Author Archives: Brett

CBLDF Announces Stunning Comic-Con Auction!

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Official Press Release

CBLDF Announces Stunning Comic-Con Auction!

It’s here! The CBLDF’s biggest auction of the year! Saturday night, July 24 starting at 7:30 PM in Room 3 of the San Diego Convention Center, the CBLDF will be auctioning off one of the largest and most diverse arrays of original art ever contributed to benefit the organization! A full listing of items, preview slideshows and bidding rules for onsite and proxy bids can be found at http://cbldf.org/homepage/cbldfs-comic-con-auction-preview/

Highlights include:

300

Dave McKean – Black Orchid, page 96, original art.

Contributed and signed on the back of the frame by Neil Gaiman, from his personal collection! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a one in a kind work of art by two trailblazers in modern comics, and perhaps your only opportunity to acquire a piece with such a unique provenance. Truly a rare and significant offering!

300

MUTHR Maquette from The Search for Wondla

From the mind of Tony DiTerlizzi, creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles comes The Search for WondLa, the start of a new trilogy that’s already been optioned for the screen! This maquette, MUTHR is generously contributed by DiTerlizzi and Simon & Schuster Young Readers. MUTHR is Multi Utility Task Help Robot, and is brilliantly sculpted and painted by Martin Meunier, the award-winning sculptor/model maker and graphic designer whose film credits include Coraline, James and the Giant Peach, and The Spiderwick Chronicles the film on which he met author and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi. Martin has worked for FX Company as well as film studios Industrial Light and Magic, Pixar, Disney, and Universal. Intricately crafted and cast in hard resin, MUTHR Maquette is a limited edition of 100 worldwide, signed by Tony DiTerlizzi.

TFAW.Com’s Second Annual Comic-Con CBLDF Art Auction!

Last year, Things From Another World and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund teamed up with some fantastic comics professionals to help raise more than $30,000 for the CBLDF’s annual auction at San Diego Comic-Con. They’re at it again, with an even wider array of great original art gathered by TFAW in association with Image Comics! Check out this amazing range of original art, including contributions from Ben Templesmith, Charlie Adlard Darick Robertson, Fabio Moon, Phil Foglio, Jeff Lemire, Jeffrey Brown, Jenny Frison, Jim Lee, Moritat, Peter Bagge, Phil Hester, Jim Valentino and many more!

SeenAllOver.com/Etnies Contributions!

SeenAllOver.com launched on July 4 with a bang to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Now we’re auctioning off their great work, including a selection of Etnies sneakers customized by artists including Jill Thompson, David Mack, Eric Powell, and more, plus original paintings made on the CBLDF’s Live Art Stage by Tara McPherson, Aya Kakeda, Molly Crabapple, Nikki Cook, Khary Randolph, and Brian Ewing!

Apart from all of these great items, even more than we can show here will be in the final auction, including live art created at the CBLDF Master Sessions by Paul Pope, Rob Liefeld, Jill Thompson, Terry Moore and Darick Robertson, as well as the Ale Garza hosted Drink Draw Dance pre-Comic-Con party on Wednesday, and the Thursday night’s CBLDF Welcome Party sponsored by Image Comics, in association with SeenAllOver.com, Soulcraft Comics, and IHEARTCOMIX.

Come out on Saturday night to win your share of these great original pieces, and support the First Amendment at the CBLDF’s Comic-Con Art Auction!

Review – Tumor

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Tumor HC CoverNoir is in as far as genres and to find something unique is a pretty special thing.  Tumor written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and art by Noel Tuazon is the story of Frank Armstrong who finds out he has a brain tumor.

From the Harvey Award-nominated creative team behind ELK’S RUN comes TUMOR, a haunting Los Angeles Noir graphic novel. Frank Armstrong has an inoperable brain tumor that’s killing him. In his final days, with his body, senses and mind failing him, he’s going to do the one thing that he’s never been able to do before—save the girl. After debuting on the Amazon Kindle and holding the #1 spot on the Kindle Graphic Novel Bestseller list for over two months, Archaia is pleased to bring this acclaimed graphic novel to print!

The brilliance of this graphic novel is the blending of what’s going on with Frank’s past.  The tumor has affected his perception of time and as the series progresses the shifting of time and events grows stronger, playing with even how the reader is perceiving the comic.  It ranks up there with the great mind benders as well as the best noir/crime comics.  On top of an amazing story is fantastic art.

