Tag Archives: hip hop family tree

Around the Tubes

Posted on by

It’s new comic book day! What’s everyone excited for?

While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes

The Outhousers – Marvel Unveils New Female Hero on The Mary Sue; Declares Diversity Issues Solved – Bwahahahahahaha

ICv2 – Ed Piskor’s ‘Hip Hop Family Tree’ in Development – Well this could be interesting.

KSL – Utah youths create comic books in after-school program – Fantastic to see this type of thing.

Mashable – The Dark Knight satisfies your hunger at DC Comics cafes in Malaysia – How long do we see these types of things in the US?

Kotaku – Arkham Knight PC Mod Lets You Play as the Joker in His Prime – This is pretty cool.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

ICv2 – Sunny Side Up

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on by

Justice League #43Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Brett

Nanjing: The Burning City HC (Dark Horse) – This is one of those weeks where I could have easily chosen 20 different comics to put on my picks. Narrowing it down to five was very difficult, but this book is absolutely on top. A graphic novel taking place in Nanjing during the Chinese occupation/attack during the second Chinese/Japanese war. The atrocities committed are staggering, and this graphic novel is a nice introduction that will hopefully get people more interested in this genocide and destruction.

Hip Hop Family Tree #1 (Fantagraphics) – If you missed it, the praised Fantagraphics graphic novel series is being released as monthly comics with extra material, so perfect for new readers and old readers like. The series is an amazing recounting of the rise of hip hop music.

Oxymoron: The Loveliest Nightmare #1 (Comix Tribe) – I love Comix Tribe’s releases, though their release schedule can be a bit spotty at times. This new series, spinning out of The Red Ten, which is being released a week early, focuses on the supervillain the Oxymoron. Comix Tribe is a publisher that absolutely deserves more eyes on their releases.

Princeless: Raven, the Pirate Princess #2 (Action Lab Entertainment) – Jeremy Whitley’s Princeless has been both entertaining and destroying comic tropes and stereotypes at the same time. This new series, which spun out of the last volume, focuses on Raven as she builds a pirate crew to take on her brothers. This issue is amazing, and there’s one sequence in particular that’ll get you laughing and thinking.

Young Terrorists #1 (Black Mask Studios) – A fascinating read that I’m still digesting. It gets Black Mask Studios back to its political roots, taking on corporations, governments, really, society as a whole.

 

Edward

Top Pick: Justice League #43 (DC Comics) – The ending to the previous issue, with Batman taking on the role of Metron, is one of the big type of developments that Geoff Johns loves in his storytelling.  Where this story arc goes from here is anyone’s guess, but it is going to be something big.

Manifest Destiny #16 (Image Comics) – This series continues with the unexplained mysteries of America’s interior, as was seen by a different Lewis and Clark.  The revelations of the previous issue seem like they will have a big impact going forward.

Secret Wars: Secret Love #1 (Marvel) – Romance comics are an important part of the history of the medium of comics.  It is nice to see a romance inspired tie-in to Secret Wars, though it will be interesting to see exactly where they take it.

Silk #6 (Marvel) – There are still a few Marvel monthlies that are moving along somewhat unbothered by Secret Wars, and Silk is one of them.  This fun series never got a good chance to gain a decent fan base but continues to impress.

Van Helsing Vs. Dracula #1 (Zenescope) – Dracula is probably the most widely used villain in comics, not in terms of appearances, but in terms of how many companies have published stories with him.  Liesel Van Helsing is a steampunk heroine that has never made the connection with readers.  Putting the two together seems like it might work though.

 

Elana

Top Pick: Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess #2 (Action Lab Entertainment) –  Everyone loves Princeless, the feminist, funny, exciting all-ages fantasy comic staring women of color and a dragon. Raven the Pirate Princess is not just a spin-off series, it is the next step of maturation for the adventure/fantasy world Jeremy Whitley is building. While both series are all-ages this one is aimed at slightly older kids. It very effectively lampoons real world sexism in ways that I want to put on freaking flyers and hand out at conferences.

Just as important, it features young women flirting with each other. So you get pirate ships and also ‘shipping in one family-friendly, queer positive, comic book featuring mostly people of color.

Marvel, DC, take note.

Which brings us to….

Top Pick: Secret Wars: Secret Loves #1 (Marvel) – Jeremy Whitley, creator of the feminist all-ages fantasy comic dynamo that is Princeless is finally writing something for Marvel. It’s a romance story featuring Danny Rand and Misty Knight! If that wasn’t enough in this comic we get Kamalah Kahn and Robbie Reyes together. Marvel should probably publish a full time romance series again. Other then X-Men.

