WORD BALLOONS

DC Comics announced this week that it has sold out of “Blackest Night” No. 1, which kicked off the zombie-thriller superhero tale by Geoff Johns.

A second printing will be in stores Sept. 16, along with “Blackest Night” No. 3. “Blackest Night” No. 2 is in stores now. Local stores say the issue is moving well from their shelves as well.

“It’s our bestselling comic,” said Brian “Buck” Berlin of New World Comics in Oklahoma City. He said the black ring promo, which allowed stores to order a plastic “Black Lantern” ring with every issue, helped raise awareness of the series.

“We’ve ordered more of it than any other comic, and we’re still selling out of it,” said Eric Neal, an owner of Second Chance Books and Comics in Warr Acres.

The Black Lanterns are the villains of the series, the zombified versions of some of DC Comics’ greatest heroes, including Aquaman.

Neal said that fans are drawn to this series because it’s happening in the main DC Comics continuity, as opposed to in an alternate universe.

“This is actually in the DC Universe,” he said. “In the first issue, they killed off Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and they instantly became zombies.”

That conclusion was intended to shock, Johns said at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

“That scene pushed the boundaries for sure,” he said. “I felt like ‘Blackest Night’ was a horror superhero story. For me, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, I love those characters. I’ve spent a lot of time with them. They represented a love that was never to be.”

Their deaths and revival as zombies, at the hands of the zombie Elongated Man and his wife, Sue Dibny, was meant to be particularly unsettling.

“The most horrifying Black Lanterns are the lighter ones, the ones like Elongated Man and Firestorm,” Johns said. “I wanted to take the couple that had kind of represented this pure love, like Elongated Man and Sue, and put them against Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who are finally coming to terms with theirs, in the most horrific way I could. … Why Hawkman and Hawkgirl are chosen specifically by Black Hand is part of the bigger story. They are characters who have escaped death over and over and over.”

Berlin said the shocking scene will draw more interest to the characters.

“I think it’s kind of an original way to reinvigorate the flailing characters,” he said.

“Blackest Night” has tied into some other of DC’s titles, including miniseries “Blackest Night: Batman” and “Blackest Night: Superman.”

Johns and artist Scott Kolins will create “Blackest Night: Flash” in November.

“It’s kind of a follow-up to our ‘Flash’ run, as well as a continuation of ‘Flash Rebirth’ and ‘Rogues’ Revenge,’” he said. “Lots of dead rogues coming back to say hello.”

The tie-ins, including “Green Lantern,” where the story began, are also seeing strong sales, stores reported.

“It seems to be building. There are more and more people reading it,” Neal said. “The tie-ins are all doing real well, too. ‘Green Lantern’ is doing just as well as the ‘Blackest Night’ issues.”

- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Earth 2 Comics is celebrating the grand opening of its Northridge, CA, store in grand style today, as co-owner Geoff Johns has invited friends in the industry to create a mini-convention atmosphere.

On hand are Tulsa native Sterling Gates, pictured above, writer of Supergirl, along with such luminaries as James Robinson (”Starman”), Mark Waid (”Kingdom Come”), Brian K. Vaughan (”Y: The Last Man”), Jeph Loeb (”Batman: The Long Halloween”) and more!  Check it out as it happens in a live blog from Comic Book Resources.

This is the second “Earth 2″ location for owners Carr D’Angelo and Jud Meyers, whose Sherman Oaks store is a winner of the Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award.  The Northridge Earth 2 was previously part of the Golden Apple chain.

Looks like a great time is being had, and if you’re in the area, you should definitely stop by.

- Matt Price

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, comic books are shipping to comic-book stores on Thursday of this week.  So, you’ve got another day to wait for your new comics.   They are expected to include the conclusion of the long-delayed “Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk” and the shipped-out-of-order “Wolverine” #72, however.

- Matt Price

Calum Johnston

Comic book retail organization ComicsPRO welcomes its first-ever Canadian director with a recent change to its board.

Calum Johnston, owner of Strange Adventures in Halifax, Nova Scotia has been selected to fill a board vacancy of the direct-market comic-book retailer trade association.

Chris Powell, general manager of the Lone Star Comics chain in the Dallas metroplex, resigned from the board. Gary Dills, co-owner of The Laughing Ogre, with stores in Virginia and Ohio, has been named vice president of ComicsPRO, taking on the post left vacant with Powell’s departure.

“It’s great to welcome Calum Johnston to our board as the first ComicsPRO director from north of the border, ” said Joe Field, ComicsPRO President and owner of Concord CA’s Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff, in a release. “I’ve known and admired Calum’s work as a retailer for many years and I’m sure he’ll bring new energy and a fresh perspective to the ComicsPRO board. This should also send a message to comic specialty retailers everywhere that ComicsPRO is serious about about representing the interests of all our retailing brethren.”

