Category Archives: Publishers

Renegade Arts Entertainment, Ltd.

Posted on by

Last year on my way down to San Diego, I had the pleasure of sitting beside Renegade Arts Entertainment founder- director, writer and editor Alexander Finbow.

Finbow, along with actor Doug Bradley (Hellraiser) and writer Alan Grant formed the publishing house in the UK, but the central offices are based out of Canmore, Alberta. http://www.renegadeartsentertainment.com

It was great to reconnect with Alex at the Calgary Expo and see and learn about the projects that they have been working on, and there are two that I think are of particular interest and connect with the Canadian creative scene that we are here to promote:

SHAME – CONCEPTION (1 of 3)

I can’t believe that this series is not getting more attention. Written by Canadian comics legend LOVERN KINDZIERSKI, with fully painted art by the astounding JOHN BOLTON and lettered by the esteemed TODD KLEIN.

Shame is a Dark Fantasy Graphic Novel, Suggested for Mature Readers. The concept: When the purest woman on earth allows herself one selfish wish, it is enough to conceive the most evil woman the world has ever known. Shame: Conception introduces a world much like our own but with magick and those with the power to control it, for good and for evil. In the first tale we meet Shame, discover the unique circumstances of her creation, and follow her choices as her true nature is revealed. It is difficult to say more without giving away too much of the story, and it is a story of such scope and imagination that it would be seriously remiss of us to lessen your reading experience with spoiler now.

To reserve a copy at your comic book store give them this code:

MAY111180

The first issue just went to print and debuted at the Calgary Expo but the series was made available for order through Diamond MAY111180 / ISBN: 978-1-908217-01-1 and should be shipping to stores who ordered it on JULY 13 (next week).

THE LOXLEYS AND THE WAR OF 1812

Writer Alan Grant’s epic adventure of a family caught up in the conflict that helped to define both Canada and America into the nations they would become. With the Bicentenary fast approaching Renegade will be publishing several books to commemorate the events.

The 102 page comic book is being drawn by Claude St. Aubin, coloured by Lovern Kindzerski and lettered by Todd Klein. It will also feature a 30 page summary of the war written by well known Canadian historical author Mark Zuehlke.

The Loxley’s left America after the American war of Independence to start a new life in the Niagara region of Canada, only to find themselves thrust back into the madness of war when America declared war against Britain and the Canadas.

Adapted from Aurora Loxley’s journals, the story follows the family members involvement in the war and their challenges at home dealing with the chaos and violence of the time.

The project will be accompanied by a number of interesting initiatives that we were given some information on but will share with you here on the blog when more information is made available. The project will premiere later this year and the preview art we were shown in Calgary looks fantastic!

7th Annual Joe Shuster Awards: Winners Announced

Posted on by

The 7th Annual Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards were presented at a public ceremony held on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo with hosts Ajay Fry and Teddy Wilson. Joe Shuster Awards 2011 ceremony audio

THE RESULTS: Continue reading →

7th Annual Joe Shuster Awards – June 18, 2011 at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo

Posted on by

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2011 JOE SHUSTER AWARDS

LES NOMINÉS AUX PRIX JOE SHUSTER 2011

Ceremony Date: Saturday, June 18th, 2011 – 6-8 PM

Ceremony Hosts: AJAY FRY and TEDDY WILSON

Ceremony Location: Boyce Theatre, BMO Round-Up Centre, Calgary, AB

Host Event: THE CALGARY COMIC AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (June 17-19, 2011)

How Do I/How Did I Get Nominated for a Joe Shuster Award?

Whazamo! Ontario Graphic Novel Month at Open Book Toronto

Posted on by

We’re only 19 days into May and there’s already a TON of stuff up for you to check out over at Whazamo! Below are links to everything posted so far:

WHAZAMO! Ontario Graphic Novel Month is an online comics celebration brought to you by Open Book: Toronto. Whazamo! showcases the talented graphic novelists and illustrators published by Ontario publishers and draws attention to the new stars of the Canadian graphic novel and comic book scene.

In its third year, Whazamo! features profiles of comic creators and graphic novel news, as well as a series of original literary comics by some of Canada’s finest cartoonists. The series is curated by Vepo Studios, who have also produced a short documentary for Open Book that follows the creative process of the cartoonists.

The Graphic-Novelist-in-Residence is Ian Daffern. You can find his page here.

Whazamo! is presented in collaboration with the Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario and it welcomes you.

PROFILES
TIN CAN FOREST
PHILIPPE GIRARD
FIONA SMYTH
AARON LEIGHTON
GEORGE A. WALKER
JO RIOUX
MARTA CHUDOLINSKA
STEFAN BERG
CRAIG BATTLE and LIAM O’DONNELL
VICKI NERINO
ANNIE KOYAMA
IAN DAFFERN

COMICS in which the artists profiled below select a literary work and pay homage to it in comics form:
MARIAN CHURCHLAND
KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY
AGNES GARBOWSKA
CHARLENE CHUA
MICHAEL CHO

VIDEOS
COMICS: THE ART OF STORY

MAKING THE WEBCOMICS “A SOFTER WORLD”

