Writer/artist Terry Moore and managing editor Robyn Moore discuss "Rachel Rising" and other books from Abstract Studio at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting in Dallas.

DALLAS — The ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting for 2012 has closed, and many attendees touched on the importance of stability.   After the tumult of the past few years, retailers seem to be refocused on improving their stores and maintaining profitability.   While some stores are looking at expansion, it seemed that the plans for some publishers’ lines were becoming tighter and more focused.

Consistency was seen as key to success; Terry Moore attributed much of his success in “Strangers in Paradise,” “Echo” and “Rachel Rising” to putting out a comic every six weeks on a consistent schedule.  The gathered retailers were extremely receptive to Moore and excited to continue working with him.

Among the reasons retailers believe the DC “New 52″ has been such a success is the consistent shipping schedule.  DC announced the vast majority of the books shipped on time, with only two slipping from their planned date (including the most recent and an upcoming issue of “Justice League”).   Those could have shipped on time, but would have involved shipping part of the story arc out of order, and it was determined by DC that pushing the books a week each would be less harmful to sales.

Image’s Eric Stephenson gave a great speech celebrating creativity and independence.

“Creativity starts with people,” Stephenson said.  “The reckless spirits who can’t stand still, the fearless minds who refuse to play it safe.  At Image Comics, we believe in creative people.  For 20 years, we’ve made a home for them. A place where they can be creative – on their own terms.”

He said Image’s safe harbor for creativity on its own terms should resonate with the direct market, where each independent store celebrates creativity on its own terms as well.

Diamond Comics reported that the direct market was up overall 1.8 percent in 2011, and 1.2 percent in the comics category.

The event was again incredibly well-run and organized; kudos to the ComicsPRO board of directors and executive director Amanda Emmert.

Short takes

- DC plans to work with retailers to market “Before Watchmen” using some of the same tools that were used with great success on “The New 52.”

- Dynamite plans an extensive sales push for “The Shadow,” including hand-drawn variants by Jae Lee (1:200) and Alex Ross (1:250).

- Avatar plans to market “C-Day” on March 14, with a reissue of “Crossed” #0 called “Get Infected.”

- DC’s Vertigo plans a free preview comic of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” graphic novel, which should be in stores in time for Free Comic Book Day.  The graphic novel will go on sale in April 2012.

- Image’s recent string of successes could very well continue in the upcoming “Glory” and “Hell, Yeah” from Joe Keatinge.   Pages from Brian K. Vaughan also looked very impressive.

- Distributor Baker and Taylor will continue its web hosting program and is rolling out an additional stocking program for ComicsPRO members.

- Boom! Studios again entertained retailers after-hours in the Boom! RV, and showed retailers art from its upcoming “Fanboys vs. Zombies” at its Saturday breakfast presentation.

- Diamond reported that the number of Free Comic Book Day comics ordered has increased in 2012, from 2.77 million in 2011 to 3.34 million so far in 2012 (with some time still available for advance reorders).

- Valiant Comics has extensive marketing plans for “X-O Manowar” No. 1, including what looks like a very cool and interactive store poster using a QR code.

- Marvel was pleased with the response for the “Avengers vs. X-Men” parties and reiterated that comic will have huge interest to Marvel fans.

- Papercutz reported that the “Ninjago” LEGO tie-in graphic novels have more than 200,000 copies in print and have been a huge phenomenon for the publisher.

- IDW reported that 2011 showed the largest sales in the company’s history. Upcoming for the publisher include a second “Rocketeer Adventures” anthology and a Steve Niles/Bernie Wrightson “Frankenstein” project.   IDW also plans an upscale Artists Edition of “Daredevil: Born Again.”

- First Second showed a copy of its upcoming “Baby’s In Black” graphic novel, which tells the story of Stu Sutcliffe and the Beatles.

- Graphitti plans an Animal Man shirt that will tie directly into the comic book, as one of the characters is wearing the shirt in an upcoming issue.

- Bonfire Agency continues to develop possible plans for retailers and national brands to interact.

- Studio 407 showed previews of its upcoming projects, including “Heroes Unlimited,” the first issue of which is slated to cost just $1.

- BioWorld showed retailers upcoming products and designs in apparel and accessories, including a TMNT backpack.

- Archaia showed off previews of its impressive hardcover line and talked about the upcoming Archaia FCBD hardcover edition.   This edition is Archaia’s highest-ever ordered FCBD comic.

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images from the meeting.

DC's Bob Wayne at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting in 2012, with the ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award. Photo by Annette Price, for The Oklahoman

DALLAS — Bob Wayne, DC Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Sales, was honored with the ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award in an afternoon ceremony.

The crowd of retailers, publishers and industry figures stood for an extended standing ovation as Wayne was named the recipient of the award, which is intended to honor those who help bring comic books to market.

“I would venture to say that no one in this room knows more about comics or the comics industry than Bob Wayne,” said ComicsPRO president Joe Field in his introduction of Wayne.   Given that executives from most of the larger comics publishers and more than 100 comic retail operations were in the room, that’s a nice compliment.

“With his 25 years at DC Comics, now DC Entertainment, we’ve seen tremendous things happen, in large part because of what Bob Wayne’s been instrumental in making happen for us,” Field said.

The other nominees for the award were Cindy Fournier of Diamond; David Gabriel of Marvel; Robert Kirkman of Image and Eric Stephenson of Image.

The 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Memorial Award was awarded to the late Phil Seuling, who founded the direct-market method of comic-book sales.  Bill Schanes of Diamond Comics Distributors, a former customer of Seuling, accepted the award on his behalf.  Julius Schwartz of DC Comics was the other nominee in this category.

Wayne was classy, funny and at times emotional in his acceptance of the award, which is voted on by the comic book retailers who are members of ComicsPRO, the national comics retail organization.

“I’d like to thank all of the members of ComicsPRO for your continued support,” Wayne said in accepting the award. “Many of you are friends, and, I think, extended family.”

Wayne graciously thanked his bosses and co-workers through his years at DC.

He recounted his years in the industry, including starting to sell comics in 1973 at comic-book conventions.

“Yes, I know that was before some of you were born,” he said. “There’s no need to come up later and point that out to me.”

Wayne opened a comic-book store in 1980, which he ran for seven years.   He joined DC Comics in August of 1987.

“The people who placed bets 25 years ago as to how many weeks or months I’d last in corporate America … no one asked me for odds.”

In closing, Wayne gave recognition to a special family member.

“When you work in a comic shop, when you work in comics, you hear a lot of people say, ‘Oh, they still make comics?  My mother threw mine out.’  And my mother did not throw mine out.”

- Matt Price

DALLAS — Thomas Gaul of Corner Store Comics and Beach Ball Comics in Anaheim, Calif., has been elected to the board of directors of ComicsPRO, the national comic-book retailer organization.

Gaul will replace Brian Hibbs of Comix Experience in San Francisco, a founding member of the board.

ComicsPRO president Joe Field announced the election at Friday’s breakfast at the ComicsPRO annual members’ meeting.

- Matt Price

Mike Richardson of Dark Horse.

DALLAS — Dark Horse president and publisher Mike Richardson gave the keynote address at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting this morning, speaking to the history and possible future of comics.

