Tag Archives: comicspro

Around the Tubes

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It’s new comic book day! What are you getting? Excited for? Sound off in the comments! While you wait for shops to open, here’s some comic news from around the web.

The Beat – ComicsPRO releases results of Comics Retailer Survey – Some interesting information.

The Beat – On the Scene: Brooklyn Independent Comics Showcase is a show on the rise – Anyone go? What’d you think?

ICv2 – Academic Study Finds Positive Mental Health Effects from ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ – Um, yeah. This wasn’t known?

ComicsPRO 2024: ComicsPRO new board announced

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ComicsPRO, the Comics Professional Retail Organization, concluded its 2024 Annual Meeting and has announced changes to the organization’s board.

Tim Stoltzfus of More Fun Comics and Games in Texas stepped down from the board after 6 years, with Siena Fallon of Ultimate Comics in North Carolina elected to his seat, while Katie Pryde of Books with Pictures in Portland was re-elected to her seat.

Jenn Haines of The Dragon in Ontario, Canada, announced that she is stepping down as President of the Board after three years in the role.

It has been an absolute honor to work for all of you.

She cited a need for better work-life balance as the primary impetus for her decision. She remains on the board in the role of Vice President.

Taking over the position of President of the Board is Joe Murray of Captain Blue Hen, who previously served under Haines as Vice President. Murray is a founding member of ComicsPRO and has served on the board for the past five years.

In the announcement, Murray said:

It’s a great honor to be named President of ComicsPRO. I’m standing on the shoulders of giants from founding President Joe Field to my predecessor, Jenn Haines. I’m blessed to be working with an amazing team of Directors ready to drive us forward. Comic retailers are at an inflection point. Our little industry is subject to tidal forces outside of our control. It’s a new ball game and ComicsPRO looks forward to working with our membership, retailers as a whole, and our industry partners to figure out the rules so we can win this game.

Murray listed the continuation of the Comet Standard initiative, membership growth, digital presence improvements, and an overhaul of Local Comic Shop Day among the focuses for the organization this year, alongside its continued activities advocating for the needs of comic retailers with publishers and distributors.

ComicsPRO is a not for profit trade organization dedicated to the progress of direct market comic book retailers. ComicsPRO is the only trade organization for direct-market comic book retailers. ComicsPRO’s goals are not that different from trade organizations in other industries: to promote advocacy, education, and opportunity for their members and for other storefront comic book retailers.

PICTURED: LEFT TO RIGHT ComicsPRO Board Members: Eitan Manhoff, Jenn Haines, Siena Fallon, Joe Murray, Katie Pryde, Moryha Banks, Marc Bowker
PICTURED: LEFT TO RIGHT ComicsPRO Board Members: Eitan Manhoff, Jenn Haines, Siena Fallon, Joe Murray, Katie Pryde, Moryha Banks, Marc Bowker

ComicsPro 2024: Marvel announces Free Marvel Must-Have Comics arriving in March

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Marvel Must-Haves March 2024

Announced at ComicsPRO the Comic Industry Conference, Marvel presents Marvel Must-Haves! These FREE issues collect multiple iconic issues that spotlight the Marvel characters and comic book series currently at the forefront of pop culture. These stories have been handpicked to get fans in-tune with current Marvel adventures, and act as perfect jumping on points for new readers too! 

Here are the three thrilling issues collected in the first Marvel Must-Haves one-shot (that’s more than 80 pages of comic book adventures for free!), available at comic shops next month:

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #1 (2016)

It’s action, adventure and just a smattering of romance in this epic teaming up the Webbed Wonder and the Merc with a Mouth! Talk about a REAL dynamic duo! Brought to you by two Marvel superstars—Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness—it’s a perfect tale for those looking forward to the Deadpool’s return to the big screen. 

Dive into the full story in SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL MODERN ERA EPIC COLLECTION: ISN’T IT BROMANTIC? TPB (9781302951641)

IMMORTAL THOR #2 (2023)

An Elder God of the Utgard-Realm had marked Thor for destruction – and a city with him. Yet the only power that could prevail carried its own terrible price. This is the story of THE IMMORTAL THOR…and the hour of his greatest trial. Following his masterful work on Immortal Hulk, Al Ewing is breaking mythology yet again in this acclaimed new run of the God of Thunder. Featuring breathtaking artwork by superstar Martin Coccolo.

