Rocketeer, Asterios Polyp among Harvey award winners
The Comics Reporter has a roundup of the 2010 Harvey Award winners, for work published in 2009.
IDW’s re-publication of the Dave Stevens “Rocketeer” comics won for Best Domestic Reprint Project and Special Award for Excellence in Presentation. Laura Martin won “Best Colorist” for her work on the project.
David Mazuchelli’s graphic novel “Asterios Polyp” won best original graphic album and best single issue or story. Mazuchelli also won for best letterer.
Image Comics did well, with awards for “Chew” and “Walking Dead,” and IDW added to their wins for “Rocketeer” with an award for Darwyn Cooke’s “Parker” graphic novel. Check out the full list of winners at The Comics Reporter.
- Matt Price
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Weather
Scott Pilgrim promotion: Found via io9, this great Atlanta promo of Jason Schwartzman and Michael Cera doing the weather at the Atlanta Fox affiliate. Really funny stuff!
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” opens on Aug. 13. It’s based on the series of Oni Press graphic novels by Bryan O’Malley; Cera stars as Scott Pilgrim.
- Matt Price
Super Pro K.O. at Comic-Con International
I read “Super Pro K.O.” today to prepare for an interview with the writer/artist Jarrett Williams, and I definitely recommend it. It mixes a manga style with wrestling tropes, and as Annette mentioned to me, it reminded her of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. I think that’s an interesting mix of influences that turns into a compelling debut graphic novel!
Here’s how Oni describes the book:
Joe Somiano is late to his first match in Super Pro K.O.!, and has no clue what awaits him in the rowdy ring! A seasoned sumo wrestler, a jolly luchador, a flambouyant tag team, suspicious executives, and a drunken Heavyweight Champion all stand between him and the superstardom that is his destiny. If the huge egos, clothesline take-downs, and broken chairs across the head don’t squash Joe’s dreams, he may just come out on top. But if he’s going to take home the champion’s belt, he’ll need to bring his best moves against the likes of S.P.K.O.! stars Tomahawk Slamson, Yoko No-No, Mr. Awesomeness 2, and many more in this grand slamma jamma event of a graphic novel!
You can check out a preview of the book at Oni’s web site, and stay tuned to Nerdage for an interview with Jarrett Williams!
- Matt Price
Abrams ComicArts announces signings, panels at Comic-Con International
Abrams has a nice line-up of panels and signings promoting its current and upcoming offerings. I for one am very much looking forward to the “Shazam” book this fall!
From Abrams:
Abrams ComicArts Signings
Booth #1216
Thursday, July 22
1–2:00 pm Ethen Beavers N.E.R.D.S. Book Two: M Is for Mama’s Boy
2–3:00 pm Chip Kidd Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal
Friday, July 23
11–12:00 noon Brian and Wendy Froud The Heart of Faerie Oracle
3–4:00 pm Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death
Saturday, July 24
10–11:00 am Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death
2:30–3:30 pm Lela Lee – Angry Little Girls, Angry Little Girls in Love
4–5:00 pm Brian and Wendy Froud The Heart of Faerie Oracle
Sunday, July 25
2–3:00 pm Jason Shiga – Meanwhile
Abrams ComicArts Panels
Friday, July 23
1:30–2:30 pm Spotlight on Jerry Robinson Room 9
One of the true legends of comics, Comic-Con special guest Jerry Robinson is a writer, artist, historian, curator, and creator rights activist. Jerry discusses his seventy years in comics––from his contributions to the Batman mythos to the creation of the Joker and development of Robin, Alfred, Penguin, Scarecrow, and Two-Face. Jerry is interviewed by Michael Uslan, the executive producer of the Batman movies, comics historian, and author of upcoming Archie Marries… (Abrams ComicArts). In their discussion, Robinson and Uslan will take the audience from behind the scenes of the Golden Age of comics to the filming of The Dark Knight and Jerry’s latest book projects including the upcoming Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics (Abrams ComicArts).