Tumor is a must read.  Whether or not you enjoy noir/crime stories, this tale is fantastic and heart breaking.  Make sure to put it on your summer reading list.

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Review – Hybrid Bastards!

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Hybrid Bastards! HardcoverWhat a weird little comic.  I don’t even know where to begin to describe what Hybrid Bastards! is about.  Written by Tom Pinchuk and illustrated by Kate Glasheen this collection of the mini series follows the bastard sons of Zeus.  The various characters aren’t quite normal and are hybrids of Zeus’s dalliances with inanimate objects (and one hobo).

Zeus is a god with a reputation for lechery, and it’s been driving his wife Hera nuts for years. Reaching her limit one night, she puts together an epic practical joke: She places a spell on Zeus that makes him fall in lust with every inanimate object in sight! It was a night Zeus doesn’t remember, but his godly seed took root nevertheless. Now, 18 years later, his unnatural hybrid bastards wander the world. And because Zeus has a reputation to protect, these embarrassing freaks have got to go! But this motley crew refuses to go quietly. Through schemes both ingenious and idiotic, Zeus’ bastard children—Cotton, a smarmy cloth patchwork; Carmine, a timid automobile; Corey, a self-loathing apple; Walter, a belligerent stack of bricks; and Panos, their gallant would-be leader—will force their negligent father to acknowledge them…that is, if their own squabbling doesn’t defeat them first! Collecting the mini-series that takes Greek mythology in a decidedly different direction, the HYBRID BASTARDS hardcover includes a bonus story and pin-up gallery.

The graphic novel has two parts, the first being the caper of the sons of Zeus looking to get some recognition from their father.  The second half is a court case after their caper goes awry.

The story is pretty humorous, and my only issue is at times the art is a bit difficult to figure out what’s going on.  But overall the story is very unique and entertaining.  If you’re looking for a funny, unique story, this is one to check out.

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Bay County Public Library Presents Creative Con 2010

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Further proof that comic books are becoming an accepted form of literature, the Bay County Public Library in Florida is hosting Creative Con 2010 this Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the new library HQ off 11th Street.

Comic writer and journalist Chris Arrant, and artists Jayson Kretzer and Tim Riley to plan the event. Artist Paulette Perlman and writer Lynn Wallace will participate, along with Arena Comics.

Panels and discussions are being planned for the day, though nothing has been finalized.  The event is meant to highlight the comic book medium as well as the talent that resides in the local community.

Oni Press at San Diego Comic Con 2010!

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Official Press Release

ONI PRESS AT SAN DIEGO COMIC CON 2010

Comics Premiering at SDCC 2010

Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour

By Bryan Lee O’Malley

*Every copy purchased at the show comes with your choice of a Scott Pilgrim or Ramona Flowers wristband (also available for purchase at booth while supplies last).*

It’s finally here! Six years and almost one-thousand pages have all led to this epic finale! With six of Ramona’s seven evil exes dispatched, it should be time for Scott Pilgrim to face Gideon Graves, the biggest and baddest of her former beaus. But didn’t Ramona take off at the end of Book 5? Shouldn’t that let Scott off the hook? Maybe it should, maybe it shouldn’t, but one thing is for certain — all of this has been building to Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour!

“Scott Pilgrim is the best book ever. It is the chronicle of our time. With Kung Fu, so, Yeah: perfect.” -Joss Whedon

The Sixth Gun #1 & #2

SIXTH GUN #1 - COVERBy Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt

*Every pair of comics purchased at the show comes with a limited edition signing card (while supplies last)*

During the darkest days of the Civil War, wicked cutthroats came into possession of six pistols of otherworldly power. In time, the Sixth Gun—the most dangerous of the weaponsSIXTH GUN #2 - COVER—vanished. When the gun surfaces in the hands of an innocent girl, dark forces reawaken. Vile men thought long dead set their sights on retrieving the gun and killing the girl. Only Drake Sinclair, a gunfighter with a shadowy past, stands in their way.

“More mystery and wonder and adventure in the first six pages than some comics have in their whole lives. Say hello to your new favorite comic.” -Matt Fraction

Super Pro K.O.! Vol. 1

By Jarrett Williams

*Come to a Jarrett Williams signing on Saturday 7/24 and compete for the SPKO World Champion Belt of Comic-Con 2010*

Joe Somiano is late to his first match in Super Pro K.O.!, and has no clue what awaits him in the rowdy ring! A seasoned sumo wrestler, a jolly luchador, a flamboyant tag team, suspicious executives, and a drunken Heavyweight Champion all stand between him and the super-stardom that is his destiny. If the huge egos, clothesline take-downs, and broken chairs across the head don’t squash Joe’s dreams, he may just come out on top. But if he’s going to take home the champion’s belt, he’ll need to bring his best moves against the likes of S.P.K.O.! stars Tomahawk Slamson, Yoko No-No, Mr. Awesomeness 2, and many more in this grand slamma jamma event of a graphic novel!