Johnston worked as a disc jockey, graphic designer and bartender among other jobs before starting Strange Adventures in 1992.   Johnston received the prestigious Will Eisner “Spirit of Comics” Award for retailing excellence in 2001.

“I’m very honoured to be asked to join the board,” said Johnston. “The aims of the group are to help comic book retailers and I will do my best to help the board and the membership anyway I can.”

Outgoing board member Chris Powell served on the ComicsPRO Board of Directors for the last four years and was recently named President of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. He said in a statement:

“It’s become clear in the weeks since I ran for re-election that the stresses of running seven stores and a mail order business during ‘interesting’ economic times, plus being on the Boards of Directors of two non-profit organizations is just too much for me. I will remain an active member of ComicsPRO, available to help out on the mentoring forum and other projects. I love what this organization has done, and am very optimistic about what it will accomplish in the future.”

For more information about ComicsPRO, visit www.ComicsPRO.org.

– Matt Price

If you can’t find a comic book this week, you’re not trying hard enough.

It’s simply a great week to buy comics.  Let’s look at some of the highlights.

Like classic comic strips? New collections of “Little Orphan Annie” and “Dick Tracy” hit stores today.

Like well-written, literary comics? There’s a new “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” by Alan Moore.

Best value of the week? The first issue of “The Unwritten” by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  It’s just $1 for 48 pages!  This was probably my favorite Vertigo first issue since “Y: The Last Man” #1.  If you like intelligent comics, there’s no reason you shouldn’t at least try it out for $1. Like I said after reading a preview copy at the ComicsPRO meeting in Memphis: “The Unwritten” looks to be a must for Harry Potter fans over the age of 17.

In the mood for a big superhero crossover? “Fusion” features the Avengers, the Thunderbolts, Cyberforce and Hunter/Killer.

Want a mystery? Mark Waid’s new “Unknown” is said to be in the vein of his award-winning mystery series “Ruse.”

How about a thriller? The third “un” title of the week is Mark Sable’s “Unthinkable” about a writer tasked to come up with doomsday scenarios for the government — that later end up coming true.

Want a collection of one of the most brilliant comics of the modern era? Fantagraphics has released a collection of Gilbert Hernandez’s “Luba.”

Want an action-packed superhero adventure? Check out “Superman: New Krypton” (partially written by OU graduate Sterling Gates)!

Want a jumping-on point for a popular Marvel hero?  Marvel’s provided just that in “Wolverine” #73. (Just don’t ask about #72. It’s complicated. It’ll be here eventually.)

Want to read one of the most ridiculous crossovers in human history? Check out the omnibus to “Secret Wars II.”

Looking for a new comic written by Ivan Brandon, writer of the buzz book “Viking”?  His “Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape” hits this week.

How about a nostalgic trip to the 1980s? Archie is reprinting its first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” issues.

Seriously. Go to your comic-book store this week.  It’s a great week for comics.

– Matt Price

You don’t see a lot of this, and I think most stores would be really hesitant to take a near-$1,000 check these days.  Still, it’s something for comic-book shops to be aware of. The comic has never been recovered, according to the story.

- Matt Price

For the second year in a row, I’ll attempt live-blogging the comic-book holiday, Free Comic Book Day, from Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, OK.
(Full disclosure note: I am one of the owners of Speeding Bullet.)

NewsOK Comics Podcast co-host Kyle Roberts will be shooting a Free Comic Book Day video at Second Chance Books in Warr Acres.  Second Chance Books is a sponsor of Nerdage and of the NewsOK Comics Podcast, and I look forward to seeing what kind of a fun video Kyle brings back.

If you haven’t seen Kyle’s video from the Warren Theatre prior to the X-Men Origins: Wolverine midnight screening, you should check that out!

If you need to find the closest participating comic-book store to you, you can visit www.freecomicbookday.com.

10 a.m.: The doors open and the line surges in!  There’s a crowd ready and waiting for Free Comic Book Day.  Lots of kids, some adults as well.

10:15 a.m. - There are so many people surged around the Free Comics table that it’s difficult to get to them. That hasn’t happened much. Some stores will move a line through, but there’s always been enough space in Ricochet Cafe before to handle surges.  It’s a little crowded.  There are 3 tables – all ages, teens, and adults, and the kids table is being surged around like the Wiggles are standing there.

10:30 a.m: The Geoff Johns-written “Blackest Night” 0 has been exceptionally popular with the comic-book fans through the door so far.  I can also tell the all-ages “Wolverine” comic has taken a hit.

10:45 a.m.: There’s been near-constant movement since the doors opened.  Good news for sales, the guys at the register seem really busy as well.  Free Comic Book Day isn’t free for the retailers, and it’s nice to see people making purchases as well, though it’s certainly not required.