4–5:00 pm Krazy Kat’s 100th Anniversary Celebration! Room 4
An exclusive multimedia show of unpublished strips, drawings, and paintings presented by Craig Yoe, author of Krazy + Ignatz in Tiger Tea (IDW) and the upcoming Krazy Kat & the Art of George Herriman: A Celebration (Abrams ComicArts). The panel will explore a century of Krazy-ness, with Greg Goldstein (IDW), R. C. Harvey (The Art of the Funnies), Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts), Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics), and Peter Maresca, (editor/publisher, Sunday Press Books). Plus a thrilling bonus: a never-before-seen home movie of Krazy’s creator, George Herriman.
Saturday, July 24
11:30–12:30 pm Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal Room 9
Author/designer Chip Kidd (Mythology, Bat-Manga, Rough Justice), author/producer Michael Uslan (Archie Marries…), and Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts) celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Big Red Cheese in this panel and slideshow discussion celebrating Kidd’s upcoming fall release from Abrams ComicArts, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal.
Go buy Scott Pilgrim vol. 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour
More than 150 participating stores have “Scott Pilgrim” vol. 6 on sale today. It’s a fantastic finish to what has been an amazing story. It’s filled with humor, emotion and growth. I think “Scott Pilgrim” will go down as one of the finest comic-book series of the ’00s, and I recommend it highly. One of the hardest things to do in comics – perhaps because of their typically ongoing nature – is to completely nail an ending, and I think Bryan O’Malley does that here.
- Matt Price
Harvey Awards nominations 2009
The 2009 Harvey Award Nominees:
BEST WRITER
____ Jason Aaron, “SCALPED”, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ Geoff Johns, “BLACKEST NIGHT”, DC Comics
____ Robert Kirkman, “THE WALKING DEAD”, Image Comics
____ Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
____ Mark Waid, “IRREDEEMABLE”, BOOM! Studios
BEST ARTIST
____ Robert Crumb, “BOOK OF GENESIS”, W.W. Norton
____ Guy Davis, “BPRD: BLACK GODDESS”, Dark Horse Comics
____ Brian Fies, “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”,
Abrams ComicArts
____ David Petersen, “MOUSE GUARD : WINTER 1152″, Archaia Studios Press
____ Frank Quitely, “BATMAN AND ROBIN”, DC Comics
____ JH Williams III, “DETECTIVE COMICS”, DC Comics
BEST CARTOONIST
____ Darwyn Cooke, “RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE HUNTER”, IDW
____ Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
____ Roger Langridge, “THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK”, BOOM! Studios
____ David Mazzucchelli, “ASTERIOS POLYP”, Pantheon
____ Seth, “GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, Drawn and Quarterly
BEST LETTERER
____ Chris Eliopoulos, “FRANKLIN RICHARDS: SON OF A GENIUS” stories, Marvel Comics
____ Brian Fies, “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”,
Abrams ComicArts
____ Thomas Mauer, “RAPTURE”, Dark Horse Comics
____ David Mazzucchelli, “ASTERIOS POLYP”, Pantheon
____ Richard Starkings, “ELEPHANTMEN”, Image Comics
BEST INKER
____ Oclair Albert, “BLACKEST NIGHT”, DC Comics
____ Steve Ellis, “HIGH MOON”, Zuda/DC Comics
____ Klaus Janson, “AMAZING SPIDER-MAN”, Marvel Comics
____ Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
____ Mark Morales, “THOR”, Marvel Comics
BEST COLORIST
____ Brian Fies, “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”,
Abrams ComicArts
____ Steve Hamaker, “BONE: CROWN OF HORNS”, Graphix
____ Laura Martin, “THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES”, IDW
____ David Mazzucchelli, “ASTERIOS POLYP”, Pantheon
____ Dave Stewart, “BPRD: BLACK GODDESS”, Dark Horse Comics
BEST COVER ARTIST
