Archie’s Married Life comes to magazine format
Life With Archie - The Married Life
Archie Comics is bringing Betty and Veronica together. The two announced comic-book series “Archie Loves Betty” and “Archie Loves Veronica” are being brought together in on magazine titled “Life With Archie – The Married Life.”
Archie Comics says in a release that the more mainstream magazine format will allow wider distribution of the storylines.
Each story will cover a possible future of Archie: One in which he’s married to the socialite Veronica, and the other in which he marries girl-next-door Betty.
“The feedback from the press release announcing ‘Archie Loves Betty’ and ‘Archie Loves Veronica’ was so spectacular we were immediately charged with the task of finding a way to make sure everyone would be able to get to it,” said Archie Co-CEO, Jon Goldwater, in a news release. “A magazine can be found anywhere!”
“Life With Archie” is scheduled to be available August 2010. Cover price will be $3.99 US and $4.49 CAN.
- Matt Price
Monday movie quote challenge #72
“Ah, people only know what you tell them, Carl.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Chris Evans is Captain America in fan-made posters
A fan depiction of Chris Evans as Captain America
Film School Rejects shared this cool fan-made poster depicting Chris Evans as Captain America. I’m as much a Cap fan as anybody, and I hadn’t been sure how I felt about Evans in the role yet. I liked him as Human Torch in the Fantastic Four films, but that’s a very different type of superhero. Still, with a little Photoshop, this fan has me visualizing Evans’ casting as a positive thing. We have yet to see what the real costuming will look like, of course, but something like this might be a reasonable stylization. There’s another fan-made poster mock-up in the link.
- Matt Price
More War Machine in Iron Man 2 TV spot
Paramount aired this Iron Man 2 TV spot during the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice awards. Thanks to Movie Web for the tip.
Black Widow in Iron Man 2
There’s not a ton we haven’t seen before, but there is a little bit more from Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle. Fans first saw Iron Man’s love for donuts in the Comic-Con footage, if they were one of the thousands who packed Hall H back last summer. And much of the other footage is reworked from the post-Oscars trailer.
The new stuff shows Johansson’s Black Widow character, speaking without a Russian accent, though that doesn’t bother me too much — if she’s a spy, wouldn’t she know how to hide it? And there’s new footage of Iron Man and War Machine teaming up.
How did you like the spot? Feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments!
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting 2010 wrapup comments and thoughts
DC Comics shared a preview edition of "DV8: Gods and Monsters" at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting.
The ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting is in the books, and again I heard lots of positive responses from retailers as the meeting wrapped up. One retailer told me he was scared of the future coming into the meeting, but leaving he felt hopeful again.
Concerns about digital caused a lot of unrest among retailers — and may again — but all the publishers at the meeting reiterated their strong support for the direct market. Most expressed the hope that digital comics will work primarily to reach readers currently outside the direct-market system and a firm desire to point digital readers back to the direct market.
DC Comics brought 12 people to the meeting, including a good portion of its top executive team, and focused the event less on sales pitches, and more on an earnest discussion of how to add growth to the industry. DC sought give-and-take from retailers on hot topics like price sensitivity, variant covers and marketing strategies.
Retailers I talked to were very pleased with DC’s frank approach. Many hoped that positive energy and candor would translate to higher sales of DC Comics by the attending stores.
Diamond Comics, the largest distributor of comics, said problems with its Olive Branch facility that plagued retailers a year ago have now largely disappeared, and Diamond is again meeting high standards of delivery.
Several retailers expressed to me that this was the best-organized and most smoothly run ComicsPRO annual meeting yet, which is a good sign for the continued growth and maturity of the organization.
Love of the medium was evident, from keynote speaker Robert Kirkman to ComicsPRO Industry Award winner Paul Levitz; from retailers with decades of experience to those who were weeks away from opening their doors for the first time. Those who attended the ComicsPRO meeting show a willingness to prepare and tirelessly work for the industry and medium in the future.
Short takes:
- While most who have reacted to the coverage from outside the meeting have commented on DC’s stated desire to be No. 1, there was no suggestion of plans to increase the number of titles or otherwise flood the market. There was no evidence presented at the meeting that DC would ramp up the number of titles produced; in fact, DC’s Dan DiDio’s indication was that the monthly number of titles would remain roughly steady.
- DiDio, co-publisher Jim Lee, vice president of sales Bob Wayne and the rest of the DC team also made it clear they were at ComicsPRO to discuss possible solutions, not to make sweeping announcements. They are very interested in maintaining open dialogue with comic-book retailers.