DARK ADAPTATION & LORENZ PETER

VON ALLEN ON THE LIFE OF A GRAPHIC NOVELIST

BORIS AND THE OPEN HOUSE BY KATHARINE MILLER

BOOKENDS 5: LITERARY COMICS

THE NEXT DAY interview series
The Next Day is an innovative comics novella from POP SANDBOX, the folks that brought us 2010′s acclaimed KENK: A GRAPHIC PORTRAIT:
Part One: Alex Jansen
Part Two: Paul Peterson
Part Three: Jason Gilmore
On the release party and display at the NFB Mediatheque

Udon brings Shining World Art Book to North America

Posted on by

UDON ENTERTAINMENT PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHINING WORLD ART BOOK COMES TO NORTH AMERICA

Release of Tony’s Artworks from Shining World Collection

 Toronto, ON – May 11, 2011 –  For the first time in North America, fans can enjoy the stunning designs and illustrations from Sega’s Shining World games in an all-new art book from UDON Entertainment. Featuring the work of renowned Japanese pinup artist Tony Taka, TONY’S ARTWORKS FROM SHINING WORLD collects the official artworks from Shining Tears and Shining Wind in over 200 full-color pages.

Although only Shining Tears has seen an English release, the Shining World games are familiar to North American fans through a variety of media. They are the modern continuation of Sega’s cult classic Shining Force video games, one of their leading role-playing game series. They were also the inspiration behind the 13-episode anime series, Shining Tears X Wind, and the focus of a popular anime statue line by Kotobukiya, which based their designs on Tony Taka’s artwork as featured in this collection.

Even fans who are unfamiliar with the video game will be drawn in by the lush color and gorgeous illustrations of this art book. The book features over 200 pages of gorgeous full page pinups and character designs, plus multiple interviews with the master himself, Tony Taka.

TONY’S ARTWORKS FROM SHINING WORLD is in stores now!

Cover and interior art previews:

http://www.udonentertainment.com/blog/udon/shiningworld/

TONY’S ARTWORKS FROM SHINING WORLD

$39.99, 208pp, Full Color

ISBN: 978-1-926778-18-1

ABOUT UDON ENTERTAINMENT
(www.udonentertainment.com)
UDON Entertainment is a Canada-based publisher of original comic books, graphic novels, and art books. UDON’s best-known projects are those based on popular video game franchises such as Street Fighter®, Darkstalkers®, Okami®, Resident Evil® and Mega Man®. The publisher’s ever-growing library also includes English editions of several Japanese manga titles, the anthology art book series APPLE, and the Manga for Kids line for children ages 7-12.

UDON to Launch “UDON Presents” Graphic Novel Line with RandomVeus Vol.1

Posted on by

UDON ENTERTAINMENT PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 RANDOMVEUS DELIVERS INSANITY WITH EVERY PARCEL!

UDON to Launch “UDON Presents” Graphic Novel Line with RandomVeus Vol.1

Toronto, ON – May 10, 2011 – All-out action meets off-the-wall wackiness in RANDOMVEUS VOl.1! Springing from the mind of artist Jeffrey ‘Chamba’ Cruz, this original graphic novel adventure features the tripped-out tales of an interdimensional courier company. The book will be the launch title for UDON Entertainment’s new ‘UDON Presents’ graphic novel line.

Created by Jeffrey ‘Chamba’ Cruz and co-writer Leonard Bermingham, RandomVeus stars bouffant-sporting hero Raimundo and the team of One-Dimensional Couriers as they deliver mysterious packages to every corner of the wild world known as the RandomVeus!  Octopus ninjas, jazz-playing demons, buxom lady-pirates, cyborg gorillas, samurai mushrooms, and one giant furry squid monster are all on tap in this zaniest of zany adventures!

RandomVeus Vol.1 (MAY111239) is the first title in UDON’s new ‘UDON Presents’ line, a series of original graphic novels presented in oversized (8.25”x11.25”) and hardcover format. “We want to give our artists’ stories the best presentation possible right out the gate, so our focus is shifting to this deluxe format for our releases, dropping the monthly ‘floppy’ comic entirely,” says UDON managing editor Matt Moylan. “While comic book sales are down all over the industry, UDON continues to do very well with our trade paperbacks and art books. We’re taking the best of both by producing full length graphic novels at the same oversized dimensions that readers of our art books and ‘Ultimate Edition’ collections have come to enjoy.”

Beyond RandomVeus, UDON has several other original graphic novels currently in production, and also plans to present its future video game-based comic stories in the same oversized format. RandomVeus Vol.1 goes on sale July 2011.

For RandomVeus ordering info, artwork, and news head to:

http://www.RandomVeus.com

RANDOMVEUS HC Vol.1

$29.99, 144pp, 8.25″x11.25″, Full Color, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-926778-28-0
Diamond #MAY111239

ABOUT UDON ENTERTAINMENT
(www.udonentertainment.com)
UDON Entertainment is a Canada-based publisher of original comic books, graphic novels, and art books. UDON’s best-known projects are those based on popular video game franchises such as Street Fighter®, Darksiders®, Okami®, Resident Evil® and Mega Man®. The publisher’s ever-growing library also includes original comic stories, English editions of Japanese manga titles, high quality art showcases in their Tribute series and the anthology art book series APPLE.

40 Days left…

Posted on by

It's CRUNCH time!

… and the four unique juries are all hard at work looking at all of the books and comics.