“For the comics industry, changes have been a constant and necessary partner,” Richardson said, tracing the medium’s early beginnings, to the success of Superman, to the censorship of the 1950s and the efforts of Frederic Wertham.

“The comic book industry essentially muzzled itself,” he said.

Comics came back in the 1960s, but the low cover prices eventually found comics being forced out at newsstands and retail stores.   Phil Seuling’s establishment of the direct comics market saved comics, Richardson said, and directly allowed companies like Dark Horse to exist.

The Dark Horse publisher recounted his origins in comics as a retailer, leaving a good job as a commercial artist to start a comic book store, a choice that led to an intervention from several of his friends.  After a few hours, he eventually told them he’d give up his comic-book dreams — but of course, he did not.

His plans to start a comic shop came from his own difficulties buying comics, having to stake out gas stations and try to avoid being judged by other patrons.

“It came to me that there might be a better way to sell comics,” he said.

Once he started his store, he not only saw the kids, teens and young adults he expected, but also plenty of adults, he said.

“All they needed was a destination — a place to go talk comics.”

That can’t completely be replaced digitally, Richardson said, but he sees a huge opportunity to grow the comics market through a digital strategy.

“Comics specialty stores are our lifeblood,” he said. “The last thing I would want to do is harm that market.”

Richardson cited a study that there could be 1 billion tablet computers in circulation in 2016.

“Would 1 percent of tablet readers download a comic?” Richardson asked.  That could be as many as 10 million people.  If 10 percent of those samplers sought out a comic book store, that could double the size of the existing comic book market, Richardson estimates.

“If we want to grow our industry, we need to take some chances,” Richardson said.

One of those chances that need to be taken is publishing a wider variety of comics, Richardson said.

“Publishers need to create new titles that will stand the test of time,” he said.

Going forward, Richardson said the direct market will be a key market for keeping comics vibrant.

“It was you who allowed comics to flourish when the bookstores were not interested,” he said.  He said the few thousand direct-market retailers, in a market created to solve a particular problem, have become the engine through which future market problems can be solved.

“I came to listen to what you have to say,” Richardson said.

He said he moved into comics as a career out of love, and that he loves reading, making and selling them.  And he closed by holding up a recent Dark Horse comic.

“And I love to hold them,” he said.

- Matt Price

DALLAS — DC Entertainment executives at the annual ComicsPRO meeting spoke of wanting to maintain momentum from The New 52 relaunch in 2012, as those products are released in graphic novel format. The publisher also plans for big things in 2012 from the “Watchmen” prequel and graphic novels tied to the release of “The Dark Knight Rises.”

The publisher will release six new titles as part of the “Second Wave” of The New 52, replacing six cancelled titles. Four of those titles will be released on 5/2/2012, which is a tie-in of sorts to the “52″ number.

The Free Comic Book Day 2012 book from DC will include new content tied to the New 52, including a four-page spread by Jim Lee, which was shown briefly onscreen at the meeting.

DC’s Bob Wayne said he expected “Batman, Incorporated” to be the biggest launch of the second wave, but heaped praise on another title, “Dial H,” written by novelist China Miéville.

“What I said was, it was the best proposal I had seen since Neil’s proposal for ‘Sandman,’” Wayne said, referring to the best-selling comic-book series from Neil Gaiman.

DC showed a list of quotes related to the “Before Watchmen” announcement, including Alan Moore’s statement that the idea was “completely shameless.”   DC execs said the announcement was covered across a wide swath of media.

John Cunningham of DC said the publisher had an extensive marketing plan for the “Before Watchmen” titles.

“Our goal is to build the interest in order to get people in the stores on day one,” he said.

“Before Watchmen” will also have tie-in DC Direct merchandise, including 9” resin statues of the Comedian and Rorschach.

“The Dark Knight Rises,” the last film in Christopher Nolan’s Bat-trilogy, is set for summer release, and DC’s Bob Wayne reminded retailers to be sure to have related Batman graphic novels in stock, including the new printing of “The Long Halloween,” which has a Nolan quote on the cover.

Wayne also encouraged retailers to check out the upcoming “Batman vs. Bane” graphic novel and the repackaging of the “Knightfall” trades for readers interested in Bane.  He also suggested the upcoming Chip Kidd “Death by Design” and the Geoff Johns-Gary Frank “Batman: Earth One” as good tie-ins for the summer of “Dark Knight Rises.”

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts talks to Matt Price from the ComicsPRO meeting in Dallas. Expected topics of discussion include the Image Comics resurgence, including “Thief of Thieves”; the new Smallville comic book series; and the Marvel Comics Avengers vs. X-Men comics.

The world of the TV series “Smallville” will continue in a comic-book series from DC Comics, it was announced today.

The series, which focused on the adventures of a young Clark Kent as he learned how to deal with his origins and amazing powers, ended after 10 seasons.  It starred Tom Welling as Clark Kent.  At series’ end, Kent had donned a Superman costume and become the familiar Man of Steel.  That story will now be picked up in a new comic-book series.

According to DC Comics’ Source blog, the series will be written by former Smallville show scribe Bryan Q. Miller. The series will hit digital first, with an April 13 release, with new chapters weekly.

The online chapters will be offered in a print periodical, along with an episode guide to TV series.  The first print issue is set for a May 16 release.

“Six months after Clark Kent donned the cape and took to the skies to save Earth from Apokolips… enter Season 11!” Miller told the Source.  “New allies abound!  New enemies afoot!  And old friends return where they’re least expected!  Pere and colorist Chris Beckett have done a fantastic job of capturing the look of the show and the players, and Gary and Cat are knocking it out of the park on covers. I couldn’t be more excited to help give seasoned viewers and new readers an all-access pass to Clark’s first year in the cape.”

- Matt Price

DALLAS — How will the rest of the comics market strike back?

That was one of the questions being asked around tables and in small groups at an informal meet-and-greet prior to the kickoff of the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting.

Since last year’s ComicsPRO meeting, DC Comics has shaken up the sales charts with its Sept. 2011 relaunch.  In January, 5 months into the relaunch, DC Comics claimed all 10 of the top 10 comics in Diamond Comic Distributors monthly sales charts.

Because the comics market is often reactive, some retailers at the meeting openly wondered how DC’s competition might react to DC’s 2011 moves.

In early 2012, one company already seems to be shaking things up: Image Comics.  Retailers reported very strong sales for the Image title “Fatale” and also for “Thief of Thieves,” released in comic shops today.

“Thief of Thieves” is co-written by Robert Kirkman and Nick Spencer.   Kirkman is the co-creator of “The Walking Dead” comic-book series, which has had great success adapted for television on AMC.  Some have suggested there’s a “Walking Dead” spillover effect that’s helping the entire Image line, especially those properties tied to Kirkman.

There was also talk about Marvel’s upcoming “Avengers vs. X-Men” promotion, and the promotional idea allowing stores to sign up as supporting the Avengers or the X-Men.

At last year’s preview night, stores said some of the major problems facing the market were generating excitement, late-shipping books, and the still-lagging economy.  This year, many of those problems have been addressed.  While the economy overall is still recovering, DC’s relaunch helped generate excitement and prove that a major publisher could stick to a largely on-time schedule.    Retailers remain interested in DC’s upcoming plans, including those about DC Comics’ just-announced “Before Watchmen” program. Many retailers are curious about how the series will be marketed in comic-book stores.