Dive into the full story in IMMORTAL THOR VOL. 1: ALL WEATHER TURNS TO STORM TPB (9781302954185)

MS. MARVEL: THE NEW MUTANT #1 (2023)

Resurrected back into this world of hate and fear, Kamala Khan has a secret mission to pull off for the X-Men, all the while struggling to acclimate to this new part of her identity! Co-written by the MCU’s own Kamala, Iman Vellani, and Sabir Pirzada of both Dark Web: Ms. Marvel and her Disney+ series! Don’t miss this exciting evolution for one of Marvel’s brightest young heroes!

Dive into the full story in MS. MARVEL: THE NEW MUTANT VOL. 1 TPB (9781302954901)

ComicsPro 2024: Mad Cave reveals Flash Gordon! He’ll save every one of us!

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Mad Cave Studios is celebrating the 90th anniversary of Flash Gordon in a big way! The full 2024 Flash Gordon publishing program has been unveiled at ComicsPro, by Director of Marketing, Keith Davidsen.

An iconic American comic strip created and originally drawn by Alex Raymond, has become a timeless symbol of thrilling space adventures and heroic exploits. Since its debut in 1934, Flash Gordon has captured the imagination of readers worldwide with its dynamic storytelling, captivating artwork, and memorable characters.

The ew releases from Mad Cave Studios will feature a new Flash Gordon ongoing series and related works including Defenders of the Earth trade paperback (1980s reprint), an all-new Defenders of the Earth miniseries, Flash Gordon Quarterly, classic newspaper strip hardcover collections, and a Flash Gordon Adventures! all-ages book, from the publisher’s Papercutz imprint.

FLASH GORDON ONGOING SERIES

(W) Jeremy Adams (A) Will Conrad (C) Lee Loughridge (L) Taylor Esposito (CA) Dan Panosian
May

Audiences will thrill with a race against time as Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, and Doctor Zarkov try to stop the villainous Ming the Merciless from using the Unraveller, a device that can unwind an object to their subatomic structure in one apocalyptic burst of energy. 

This all-new series begins with Flash Gordon #0, available as a free promotional item at participating retailers worldwide on Free Comic Book Day 2024 (Saturday, May 4) and featuring cover artist Dan Panosian. The ongoing story continues in Flash Gordon #1 in July.

FLASH GORDON ONGOING SERIES

DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH TPB

June

Flash Gordon teams up with The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, Lothar, and the next generation of legends! Based on the beloved 1980s cartoon series, this 96-page trade paperback collects the classic 1987 four-issue miniseries for the first time ever, featuring legendary creators: Stan Lee, Bob Harras, and Michael Higgins, with pencils by Alex Saviuk and inks by Fred Fredericks. Features a dynamic new cover by Scott Chantler (Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen).

DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH TPB

DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH MINISERIES

August

The 8-issue miniseries based on the beloved 1980s cartoon. While featuring a nostalgic vibe, it’s crafted with all the energetic and engaging storytelling from today’s best comic book teams (TBA).

FLASH GORDON QUARTERLY

September

Mad Cave’s upcoming quarterly series will tell stories of Flash Gordon, Ming, and more beloved characters in wildly entertaining genres that you’d never expect. Each issue spotlights a new and unique take on the characters.

FLASH GORDON: THE COMPLETE LIBRARY OF NEWSPAPER STRIPS

October

(Tentative title) Essential reading for Flash Gordon enthusiasts. A gorgeous archival 200-page hardcover series of Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon newspaper strips comprise legendary strips from the 1930s and throughout the decades. Solicitation begins July 2024.

FLASH GORDON ADVENTURES!

The debut Flash Gordon original graphic novel from Mad Cave Studios’ middle-grade imprint, Papercutz! Flash Gordon Adventures! will introduce the iconic space hero to the next generation through a whimsical young readers program, providing a unique opportunity to invite and engage fans of all ages into the world of Flash Gordon.

ComicsPro 2024: Disney comes to Marvel with Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime written by Jason Aaron

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This June, one of fiction’s most legendary adventurers stars in his first-ever Marvel comic book: Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime #1! 

Announced at the ComicsPRO Comic Industry Conference, Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime #1 represents an unheralded Marvel and Disney collaboration. The extraordinary one-shot will be written by Jason Aaron. Aaron will team up with a cadre of celebrated Scrooge artists, Paolo Mottura, Francesco D’Ippolito, Vitale Mangiatordi, and more to masterfully blend the beloved world of Uncle Scrooge with the hallmarks of Marvel Comics storytelling. 