10:46 a.m.: The rains hit Norman.  It’ll be interesting to see over the course of the day if the rain slows down people coming in.  In the first 45 minutes, definitely not.  It’s been more busy than expected, even. But if it really starts pouring down, will people get out?  That’s what we’ll have to see.  Going to check www.newsok.com/weather to see what might be expected the rest of the day.

11 a.m.: Quite a bit of discussion about Wolverine and people looking through the Wolverine display.  Not as much discussion as there was last year about Iron Man, I don’t think, though.  Then again, Iron Man was a completely new thing, whereas Wolverine’s been in 3 movies before.

11:15 a.m.: A few more people talking about “Green Lantern.”  It’ll be interesting to see how that continues to develop as the “Green Lantern” movie seems to be coming closer to reality.  Comic-book fans have known about Geoff Johns’ run on “Green Lantern” for a while — maybe “Blackest Night” and movie hype will get additional attention for the property.

11:30 a.m.: According to the guys on staff, the reprint of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue has been a popular choice.  I think this is one of my favorites of the free issues this year as well, and I hope it leads to a comprehensive reprint of the original Eastman-Laird Turtles.

11:45 a.m.: Response to the “Wolverine” film is mixed among the fans filtering in for FCBD.  Most of them are excited about “Star Trek,” which has comic-book tie-ins from IDW but nothing specifically for Free Comic Book Day.  Probably the fact that Colin Warde, who worked in Los Angeles on the Star Trek auctions, is appearing here this afternoon, is adding to the Star Trek buzz at this location.

Noon: While there has been rain here and there in the first two hours, so far it doesn’t look like the rain is keeping anybody away.  Still hasn’t been much of a letup of people since the doors opened at 10 a.m.

12:15 p.m.: I know a lot of Nerdage readers are also Sterling Gates fans — he’s signing today with Geoff Johns at Atomic Comics in Arizona.  Atomic knows how to put on an event, so those guys should have quite a turnout.

1 p.m.: There hasn’t been much of an opportunity to catch a breath, here, but it’s been great to see so many people coming through and having fun.

1:15 p.m.: Unscientifically, I’m saying “Blackest Night” 0 is the hit of the day so far, but will try to get more scientific data on that. (Day-after update: Top 3 book giveaways for the day were 1. Blackest Night, 2. Avengers, 3. Wolverine.)

1:45 p.m.: A tip for those who may be looking for “Wolverine” material for their younger kids – “Wolverine: First Class” is an excellent choice.

2:15 p.m.: Word comes from MTV Splash Page that “Wolverine” did $35 million over Friday, and could have a $90 million opening weekend.  In FCBD news, bodies through the door here have already surpassed last year, I’m told.

2:30 p.m.: “Star Trek” props expert Colin Warde is in the house.  He’s got some neat logos and accessories on hand, as well as lots of photos of  “Star Trek” items.

3 p.m.: Still quite a crowd, between people shopping, people getting free comics, and people talking “Star Trek.”  Lots of people think next week’s “Star Trek” movie is going to be a big hit.

3:15 p.m.: As far as indies go, it’s worth it to check out Oni Press’ “Resurrection.” You can get the FCBD issue of “Resurrection” and then add the trade paperback collection for just $6.

3:30 p.m.: Mostly kids still coming in for free comics.  Colin is entertaining a crowd with tales of “Star Trek.”

4 p.m.: Probably the slowest it’s been so far today for free comics-specific people.  Still a good “Trek” crowd though, learning lots of inside baseball on what certain props were made of, how they were created, etc.

4:15 p.m.: Hearing good things from other retailers about FCBD nationwide; people giving away more comics than they ever had before, more people in the door, etc.  The thing to do over the next few weeks is figure out why it worked!  The new Geoff Johns comic? The Wolverine movie? Press coverage? Something else?

4:30 p.m.: BAM is in the house, checking out some free comics.  She’s consistently one of NewsOK’s most popular bloggers, and she shared some “Star Trek” info with me, as well.  Next week we’ll likely shift into full-on “Star Trek” mode here at Nerdage, bringing you some interviews, background and behind the scenes stuff.

5 p.m.: Colin is wrapping up his “Star Trek” demonstration, so I’m going to wrap up live-blogging and go get some food shortly.  Speeding Bullet will remain open, giving away Free Comic Book Day comics until 7; other area stores will be open for a while longer as well, so you still have some time to make your own FCBD trek.  It’s been exciting to get to talk to so many comic-book fans in person today.  I’ll try to share some reports from across the nation in the coming days as well.  Happy Free Comic Book Day, everybody!

