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Comics Creators Named to OUT Magazine’s “OUT 100” for Anti-Bullying Comic Book

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Official Press Release

November 17, 2011—OUT Magazine revealed today that Charles “Zan” Christensen and Mark Brill—creators of the anti-bullying comic THE POWER WITHIN—have been recognized as two of 2011’s “OUT 100”, described by the magazine as an “annual salute to the year’s most inspiring people”. Other notable honorees this year include Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sandra Bernhard, Justin Bond, Dustin Lance Black, David Mixner, Harmony Santana, Chaz Bono, and Tim Gunn.

Christensen and Brill started work on THE POWER WITHIN in October of last year for 24-Hour Comics Day, an event where artists and writers attempt to create a complete 24-page comic book in 24 hours. Their story focused on a boy named Shannon who deals with bullying at school by escaping into a super-powered alter-ego but ultimately has to find the strength to face the harassment in real life.

The decision to do a comic that tackles antigay bullying was prompted by the previous month’s numerous reports of teen suicides linked to bullying and harassment. Those reports spurred Ellen Degeneres to speak out to raise awareness and Dan Savage to start the It Gets Better Project.

“We didn’t go into this project knowing where it would go,” said Christensen, who scripted the book and coordinated the project. “We just felt compelled to tell a story that confronted the epidemic we saw unfolding before us and offered some hope. We’re humbled to be recognized for our efforts, and hope that others will continue use their skills and their resources to change kids’ lives for the better.”

THE POWER WITHIN was completed in Spring of 2011 and released as a limited edition black-and-white comic at Seattle’s Emerald City Comic-Con, but Christensen and Brill decided to raise funds for a much larger color print run of the book and make it available for free to schools and other youth resources. Brill continued to work on the book, adding full color and additional art, while Christensen recruited special guests to contribute bonus pages to the project.

The finished book contains pages by a collection of comics industry heavyweights, including Gail Simone (Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey), Phil Jimenez (New X-Men, Wonder Woman), Greg Rucka (Detective Comics, Gotham Central), Matthew Clark (Outsiders, Wonder Woman), Stephen Sadowski (JSA, Warlord of Mars), Dan Parent (Archie, Kevin Keller), Donna Barr (The Desert Peach), Andy Mangels (Gay Comics, Iron Man: Beneath the Armor) and Carla Speed McNeil (FINDER).

The book was published by Northwest Press and made its debut at Comic-Con in San Diego in late July, hitting store shelves later that summer. It was well-received by readers and critics alike.

“It’s been really amazing—this project seems like one of those things that was just meant to be,” said Brill. “I think Zan and I were both really inspired and motivated to do something positive with this story and people have really responded to it.”

“THE POWER WITHIN goes well beyond what’s expected of a project done with the best intentions,” said François Peneaud of The Gay Comics List. “It’s a moving depiction of what’s unfortunately the real life of some teenagers in our society, and the creators involved can only hope it will contribute, in its own ways, to the improvement of that situation.”

“Gay comic creators Mark Brill and Charles ‘Zan’ Christensen have created what may be the best comic book of the year,” said Andrew Belonsky of Towleroad.com.

To date, Northwest Press has distributed over 700 free copies of the book to over 50 Gay-Straight alliances, schools, churches, community centers and other youth organizations across the United States and beyond. Northwest Press encourages organizations to request copies of the book to use as teaching and outreach tools. In addition to the main story and bonus pages, the book contains a page of discussion questions and resources for LGBT teens.

THE POWER WITHIN was released by Northwest Press, an LGBT graphic novel and comics publisher founded in 2010. The publisher’s books include the Lambda-Award-winning TELENY AND CAMILLE, Lambda-Award-finalist GLAMAZONIA: THE UNCANNY SUPER-TRANNY, David Kelly’s RAINY DAY RECESS: THE COMPLETE STEVEN’S COMICS, Rick Worley’s A WASTE OF TIME, and Christensen and Brill’s supernatural comic series THE MARK OF AEACUS, co-published with Class Comics.

Christensen and other Northwest Press artists will be exhibiting at the Los Angeles LGBT comic convention BENT-CON on December 3rd and 4th.

Christensen (left) and Brill's (right) portrait for the OUT 100 is a recreation of a classic Laurel and Hardy photograph; the theme of this year's OUT 100 photo gallery is classic portraiture.

NYCC 11 – Prism Comics Makes a Big Splash at New York Comic-Con October 13-16!

