Click here to view the embedded video.

When I first heard about Fantagraphics’ Destroy All Movies The Complete Guide To Punks On Film I immediately knew this book was for me.  Being a “punk” myself and a huge cult film nerd how could I not be excited.

Destroy All Movies is an informative, hilarious and impossibly complete guide to every appearance of a punk (or new waver!) to hit the screen in the 20th Century. Featuring A-to-Z coverage of over 1100 feature films from around the world, as well as dozens of exclusive interviews with the cast/creators of crucial titles like Repo Man, Return of the Living Dead, The Decline of Western Civilization and Valley Girl.

Also examined are several hundred prime examples of straight-to-VHS slasher trash, breakdancing fairytales, no-budget apocalyptic epics and movies that barely exist. Plus hundreds of eyeball-smashing stills and posters, many in full color!

Six years in the making, this pulse-bursting monument to lowbrow cultural obsession is a must for all film fanatics, music maniacs, anti-fashion mutants, ’80s nostalgists, sleazoids, cop-killers and spazzmatics!

So while researching this book I came across their websites www.punksonfilm.com and I tell you its just as entertaining as the book.  On their site is an announcement for an east coast book tour with screenings and special guests from films that are covered in the book.  I instantly started dreaming of meeting Jon Gries at a screening of Terror Vision!!!

So I sent an e-mail to their contact introducing myself and letting them know that I (and Forbidden Planet of course) love the book and want to get involved in the book tour.  One of the writers, Zack Carlson promptly replied with some awesome yet sad information.

We’re actually at a dumb point with the book. The first printing is totally sold out (that’s good!) but there aren’t currently enough back orders for the publisher to put in for a second printing. So it’s kinda junked up our East Coast/Canada tour plans… So we’re stuck unless there’s suddenly some massive public demand for more copies… It’s a sad truth, but there it is.

So I encourage you all to buy copies of this book before they disappear for good.  Oh, and calling all your local retailers and making sure they have it in stock (or on back order) would help.  Lets see this baby go to a second print.  Destroy All Movies The Complete Guide To Punks On Film is too good to fall off the face of the earth so soon.

Mmmmm.

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators – those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field.  They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book creators.The Harvey Awards will be presented August 28, 2010 in Baltimore, MD, as part of  the Baltimore Comic-Con’s programming, and will be MC’d by PVP cartoonist Scott Kurtz.

Books in bold and underlined are direct links to items available now from fpnyc.com.

BEST WRITER

Jason Aaron, “SCALPED”, Vertigo/DC Comics
Geoff Johns, “BLACKEST NIGHT”, DC Comics
Robert Kirkman, “THE WALKING DEAD”, Image Comics
Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
Mark Waid, “IRREDEEMABLE”, BOOM! Studios

BEST ARTIST

Robert Crumb, “BOOK OF GENESIS”, W.W. Norton
Guy Davis, “BPRD: BLACK GODDESS”, Dark Horse Comics
Brian Fies, “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”,
Abrams ComicArts
David Petersen, “MOUSE GUARD : WINTER 1152″, Archaia Studios Press
Frank Quitely, “BATMAN AND ROBIN”, DC Comics
JH Williams III, “DETECTIVE COMICS”, DC Comics

BEST CARTOONIST

Darwyn Cooke, “RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE HUNTER”, IDW
Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
Roger Langridge, “THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK”, BOOM! Studios
David Mazzucchelli, “ASTERIOS POLYP”, Pantheon
Seth, “GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, Drawn and Quarterly

BEST LETTERER

Chris Eliopoulos, “FRANKLIN RICHARDS: SON OF A GENIUS” stories, Marvel Comics
Brian Fies, “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”,
Abrams ComicArts
Thomas Mauer, “RAPTURE”, Dark Horse Comics
David Mazzucchelli, “ASTERIOS POLYP”, Pantheon
Richard Starkings, “ELEPHANTMEN”, Image Comics

BEST  INKER

Oclair Albert, “BLACKEST NIGHT”, DC Comics
Steve Ellis, “HIGH MOON”,  Zuda/DC Comics
Klaus Janson, “AMAZING SPIDER-MAN”, Marvel Comics
Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
Mark Morales, “THOR”, Marvel Comics

