I thought I was done writing about SPX, but then they posted the panel I moderated, “Navigating the Contemporary Publishing Landscape”. Here’s the full 48-some minutes via Vimeo. The lineup, from left to right, is Meredith Gran, Julia Wertz, Domitille Collardey, Roger Langridge, Mike Dawson, and me. I was honored to be part (temporarily) of such a distinguished group of creators. Here’s the description from the program: In the early 2000s, corporate publishers nearly raced to acquire graphic novels. Now, […]

Now that I’ve given my first thoughts on this year’s Small Press Expo, just passed, a few more notes that I wanted to capture. I’ll be working on reviews of items I got there for a while, of course… In fact, since this is what I brought home: I plan to be working on it for a LONG while. Word is that spending was up, and the event overall raised $12,500 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a very […]

We won’t know for sure until the year-end sales figures are out, but I’ve been wondering how Life With Archie has been doing. I’ve noticed a number of format changes in the magazine that concern me. Issue #12, shown here, changed its cover noticeably between solicitation (on the left) and what actually shipped (on the right). The feature promos are missing, with no celebrity pictures on the cover to draw teen attention. They came close to being false advertising at […]

From my perspective, the 2011 Small Press Expo has been very busy and crowded. Yesterday, I arrived at 8 AM to help with registering exhibitors. Picture below taken by volunteer coordinator Michael Thomas, who was doing an amazing job. That’s Daniel (who helped me figure out we met at an SPX in 1998, we think it was), Catie Donnelly (who makes webcomics; this was her first SPX!), and me in my antique staff shirt, from when they were trying to […]

Wow, lots to do to get ready for one of the most exciting conventions of the year. The Small Press Expo for 2011 is taking place next Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. (According to their reservation email, their restaurant and lounge will be closed for renovation, which should make socializing interesting.) In addition to preparing for the many exciting panels, of which I’m hosting one, I’ve also been making a substantial […]

Given recent topics of discussion, KC and I started talking over some of our “favorite” bad superhero stories when it comes to the treatment of female characters. These are the stories where, months or years later, you find yourself wondering “who thought THAT was a good idea?” or “did the writer just get dumped by his girlfriend?” This is just an approximate ranking, and I welcome discussion/debate in the comments. Especially if we’ve forgotten some real doozies. 12. The blase’ […]

I’ve been anticipating the next graphic novel from Faith Erin Hicks (The War at Ellsmere, Superhero Girl) since she announced Friends With Boys two years ago. Now, I can start reading it! Friends With Boys will be published by First Second in February 2012, but until then, it’s being serialized online. The Friends With Boys website has launched with the first 32 pages of the book, and it will be updated with a new page every weekday. The comic updates […]

The programming for SPX 2011 has been posted, and I will be moderating this panel: Navigating the Contemporary Publishing Landscape, Sunday, 1:30 pm In the early 2000s, corporate publishers nearly raced to acquire graphic novels. Now, as the mainstream publishing industry faces severe contractions and as online media assumes many traditional functions of publishing, cartoonists face a rapidly changing publishing landscape, one that includes a resurgent small press. Johanna Draper Carlson will speak with Mike Dawson, Meredith Gran, Roger Langridge, […]