- Matt Price

WORD BALLOONS

As “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is released, local comic book stores will give away a “Wolverine” comic book as part of the eighth annual Free Comic Book Day.

Thousands of comic book stores worldwide will give free comic books to patrons Saturday as part of the annual celebration.

Free Comic Book Day was the idea of California comic book retailer Joe Field, and it is implemented through comic book distributor Diamond Comics.

Diamond Comics estimates more than 2 million comic books will be given away worldwide.

DC Comics will kick off its largest 2009 event, “Blackest Night,” with a free “zero” issue on Free Comic Book Day. The issue includes a lead story that leads directly into “Blackest Night” No. 1.

“The first half is by me and Ivan Reis,” Johns said at the recent ComicsPRO annual meeting in Memphis. “It’s a 12-page story that’s a lead-in to the DC Universe through Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) and Barry Allen (Flash).” The second half of the issue is by artist Doug Mahnke and Johns, and is a guide to the different organizations that will play into the “Blackest Night” storyline.

Other comics will feature Disney/Pixar’s Cars, the Avengers, Star Wars, Transformers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Giveaway books may vary by location and are available while supplies last.

In addition to the participating comic book stores, Metro Library Systems will participate in Free Comic Book Day.

For more information, go online to www.freecomicbookday.com.

By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

All-Star Comics, 6900 N May; 842-7800.

Atomic Comics, 6006 S Western; 632-2848.

Atomik Pop, 918 W Main, Norman; 329-9695.

Atomik Pop II, 7884 S Western; 635-0848.

Bibliotech, 123 E Main, Shawnee; 275-9494.

New World Comics, 6219 N Meridian; 721-7634.

New World Games and Comics, 4435 SE 29; 677-2559.

Second Chance Books & Comics, 3909 N MacArthur, Warr Acres; 603-7151.

Speeding Bullet Comics, 614 N Porter, Norman; 360-6866.

Ultimate Heroes, 1316 N Kelly, Edmond, 715-0001.

Wizard’s Games, 749 Jenkins, Norman; 292-4263.

Comics Q&A: What is Free Comic Book Day? Kyle Roberts and Matt Price answer questions about Free Comic Book Day, which is Saturday, May 2.

Dark Horse will officially join Marvel and DC in Diamond Comic Distributors’ “Final Order Cutoff” program.  This program allows direct-market comic-book retailers to make adjustments to their comic-book orders about three weeks before the on-sale date.

Dark Horse’s FOC program will begin on Monday, April 20.

“We are pleased to announce this move to the FOC,” Dark Horse President, Mike Richardson said in a release. “As every comics retailer knows, times are tough. It is important that Dark Horse not only support them with great product, but with our best efforts to make their ordering decisions as easy as possible. This system will help every retailer who orders Dark Horse product and should lead to better business for all of us.”

The timeline for Final Order Cutoffs for Dark Horse graphic novels will be about three months prior to release.

- Matt Price

Eric Kirsammer

ComicsPRO has named retailer Eric Kirsammer of Chicago Comics to the open spot on the organization’s board of directors.

Kirsammer has owned Chicago Comics since 1991 and received the Will Eisner “Spirit of Comics” Retailing Award in 1997. Kirsammer purchased Quimby’s bookstore in 1997.

Kirsammer was appointed to fill the board position of Ben Trujillo, of Star Clipper in St. Louis, Mo. Trujillo resigned to focus more fully on his MOBY point-of-sale system for comic retail outlets.

ComicsPRO is a retailer trade organization for comic book specialty stores.  Its 140 member-retailers comprise approximately 180 storefronts.

– Matt Price

WORD BALLOONS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Flash and Green Lantern will be the “cornerstones” of the DC Universe in the coming year, said writer Geoff Johns, speaking at the ComicsPRO annual members’ meeting last week.

ComicsPRO is a nonprofit organization of direct-market comic store retailers.

Johns is the writer of the upcoming “Flash: Rebirth,” slated for release on April 1, and “Blackest Night,” which kicks off with a free No. 0 issue on May 2, Free Comic Book Day. “Blackest Night” No. 0 is the first original story created by DC for a FCBD giveaway. The first half of the book will be by Johns and Ivan Reis.

“It’s a 12-page story that’s a lead-in to the DC Universe through Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) and Barry Allen (Flash),” Johns said. “I look at Hal and Barry as very different in how they’re coming into the DC Universe.”

The Flash died a hero in “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” saving the world from the Anti-Monitor, before returning in “Final Crisis” last year. Hal Jordan was turned evil by the entity Parallax and destroyed the Green Lantern Corps before dying in the “Final Night” series. In the 2004 series “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” Hal Jordan was purged of the entity and returned as a hero.

“There’s a line in (”Blackest Night” No. 0) where Hal says, ‘You died a saint and I died a sinner,’” Johns said, referring to the different situations in which the two close friends now find themselves.