Since he debuted nearly 80 years ago in Carl Barks’ legendary Christmas on Bear Mountain comic, Scrooge has maintained a treasured spot in comic book history, headlining many successful solo series before taking over the rest of pop culture with his various memorable appearances in animation. Scrooges’ unique legacy in the industry—as well as the types of exploits he’s famous for—make him the perfect candidate to headline Marvel Comics’ first foray into the imagination of Disney’s comic books. The over-sized special will also re-present Christmas on Bear Mountain so readers can experience Scrooge’s groundbreaking first appearance as he enters this exciting new era!

Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime #1 will see Scrooge embark on a time-honored Marvel adventure as he explores the multiverse to stop a twisted alternate Scrooge from becoming the all-powerful and incomprehensibly rich Scrooge-Above-All! Along the way, the story will introduce exciting new takes on the iconic tycoon with a heart of gold and feature appearances by Scrooge’s nephew, Donald Duck; grandnephews, Huey, Duey, and Louie; and his supporting cast of characters including Gyro Gearloose!

It’s the story you never expected! One of the greatest characters in the history of comics leaps into his most epic adventure yet, in the manner only MARVEL can deliver! When Uncle Scrooge’s fabled money bin gets stolen by a shocking culprit, the world’s toughest duck must undertake a quest unlike any other, alongside a surprising array of allies: other versions of himself! 

Check out both Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime #1 main covers by Alex Ross and Lorenzo Pastrovicchio, and don’t miss this historic Marvel comic when it hits stands in June!

ComicsPro 2024: Mad Cave announces an entire publishing line for Gatchaman!

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It’s Mad Cave Studios‘ 10-year anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than to announce their 2024 Gatchaman publishing program at ComicsPro!

The Gatchaman license, originally acquired in 2023 from Tatsunoko Productions, will feature an exciting new rollout of content featuring an ongoing series with a subsequent Vol. 1 trade release, individual character one-shots, and a Galactor miniseries! These new Gatchaman titles will expand upon the original Science Ninja Team Gatchaman continuity, with each project honing its own unique focus while contributing to the overall publishing line.

GATCHAMAN ONGOING SERIES

(W) Cullen Bunn (A) Chris Batista
May

A mechanical terror has descended upon numerous cities and the world’s greatest scientists are disappearing. Our only hope: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman! As they battle these machinations from the international terrorist organization known as Galactor, their strength, willpower, and even vehicles are pushed to the absolute limit. If they fail…who’s waiting in the wings to take their place?

This all-new series begins with Gatchaman #0, available as a free promotional item at participating retailers worldwide on Free Comic Book Day 2024 (Saturday, May 4) and featuring cover artist Chris Samnee.

The ongoing story continues in Gatchaman #1 in June, with Cover A by Inaki Miranda, Cover B by Sanford Greene (which connects with the B covers for issues #2-5 to form a panoramic image), Cover C by Chris Batista, the Cover D Blank Sketch Cover edition, and Cover E retailer incentive by Francine Delgado. Trade paperback available in December, collecting the complete storyline from issues #0-5.

GATCHAMAN ONE-SHOT SPECIALS

(W) Tommy Lee Edwards (A) Mindy Lee
June

Debuts with Gatchaman—Ken: Deathmatch, focusing on Ken the Eagle. 

Ken goes undercover to infiltrate an underground gambling ring where martial artists from around the globe fight to the death. There, the winners are captured and brought to a secret Galactor recruiting base. If they refuse to join, the captives are dropped in the jungle and hunted as prey for Galactor’s training program. Can anyone make it out alive?

The second one-shot will be Gatchaman—Jun, focusing on Jun the Swan, which will be released in November.

GATCHAMAN: GALACTOR MINISERIES

(W) Steve Orlando (A) Kath Lobo

Four-issue miniseries exploring the seedy underbelly of the Gatchaman universe.

Galactor is under siege by a threat from within! After a secret attempt on his life, Berg Katse sets about to uncover a conspiracy within Galactor, born of their earliest days. Galactor’s leader goes undercover to hunt, identify, and ruthlessly dispense with a revolution growing within Galactor’s ranks. The masked villain Berg Katse must root out a conspiracy within Galactor, the sinister organization that plagues Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.