Black Canary #3 (DC Comics) – Last issue ended on a cliff hanger. Who’s Dinah’s ex in the covert-ops suit? And how does that mysterious kid play guitar like that? And when will someone buy me an Annie Wu commission? Her art here is killer.

Island #2 (Image Comics) – Bored of comics? Want something new? Buy this. All of the art is unlike any of the other comics art you have. Unless you read a lot of Brandon Graham stuff in which case the Brandon Graham stuff will be familiar. And by familiar I mean awesome.

Power-Up #2 (BOOM! Box/BOOM! Studios) – Magical girls for everyone! Magical girls for construction workers with beards! For Mom’s in station wagons with irritable teenagers! For tiny gold fish! And for under-employed retail workers. Cute and heartfelt. Read the review I wrote for issue 1.

Secret Six #5 (DC Comics) – Gail Simone’s original run on Secret Six is one of my favorite comics of all time. It’s taken a while to get this new volume up and running properly. But the last issue marked a major upswing in the series. It’s harkening back to the twisted humor, over the top violence and drama between members of a found family of fucked-up people that made readers fall in love with the original series.

Wolf #2 (Image Comics) – Urban fantasy is a dime a dozen right now but Ales Kott’s new series Wolf stands out. The story is completely unpredictable. This series has a David Lynchian vibe I haven’t felt in anything else I read. It’s reminiscent in tone Mulholland Drive in particular. The series is genuinely creepy and a little confusing. But I love Mulholland Drive for those very reasons. So consider that praise for this book too.

 

Mr. H

Top Pick: Justice League #43 (DC Comics) – Forget Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, this has been the cinematic adventure of the year for me! I love how Johns has taken the old cliché of “Bat-God” and turned it literal. Awesome stuff. His reinterpretation of Darkseid and his Apokolips horde is fantastic.  I don’t see it slowing down. Waiting at the bus stop for the next Boom Tube!

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #4 (Marvel Comics) – Peter finally gets his daughter back and she fights by his side. I don’t think anything more needs to be said. Thwip this one up quick Webheads!

House of M #1 (Marvel Comics) – What’s better than one rule under Doom? Try Magneto. I am very glad they are revisiting this story. Was great when it was originally published. However what could Wanda wish away this time? How about hoping she utters the words “No More Reboots.”

Superman/ Wonder Woman #20 (DC Comics) – Continuing the Truth story, I’m eager to see what became of Lana Lang but if this month doesn’t turn it around, this might be it for me on this title. Big fan of Mahnke but not sure his art can save me on this. Hope I’m wrong.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #49 (IDW Publishing) – One more issue till the big one. This is where it hits the fan! Turtles, Shredder, Splinter, Bebop, Rocksteady, Metalhead, Karai. I am eagerly awaiting the showdown. Rumor is one of the Turtles may not survive..

Ed Piskor’s Hip Hop Family Tree to Drop Monthly

Posted on by

Hip Hop Family Tree #1Hip Hop Family Tree is making its debut as a monthly comic book with new covers, splash pages, and a “director’s commentary.” The series by Ed Piskor traces the creator’s motivations, processes, and research involved in making this masterpiece-plus other surprises! The first two volumes wound up on numerous “best of” lists with each of their releases.

Hip Hop Family Tree is the first monthly comic in Fantagraphics‘ 39-year history. The first issue traces the very beginning of hip-hop: it spotlights the breakdancers, graffiti artists, DJs, and MCs who formed hip-hop culture in the tenement rec rooms of the south Bronx in the 1970s. Readers will discover who invented the term “Hip-Hop,” and cultural pioneers like Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa will make appearances…every month!

Hip Hop Family Tree is the history of hip-hop as told through comics. Piskor can’t stop, won’t stop until the entire story is told. Painstakingly researched, Ed Piskor is delivering the most thorough account of the who, what, where, and when of the most infamous music genre the world has ever seen.

Hip Hop Family Tree FCBDThis collectible re-release will be available exclusively through Diamond Comics Distributors and on the remastered Fantagraphics website.

The change in release was sparked partially by the Free Comic Book Day release, which became sought after. While Fantagraphics has strong sales through the book trade, this will strengthen their outreach with the direct comic shop reader.

The series will also mark another first for Fantagraphics: exclusive variant cover editions by Piskor produced for retail partners ordering 1000 copies. This will include the Eh! Variant edition, featuring a Slick Rick cover that will be available exclusively from Gotham Central Comics and Collectibles in Mississauga, Ontario.

Likewise, the Third Eye variant, featuring Eazy E on the cover, will be available for purchase this summer at Third Eye Comics locations and online. Piskor will be making an appearance at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, Maryland to sign the variant at a date in August t.b.a.