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Official Press Release

Prism Comics

Prism Comics Makes a Big Splash at New York Comic-Con October 13-16

Prism’s “Gay Agenda” includes a “Women in Queer Comics” panel, more than a dozen creator signings, new releases from Outlines Press, Ignite Entertainment, Northwest Press, and more!

New York, NY—Prism Comics, the premier nonprofit supporting LGBT comics, will be “queer central” for both creators and fans at New York Comic-Con from October 13-16. Prism’s double booth (#1058) will host signings with top LGBT comic book creators all weekend. Prism is also proudly hosting the panel “XX: The Women of Queer Comics”, moderated by JD Glass and featuring Paige Braddock, Jennifer Camper, Joan Hilty, Abby Denson, Kris Dresen and Erica Friedman.

“We’re excited to provide a home for the ‘barbarian’ hordes of LGBT fans in the New York area” says David Stanley, Prism’s PR Chair. “We’ll be the only booth to feature a full line of LGBT comics, from best sellers to impossible-to-find favorites.”

Prism will be hosting six featured guests throughout the show: Tony Breed (Finn and Charlie are Hitched), Dylan “NDR” Edwards (Politically InQueerect, Transposes), Jeff Krell (Jayson), Eisner nominee Kris Dresen (She’s In The Trees, gone) and Lambda Literary Award Finalist J.D. Glass (CORE) from Outlines Press, and Charles “Zan” Christensen (The Power Within, The Mark of Aeacus) from Northwest Press. The booth will also host Jennifer Camper, Topher MacDonald, Ivan Velez, Jr., Erica Friedman, Sean McGrath, Sabin Calvert, and more.

“XX: The Women in Queer Comics” takes place on Friday, October 14th, from 7:45-8:45pm. LGBT women and their straight allies are a force to be reckoned with in the comics world. JD Glass moderates a dynamic panel exploring the specific challenges they face in the traditional comics world and the changing digital landscape, as well as the unique perspectives, storytelling aesthetics, and sense of community they bring to the table. Explore the past, present, and future of women in queer comics with Paige Braddock (Jane’s World), Jennifer Camper (Rude Girls and Dangerous Women), Joan Hilty (Bitter Girl), Kris Dresen, Abby Denson (Tough Love: High School Confidential), and Erica Friedman (Yuricon & ALC Publishing).

Kris Dresen’s gone will be making its debut at New York Comic Con, and introduces the first book-length use of Dresen’s lush pencil work. “I am really excited about this,” says Glass. “We’re taking stories and worlds, bringing them to life in new ways.” Adds Dresen, “This work really pushes the boundaries in terms of storytelling and visuals.”
JD Glass will have her new title CORE, which premiered at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, and is a bold marrying of prose and graphics. gone and CORE are are from the new publishing imprint, Outlines Press, which plans future releases by Golden Crown Finalist Susan Smith, Lambda Literary  Award winner Georgia Beers, Andi Marquette, and Susan X Meagher. The company will publish complete single books, serialized stories, and anthologies.
Jeff Krell will be bringing his new translation of Ralf König’s Down to the Bone, the sequel to the blockbuster Killer Condom. Dylan “NDR” Edwards will have preview copies of his forthcoming Transposes, and Tony Breed will have both volumes of his Finn and Charlie are Hitched collections.
Charles “Zan” Christensen will have copies of his anti-bullying comic, The Power Within, which was released this summer, and the latest full-length book from Northwest Press, Rick Worley’s A Waste of Time.

Drop by the Prism Booth for a copy of The Gay Agenda, which lists everything queer happening at New York Comic-Con, or download a copy ahead of time. For more information on Prism Comics, go to prismcomics.org.

New York Comic Con, the East Coast’s biggest popular culture convention, is held at the Javits Center at 655 West 34th Street at 11th Avenue. For more information, go to newyorkcomiccon.com.

Prism Comics is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) creators, characters, themes and readers in the comic book field. Along with convention appearances, Prism awards an annual Queer Press Grant, and maintains a website (prismcomics.org) with LGBT creator listings and features on all that’s queer in comics.