Gatchaman publishing schedule

BOOM! Studios Reveals a First Look at ComicsPro 2024

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BOOM! Studios is returning to ComicsPRO’s Annual Comic Industry Meeting, which marks the organization’s 20th anniversary this year in Pittsburgh, PA. As we continue to support and champion our retail partners in 2024, please find the key points from BOOM! Studios’ presentation below:

  • BOOM! Studios believes 2024 will be a transformational year, and as such is a Platinum Sponsor for ComicsPRO 2024 alongside Marvel, DC, and all three major distributors.
  • BOOM! Studios celebrates two major anniversaries:
    • The 5th year anniversary of the Slaughterverse’s flagship title SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN and co-creator James Tynion IV’s 10th anniversary at the company.
    • The 10th year anniversary of the award-winning YA imprint BOOM! Box and its category-defining series LUMBERJANES.
  • BOOM! Studios will be announcing a slate of new projects for the year leading up to, and during, the annual conference.
  • To celebrate and thank retailers attending ComicsPRO 2024, BOOM! Studios is coming with 5 variants exclusive to attendees:
    • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1
    • Man’s Best #1 Ashcan
    • The Displaced #1
    • Uncanny Valley Sketch Poster
    • The Amory Wars: No World For Tomorrow Poster
  • At ComicsPRO 2024, BOOM! Studios is proud to be bringing the most top level talent in comics. In addition to its complete direct market sales team, over the course of the conference, BOOM! Studios will have in attendance:
    • Actress/Writer/Director and original Pink Ranger Amy Jo Johnson (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return)
    • Pornsak Pichetshote and Jesse Lonergan (Man’s Best)
    • Ed Brisson (The Displaced)
    • Tony Fleecs and Dave Wachter (Uncanny Valley)
    • Claudio Sanchez and Chondra Echert (The Amory Wars: No World For Tomorrow)
      • An exclusive private performance by The Prizefighter Inferno the evening of Thursday February 22 for attending retailers.

Binc Awards Two Scholarships to the ComicsPRO Industry Meeting

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Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation has awarded $750 scholarships for the ComicsPRO industry meeting in Pittsburgh February 22-24, 2024, to Miranda Nordell at Dreamers & Make-Believers Books in Baltimore, Maryland and Drew Sullivan at Ash Avenue Comics & Books in Tempe, Arizona. They can use the funds for travel, replacement wages, lodging and meals; ComicsPRO will cover the registration fee for the meeting.

In addition, Jean Michel at Megabrain Comics in Rhinebeck, New York, will also attend. He was awarded a scholarship in 2023 that was deferred until this year.

ComicsPRO is the only trade organization for direct-market comic book retailers. The organization’s industry conference is a chance for ALL store-front comic retailers (members and non-members) to meet with comic publishers and distributors and other pop culture wholesalers. 

Binc Offers Two Scholarships to ComicsPRO Industry Meeting

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Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation will provide two $750 scholarships for comic book store owners and their employees to attend the ComicsPRO industry meeting in Pittsburgh February 22-24, 2024. The funds may be used for travel, replacement wages, lodging and meals; ComicsPRO will cover the registration fee for the meeting. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, at 5 p.m. EST.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant’s store must be in the U.S. or U.S. territories and be either a retail bricks-and-mortar store owned by an entity a substantial portion of whose revenue is derived from the bricks-and-mortar sale of books/comics, or mobile or pop-up store with an ongoing overhead investment that is open to the general public and maintains an annual average of 30 hours per week with an employee present.
  • The applicant must be a regular part-time or full-time employee or owner of a comic shop.
  • Applicants must be currently employed and have 90 days of continuous employment with the comic shop.
  • Applicants must discuss application and potential selection as scholarship recipient with store owner/manager prior to applying for the scholarship.

Mark Brooks celebrates the X-Men and Avengers’ legacies with Corner Box Variant Covers

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This year, fans can embrace Marvel’s iconic tradition of Corner Boxes with a new line of variant covers by acclaimed, best-selling cover artist Mark Brooks!

Shown to retailers at ComicsPro, these covers will feature eye-catching and classic-style corner boxes that depict lineups from throughout Avengers and X-Men history, starting with their original Silver Age rosters! On sale just in time for the two title’s milestone 60th anniversaries, see one of the industry’s most celebrated talents honor the Avengers and X-Men’s multitude of incredible characters with glorious headshots. Brooks’ Corner Box Variant Covers will run on Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa’s new Avengers run and Gerry Duggan and Joshua Cassara’s X-Men series throughout 2023.

Stay tuned for more Corner Box Variant Covers reveals in the months ahead!

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