“Jarrett Williams is a towering inferno of comics. Get in on the ground floor… so you can watch him burn down and then explode! And you’ll die horribly in the process!” -Bryan Lee O’Malley

Mondo Urbano

By Rafael Albuquerque, Mateus Santolouco, and Eduardo Medeiros

*Every copy purchased at the show comes with an exclusive Mondo Urbano guitar pic (while supplies last)*

Rafael Albuquerque (artist of Vertigo’s new American Vampire series) joins Eduardo Medeiros (Mad) and Mateus Santolouco (Wolverine) for a riotous new graphic novel series! Told through a series of vignettes, Mondo Urbano takes readers on a gritty and exciting ride through a world of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.

“I loved it. Funny, hip, scary as hell. It Rocked” -Stephen King

Con Grabs & Specials

Mondo Urbano Guitar Pic

Celebrating the release of Rafael Albuquerque, Mateus Santolouco, and Eduardo Medeiros hit Brazilian graphic novel, these heavy gauge pics feature art from the series and are free with purchase of Mondo Urbano (while supplies last)!

The Sixth Gun Limited Edition Signing Card

Free with purchase of The Sixth Gun #1 and #2 (while supplies last). Printed on a gold fabric heavyweight paper, these cards feature series artist Brian Hurtt’s amazing imagery and are signed by both Hurtt and writer Cullen Bunn.

Super Pro K.O. World Champion Belt of Comic Con 2010

SUPER PRO CHAMP BELTJoin Jarrett Williams at one of his signings on Saturday 7/24 to compete for the heavyweight championship of San Dgo Comic-Con 2010! Bring your best pre or post match throw down speech and tell Jarrett why you should be the King of the Con. All the excitement will be videoed and posted on the Oni Blog, so even if you’re not at the show you can witness the action. The winner will be announced at the Oni booth on Sunday 7/25 at 10am where Jarrett Williams and special guest judge Bryan Lee O’Malley will award the first Heavyweight Championship Belt of Comic-Con! *Old school wrastlin’ costume and persona encouraged!*

Salt Water Taffy Coloring Books

Creator Matthew Loux is making his first appearance at Comic-Con in 2010 and he’s bringing a gift for the young fans of his hit kids comic series in the form of Salt Water Taffy Coloring Books! Stop by the Oni Booth (#1833) during one of Matthew’s signings and grab a book and a pack of crayons (whiles supplies last).

Yo Gabba Gabba Comic Anthology Poster

YO GABBA GABBA POSTERMeet DJ Lance Rock and grab a signed promo poster for the upcoming Yo Gabba Gabba Comic Anthology, Saturday 7/24 from 2:20 – 3:50PM!

Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers Wristbands

Get one free with purchase of Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6 or $3 each (while supplies last)! Each Wristband features either Scott Pilgrim or Ramona Flowers and celebrates the release of Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6 at San Diego Comic-Con 2010.

NEW Scott Pilgrim Shirts

Featuring designs by www.johnnywander.com

Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers Metal Charms

Weighty black-nickle and full color enamel charms featuring your favorite slacker and the lady of his dreams.

Scott Pilgrim Silkscreened Vinyl Stickers

Three inch round vinyl stickers silkcreened to Scott Pilgrim perfection!

Scott Pilgrim, Limited Edition, Silkcreened Gig Posters

Oni Press, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Daniel Danger’s Tiny Media Empire have teamed up for a limited edition run of Scott Pilgrim gig posters. Each of the four silkscreened gig posters feature a band from the Scott Pilgrim comics by Bryan Lee O’Malley including: Sex Bob-omb, Clash at Demonhead, Crash & the Boys, and Kid Chameleon.

