Tag Archives: libraries

BOOM! Studios’ Digital Editions pulled from Comics Plus and Libraries

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BOOM! Studios logo

2025 seems to be the year of bad choices, bad ideas, and drama in the comic industry. The latest being that BOOM! Studios‘ digital editions are being pulled from libraries.

BOOM! was acquired by Penguin Random House last year and with it has moved to them for comic distribution and now due to Penguin Random House’s lack of support of “unlimited engagement models,” Comics Plus will be deactivating digital editions of BOOM!’s titles on May 30, 2025.

Wait, what’s going on? Thankfully Comics Plus has put out an explanation of how it all works (sort of). You can read about that here and here.

Libraries are very limited in their budget and that is a factor in what books they carry along with reader demand and other considerations. This can create an issue where a limited number of books are carried due to cost and popularity, boxing out other titles. Comics Plus has a pricing model where more titles can be offered allowing for long term growth in interest but that needs cooperation, understanding, and interest from publishers.

Read Comics Plus’ announcement below.

(via The Beat)

Skybound Announces Author Programming with The New York Public Library This Summer

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Skybound, Image Comics, and The New York Public Library (NYPL) have announced a slate of author talks with top Skybound creators, which will run from May to October and be hosted online for interested parties to attend.    

Acclaimed Skybound talent Tillie Walden (writer/artist, Clementine Book Three), Faith Erin Hicks (writer/artist, Universal Monsters: The Mummy), Matt Braly (writer, Family Force V), Ainsworth Lin (artist, Family Force V), Sarah Graley (writer/artist, Pizza Witch), Stef Purenins (writer/artist, Pizza Witch), Brian “Smitty” Smith (writer, TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint!), and Marz Jr. (artist, TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint!) will be on hand to speak about their new and upcoming work published through Skybound and Skybound Comet, an imprint of Skybound aimed at Young Adult (Ages 12+) and Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) audiences, but sure to captivate readers of all ages.  

Copies of the Clementine trilogy, Family Force V, Pizza Witch, TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint! and Universal Monsters: The Mummy will be available via the NYPL with a valid library card.   

The full slate of author talks is below.  

  • NYPL Author Talk with Matt Braly and Ainsworth Lin (Tuesday, May 27) 
    Time of Event: 3:30 PM ET/12:30 PM PT – 4:30 PM ET/1:30 PM PT 
    Location: Online via Google Meet 

    Join for a discussion with the creative team of writer Matt Braly (creator of Disney’s Amphibia) and illustrator, Aisworth Lin, as they talk about their debut graphic novel Family Force V!  
    Event Page
  • NYPL Author Talk with Tillie Walden (Wednesday, June 4)  
    Time: 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT – 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT 
    Location: Online via Google Meet 

    Join for a discussion with award-winning cartoonist Tillie Walden, author of books On a Sunbeam and Are You Listening?! Topics for discussion include her career in the comic book industry and her upcoming graphic novel Clementine Book Three, the epic conclusion to the Clementine trilogy!  
    Link to Event Page
  • NYPL Author Talk with Sarah Graley and Stef Purenins (Tuesday, July 8)  
    Time: 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT – 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT 
    Location: Online via Google Meet 

    Join for a discussion with comic creator duo Sarah Graley and Stef Purenins, as they talk about their comic book career and their upcoming graphic novel Pizza Witch! 
    Link to Event Page
  • NYPL Author Talk with Brian “Smitty” Smith and Marz Jr. (Friday, July 11)  
    Time: 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT – 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT 
    Location: Online via Google Meet 

    Join for a discussion with writer Brian “Smitty” Smith and Marz Jr. as they talk about their comic book careers and their upcoming graphic novel TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint!  
    Link to Event Page
  • NYPL Author Talk with Faith Erin Hicks (Thursday, October 2) 
    Time: 3:30 PM ET/12:30 PM PT – 4:30 PM ET/1:30 PM PT 
    Location: Online via Google Meet 

    Join for a discussion with award-winning and New York Times bestselling comics creator Faith Erin Hicks about her comic book career and her limited series Universal Monsters: The Mummy.  
    Link to Event Page

Elfquest creators Wendy and Richard Pini donate $500,00 to Columbia University’s Comics Archive

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Elfquest Vol. 1

Wendy and Richard Pini, the duo behind the popular ElfQuest comic are donating $500,000 to Columbia University to help support the school library’s collection of comics, graphic novels, and prose.

