Monthly Archives: April 2011

Artists Help Japan: Toronto report

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Yesterday at the Revival Bar in Toronto, ON – a group of concerned individuals within the city’s comic book, animation and illustration communities organized the Artists Help Japan fundraiser at which a number of creators gathered to produce sketches and run an original art auction to benefit the victims of the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis which rocked Japan last month. All proceeds from the event went to the Canadian Red Cross.

From left to right (seated, against the wall): Jim Zubkavich, Alvin Lee, Ramon Perez and Stuart Immonen

It was really a who’s who of the Toronto comics scene, with people like Stuart Immonen, Dale Keown, Francis Manapul, Agnes Garbowska, Marcus To, Michael Cho, Ramon Perez, Jim Zubkavich, Alvin Lee, Kagan McLeod, Bobby Chiu, Steve Murray aka Chip Zdarksky, Kei Acedara, Kalman Andrasofszky, Ken Lashley, Scott Hepburn, Marcio Takara and dozens of other artists there donating their time and energy to creating some incredible pieces for the fans that came down to the event.

The view from the stage looking towards the door, Erik Ko enters on the left

I made it back from my trip down to Pittsburgh around 5pm and since Deb was already down at the event I thought I might head down and check it out. I arrived around 6:30 to find Revival packed with people and spent the next five hours having a great time enjoying chatting with folks in this relaxed and cool atmosphere. Quite a few familiar faces haunted the lines: Jason and Danny Truong, Jamie Lee, Joshua Cheung, Edward Gulane, Ryan Aleong, Myles McInnis, Andrew Uys, Matthew Allen and many, many more.

Francis Manapul at work


I’ll publish the official fundraising report when the final numbers are tallied, but based on what I saw, a TON of money was raised at this event, especially at the charity auction where pieces ranged from the $50 mark to some stunning paintings and prints getting $500-1000 each, including a beautiful one of a kind canvas print of the digital illustration by Kei Acedara that served as the poster and print for the event itself.

Marcus To and Agnes Garbowska

I had my eye on an amazing Michael Cho painting of the backstreets of Toronto (I hear the paintings are going to be collected and published by D+Q), but was outbid by the one and only Francis Manapul. So I went and spent the money I would have spent on that piece getting a stunning painting from Francis himself of Power Girl! (Alas, I don’t have a pic to show at the time this report is being written)

Matt Allen got this Joker painting from Francis Manapul

Congratulations to organizers Bobby Chiu, Jim Zubkavich, Alvin Lee, Chris Butcher, Erik Ko and all of the additional folks that helped make this a stunning success!

Deb got this interesting piece of Mecha-Garfield-zilla fighting Chip Zdarsky as a Robo-Cat warrior

Winners of the 2011 Stumptown Comic Art Awards Announced

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Congratulations to all of the winners! Lots of Canadians won awards, including MICHAEL DEFORGE, EMILY CARROLL and BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY:

For Official Release – Sunday, April 17

The Stumptown Comic Art Awards 2011 were presented last night in Portland, OR. In a packed-room ceremony following a bustling first day at the Stumptown Comics Fest, host Bobby “Fatboy” Robertspresented the awards to the winners. Nominees in each category were chosen by a panel of judges consisting of comics industry professionals, journalists, and retailers, and then voted on by the comics-reading public. This year’s categories and winners are:

Best Artist
Emily Carroll, His Face All Red

Best Writer
Aaron Renier, The Unsinkable Walker Bean

Best Cartoonist
Bryan Lee O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour

Best Letterer
Johnny Ryan, Prison Pit #2

Best Colorist
Emily Carroll, His Face All Red

Best Publication Design
Michael DeForge, Spotting Deer

Best Anthology
Studygroup 12 #4, edited by Zack Soto

Best Small Press
“I Want You #2″ by Lisa Hanawalt

Best New Talent
Michael DeForge

Reader’s Choice
Pang, the Wandering Shaolin Monk by Ben Costa

Director’s Choice
The Sixth Gun, by Brian Hurtt and Cullen Bunn, published by Oni Press

The awards themselves were sculpted by Leslie Levings of Beastlies.com, with shelves provided by Lavrans Mathiesen, a Portland woodworker.

Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees of the inaugural Stumptown Comic Arts Awards!

Winners of the prix Bédéis Causa 2011 announced

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Prix Réal-Fillion
Auteur québécois, scénariste ou dessinateur, s’étant le plus illustré avec son premier album professional
• ÉMILIE VILLENEUVE ET JULIE ROCHELEAU, avec La fille invisible (Glénat Québec)

Grand prix de la ville de Québec
Meilleur album de langue française publié au Québec
• APNÉE, de Zviane (Pow Pow)

Prix Albéric-Bourgeois
Meilleur album de langue française publié à l’étranger par un auteur québécois, dessinateur ou scénariste.
• LUCK, de Michel Falardeau (Dargaud)

Prix Maurice-Petitdidier
Coup de coeur du jury pour album francophone publié à l’étranger
• ASTERIOS POLYP, de David Mazzucchelli (Casterman)

Lors de la cérémonie, l’organisation du FBDFQ remettra également le Prix Albert-Chartier, décerné en hommage à un individu ou organisme ayant marqué le monde de la bande dessinée francophone au Québec:
• Jacques Samson

Rappelons que la présente édition des Bédéis Causa porte sur les albums publiés entre février 2010 et février 2011. Le jury des Bédéis Causa 2011 est constitué de Pierre Blais, reporter-coordonnateur à Vox et chroniqueur BD à CKRL, Mathieu Forget, animateur de Bédéphilement Vôtre à CIBL, Marco Duchesne, de la Librairie Pantoute, David Kelly, de Renaud-Bray et Patrick Marleau, président du FBDFQ et spécialiste BD de la boutique l’Imaginaire.