It’s hard to believe that we are a mere 40 days and forty nights away from the presentation of the 7th annual Joe Shuster Awards for Canadian Comic Book Creators on Saturday, June 18th, 2011 at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo.

As the only National comics award to embrace and include all types of comics and graphic novels produced by Canadians, we’re really quite stoked about being able to present the awards in Western Canada for the first time and the fine folks at the Calgary Expo have been great with helping us out and being our host con.

10 awards are being presented for Outstanding Canadian Comics & Graphic Novels:

- Artist
- Writer
- Cartoonist (Writer/Artist)
- Colourist
- Cover Artist
- Publisher

Note: For the 6 categories listed above, the comics the creators are being honoured for had to be published for the first time in either French or English during the 2010 calendar year. They also had to be professionally distributed through existing channels of distribution, such as Diamond Distributors, Inc.

Plus:

- Outstanding Webcomics Creator / Creative Team (for new content available online in 2010)

- The Harry Kremer Retailer Award

- The Gene Day Self-Publisher Award (for self-published, non-professionally distributed original content print comics first made available in 2010)

- The Comics for Kids Award (professionally distributed original books that debuted in 2010 and are aimed at readers 14 years of age and younger)

As well, two Hall of Fame induction presentations will take place – for CHESTER BROWN and TODD McFARLANE.

We’ve received confirmation that a number of nominees will be in attendance at the Calgary Expo this year, including Scott Chantler, Francis Manapul, Jeff Lemire, Stuart and Kathryn Immonen, J. Torres, Jim Zubkavich, Connor McCreery, Kate Beaton, Sylvain Lemay, Fiona Staples, Camilla D’Errico, and Connor Willumsen. Things are looking good for James Stokoe, Emily Carroll and Cameron Stewart to also be there for the event in June, and we’ll hopefully be confirming a few more creators will be present.

Over the next month as things get finalized we’ll be letting you know about our 2011 hosts and other significant details about the 2011 Joe Shuster Awards!

My TCAF Thoughts 2011: Day 2

Posted on by

Unlike Day 1, I was able to spend much more time at TCAF on Sunday. I came down for open at 11 and stayed until about 3:30. Sunday was a much more reasonable day for the crowds, probably because it was also Mother’s Day. It was definitely busy but the lines were quite manageable and one could move around and see a lot of people.

I had some primary goals  for the day (1) to check in with Joe Shuster Award nominees and see who was coming to Calgary that hadn’t been announced, (2) invite a few people to Fan Expo and (3) look around and find some books that I’m interested in that were debuting at TCAF.

All three goals were met easily.

Day Two Purchases: Cat Rackham Loses It by Steve Wolfhard ($5), Centifolia II by Stuart Immonen ($20), Just the Usual Superpowers by Faith Erin Hicks ($12), Aurora Borealice by Joan Thornborrow Steacy ($15), Even the Giants by Jesse Jacobs plus a limited edition print $40, and finally That Night In June – mini-comics by Emily Carroll ($15). If I wasn’t broke from some art purchases the week before and May rent I would have bought more.

I felt that Sunday was a much more enjoyable day to attend this event because the crowds were a bit lighter and the space was more manageable. I still feel that the library is a tight fit and that if TCAF 2012 returns to this space that the library needs to retreat a lit further back. I don’t think there are enough washrooms in the facility in easily accessible locations, and the presence of the homeless who usually inhabit the library made for a few uncomfortable moments, especially in the washrooms.I did not attend any programming on Sunday.

Overall I felt that TCAF 2011 was a massive success and kudos should go to the organizers of the event and to the volunteer staff. Every creator and attendee I talked to was in a happy, exuberant mood – even when the show was at it’s most chaotic. The comics community, at least the creative (for the most part non-superhero comics) crowd, was having one giant group hug and I never felt there was any ill will towards anybody or anything at TCAF. There was just a lot of comics love.

As you know, I also work on Fan Expo in late August and I think the two events are a huge compliment to the city of Toronto for having such a large population of comics people. Plus they bookend the summer. Some observers think that these events are in some kind of popularity race, when I don’t think that is the case at all. They have different goals, different ambitions but cater to overlapping interests. You can love both for different reasons, or just go with the one that you feel is the right fit. Fan Expo isn’t free, sadly. It also isn’t subsidized by the government so your admission fees do go towards paying for the space and the guests we bring in.

I walked into TCAF tired and a little worn out from a week of announcing guests for Fan Expo and walked out energized and excited about the upcoming Calgary Expo in June and Fan Expo Canada in August. Now that TCAF and the Wright Awards are done with for 2011, I need to get down and finish my work for 2011 and I’m refreshed and ready to go!

My recommendations: Get the library to retreat further back and clear more space, or move to a different venue (which is not easy to do or find), please don’t book on Free Comic Book Day again (you are still part of a larger community and that community does rely on FCBD exposure), think about doing a weekend other than Mother’s Day (perhaps the second weekend in May instead of the first?), and find better locations for some of your more popular webcomics creators so that the lines don’t mingle or block other tables.

My TCAF Thoughts 2011: Day 1

Posted on by

SATURDAY: I had a few things to do before Deb and I headed down to TCAF. Because I was only going to be there for a few hours my report is truncated significantly.

