freedom to try different design ideas. But, when you break it down, it is a story we are trying to tell. It's got a beginning, middle, and end. So the challenge is to make the reader care about the characters first. It's important to tell this story in a straightforward simple manner. You won't see any splash pages or gratuitous sex. Don't get me wrong though, there is action and romance, but if the reader can't feel the characters plight the whole project is a waste. TCR: Do you think that given the nature of the book and the popularity of movies like LORD OF THE RINGS, people will be more drawn to a quest story like this one? Mock: I think people are drawn to movies and stories of quests innately. Somewhere deep down all of us are looking for that greater part of ourselves. The part that can overcome all obstacles and achieve great things. Whether this is done through a quest or just a change in spirit is human. I personally feel it's the ultimate human awareness of our Creator. The God of this world who laid the foundations of the earth, and gave us His son, that we may live forever. The fact that we can attain something so great drives us. We may never acknowledge it, we may even deny it. But the search for truth is an epic quest in itself. Anderson: Fans of Lord of the Rings and similar epics will embrace this, not doubt. But it will appeal to any serious reader who is looking for a little more substance in the material. Javed: Obviously, it is in our best interest to ride on the latest commercial bandwagon, but, I think there has always been and always will be a market for this type of fantasy Sci-Fi. What sets us apart is that we also deal with the history of mankind and civilization. TCR: Of the work you've done so far on the project, what would you say has been the greatest challenge? Mock: Keeping the look and feel of the book, in line with the written material being presented. It's quite a challenge to have many different hands on a project yet still have the end result be one masterpiece. Many comics make the mistake of having a great artist and a poor writer. Or vice versa. SF Comics is making sure that the whole far outweighs its parts. The pencils, covers, writing, and presentation are all equal. We refuse to go down the road of catching you eye with great art but a poor story. When you read an SF comic, it will be a complete engrossing experience. This may mean that some books may not come out on time, but it will always be worth the wait. Ohlson: Working with customs after Sept. 11th Anderson: Time management and deadline. We tend to be perfectionists even though this is our first project. We want the reader to absorb this story as we do, and as soon as possible without sacrificing quality. Javed: The greatest challenge has not been the subject, but trying to pay the bills and get quality work out in a timely manner. It's hard to keep readers with an inconsistent schedule. Trying to find a balance between doing work I'm proud to have my name on and producing it fairly quickly is a challenge. TCR: What is your artistic training, how long have you been pursuing your craft? Mock: Life is my artistic training. True art goes way beyond the tip of a pencil. Your experiences and desires is what really shape your artwork. Art is making visible, words and emotions, based on your experiences. To many young artists concentrate on emulating the style of their favorite penciler, but never really develop their own style because they are trying to be someone they're not. A true artist learns from those who have gone before them and leaves traces of them within the artwork. No medium has its limits, there are no boundaries. Everything is fare prey to the artist. This is how I try to approach my artwork, without limits. I have been pursuing my craft since the first time I drew on the walls as a kid. Anderson: I've been drawing my entire life, but this is the first comic book series I've worked on. Javed: I've been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. I have attended Pratt Institute in New York City and Columbia College of Chicago for illustration. My relationship with comic books goes back farther. I pretty much learned to read with Archie Comics. I've always been interested in storytelling mediums and comic books give you complete control over how you want to tell a story. TCR: Given the complexity of the narrative, how much creative freedom are you allowed on the project, or given its nature (and for the sake of archaeological accuracy) do you have to stick pretty close to David Dentler's script? Mock: David has the final say on everything. This is his life's work. David is very flexible on the things that may not be archaeologically correct but have yet to be defined. Otherwise, we start with what we know, and build on from there. David actually gives us a lot of artistic freedom as long as it enhances the story and research. Anderson: Because we meet on a regular basis, we keep to Dave's script very closely. Dave also tailors the script to our direction as needed. Creative license is shared, but too much can derail an idea. A few panels change or become omitted, but not often. Javed: For the most part I stick pretty much to David's script. The only liberties I take is when dialogue conflicts with the pacing of my compositions. Then David lets me shift stuff around for the best solution. TCR: Is there anything you'd like to discuss that I may have not asked? Mock: If there is, you'll hear about it... ****** Storrie to Explore Another Aspect of The Dark Knight's City Through GOTHAM GIRLS First off, let's dispense with some info that you may have not heard about Paul Storrie's latest work announced back in late November 2001: Writer Paul D. Storrie, whose first published work for DC Comics was BATMAN BEYOND #23 (and who had another BATMAN BEYOND story in DC's inventory before the book was cancelled) , returns to the shadowed streets of Gotham with a five issue