Stan Lee Award winners announced

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Filling the void left by the absence of Wizard’s Fan Awards, the “Stan Lee Award” winners were announced last weekend in London, England at the Kapow! Comic Con. There was not a single Canadian in the winning circle, here’s the press release:

Official Press Release

KAPOW!, which was took place this weekend and was a phenomenal success, hosted the first annual Stan Lee Awards and the list of winners is now in! These international annual awards were nominated by a variety of expert judges from the world of comics, movies, TV, gaming, publishing and entertainment and voted for by the public.

Stan Lee is honoured to have these awards in his name explaining “this is a fantastic platform to reward the cream of comic book talent for all their creativity and imagination throughout 2010, which has brought us so much entertainment and inspiration” and explains that having an awards show in his honour has made him feel like “a living Oscar”.

Best Writer
Grant Morrison

Best Artist
John Romita Jr.

Best Series
The Walking Dead

Best Superhero or SciFi Movie
Inception

Best Trade
Blackest Night

Best Limited Series or Story Arc
“Batman and Robin Must Die” from Batman and Robin

Best Comic Hero
Batman

Best Newcomer
Jonathan Ross

Best Publisher
Marvel

Best TV Show
The Walking Dead

Best Game or Toy
Red Dead Redemption

Man or Woman of the Year
Stan Lee

Comics, comics, comics…

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April is sure shaping up to be a busy month! I moved recently, and in-between loads of books and other things I had to take over to my new place, there have been a lot of things going on in the comics world, event-wise. Last weekend saw the coming and going of another Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event, as well as the brand new Kapow! Con in London, England. Last night it was the Beguiling‘s triple book launch at Clinton’s of Klondike/Reunion/Mid-Life here in Toronto, and Girard and Ollmann continue on to Vancouver today for a book launch at Lucky’s Comics.

Going on right now in Quebec is the FBDFQ – Le Festival de la bande dessinée francophone de Québec and tonight will see the announcement of the winners of the prix Bédéis Causa 2011. Here’s a reminder of who is nominated:

Prix Réal-Fillion
For the Quebec creator who’s first album debuted in 2011:
• SYLVAIN LEMAY, avec Pour en finir avec novembre (Les 400 coups)
• ÉMILIE VILLENEUVE ET JULIE ROCHELEAU, avec La fille invisible (Glénat Québec)
• SAMUEL LEBLANC, avec Parfum de lilas (Les 400 coups)

Grand prix de la ville de Québec
Best original album from Quebec creators published by a Quebec-based publisher
• CHRONIQUES SAUVAGES, de François Lapierre (Glénat Québec)
• LA FILLE INVISIBLE, d’Émilie Villeneuve et Julie Rocheleau (Glénat Québec)
• APNÉE, de Zviane (Pow Pow)

Prix Albéric-Bourgeois
Best album by a Quebecois creator published by a publisher outside Quebec
• LUCK, de Michel Falardeau (Dargaud)
• COMÉDIE SENTIMENTALE PORNOGRAPHIQUE, de Jimmy Beaulieu (Delcourt)
• ASPIC, T. 1 – LA NAINE AUX ECTOPLASMES, de Jacques Lamontagne et Thierry Gloris (Soleil)

Prix Maurice-Petitdidier
Jury’s choice for an album created and published outside Quebec (in French)
• LA MORT DE STALINE, de Fabien Nury et Thierry Robin (Dargaud)
• ASTERIOS POLYP, de David Mazzucchelli (Casterman)
• PARKER T. 1 – LE CHASSEUR, de Richard Stark et Darwyn Cooke (Dargaud)

There is also the Prix Albert-Chartier, which goes to a person or organization that has made a mark on the world of Quebecois comics.

Good luck! We’ll have the winners for you later this weekend.

You know, if things had not been so hectic on the home front with the move, and Robert wasn’t busy with our next item I would so be there. It is my plan to be at the FBDFQ in 2012.

Tomorrow sees Guelph, ON’s Kazoo Comics and Zine Expo, and Robert Haines, Jenn Haines (whose store the Dragon is a sponsor), Tyrone Biljan will be there helping out, as will my gal Friday, Deb. Don’t forget the Kazoo CaZE also has Festival Awards! Meanwhile I’m hitting the wandering roads down to the home of the zombie – Munroeville, PA – for the annual Pittsburgh Comicon where I’ll end up meeting fellow JSA-er Chris Owen. Not much that’s Canadian about the Pitt Con, I’m just going to see some comics legends — George Perez, Jim Starlin and the inimitable Joe Sinnott and get some books signed. I should be back in time Sunday to pop by the Artists Help Japan fundraiser taking place from noon on at the Revival Bar on College Street West in Toronto. There are dozens of creators taking part for this worthwhile cause.

Finally, on Monday we should have the last remaining books in to send to our two JSA juries for 2011. Once they receive the books they’ll have until late May to read everything and make their informed selections for the lively debate that is sure to follow as we select our winners for 2011 (to be announced in Calgary on June 18, 2011).