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Web Links:
Prism Comics: http://prismcomics.org
New York Comic-Con: http://newyorkcomiccon.com
Outlines Press: http://www.outlinespress.com
Prism Comics’ “Gay Agenda” PDF: http://www.prismcomics.org/files/NYCC_The_Gay_Agenda_NYCC_2011.pdf

Images:

Prism Comics’ The Gay Agenda for New York Comic Con 2011

Kris Dresen’s gone from Outlines Press

J.D. Glass’ CORE from Outlines Press

Down to the Bone from Ignite Entertainment

The Power Within from Northwest Press

A Waste of Time from Northwest Press

Transposes by Dylan “NDR” Edwards

I Love You, You Big Weirdo by Tony Breed

Review – The Power Within

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This is a bit different than the normal review I do on the site as this comic is currently raising money on Kickstarter.  The Power Within is a comic entry by Northwest Press for “It Gets Better,” an international campaign to help young gay and lesbian kids get past the bullying many experience every day.

Forgetting the good cause it is, the comic is really good.  By the end I let out a gasp and also choked up a bit.  The story focuses on Shannon a gay young man who’s told to hide who he is so he doesn’t get bullied.  Whether you’re gay, straight, black, brown, yellow, blue, whatever, it’s not easy to be told to lie about who you are.

To deal with the bullying Shannon creates an alter-ego to help him deal with it.  Something no one should have to do to cope.  The goal of the fundraising campaign is great too:

Money raised through Kickstarter will be put toward the cost of printing the book, and will help us print a larger quantity. (Printing comics is much more affordable per copy with large print runs!)

In addition to sharing a great story, our goal is to get copies of the book into the hands of young people through youth centers, gay-straight alliances, and teachers’ groups. Printing the book in a large print run will help us distribute free copies of the book to people who need to hear its message.

The story by Charles Christensen just hits you.  You can’t help but feel for Shannon and what he has to deal with.  Gay or straight, many of us have been picked on for just being who we are, so you can easily relate.  The story takes you through the progression and it got me to gasp and choke up by the end.  Mark Brill‘s art is solid as well.

This is a great example of the comic book industry speaking out on an issue and helping a great cause.  No one should get bullied and this is just one of the many things we need to do to end the torture so many experience every day.

Fundraising ends today at 4pm at Kickstarter.

the Power Within

Recommendation: Donate today!

Northwest Press provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.

Gail Simone Urges Support of Anti-Bullying Comic Book

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Official Press Release

Comics Writer Gail Simone Calls for Support of Anti-Bullying Comic Book;

Deadline is This Friday at 4pm

May 19, 2011 — Gail Simone, a comics writer who’s worked on Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey and Secret Six for DC Comics, recorded a video today urging support of the forthcoming anti-bullying comic book from Northwest Press, a publisher of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender graphic novels and comics. Northwest is raising funds on the website Kickstarter to produce its anti-bullying comic book The Power Within to distribute to youth and teachers’ groups, and its fundraising deadline is this Friday, May 20th at 4:00pm Pacific time.

The project is written by Charles “Zan” Christensen and drawn by Mark Brill, and features bonus material by Simone, as well as Dan Parent (creator of Archie Comics’ first openly gay character, Kevin Keller), Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman, New X-Men), Greg Rucka (52, Detective Comics featuring Batwoman), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Andy Mangels (Gay Comics) and Donna Barr (The Desert Peach).

For more information about The Power Within, visit the project’s Kickstarter page.

# # #

About Gail Simone:

Gail Simone is a writer who’s worked on the comics series Deadpool, Secret Six, Wonder Woman, and Birds of Prey, and many others. She’s also written for the TV show Justice League Unlimited and plotted the 2009 animated Wonder Woman animated feature. She lives in Oregon.

About Northwest Press:

Northwest Press is a book publisher founded in 2010 dedicated to publishing the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender comics collections and graphic novels. To date, it has released three graphic novels, one comic book, and a variety of minicomics

About Mark Brill:

Mark Brill is a comics illustrator living in Tacoma, Washington. He co-created the erotic thriller The Mark of Aeacus-co-published by Class Comics and Northwest Press-with writer Charles “Zan” Christensen.

http://markbrill.com

About Charles “Zan” Christensen:

Charles “Zan” Christensen is a writer of comics and prose living in Seattle, Washington. He founded the LGBT comics nonprofit Prism Comics in 2003, and is the organization’s current President. He founded Northwest Press in 2010.

About Kickstarter:

Kickstarter is a website that facilitates funding of creative projects through grassroots fundraising. The site is designed with an “all-or-nothing” funding method, where projects must be fully funded or no money changes hands.