mini-series called GOTHAM GIRLS. If the title sounds familiar, that's because it is also the name of the popular DC Online webtoon. Storrie had this to say about how the project came about: "As I was finishing up my second issue of BATMAN BEYOND, one that didn't see print because of the book's cancellation, I started kicking around ideas for a new DC project. One day I was checking out the DC Online website and the link to the Gotham Girls webtoon link caught my eye. They're short Flash animation stories featuring the female characters from the BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES cartoons: Batgirl, Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. I remembered watching a couple of them when they first started up and liking them a lot, so popped over and checked out some more. Fun stuff. So, I said to myself, 'DC should be doing a comic like this!,'" explained Storrie. Storrie describes the series as a fast-paced caper / chase with all the lead characters scrambling to get their hands on a very special item. The writer went on to explain that each issue of the series will spotlight one character. A quick glance, however, shows that equation doesn't add up. Four Gotham Girls, five issues. "Although she wasn't in my original proposal, I soon realized there was an unsung Gotham Girl I really wanted to include. I decided to have her in the background of the four issues focusing on Batgirl, Catwoman, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Joan, in her infinite wisdom, insisted that the character deserved her own issue. Who was I to argue?" The character in question is Detective Renee Montoya of the Gotham City Police. She doesn't appear in the Gotham Girls webtoons but she was created for BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Later, she was added to the regular Batman titles and became an important member of the supporting cast. "I'm having a great time writing Renee Montoya. She was an interesting character in the cartoon but we never learned a whole lot about her there. This series provides the opportunity to explore her a little more in depth." The artist on GOTHAM GIRLS will be Jennifer Graves. Her previous work for DC includes ROBIN #34, BATMAN CHRONICLES #3 and a Birds of Prey story in SHOWCASE '96. Currently she is working extensively in animation. "I've seen some of Jennifer's samples and they're terrific. She has a tremendous grasp of the Animated Series style and a real fluidity and grace to her characters. I think the readers are going to be blown away." Storrie was also the writer of December's JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #2, based on the new hit show on the Cartoon Network. To find out more about Storrie's new project, TCR recently caught up with him. Our thanks to Paul for his time and thoughts. TCR: Any chance you could rework the Batman Beyond unpublished story to be used in any of the other animated books? If not, care to tell us the plot of the unused story? Storrie: I suppose that the story could be reworked but inclination would be not to do so. For me, it's a Batman Beyond story. Besides, who knows? Someday DC might be looking for a Batman Beyond special of some sort. I'm still remaining somewhat vague regarding the plot to that story for exactly that reason. Basically, a masked woman named the Sphinx shows up in Gotham with a reputation for giving bad guys a pretty hard time. When Batman runs into her, he learns, on several levels, that things are not always what they seem. The Sphinx is a character I created. Like the legendary creature, riddles are a part of her schtick. TCR: You wrote the second issue of JL Adventures, do you have a favorite on the team? Storrie: That's a tough one. I'm a big, big Batman fan, of course. As far as the Justice League cartoon / JL Adv. goes, I'm pretty darn fond of Hawkgirl. She's tough, she's competent, she's ferocious. If I get a chance to do another Adventures tale, I think she'll have a bigger role. TCR: How excited were you when found out you were going to get to write JL Adventures (at least one issue that is)? Storrie: Very! I actually got in touch with editor Dan Raspler before they announced they were going to do the book. I said, "I know you've GOT to be doing one! I want in!" TCR: Does a person have to be familiar with the Gotham Girls webtoons to enjoy the book? (I ask as a person with a very slow Internet connection) Storrie: No, not at all. The story stands on its own. It's more "inspired by" than "based on." It doesn't spring out of a webtoon storyline or anything like that. Anyone who enjoys the Animated Series versions of Batgirl, Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn will, hopefully, enjoy this as well. TCR: Any chance that this could grow into a regular series? Storrie: I suppose anything could happen. Right now we're just focused on making the mini the best that it can be. I guess if sales are great, DC might want to follow up with another mini or a series. That's just conjecture on my part. Without seeing the response to the series there's no way of knowing whether the *fans* would want an ongoing. TCR: Which Gotham Girl character proved the hardest to write? Which was the easiest? Storrie: I think that Harley Quinn was, hands down, the hardest Gotham Girl for me to write. I kept remembering the great stuff that Paul Dini had already done in Mad Love and the Batgirl Adventures one-shot. It's hard to follow an act like that, particularly when you're talking about one of the guys who created the character. TCR: Other than the five lead characters, can you tell us what guest appearances there may be? Storrie: Hmmm. That would be telling, wouldn't it? Keep in mind, though, that the book is called "Gotham Girls" for a reason. What was that song Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox did? "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves"? The Bat-guys aren't going to be swooping in and saving the