Tiny Media Empire and three powerhouse artists have each lent their style to one of the bands in the Scott Pilgrim series. Kevin Tong, best know for his gig poster work with Sonic Youth, Weezer, and Wilco, took on the Scott Pilgrim series’ quintessential band Sex Bob-omb. Daniel Danger, founder of Tiny Media Empire, put together a legendary video game reference masterpiece for his Clash At Demonhead gig poster. Underground comics favorite, Hellen Jo, used her trademark vibrant style for the quirky Crash & The Boys. And gig poster pros, Aesthetic Apparatus, have created an iconic gem for Scott Pilgrim’s high school band Kid Chameleon.

Each of the four silkscreened, four-color, 18″ x 24″ posters is numbered and collected into a set and 200 sets will be sold at the Oni Press Booth (#1833) during San Diego Comic Con for $120 each. In addition to the full sets, 300 copies of a varient on Kevin Tong’s Sex Bob-omb gig poster featuring a metallic ink will available separately for $35.

Can’t make it to Comic-Con? No worries! Each artist will have a limited quantity of their own poster available for sale on their website after the convention:

• Daniel Danger, Tiny Media Empire, www.tinymediaempire.com

• Kevin Tong, http://www.tragicsunshine.com/

• Hellen Jo, http://helllllen.org/

• Aesthetic Apparatus, http://www.aestheticapparatus.com/

More Oni Merch!

SHIRTS SDCC10 copyNEW Super Pro KO Buttons, Stumptown Shirts, Wet Moon Shirts, Black Metal Shirts, Wasteland Shirts, North World Shirts, Shirts of Shirts with Shirts on them buttoned to buttons of shirts… and much more!

Oni Press on Panels!

THUR

12:00-1:00 Oni Press Presents Panelmonium 2010— Often imitated but never duplicated! Get up close and personal with trend-setting indie comics powerhouse Oni Press. Join in the Q&A with your favorite Oni creators, including Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt (The Sixth Gun), Jarrett Williams (Super Pro K.O.), Rafael Albuquerque (Mondo Urbano), and many more! Get sneak peeks at upcoming Oni projects, news on Oni Press fan initiatives, free Oni comics, prizes, and more! Guaranteed by Oni Press’s totally biased employees to be “the most fun you’ll ever have at a panel.” Room 9

FRI

2:00-3:00 Yo Gabba Gabba! – Panel, Q&A, and Prize Giveaway— For the first time ever, Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, co-creators of Yo Gabba Gabba!, will appear at Comic Con to discuss the pop culture phenomenon, which began as a breakout hit series on Nickelodeon produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, and has since become a hit on stage and screen with preschoolers, their indie-rock-loving parents, teens and young adults. Get the behind-the-scenes scoop on the recently announced 60-city North American tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: There’s a Party in My City. Enter for a chance to win Yo Gabba Gabba! prizes. Get a first look at scenes from upcoming episodes, and be the first to hear about the highly anticipated Yo Gabba Gabba! comic book from Oni Press. Michael Polis, executive producer of Yo Gabba Gabba! and CEO of W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, moderates the panel, which includes Lance Robertson (DJ Lance Rock), Kevin Sukho Lee (animation producer, songwriter), J. Torres, (comic book writer/co-editor), and Matthew Loux (comic book artist). The panel will be followed by a Q&A session. Room 8

*Don’t miss DJ Lance Rock signing at the Oni Press booth #1833 Saturday 7/24 from 2:20 – 3:50PM*

SAT

4:00-5:00 Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour vs. The Fans— It’s been six years and six volumes spanning over 1,000 pages, and you’ve been there since the beginning! But there’s always been one burning question itching at the back of your brain that you thought would never be answered. Think no more! Ready your Q’s, mind your P’s, and join Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley for a battle royale as he quibbles the quips of his worst enemies…his fans! Room 25ABC

*Can’t make it to the panel? No worries! Questions will be accepted beginning Monday 7/19 at scottvsthefans@onipress.com*

Oni Press is pleased to announce the following signings at their booth #1833

Thurs
10:00 – 11:20    Bryan Lee O’Malley,    Rafael Albuquerque, Cullen Bunn &    Brian Hurtt
12:00 – 1:00 ONI    PRESS    PANELMONIUM    2010
1:20 – 2:20 Cullen Bunn &    Brian Hurtt,    Marc Guggenheim &    Justin Greenwood,    Joe Harris
2:30 – 3:50 Nico Hitori De, Jeff Wamester,    Phil Gelatt,    Robbi Rodriguez, Greg Rucka &    Matthew Southworth
4:00 – 5:20 Rick Spears &    Chuck BB, Lars Brown,     Matt Loux,    Ray Fawkes
5:30 – 6:50 Nunzio DeFilippis &    Christina Weir,    Christopher Mitten,    Ross Campbell,    J. Torres