Barry Allen returning from the dead is “the worst thing that ever happened to him,” Johns said.

“I think a lot of people are wondering why we’re bringing Barry Allen back,” Johns said. “But really ‘Flash: Rebirth’ is knee-deep in doing what we do best.”
“Flash: Rebirth” is from the creative team of “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver.

DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio announced that, based on pre-orders, “Flash: Rebirth” No. 1 will be DC Comics’ top book for April.

“Blackest Night” No. 1 will launch July 15, written by Johns and drawn by Reis.  It will tie in with “Green Lantern” and “Green Lantern Corps.”

“I’ve been working really hard on Green Lantern for the last few years,” Johns said.  “When we did (the) Sinestro Corps (storyline), it was kind of a surprise for a lot of people,” Johns said.  “But now that we’re headed toward ‘Blackest Night,’ the fact that readers, retailers, DC, everybody’s really excited about it, that gets me excited, because I’ve been wanting to tell this story for a long time.”

By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the third annual ComicsPRO members’ meeting drew to a close, retailers said they felt refreshed and recharged from the three-day conference.

“This experience has refined my understanding of what my job is,” said Atom! Freeman, of Brave New World Comics in Santa Clarita, Calif. “The day to day can really muddy your perceptions … being in a room full of people who know what you’re going through can refine what is you should be doing.”

Several retailers revealed in informal conversation that they believe the ComicsPRO conference to be the most important event on the comics retail calendar; the increasing membership and presence of the largest suppliers, most available to connect with on a one-to-one basis, would seem to bear that out.

While some retailers shared fears with me prior to the meeting, after the meeting, retailers said they felt better prepared to face the challenges of the future.

Some additional notes:

– While I plan much more in-depth coverage on this later, I’ll say now that talking to Geoff Johns about the upcoming “Flash: Rebirth” and “Blackest Night” has me very excited about the DC Universe in 2009.

– Vertigo’s “The Unwritten” (pictured) by Mike Carey and Peter Gross looks to be a must for Harry Potter fans over the age of 17.

– Diamond Comics announced a plan to import magazine/figure combos, similar to the Eaglemoss Marvel and DC magazines, featuring Star Wars characters and vehicles.

– Dark Horse Comics announced their intention to more clearly communicate with retailers about stock levels, when items would be unavailable, and when they might become available again.

– Joe Keatinge of Image received positive feedback to his preview of “Viking,” shipping April 1, by Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein.

– Filip Sablik of Top Cow showed lots of amazing artwork that we hope to have to show at Nerdage later, including art from Marvel Fusion, featuring Cyberforce, Hunter/Killer, Avengers and Thunderbolts.

– Matt Price

The 600,000-square-foot distribution center replaces three such centers previously housed in Memphis. Diamond has two additional distribution centers, in Plattsburgh, N.Y. and in Los Angeles. The Olive Branch facility is now the most technologically advanced of the bunch. The new inventory control system allows workers to pick items via computerized voice commands over a headset, and the quality control system will eventually be able to all but eliminate short-packed boxes with mechanisms that will make sure shipment weights are correct within ounces.

After the tour and a catered barbecue dinner, Diamond representatives answered questions from attendees about the facility and other distribution topics. Retailers said the answers they received, and the tour of the facility itself, helped to calm fears brought on by some shipping issues as the system was being implemented. 

Diamond representatives acknowledged there were still kinks being worked out, but that once the system was fully implemented, it would be more efficient and cost-effective for everyone.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The results of the ComicsPRO board member elections were announced at the ComicsPRO annual meeting. Named to the three ComicsPRO director positions up for election were Joe Field, Brian Hibbs and Chris Powell.  The board also announced its officers: Field was re-elected as President; Chris Powell was named President Pro-Tempore; Amanda Emmert was named Corporate Secretary/Treasurer; and Carr D’Angelo was named Recording Secretary.

More information from ComicsPRO about the elected directors:

Joe Field has owned and operated Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff in the suburban city of Concord CA since 1988. He is a recipient of the Will Eisner “Spirit of Comics” Award for retailing excellence. He previously worked in the broadcasting field and has also done freelance public relations. Joe is also the founder of Free Comic Book Day, the industry’s only coordinated outreach effort.

Joe is a founding member of ComicsPRO, having donated his time and energy to the organization in its formative stages. In addition to running board meetings and overseeing the work of ComicsPRO’s Communications Coordinator, Joe also is the Chair of the Public Relations committee and is a member of the Mentoring and Member Benefits committees.

In his duties as ComicsPRO’s president, Field has attended numerous industry events to find new members for ComicsPRO and to increase awareness for the organization. These events include ComicsPRO members meetings in Las Vegas and a member recruitment meeting in Philadelphia, as well as giving his time to attend and run retailer programming at Comic-Con International-San Diego.