day. This is Batgirl's (and Renee Montoya's) time to shine in the heroics department. TCR: There's always an element of humor (or at the very least whimsy) in the Adventures comics. What are some of your comic influences (if there are any)? Storrie: My comic influences are pretty varied, being warped at an early age by The Three Stooges and Warner Brothers cartoons. Then, later on Steve Martin's stand-up and Monty Python. Don't know how much of my comic influences will be *apparent* in Gotham Girls, though. There's some wackiness but it's not *primarily* a "funny" book. TCR: Would you agree with my assessment that each series has a comic element to some degree (it seems unavoidable with Harley Quinn's involvement)? Storrie: Oh sure! My editor, Joan Hilty, was watching me closely to make sure I didn't skimp on that score. Ultimately, I tried to balance humor and action. TCR: To give folks an idea how hard it was to get this series approved, how many months passed between the initial proposal and this announcement. I asked this, for one thing, out of curiosity, but also to allow aspiring writers and artists to get a better perspective of how much revision and re-evaluation is involved in getting a comic series together. Storrie: Don't know that my experience on Gotham Girls is any kind of benchmark to judge by. It's a good question though because, truthfully, I think most fans don't realize how much lead time usually goes into a series (or even an issue). At the very least, the work is usually done three months ahead of publication. With Gotham Girls, I first pitched the idea to Associate Bat Editor Michael Wright sometime late last Spring. Since the Animated Series books had passed to Joan around that time, there was a bit of a lag while it was passed to her and we started discussing things. We chatted a bit more at Comic-Con International: San Diego, and I sent Joan a formal proposal a little after. That was for three issues. Harley and Ivy would have shared one and Renee Montoya would have been a supporting character throughout. After looking it over, DC decided they'd rather have it be five issues, with each character spotlighted in her own issue (which was one of the ways I suggested in my original pitch, although Renee Montoya didn't figure in at that point). I revamped the proposal, it went through whatever approval process these things go through at DC, and I got started writing in October of 2001. If I'm a bit vague on how the approval process goes, that's because I don't tend to sweat the stuff I can't affect. I sold Joan on the idea. She championed it in the hallowed halls of DC. When she had the "Go" she gave me the good word. TCR: Anything I didn't ask you about that you'd like to discuss? Storrie: Can't think of anything else in particular. Hopefully people will enjoy reading the series as much as I enjoyed writing it. Now that I think of it, I hope they enjoy it more -- after all, I had to spend some time wracking my brain and staring at the blank "page" on my word processor! Oh, I guess I should remind folks that they can still pick up copies of my book ROBIN HOOD & THE MINSTREL, from Moonstone Books, wherever fine comics are sold. Also, I'll be writing an issue of the new legal / superhero series, EX PARTE, for Lone Star Press and doing a six-issue mini for them later in the year with artist Jamal Igle titled NIGHT & DAY (a superhero / comedy book). ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] A View From the Cheap Seats Rich Watson cptsisko318@aol.com [A graduate of New York's School of Visual Arts, Rich Watson has been a self-published cartoonist since 1993, and whose output includes the superhero drama Celebrity and the romantic fable Rat: A Love Story. He currently resides in New York and gets his comics weekly from Jim Hanley's Universe and Midtown Comics. Rich can be contacted on his board http://www.revampscripts.com/board/Rich_Watson.shtml and is is featured on the website http://www.smallpresscomics.com/] STRIPBURGER and Euro small press Posted by Rich Watson on January 21st, 2002 (Views: 1) The European comics scene has endured for decades, producing works of unusual and often startling quality in all kinds of genres. In the eastern European country of Slovenia, the zine STRIPBURGER, ever since 1992, has been the definitive source for news and information on foreign and domestic comics in a place with minimal outlets for comics to flourish. A small country, estimated at around 2 million people, comics carry much the same stigma in Slovenia as it does in America. Only one of the three national newspapers carries any Slovenian comic strips at all, and there are no publishing houses or conventions. Self-publishing has become the rule for prospective artists, and STRIPBURGER promotes this as the way to go, from running workshops on how to make mini-comics to organizing exhibitions. And while the zine has focused on mostly European artists, American ones like Donna Barr and Dean Haspiel have appeared in it over the years as well. In 2000, a five-member editorial team put out the call to a number of artists to put together feature-length stories for publication as mini-comics. The result was MINIBURGER, a series of mini-comics by 14 artists representing six countries: Slovenia, Italy, Serbia, Bosnia, France, and England. All 12 books come in a 4 ¼” x 6” x 1” bright orange cardboard box. I was fortunate to come across a copy last fall at Mid-Ohio Con from Chris Staros at Top Shelf, who is the American distributor for MINIBURGER. What are the books like? Glad you asked_ STRIPBURGER #28: MINIBURGER by various Strip Core, Forum Ljubljana, Metelkova 6, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ljudmila.org/stripcore/com.htm $19.95/12 4”x6” B&W mini-comics w/color cardstock covers "Hole" by Andrej Stular (Slovenia): A dreary vignette profiling the life of drug addicts wandering the city streets. The scratchy, feverishly rendered drawings capture the mood