The money will help digitize, for preservation, and more. It continues the Pini’s donations that began with ElfQuest material.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2012, Karen Green, the curator for comics and cartoons within Columbia’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library, approached the Pinis about helping preserve their creation. That turned into 37 linear feet of boxes of ElfQuest related material being donated. That included over 2,000 of Wendy’s hand-draw, hand-painted storyboards from 1978 to 1990.

But it goes beyond ElfQest, it also includes Pini’s adaptation of Michael Moorcock’s Stormbringer, scripts and novelization of ElfQuest: Journey to Sorrow’s End, her adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s Masque of the Red Death, and even materials related to Wendy’s infamous 1976 Red Sonja cosplay costume. There’s also artwork, scripts, notes, production papers, and fan mail and fan art.

The donation will help preserve numerous projects from multiple creators, not just ElfQuest and the Pinis.

The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries 2025 grant cycle application ends soon

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2025 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries

The Application for the 2025 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries closes on January 12, 2025 at 12pm CT. Handed out annually, the award is administered by the American Library Association’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table.

Two grants will be given. The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grants provides support to a library that would like to expand its existing graphic novel services and programs and the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant provides support to a library for the initiation of a graphic novel service, program, or initiative.

The goal of the grant is to help launch library-generated programs that promote graphic novels to library patrons as well as to the local community.

Each winning library receives a grant award of $4,000 to support initiatives that align with the objective of the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries. The grant award will consist of the following:

  • $2,000 grant in collection development funds to purchase graphic novels,
  • $1,000 grant to host a graphic novel-themed event at a library or another community location, and
  • $1,000 grant to attend the ALA Annual Conference to receive their grant money. This grant can be used towards any of the following: conference registration, transportation, lodging and food.

In addition, from the book publishers and the Eisner Foundation, the winning libraries will also receive the following graphic novels, valued at approximately $3,000:

  • The Will Eisner Library: A graphic novel collection of Will Eisner’s work and biographies about Will Eisner (comprising approximately 40 books)
  • A selection of the winning titles from the current year’s Will Eisner Awards at Comic-Con International (comprising approximately 40 books).

You can find out more about the grants as well how to apply online.

Around the Tubes

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Deadpool and Wolverine

It’s a new day and we’re kicking it off with some comic news and a review from around the web you might have missed!

Kotaku – Deadpool & Wolverine: 8 Great Comics To Read After Seeing The Movie – What would you suggest to add to the list?

The Beat – SDCC ’24: Library catalogs offer a unique perspective on comics history – A big space for comics to continue to grow!

The Beat – SDCC ’24: Is it going to be Covid-Con forever? – Yes, it is until there’s a medical solution that it isn’t. Wear a mask!

Review

The Beat – Wonder Woman Historia – The Amazons

Around the Tubes

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Duke #1

It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d you all get? What’d you like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below. While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.

The Beat – Tilting at Windmills #296: We’re One Success Away From Saving Comics – Agree? Disagree?

Washington Post – This Arlington librarian is pushing back against book bans – Good, all librarians should be!

Reviews

Comicbook – Action Comics Annual 2023
Comicbook – Duke #1
Comicbook – Timeless #1

LibraryPass and Oni Press Announce Digital Access for Libraries and Schools Through Comics Plus

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Oni Press and Lion Forge on Comics Plus

LibraryPass, Inc. has announced a distribution agreement with Oni Press to make its digital catalog available to libraries and schools  through Comics Plus, consolidating the existing backlist titles from Lion Forge Comics under one banner. With Comics Plus, readers can access thousands of digital comics,  graphic novels, and manga through their school or library, with unlimited simultaneous  access for online and offline reading.  