Thankfully next weekend is Easter and, as far as I know, there are no comics events planned! Then it’s back on the road again for me down to the Boston Comic Con with the boys from Comic Book Daily. There’s also a mini-Montreal Comic-Con on May 1, and the following weekend – May 7 – it’s Free Comic Book Day  (we’ll be announcing a full slate of cross-country events before the 7th for you to plan accordingly), as well as the Beguiling‘s giant FCBD special event: TCAF 2011. I think by that time I’ll be ready to take a vacation!

Happenings: Kazoo Zine & Comic Expo guest list, Guelph ON – April 16, 2011

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This Saturday, April 16th in Guelph, ON, Kazoo! fest 2011 and The Dragon are proud to present the Kazoo! Zine and Comic Expo.

The Zine and Comic Expo will happen on Saturday April 16th from 11 am to 4 pm at Norfolk United Church in Guelph, located at 75 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON, N1H 4J4. All a short walk to The Dragon in Old Quebec Street Mall.

The guest list has really shaped up, there are a lot of great comic and zine exhibitors who have been producing top notch work. Guests include:

Studiocomix
Telegram Ma’am
Cave Minds
Satan Macnuggit Popular Arts
Nick Maandag
Ethan Rilly
Jason Kieffer
Lethal Panther
CFRU
Sarah Managle
Culture Slut/ Fight Boredom Distro
Brown Paper Bag Comics
Buildings & Bodies
RCRG Team Dreams
WORN Fashion Journal
Toony Quarterly
Freelance Blues
gangLion
Boredom Pays / Jason Bradshaw
Everybody Moon Jump
Clara Bee Lavery
Le Cyc
Christa Treadwell
Twelveohtwo Zine Distro
Liz Worth
Sparrow Press
Caitlin Black
Patrick Kyle
Ginette Lapalme
Chris Kuzma
Amya
Rooster Tree
Big Sexy Comics
RAILS
Bits of String
Look Mum! Distro
Broken Pencil
Sasha Foster
Scissorkix
Splashworks
Brian Evinou
Julie Faulkner / Promises Promises
Ian Turner
Felix Kalmenson
Adriana Blake
Andrea Manica

There will be lots of zines, comics, and sweet treats, and new this year: FESTIVAL AWARDS! Also be sure to also go to the Afterparty, which runs from 4pm to 7pm at the Bookshelf Ebar (41 Quebec St, Guelph, ON) where Jennifer Haines will present a talk on Women In Comics, with the awards ceremony to follow. Award categories are: best zine, best comic and best new work. Winners will receive a trophy and cash prize. Awards show will be followed by live music! There are two shows happening that night as part of Kazoo! Fest:

Playing at Jimmy Jazz - 52 Macdonell St (a 19+ show, FREE admission)

* Catl (11:00pm)
* The Skeletones Four (12:00pm)
* Anagram (1:00pm)

Playing at Synnema – 106 – 121 Wyndham St. North (an ALL AGES show, $8 admission at the door):

* Rival Boys (8:00pm)
* Tasseomancy (9:00pm)
* Wax Mannequin (10:00pm)
* Lowlands (11:00pm)

All this is happening in the downtown core of Guelph, ON, within a 2 minute walk.


View Larger Map

For more information visit www.kazookazoo.ca or send an email.

Happenings: Girard, Ollman, Worton book launch – April 14, Toronto

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A trio of creators unite this evening in Toronto to promote their recent releases from Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly.

Pascal Girard has come to promote the English translation of his BD Conventum, originally published by Delcourt. D+Q continue their program of translating Quebec based BD (and it’s their second Girard translation after releasing Bigfoot late last year), this one is now Reunion in English. It’s semi-autobiographical, as Pascal attends his 10th high school reunion.

Joe Ollman brings us Mid-Life, a less-than-semi-autobiographical story about being 40 and finding yourself in momentarily forgetting what you have, instead chasing the rush of not being 40, married with kids. I enjoyed this book quite bit.

Finally, ex-Saskatchewanian and former Beguiling employee Zach Worton launches his debut graphic novel, The Klondike.

All this can be found at Clinton’s Tavern – 693 Bloor West, Toronto, ON (at Bloor + Clinton) starting at 7:00 PM. Tonight.

Marvel Comics featuring work by Canadian Creators – July 2011

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FEAR ITSELF #4 (of 7)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Penciled by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON
The blockbuster Marvel event of the year continues!
AFTERMATH: the heroes reel in the wake of last issue’s shocking finale. Thor finds himself unwelcome in two homes. Steve Rogers makes the decision of a lifetime. And Iron Man prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice. Every move the heroes make just serves to make The Serpent stronger– and the feat he accomplishes in this issue will rock the Avengers.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

FEAR ITSELF: FF #1
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Penciled by TOM GRUMMETT
Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
XXXX XXXXX…one of the most beloved heroes in the Marvel Universe…is now the willing avatar of the Serpent’s malice– an engine of discord cutting an unstoppable path of destruction through the heart of New York City! How did the Serpent’s Hammer seduce him so easily? Can the rest of the XXXXXXX stop him before he levels the entire city in the name of his dark master?
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

Continue reading →

DC Comics featuring work by Canadian Creators – July 2011

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Ah, July. More Flashpoint, the debut of the Retroactive books and a lot more.

FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #2
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE
FLASH QUESTION: Can our heroes find the cure to their afflictions, or will the monster hunter Miranda Shrieve kill them before they get the chance?
On sale JULY 13 • 2 of 3, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #2
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by OLIVER NOME
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
FLASH QUESTION: Where is he? And when? Can Hot Pursuit save him in time for Bart to help Barry?
On sale JULY 27 • 2 of 3, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Continue reading →

Coming Soon: Even the Giants by Jesse Jacobs debuts in May

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Okay… back to your regularly scheduled programming!

Squidface and the Meddler take a look at Jesse Jacobs upcoming book Even the Giants, and interview Jesse. The book will be published by Adhouse Books and arrives in stores in May. It also premieres at TCAF on May 7/8.

Jacobs won the Gene Day Award for self-publishing in 2009.

Even The Giants by Jesse Jacobs. Published by AdHouse Books

Jesse Jacobs bursts onto the comic scene with his first published work EVEN THE GIANTS. The work beautifully captures the isolation of the Great White North while also giving the artist a sequential canvas to explore and experiment. This book will be printed in three Pantone spot colors. Jesse’s work has been nominated for the Doug Wright award and has won the Gene Day award.

details:
2C cover
80 3C pages
8.5″ x 5.5″ SC
$9.95 US funds
ISBN 978-1-9352331-0-7
Shipping in May 2011
Diamond order #: MAR11 0822

arrow Download a PDF preview

Fans = Appreciated

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I’m exhausted and sore, but getting up to begin another day of work at my regular job… the 2011 Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event wrapped up yesterday and the guests have all headed home.

What I liked about the show, and what I’m also hearing from the dealers, guests and fans that were there also liked about it, was that this was a comic book show in the traditional model. It had an easygoing, friendly vibe to it — maybe this was because free admission made everything much more relaxed. The lines moved fast and everyone had easy access to the people they wanted to see and meet. Attendance — approx. 3200 on Saturday, with a little less than that on Sunday. There was a constant flow of people into the event all weekend and I saw a lot of new faces as well as the diehards that come to every show.

I’m not sure that the addition of the scifi actors and anime voice actors was really necessary but I liked it nonetheless. I usually don’t care about meeting actors at the shows as it’s not my area of interest, but as a big fan of Spin City, meeting Alan Ruck surpassed my expectations – he’s one heck of a classy, friendly and funny guy in person. I’ve met Richard Hatch before, but he is a warm and friendly guy, a true professional and he was great with everyone who went over to meet him. Dominic Keating was charming and funny (despite feeling sick on Sunday) and all three guys kicked ass at their talks. Jamie and Trina were great with everyone and ran a great q&a session as well.

There was some cosplaying, but not as much as you might normally find at these types of events. I think this show succeeded in bringing in the crowd I used to see at the old shows I used to do at the Ex — the hardcore comics buying crowd. They were digging through long boxes, looking for hardcovers and trades, or lining up to get sketches or get their books signed by the guests. There were some amazing books in the room – so if you were looking for quality Gold and Silver Age books you were in luck. No admission meant more money to spend on that missing back issue or on a sketch.

So I rest easier knowing that the Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event succeeded in living up to it’s name by keeping the focus on comics.

Thanks to everyone that came out – fans, guests, exhibitors and staff!

I got a couple of things for myself — Michael Cho’s original art for the January 2011 issue of Quill & Quire, Patrick Gleason’s cover art for Green Lantern Corps #26, an import art book (in Italian) looking at the career of Jodi Bernet, Fables Vol.15, Torpedo Vol.3, a Black Cat commission from Marc Wolfe… and some strawberry Pocky. Signed: the DVD inserts from Spin City Seasons 1-3 (Alan Ruck), Uncanny X-Men Masterworks Vol.7 (Bob McLeod), Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (Chris Sprouse).

Happenings: April 9-10 Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Floorplan & Table Assignments

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Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Floorplan & Table Assignments

Exhibitor Name Exhibitor Area – Table Number
1,000,000 Comix 107-112, 207-212
AK Cards 104
All New Comics 105-106
Almar Enterprises 803-806
Anything and Everything 801
Big B Comics 403-406
Bill Chung To be assigned
Comic Book Addiction 301-306
Comic Trader 703-706
Comics and More 102-103
Conspiracy Comics 17-21 (wall)
Cyber City Comix 712
Dragon Lady Comics 101
Dragonstar 607-608
Ghoti illustrations 402
Girasol Collectibles 401
Graham Crackers 311-312
Haganland 509-512, 609-612
Harley Yee Rare Comics 307-310
Heavy Mental Designs 601-602, 501-502
Heroes Laval 507-508
Heroes World 503
J&A Collectibles To be assigned
Kewl Collectibles 22-25 (wall)
Komico 13-16 (wall)
Labyrinth Books 807-812
Major Comics 504-506, 604-606
MRP Collectibles 411
mtc toys 707-711
Myths Legends & Heroes 201-206
Nerd Girl Pin ups 802
Pendragon 407-410
Peter Jelic 412
Polaris 603
Sick on Sin 701-702
ARTIST ALLEY/GUESTS Artist Alley Table #
Adorjany, Attila 18
Agro, Sam 26
Andrasofszky, Kalman 21
Belanger, Andy 23
Camus, Dale 32
Chartier, Francois 31
Cho, Michael 16
Comic Book Daily 59
Cutler, David J. 64
Daffern, Ian 53
Darrow, Geof 17
De Landro, Valentine 13
Del Col, Anthony 22
Del Mundo, Mike 68
Edmiston, Jason 65
Fawkes, Ray 14
FishFinger 57
Freelance Blues 53
Gagnon, Mike 44
Garbowska, Agnes 11
Gleason, Patrick 67
Hanmer, Clayton 24
Hatch, Richard 2
Hepburn, Scott 15
Ienco, Raff 27
Keating, Dominic 3
Keown, Dale 70
Kirk, Leonard 8
Kirshenblatt, Shane 43
Kozjan, Drazen 34
Law, Marvin 39
Lehner, Kurt 42
Leibelman, Leo 29
Leone, Mike 53
Lozano, J.E. 33
Malavia, Nimit 19
Manapul, Francis 11
Marchi, Jaime 4
Mariano, Marvin 49
Max The Mutt 58
McClorey, Phil 40
McCreery, Conor 22
McLeod, Bob 6
Milne, Alex 48
Moniz, Antonio 56
Nishimura, Trina 5
Pace, Richard 69
Pham, Khoi 60
Postic, Nick 28
Powie Studios 51
Rivers, Benjamin 25
Rookwood, Hugh 50
Rorschach Press 45
Ross, Dave 9
Ruck, Alan 1
Sinj Overload 52
Smith, K.T. 63
Spent Pencils Studios 37-38
Sprouse, Chris 7
Svitart 30
Takara, Marcio 35
Templeton, Ty 62
Tindall, Kelly 36
To, Marcus 10
Turner, Ken 41
Van Sciver, Ethan 66
Vedder, Eric 20
Wolfe, Marc 46-47
Yaoza Graphics 55
Yeung, Craig 61
Zajac, Richard 12