Thursday at the meeting will be a day of programming from DC Comics; other sponsors will share their programming on Friday and Saturday, in addition to retail-focused discussion and programming.   The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund will hold the First Annual Retailer Auction, at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting at 9 p.m. Friday.

With even more stores expected to attend the meeting than last year, it’s up to the gathered sponsors to get these decision-makers on board with their upcoming projects.  With many stores feeling on firmer footing than in 2011, they’re actively looking for the new product or title that will get more people in the door and their money in the register.

- Matt Price

The ComicsPRO Annual Members’ Meeting kicks off tonight in Dallas with a meet-and-greet involving comic-book retailers and publishers.

Joe Field, president of ComicsPRO, posted his thoughts prior to the meeting at his store blog at Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff.

“ComicsPRO promotes advocacy, education and opportunity for our members. We work with our members— all small business owners that have challenges, costs and goals,” Field writes. “By being a ComicsPRO member retailer, we are able to band together and mitigate some of those costs, overcome some of those challenges and help each other attain the goals we seek— more professional, profitable and sustainable comic shops.”

Specific items likely to be discussed include growing the print market for comic books and looking at holiday shipping options.

“This will be our 6th annual meeting and we’ll be talking with publishers, manufacturers, distributors, and our fellow retailers in an effort to increase our profitability, share our concerns and potential solutions with our industry trading partners and learn from each other in ways that expand our vision and make each of us look at businesses with fresh eyes,” Field writes at his blog.

Retailers will likely be looking for information from DC Comics on how to maximize the “Before Watchmen” project, and Marvel will likely be asked how best to capitalize on this summer’s “Avengers” movie.

Many other publishers will be in attendance, including Baker and Taylor, Boom! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Image Comics and Papercutz, among others.

Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson will provide the meeting’s keynote address.

- Matt Price

Mike Richardson of Dark Horse.

The sixth annual ComicsPRO Annual Membership Meeting is set for next week in Dallas, as comic-book specialty retailers from across the country congregate to meet with vendors and suppliers, and plan objectives for the upcoming year.

The 2012 keynote speaker is Mike Richardson, president of Dark Horse Comics, president of Dark Horse Entertainment and owner of the retail store chain Things From Another World.

Richardson has written comics including “The Secret” and “Living With the Dead,” and through Dark Horse Entertainment has developed and produced projects for TV and film.

Richardson was a producer on “The Mask” and “Hellboy,” among others, and is a producer on the upcoming “R.I.P.D.,” starring Ryan Reynolds. Those three properties were based on Dark Horse comic books.

“He’s worked in the comic-book industry from almost every angle, so we’re looking forward to his speech and his thoughts on the future of the industry,” said Amanda Emmert, ComicsPRO’s executive director.

Though show sponsorship is closed, comic-book retailers can register right up to the official start of the meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday. (A Wednesday night meet-and-greet is available for preregistered retailers.) For information on registration, retailers can visit www.comicspro.org.

Joe Field, president of ComicsPRO, said he expected some breaking news to come out of this year’s meeting.

Joe Field

“As is the custom for comic conventions, publishers will make announcements about upcoming projects,” he said. “Unique to retailer-centric events, though, and particular to ComicsPRO, suppliers will talk about things that directly impact the business side of the comics industry. Will there be surprises?”

Suppliers attending include DC Comics, Baker and Taylor, Boom! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, Diamond Comic Distributors, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Marvel Comics and Papercutz, among others.

Field said the wide range of retailers and suppliers makes the meeting a great place to get the pulse of the comics market.

“More so than at any consumer comics/pop culture convention, the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting gives a great sense of how healthy the comics specialty market is,” he said.

Also expected to be in attendance are Todd McFarlane (“Spawn”), Terry Moore (“Strangers in Paradise”), and DC Comics co-publishers Dan Didio and Jim Lee. Well-known retailer Brian Hibbs will step down from the board of directors of ComicsPRO, and a new board member will be elected.

The 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award will be presented at the meeting. This award honors those who work in comics, often behind the scenes, to smooth the process of moving comic books from creator to fan.

This year’s nominees are Cindy Fournier of Diamond Comic Distributors, David Gabriel of Marvel Comics, Robert Kirkman of Image Comics, Eric Stephenson of Image Comics and Bob Wayne of DC Comics.

The nominees for the 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Memorial Award, to honor those who have passed away but whose work left a positive mark on the comics specialty retailing, are Julius Schwartz and Phil Seuling.

Those interested can follow daily updates from the meeting at comicspro.blogspot.com and blog.newsok.com/nerdage.

- Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

The direct-market comic book retail organization ComicsPRO has announced its nominees for its annual Industry Appreciation Award.  The award goes to someone who works behind the scenes to help in the process of getting comics from creator to fan.    The nominees this year are Diamond’s Cindy Fournier, Marvel’s David Gabriel, Image’s Robert Kirkman, Image’s Eric Stephenson, and DC’s Bob Wayne.

The nominees for the memorial award were also announced: former DC editor Julius Schwartz and direct-market creator Phil Seuling.

The winners will be named at ComicsPRO’s annual membership meeting, which takes place from Feb. 8-10 in Dallas.

Click past the cut for the full release, including biographical information on each of the nominees.

- Matt Price

ComicsPRO Names Industry Award Nominees

The direct market has been crucial in developing comics’ place in pop culture and remains the way most comic-book stories get from creator to fan. ComicsPRO wants to honor those people who stand in that gap

and help smooth that process. From publishers, distributors,

marketers and more, a lot of people are involved in bringing the stories we all love to market. ComicsPRO would like to stand up and recognize those who have been simply the best at what they do, making the comic-book direct market more successful for all of us.

Our members have created the ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award to honor these individuals. They created the Industry Appreciation Memorial Award to honor those who have passed away but whose work left a positive mark on the comics specialty retailing. More information available at www.comicspro.org/IAA

Members sent in nominations for the award through November 2011. The finalists were narrowed down by ComicsPRO’s board of directors and ballots were sent to ComicsPRO members in December. The winners of the 3rd annual award will be announced at the 2012 ComicsPRO Annual Membership meeting in Dallas, TX on Friday, February 10th. Information at www.comicspro.org/meet12

The nominees for the 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award are, in alphabetical order:

Cindy Fournier

David Gabriel

Robert Kirkman

Eric Stephenson

Bob Wayne

The nominees for the 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Memorial Award are Julius Schwartz and Phil Seuling.

We would like to thank all of the nominees for the work they do (and have done) to improve the comics specialty market!

ComicsPRO is the retailer trade and advocacy group representing comic book retailers across the U.S. and Canada. The goals of ComicsPRO are to be the united voice of advocacy for direct market retailers, to provide educational and mentoring opportunities to current and future retailers, and to offer opportunities to reduce some of the mutual fixed costs retailers incur. Information and membership applications are available at www.ComicsPRO.org.

Brief biological notes that accompany the ballots for the award can be found below.

2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Nominees

Cindy Fournier

Fournier is the VP of Operations for Diamond Comic Distributors. In the comics field since 1987, Cindy did work for the mail order division of Mile High Comics. She then went on to work for Alternate Realities distribution company, which was then acquired by Bud Plant Distribution. After Bud Plant sold to Diamond, Cindy was transferred to Hayward, CA, to run Diamond’s distribution center there. Since 1989, Cindy has been working for Diamond in its home office of Timonium, MD, where she oversees the myriad of duties related to transportation, warehouse management and operations. In a very critical role for the industry, Cindy is responsible for pulling together all the various aspects of making sure retailers get their shipments in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

David Gabriel

A native of Massachusetts, a graduate of Boston College and life long comic book fan, David Gabriel has never been too far from comics.