BEST COLORIST

Brian Fies, “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”,
Abrams ComicArts
Steve Hamaker, “BONE: CROWN OF HORNS”, Graphix
Laura Martin, “THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES”, IDW
David Mazzucchelli, “ASTERIOS POLYP”, Pantheon
Dave Stewart, “BPRD: BLACK GODDESS”, Dark Horse Comics

BEST COVER ARTIST

Jenny Frison, “THE DREAMER”, IDW
Mike Mignola, “HELLBOY: THE BRIDE OF HELL”, Dark Horse Comics
Michael Avon Oeming, “MICE TEMPLAR: DESTINY, PART I”, Image Comics
Frank Quitely, “BATMAN AND ROBIN”, DC Comics
JH Williams III, “DETECTIVE COMICS”, DC Comics

BEST NEW TALENT

Kevin Cannon, “FAR ARDEN”, Top Shelf
Rob Guillory, “CHEW”, Image Comics
Reinhard Kleist,“JOHNNY CASH: I SEE A DARKNESS”, Abrams ComicArts
Nathan Schreiber, “ACT-I-VATE: POWER OUT”, http://act-i-vate.com
Matthew Weldon, “NEW BRIGHTON ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY”, Image Comics

BEST NEW SERIES

“BATMAN AND ROBIN”, DC Comics
“CHEW”, Image Comics
“IRREDEEMABLE”, BOOM! Studios
“SWEET TOOTH”, Vertigo/DC Comics
“UNWRITTEN”, Vertigo/DC Comics

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

“BEASTS OF BURDEN”, Dark Horse Comics
“DIARY OF A WIMPY KID”, Amulet Books
“GANGES”,  Fantagraphics Books
“INVINCIBLE”, Image Comics
“SCALPED”, Vertigo/DC Comics
“THE WALKING DEAD”, Image Comics

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS

“AMULET: THE STONEKEEPER’S CURSE”, Graphix
“DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
“GROWN-UPS ARE DUMB”, Hyperion Books
“THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK”, BOOM! Studios
“NEW BRIGHTON ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY”, Image Comics
“3-2-3 DETECTIVE AGENCY”, Amulet Books

BEST ANTHOLOGY

“ACT-I-VATE”, http://act-i-vate.com
“FLIGHT # 6″, Villard
“POPGUN # 3″, Image Comics
“STRANGE TALES”, Marvel Comics
“WEDNESDAY COMICS”, DC Comics

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC ALBUM

“ASTERIOS POLYP”, by David Mazucchelli, Pantheon
“BOOK OF GENESIS”, by Robert Crumb, W.W. Norton
“GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, by Seth, Drawn and Quarterly
“FOOTNOTES IN GAZA”, by Joe Sacco, Metropolitan Books
“STITCHES”, by David Small, W.W. Norton
“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”, by Brian Fies,
Abrams ComicArts

BEST PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED GRAPHIC ALBUM

“A.D.: NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE DELUGE”, by Josh Neufeld, Pantheon
“COLLECTED ESSEX COUNTY”, by Jeff Lemire, Top Shelf
“GRAVESLINGER”, by Shannon Denton, Jeff Mariotte, John Cboins & Nina Sorat, IDW
“MASTERPIECE COMICS”, by R. Sikoryak, Drawn and Quarterly
“MICE TEMPLAR VOLUME 1″, by Bryan J.L. Glass and Michael Avon Oeming,
Image Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL

“CUL-DE-SAC”, by Richard Thompson, Universal Press Syndicate
“FOXTROT”, by Bill Amend, Universal Press Syndicate
“GET FUZZY”, by Darby Conley, United Feature Syndicate
“MUTTS”, by Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
“PEARLS BEFORE SWINE”, by Stephan Pastis, United Feature Syndicate

