We’re counting down until the end of the day so we can get our geek on for the weekend! While the hours and minutes wind down, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.
Seven Days VT – Vermont Reads Choose First Graphic Novel, ‘March: Book One’ – Way to go Vermont!
Reviews
Newsarama – Livewire #1
ICv2 – Monica Adventures Vol. 1
It’s new comic book day! What’s everyone excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below. While you wait for shops to open, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.
New York Times – ‘Master Race’ Comic Book Story Comes Up for Sale – Interesting.
WHYY – Princeton’s comic book exhibit spotlights superheroes of civil rights movement – This sounds awesome!
EW – How a new wave of graphic novels is revitalizing classics — and pushing diversity – Interesting read.
Reviews
Newsarama – Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor #1
The Beat – I Feel Machine
Newsarama – James Bond 007 #1
Talking Comics – Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1
Comic Mix – March
Newsarama – Outer Darkness #1
Congressman John Lewis is a Civil Rights legend, Congressman, and award-winning comic book writer. In a Time exclusive, the Congressman will again visit his past in a new graphic novel, Run. The graphic novel will pick where where March left off. Lewis is reuniting will co-writer Andrew Aydin and will be joined by artist Afua Richardson (who created the art in this article) as well as Nate Powell who handled the art for the original trilogy. Powell’s contribution will be a transition sequence that links to the two graphic novel series. Run will be published by Abrams ComicArts, March was published by Top Shelf.
March was a three volume series that explored Lewis’ early life and his time during the Civil Rights using the election of President Obama as framing. All were bestsellers and award winners. March: Book Three was the first graphic novel to win the Nation Book Award.
Run: Book One will tell how Lewis led the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the time period that followed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Time called the organization the “most militant of all U.S. civil rights organizations.” The first graphic novel will explore the group’s history as it struggled with lost support at being a nonviolent organization during the time period.
Run: Book One will be published on August 14, 2018.
The Diversity & Inclusion Forum of the Virginia Library Association has announced the 2016 winners of the VLA Graphic Novel Diversity Award. The group has identified two winners, one for the “Adult” category and one for the “Youth” category. In addition books have been identified to be part of an “Honor” listing as well as “Overfloweth.”
The announced said “the deliberation was quite intense due to the high quality of the submissions.” Congratulations to everyone mentioned, it’s a fantastic listing of graphic novels and comics for readers to check out.
Winning the “Adult” category was Watson and Holmes Volume 2 by Lyndsay Faye, Brandon Easton, Hannibal Tabu, Steven Grant and Karl Bollers, illustrated by N. Steven Harris, Dennis Calero and Eli Powell and published by New Paradigm Studios. The series is a reimagining of the classic characters and is highlighted by its “black role models and grittier storytelling.” The crimes also feature diverse elements such as “sex slavery, suicide, transgender sex workers and more.”
Winning the “Youth” category was March: Book 3 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell and published by Top Shelf Productions. The graphic novel concludes the trilogy of books chronicalling Congressman John Lewis’ experiences during the Civil Rights Movement.
Other books honored include Brotherman: Revelation, Japanese Notebooks: A Journey to the Empire fo Signs, Paper Girls, Your Black Friend, Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, and The Nameless City.
“Overfloweth” titles include The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage: Deluxe Edition, Gumballs, Agents of the Realm, and Faith.
The Graphic Novel Diversity Award is a project of VLA’s Diversity & Inclusion Forum. You can learn more by visiting the forum’s website.
Check out the full listing at what was said about each series.
For the season two premier of Vice‘s Huang’s World, Eddie Huang talks with comic writer Andrew Aydin about protesting and the award winning graphic novel March. Aydin co-wrote March with Congressman John Lewis and artist Nate Powell.
You can watch the full episode above. Aydin’s segment begins at about the five minute mark.
It’s a new week and we’ve got lots on tap. But, while you wait for things to kick off, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.
Around the Tubes
The Beat – March: Book Three wins big at the Annual Glyph Awards – Congrats to all of the winners!
The Atlantic – The Power of Digital-Comic Therapy in Schools – An interesting read.
Publisher’s Weekly – Graphic Novels Publisher NBM Turns 40 – Congrats!
Kotaku – Injustice 2 Might Have A Deadshot Problem, Depending On Who You Ask – Who’s playing the game?
ICv2 – IDW To Produce ‘Dragon Ball Z’ Games – This is pretty cool and should be interesting.
Around the Tubes Reviews
Talking Comics – The Mighty Thor #19
Talking Comics – Secret Empire #2
March is the brilliant graphic novel trilogy chronicling the experiences by Congressman John Lewis during the Civil Rights Movement. Co-written by Andrew Aydin and Cong. Lewis with art by Nate Powell, the award-winning trio talked to the Los Angeles Times about the graphic novel on Facebook Live.