- DC received good response to a preview copy of “DV8: Gods and Monsters,” by Brian Wood and Rebekah Isaacs.
- DC took the retailers through a retrospective on the marketing plan for “Blackest Night,” from pre-launch hype to Free Comic Book Day to the ring promotions to ad slicks and radio scripts.
- Perhaps no surprise here, DC expects the “Blackest Night” hardcover to perform very well.
- Many publishers were up in direct-market sales in 2009 despite a very difficult national economy.
- Radical distributed copies of its Free Comic Book Day book to retailers on hand.
- Jeff Smith (“Bone,” “RASL”) and Terry Moore (“Strangers in Paradise,” “Echo”) graciously appeared at a Comic Book Legal Defense Fund function in downtown Memphis. Smith and Moore remain great ambassadors for comics and for the CBLDF.
- Diamond again expects strong national coverage for Free Comic Book Day, and a potential promotion similar to last year’s Hugh Jackman promotion is being worked on by Diamond’s FCBD specialist.
- The ComicsPRO officer positions remain unchanged from last year: President Joe Field, Vice President Gary Dills, Corporate Secretary/Treasurer Amanda Emmert and Recording Secretary Carr D’Angelo.
Dick Giordano dead at 77
Dick Giordano, as shown in a self-portrait on the cover of his book.
CBR reports longtime DC Comics creator and executive Dick Giordano died Saturday at age 77.
Giordano helped oversee the “action hero” line with Blue Beetle and the Question at Charlton before coming to DC Comics. Giordano became one of the most accomplished inkers in DC’s history, particularly known for his work over Neal Adams. He was vice president/executive editor at DC for a decade, from 1983-1993. His “Meanwhile” column as a DC executive gave a peek behind the curtain at the publisher, and was a feature I enjoyed in 1980s DC Comics.
CBR quotes current DC co-publisher Jim Lee on Giordano:
“When I was just trying to break into comics back in 1986, I received a lot of form rejection letters, including a very gracious one from Dick at DC Comics. On the DC letterhead, he took the time to pen an additional personal note which I still cherish today. ‘Looking good – keep working at it.’ Those few words kept this often dejected young artist hanging in there as it took many many more submissions before I finally broke into comics.
“Thank you, Dick, for your words of encouragement, all the years of amazing art and editorial leadership at DC. And finally, for showing us artists how a great inker gets it done.”
- Matt Price
Boom! Studios out to prove doubters wrong
Samuel Jackson's Cold Space from Boom! Studios
Darkwing Duck
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Boom! Studios founder and CEO Ross Richie recounted his history in the comics industry, and talked about his plans to prove his doubters wrong, at a Saturday morning breakfast presentation at the ComicsPRO Annual Members meeting.
Boom! debuted in 2005, as did Virgin, Speakeasy and Alias. Richie pointed out that while those other companies have come and gone, Boom! is still thriving and is now the No. 6 direct-market publisher.
Richie described a bet between Diamond Comic Distributors’ Bill Schanes and comic-book retailer Phil Boyle about Boom!, in which Boyle has bet a dollar against Schanes, arguing that Boom! can become the No. 5 publisher. Richie said their goal for this year is to “Prove Bill Wrong” and to take that No. 5 spot.
While the bet is friendly — Richie described Schanes as one of his inspirations in publishing, for his work at Pacific Comics in the 1980s — Richie said he has often been inspired to challenge the conventional wisdom.
For example, the Boom! Kids line is intended to challenge the premise that, in today’s direct market, comics for kids don’t sell.
Boom! has plans to add Darkwing Duck to its lineup in June 2010. Along with a DuckTales serial in “Uncle Scrooge,” Richie said Boom! was bringing back a “Disney Afternoon” lineup.
Richie also said some might question publishing comics based on a canceled TV show — but comics based on Farscape and The Muppet Show have been very successful for the company.
Boom! gave retailers a six-page preview of “Cold Space,” a comic book co-written by Samuel L. Jackson. Richie described Jackson as a big comic-book fan, and said this summer’s “Iron Man 2″ should bring even more interest in the comics market to the actor. In “Cold Space,” a rogue lands on a hostile planet featuring
R. Crumb trading cards
two warring factions, and sees the potential for making some money. Jeffrey Spokes provides one cover for the book (shown above), and Dave Johnson the other. Eric Calderon co-writes and Jeremy Rock draws.
Richie also talked about Boom! Town, the company’s more lit-oriented imprint, which will feature a reprint of Harvey Kurtzman’s The Grasshopper and the Ant, R. Crumb trading cards, and R. Crumb’s Devil Girl candy.
