ComicsPRO announces nominees for Industry Appreciation Award
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
Action Comics #1 once owned by Nicolas Cage sells for $2.16M
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
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are upon us
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
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” stars, comic creators highlight Austin Comic Con
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 kicks off today in OKC
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/
Arcade-style music video for the Nghiems ‘Dum Dum Dah Dah’ debuts
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.
(more…)
Superman leads a huge new release week; 24-Hour Comics Day is Saturday; Brad Meltzer interview
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.
24-Hour Comics Day Q&A with ComicsPRO executive director Amanda Emmert
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.
The New 52 puts 10 comics over 100K; Aquaman on cover to Justice League #4
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.
Oklahoma City comic-book stores report strong sales of DC Comics’ The New 52
“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.