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT

“THE BEST OF SIMON AND KIRBY”, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby; edited by Steve
Saffel, Titan Books
“HUMBUG”, conceived and edited by Harvey Kurtzman and created by Harvey
Kurtzman, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth; edited by Gary
Groth, Fantagraphics Books
“RIP KIRBY”, by Alex Raymond;  edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW
“THE ROCKETEER:  THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES”, by Dave Stevens;
edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
“THE TOON TREASURY OF CLASSIC CHILDREN’S COMICS”, edited by Art Spiegelman
and Francoise Mouly, Abrams ComicsArt

BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL

“THE ART OF OSAMU TEZUKA: GOD OF MANGA”, by Helen McCarthy,
Abrams ComicArts
“MANGA KAMISHIBAI”, by Eric P. Nash, Abrams ComicArts
“THE PHOTOGRAPHER”, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier LeFevre and Frederic
Lemercier, First Second
“PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA”, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki, Viz Media
“20TH CENTURY BOYS”, by Naoki Urasawa, Viz Media

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK

“HARK! A VAGRANT”, by Kate Beaton, http://harkavagrant.com
“HIGH MOON”, by Steve Ellis, David Gallaher and Scott O. Brown,
http://www.zudacomics.com/high moon             ,
“POWER OUT”, by  Nathan Schreiber, http://act-i-vate.com          ,
“PVP”, by Scott Kurtz, http://www.pvponline.com
“SIN TITULO”, by Cameron Stewart, http://www.sintitulocomic.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS

Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, “BEASTS OF BURDEN”, Dark Horse Books
Jeff Kinney, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID #3: THE LAST STRAW”, Amulet Books
Roger Landridge, “THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK”, BOOM! Studios
Bryan Lee O’Malley, “SCOTT PILGRIM #5″, Oni Press
Andrew Pepoy, “THE ADVENTURES OF SIMONE & AJAX: A CHRISTMAS CAPER”,
ComicMix

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION

“ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN: THE MAD GENIUS OF COMICS”, by Denis Kitchen and
Paul Buhle, Abrams ComicArts
“THE BRINKLEY GIRLS: THE BEST OF NELL BRINKLEY’S CARTOONS FROM 1913-1940″,
edited by Trina Robbins, Fantagraphics Books
“GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, by Seth, Drawn and Quarterly
“THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES”, by Dave Stevens,
edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
“SECRET IDENTITY: THE FETISH ART OF SUPERMAN’S CO-CREATOR JOE SHUSTER”,
edited by Craig Yoe, Abrams ComicArts
“WEDNESDAY COMICS”, edited by Mark Chiarello, DC Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION

“ALTER-EGO”, edited by Roy Thomas, TwoMorrows
“ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN: THE MAD GENIUS OF COMICS”, by Denis Kitchen
and Paul Buhle, Abrams ComicArts
“THE BEST OF SIMON AND KIRBY”, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby;
edited by Steve Saffel, Titan Books
“THE COMICS JOURNAL”, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean and Kristy Valenti,
Fantagraphics Books
“UNDERGROUND CLASSICS”, by James Danky and Denis Kitchen, Abrams ComicArts

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY

“ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS”, by Eddie Campbell, Top Shelf
“ASTERIOS POLYP”, by David Mazucchelli, Pantheon
“GANGES #3″, by Kevin Huizenga, Fantagraphics Books
“GEORGE SPROTT (1894-1975)”, by Seth, Drawn and Quarterly
“JONAH HEX #50″, written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray,
artwork by Darwyn Cooke, DC Comics
“RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE HUNTER”, by Darwyn Cooke, IDW
“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?”, by Brian Fies,
Abrams ComicArts

Beginning this Saturday in Seattle, author Jim Woodring embarks on a rare tour of the Pacific Northwest, California Bay Area, and New York in support of his first-ever original graphic novel, WEATHERCRAFT. In each city, Jim will entertain audiences a fantastic slide show and discussion of the hidden meanings behind every mysterious idea and totem in WEATHERCRAFT.  And in Brooklyn, on June 18, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to view all of the original artwork from the book, as well as many preliminary pieces that went into making it.