Boom! Town is working in conjunction with Denis Kitchen Publishing Co. in these endeavors. Kitchen, the longtime cartoonist, author, publisher and agent, attended the ComicsPRO meeting as a guest of Boom! Studios. The Crumb cards, which have a retail price of $11.95, are packaged as a 36-card set and feature art and character bios by Crumb. They were originally published by Kitchen’s Kitchen Sink Press in the 1990s.
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO board directors re-elected
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three ComicsPRO directors were re-elected to the board, ComicsPRO president Joe Field announced at the annual members meeting.
Carr D'Angelo
Carr D’Angelo, co-owner of Earth 2 Comics in Sherman Oaks and Northridge, Calif.; Eric
Eric Kirsammer
Kirsammer of Chicago Comics and Quimby’s in Chicago; and Rick Lowell, owner of Casablanca Comics in Portland and Windham, Maine were elected to three-year terms.
D’Angelo and Lowell were elected to their second terms as directors. In 2009, Kirsammer was appointed to fill out the term of Ben Trujillo of Star Clipper in St. Louis.
Ralph Mathieu of Alternate Reality Comics in Las Vegas was the other director candidate. Field thanked Mathieu for his willingness to step up and run for the director position.
Rick Lowell
As previously reported, Phil Boyle of Coliseum of Comics in Orlando, Fla., stepped down from the board, and his position will not be filled. The board will operate with eight members for the following year, and go down to seven members after that.
The remaining board members are Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff in Concord, Calif.; Gary Dills of Laughing Ogre Comics in Lansdowne, Va.; Amanda Emmert of Muse Comics in Missoula, Mont.; Brian Hibbs of Comix Experience in San Francisco, Calif; and Calum Johnston of Strange Adventures Bookshops in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Matt Price
Paul Levitz, Carol Kalish honored with ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award
Paul Levitz
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — ComicsPRO honored former DC Comics president and publisher Paul Levitz with the first ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award. Carol Kalish, former direct sales manager at Marvel, was honored with the posthumous ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award.
Carol Kalish (photo by Alan Light)
ComicsPRO created the award to honor those who work behind the scenes, from publishers, distributors, marketers and more, in bringing comic books to market. ComicsPRO member retailers voted on the award, which ComicsPRO President Joe Field described as a “Hall of Fame” award.
Levitz was president of DC Comics from 2002–2009 and worked for DC for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles.
“He is someone who has been one of our best friends in this business,” Field said.
Levitz thanked fellow nominee Bob Wayne of DC and other members of his DC Comics team in accepting the award. He also thanked those in the retail field for their support.
“Thank you for making my service to the field possible,” Levitz said.
Kalish was Marvel’s Direct Sales Manager from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. She was instrumental in professionalizing the comics specialty retail field. Kalish passed away in September 1991 at the age of 36.
“Anyone who had the pleasure of working with her knew … her goal was not just to grow Marvel Comics sales, but to grow the entire industry,” said Field.
Levitz read a statement from Kalish’s longtime significant other, Richard Howell, while accepting the award on her behalf. It recounted Kalish’s days building up the direct market, with cash register programs and other innovations. It was her goal to make the direct market as strong as it could be, according to the statement.
“I think she would have been very pleased by this award and the validation it represents,” said Howell’s statement.
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO: Image Comics aiming to create new comic-book fans
Turf 2 variant cover
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Image Comics sales and licensing co-ordinator Joe Keatinge and Image’s chief operating officer Robert Kirkman discussed upcoming plans and incentives for the publisher at the ComicsPRO annual members meeting.
Kirkman said specials and incentives will be announced to tie into The Walking Dead TV series, and that extensive promotion is planned for Comic-Con International in San Diego.
“We have a huge opportunity here, potentially, to create longtime comics fans,” Keatinge said.
Keatinge said working in conjunction with ComicsPRO in the past year has led Image to some of its best launches in recent history. The “Chew” series has built strongly in the periodical format, and the first volume in the trade paperback series was the No. 1 book its month of release.
Cowboy Ninja Viking has been turned into an ongoing series due to direct-market response, Keatinge said, and the series will return in August.
“Choker” issues 1 and 2 have both sold out from Image, and No. 1 has gone to a second printing.
English comedy chat host Jonathan Ross is writing “Turf,” which is being drawn by Tommy Lee Edwards (“1985″).
“Turf” is set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s, as a gang war wages between groups of N.Y. vampires. Then, Keatinge said, an alien ship comes crashing in the middle of it.
Ross is “comic-book obsessed,” Keatinge said. “He is in comics for the long haul.”
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for a selection of art provided by Keatinge from the ComicsPRO meeting. (more…)