2:30-2:45. Arrived. What’s with the construction blocking the one entrance? Interesting that there’s a girl handing out flyers telling people to go The Labyrinth for Free Comic Book Day right outside the main door. Good Lord — there are too many people here on the main floor. I can’t move down any of these aisles to look at anything. The Chester Brown line is HUGE. Noise level is insane. Librarians must be in hiding.

2:45-3:15 Nice to see Scott Chantler and the guys from Transmission-X and Kill Shakespeare. Couldn’t move around to see anything/anyone else. Scott made a print out of the D-Day double-splash from Two Generals that I bought from him last fall.

3:15-4:30 Decided to go to the Canadians in the Mainstream panel at 3:30 at the Pilot Tavern. Why is there a celtic band playing while the panel is going on? Anyways — beer, Darwyn and the Immonens plus McConnell, Fawkes, Jillian Tamaki. Special guest Ken Steacy. Special non-guest: me. I gather the consensus was that being Canadian in comics doesn’t mean much except that one feels slightly different when in a room with Americans because we are more aware about what’s going on in the rest of the world, there’s a slight detachment but creatively everyone strives to be an individual and do their best and that’s universally true. Some felt that there’s a definite “can do” spirit here because of the smaller population and lack of resources. All agreed there is no comics industry per se in Canada, that working with international publishers is their economic choice, but that because of the rising Canadian dollar against a falling US dollar that they’ve all had to take a significant pay reduction. Americans don’t seem to grasp the concept of currency exchange and geographical perspective. Toronto, for example, is not near Vancouver.

(Darwyn asked me if I had any questions, and I didn’t at the time, but listening to their replies I started to wonder if a better question would have been directed to the audience: “Does the fact that these creators are Canadian matter to you, audience members, as Canadians?” It would have been curious to see what their responses would have been like. Obviously I believe that it does matter to them, as that’s why we have awards for Canadians like the Joe Shusters and the Doug Wrights to raise awareness of Canadians working in the industry in order to help promote and support them.)

My view at the Pilot - from L to R on stage: Robin McConnell, Ray Fawkes, Darwyn Cooke, Jillian Tamaki, Stuart Immonen, Kathryn Immonen. Ken Steacy's head is just on the lower right, second from the bottom.

4:30-4:45. Panel ends. Nice chat with Darwyn about the awards and we head back over to the library.

4:45-5:15. Show ends at 5. Really? 5? Barely enough time to go back in and look at anything. Ran into Rob and Jenn, Tyrone and Alana McCarthy and J. Torres. Had a nice chat about venue problems in Toronto. Talked briefly with Andy from Conundrum.

5:15-10:30. After the show closes: off to dinner with Robert and Jenn, Ross Campbell and Scott Chantler. We went to the slowest restaurant on the planet: The Ethiopian House. My innards are still complaining. I think the waitress is still getting us more water. No Wright Awards for us this year.

10:30-1:30. TCAFete at Pauper’s Pub after dinner. Great fun. Best $5 spent all weekend. Saw and talked with a lot of comics folks.

End of Day Thoughts: TCAF has outgrown the library. If they want to keep the venue viable the library has to close down during the 2 days that TCAF is on, extend the hours they re open, and move more things out of the way. It was too crowded and virtually impossible to browse the tables on the main floor on Saturday. Everyone is in great spirits though.

Purchases during show hours: 1 Mill Street Tankhouse Ale at the Pilot. $8.50 with tip. 1 copy of Sequential Pulp III: free. Hope to see something to buy on Sunday.

To be continued…

New Reliable Press to close in May after TCAF

Posted on by

Publisher Ed Brisson writes:

TCAF will be the last show for New Reliable Press. After May, I’m officially hanging up my publisher gloves and New Reliable Press will cease to publish any new material. The NRP catalog will still be available for purchase online, although by the end of May I will be closing down the New Reliable shop and Poseur Ink will become the primary online source for NRP books. Jason (Turner) has also started selling True Loves through his own online shop.

There are a myriad of reasons as to why I’m shutting things down. Part of it is that sales aren’t what they were when I started up in 2004. Part of is that I want to pursue my own creative work in comics (such as Murder Book). My own freelance work has also taken over and leaves me little time to devote to publishing. I don’t want to continue on without being able to focus my full attention to the books I publish — it’s not fair to the creators. So, instead, I’m closing up shop.

I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the past 6 years and everyone who’s supported New Reliable. I’m proud of the books that we’ve put out and am thrilled to have had the chance to work with so many talented people.

Please, be cool and continue to support small press. Check the publishers linked under “Other Publishers” in the sidebar. They all deserve your business.

2009's Jan's Atomic Heart by Simon Roy, published by New Reliable Press for which Roy was nominated for Outstanding Canadian Cartoonist in 2010.

Both Ed and Jason Turner will be making one final appearance officially as New Reliable Press at TCAF on May 7/8, and they’ll have the full NRP catalog of books available for sale at their table, including Turner’s 40 Year Project and Brisson’s collected Murder Book (for which he is nominated in the JSA Webcomics creator category with Simon Roy).