While working for Bernstein Investment Management & Research, Gabriel dreamed of creating a mecca for comics, a dream that came to life in

1999 as he started the New York City Comic Book Museum. Then in 2003, Gabriel joined Marvel and revolutionized their trade paperback program, quickly ascending to the position of SVP, Sales & Circulation, in 2007. From that position, Gabriel works with retailers to craft programs and incentives for the Direct Market.

Robert Kirkman

Robert Kirkman is one of the most public faces of comics since “The Walking Dead” has become a cable TV ratings sensation. He broke into comics in 2000, and in 2003, Kirkman and Cory Walker created “Invincible” for Image’s new superhero line. Shortly after the debut of “Invincible,” Kirkman along with artist Tony Moore launched “The Walking Dead,” a series highly influenced by George Romero’s zombie movies. In July 2008, Kirkman was made a partner at Image Comics. As an Image partner, Kirkman was involved with reaching out to specialty retailers to find ways to improve Image’s presence in Direct Market stores. Upon forming the Skybound imprint at Image Comics in 2010, Kirkman continues to focus on the best ways for publishers and creators to partner with specialty shops.

Eric Stephenson

A 20-year veteran of the comic book field, Eric Stephenson started in

1992 as Jim Valentino’s assistant during the early days of Image Comics, before becoming editor at Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Studios.

While at Extreme, Stephenson also scripted numerous comics, including “Youngblood” and “New Men.” After a brief stint as a freelance comics writer, he returned to Image in 2001 as Director of Marketing.

In 2004, he became Executive Director, championing diversity in content and spearheading the development of “Put the Book Back on the Shelf,” an anthology inspired by the songs of Belle and Sebastian. He succeeded Erik Larsen as Publisher in 2008, and has furthered Image’s efforts to partner with the Direct Market.

Bob Wayne

Wayne, a former comic book retailer in the Dallas/Fort Worth TX area, joined DC Comics in the mid ‘80s as a Direct Sales manager and has been on the forefront of the changes in the comics business ever since. Currently serving as DC’s Senior Vice President—Sales, Wayne has always maintained his loyalty to the field of comics specialty retailing and has been responsible for many of DC’s retailer-friendly best practices. Wayne is a recipient of the Inkpot Award, commemorating his years of service to the comics industry and his work with Comic-Con International.

2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Nominees

Julius Schwartz

Schwartz started his career in 1932 as the co-publisher of “Time Traveller,” among the first science fiction fanzines. Schwartz, along with Mort Weisinger, founded the Solar Sales Service literary agency in 1934, where Schwartz represented such noted authors as Alfred Bester, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, and H. P. Lovecraft. Schwartz also helped organize the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939. In

1944 he went to work as an editor for All-American Comics, which soon merged with National Periodical Publications to form DC Comics.

Schwartz was best-known for his work at DC Comics, which reinvigorated the superhero genre in the comics industry. His updating of 1940s characters for the modern era revolutionized DC Comics. He died in February 2004 at the age of 88.

Phil Seuling

The organizer and founder of the New York Comic Art Conventions of the ‘70s, Seuling was a founder of the direct-market form of comic-book distribution. Seuling, a school teacher with a passion for comics, arranged distribution deals to buy DC and Marvel Comics direct from the publishers. In 1974, Seuling founded Seagate Distribution, which sold comics non-returnably, and the Direct Market was born. In an age when comic shops were merely second-hand collectors’ stores, Seuling saw the potential for making a direct connection between comic publishers and their most rabid fans. Comic specialty shops are possible in part because of Seuling’s foresight more than 35 years ago. Phil Seuling passed away in 1984 at the age of 50.

The first Superman comic — owned by an actor once cast as Superman — has become the most expensive comic ever sold.

A near-mint copy of the 1938 comic book “Action Comics” No. 1 sold at auction Wednesday night for $2.16-million, the auction/consignment site ComicConnect reported to the Washington Post.

This beats the previous record of $1.5 million for a different copy of the same issue in 2010.  This copy was once owned by actor Nicolas Cage, who was set to play Superman in a version to be directed by Tim Burton in the 1990s, before Warner Bros. pulled the plug on the film.

Metropolis Collectibles says the current record-setting issue, which grades at 9.0, has twice before been the most valuable comic book: It sold in 1992 for $86,000 and again in 1997, the Post reports.   This issue, reportedly stolen from Cage in 2000, was recovered in a storage locker earlier this year, ABC News reported.

ComicConnect/Metropolis COO Vincent Zurzolo said he could not disclose the buyer’s identity, but that “this is a customer we have a relationship with.”

- Matt Price

If you’re looking to drop some dollars (like Richie Rich, pictured above), go visit your local comic shop this weekend.

Black Friday is generally seen as the kickoff of the Christmas shopping season.   The next day, Small Business Saturday, is a great chance to support locally owned businesses, as many comic-book shops are.   Some stores are running special deals, others have great new items in store.

Feel free to share your Black Friday/Small Business Saturday shopping stories in the comments!

- Matt Price

Thor and friends at Austin Comic Con.

AUSTIN, Texas — Lines snaked through aisles as excited fans waited to meet stars of the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” including James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter, Mercedes McNab, James Charles Leary and Juliet Landau.

James Marsters

Delighted fans interacted with Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the spinoff “Angel.”

“I touched him, I touched him,” one fan cried in near-hysterics after meeting Marsters, who played “Spike” on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel.”

Adam Baldwin of another Joss Whedon show, “Serenity,” was also drawing attention from fans.  Alaina Huffman, of “Smallville” and “Stargate Universe,” made her second appearance at the Wizard World Austin Comic-Con.   Former “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere also drew fans.

Comics were also a focus at the Austin Comic Con — in attendance were Nathan Edmondson (“Who Is Jake Ellis?,” “Grifter”), Greg Capullo (“Batman”), Robert Wilson (“Knuckleheads,”) Kevin Maguire (“Justice League”) and Freddie Williams II (“Captain Atom”).

Artist Robert Wilson at Austin Comic Con

Maguire and Williams entertained fans and would-be creators in a panel aimed at sharing tips on breaking in to comics.  Maguire, who’s been professionally drawing since the mid-1980s, cracked up the crowd, saying he wasn’t sure how he got in and couldn’t really explain how he’d stayed in the industry so long.

SCARE for a CURE, an Austin-based nonprofit organization that raises money for local cancer charities, offered a chance to “shoot a Stormtrooper” of the local 501st Star Wars legion for $2, with the proceeds going to cancer charities, including Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas.

Austin Books & Comics again exhibited at the show with a large booth featuring everything from high-end Golden Age

Austin Books & Comics booth at Austin Comic Con 2011.

Comics to props and glassware.   Owner Brad Bankston said his booth had been busy, with many buyers in search of particular hard-to-find items.  He noted that “Doctor Who” items were particularly popular at this year’s show.