____ Jenny Frison, “THE DREAMER”, IDW
____ Mike Mignola, “HELLBOY: THE BRIDE OF HELL”, Dark Horse Comics
____ Michael Avon Oeming, “MICE TEMPLAR: DESTINY, PART I”, Image Comics
____ Frank Quitely, “BATMAN AND ROBIN”, DC Comics
____ JH Williams III, “DETECTIVE COMICS”, DC Comics
BEST NEW TALENT
____ Kevin Cannon, “FAR ARDEN”, Top Shelf
____ Rob Guillory, “CHEW”, Image Comics
____ Reinhard Kleist,”JOHNNY CASH: I SEE A DARKNESS”, Abrams ComicArts
____ Nathan Schreiber, “ACT-I-VATE: POWER OUT”, http://act-i-vate.com
____ Matthew Weldon, “NEW BRIGHTON ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY”, Image Comics
BEST NEW SERIES
____ “BATMAN AND ROBIN”, DC Comics
____ “CHEW”, Image Comics
____ “IRREDEEMABLE”, BOOM! Studios
____ “SWEET TOOTH”, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ “UNWRITTEN”, Vertigo/DC Comics
BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
____ “BEASTS OF BURDEN”, Dark Horse Comics
____ “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID”, Amulet Books
____ “GANGES”, Fantagraphics Books
____ “INVINCIBLE”, Image Comics
____ “SCALPED”, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ “THE WALKING DEAD”, Image Comics
BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS
____ “AMULET: THE STONEKEEPER’S CURSE”, Graphix
____ “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
____ “GROWN-UPS ARE DUMB”, Hyperion Books
____ “THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK”, BOOM! Studios
____ “NEW BRIGHTON ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY”, Image Comics
____ “3-2-3 DETECTIVE AGENCY”, Amulet Books
BEST ANTHOLOGY
____ “ACT-I-VATE”, http://act-i-vate.com
____ “FLIGHT # 6″, Villard
____ “POPGUN # 3″, Image Comics
____ “STRANGE TALES”, Marvel Comics
____ “WEDNESDAY COMICS”, DC Comics
BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC ALBUM
____ “ASTERIOS POLYP”, by David Mazucchelli, Pantheon
____ “BOOK OF GENESIS”, by Robert Crumb, W.W. Norton
____ “GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, by Seth, Drawn and Quarterly
____ “FOOTNOTES IN GAZA”, by Joe Sacco, Metropolitan Books
____ “STITCHES”, by David Small, W.W. Norton
____ “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”, by Brian Fies,
Abrams ComicArts
BEST PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED GRAPHIC ALBUM
____ “A.D.: NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE DELUGE”, by Josh Neufeld, Pantheon
____ “COLLECTED ESSEX COUNTY”, by Jeff Lemire, Top Shelf
____ “GRAVESLINGER”, by Shannon Denton, Jeff Mariotte, John Cboins & Nina Sorat, IDW
____ “MASTERPIECE COMICS”, by R. Sikoryak, Drawn and Quarterly
____ “MICE TEMPLAR VOLUME 1″, by Bryan J.L. Glass and Michael Avon Oeming,
Image Comics
BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL
____ “CUL-DE-SAC”, by Richard Thompson, Universal Press Syndicate
____ “FOXTROT”, by Bill Amend, Universal Press Syndicate
____ “GET FUZZY”, by Darby Conley, United Feature Syndicate
____ “MUTTS”, by Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
____ “PEARLS BEFORE SWINE”, by Stephan Pastis, United Feature Syndicate
BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
____ “THE BEST OF SIMON AND KIRBY”, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby; edited by Steve
Saffel, Titan Books
____ “HUMBUG”, conceived and edited by Harvey Kurtzman and created by Harvey
Kurtzman, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth; edited by Gary
Groth, Fantagraphics Books
____ “RIP KIRBY”, by Alex Raymond; edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW
____ “THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES”, by Dave Stevens;
edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ “THE TOON TREASURY OF CLASSIC CHILDREN’S COMICS”, edited by Art Spiegelman
and Francoise Mouly, Abrams ComicsArt
BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL
____ “THE ART OF OSAMU TEZUKA: GOD OF MANGA”, by Helen McCarthy,
Abrams ComicArts
____ “MANGA KAMISHIBAI”, by Eric P. Nash, Abrams ComicArts
____ “THE PHOTOGRAPHER”, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier LeFevre and Frederic
Lemercier, First Second
____ “PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA”, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki, Viz Media
____ “20TH CENTURY BOYS”, by Naoki Urasawa, Viz Media
BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK
____ “HARK! A VAGRANT”, by Kate Beaton, http://harkavagrant.com
____ “HIGH MOON”, by Steve Ellis, David Gallaher and Scott O. Brown,
http://www.zudacomics.com/high moon ,
____ “POWER OUT”, by Nathan Schreiber, http://act-i-vate.com ,
____ “PVP”, by Scott Kurtz, http://www.pvponline.com
____ “SIN TITULO”, by Cameron Stewart, http://www.sintitulocomic.com
SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS
____ Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, “BEASTS OF BURDEN”, Dark Horse Books
____ Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
____ Roger Landridge, “THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK”, BOOM! Studios
____ Bryan Lee O’Malley, “SCOTT PILGRIM #5″, Oni Press
____ Andrew Pepoy, “THE ADVENTURES OF SIMONE & AJAX: A CHRISTMAS CAPER”,
ComicMix
SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
____ “ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN: THE MAD GENIUS OF COMICS”, by Denis Kitchen and
Paul Buhle, Abrams ComicArts
____ “THE BRINKLEY GIRLS: THE BEST OF NELL BRINKLEY’S CARTOONS FROM 1913-1940″,
edited by Trina Robbins, Fantagraphics Books
____ “GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, by Seth, Drawn and Quarterly
____ “THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES”, by Dave Stevens,
edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ “SECRET IDENTITY: THE FETISH ART OF SUPERMAN’S CO-CREATOR JOE SHUSTER”,
edited by Craig Yoe, Abrams ComicArts
____ “WEDNESDAY COMICS”, edited by Mark Chiarello, DC Comics
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
____ “ALTER-EGO”, edited by Roy Thomas, TwoMorrows
____ “ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN: THE MAD GENIUS OF COMICS”, by Denis Kitchen
and Paul Buhle, Abrams ComicArts
____ “THE BEST OF SIMON AND KIRBY”, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby;
edited by Steve Saffel, Titan Books
____ “THE COMICS JOURNAL”, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean and Kristy Valenti,
Fantagraphics Books
____ “UNDERGROUND CLASSICS”, by James Danky and Denis Kitchen, Abrams ComicArts
BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
____ “ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS”, by Eddie Campbell, Top Shelf
____ “ASTERIOS POLYP”, by David Mazucchelli, Pantheon
____ “GANGES #3″, by Kevin Huizenga, Fantagraphics Books
____ “GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, by Seth, Drawn and Quarterly
____ “JONAH HEX #50″, written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray,
artwork by Darwyn Cooke, DC Comics
____ “RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE HUNTER”, by Darwyn Cooke, IDW
____ “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”, by Brian Fies,
Abrams ComicArts
Larry Young, Jimmy Palmiotti join Kickstart Comics
Larry Young, comic-book publisher and writer of “Astronauts in Trouble,” poses in a prop spacesuit from the movie “Mission to Mars.”
Larry Young and Jimmy Palmiotti will join Kickstart Comics, a new graphic novel publisher with an eye on multimedia expansion, Variety reports. The line is headed by Jason Netter, producer of “Wanted,” and it will be under the umbrella of his Kickstart Entertainment.
The line will produce at least 24 graphic novels per year, and will be distributed through major retailers including Walmart.