In 2010 NRP released Acts of Violence: An Anthology of Crime Comics featuring this striking cover image by Fiona Staples

ARTISTS HELP JAPAN: TORONTO RAISES $20,000

Posted on by

For Immediate Release:

ARTISTS HELP JAPAN: TORONTO RAISES $20,000
Toronto comic artists and DJs band together for Japanese Quake & Tsunami Relief

Artists Help Japan: Toronto is proud to announce that their 12 hour live art/DJ event on April 17th was an extraordinary success, raising $20,000 towards Tsunami and Quake relief in Japan.

Spearheaded by a consortium of Toronto illustration studios, the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event was the local iteration of a charity movement begun by Dice Tsutsumi at Pixar. The Toronto edition featured live art and DJ music, a silent auction and dozens of artists selling commissioned drawings, which raised about $18,000 over the 12 hour event. Event organizers UDON Entertainment have stepped in with an additional $2000 donation to help bring the final total to $20,000, with all proceeds being donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

The organizers of the event would like to thank all of the talented artists, illustrators, and DJs who donated their time and expertise, and the hundreds of Torontonians that came out in support of this event. The organizers will continue their various fund raising efforts over the weeks and months to come, including a series of special auctions featuring artworks donated by artists at the fundraiser! Look for details on these auctions in the next week.

Some words of thanks from the organizers:

Erik Ko, founder of UDON Entertainment: “I have a lot of friends and colleagues in Japan who were affected by this unfortunate event. I felt a real need to try and lend a helping hand to the people there and I really appreciate so many people supporting us! Thank you so much!”

Bobby Chiu, head of Imaginism studio: “People were incredibly generous with their money that day. It was truly touching to see a city come together to support the people of Japan.”

Alvin Lee, comic artist on Street Fighter and Birds of Prey: “It was awe inspiring to see the outpour of support and compassion from Toronto’s Art and Music scene. To give back to a country that has influenced so many of today’s artists, including myself – I felt like it was the least I could do.”

Krystle Tabujara, Library Services Coordinator for The Beguiling: “Having recently travelled to the Pacific Rim with my partner, I felt an obligation to be a part of such a great cause. It was an honour to be working alongside some of Toronto’s most talented artists.”

Jim Zubkavich, writer/creator of Skullkickers from Image Comics: “All of us involved with this event feel a deep connection to Japan and we’re ecstatic that so many people came out to show their support. To the artists, musicians and donators – Thank you everyone!”

Christopher Butcher, manager of The Beguiling and Director of the Toronto Comics Art Festival: “Japan has been an inspiring, near-mythical presence in my life since I was very young, and their culture and traditions have had a huge influence on my writing and career. Coming together with so many like-minded people to give something back has been similarly inspiring, and I’m humbled by the generosity of our volunteers, artists, DJs, and the hundreds of attendees who came to the event. Thanks everyone and please, if at all possible, don’t stop giving.”

The organizers would also like to thank the many volunteers and supporters who helped make the event a success, including: all of the wonderful artists and publishers who donated art and other items for our silent auction; Jeff at Imaginism; Michael, Akiko, Magda, Marc, Andrew, and Shane who helped out on the day-of; Peter Birkemoe and The Beguiling; Joe Saturnino and the entire staff of Revival.

ABOUT:

Artists Help Japan is a charity movement initiated by Dice Tsutsumi, an art director at Pixar Animation Studios, who was also behind 2008 Totoro Forest Project to help preserve Sayama Forest in Japan and Sketchtravel Project, to gather the force of communities of artists and creative minds around the world. We believe artists have special roles to contribute to the society. http://artistshelpjapan.blogspot.com/

Artists Help Japan: Toronto was spearheaded by Imaginism Studios President and illustrator Bobby Chiu, who was contacted by Dice Tsutsumi to run the Toronto event. Working with Illustrator Alvin Lee, UDON Entertainment CEO Erik Ko, writer/artist Jim Zubkavich, and Christopher Butcher of Toronto comic book store The Beguiling and the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, the team brought together Toronto’s diverse and exciting artistic community to engage the public in an unprecedented fund raising endeavour.

Participating artists at Artists Help Japan: Toronto included: Agnes Garbowska, Alex Milne, Alvin Lee, Bobby Chiu, Brian McLachlan, Chip Zdarsky, Dale Keown, Eric Kim, Eric Vedder, Francis Manapul, Jason Bradshaw, Jeff Lemire, Jim Zub, Joe Ng, Julie Faulkner, Kagan Mcleod, Kalman Andrasofszky, Kei Acedera, Ken Lashley, Marcio Takara, Marcus To, Michael Cho, Ramon Perez, Ray Fawkes, Scott Hepburn, Stuart Immonen, Svetlana Chmakova, and a number of other local artists who showed up on the day of the event to offer their support and assistance!

Participating DJs at Artists Help Japan: Toronto included: Riviera [Perfecto,Myth, Kinetika NYC], Felix & Gani [Milk. Audio], Lazy Ray [Nighttrackin'], Gerrence [Nighttrakkin'], Alvaro G [Kings Of Late Night], Roland Gonzales [Studio+], Carlovega [Studio+], Jason Ulrich [Lab.Our Union],Shingo [Hot Sauce], Uncle Matty & Dutty Maus [The Beacs], and Illscience.