Each variant cover by Piskor riffs on the beloved Marvel 25th Anniversary cover promotion from 1986 and spotlights a different figure from the history of Hip Hop. Fantagraphics and Piskor will also be producing a convention exclusive variant available only from Fantagraphics or Piskor himself.

Hip Hop Family Tree #1 will be solicited in the Previews for items shipping in August. August will also see the release of Hip Hop Family Tree Book 3: 1983-1984, the latest volume of the best-selling book series, which spotlights The Beastie Boys, Run DMC, The Fat Boys, and many more.

Retailers interested in partnering on their own exclusive variant should contact Eric Reynolds at Fantagraphics Books.

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on by

multiversityWednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in! Below are ten suggestions of comics, graphic novels, or trade paperbacks you should spend some extra time checking out and think about picking up.

Pick of the Week: Multiversity #1 (DC Comics) – Writer Grant Morrison explores the 52 alternative Earths that make up the DC Multiverse.

Prepare to meet the Vampire League of Earth-43, the Justice Riders of Earth-18, Superdemon, Doc Fate, the super-sons of Superman and Batman, the rampaging Retaliators of Earth-8, the Atomic Knights of Justice, Dino-Cop, Sister Miracle, Lady Quark, the legion of Sivanas, the Nazi New Reichsmen of Earth-10 and the latest, greatest Super Hero of Earth-Prime: YOU!

Comprising six complete adventures – each set in a different parallel universe – plus a two-part framing story and a comprehensive guidebook to the many worlds of the Multiverse.

Dark Horse Presents Vol. 3 #1 (Dark Horse) – The best anthology returns with a new overstuffed look!

The Delinquents #1 (Valiant) – Take two of Valiant’s most entertaining teams and have them get together for a story about hobos and a map on an ass. The first issue is fantastic, especially for fans of Archer & Armstrong and Quantum & Woody.

Genius #3 (Top Cow Productions) – The series is four years in the making, and it seems like there couldn’t be a better time for its release. The story focuses on a brilliant mind who uses her tactical brilliance to unite the gangs of LA.

Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2 (Fantagraphics) – The second volume of the praised series. The first volume sees a new printing released this week as well!

Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #1 (DC Comics) – Diana Prince: Amazon warrior, ambassador to Man’s world, or champion of women in need? All of the above! This digital-first anthology series will bring some of comics’ greatest talents to Themyscira, and give them leave to explore Diana, her world – and ours!

Storm #2 (Marvel) – The first issue was amazing. In just one issue writer Greg Pak defined, added depth, and re-introduced us to the iconic character.

The Strain: Night Eternal #1 (Dark Horse) – The third, and final, volume in the book turned comic turned television series. The television series has been picked up for a second season, so get ahead of the story!

Trees #4 (Image Comics) – Warren Ellis’ brilliant sci-fi series…. I’m still trying to figure it all out.

Zaya (Magnetic Press) – A secret agent in the distant future leaves her post to seek a normal life as an artist and mother. When a biomechanical threat starts attacking agents across the galaxy, she is called back into the field to find and stop the killer. The mission opens many questions about her own past, present, and future within not only the organization, but within the universe as she knows it. The graphic novel is stunning to look at and an awesome read.

Sell-Outs and New Printing Roundup

Posted on by

Here’s this week’s announced sell-outs and new printings.

Fantagraphics Books

The publisher has announced that Hip Hop Family Tree has gone to a third printing. the second printing came out in March, and sold out quicker than the first. A comic tied into the series will be released for Free Comic Book Day this year, driving even more demand. Volume two comes out in August and a special two volume edition comes out in November.

Hip Hop Family Tree

Image Comics

Top Cow and Image have announced that Tales of Honor #1 by Matt Hawkins with art by Jung-Geun Yoon has sold out at the distributor level and gone back for a second printing. The comic is based upon the bestselling military science-fiction novels by David Weber. The second printing will hit shelves 4/16 and issue two will be on shelves 4/9.

TALES OF HONOR 1

Marvel

All-New X-Factor #3 heads to a 2nd printing. Written by Peter David with art by Carmine Digiandomenico, the comic comes with a cover by Kris Anka and Jared Fletcher and hits shelves April 23.

All-New X-Men #23 goes to a 2nd printing. Written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Stuart Immonen, the comic is on sales April 23.

All-New_X-Men_23_Second_Printing

Captain Marvel #1 by Kelly Sue Deconnick and art by David Lopez heads to a secon printing. It’ll be on shelves April 23.

Captain_Marvel_1_Second_Print

Fantastic Four #2, written by James Robinson and art by Leonard Kirk goes to a second printing and is available April 23.

Fantastic_Four_2_Second_Printing

Guardians of the Galaxy #12 2nd printing comes out April 23. It’s written by Brian Michael Bendis and art by Sara Pichelli.

Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s Magneto #1 gets a 2nd printing with a cover by Paolo Rivera. It’ll be out April 16.

Magneto_1_Second_Printing

Moon Knight #1 2nd printing by writer Warren Ellis and artist Declan Shalvey comes out April 23.

Moon_Knight_1_Second_Printing

Ms. Marvel #2 gets a 2nd printing and comes out April 23. It’s written by G. Willow Wilson, with art by Adiran Alphona and cover by Jamie McKelvie.

Ms_Marvel_2_Second_Printing

New Warriors #1 2nd printing comes out April 16. It’s written by Christopher Yost, art by Marcus To and cover by Ramon Perez.

New_Warriors_1_Second_Print

New Warriors #2 2nd printing comes out April 23. It’s written by Christopher Yost, art by Marcus To and cover by Ramon Perez.

New_Warriors_2_Second_Printing

Writer Charles Soule’s She-Hulk #2 gets a 2nd printing and comes out April 16. It has art by Javier Pulido with a cover by Kevin Wada.

She-Hulk_2_Second_Printing

SPX 2013: Works by Ed Piskor, Seth and Jeff Smith Lead Debuting Books

Posted on by

Small Press Expo has announced that a record 183 titles (as of this posting) will make their first public appearance at SPX 2013, which will be held September 14 and 15. Showing the range and depth of the over 600 creators that will be at the show, this years debuts include:

  • Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 1 by Ed Piskor from Fantagraphics
  • Palookaville 21 by Seth from Drawn & Quarterly
  • Delusional by Farel Dalrymple from Adhouse Books
  • RASL (Complete Hardback Color Edition) by Jeff Smith from Cartoon Books
  • World Map Room by Yuichi Yokoyama from Picturebox
  • Softcore #1,#2,#3  self published by Box Brown
  • The Fez #2 self published by Roger Langridge
  • Little Tommy Lost: Book No. 1 by Cole Closser from Koyama Press
  • The Big Wet Balloon by Liniers from Toon Books

Here’s a full list of the debuts along with descriptions and links to the books’ web sites.

The Small Press Expo is a fantastic convention just outside of Washington, DC that spotlights independent creators and publishers, they hold the Ignatz Award festival which recognizes outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show.

Profits from the SPX go to support the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which funds graphic novel purchases for public and academic libraries, as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals.

SPX also supports the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress, which preserves the history of both the artistic output of the creators who come to SPX, as well as the art that SPX itself generates as part of its yearly festival. It the first program of its type by a major institution in the United States to preserve the works of the indie comics community.

Small Press Expo

Fantagraphics to publish Ed Piskor’s Hip Hop Family Tree

Posted on by

Hip Hop Family Tree panel

What started out as a web comic Ed Piskor‘s Hip Hop Family Tree traces the foundation of hip hop from its Bronx origins with DJ Kool Herc and DJ Hollywood through Doug E. Fresh, Run DMC and beyond in four color fury. The comic easily transitions from depictions of live shows to breaking in the streets to the foundation of record companies, eager to spread the music. Currently published weekly at the epicenter of cool, Boing Boing, Piskor’s work will be collected and printed by Fantagraphics next year.

The full-color book will be around 112 pages, collecting the first year’s worth of comic strips spanning 1975-1980. As a beautiful backup to Piskor’s story, ten beat-friendly cartoonists are providing pin-ups of their favorite hip hop artists and rappers. The overarching theme of comics delving deep into music culture make Hip Hop Family Tree and Ed Piskor make a happy addition to works of cartoonists like Peter Bagge, R. Crumb, Joe Sacco, Mary Fleener, the Hernandez Brothers and authors like Pat Thomas, Jacob McMurray and Kevin Avery.

Hip Hop Family Tree Title

Piskor is best known for his works like self-published and then Top Shelf published hacker comic, Wizzywig. Piskor also worked with late, great Harvey Pekar in the collection, The Beats. Associate Publisher Eric Reynolds said, “Hip Hop Family Tree is not only a great read, it’s a wonderful visual history of the important genre of music of the past 30 years. We’re excited to publish it.” After all the paperwork was signed Piskor said, “While working on the this project, I began to feel like the belle at the ball, in a matter of speaking, because lots of different publishers started getting in touch. They had certain ideas that would have required compromise. Fantagraphics is one of the only publishers I personally sought out, because I thought they might facilitate my exact vision, and it feels like I was right. Basically, I’m a huge brat and I want what I want, and Fantagraphics is down for the cause.”

You can see Piskor and Fantagraphics this weekend at SPX and keep your eyes and ears open for more jammin’ comics by Ed Piskor. Start clearing away space now next to your turn table for Hip Hop Family Tree.

Hip Hop Family tree green panel

Recent Entries »