Fri
10:00 – 11:20    Bryan Lee O’Malley,     Rafael Albuquerque, Brian Hurtt &    Cullen Bunn
11:30 – 12:50    Christina Weir &    Nunzio DeFilippis,    Jeff Wamester,    Greg Rucka,    Ande Parks
1:00 – 2:20 Marc Guggenheim    & Justin Greenwood,    Joe Harris,    Lars Brown,    Robbi Rodriguez,    Hunter Clark
2:30 – 3:50 Rick Spears    & Chuck BB,    Ross Campbell,    Brian Hurtt    & Cullen Bunn
4:00 – 5:20 Phil Gellat,    J. Torres,    Ray Fawkes,    Matt Loux
5:30 – 6:50 Bryan Lee O’Malley,    Nico Hitori De,    Rafael Albuquerque

Sat
10:00 – 11:20    Hunter Clark,    Greg Erb & Jason Oremland,    J. Torres,    Marc Guggenheim &    Justin Greenwood,    Rafael Albuquerque
11:30 – 12:50    Bryan Lee O’Malley,    Jarrett Williams,    Robbi Rodriguez,    Joe Harris,    Ross Campbell
1:00 – 2:20    Brian Hurtt    & Cullen Bunn, Greg Rucka    & Matthew Southworth,    Ande Parks,    Nico Hitori De
2:30 – 3:50    DJ Lance Rock,    Matt Loux,    Ray Fawkes
4:00 – 5:20    Brian Hurtt &    Cullen Bunn, Chuck BB    & Rick Spears,    Phil Gelatt,     Rafael Albuquerque
5:30 – 6:50    Bryan Lee O’Malley,    Jarrett Williams,    Christina Weir &    Nunzio DeFilippis,    Jeff Wamester,    Chris Mitten

Sun
10:00 – 11:20    Bryan Lee O’Malley,    Jarrett Williams,    Christina Weir    & Nunzio DeFilippis.    Jeff Wamester,    Chris Mitten
11:30 – 12:50    Brian Hurtt,    Greg Rucka,    Lars Brown,    Joe Harris
1:00 – 2:20    Chuck BB &    Rick Spears, Rafael Albuquerque,     Ray Fawkes,    Matt Loux
2:30 – 3:50    Jarrett Williams,    Hunter Clark,    Brian Hurtt,    Robbi Rodriguez

IDW Publishing Exclusives and Events for San Diego Comic-Con 2010

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Official Press Release

IDW Publishing Exclusives and Events for
San Diego Comic-Con 2010

Top creators, hot exclusives, engaging panels

Booth #2643

[Rocketeer Artists Edition cover]San Diego, CA (July 17, 2010) – In the company’s first San Diego Comic Con appearance as a premier publisher, IDW Publishing will offer an exciting and diverse array of creator signings, exclusives and panels. For complete and up to date information, please visit IDWPublishing.com/SDCC.

Throughout the convention, IDW’s booth #2643 will host such headlining creators as Michael Chiklis (Pantheon), Berkeley Breathed (Bloom County), Joe R. Lansdale, Peter S. Beagle (The Last Unicorn), Scott Morse, Steve Niles, and the creative teams for True Blood, Star Trek, TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and more. Visit IDWPublishing.com/SDCC for a full schedule.

Exclusive items available only from IDW run the gamit from a David Messina wrap around cover for True Blood #1 to a special 100th Anniversary Krazy & Ignatz “Tiger Tea” mug, and include The Rocketeer Artist Edition, Doctor Who #13 photo cover, Joe R. Lansdale’s new novella, “Dread Island,” signed Locke & Key Ghost keys, to name a few. Visit IDWPublishing.com/SDCC for a complete list.

Take a break from the show floor to participate in IDW’s insightful panels featuring discussions with a bevy of talented creators. On Thursday, IDW’s chief creative officer Chris Ryall moderates a panel on transforming film properties into comics, with David Tischman, Max Allan Collins, Mike Johnson, Peter David, Tony Lee and Scott Tipton (4-5 pm, Room 9).

On Friday, IDW editors Andy Schmidt and Denton Tipton treat fans to an in-depth look at what’s coming for TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and Dungeons & Dragons (12 noon-1 pm, Room 8). Also on Friday, Comic-Con International hosts guest Berkeley Breathed for a spotlight panel (1-2 pm, Room 6A).