Sunday featured a “Kids’ Day” program, with face painting, balloons, other activities specifically for children.  Kids could go to different booths with kid-friendly activities to win a prize.   The day also featured a “Fairy Godmother Academy” storytelling session by Jan Bozarth.

- Matt Price

Oafcon — or the 2011 Classic Comic Book and Nostalgia Convention — kicks off today and continues through Sunday at the Biltmore Hotel I-40 at Meridian Avenue, Oklahoma City.

Admission is just $5.  Local creators and classic comics will be on hand.  “Dick Tracy” writer Mike Curtis is also expected.

The show opens at 10 a.m. today (Saturday).   More info at : http://oafcon2011.blogspot.com/

My Planet 46 Comics Podcast co-host Kyle Roberts has created this awesome music video for Norman-based band the Nghiems. Shot at Oklahoma City’s New World Comics, this mini-movie should appeal to those who love Scott Pilgrim, comics and of course classic Nintendo. Created using stop-motion animation techniques, the video took over 4 months to produce and over 8,000 individual photos. This weekend only, you can get a free download of the song at http://thenghiems.bandcamp.com/track/dum-dum-dah-dah

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for the “Making of” the video.

Kyle’s latest video has NES flair; 24-Hour Comics Day pushes artists to their limits; Brad Meltzer’s Decoded to start season 2; and it’s the largest release week of comics in more than a decade in this week’s Planet 46 Comics Podcast.

VIDEO-GAME MUSIC VIDEO!

Kyle Roberts, owner of the Oklahoma City-based film company Reckless Abandonment Pictures, directed a music video for Norman-based band ‘The Nghiems’.

The video, ‘Dum Dum Dah Dah’, features a fictional arcade game where the band members serve as the main characters.  The video is a mix of live shots at OKC-based New World Comics and stop motion animation, and will debut online Saturday, Oct. 1.

“Almost everyone remembers the magic of playing a ‘Mario’ type game where they had a journey through levels defeating bad guys to save the princess, we wanted to bring back that nostalgia in this project,” said Roberts.

24 HOUR COMICS DAY IS SATURDAY

The eighth annual 24-Hour Comics Day is Saturday, and the comic book specialty retailer group ComicsPRO is again organizing the event.

24-Hour Comics Day is an annual challenge for cartoonists to produce a 24-page comic book written, drawn and completed in 24 consecutive hours. Comic book artists, whether professional or amateur, young or old, are invited to check out a local venue or try the challenge on their own.

ComicsPRO’s Executive Director Amanda Emmert said the all-volunteer project is free to participants.  More info at www.24hourcomicsday.com.

BRAD MELTZER’S DECODED GETS SECOND SEASON

Brad Meltzer, who wrote the comic-book series “Identity Crisis” and “Green Arrow,” is also a best-selling novelist and, TV star.  The second season of his TV show “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded,” which looks at the hidden secrets behind codes and mysteries, starts season 2 next week, and for the first time, the team will be heading overseas, as well. The show airs on HISTORY.

Review file: Superman #1, Aquaman #1, Flash #1, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2, All-Star Western #1, I, Vampire #1, New Avengers #16.1
Comics read in 2011: 1,460.  Still to go: 551

24-Hour Comics Day is an annual challenge for cartoonists to produce a 24-page comic book written, drawn, and completed in 24 consecutive hours. ComicsPRO, the comic book specialty retailer trade group, organizes the day.  This year’s 24 Hour Comics Day, the 8th annual, is Oct. 1, and ComicsPRO invites comic book artists, whether professional or amateur, young or old, to check out a local venue or try the challenge on their own.

Host sites should register at www.24hourcomicsday.com, and those who wish to participate can go to www.24hourcomicsday.com and look for events in nearby.

I talked to ComicsPRO’s executive director Amanda Emmert about this year’s 24-Hour Comics Day.

NERDAGE: Tell me the basics of the event.

Amanda Emmert: The 24-Hour Comics Challenge is to create a 24-page comic book, from start to finish, in 24 consecutive hours. Each year, comic book stores, schools, libraries and art galleries around the world host event locations where comic creators can take the challenge–they offer a place that’s available for the full 24 hours where anyone can create their comics.

NERDAGE: How many locations are there, and in how many different places?

Amanda Emmert: There are about 150 official 24-Hour Comics Day event locations around the world. So far this year, venues have registered from about 20 different countries.

NERDAGE: And people can participate even if there isn’t a local venue, right? How does that work?

Amanda Emmert: Yes, we encourage people to take the challenge wherever they are! If you can’t participate in at an official event location, but still want to take the challenge and be recognized for it, you can register at www.24hourcomicsday.com as an Individual Online Participant. That means that you’re agreeing to post your pages online, as you go, so that you can show you’re creating the comic in 24 hours. You can blog or tweet your experience to keep in contact with other individual participants, too.

NERDAGE: What does ComicsPRO provide for the event?

Amanda Emmert: ComicsPRO runs the basic administration for the event, so we register host venues, work with national sponsors to advertise the event, and provide materials for host locations to help them run their own events. But the local details are all up to each host–the basic requirements to run an official event are pretty minimal. Host sites can each add their own promotions and details to fit their own locations.

Host sites in the U.S. who register early also receive a physical 24HCD Host Site Kit from ComicsPRO. It includes printed materials, like the tips for promoting and running an event, flyers, a customizable press release for hosts to use as well as some goodies like variant cover comics for the hosts to use as they see fit. Registration and all of the support materials are free.

ComicsPRO promotes 24-Hour Comics Day in the media around the U.S. with press releases and event notices. Retail stores who are members of ComicsPRO already get the benefit of press release support for their events, and 24-Hour Comics Day is included in that. It means that any press release that the national organization sends to a member’s local area will include their individual event information. So along with promoting the event nationally, we help promote individual, local 24-Hour Comics Day events.

NERDAGE: Can people follow along with the event online?

Amanda Emmert: Yes, there are many ways to follow 24-Hour Comics Day online! All host venues are invited to post updates to the main 24HCD blog at http://24hcd.blogspot.com and each year they post videos, pictures, and updates during the event itself. They also post flyers for their events ahead of time and wrap-up notes afterward. Last year, some venues had live coverage of their own events to different webTV stations!

This year we’re asking people to use the #24HCD hashtag when tweeting about the event so that we can all follow along on Twitter, too. It’s great because the tweets come from around the world and are in different languages. Many other volunteers aside from ComicsPRO get involved with the event, and it’s wonderful to see what they bring to the 24-Hour Comics Day idea.

This year, a team named Blitz Comics (www.blitzcomics.com) has created a Survival Kit for any creators who are trying the 24-Hour Comics Day challenge–which they’re giving away for free to everyone. They’re also hosting a 24-Hour Comics Day boot camp to prep for the event and they are tweeting random tips for creators with #24HCD. It’s a fun project!

NERDAGE: What kinds of things can people see at the venues?

Amanda Emmert: The event are varied and depend on the hosts! Some events are hosted by schools and libraries, some by artist studios, and many events happen in comic book stores. Common sights are people of all ages surrounded by paper, art materials, snacks, and large amounts of caffeine. Some events have 3 or 4 people taking the challenge, and some have dozens. I think the largest event held in the last few years had around 80 or 90 people participating at the same time.

NERDAGE: What are the rewards of putting on an event like this, both as an organization, as ComicsPRO, or as a member store?