Happenings: FBDFQ – Le 24e Festival de la BD francophone de Québec du 13 au 17 avril 2011

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Le 24e Festival de la BD francophone de Québec (FBDFQ) du 13 au 17 avril 2011

HÉBERGEMENT
Manoir Victoria

LIEUX D’ACTIVITÉ
Salon international du livre de Québec
Musée de la Civilisation
Le Cercle
Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy
Galerie du Faubourg
Bibliothèque College-des-Jésuites
Galerie Morgan Bridge
Engramme
Studio P
Café l’Entracte
Observatoire de la Capitale

Auteurs
Hicham ABSA
ADAM
Fred ANTOINE
Claude AUCHU
Alain AUDERSET
Simon BANVILLE
Jimmy BEAULIEU
Alain BERGERON
Jean-François BERGERON (DJIEF)
Jean-Sébastien BéRUBé
Paul BORDELEAU
Luc BOSSé
Pierre BOUCHARD
Miguel BOUCHARD
Olivier CARPENTIER
Dominique CARRIER
CATMALOU
André-Philippe CôTé
CROMWELL
Jérôme D’AVIAU
Tristan DEMERS
Francis DESHARNAIS
Jeik DION
Bertrand DUGAS
Jean-Paul EID
Michel FALARDEAU
Danny GAGNON
Philippe GIRARD (PHLPPGRRD)
Benoît GODBOUT
Patrick HENAFF
Olivier JOBIN
Benoit JOLY
Fred JOURDAIN
Thierry LABROSSE
Michel LACOMBE
Jacques LAMONTAGNE
Gautier LANGEVIN
François LAPIERRE
Mathieu LAUFFRAY
Stéphanie LEDUC
Sylvain LEMAY
Jérémie MACKENZIE
MIKAëL
Yohann MORIN
Jean-Louis MOURIER
Julien PARé-SOREL
Éric PéLADEAU
Richard PETIT
Pierre POIRIER
Julien POITRAS
PROUCHE
Christian QUESNEL
Michel RABAGLIATI
Pascal RABATé
Louis RéMILLARD
Julie ROCHELEAU
Yves RODIER
Tristan ROULOT
Paul ROUX
Jacques SAMSON
Johanna SCHIPPER
Daniel SHELTON
Joel SIM
Alexandre SIMARD
SIRIS
SOULMAN
André ST-GEORGES
Leif TANDE
Marc TESSIER
Marcial TOLEDANO
François WALTHéRY
Stanley WANY
ZVIANE

 

Toronto’s Silver Snail sold, to relocate by 2/2012

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Toronto's Silver Snail has been a fixture on Queen Street West since it was established back in the mid-1970's.

Toronto.com has the scoop on some old news that hasn’t been publicized elsewhere: that owner and founder Ron Van Leeuwen of the Silver Snail (established in 1976) was retiring and has sold the Silver Snail business to the Snail’s manager George Zotti and his business partner Mark Gingras.

Van Leeuwen owned and has also subsequently sold the building that currently houses the Silver Snail to another party and the article points out that the new owners George & Mark need to relocate the physical business to another part of the city – away from it’s Queen Street West home of 33 years. The article gives a deadline date of February 2012 for that move.

A Look at the Canadians nominated for Eisner Awards in 2011

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The Eisner nominations were announced yesterday and I thought I’d take a nationalistic look at how Canadians were represented beyond just highlighting their names in red.

The big individual Canadian creator nominee of this year is IAN BOOTHBY, who is nominated three times this year:
- Best Humor Publication for The Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book (with US creators John Delaney and Dan Davis)
- Best Graphic Album – Reprint for The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover Crisis with fellow Canuck artist James Lloyd and American Steve Steeres Jr.
- Best Writer for Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book, Futurama, the Simpsons and Simpsons Super Spectacular.

Comment: Boothby, a perennial JSA Writer nominee, was not nominated for a Shuster in 2011, which clearly must have inspired the Eisner judges to imbalance this injustice by nominating him for three awards this year.