Young is the publisher of AiT-Planet Lar, and wrote the graphic novel “Astronauts in Trouble.” Palmiotti is known as the co-creator of “Painkiller Jane,” and for heading the Marvel Knights imprint with Joe Quesada.
Young tells Comic Book Resources:
“At AiT, we’ve worked with Jason at Kickstart for many years. Loved shooting the NOBODY pilot for ABC Family up in Vancouver with him, and we have very similar sensibilities when it comes to graphic novels, so I’m really looking forward to helping the Kickstart team bring a mainstream entertainment experience to comics.”
Both of these guys are some of the friendliest in comics, and they have a good sensibility for graphic novels that reach outside of the traditional comics audiences.
- Matt Price
Sam Rockwell joins ‘Cowboys and Aliens’
Sam Rockwell arrives at the premiere of "Iron Man 2" at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
It looks like it’s Sam Rockwell Day here at Nerdage. Comicvine reports that Rockwell has joined the cast of “Cowboys and Aliens,” based on the Platinum graphic novel, to be directed by Jon Favreau.
According to Comicvine, Rockwell will play a bar owner named Doc, who will join up with the anti-alien forces including Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig. That’s quite a star-studded cast; I’ll be interested to see some photos or footage from the film once it gets rolling.
- Matt Price
“Losers” available in 12-issue collection as film released
As “The Losers” comes to motion picture screens this week, DC Comics has collected the first two trade paperbacks of the series into a larger book containing the first 12 comic-book issues.
Book One of “The Losers” introduces a U.S. special forces unit that discovers a CIA secret. The CIA tries to have them killed, but it takes more than one try to eliminate the Losers.
“The Losers” is written by Andy Diggle with art by Jock.
“The Losers” comic book series on which the film is based was itself loosely based on a Jack Kirby comic about World War II soldiers, though little more than the title is in common.
Director Sylvain White was a fan of the comic-book series and wanted to capture the same style in the film.
“When I read the comics, the first thing that really struck me was the sense of humor Diggle and Jock were able to inject into a very action-driven story,” White said in production notes for the film. “It was such good source material, and I wanted to stay true to it by reflecting that tone in the movie.”
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Clay in "The Losers."
The comic-book creators have been positive about the film adaptation of their work, as well.
“Really, really enjoyed ‘The Losers,’” series writer Diggle wrote on Twitter. “Just surreal seeing these characters and situations we dreamt up on the big screen. These guys ARE the Losers.”
Diggle praised the performances of Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Idris Elba, saying they embodied the characters he created.
“And as you’ve probably heard, Chris Evans totally steals the show as Jensen,” Diggle wrote. “Biggest surprise was Jason Patric as Max. Funny, charismatic and incredibly unlikable … while also being incredibly likable.”
Diggle wrote that the film covers roughly the first six issues of his “Losers” series, plus the flashback origin story from issues 16-19.
A special $1 edition of the first issue of “The Losers” can be found at comic-book stores, or the first issue can be downloaded as a PDF from DC Comics at http://dccomics.com/media/excerpts/13870_1.pdf.
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Kick-Ass nears 100,000 copies in print
Marvel has announced the hardcover collection of “Kick-Ass,” the Icon series upon which this weekend’s film is based, is nearing 100,000 copies in print.
Nearly 40% of the copies sold to date sold through direct market retailers, Marvel announced.
“My first inclination is to try to be clever and say that I have 100,000 relatives to thank…. but I won’t,” said Kick-Ass artist and co-creator John Romita Jr. in the news release. “I’m extremely proud of this all, and very excited about working on the next two chapters!”
Mark Millar, co-creator and writer, noted that figure doesn’t even include international sales.
“That’s roughly ten times what Johnny and I were expecting and we would like to thank the comic-book retailers in America for their support of this book,” Millar said in the release. “This was not cheap, and they took a gamble on us — and I promise that Johnny will buy each and every one of them a drink at every convention he ever hits from now on.”
- Matt Price
