Tokyopop Manga Magazine Out

We were promised in February that Tokyopop’s next issue of their Manga magazine was on the way. I got mine this week. Here’s a rundown. The cover unsurprisingly features Princess Ai. (I’m never surprised to see Tokyopop push this property since their CEO, Stu Levy, co-created and co-writes it under a pseudonym.) The first feature defines generic: it’s horoscopes decorated with manga property clip art, mostly from OEL titles. It starts out “Is your New Year calling for a change […]

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Postal Rates Rise; Markets Change to Cope

US Postal Service rates went up over the weekend — a first-class stamp went from 39 to 41 cents, and in the change that most affects me, a one-pound media mail package went from $1.59 to $2.13. (For the unfamiliar, media mail means reduced rates for sending books, CDs, videotapes, DVDs, and the like. Online sellers and traders use this class a lot.) TwoMorrows, the magazine publisher, like many companies, had to reset its website rates as a result. As […]

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2007 Isotope Award Contenders

Last month, the winner of the Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics was announced as Max Riffner’s Quick Step. One of my readers asked me to talk about what other books I would have nominated. So here they are… the best of the batch, as I saw them, in no particular order. The Executioner Is a Lonely Man Written by Sam Costello, art by Brian A. LaFramboise This caught my eye not only because of its skill but because of […]

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Superhero Comic Reader Stats

When I worked at DC Comics in the mid-90s, I had access to reader studies they’d commissioned. Before I get to the data, here are the caveats. 1. These figures date from 1995. A lot has changed since then. They’d done previous studies in 1990 and 1992, and based on survey ads they’ve run in their comics since then, I believe they’ve done at least two since then. I would love to know what they said, but I doubt I’ll […]

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TwoMorrows’ New Sources of Income

TwoMorrows, publisher of comic fan magazines like Back Issue and Rough Stuff, has announced that it will be selling online editions of its magazines. Half the price (which makes them $3), with the added bonus of illustrations in color instead of the black-and-white used in print. They’re also pushing subscriptions instead of store sales: As a special bonus, subscribers to our printed magazines will get FREE access to the digital versions of the issues in their subscription, which will generally […]

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Vogelein: Old Ghosts

The story of the clockwork faerie continues with the second book in Jane Irwin’s series of gorgeous, painted, modern-day fairytales. As with any good series, you don’t need to have read the first volume (in which Vögelein copes with the death of her caretaker) to enjoy this one. Vögelein now carries her own key and as Vogelein: Old Ghosts opens, she’s acting as something of a daredevil, riding wind gusts in the city. It’s a beautiful sequence, introducing the character […]

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First in Space

An impressive comic by a talented new creator is just what you need when you’re feeling grumpy. All the better that it’s a true story about the contributions of animals to increasing human knowledge. It’s nice to be reminded of the bigger picture and how different types of beings can work together (whether or not by choice) to achieve great things. James Vining, former Coast Guard mate, has chosen the subject of the space race for his first solo comic. […]

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FOL Awards Now Open to Public

Heidi has the news: In an effort to reach out to and recognize an even greater sphere of women creators, Friends of Lulu has decided for the first time ever to open the nominations and voting of our Lulu Awards to non-members! In order to accommodate our new voters, the deadline for nominations has been extended through May 7th, 2007! In case you’re new to Friends of Lulu, our annual Lulu Awards bring honor and recognition to the most inspiring […]

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