On Saturday, learn about what IDW has in store for 2011 from Chris Ryall, Scott Dunbier, Brian Lynch and a special guest (12 noon-1 pm, Room 8); hear Alex Irvine, Jonathan Maberry, Mario Acevedo, Nancy Collins, [Bloom County Volume One cover]Peter David and Steve Niles discuss working in comics (2:30-3:30 pm, Room 5AB); and learn about how experience as military service members influences the comics work of Acevedo, Larry Hama, Billy Tucci, and Tom Waltz (5-6 pm, Room 5AB).

On Sunday, round out the convention experience with a panel about the future of digital comics, moderated by Macworld Senior Editor Jason Snell, with IDW’s Director of ePublishing, Jeff Webber, Jeff Smith, iVerse’s Michael Murphy, Sony’s Adriana Eyzaguirre, and creators J. Scott Campbell and Jeff Smith.

For a complete listing of IDW Publishing’s San Diego Comic Con events and exclusives, please visit IDWPublishing.com/SDCC.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; Fox’s Angel; the BBC’s Doctor Who; and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for EA Comics and ComicMix.

IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.

CBLDF’s Massive Comic-Con! 6 Live Art Events, 3 Parties, 1 Unforgettable Auction

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Official Press Release

CBLDF At Comic-Con!

Comic-Con is here!  CBLDF is celebrating the country’s largest gathering of comics and pop culture fans with massive slate of events!  Three parties, Six Live Art Events, an unforgettable auction, the best selection of signed graphic novels at the convention, and amazing exclusives await!  Read on to see what the CBLDF has in store for you at Comic-Con!

Great Donation Rewards at CBLDF Booth 1920!

From the start of Preview Night to the closing moments on Sunday, CBLDF has an amazing array of signed graphic novels, art prints, t-shirts, and other surprises for you at Comic-Con.  Our inventory of signed graphic novels includes more than 200 titles and includes hot titles autographed by creators including: Geoff Johns, Neil Gaiman, Jim Lee, Jill Thompson, Stan Sakai, Frank Miller, and many, many more!  Stop by the CBLDF at booth 1920, right across from DC Comics and claim one of these amazing donation rewards!

Exclusives!

The CBLDF is proud to debut two amazing exclusives at Comic-Con.  First up is an all new Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab fragrance “Liberty Leading The People,” inspired by the famous Delacroix painting embodying the ideals of liberty.  We also are proud to produce a brand new, signed CONAN print by Darick Robertson, commemorating his cover to CBLDF’s Liberty Comics 2010, coming this fall from Image!

Parties!

This year CBLDF brings you THREE amazing parties to celebrate Comic-Con! CBLDF Parties attract the cream of the comics crop, and at each event you can expect to meet and mingle with art stars at work and play.  CBLDF’s Comic-Con parties are open to everyone, whether or not you have a Comic-Con pass, so bring your friends and celebrate comics and Free Speech at any of these events:

Wednesday night it’s Drink, Draw, Dance! a pre-con party, presented by Ale Garza and CBLDF at The Office!  Attending artists include Joe Benitez, Mark Brooks, Francis Manapul, Micah Gunnell, Ale Garza, Sean Dietrich, Oliver Nome, and many others! Also performing live will be up and coming hip-hop artist, Cassanova, as well as a DJ set from Ale Garza! All artwork created by the attending artists will be auctioned off at the CBLDF’s Saturday night auction!   The party starts at 9 PM and rolls on til 2 AM.  The Office is located at 3936 30th Street in North Park.  No cover! RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=109611535756236

Thursday it’s the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party, sponsored by Image Comics, in association with SeenAllOver.com, Soulcraft Comics and IHEARTCOMIX!  Festivities include a WALKING DEAD Live Art Stage, featuring the book’s co-creator Charlie Adlard and presented by Dr. Sketchy’s! PSYCHENAUT, multimedia sound and vision by Paul Pope! DJ set by Franki Chan of IHEARTCOMIX! Plus, a photo booth provided by seenallover.com!  All this, and an auction preview gallery, featuring ETNIES/SEEN custom designed sneakers, the TFAW.com art auction, and a gift bag for the first 300 contributors!  Come dressed in your zombie finest and party down!  Free for CBLDF Members, $10 to $20 suggested donation for non-members! The Westgate Hotel is at 1055 2nd Ave in downtown San Diego.  RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=134933566541001

