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

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

04/14/201104/14/2011 Robert Haines

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

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

04/08/201104/11/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

Retailer Roundup – March 2011 & The great comic shop tour of 2011

Before I left on my trip of the Maritimes the esteemed Kevin Boyd presumed that I would be hitting comic shops all across the region. I strongly refuted that assertion but that didn`t last, obviously. Over the last two weeks I visited, and secret shopped, 22 comics stores: Fantasy Realm – Cornwall, ON Librairie Première… Read More Retailer Roundup – March 2011 & The great comic shop tour of 2011

04/03/201104/04/2011 Robert Haines1 Comment

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

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

03/23/201103/23/2011 Kevin A. Boyd9 Comments

Happenings: Kazoo! Zine and Comic Expo – Guelph, ON

Kazoo! fest 2011 and The Dragon are proud to present the Kazoo! Zine and Comic Expo as part of the week long festivities. The Kazoo! Festival is a five day arts festival, happening April 13-17th 2011 in the heart of downtown Guelph. The festival features music, with over 25 bands at venues across town, and… Read More Happenings: Kazoo! Zine and Comic Expo – Guelph, ON

03/13/201103/13/2011 Robert Haines

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

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

03/09/201103/09/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

Happenings: Comic Book Literacy Day at the London, ON Public Library 3/16/2011

Comic Book Literacy Day is a really neat event coming up at the London Public Library that will feature talented cartoonists: Scott Chantler, J.Bone, Kathryn and Stuart Immonen, Diana Tamblyn and the Kill Shakespeare crew. Put on by Heroes Cards and Comics, the United Way, the London Public Library, and The Child and Youth Network for putting this together. See below for full… Read More Happenings: Comic Book Literacy Day at the London, ON Public Library 3/16/2011

03/07/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

Retailer Roundup – February 2011

Newfoundland Missed it, but Timemasters turned 20 in January. New Brunswick The Comic Hunter, and their Kremer nomination, was featured by Here NB. Strange Adventures manager Jason Arnold is interviewed about that Godzilla-cover-thing that’s been floating around. Plus a civilian university student dropped by the shop to have a look around. She might not “do… Read More Retailer Roundup – February 2011

02/26/201102/27/2011 Robert Haines3 Comments

The Godzilla List

I must think this is a pretty cute idea, because I’m putting up a second story about it. To recap: a retailer must order 500 copies of Godzilla #1. If they do, they get an exclusive cover: Godzilla crushing their shop. (And the bonus of getting covered here! And a comic that they can use… Read More The Godzilla List

02/19/201102/19/2011 Robert Haines2 Comments

Happenings – Kill Shakespeare at LA Mood’s on Saturday, Feb 12th

L.A. Mood Comics & Games is proud to be hosting an appearance by the creators of Kill Shakespeare: Andy Belanger, Anthony Del Col, and Conor McCreery on Saturday, February 12. Q&A about the book from 11:00 am – noon with the Graphic Novel Group and then an open signing in the store from noon –… Read More Happenings – Kill Shakespeare at LA Mood’s on Saturday, Feb 12th

02/10/201102/10/2011 Robert Haines

Canada Reads wrap-up: Essex County wins the people’s choice. Final thoughts.

Yesterday the Canada Reads jury decided on the best book in Canada over the last decade: The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis. Sadly, it wasn’t The Collected Essex County by Jeff Lemire, as it was the first of the top 5 voted off the list. However, the folks at CBC decided to run an… Read More Canada Reads wrap-up: Essex County wins the people’s choice. Final thoughts.

02/10/201102/10/2011 Kevin A. Boyd1 Comment

Diamond, iVerse Teaming Up to Offer Digital Content Via Comic Shops

For Immediate Release: Diamond, iVerse Teaming Up to Offer Digital Content Via Comic Shops Imagine a future where readers and fans can visit their local comic shop to buy not just physical copies of new comics, but also digital editions that aren’t available anywhere else, and can be viewed in multiple platforms including iPhone, iPad,… Read More Diamond, iVerse Teaming Up to Offer Digital Content Via Comic Shops

02/09/201102/09/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

H.B. Fenn initiates bankruptcy proceedings

Breaking news: H.B. Fenn and Company, Canada’s largest book distributor (based in Bolton, ON), filed notice on Thursday that they were initiating bankruptcy proceedings. Fenn distributes a number of comics and graphic novel products to stores, educators and librarians across the country. Read more: The National Post Quill & Quire The Toronto Star

02/04/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

Uh oh… comic sales down 23% in 1/11 compared to 1/10

Diamond released some sales stats today, and it isn’t pretty, ICV2 always provides some great analysis. As feared, January 2011 saw a huge drop in new product sales ordered through Diamond Distribution. Compared to January 2010 units ordered are down a whopping 23% and dollars earned on new comics are down a comparable 22%. Even… Read More Uh oh… comic sales down 23% in 1/11 compared to 1/10

02/03/201102/04/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

Free Comic Book Day in Canada – Saturday May 7, 2011

The following is a listing of Brick & Mortar comic book retailers that are participating in Free Comic Book day. This listing is made up of stores provided by the official FCBD website: http://www.freecomicbookday.com using the STORE LOCATOR. There may be stores which are participating in the event but not listed on the website for… Read More Free Comic Book Day in Canada – Saturday May 7, 2011

01/31/201105/08/2011 Robert Haines3 Comments

One of these days Godzilla’s gonna walk all over you!

apologies to Nancy Sinatra I mentioned last week that Happy Harbor were going to have the shop crushed by Godzilla as part of a special cover promotion by IDW for the release of Godzilla #1? (No? Read about it here.) Well, there have been some reveals and it looks like a few more Canuck shops… Read More One of these days Godzilla’s gonna walk all over you!

01/31/201101/31/2011 Robert Haines

Canada Reads: Essex County week * Updated 1/28

As you may or may not know, Jeff Lemire’s Essex County Trilogy is one of the five featured books in the Canada Reads battle to the death debate over which book is the best new Canadian work of the last decade, and ECT is the only graphic novel in the running. The winner will be… Read More Canada Reads: Essex County week * Updated 1/28

01/28/201101/28/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

Joe Shuster Awards update 1/26

We’re a little under a week from the big announcement and here’s where we stand: ARTIST, CARTOONIST, COLOURIST, COVER ARTIST, WRITER – Nominees Selected PUBLISHER – Nominees Selected HARRY KREMER RETAILER – 10 finalist stores selected GENE DAY SELF-PUBLISHER – in process, deadline for books to be received is Friday, Jan 28th WEBCOMICS – Nominees… Read More Joe Shuster Awards update 1/26

01/26/201101/26/2011 Kevin A. Boyd

Retailer Roundup – January 2011

Nova Scotia It’s seems the Strangemobile went kaput earlier this month, the engine blew up. Calum tells us times are tough, he was ripped off for 3k by a contractor in 2010, and that he’s cutting costs rather than laying off staff. Pure speculation, but with the economy in Canada still not up and running… Read More Retailer Roundup – January 2011

01/20/2011 Robert Haines2 Comments

Interviews: Darwyn Cooke at the FCBD website

As a follow-up to the recent announcement that he will be doing the 2011 FCBD t-shirt, the FCBD website has posted an interview with Darwyn “that details the FCBD project, his plans for 2011, and what goes into his creative inspirations.” Of particular note is his project announcement for 2011…. which is interesting considering my… Read More Interviews: Darwyn Cooke at the FCBD website

01/18/201101/18/2011 Kevin A. Boyd