Amanda Emmert: This really is a fun event to be involved with. It’s an all-volunteer project, completely free, and it takes place around the world. We get to work with creators from many different countries and the main thing they have in common is a love of comics. Many hosts use this event as an opportunity to teach their communities about comics and about how anyone can make them. And making comics, or comic strips, or mini-comics, or web comics, even at an amateur level, increases your understanding and appreciation of this amazing medium.

NERDAGE: What kind of stories have you heard from participating stores?

Amanda Emmert: The people who host 24-Hour Comics Day events are just as creative as the artists who are taking the challenge! Some put a lot into the events, organizing different activities at different times of the night. It’s difficult to keep up for the full 24 hours so we hear many stories of the valiant efforts made by creators to keep going. Some hosts suggest themes for all the participants. An event host in Seattle is pairing his event with a local museum during an exhibition on horror movies, so they are asking participants to use the horror theme for their comics and plan to publish a collection afterward. I’m always impressed by the people who host events each year.

NERDAGE: What’s been most rewarding about setting up this year’s event?

Amanda Emmert: Each year, the most rewarding part of being involved in this event is getting to work with comics enthusiasts from around the world. The great thing about this year, in particular, is that we’ve been handling administration of the overall event long enough that we have an opportunity to develop friendships because of it. You get to know wonderful, creative people from Greece or Finland and around the world, or people from across the United States who you’ve never met in person, but who put on fantastic events year after year. The most rewarding part of this and of any of ComicsPRO’s other projects is getting to work with people who love comics.

- Matt Price

DC Comics revealed Jim Lee’s cover to “Justice League” #4, showing Aquaman vs. Green Lantern, in  a post at the Source blog about the sales success of The New 52.

DC confirmed that “Justice League” #1′s first printing exceeded 200,000 copies, and that 10 of “The New 52″ from DC have print runs of more than 100,000:  In addition to “Justice League,” the other higher-than-100K issues are “Action Comics,” “Batgirl,” “Batman,” “Batman and Robin,” “Batman: The Dark Knight,” “Detective Comics,” “Flash,” “Green Lantern,” and “Superman.”   “Action Comics” will exceed 200,000 with its second printing.

All 13 of the week 2 titles from DC Comics have sold out, and all of the week 3 comics have sold out from the distributor prior to release.  (Comic shops may still have week 2 comics available; week 3 comics will be released Wednesday.)   Both sets of titles will go back to press.

- Matt Price

“Justice League” and “Action Comics” are leading the way as DC Comics introduces its “The New 52” lineup. Stores in the Oklahoma City area are reporting strong sales for all.

“‘Action Comics’ seems to be the biggest,” said Alicia Cox of Second Chance Books & Comics in Warr Acres. “Even people who aren’t big Superman fans want to see where they take his story.”

Set six months before the events of “Justice League” No. 1, “Action Comics” No. 1 finds Superman as a brash young hero in blue jeans and work boots standing up to corporate criminals. “Action Comics” is written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Rags Morales.

“Most people are excited,” said Joey Belden of Oklahoma City’s Atomik Pop. “Quite a few people are picking up all the titles. It’s doing well — I hope it continues.”

Superman has a new costume in other titles, including “Justice League” and “Swamp Thing.”

“Justice League” was the flagship relaunch for DC, drawn by co-publisher Jim Lee and written by chief creative officer Geoff Johns. It’s sold more than 200,000 copies. Brian “Buck” Berlin, of New World Comics in Oklahoma City, said “Justice League” is his store’s best-selling comic in the past few years.

The DC relaunch as a whole has been positive, Cox said. “It gives people who loved comics in their youth a reason to come back.”

Even some lesser-known titles have done well, said Berlin.

“I was really surprised that ‘Animal Man’ and ‘Swamp Thing’ did as well as they did,” Berlin said, referencing two of DC’s other relaunched titles.

Belden agreed.

“Some of the lesser-known titles are getting the best reviews,” he said.

Retailers praised the commercials promoting the new titles.

“They’re doing a really good job promoting it,” Belden said.

“Justice League” No. 1 was released Aug. 31. “Action Comics” and 12 other titles were released Sept. 7. New No. 1 issues will be released each Wednesday of September.

Retailers said the new traffic drawn in by The New 52 was helping sales across the board.

“Hopefully this is the kind of stimulus boost the comic thing needs,” Belden said.

- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

With13 new books being released this week, DC Comics’ “The New 52″ kicks off in earnest.    The most high-profile release of the week is Grant Morrison’s “Action Comics” #1.  Oklahoma-born Sterling Gates joins Rob Liefeld for “Hawk and Dove” No. 1.    Reviews to come, but in the meantime, here’s the list of this week’s releases in The New 52!

ACTION COMICS #1

ANIMAL MAN #1

BATGIRL #1

BATWING #1

DETECTIVE COMICS #1

GREEN ARROW #1

HAWK AND DOVE #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1

MEN OF WAR #1

OMAC #1

STATIC SHOCK #1

STORMWATCH #1

SWAMP THING #1

Feel free to share what you thought of the books, what your shopping experience was like, or anything else related to The New 52 in the comments!

- Matt Price

DC Comics began relaunching its entire line of superhero comics on Wednesday, with the release of “Justice League” No. 1, by writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee.

Lee drew the best-selling comic book of all time, 1991′s “X-Men” No. 1, as well as three of the best-selling comics of the past decade.

The release of “Justice League” No. 1 kicks off “The New 52” as part of DC Comics’ plan to launch an entire comic book line of 52 new No. 1 issues this fall. The issue is a new beginning for the world’s greatest superhero team, which will include Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash and other DC characters.

Johns is DC Entertainment’s chief creative officer; Lee is the co-publisher with Dan DiDio.

With “The New 52,” DC Comics’ most iconic superheroes will be presented in a younger and more contemporary way, including new costumes, characters and storylines.

Author Marc DiPaolo, assistant professor of English and film at Oklahoma City University, said reinventing characters for a new generation could have positive results, despite some fans’ concerns.

“While fans often joke that no one stays dead in comic books and that dramatic storylines don’t have consequences, too often the reverse is true,” DiPaolo said. “The problem with strict continuity is that many bad stories, and some legitimate classics, change the status quo of a comic book so much that the consequences last for decades and rob newer readers of the opportunity to read stories with the characters in their classic form.”

Local comics critic and writer Rob Vollmar agreed the move should at least build short-term excitement.

“The idea of making content ‘new and fresh’ to entice wider audiences into the fold of regular comics readers has proven time and again to be (a) popular concept for comics companies,” Vollmar said. “The reality, as shown by precedent, has been a short-term buzz for existing consumers but elusive in actually bringing new readers into the market. Johns and Lee have good track records as creators among the longtime readers, but whether they can do what has been often attempted but rarely accomplished remains to be seen.”

“The New 52” also begins DC’s plan to release digital comics of their superhero line on the same day as print release.

More than 50 comic-book stores across the country held local midnight release events, including New World Comics, 6219 N Meridian Ave.

“It was awesome,” owner Brian “Buck” Berlin said. “I’ll have a midnight release any time I can. We had probably 50 to 60 people. I got some calls soon after from people saying they really liked the issue.”

Lee and Johns signed comics for hundreds of fans at New York’s Midtown Comics at a midnight release.