Chris Powell is the General Manager of the north Texas-based Lone Star Comics and  mycomicshop.com.
Powell has been with Lone Star since 1989 and has worked at every level of the organization.  He has served on the Board for 3 years and as ComicsPRO’s President Pro Tem for 1.  At the ComicsPRO meeting, Powell was named president of the Board of Directors of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Brian Hibbs opened Comix Experience in San Francisco at the age of 21, on April Fool’s Day, 1989.  He was a founding member of the ComicsPRO board of directors.

Ben Trujillo, of Star Clipper in St. Louis, Mo., announced his resignation from the board.  He told the assembled membership his retail business and his responsibilities to his software development business, which handles the point-of-sale system MOBY, made it impossible to dedicate the needed time to the board.  Field thanked Trujillo for his time on the board, and the membership applauded Trujillo’s time on the board with a standing ovation.

The remaining board members are Rick Lowell, Phil Boyle and Gary Dills.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Joe Havorka, president of ToW Distribution, a distributor specializing in remainder books, talked to assembled retailers at the ComicsPRO annual meeting about sales possibilities in bargain graphic novels.

Havorka said he believes stores who designate a “bargain book” section can see returns on a percentage basis that exceeds that of new merchandise.

ToW Distribution sells graphic novels and related merchandise to retail stores.  Retailers who want to apply for an account can do so at www.towdistribution.com/

– Matt Price

“You still represent the dominant sales force of graphic fiction,” Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley told ComicsPRO attendees as part of his keynote address. Buckley said the most important thing for Marvel to do was to lead new customers into direct-market stores.

DC Comics Executive Editor Dan Didio agreed, in his own presentation to ComicsPRO attendees, saying the biggest part of his job was to drive periodical sales in the direct market. DC Comics sponsored an entire day of programming at the ComicsPRO meeting as part of its commitment to direct-market retailing.

Dirk Wood, director of marketing at Dark Horse Comics, said the ComicsPRO show was the only show that saw an increased budget from Dark Horse in 2009, as Dark Horse aimed to increase its efforts to communicate with direct-market retailers.

While digital comics and the possible threat those posed to the direct market were much discussed prior to the meeting, publishers indicated they did not want digital products to harm direct-market sales, and in fact hoped digital content drove readers to stores.

DC Comics stated again no plans to develop for the Amazon Kindle. Buckley said Marvel doesn’t want to be in the business of consumer sales and customer service. However, they are continuing to look at ways to expand into the digital arena, including the upcoming Spider-Woman motion comic.

In addition to the public presentations, ComicsPRO board members met with publishers privately to share member concerns. ComicsPRO board member Brian Hibbs said these meetings were “incredibly productive.”

“The level of transparency and the level of candor from our suppliers has been very heartening,” Hibbs said, adding that this year’s ComicsPRO annual meeting was, he believed, the most beneficial industry event he had attended in his 20 years in retail.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik outlined several of Top Cow’s initiatives at the ComicsPRO annual meeting of direct-market retailers.  First and foremost among Sablik’s points was the company’s promise to hold the price point of its regular books at $2.99 through 2009.

The trade dress of the books has been redesigned to highlight the price.  Sablik said any book at a higher price would have more pages or extras included.

Sablik also reminded retailers of the direct-market exclusive pricing on the first volumes of the Ron Marz “Witchblade” and “Darkness: Accursed,” which retail through comic shops at just $4.99.  These each collect six issues.   Volume 2 of “Darkness: Accursed” is set for April release at $9.99.

Sablik reminded retailers to sign up for Top Cow’s “Let Us Win You Over” campaign, in which selected retailers will receive free books to give away to consumers.  It will feature 25 stores per month, and is a yearlong campaign to attract new readers.   More information is available at www.topcow.com/freecomics.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Comic Book Legal Defense Fund executive director announced changes to the board of directors for the Fund while speaking at the ComicsPRO annual meeting.

Chris Staros of Top Shelf is stepping down as president of the board to focus more time on his publishing company, Brownstein said. Larry Marder, creator of Beanworld,” will join the board. Chris Powell of Lone Star Comics was named the new president of the CBLDF board.

Powell, also a member of the board of ComicsPRO, spoke to the assembled retailers.

“We value everybody in this room as one of the groups we’re here to protect,” Powell said. “The Fund is vital, because we don’t just protect you; we protect your customers and we protect your suppliers.”

Powell spoke to ways retailers could continue to support the fund: through memberships that are solicited through Diamond Comics Distributors; through eBay auctions that designate some funds to the CBLDF through MissionFish; through a donation jar on the counter; or through signings and events benefiting the Fund.