All proceeds from Artists Help Japan: Toronto will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross, specifically earmarked to aid in Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief. http://www.redcross.ca/

SPONSORS:

Revival Bar has been entertaining guests, visitors and fans as a premium event space since 2002. Revival generously donated the use of their main space for the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event, and donated $1 from the cost of every drink towards fund raising efforts. http://www.revivalbar.com/

The Beguiling Books and Art is Canada’s premiere source for comics, comix, and high-art funnybooks. Visit us online at http://beguiling.com/.

All photos by Paul Hillier


Conundrum to Publish Rabagliati

Posted on by

For immediate release:

Conundrum Press to publish Michel Rabagliati’s Paul à Québec in English!

Conundrum Press is delighted to announce that they have acquired the English rights to the latest book by Montrealer Michel Rabagliati. The book will be titled The Song of Roland and will focus on the life and death of the father-in-law of Rabagliati’s famous Paul character, who has been called “The Tintin of Quebec.” The French edition, published by La Pasteque in 2009, was critically hailed, winning the FNAC Prix du Public at France’s Angouleme festival as well as a Joe Shuster Award (Outstanding Cartoonist). It is currently in production by Caramel Films, director and co-writer François Bouvier. The book is a mid-career masterpiece from one of Quebec’s finest draftsmen. Translation will be by Helge Dascher. Rights negotiated between publisher Andy Brown and Michel Rabagliati. Look for a Spring 2012 release.

Aurora Borealice by Joan Steacy

Posted on by

Joan Thornborrow Steacy will debut her autobio-graphic novel Aurora Borealice at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, May 7-8 2011!

www.joansteacy.blogspot.com

www.torontocomics.com

AURORA BOREALICE by Joan Thornborrow Steacy

“Aurora Borealice is the first of four graphic novels that chronicle my quest to find a voice in a rapidly changing technological world. It begins in the early 70’s, when I met a number of people who dramatically shaped my life: Ken Steacy, a crazy comic book artist, Eric McLuhan, an inspiring professor at art college, and media guru Marshall McLuhan…”

AURORA BOREALICE

Written and Illustrated by Joan Thornborrow Steacy

96 pages, B&W with duotoned soft cover 6.5”x9.5”  $15

Special TCAF debut edition of 50 signed and numbered copies

“The Alice of Aurora Borealice is brilliant, talented, and a functional illiterate who believes what she’s been told all her life, until with the aid of a supportive boyfriend and a healthy dose of Marshall McLuhan, she breaks free of her labels. Aurora Borealice is wittily written and charmingly drawn – roar, Alice!”

Trina Robbins - Writer and Herstorian, excerpt from the introduction

“Joan Steacy offers an interesting new door into a moment in cultural history now up for reevaluation. A gentle and thoughtful look at the recent past that feels far away at the same time.”

Douglas Coupland - Generation A, Player One, Marshall McLuhan: You Know Nothing of My Work!

“Joan Steacy’s Aurora Borealice is a whimsical, heartfelt and insightful look at the burgeoning Toronto art scene of the 1970′s. A natural storyteller, her vivid characters come to life with her beautiful cartooning.”

Jeff Lemire - Essex County, Sweet Tooth

“Aurora Borealice is delicate, tough, and direct. It’s about the box school systems try to force you in, and how destructive it is. But Joan Steacy decided who she was going to be. This is that story.”

Paul Chadwick - Concrete 

“The Imagery of a half-built CN Tower loomed over this book well after I’d finished reading it. Joan has managed to structure a graphic novel around a time and place that I never experienced but am now nostalgic for nonetheless. Like the unfinished architecture inside, Joan is attaining majestic artistic heights here while circumcising the medium and leaving us with Canada’s latest freestanding masterpiece. A beautiful, heartfelt triumph”.

Gareth Gaudin - Magic Teeth, Legends Comics and Books

For a full list of books (which is updated regularly) debuting at TCAF please visit: torontocomics.com/books/

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

Posted on by

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.

Too much of a good thing or too little? Trying to get a handle on Toronto Con reports

Posted on by

When comics and pop culture meet you don't always get on the rainbow bridge to Asgard. Chris Hemsworth as Thor from the upcoming movie of the same name.

Last weekend we had three regional comics events in Canada, as well as one large  convention in the US. There are hardly any reports from the smaller one day comic shows, such as the ones that were held in Edmonton and Vancouver, but there have been a few reports from the 3-day Wizard Toronto Comic Con.

I didn’t go – I was at C2E2 in Chicago, so my impressions are drawn from what passes for the reports posted online (thanks to Sequential and Comic Book Daily for the most coverage) or from the people who I’ve spoken to about it that went. Loud annoying music and temperature issues aside, some patterns are emerging.

As with last year the pattern was Friday – slow, Saturday – busy, Sunday – moderately busy. It’s the same trend everywhere, really. At C2E2 it was busy Friday, crazy busy Saturday and slightly less busy than Saturday on Sunday. General consensus among most reports from people that went is that Wizard should just ditch the Friday and go to being a  2-day show, as that’s the way the attendance seems to be defining it.

This is a comics-themed site, not a pop culture one, and I personally have no interest in those areas of these events. So when reading these blog reports it’s been tough to discern what type of comic book show this was.