Additional first issues, including “Superman” and “Batman,” will be available for sale every Wednesday through Sept. 28.

At DC Comics’ Source blog, they’ve unveiled the cover for the second printing of “Justice League” No. 1.  The issue, which went on sale today, is already seeing strong sales at comic shops nationwide, and has sold out from the distributor.  More than 200,000 copies were ordered by comic-book stores.  The release date of the second printing has yet to be announced, but I would expect soon. (Edit: Sept. 14 release.)

- Matt Price

DC Comics will kick off its linewide relaunch, The New 52, on Wednesday, with the last pre-relaunch issue, “Flashpoint” No. 5, and the first issue of the new line, “Justice League” No. 1.

According to DC, “Justice League” will be set at the dawn of the age of superheroes. The first storyline explores the team’s origins as they ultimately become the world’s greatest superheroes, featuring characters including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. The new Justice League series is written by Geoff Johns (“Blackest Night”) and drawn by Jim Lee (“Batman: Hush”).

“Flashpoint” No. 5 is the final issue in the Geoff Johns-Andy Kubert miniseries. According to DC, the concluding issue will provide a bridge from the events of “Flashpoint” to the events of The New 52.

The New 52 are 52 new or relaunched titles from DC Comics being released through the month of September.

The main changes in the relaunch appear to focus on Superman; DC has said that the Man of Steel will no longer be married to Lois Lane once the relaunch takes place. Grant Morrison will write “Action Comics,” which will focus on Superman’s early days, and may clear up some of the mystery around how Superman’s story has changed. George Perez will write the character in current day in “Superman.”

“One of the things we’re going to do in this book is also to show you how Superman is, who he is, why he ended up wearing the costume that he wears,” Morrison said in a video promoting the project. “And to show kind of a different side to the character than we’ve ever seen before.”

Oklahoma-born writer Sterling Gates is writing one of The New 52. Gates will write “Hawk and Dove,” drawn by Rob Liefeld (“X-Force,” “Youngblood”).

“‘Hawk and Dove’ begins with them arguing over how they should handle the problem in front of them, establishing that Hawk is always comparing Dove to his first partner,” Gates said in a recent interview at DC Comics’ Source blog. “We’re going to delve more into that conflict as time goes on, but I really think it makes sense to get it in front of the reader right away. I like to give superheroes a nice big action beat when they first enter the story so we know they’re the hero and that they’re always going to try and succeed and save the day! Now, whether they succeed or not is a different matter altogether.”

The “Hawk and Dove” characters were created by Steve Ditko and Steve Skeates. Brothers Hank and Don Hall first appeared in 1968′s “Showcase” No. 75, each exemplifying the aggressive “Hawk” and passive “Dove” monikers of the time. Don Hall died in 1986′s “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” In 1988, a new Dove, Dawn Granger, was introduced in a “Hawk and Dove” miniseries written by Karl and Barbara Kesel and illustrated by Liefeld. These characters will star in the new series by Gates and Liefeld.

“Action Comics” No. 1 and “Hawk and Dove” No. 1 will go on sale Sept. 7. “Superman” No. 1 will go on sale Sept. 28.

By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

The LA Times is reporting that pre-orders for Justice League No. 1, which goes on sale Aug. 31, are over 200,000.   That’s the highest-ordered comic since 2009, the Barack Obama issue of “Amazing Spider-Man.”

The Beat reports that, according to Comichron, that “Amazing Spider-Man” #583 in January, 2009, sold 352,847 copies.

The last time DC Comics topped 200,000 was in 2006, with another JLA relaunch: “Justice League of America” No. 1 in Aug. 2006 sold 212,178 copies.  (My bet is that this Justice League will top that one.)

So far, “Justice League” No. 1 is  on track to be the bestselling book of 2011, passing “Ultimate Comics Spider-Man” No. 160, the death of Peter Parker in the Ultimate Universe, which Robot 6 says sold around 168,000.

Six other No. 1 titles — “Batman,” “Action Comics,” “Green Lantern,” “Detective Comics,” “Superman” and “Flash” — have pre-orders higher than 100,000, which will also put them among the year’s best-sellers. (Final orders from retailers for “Batman,” “Superman” and “Flash” have yet to be confirmed, though initial orders have been turned in.  These six books were promoted with 1-in-200 variant covers.)

- Matt Price

Scene from "The Amazing Spider-Man."

“The Amazing Spider-Man” won’t be released until next July 3, but Sony has already scheduled a sequel, Entertainment Weekly reports.

The date of May 2, 2014 has been selected for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.”

No further information was provided, but it is likely Andrew Garfield would return in the lead role of Spider-Man.

The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day, in which comic book shops and participating locations around the world will give away comics to customers and visitors.

Free Comic Book Day was created by Concord, Calif., comic book retailer Joe Field, owner of Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff.
“I love the way Hollywood has increased the awareness of the First Saturday in May as the international holiday for

Joe Field

comic books with Free Comic Book Day,” Field said. “With the release of The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, representing a new silver screen take on the wondrous wall-crawler, I know this will give an extra lift the Free Comic Book Day. FCBD: This time it’s AMAZING!”

Field is the president of ComicsPRO, the comic-book retailer trade organization.

The first Free Comic Book Day in 2002 was timed to the release of the first “Spider-Man” movie starring Tobey Maguire. Free Comic Book Day moved in 2004 to time its release with “Spider-Man 2” before returning to the first Saturday in May. “Spider-Man 3” was also released on Free Comic Book Day weekend in May 2007. Other superhero films to be released on the first Saturday in May include “Iron Man” 1 and 2, and this year’s “Thor.” “Avengers” is set for the first weekend in May of 2012, and “Iron Man 3” is penciled in for that weekend of 2013.

- Matt Price

Norman’s Atomik Pop, 918 W Main, closes Saturday after 27 years in business.

The store, previously known as Planet Comics and Southside Comics, reached new heights in popularity during the manga boom of the 2000s.   But manager Bart Bush said via facebook that the economy, changes in consumer buying habits and overall rising expenses have led to the need to close the store.   The Atomik Pop in Oklahoma City, 7884 S. Western, will remain open.

Full disclosure note: I am one of the owners of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, and so a lot of people would consider me to be in competition with Atomik Pop.  I’ve never felt that way.  I’ve always felt that Bart and his group were almost like teammates trying to raise the tide of comics in Norman with us.   I’ve been deeply saddened by the store’s impending closure.   There are few people in the state – heck, probably in the world – with the knowledge of Golden Age comics, early comics retail and comic book history like Bart, who opened the first comic shop in the state back in 1974. Atomik Pop owner Steve Richter also deserves credit for his years of making Atomik Pop a go-to destination store.

I told Bart personally, but I’ll also say publicly – the city will be worse off without Atomik Pop, which provided many fans their first comic-book exposure via its high-traffic location across from Norman High School.   I even give Bart credit for my Jim Starlin fandom, as I’m pretty sure it was him who sold me on “Silver Surfer” back in the early 1990s. (I didn’t confirm this with him, so it could be faulty memory talking.)

My best wishes to the employees and customers of Atomik Pop. It’s always sad to see a favorite location close, and I encourage everyone to cherish their memories of it. I know that I will.

- Matt Price

In retailer news from this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, direct-market retailer organization ComicsPRO has announced that its Annual Membership Meeting will be held February 9-11, 2012, in Dallas, Texas.