Saturday brings SCENES OF A GRAPHIC NATURE, presented by Nerd City and sponsored by Image Comics, TFAW.com and Nerd City, featuring live art by Jim Mahfood, Mike Huddleston, Scott Morse, King Gum AKA Dave Crosland, Jason Shawn Alexander, and more, with DJ sets by Major Taylor and Red Sonya, PLUS a performance by San Diego rockers The Burning of Rome, there is no doubt that this is THE party for Nerds in the know. SCENES kicks off at the Soda Bar at 3614 El Cajon Blvd.  Presale tickets are available at http://tickets.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?c=1&lid=45223&eid=52134

CBLDF Comic-Con Benefit Auctions

Saturday 7:30-9:30 CBLDF Benefit Live Auction— This is it, the CBLDF’s biggest auction of the year! Support free speech and walk away with incredible original art! Highlights include original art by Arthur Adams, Paul Pope, Dave McKean, Tara McPherson, Ben Templesmith, Jill Thompson, Jim Lee, Jim Rugg, David Hine, Shaky Kane, and many more. This auction includes highlights from auction initiatives by TFAW.com, Image Comics, and SeenAllOver.com, as well as original art created at the CBLDF Master Sessions. Stop by CBLDF booth (#1920) for a complete auction list. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Room 3

AUCTION PREVIEW WILL LAUNCH ON CBLDF.ORG ON MONDAY, JULY 19

And online now is Lunch With Geoff Johns at Comic-Con! Make your Comic-Con unforgettable by bidding spend a one-on-one hour with DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns in an auction benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!  This is your chance to ask all your questions about Johns’ unforgettable characters, stories, and behind the scenes insights!  All proceeds from this event will benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Bidding ends on Wednesday, July 21!  Visit http://myworld.ebay.com/cbldf/ for your chance to win!


CBLDF Master Sessions & Live Art Jam!


The CBLDF Master Sessions are back, with a full slate of insightful craft programs by comics masters! This year’s sessions are:

Thursday, July 22

12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Session: Paul Pope: Inking with Speed and Precision— Paul Pope became an art icon by building unforgettable characters and worlds with his fearlessly fluid and singular line art. Each of his pages appears to be tightly composed but rapidly executed. Bring your sketchbooks and learn the secrets of a fast, but precise approach to inking at this CBLDF Master Session. The original art from the session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s Art Auction. Room 30CDE

1:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Session: Rob Liefeld: Designing Iconic Characters— Learn what it takes to design a character that’s lasting, iconic, and cool. Using his legendary creations Deadpool, Cable, and Youngblood as examples, Rob Liefeld shows you the values that go into creating a character who can leap from the comics page and into games, film, television, and merchandise. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the CBLDF’s Art Auction! Room 30CDE

Friday July 23

12:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Session: Jill Thompson: Secrets of Watercolor Technique— Bring your sketchbooks and learn the secrets of expressive watercolor from one of the medium’s top practitioners! Renowned for her work on Beasts of Burden, Scary Godmother, and Sandman, Jill Thompson shows you the intricacies of the watercolor medium and how to apply it to making masterful comics and covers. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the CBLDF’s Art Auction! Room 30CDE

Saturday, July 24

12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Session: Terry Moore: Drawing Characters with Character— Learn what it takes to draw characters whose distinctive actions define them on the page. In Echo and Strangers in Paradise Terry Moore has established himself as a master for expressing a wide range of emotions through his characters. Bring your sketchbook and follow along as Moore shows you the secrets of how to make your characters “act” on the page in this CBLDF Master Session. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s Art Auction! Room 30CDE

1:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Session: Darick Robertson: Body Language in Sequential Storytelling— Bring your sketchbook and learn how to express action, attitude, and meaning through your characters’ body language in this CBLDF Master Session. In his work on The Boys, Transmetropolitan, and Conan, Darick Robertson has had to express story through his drawings of a wide variety of characters. Follow along as he demonstrates how body language can add dimension to your sequential storytelling. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s Art Auction. Room 30CDE

Sunday, July 25

12:30-2:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam— Watch Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash), Ale Garza (Fathom), Chris Burnham (X-Men: Manifest Destiny), and Daniel Leister (Hack/Slash) battle it out to see who can make the coolest art before your eyes! Get an inside look behind the scenes at how these artists work, as they make live art projected onto the big screen at the CBLDF Live Art Jam! All art will be auctioned off at the end of the event to benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Room 5AB

Whatever your comics passion, there’s something great in store for you from the CBLDF at Comic-Con!  See you there!

