July 9, 2012 Johanna Dark Horse 2 comments

Usagi Yojimbo: Traitors of the Earth

Although I enjoy each new Usagi Yojimbo volume just for the stories, I was particularly attracted to this latest collection due to the introduction. It’s by comic grand master Walter Simonson. As I would expect from such an insightful contributor, Simonson sums up beautifully the appeal of Sakai’s series: I have read this comic book, since its beginning, for all the right reasons. Regularly, like clockwork, it brings me the unalloyed joy of reading a well-told, well-drawn story, about characters […]

Comic Book History of Comics press release

July 8, 2012 Johanna Art One comment

More Books Should Have Comic Press Releases

Normally, I don’t consider “we didn’t print enough copies to satisfy demand” (usually phrased as “our first print sold out!”) newsworthy enough to cover, but I applaud the way IDW announced that in relation to the Comic Book History of Comics (published in single issue form as Comic Book Comics) by Fred van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey. The two created the following one-page comic. It’s not the first comic press release, but I hope more creators follow their lead in […]

Avengers Second Screen screenshot for Captain America

July 7, 2012 Johanna Comic Book Films One comment

Avengers Home Video Trailer, Second Screen App Available Now

Here’s a trailer for Marvel’s The Avengers on Blu-ray, due out September 25. Although “The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App” is a special feature for the Blu-ray, Marvel has released it now. You can’t follow along with the movie yet, obviously, but they’re rolling out “exclusive content” every other week during July and August, weekly in September until the Blu-ray comes out. Right now, you can access S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel files for Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff, with other […]

July 4, 2012 Johanna Comic News Leave a comment

USA Today’s Aurora Rose = Buffy as Babysitter

USA Today has begun serializing a weekly online comic called Aurora Rose. The first issue is 17 pages, of which three are alternate covers, including a photo variant. I’m not sure why a digital comic needs those. But the models and their agency gets credit! Story is by Jason Stevens and William Wilson with art by Taylor Bills. Although Wilson says they don’t want to “make books about women who look like strippers”, this is one of the covers: The […]

July 2, 2012 Johanna Manga News 4 comments

Tokyopop Signals Willingness to Discuss OEL Rights Return, But Contradictory Offer Lacks Details

Per the official Tokyopop Manga Twitter account, the question was asked at last weekend’s Anime Expo convention whether Tokyopop would consider returning rights to the creators for the OEL manga (original graphic novels) they are holding onto. The two-part answer was … the creators need to come to him to get the rights back. He can’t track them all down. And since they all have contracts, there will need to be some negotiations. But it’s not like Stu won’t give […]

July 1, 2012 Johanna Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Saw this apocalyptic comedy romance this afternoon, and we enjoyed it, although I wanted to argue with it at times. Steve Carell does an excellent job playing much the same character he portrayed in Crazy, Stupid, Love (but he does it so well), while Keira Knightley (Bend It Like Beckham, those pirate movies) is his wacky, confused, yet adorable neighbor. What sets this apart from any other getting-to-know-each-other odd-couple film is the premise — the world will end in 21 […]

June 26, 2012 Johanna Manga News 5 comments

Do Real Publishers Use Kickstarter?

The always-smart Christopher Butcher has posted some thoughts about professional publishers using Kickstarter. He’s referring to Digital Manga, which is putting out works by Osamu Tezuka using the crowdfunding site. They started by bringing Swallowing the Earth back into print, then listed a new license, Barbara (not a book previously published by them). Their newest effort is Unico, a color children’s series. Chris has collected a set of his thoughts on the topic, of which these are only a few. […]

June 20, 2012 Johanna Comic News 7 comments

Comic Fans Need Patience: Thoughts on Lengthy Kickstarters & Incomplete First Issues

I’ve been pondering the question of how long comic readers should be asked to wait when it comes to independent work. What started this off was Lea Hernandez’s Kickstarter for The Garlicks, which ends tomorrow. Since it’s only about a third of the way towards the goal of $40,000, it looks like it isn’t going to make it. (Update: Be sure to read Lea’s comments below, where she explains more about her effort. And Alex, who’s also run a long-term […]

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