05/22/10 | 6PM  •  Seattle WA  • FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKSTORE & GALLERY

06/09/10 | 7:30PM  •  Berkeley CA  •  PEGASUS & PENDRAGON BOOKSTORE

06/10/10 | 7:30PM  •  San Francisco CA  •  THE BOOKSMITH

06/17/10 | 6PM  •  New York NY  •  FORBIDDEN PLANET

06/18/10 | 6PM  •  Brooklyn NY  •  SCOTT EDER GALLERY

06/19/10 | 7PM  •  Brooklyn NY  •  DESERT ISLAND COMICS

06/25/10 | 7:30PM  •  Portland OR  •  POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event that now takes place on the first Saturday of May each year wherein participating comic shops all over the world give away comic books for FREE.  Forbidden Planet has participated in FCBD since its inception and has given away hundreds of thousands of comics on this special day.

Each year publishers produce comic books intended to be given away that day- often samplers of what they normally publish, or reprints/previews of  first issues and jump-on points of established series.  Here is a list of what’s being given out Saturday (Click on the thumbnails for full pics):

Archie’s Summer Splash #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- “Whose BEACH is it Anyway?”: Sun, sand, swimsuits and cool rockin’ tunes — no, it’s not a cinematic “beach party” blast from the past, but a whole new summer splash from Archie and his friends! In this fun-filled free issue, Cheryl and her snooty friends from Pembrooke form an all-girl group to compete head on with the Archies at a summer beach music festival. Will Cheryl’s group be a tuneful treat, or mistaken for bellowing whales?

Docror Solar/Magbus- The dawn of a new age of superhero excitement begins on Free Comic Book Day as Dark Horse Comics proudly presents the return of two of the most legendary characters in the annals of comics: Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom and Magnus, Robot Fighter — re-imagined for the 21st century by comics legend, writer Jim Shooter! This FCBD extravaganza offers all-new Solar and Magnus stories, each heralding new series launches in summer 2010, and featuring interior art by fan-favorite Dennis Calero (X-Men Noir) and cover art by Raymond Swanland!

Fractured Fables- This special FCBD issue offers a small taste of the new hardcover anthology from Silverline Books due later in the year. An all-star cast of writers and artists have been assembled to turn familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes on their ear to make kids LAUGH! These humorous interpretations will delight any reader, regardless of their age!  Features the talents of Bryan Talbot, Doug TenNapel, Alexander Grecian, Derek McCulloch, Ted McKeever, Camilla d’Errico, Christian Ward, Anthony Peruzzo, and Mike and Laura Allred.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #155½- It’s free, it’s awesome, and it’s ALL-NEW! Picking up from where the original G.I. Joe comic book ended, issue #155-1/2 is a core fan’s dream come true! Featuring spectacular art from Agustin Padilla, Larry Hama continues his classic G.I. JOE run right here, and RELAUNCHES THE ORIGINAL SERIES- one of the great comics of the 1980s! G.I. Joe has closed its doors, leaving COBRA to pillage, burn, and plunder!

Iron Man/Thor FCBD 2010 Edition- The perfect jumping-on point for any and all readers…and it’s FREE! When rogue mega-billionaires with world-destroying technology threaten the safety of the entire world…and the moon…Thor and Iron Man join forces! In time for the exciting launch of new stories and a bold new direction for Invincible Iron Man and Thor, superstars Matt Fraction and John Romita Jr. team up to bring you two of Marvel’s heaviest hitters like you’ve never seen them before! A major new direction for the Marvel Universe kicks off HERE – on Free Comic Book Day!

Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock- Archaia is proud to present two amazing all-new stories in one fantastic flip-book! First writer/artist David Petersen presents a story from the spring of 1153 where the Mouse Guard deal with the onset of the spring thaw and the havoc it wreaks on their territories. Meanwhile, it’s time to dance your cares away as Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober and Red return for a brand-new series of hilarious and heartfelt Fraggle Rock adventures written and drawn by some of the most imaginative creators in comics!

KiZOIC Presents: Shrek & The Penguins of Madagascar- Ape Entertainment proudly offers KiZOIC Presents: Shrek & The Penguins of Madagascar! Featuring four stories by the artists and writers of the up-coming Shrek and Penguins of Madagascar comic books, these stories are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone and leave you begging for more! All-ages fun for everyone!

Interested in more Shrek comics?  The Shrek prequel book is now on sale with even more comics on the way this spring!