Generally the reports divide along three lines:

— those that got in for free under media, fan table or dealer passes or as a volunteer for Paradise Comics. These people had a good time, with some caveats, but lack the perspective of a paying customer or paying exhibitor. Friday’s slowness aside, they got their sketches, they saw some celebrities and/or easily obtained the interviews they wanted to do, and those few who cared about comics wished there were more comic guests and noticed the absence of comic dealers*. They report a busy show in a smaller space on Saturday – the room capacity of Hall D at the DEC is 2300 people, so it’s no wonder the show looked busy.

— those that paid for the event. These people divide along two lines as well: 1)  those there for comics – they felt ripped off and disappointed, and 2) those there for celebrity autographs – who were generally happy. In perspective – at $38 standard adult daily admission the show is more expensive than every other event of this type in the region, and I think that scares people away who just want to buy comics or get some items signed by the comic guests. The absence of new-to-Toronto comic pros for that price also hurt the event’s appeal to comic fans, as did the absence of almost all local and US comic dealers**. If you went to meet Star Wars and Buffy people you seem to be generally happy with what you paid, and if you dressed up you were not alone and people took pictures of you or oggled you, but if you went for comics creators or to buy back issues you were likely disappointed and maybe a little upset because there wasn’t much for you that you don’t get elsewhere (like TCAF or the other comic shows) for a lot less.

*There’s a legitimate reason why there are few comics dealers — at over $800 a booth (not incl. taxes) it’s the highest priced show in the region to exhibit at. So what if you can get 2 more boxes on a table, the bottom line is that the bottom line is too high and people are passing and watching to see what happens next. When you have to give away a thousand dollars worth of product to break even and your profit margins are tight as is, you tend to take these things into account, something your average blogger or opinionated fan doesn’t think about.

**The US dealers – an asset in the first year – chose to do Chicago’s C2E2, something I would probably have moved this show’s dates to avoid a conflict with and keep them, even though this show’s dates were announced first.

— finally, the many regular to the GTA creators recruited – some of whom reported deathly slow sales such as Tom Fowler, to some who had better than average sales such as Leonard Kirk. Kalman Andrasofszky, who I ran into on my way home on Monday, said it was better than he was expecting it to be. Sounds like it was a mixed bag.

If this show wants to improve: go to 2 days, lower the daily admission price, lower the table rates considerably, make sure it doesn’t conflict with other comics industry event dates (such as other March/April events in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and Orlando) , get your US dealers back, better advertise to comic fans, get better new-to-Toronto comics pro guests as draws, try not to book so many guests who’ve been to Toronto in the last 3 years and try to get the support of the GTA retailers.

February sees a bump in overall comics sales, periodicals face “middling effect”

Posted on by

February saw the comics periodical level off into a mire that reminds me of cable television shows – with a lot of different books appealing to the same sized audience.  January’s sales dip seems to have been countered though. What does it all mean? Hard to say really – but the return of some popular titles absent in January may have played a big part, such as the #1 selling direct market comic book: Green Lantern, which sold 71,000+ copies, and the Flash which sold 55,000+ copies. At 71K, Green Lantern is the lowest selling number #1 comic on the top 300 list in, well, at least a decade, perhaps ever. There weren’t many event books, and no major hype books such as last month’s issue of Fantastic Four. Reality is that this is actually a decent indicator of what people are buying and reading outside of the event books.

As we continue to see a slow shift towards more interest in books such as trades and hardcovers, without the event hype comics periodicals are leveling off into a steady grey mire of mediocre sales. Definitely the reduction of cover prices on most DC books by $1 helped a lot and stores are reporting stronger sales of mid-to-low level DC and Marvel titles such as Batgirl, Red Robin, Justice Society, and so forth. A few store owners I’ve spoken with reported that their customers added an extra book or three to the their weekly pulls because of the money they were saving on the drop in cover price – they shifted their budgeted dollars into other periodical comics instead of spending them elsewhere. It’s amazing how much $ event books take away from the regular ongoing books.

Overall though, looking at February 2010, there’s a less than 4% drop in overall unit sales, not the apocalypse predicted by some. Unit sales of graphic novels went up a whopping 1% so there’s not much difference this year over last. Money-wise, comics sales went up less than 2% and graphic novels went up 7% in sales so there must have been a few higher ticket items on the list.

As far as floppies featuring the work of Canadians go sales range from #2′s Brightest Day 19 (with it’s David Finch cover) with 71,063 copies to #300′s Kill Shakespeare #1 Penny Farthing Edition reprint at 2,860 copies. Two notable absences are Batman Incorporated (art by Yanick Paquette) and Batman: The Dark Knight (by David Finch). Francis Manapul had the highest selling book featuring full art by a Canadian creator with 55K copies of the Flash sold to the direct market. Superheroes still dominate the periodical market and there’s not much chance that will change anytime soon.