The big Canadian publisher of the year is, without any surprise, DRAWN & QUARTERLY, their books featuring the work of American cartoonists Dan Clowes, James Sturm, Lynda Barry and Chris Ware have garnered a whopping 11 nominations this year:
- Lynda Barry’s Picture This: The Near-sighted Boy is nominated for Best Reality-Based Work, Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
- Dan Clowes’ Wilson is nominated for Best Graphic Album – New, Best Writer/Artist and Best Letterering
- James Sturm’s Market Day is nominated for Best Graphic Album – New, Best Writer/Artist
- John Stanley’s Thirteen (Going on Eighteen) is nominated for Best Archival Collection/Project – Comic Books
- Brecht Evans’ The Wrong Place is nominated for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
- Chris Ware’s The Acme Novelty Library 20: Lint is nominated for Best Lettering and Best Coloring

Comment: Montreal’s D+Q consistently proves year after year that they are producing some of the best looking books on the market, and they have been extremely successful in attracting some of the most innovative and best-known American cartoonists to work with them. Kudos to publisher Chris Oliveros, publicity and marketing director Peggy Burns and the rest of the team. Sadly, no D+Q books by Canadian creators were nominated for Eisner Awards this year. D+Q has been a perennial nominee for the Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Publisher and won it in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Two Generals by SCOTT CHANTLER, published by McClelland and Stewart garnered two nominations:
- Best Reality-Based Work
- Best Publication Design by JENNIFER LUM

Comment: Chantler’s Two Generals helped earn him two Joe Shuster Nominations this year, and Jennifer Lum’s innovative design stands out on the rack, recreating the look and feel of a journal.

DARWYN COOKE received two nominations this year for Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit:
- Best Writer/Artist
- Best Lettering

Comment: Canada’s comics ambassador to the world, Darwyn Cooke, rightly deserves the nomination for Best Writer/Artist for his second adaptation of a Parker novel. He’s also nominated for a Joe Shuster Award this year for Outstanding Cartoonist.

Other Canadian nominees:

- BLAKE BELL‘s Fire and Water: Bill Everett and the Birth of Marvel Comics, published by Fantagraphics, is nominated for Best Comics-Related Book
- Tumor, illustrated by Canadian NOEL TUAZON, published by Archaia, is nominated for Best Graphic Album – Reprint
- Superboy, written by JEFF LEMIRE, published by DC, is nominated for Best New Series
- “Little Red Riding Hood” from Image Comics’ Fractured Fairy Tales, illustrated by CAMILLA D’ERRICO is nominated for Best Short Story
- The Anthology Project from Canadian publisher LUCIDITY PRESS is appropriately nominated for Best Anthology
- ASHLEY SPIRES‘ Binky to the Rescue, published by Canadian publisher KIDS CAN PRESS is nominated for Best Publication for Kids

Comments: Bell’s book is fantastic and fascinating, Lemire is also nominated for three Joe Shuster Awards this year – one of which is Outstanding Writer for his work on Superboy and the Atom, Camilla D’Errico is nominated this year for Outstanding Artist for a list of works that includes the Fractured Fairy Tale story, and Binky to the Rescue is also nominated for the Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award, and the book’s publisher is also nominated for Outstanding Publisher..

Finally, KARL KERSHL has been nominated for his webcomic The Abominable Charles Christopher, as has CANAAN GRAAL for his webcomic Max Overacts.

Comments: Karl won last year’s Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Webcomics Creator and is nominated again this year. Last year’s Eisner winner was Sin Titulo by Cameron Stewart, which won the JSA for Outstanding Webcomics Creator in 2009. We might see a trend continuing. Our webcomics coordinator, Andrew Walsh told us to keep an eye out for Max Overacts, and sure enough, it’s been nominated for an Eisner!

Congratulations to all of the Canadians nominated for Eisners! Ceremony takes place in July during the San Diego Comic Con International. I’ll see you there!

Promo 9e art dévoile les gagnants des 12e prix Bédélys

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MONTRÉAL, le 7 avril  – Promo 9e art, organisme voué à la promotion de la bande dessinée au Québec, a annoncé aujourd’hui en compagnie de ses porte-parole Sylvie Lussier et Pierre Poirier, les gagnants des 12e Prix Bédélys, à l’occasion de leur gala annuel qui se tenait à l’auditorium de la Grande Bibliothèque.

Bédélys d’or – Décerné par la Corporation des Bibliothécaires professionnels du Québec (as selected by Quebec Librarians):
Lydie, de Zidrou et Jordi Lafebre, Éditions Dargaud

Bédélys Jeunesse – Décerné par la Ville de Montréal (selection of the City of Montreal):
Mon Pépé est un fantôme t.3, de Nicolas Barral et TaDuc, Éditions Dupuis

Bédélys Québec – Décerné par Les Amis de la Bibliothèque de Montréal, accompagné d’une bourse de 1,000$ (Awarded by the Friends of the Montreal Library, comes with a $1000 bursary):
Le Suicide de la Déesse, de Simon Labelle, Éditions Les 400 coups

Bédélys Fanzine - Décerné par Promo 9e art, accompagné d’une bourse de 500$ (Awarded by Promo 9e art, comes with a $500 bursary):
Les Pièces Détachées (t.1 et t.2), de Vincent Giard et David Turgeon, Éditions Colosse
Promo 9e art tient à remercier la SODEC ainsi que l’ensemble de ses partenaires, qui ont contribué à faire de cette 12e remise des Prix Bédélys un succès.