This is the second year for the meeting to be held in Dallas; previous locations include Las Vegas, Nev.  and Memphis, Tenn.   This will be the sixth Annual Membership Meeting of the organization.

ComicsPRO is the only trade organization for direct-market comic book retailers. ComicsPRO’s goals are to promote advocacy, education, and opportunity for its members.

ComicsPRO has a full line of retailer programs set for Friday at Comic-Con.  Click past the cut for the full schedule.

- Matt Price

9:30–10:20 Room 19
ComicsPRO “Fresh Start” – Your day at Comic-Con gets off to a friendly and professional start with ComicsPRO, the retailer trade association. Retailers, publishers and distributors are welcome to kick off their convention day with colleagues, coffee, bagels and conversation. Bring your business card!

10:30–11:20 Room 18
The State of the Industry – It’s the midway point of 2011. So what are the sales trends since we last met in San Diego? And more importantly, what’s the outlook near and long term for the business of comics? Join ComicsPRO President Joe Field and Executive Director Amanda Emmert as they discuss the state of comic book retail with the industry’s top publishing companies, including Bob Wayne (DC Comics Senior VP – Sales), David Gabriel (Marvel Comics Senior VP of Sales), Eric Stephenson (Publisher of Image Comics), Jeremy Atkins (Dark Horse Director of Public Relations), Ted Adams (CEO of IDW Publishing) and Roger Fletcher (Diamond Comic Distributors Vice President of Sales & Marketing).

11:30-12:15 Room 18
Direct Conversation — Join executives from DC Comics for a special chat and Q&A session on September’s The New 52 launch, spotlighting sales incentives, marketing and publicity push, and much more.

2:30–4:00 Room 18
Eisner Spirit Award Video Viewing — The Will Eisner “Spirit of Comics” Retailer Award is the industry’s “Hall of Fame” for progressive retailers, sort of a Legion of Super-Retailers. Spirit Award facilitator and award recipient Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA) presents the videos for this year’s award finalists, with discussion about each nominated retailer, the store’s display techniques, and other unique features every attending retailer can learn from. Hey, retailers! This is a great place for getting new ideas!

4:00–5:30 Room 32AB
So You Want To Be a Comic Book Retailer? – Presented by ComicsPRO’s Retailer Mentoring Forum. This Comic-Con tradition is always a lively and fun discussion, where your dreams of owning your own comic book specialty store take flight! Your career in comics’ retail starts here! You have questions? Our panel of experienced retailers has answers! Hosted by Joe Field (ComicsPRO President, Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA) with Portyln Polston (Brave New World, Newhall CA), Jennifer Haines (The Dragon, Guelph ON), Chris Brady (4 Color Fantasies, Rancho Cucamonga CA) and Diamond Comic Distributors Outside Sales manager Dave Hawksworth.

Warren Simons

Warren Simons, the former Marvel Comics editor who is now the executive editor at Valiant Comics, took some time to answer some questions for Nerdage about the company’s upcoming plans.   A version of this interview ran in Friday’s Weekend Look; the full Q&A is included here.

NERDAGE: What about today’s market do you see as favorable to a relaunch of the Valiant properties?

Warren Simons: The Valiant characters had an incredible impact on the market when they first launched, and we see similar opportunities today. These characters still resonate.  Many of the core concepts driving them are brilliant and timeless.  And we think there’s tremendous potential to tell incredibly exciting stories with these characters. Valiant has a reputation for breaking molds and avoiding clichés, and we intend to continue pushing Valiant storytelling to the next level.

NERDAGE: How do you plan to reach out to comic-book stores?

Warren Simons: As a company, we’re about comic books first, and comic book stores are the best way to reach our readership. Stores and retailers will be our most important fans and advocates. We plan to work with them through traditional channels, but also to develop and maintain relationships through new vehicles, like social media. There are many different ways we can communicate and stay in touch with our fans and retail partners, and we intend to make use of all of them.

NERDAGE: How do you plan to attack the digital marketplace?

Warren Simons: Because Valiant is re-launching at a time of unprecedented media channels, we have a unique opportunity to produce comics across multiple platforms with forethought and consistency. We’re excited for the possibilities in the digital space.

NERDAGE: Can you talk about what characters will play a role in the new Valiant line?

Warren Simons: We can’t get into details just yet, but we some of our most beloved characters will be playing key roles.  There are a number of great characters worthy of the spotlight, including X-O

Shadowman from the original Valiant line

Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong, Eternal Warrior, Rai, Ninjak, and Shadowman, to name a few.

NERDAGE: Will the Valiant line be set in one coherent universe, and what will set that universe apart from other superhero universes?

Warren Simons: Jim Shooter, Barry Windsor-Smith, Bob Layton and all the talented writers and artists who first introduced the Valiant characters built a three dimensional universe that readers could dive into headfirst. They did this with a set of great ideas that we intend to honor and update.  Chief among these is a coherent universe with strong interconnectivity and clear continuity.  The Valiant characters will continue to be unique creations with realistic goals and aspirations and motivations. We’re going to bring all these great characters together under one roof and tell some incredibly compelling stories, with clarity a key element of our universe.

NERDAGE: Will previous Valiant continuity or storylines be referenced?  Will more classic reprints be part of the company’s plan going forward?

Warren Simons: The classic books and the universe they described will serve as the backbone for new storytelling, but everything will be reenergized and updated for the modern world.  The successes of Valiant’s past will be a guiding force behind our new stories.

Bloodshot from the original Valiant Comics

NERDAGE: Have creative teams been set for any titles, and if so, can you offer any hints about what direction those are going?

Warren Simons: The original Valiant comics are so loved and touched the lives of so many talented artists and writers that we’ve been inundated with people reaching out to us.  We’re not ready to announce the teams behind the books just yet, but we’ve got some remarkable talent here and we’ll announce them down the line.

NERDAGE: Is there still an ongoing plan for a “Bloodshot” film, and are either of you involved in those discussions?

Warren Simons: We have a number of film projects in various stages of development.  We can’t discuss them just yet, but fans should stay tuned for upcoming announcements!

- Matt Price

Action Comics #1 (2011)

DC Comics is relaunching the book that introduced Superman back in 1938.

Grant Morrison and Rags Morales create the renumbered “Action Comics” #1, a new issue that, according to DC, “will set in motion the history of the DC Universe as Superman defends a world that doesn’t trust their first Super Hero.”

Superman #1 (2011)

George Perez writes the relaunched “Superman” #1, which will be illustrated by Jesus Merinao.

“What is Superman’s startling new status quo? How does it affect his friends, loved ones and his job at The Daily Planet?”  DC asks in describing the series.

Two other characters with Superman ties will also be relaunched: Supergirl and Superboy.

“Supergirl” #1 is by writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson (“Smallville”) with art by Mahmud Asrar.

“Supergirl’s got the unpredictable behavior of a teenager, the same powers as Superman and none of his affection for the people of Earth,” is how DC describes its “new take on the teenager from Krypton.”

“Superboy” #1  will be written by Scott Lobdell with art by R.B. Silva and Rob Lean.  DC’s description:  “They thought he was just a failed experiment, grown from a combination of Kryptonian and human DNA. But when the scope of his stunning powers was revealed, he became a deadly weapon.”

- Matt Price