#2 Brightest Day 19 (cover by David Finch)
#3 Brightest Day 20 (cover by David Finch)
#9 The Flash #9 (art by Francis Manapul)
#19 X-Men #8 (art by Chris Bachalo)
#43 Action Comics #898 (cover by David Finch)
#50 Incredible Hulks #623 (art by Dale Eaglesham)
#64 Superboy #4 (written by Jeff Lemire)
#66 X-23 #6 (cover by Kalman Andrasofszky)
#96 Spawn #202 (created and inked by Todd McFarlane)
#99 Wolverine and Jubilee #1 (written by Kathryn Immonen and variant cover by Nimit Malavia)
#115 Spawn #203 (created and inked by Todd McFarlane)
#119 Haunt #13 (inked by Todd McFarlane)
#135 Loki #13 (inked by Michel Lacombe)
#168 Knight and Squire 5 (cover by Yanick Paquette and Michel Lacombe)
#188 Sweet Tooth #18
#190 Incorruptable #15 (art by Marcio Takara)
#225 Black Terror #13 (variant cover by Steve Sadowski)
#232 Black Terror #14 (variant cover by Steve Sadowski)
#255 27 #3 (cover by W. Scott Forbes)
#270 Skullkickers #6 (featuring the work of Jim Zubkavich, Ray Fawkes, Scott Hepburn, Joe Vriens)
#279 Jurassic Park: Devils in the Desert #2 (by John Byrne)
#300 Kill Shakespeare #1 Penny Farthing Edition

Of course, this is a list of just the top 300 comics – meaning there are hundreds of additional books that are selling less than 3,000 copies to the direct market.

And graphic novels by Canadians:
- Note that BOLDED items are new, first time in print items – unbolded are reorders or trades of books previously published as a hardcover.
- Nice to see the first Flash hardcover collection out (feat. art by Manapul)
- Sales range from the #1 selection Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne at 5,310 copies to 304 reorder copies of Sweet Tooth Vol.2
- Scott Pilgrim reorders are still coming in, as are Y the Last Man and Sweet Tooth. Interesting to see reorders for the Steve Rogers, Super Soldier hardcover, as I think that may have been overlooked by a few people first time around.
- Many of these books also have a second life on the book distribution circuit.

#1 Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (featuring the work of Yanick Paquette and Michel Lacombe)
(#5 Nemesis HC (features art by Steve McNiven))
#11 Haunt Vol. 2 (featuring the work of Todd McFarlane)
#14 Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues HC (art by Francis Manapul)
#36 Spider-Man: The Gauntlet Vol.5 TP – The Lizard (art by Chris Bachalo)
#55 Fringe: Tales from the Fringe TP (featuring a chapter drawn by Fiona Staples)
#83 Seven Soldiers of Victory Vol. 2 HC (featuring art by Yanick Paquette and Serge LaPointe)
#91 Namor Visionaries: John Byrne Vol.1 TP (by John Byrne)
#132 Acts of Vengeance Omnibus (featuring work by John Byrne)
#133 Scott Pilgrim Vol.2 (by Bryan Lee O’Malley)
#138 Incredibles Vol.5 TP (featuring art by Marcio Takara)
#139 Y The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned TP (art by Pia Guerra)
#144 Atlantis Attacks Omnibus (featuring work by John Byrne)
#176 Scott Pilgrim Vol.3 (by Bryan Lee O’Malley)
#190 Spawn Origins HC (Todd McFarlane)
#203 Y The Last Man Vol. 2 TP (art by Pia Guerra)
#222 Batman and Robin Vol.2: Batman vs. Robin (art by Cameron Stewart)
#227 Scott Pilgrim Vol. 4 (by Bryan Lee O’Malley)
#231 Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6 (by Bryan Lee O’Malley)
#236 Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5 (by Bryan Lee O’Malley)
#257 Sweet Tooth Vol. 1 (by Jeff Lemire)
#260 Y the Last Man Vol. 3 TP (art by Pia Guerra)
#269 Steve Rogers: Super Soldier HC (art by Dale Eaglesham)
#282 Y the Last Man Vol. 4 TP (art by Pia Guerra)
#292 Sweet Tooth Vol. 2 TP (by Jeff Lemire)

Awago Beach Buddies by the Tamakis to be published by Groundwood/First Second

Posted on by

Quill and Quire reports that Groundwood Books has acquired the rights to publish a new graphic novel by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki

Groundwood Books publisher Patsy Aldana has acquired Canadian rights to Awago Beach Babies, a new graphic novel by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, about teenagers in cottage country and a Burger King in Niagara Falls that makes girls pregnant. World rights excluding Canada have gone to New York publisher First Second Books. The deal was arranged by Sam Hiyate at The Rights Factory.

Groundwood also published their previous OGN, the award-nominated/winning SKIM. No details were given for the expected release date of Awago Beach Babies, but we’re all looking forward to reading it, and will be avoiding fast food restaurants for the time being.

New CerebusTV Episode this Friday

Posted on by

CerebusTV Episode 53

“What am I working on right now?” Or, rather, what was Dave Sim working on just before Christmas, 2010. The Church & State Dream Wall was finally done: Sim’s biggest commission ever for an art collector in Michigan (probably Brian Coppola, the man with the most Cerebus art on the planet other than Dave).

He was also working on the cover to CEREBUS ARCHIVE #12 (the First Day Cover now available from ComiXpress) and — having just been drawing Cerebus’ mother-in-law, Mrs. Henrot Gutch for the Church & State Dream Wall — got to thinking about the model for the character, the grandmother character from the GILES cartoons. Which leads of “Dave Sim’s Top 5 Giles grandmother cartoons”

PLUS! “The slowest comic book ever produced by Dave Sim”: would you believe it took him all year to produce two pages?

It’s the fastest half hour of Internet Comics TV!

CerebusTV can be seen new at 10pm ET / 7pm PT on Fridays at www.cerebus.tv