YOW! The John Stanley Library- D&Q delivers another wholly original and boisterous FCBD issue that will entertain readers of all ages! YOW! The John Stanley Library spotlights the world’s greatest all-ages cartoonist, John Stanley, in a beautiful package designed by Seth. YOW! features new stories from the John Stanley Library: Melvin Monster, Nancy and 13 Going On 18, plus a story from the legendary one-shot Choo Choo Charlie and a Tubby story!

Toy Story FCBD 2010 Edition- With Toy Story 3 hitting theaters this summer, don’t miss this opportunity to get kids hooked on comics with a FREE issue from the ongoing Toy Story series from BOOM Kids! More all-new adventures featuring the world’s favorite toys with Woody, Buzz and the gang!

If you’re interested in more Toy Story comics I highly recommend the Toy Story Mysterious Stranger graphic novel. It’s a great book for young fans and potential new readers.

War of the Supermen #0- A war is coming, and all that stands between Earth and 100,000 vengeful supermen is one Superman! The conflict between Superman and General Zod erupts into all-out war this summer in a series that will shatter the worlds of Superman, Supergirl and the entire DC Universe — all brought to you by the hit creative team of James Robinson and Eddy Barrows! This special #0 issue featuring all-new material previews the conflicts to come while spotlighting a savage strike on Metropolis and the world — an attack that will shake Superman to his very core. After this, there’s no turning back — the War of the Supermen is here!

Sonic the Hedgehog FCBD 2010 Edition- “Hide & Seek & DESTROY!”: Dr. Eggman has vanished – or has he? As Sonic searches for clues, he stumbles across an old weapon from the bygone days of his childhood. Will Dr. Eggman allow Sonic to be destroyed by this threat from yesteryear? Will Sonic discover the truth behind his old rival’s disappearance? All the answers lie in this free issue!  Sonic’s comic book adventures are consistently Forbidden Planet’s best-selling all ages material.

Aspren Comics Presents: Worlds of Aspen- A special compilation issue featuring four exciting outtakes from several of Aspen’s hottest titles including Soulfire (Vol 2), and Executive Assistant: Iris! Also showcased are two of Aspen’s newest titles, Fathom: Blue Descent and Mindfield!  Featuring the talents of David Wohl, JT Krul, David Schwartz, Vince Hernandez, Joe Benitez, Scott Clark, Marcus To, Eduardo Francisco, Alex Konat, Michael Turner, and Peter Steigerwald.

Fearless Dawn/Asylum Press Sampler- Featuring a sampling of new and upcoming Asylum Press titles! Steve Mannion’s Fearless Dawn features our favorite new heroine battling a troop of mutants; Black Powder, a bloody frontier adventure by Dwayne Harris; Warlash: Origins is a tale of Bladeviper by Royal McGraw and J.C. Wong; Farmhouse by Elizabeth J. Musgrave and Szymon Kudranski, a tale of a drifter who falls in love with an artist undergoing an experimental art therapy; armored hero vs. brain-eating monsters in Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis by Frank Forte; and a look at Jason Paulos’ EEEK!, a retro-style horror anthology.  Steve Mannion will be signing copies of this book at FP from 1pm-5pm!

S.E. Hinton/Fame- S.E. Hinton, author of the The Outsiders, was – and still is – one of the most popular and best known writers of Young Adult fiction. And now Bluewater Productions proudly announces an exciting new partnership with the best-selling in this special FCBD preview issue, showcasing the new titles from Hinton. Plus: Your first look at the new biography series FAME, featuring Lady Gaga! Is it the costumes? The music? The voice? Maybe it’s all that stage blood. Whatever the reason, Lady GaGa has become one of pop music’s biggest stars. Fame examines her impact on her legion of fans.

Bongo Comics Free for All- The comic company that brings you The Simpsons and Futurama in the fantastic four-color format joins with retailers to reel in new readers, with a comic cornucopia of tantalizing tidbits and a spectacular sampling of the best in humor comics! Bongo’s FCBD books are always some of the best and most requested. “I’ve spent my entire life doing nothing but collecting comic books… and now there’s only time to say… LIFE WELL SPENT!”

