December 1, 2013 Johanna Comic News One comment

Fantagraphics Kickstarter a Huge Success — But Should Be Seen as an Argument Against OGNs?

As of this evening’s writing, the Fantagraphics Kickstarter to fund their spring books has three days left to go, and they’ve raised over $200,000 on an original goal of $150,000. That’s quite a success. I haven’t talked about it before because I’m of mixed minds on it. I don’t like the idea of publishers turning to crowdfunding, because in general, funding is one of the few functions comic publishers provide that makes them worth choosing instead of self-publishing. On the […]

December 1, 2013 Johanna Warner Archive 5 comments

Batman: The Brave and the Bold Season One on Blu-ray

Warner Archive has just released its first Blu-ray animation package, and it’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold Season One. I’m thrilled, since this gave me a wonderful excuse to rewatch my favorite superhero cartoon. The set has all 26 episodes of the first season on two Blu-ray discs. KC’s already reviewed the show, when it was released on DVD in two sets — here’s Season One, Part One and Season One, Part Two — so I’m just going to […]

November 30, 2013 Johanna Graphix / Scholastic Leave a comment

The Dumbest Idea Ever!

Due out at the end of February is Jimmy Gownley’s new book. Unlike his popular series Amelia Rules!, The Dumbest Idea Ever! is non-fiction, the story of how he became a teenage comic artist. Young Jimmy is a comic fan who gets good grades and plays on a championship basketball team, but his stellar school career gets derailed by chicken pox followed by pneumonia. After a month sick at home, he has trouble keeping up and feels aimless when he […]

November 30, 2013 Johanna Mysteries Leave a comment

Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly

Agatha Christie fans will be pleased to know that HarperCollins has made available as an ebook this oddity, an early draft story that later became the novel Dead Man’s Folly. According to the publisher, the genesis of Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly was an attempt by Christie to raise money for stained glass windows in her local church. She was going to write a story called “The Greenshore Folly” and give the rights to a fund for that purpose. […]

November 28, 2013 Johanna Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Drinking Buddies

In Drinking Buddies, out on DVD December 3, Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) work together at a small Chicago brewery. They’re great friends, teasing each other during the work day and going out drinking with other employees after work. They wind up vacationing together at a lake cabin with their significant others; Luke’s been with Jill (Anna Kendrick) for several years, while Kate is dating Chris (Ron Livingston). The question in the viewer’s mind is “why aren’t Kate […]

November 27, 2013 Johanna Yen Press Manga Reviews 3 comments

Yotsuba&! Volume 12

A new volume of Yotsuba&! is always a thing to be celebrated! Enjoy its simple pleasures, just as little girl Yotsuba does in all of her daily life. Yotsuba&! volume 12 was particularly interesting to me because at one point, the teen neighbor girls take her trick-or-treating. I’ve been working a project with a Japanese team, and over Halloween, I asked if they celebrate it. They said no, not really, but the kids thought it was fun to wear costumes. […]

Clark Gregg and J. August Richards in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode 1

November 27, 2013 Johanna TV News 2 comments

J. August Richards Returns to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I’m not sure Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has really found its groove yet, but I’m willing to keep giving it a chance. I like Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Wolverine Melinda May (mysterious bad ass with secret past) is terrific, and the British Fitz-Simmons scientists amuse me. (I could really do without more of Agent Beef and the hacker chick, although I suspect that they’re supposed to be the interesting characters to us.) When I think of several […]

November 26, 2013 Johanna Art Leave a comment

Batman: Hoarder

Kerry Callen, talented author of Halo and Sprocket, has posted a two-page comic on his website called “Batman: Hoarder“, capturing the superhero’s fascination with keeping trophies and weapons. Funny stuff! Particularly given Callen’s facility with beautifully aping recognizable historical styles.

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