“Besides monetarily, one of the things you can do … is to help us continue to get the mission out,” Powell said.

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marvel’s most popular mutant is set to become a fund-raising hero.

Steve Borock of the Hero Initiative, speaking at the ComicsPRO annual meeting, said a “Wolverine” project similar to the “Spider-Man” and “Hulk” 100 Covers project is in the works.  About 100 top-level artists will be approached to create Wolverine covers that will be printed in a book to benefit the Hero Initiative.   Borock indicated that creators including Frank Cho were interested in being involved with this project.

Borock also announced “Hero Comics,” a benefit comic book organized by Scott Dunbier, which will include a new “American Flagg!” story by Howard Chaykin.   This 32-page anthology will also feature contributions from Gene Colan and Josh Medors.

The Hero Initiative raises funds for comic-book creators in need.  The Initiative has benefited more than 50 creators, Borock said, with more than $500,000 cumulatively.

The Hero Initiative also provided an informational DVD to the attending retailers with information about the Hero Initiative.  The one-minute version of the video is embedded below.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — DC executives attending the annual ComicsPRO meeting were asked about upcoming issues of “Action Comics” and “Detective Comics” that wouldn’t star traditional heroes Superman and Batman.  Will the lack of those heroes cause sales to drop?

Detective Comics will feature Batwoman as the lead character, written by Greg Rucka and drawn by J.H. Williams.  Rucka is the writer on Action Comics, starring characters Flamebird and Nightwing. Issue #875, drawn by Eddy Barrows, is on sale now.  Didio said the art for Detective Comics is phenomenal, and will draw new readers to the series.

“I can’t wait to see this stuff because it’s just so cool-looking,” Didio said. “(Williams’) Batwoman stuff is just dynamite.”

Didio also reiterated the strong ties between Action Comics and the rest of the Superman world.

“Those characters (Flamebird and Nightwing) originated in Action Comics,” Didio said.  “(And) Superman’s not gone — he’s just not the star of the book right now.   If somebody is a Superman fan, they should feel engaged by this storyline and excited by it.”

DC’s vice president of sales Bob Wayne indicated that numbers on “Action Comics” ordered so far under Greg Rucka’s run are nearly the same as previous numbers under Geoff Johns.

– Matt Price

Several high-profile projects from WildStorm that have gone missing in action are still being worked on, said Hank Kanalz of WildStorm at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.

The Grant Morrison-Jim Lee “Wildcats” series will be completed as a graphic novel, and will be solicited when it’s complete, Kanalz said.

The Morrison “Authority” also won’t be permanently abandoned.

“The Grant Morrison ‘Authority’ will be finished by Keith Giffen and a variety of artists,” Kanalz told retailers. “When you see the solicitation, you know it’s done.”

Also, answering what he said was the most popular question he’s been asked, “Planetary” #27 by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday should ship in 2009.   That book also won’t be solicited until it’s done, Kanalz said.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  — WildStorm announced the development of an aggressive creator-driven line at the 2009 ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.

Several new comic-book series will be joining the WildStorm line, announced Hank Kanalz of WildStorm.  The titles include:

- “North 40,” by Aaron Williams (”PS238″) and Fiona Staples (”Secret History of the Authority”).

This is a miniseries about a Midwestern American town that holds a secret in its library — a book that brings dreams and nightmares to life.  It launches in June.

- “Red Herring,” by Dave Tischman and Philip Bond.
This six-issue miniseries launching in June was described by Kanalz as “The Daily Show meets the X-Files.”  It’s designed to be a series of miniseries, Kanalz said.

- “Sparta,” written by David Lapham

A sleepy American town built around its football team has a magical undertone.

- “Garrison,” written by Jeff Mariotte

“Garrison” is an FBI procedural miniseries in which agents are tracking down a serial killer.

Kanalz said WildStorm is committed to shipping these series on time.

“We’re sticking to our promise that when we solicit, that means we’re ready to go,” Kanalz said.

– Matt Price

“It’s an experience now,” Didio said. “The art is larger.  There’s a lot of story on each page.”

These will be 16 pages featuring fifteen original one-page features.  Mark Chiarello championed the project, Didio said.

Creators involved with the project include Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, the “100 Bullets” team, will create a Batman tale for the project.  Neil Gaiman and Michael Allred will be involved with a Metamorpho project.  Other creators named were Paul Pope, Walt Simonson and Dave Gibbons.

Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner will be involved with a “Supergirl” serial, and Joe Kubert will be returning to Sgt. Rock.

“I love the excitement, I love the energy that a weekly comic brings,” Didio said. “We’re anxious to stay in that business.”

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The sales of “Watchmen” collected editions have topped 1 million units since the trailer was released with the “Dark Knight” film in July 2008, DC Vice President of Sales Bob Wayne announced at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.