Irredeemable #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- Last year’s comic book industry event is this year’s best way to get more readers hooked on Mark Waid’s best-selling original title, Irredeemable, the series that dared to ask the question: what if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? And 12 issues later, that question has been answered with a best-selling comic series, two best-selling trade collections and Incorruptible, the companion series.

DC Kids Mega-Sampler FCBD 2010 Edition- This sampler is the perfect place to check out the sensational line of titles aimed at readers of all ages! It includes exciting, all-new stories starring Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Tiny Titans, Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam! and Super Friends! Featuring Landry Walker, Art Baltazar, Franco, Sholly Fisch, Eric Jones, Art Baltazar, Mike Norton, Dario Brizuela and Baltazar. The DC Kids Sampler is a great tool for introducing even the youngest of your youngins to the joys of comics!

Del Rey Sampler FCBD 2010 Edition- Featuring previews of Del Rey’s upcoming comics and graphic novels including: The Last Airbender by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, and Nina Matsumoto; The Talisman: A Collision of Worlds by Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Tony Shasteen; Odd is On Our Side by Dean Koontz, Fred Van Lente, and Queenie Chan; Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies: The Graphic Novel by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith, Tony Lee, and Cliff Richards.

Green Hornet #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents the return of the Green Hornet! In 2010, Dynamite will unveil three brand-new Green Hornet series, starting with the worldwide debut of Kevin Smith’s vision for the masked crusader (based on his unproduced screenplay)! Get a first look with this special edition featuring not only Smith’s version, but the award-winning work of creators Matt Wagner and Brett Matthews as well! All in one Free Comic Book Day comic event!

Weathercraft: A Frank Comic- Are you ready? Because your life is about to change! Perception as you know it will cease! Fantagraphics proudly presents Jim Woodring’s Weathercraft! Every other free comic book will pale in comparison to our powerful and supernatural print-barge for both the enlightened and perplexed masses. Marvel at the toothy preview of Jim Woodring’s first original graphic novel, do your detective work with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, and gasp at rare out-of-print images, comics and transmissions, all from Jimland! Beware! Manhog lurks near…

The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics- How do you collect comics? How do you take care of the comics you buy? How do you grade comics? How do you sell your comics? How do you evaluate their worth? The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, now in its 40th year of publication, answers the questions and more facing new collectors and experienced enthusiasts alike! And be sure to keep an eye out for this year’s guide, currently slated to ship this summer.

IDW’s Library od American Comics #0- Presenting excerpts from the greatest comic strips of all time – from action/adventure to high drama, to fall-on-the-floor hilarious! IDW and the Library of American Comics present 32 pages of previews from upcoming volumes including Archie by Bob Montana, Secret Agent Corrigan by Al Williamson, Blondie by Chic Young, The Complete Bloom County Library by Berkeley Breathed, Rip Kirby by Alex Raymond, Polly and Her Pals by Chris Sterrett, Dick Tracy by Chester Gould, and Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.

Artifacts First Look- Building on the success of First Born and Broken Trinity, Top Cow finally reveals the secrets of all 13 Artifacts – which include The Darkness, Witchblade, Angelus, Magdalena’s Spear of Destiny, and more. Launching a massive 13-issue event beginning in July 2010, this series will literally define and redefine the nature of the Top Cow Universe! The final identity of the remaining hidden Artifacts will be revealed, characters will perish, and the very existence of the Top Cow Universe will be at stake. And it begins here!

Love and Capes #13 FCBD 2010 Edition- The wedding and the honeymoon are over for comicdom’s favorite super couple, so what’s next? Getting settled, starting their new life… and finding out what really happened at the reception. It’s a whole new start for “Love and Capes”, and a great lead-in to the second trade coming from IDW in summer 2010! Last year’s Love and Capes giveaway was the sleeper hit and this series keeps picking up new fans. Jump onboard now.

Iron Man: Supernova- What happens when an armored billionaire teams up with a hot-headed, cosmic-powered teen to fight a trio of massively-powered super-apes? Find out when Iron Man and Nova take on Red Ghost and The Super-Apes! Out-numbered, the Golden Avenger and the Human Rocket will have to trust an apparent traitor in the gorillas’ midst if they are to survive and save an entire city. Will they succeed or are they being played? Find out in this all-new, action-packed adventure, which happens to be FREE!