Founded in 1997, Oni Press has a 25-year history as one of the industry’s most respected  and acclaimed publishers of award-winning comic books and graphic novels with titles  including Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim, K. O’Neill’s Tea Dragon Society, Cullen Bunn  & Brian Hurtt’s The Sixth Gun, Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, Ezra Claytan Daniels’  Upgrade Soul, Brenna Thummler’s Sheets trilogy, and many hundreds more. In 2019, Oni  Press merged with Lion Forge Comics – the Eisner Award-winning independent comic  book publisher founded by Academy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur David  Steward II – to create one of the largest, independent libraries of comics content anywhere  in media. The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group now exists as a publishing subsidiary of  Steward’s diversified global media company, Polarity. 

The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group publishes more than 60 original and licensed graphic  novels annually, in addition to an extensive list of periodical comics. Many notable titles  from Oni Press are already available on Comics Plus, like Action Journalism, Gender  Queer, No Ivy League, Puerto Rico Strong, Sheets, and Upgrade Soul, with more to be  added in the months ahead, including the complete Scott Pilgrim.

Around the Tubes

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Daredevil #1

It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d you all get? What’d you like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.

ICv2 – Red-State Libraries Pull Out of American Library Association – Jokes on them, libraries are likely going to be shut down in those states anyways…

The Beat – 2023 National Book Awards Young People’s Literature longlist announced – Congrats to all!

Reviews

Collected Editions – Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 5
Comicbook – Daredevil #1
Comicbook – Hexagon Bridge #1
CBR – Kill Your Darlings #1

Skybound Comet announces Author Programming with the New York Public Library

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Skybound Comet

Skybound, in partnership with The New Yok Public Library (NYPL), have announced a slate of author talks with top Skybound Comet creators, which will run from August to October and be hosted online for NYPL patrons to attend.   

Acclaimed Skybound talent Michelle Fus (writer/artist and co-creator, Ava’s Demon series), Tri Vuong (writer/artist and co-creator, Everday Hero Machine Boy), Irma Kniivila (writer/artist and co-creator, Everday Hero Machine Boy) and Mairghread Scott (writer and co-creator, Sea Serpent’s Heir trilogy), and will be on hand to speak about their original graphic novels published through Skybound Comet, an imprint aimed at Young Adult (Ages 12+) and Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) audiences, but sure to captivate readers of all ages. 

Copies of their Skybound Comet graphic novels are available via the NYPL with a valid library card.  

The full slate of author talks is below.  

AUTHOR TALKS FEATURING SKYBOUND TALENT: 

  • NYPL Author Talk with Tri Vuong & Irma Kniivila (Everyday Hero Machine Boy)  
  • Date: Friday, August 18 
  • Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET 
  • Location: Online via Google Meet 
  • Description: Join Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Librarian in a discussion with comic book writers and cartoonists, Tri Vuong & Irma Kniivila, as they talk about their latest graphic novel, Everyday Hero Machine Boy! While it is not required to attend the program, you can get a copy of Everyday Hero Machine Boy with your library card! 
  • Event Page
  • NYPL Author Talk with Mairghread Scott (Sea Serpent’s Heir)  
  • Date: Wednesday, September 6 
  • Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET 
  • Location: Online via Google Meet 
  • Description: Join Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Librarian in a discussion with comic book and animation writer Mairghread Scott, as she talks about her graphic novel, Sea Serpent’s Heir! While it is not required to attend the program, you can get a copy of Sea Serpent’s Heir with your library card! 
  • Event Page
  • NYPL Author Talk with Michelle Fus (Ava’s Demon)  
  • Date: Tuesday, October 3 
  • Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET 
  • Location: Online via Google Meet 
  • Description: Join Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Librarian in a discussion with writer and artist Michelle Fus, as they talk about their popular webcomic, Ava’s Demon! While it is not required to attend the program, you can get a copy of Ava’s Demon with your library card! 
  • Event Page
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