In addition, DC Comics offered a fourth consignment program for retailers to help keep “Watchmen” stocked deeply on store shelves.

“We think there will still be people coming in looking for this book,” Wayne said, citing anticipated continued demand projected by DC Comics.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — “Flash Chronicles,” reprinting the original adventures of the Barry Allen Flash, is among the highlights of DC Comics’ collected editions discussed at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.

Barry Allen’s first appearance in “Showcase” #4 kicked off what’s considered the Silver Age of Comics, and Flash joins Superman, Batman and Green Lantern in the “Chronicles” line.  The first volume is scheduled to ship in September.

Other highlights from the Collected Editions presentation:

- A one-volume collection of “Batman: Hush” by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee in August

- The first Zuda collection, “High Moon” vol. 1, written by former University of Oklahoma student David Gallaher, is scheduled for October.

- The all-ages “Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade,” is scheduled for December.

DC’s black-and-white “Showcase” collections are going to move toward one release per month rather than two per month.   The volumes scheduled through the rest of the year are Bat Lash in July; Eclipso in August; Warlord in September; House of Secrets vol 2 in October; DC Comics Presents Superman Team Ups in November; and Wonder Woman vol 3 in December.

The panel also offered sneak peeks into 2010, including an “Adam Hughes Cover to Cover” art book; “Absolute Green Lantern Rebirth;” and new editions of “Sandman” implementing the recoloring done for the Absolute editions of the series.

– Matt Price

Superhero Tom Strong, created by Alan Moore, will return to the WildStorm imprint in 2009 in a miniseries by Peter Hogan and Chris Sprouse.

Hank Kanalz, general manager of WildStorm Productions, said the new series will be called “Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom.”

“With Chris on ‘Tom Strong,’ this will make a terrific miniseries, and it will come out on time,” Kanalz said.

Tom Strong was created by Moore and Sprouse and first appeared in “Tom Strong” #1 from America’s Best Comics, an imprint of WildStorm, in 1999.

-  Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  -  DC Comics’ mature-readers line, Vertigo, will launch three new ongoing series in 2009, it was announced at the annual ComicsPRO meeting of comic-book retailers.

Vertigo’s new series in 2009 are “The Unwritten,” “Greek Street” and “Sweet Tooth.”

“The Unwritten,” set for a May release, is by the “Lucifer” creative team of Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  Vertigo Executive Editor Karen Berger said “The Unwritten” was along the lines of a “classic” Vertigo series like “Sandman” and “Books of Magic.”

“It really blends the best of reality with fantasy,” Berger said.

The  second series, “Greek Street,” is written by Peter Milligan (”Shade the Changing Man”).

“It does for Greek mythology what ‘Fables’ has done for fairy tales,” Berger said, referencing Bill Willingham’s series about fable characters in the real world. “It’s taking themes you find in Greek classics and reinventing them in modern times.”

The third series, announced for the first time at ComicsPRO, is “Sweet Tooth.”  This series is written and drawn by Jeff Lemire (”Essex County”).

“Sweet Tooth” features a young man, born with antlers after a nuclear apocalypse, finding his way through his post-apocalyptic world after the death of his father.

Berger said the book had lots of Western elements and an indie flavor.

“We try to support new visions,” Berger said. “This is a book you can give to people who don’t read comics.”

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Discussions were primarily optimistic at the informal meet and greet kicking off the annual ComicsPRO meeting of comic-book retailers.   Distributors, publishers and others will discuss their plans for the upcoming year over the next three days with some of the nation’s top comic-book sellers.

While the box office for “Watchmen” might have not been all that Warner Bros. had hoped for, it certainly worked as far as motivating sales of the book.   Anecdotal evidence pointed to huge sales of the graphic novel leading up to the movie’s opening.

Anticipation was high for the “Wolverine” movie, with retailers reporting increased interest in Wolverine and Deadpool merchandise as the movie nears.

Free Comic Book Day, coming up on May 2, was also mentioned by retailers, with at least one retailer expecting it to be his most successful Free Comic Book Day ever.

This year’s Free Comic Book Day will feature a Wolverine tie-in comic as well as the launch of DC’s “Blackest Night” event, written by Geoff Johns.

Also on the horizon are opportunities to tie in with the “Jonah Hex” and “Green Lantern” films, slated for 2010.

Not all was rosy, however.  The overall economic slump had affected some locations.  Furthermore, logistic problems with a large supplier have become more pronounced in recent weeks.   And, something on many stores’ minds is the question of how digital content will impact the comic book industry.

Still, the dozens of retailers who met and talked late into the night about trends and ideas for comic-book retail continue to have a passion for their line of work, and optimism about the future.

– Matt Price