—

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. They have defended dozens of Free Expression cases in courts across the United States, and led important education initiatives promoting comics literacy and free expression. For additional information, donations, and other inquiries call 800-99-CBLDF or visit them online at www.cbldf.org.

Weekly Roundup

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It’s less than a week before San Diego Comic-Con and all the companies are releasing their plans.  Sadly we won’t be there (*sniff* *sniff*) but we hope everyone who is has fun!

http://graphicpolicy.com/2010/07/15/preview-frenemy-of-the-state-2/

Weekly Review

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Here’s this week’s comic books in all their glory.  It’s a pretty light week going into San Diego Comic-Con but some very solid books.

Monthly Comics

Avengers Academy #2 – The second issue focuses on Finesse and how she interacts with the rest of the team and her teachers.  It’s an interesting issue with a lot of set up.  The series is new and finding it’s feet, but in the first two issues there’s a lot set up already.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

Captain America/Black Panther: Flags of our Fathers #4 – Overall I really enjoyed this limited series, but this the fourth and final issue is a bit cheesy in it’s execution, both story and dialogue.  The first three issues are pretty rock solid, it’s just sad that this final chapter is such a let down.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Chew #12 – We normally gush over this series but this semi-stand alone issue doesn’t quite live up to the normal excellence of the series.  Tony has to get back a chicken and teams up with a common crook.  The most entertaining thing about the issue are all of the small additions to the background.  Check out some of the photos hanging in the diner.  An entertaining issue, but just not the usual quality.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 7.75

Daredevil #508 – This is the second chapter to Shadowland, but unlike the first issue of the miniseries there’s a lot of hints as to what’s come before.  It’s not quite as accessible as the miniseries, which makes the issue much weaker and more frustrating to those just coming into the story.

Story: 7 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.25

Daytripper #8 – There’s only two more issues to go in this amazing and touching comic book series.  Each issue shows the power of this form of entertainment and is consistently one of the best comics each month.  A must read.

Story: 9.5 Art: 8.75 Overall: 9.25

DMZ #55 – Even though this issue says “1 of 5,” it’s a stand alone story that focuses on choice in war.  This series is one of the best on the market and should be part of your pull list.  It constantly focuses on modern day issues in a timely fashion and asks questions and makes commentary few are willing to do.  Top notch.

Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9

The Invincible Iron Man #28 – An adult take on Tony Stark and his alter ego that focuses on more than just bad guys and fights.  Tony must deal with Hammer Industries and Detroit Steel at the same time attempting to get his corporation up and running as well.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

The Royal Historian of Oz – Jasper Fizzle is a bad writer who just can’t write about anything other than Oz.  So, what happens when he discovers it’s a real world and heads there?  The comic has an interesting premise and the first issue is pretty entertaining.  It’s only a dollar, so might as well give it a shot.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

The Thanos Imperative #2 – This issue’s focus is to show the level of danger that this event presents to the Marvel universe.  The Abstracts (like Galactus) have stepped up to get involved in the fight.  There’s some impressive visuals, if not a so-so chapter in what’s shaping up to be an epic cosmic event.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age – Interconnecting stories gives us the big picture of where the X-Men stand in the greater Marvel universe and what direction we can expect from the various “X” books in the coming months.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.25

The Unwritten – The series has slowed down form a globe trotting adventure to focus on the release of the next Tommy Taylor book and the possible return of Tom’s father.  This issue continues that story as numerous plot threads continue to play out.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

X-Force: Sex and Violence #1 – A series that lives up to it’s title.  Domino has crossed the Assassins Guild and they’re gunning for her.  In the end, she needs Wolverine to help her out.  It’s a violent action filled comic for violence sake.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.5

X-Men: Second Coming #2 – It’s the end to the best “X” event in decades and I’ll admit there were points I got chills.  A lot of plot points are wrapped up as the entire “X” series of books are tied into the greater Marvel continuity.  A lot of new plot lines are also started.  Here’s a time to jump in and see what you’re missing.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

X-Men Second Coming: Hellbound #3 – The meh offshoot to the amazing “X” event, the team gets back Illyana from Limbo.  There’s a lot of fighting and there’s definitely plot devices that are left wide open.  In the end, there was probably better ways to handle this part of the Second Coming story.

Story: 7 Art: 8 Overall: 7

Graphic Novel

Revolver – Amazing graphic novel.  Read the extended review.

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