2011 Eisner Award Nominees Announced

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Congratulations to all of the nominees! Canadian nominees in RED

Best Short Story

“Bart on the Fourth of July,” by Peter Kuper, in Bart Simpson #54 (Bongo)
“Batman, in Trick for the Scarecrow,” by Billy Tucci, in DCU Halloween Special 2010 (DC)
“Cinderella,” by Nick Spencer and Rodin Esquejo, in Fractured Fables (Silverline Books/Image)
“Hamburgers for One,” by Frank Stockton, in Popgun vol. 4 (Image)
“Little Red Riding Hood,” by Bryan Talbot and Camilla d’Errico, in Fractured Fables (Silverline Books/Image)
“Post Mortem,” by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, in I Am an Avenger #2 (Marvel)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

The Cape, by Joe Hill, Jason Ciaramella, and Zack Howard (IDW)
Fables #100, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and others (Vertigo/DC)
Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)
Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom #1: “Sparrow,” by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
Unknown Soldier #21: “A Gun in Africa,” by Joshua Dysart and Rick Veitch (Vertigo/DC)

Best Continuing Series

Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)
Echo, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
Locke & Key, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
Morning Glories, by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma (Shadowline/Image)
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
Scalped, by Jason Aaron and R. M. Guéra (Vertigo/DC)

Best Limited Series

Baltimore: The Plague Ships, by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, and Ben Stenbeck (Dark Horse)
Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love, by Chris Roberson and Shawn McManus (Vertigo/DC)
Daytripper, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Vertigo/DC)
Joe the Barbarian, by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy (Vertigo/DC)
Stumptown, by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth (Oni)

Best New Series

American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque (Vertigo/DC)
iZombie, by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred (Vertigo/DC)
Marineman, by Ian Churchill (Image)
Morning Glories, by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma (Shadowline/Image)
Superboy, by Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo (DC)

Best Publication for Kids

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean, by Sara Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle (Center for Cartoon Studies/Disney/Hyperion)
Amelia Rules!: True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know), by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
Binky to the Rescue, by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press)
Scratch9, by Rob M. Worley and Jason T. Kruse (Ape Entertainment)
Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)
The Unsinkable Walker Bean, by Aaron Renier (First Second)

Best Publication for Teens

Ghostopolis, by Doug TenNapel (Scholastic Graphix)
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword, by Barry Deutsch (Amulet Books)
Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia)
Smile, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic Graphix)
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty, by G. Neri and Randy DuBurke (Lee & Low)

Best Humor Publication

Afrodisiac, by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca (Adhouse)
Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book, by Ian Boothby, John Delaney, and Dan Davis (Bongo)
Drinking at the Movies, by Julia Wertz (Three Rivers Press/Crown)
I Thought You Would Be Funnier, by Shannon Wheeler (BOOM!)
Literature: Unsuccessfully Competing Against TV Since 1953, by Dave Kellett (Small Fish Studios)
Prime Baby, by Gene Luen Yang (First Second)

Best Anthology

The Anthology Project, edited by Joy Ang and Nick Thornborrow (Lucidity Press)
Korea as Viewed by 12 Creators, edited by Nicolas Finet (Fanfare•Ponent Mon)
Liquid City, vol. 2, edited by Sonny Liew and Lim Cheng Tju (Image)
Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, edited by Paul Morrissey and David Petersen (Archaia)
Trickster: Native American Tales, edited by Matt Dembicki (Fulcrum Books)

Best Digital Comic

Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl, www.abominable.cc
The Bean, by Travis Hanson, www.beanleafpress.com
Lackadaisy, by Tracy Butler, www.lackadaisycats.com
Max Overacts, by Caanan Grall, http://occasionalcomics.com
Zahra’s Paradise, by Amir and Khalil, www.zahrasparadise.com

Best Reality-Based Work

It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)
Picture This: The Nearsighted Monkey Book, by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)
Special Exits: A Graphic Memoir, by Joyce Farmer (Fantagraphics)
Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Terrible Axe Man of New Orleans, by Rick Geary (NBM)
Two Generals, by Scott Chantler (McClelland & Stewart)
You’ll Never Know Book 2: Collateral Damage, by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album—New

Elmer, by Gerry Alanguilan (SLG)
Finding Frank and His Friend: Previously Unpublished Work by Clarence ‘Otis’ Dooley, by Melvin Goodge (Curio & Co.)
Market Day, by James Sturm (Drawn & Quarterly)
Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia)
Wilson, by Daniel Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

The Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)
Motel Art Improvement Service, by Jason Little (Dark Horse)
The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover Crisis, by Ian Boothby, James Lloyd, and Steve Steere Jr. (Abrams Comicarts)
Tumor, by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon (Archaia)
Wednesday Comics, edited by Mark Chiarello (DC)

Best Adaptation from Another Work

Dante’s Divine Comedy, adapted by Seymour Chwast (Bloomsbury)
The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, adapted by Joann Sfar (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)
7 Billion Needles, vols. 1 and 2, adapted from Hal Clement’s Needle by Nobuaki Tadano (Vertical)
Silverfin: A James Bond Adventure, adapted by Charlie Higson and Kev Walker (Disney/Hyperion Books)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips

Archie: The Complete Daily Newspaper Strips, 1946–1948, by Bob Montana, edited by Greg Goldstein (IDW)
40: A Doonesbury Retrospective, by G. B. Trudeau (Andrews McMeel)
George Heriman’s Krazy Kat: A Celebration of Sundays, edited by Patrick McDonnell and Peter Maresca (Sunday Press Books)
Polly and Her Pals Complete Sunday Comics, vol. 1, by Cliff Sterrett, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW)
Roy Crane’s Captain Easy, vol. 1, edited by Rick Norwood (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books

Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
The Horror! The Horror! Comic Books the Government Didn’t Want You to Read!, edited by Jim Trombetta (Abrams Comicart)
The Incal Classic Collection, by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Moebius (Humanoids)
Lynd Ward: Six Novels in Woodcuts, edited by Art Spiegelman (The Library of America)
Thirteen “Going on Eighteen,” by John Stanley (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)
The Killer: Modus Vivendi, by Matz and Luc Jacamon (Archaia)
King of the Flies, Book One: Hallorave, by Mezzo and Pirus (Fantagraphics)
The Littlest Pirate King, by David B. and Pierre Mac Orlan (Fantagraphics)
Salvatore, by Nicolas De Crécy (NBM)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

Ayako, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Bunny Drop, by Yumi Unita (Yen Press)
A Drunken Dream and Other Stories, by Moto Hagio (Fantagraphics)
House of Five Leaves, by Natsume Ono (VIZ Media)
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

Best Writer

Ian Boothby, Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book; Futurama Comics #47–50; Simpsons Comics #162, 168; Simpsons Super Spectacular #11–12 (Bongo)
Joe Hill, Lock & Key (IDW)
John Layman, Chew (Image)
Jim McCann, Return of the Dapper Men (Archaia)
Nick Spencer, Morning Glories, Shuddertown, Forgetless, Existence 3.0 (Image)

Best Writer/Artist

Dan Clowes, Wilson (Drawn & Quarterly)
Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit (IDW)
Joe Kubert, Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965 (DC)
Terry Moore, Echo (Abstract Studio)
James Sturm, Market Day (Drawn & Quarterly)
Naoki Urasawa, Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys (VIZ Media)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Richard Corben, Hellboy (Dark Horse)
Stephen DeStefano, Lucky in Love Book One: A Poor Man’s Story (Fantagraphics)
Rob Guillory, Chew (Image)
Gabriel Rodriguez, Locke & Key (IDW)
Skottie Young, The Marvelous Land of Oz (Marvel)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Lynda Barry, Picture This: The Nearsighted Monkey Book (Drawn & Quarterly)
Brecht Evens, The Wrong Place (Drawn & Quarterly)
Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse)
Janet Lee, Return of the Dapper Men (Archaia)
Eric Liberge, On the Odd Hours (NBM)
Carol Tyler, You’ll Never Know Book 2: Collateral Damage (Fantagraphics)

Best Cover Artist

Rodin Esquejo, Morning Glories (Shadowline/Image)
Dave Johnson, Abe Sapien: The Abyssal Plain (Dark Horse); Unknown Soldier (Vertigo/DC); Punisher/Max, Deadpool (Marvel)
Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Baltimore: The Plague Ships (Dark Horse)
David Petersen, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard (Archaia)
Yuko Shimizu, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC)

Best Coloring

Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!: True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know), Amelia Rules!: The Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular, by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
Metaphrog (Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers), Louis: Night Salad (Metaphrog)
Dave Stewart, Hellboy, BPRD, Baltimore, Let Me In (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Neil Young’s Greendale, Daytripper, Joe the Barbarian (Vertigo/DC)
Hilary Sycamore, City of Spies, Resistance, Booth, Brain Camp, Solomon’s Thieves (First Second)
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library 20: Lint (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Lettering

Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit (IDW)
Dan Clowes, Wilson (Drawn & Quarterly)
Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!: True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know), Amelia Rules!: The Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular, by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
Todd Klein, Fables, The Unwritten, Joe the Barbarian, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom (WildStorm/DC); SHIELD (Marvel); Driver for the Dead (Radical)
Doug TenNapel, Ghostopolis (Scholastic Graphix)
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library 20: Lint (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)
The Beat, produced by Heidi MacDonald (www.comicsbeat.com)
ComicBookResources, produced by Jonah Weiland (www.comicbookresources.com)
ComicsAlliance, produced by Laura Hudson (www.comicsalliance.com)
The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon (www.comicsreporter.com)
USA Today Comics Section, by Life Section Entertainment Editor Dennis Moore; Comics Section Lead, John Geddes (www.usatoday.com/life/comics/index)

Best Comics-Related Book

Doonesbury and the Art of G. B. Trudeau, by Brian Walker (Yale University Press)
Fire and Water: Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics, by Blake Bell (Fantagraphics)
The Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen, by Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein, edited by John Lind and Diana Schutz (Dark Horse Books)
Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal, by Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear (Abrams Comicarts)
75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, by Paul Levitz (TASCHEN)

Best Publication Design

Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer Artist’s Edition, designed by Randall Dahlk (IDW)
Polly and Her Pals Complete Sunday Comics, vol. 1, designed by Lorraine Turner and Dean Mullaney (IDW)
Return of the Dapper Men, designed by Todd Klein (Archaia)
75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, designed by Josh Baker (TASCHEN)
Two Generals, designed by Jennifer Lum (McClelland & Stewart)

Hall of Fame
Judges’ Choices:
Ernie Bushmiller
Jack Jackson
Martin Nodell
Lynd Ward