I discuss March: Book One which tells the story of the civil rights movement and John Lewis for Black History Month.
A dark cloud looms over the United States…. so we’ll do our best to ignore that with some comic news and reviews from around the web.
Around the Tubes
The Beat – Comic book store provides safe space for DC inauguration protesters – Head here if you need to during this coming weekend!
The Carolinian – Comic Books are for Everyone – Yes, yes they are.
Charleston City Paper – The real heroes aren’t in comic books – A really interesting reflection on Cong. John Lewis’ March.
DailyKos – Rep. John Lewis’ graphic novel sees 106,700% jump in Amazon sales after Trump’s Twitter attacks – That’s impressive.
CBLDF – March Book 3 Wins Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature – Congrats to all involved!
CBR – Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam Will Star In His Own Solo Film – Interesting move.
ICv2 – Dan Buckley Promoted to President of Marvel Entertainment – Setting things up for the future?
Around the Tubes Reviews
Talking Comics – Batman #15
When it comes to suggesting comics for individuals to check out, it’s often good to start with what they like in other media like television, movies, books, or video games. Enter If/Then, where we’ll throw out suggestions for you to check out! First up, the film Hidden Figures which opens in wide release this coming weekend!
Hidden Figures is the incredible untold story of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)-brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.
If you enjoyed the film, or interested by the subject matter, here’s five comics for you to check out and why!
March – The celebrated and award-winning graphic novel by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell recounts Cong. Lewis’ experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. A first-hand account of pivotal history brought to life through graphic art, the graphic novels consist of three volumes taking you through the turbulent times and delivering an educational and emotional read.
Each volume seems to improve on the next not just taking you through history, but is presented in such a fashion that’ll leave you speechless as you ride through the emotional roller coaster within.
This is a prime example of the power of comics and graphic novels in helping preserve and teach history.
Buy it Now! Digitally Vol. 1 Vol. 2 Vol. 3 | Physical
CBLDF Presents: She Changed Comics – If you want to learn some history about women in comics, check out CBLDF Presents: She Changed Comics which was put together by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
She Changed Comics is the definitive history of the women who changed free expression in comics, with profiles of more than 60 groundbreaking female professionals and interviews with the women who are changing today’s medium, including Raina Telgemeier, Noelle Stevenson, G. Willow Wilson, and more! She Changed Comics also examines the plights of women imprisoned and threatened for making comics and explores the work of women whose work is being banned here in the United States.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has also put together a web page as a resource where you can find out more about women in the comic book history.
Buy it Now! Digitally Digitally | Physical
The Unstoppable Wasp #1 – A superhero comic might feel like an odd choice for this one, but hear me out as to why. Written by Jeremy Whitley with art by Elsa Charretier, the comic features the newest Wasp, Nadia Pym, as she attempts to find her way in the superhero world.
What makes this comic make the list is the focus on STEM, women in science, and smashing the patriarchy. The comic has Nadia finding her role and throws it out there that until recently the Marvel Universe was dominated by men (and mostly white men) until recently and it’s time to get some women recognized when it comes to the smartest people in the Marvel Universe.
What’s also great is each issue will feature real women who work in STEM fields in real life through a Q&A. The comic not only entertains but also hopefully will encourage more women to enter this world for a career.
Read our review and our ten reasons to get the first issue.
Buy it Now! Digitally Digitally | Physical Physical
Captain Marvel Vol. 1: In Pursuit of Flight – Ace pilot. Legendary Avenger. One hundred percent pure bad-^&*. Carol Danvers has a new name, a new mission – and all the power she needs to make her own life a living hell. As the new Captain Marvel, Carol is forging from a challenge from her past! It’s a firefight in the sky as the Banshee Squadron debut – but who are the Prowlers, and where has Carol seen them before? And how does secret NASA training program Mercury 13 fit in? Witness Captain Marvel in blazing battlefield action that just may change the course of history! Avengers Time Travel Protocols: engage!
Written by Kelly Sue Deconnick with art by Dexter Soy and Emma Rios, the story is fun action, but also explores the little known history of the women who attempted to join the Apollo program.
Buy it Now! Digitally | Physical
Laika – Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth’s first space traveler. This is her journey.
Nick Abadzis masterfully blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika’s health and life. This intense triangle is rendered with the pitch-perfect emotionality of classics like Because of Winn Dixie, Shiloh, and Old Yeller.
Abadzis gives life to a pivotal moment in modern history, casting light on the hidden moments of deep humanity behind history.
While the graphic novel isn’t perfect when it comes to the history it’s a great introduction to this part of history of space flight and great for kids who may be interested in learning about it and being entertained.
Buy it Now! Digitally | Physical
What did we miss in our suggestions? What would you suggest? Add yours in the comments!
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