The Tick #1 FCBD 2010 Edition- In honor of this year’s Free Comic Book Day, and to commemorate the first appearance of The Tick 24 years ago, NEC Press offers this special re-presentation of Ben Edlund’s legendary first issue of The Tick, in a special Free Comic Book Day special edition! The complete original first comic book appearance of The Tick, as it originally hit the stands in 1986! Destiny calls as The Tick arrives in The City to commence his superhero career… Spoon!

Oni Press Free-For-All 2010- Coming your way this Free Comic Book Day: the Oni Press Free-For-All! This all-ages anthology packs in three exclusive terrific tales from The Crogan Adventures by Chris Schweizer, Salt Water Taffy by Matthew Loux and the all-new series, Possessions, by Ray Fawkes. The Crogan Adventures and Salt Water Taffy are FP favorites and we’re absolutely ecstatic Oni’s offering this sampler to expose these quality titles to a larger audience.

The Sixth Gun #1- Also from Oni Press. 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 weapons – vanished. When the gun resurfaces 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!

Radical: Bigger Books! Bigger Value!- For FCBD 2010, fans can read the first 8 pages of 4 incredible titles showcasing Radical’s innovative “Bigger Books! Bigger Value!” format. Wesley Snipes and director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) join writer Peter Milligan and artist Jeff Nentrup for the sci-fi saga, After Dark; Jonah Hex’s Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray deliver Time Bomb, featuring art by comics legend Paul Gulacy; Driver for the Dead will keep your heart racing with a tale of action, horror and voodoo from writer John Heffernan (Snakes on a Plane) and artist Clint Langley (Sláine); and finally, Radical presents The Rising, from creator/writer E. Max Frye (Band of Brothers) and artist J.P. Targete (Pixar’s John Carter of Mars)!

Atomic Robo and Friends FCBD 2010 Edition- Eisner Award-nominated Atomic Robo knows that the rain forests of South America hide many secrets…but none so deadly as “The Terror Bird”! Forgotten by time, these prehistoric apex predators are primed to devastate the modern world! (The word ‘terror’ is right there in its name!) Atomic Robo is always a Free Comic Book Day fave. Plus! Previews of 2010 adventures of Red 5 favorites and some new faces!

Freedom Formula: Speed Metal Overtures- Metal twisting tales of the meanest, fastest mechs in all-out heart-pounding action, the legend of the Freedom Formula races starts here in this collection of must-read stories. Spinning out of last year’s acclaimed mini-series and soon to be a major motion picture from New Regency with Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns). Brought to you by the folks at Storm Lion and featuring writers and artists Edmund Shern ,Brandon Jerwa, Andrew Dabb, Tony Lee, Puppeteer Lee, Zid, and Leah Liu.

The Stuff of Legend: Mortal Instruments- Don’t be left in “The Dark” this year, as Th3rd World Studios presents not only a recap of the toys’ first adventure from The Stuff of Legend Volume I, The Dark, but also a first look at Volume 2, The Jungle coming in June. Also, get your first look at Th3rd World’s adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s New York Times best-selling novel, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, a young adult fantasy series in which a young teen girl discovers a shadowy world filled with demon-hunting warriors.

Owly and Friends FCBD 2010 Edition- Top Shelf is proud to join the 2010 Free Comic Book Day celebration with not one, but three all-ages tales! In this FCBD edition, we’ll not only present an all-new Owly adventure by Andy Runton, but also two other all-new, all-ages adventures from Owly’s friends: Johnny Boo by James Kochalka and Korgi by Christian Slade. Perfect for everyone in the family, this time around with a great cover by Christian Slade! Fantastic comics by featuring some of the most beloved characters and cartoonists in the industry.

Bird Hurdler FCBD 2010 Edition- Teenage Dinosaur, Tugboat Press and Sparkplug present the release of Bird Hurdler by Andrice Arp, Theo Ellsworth, Faryl Dalrymple, Zack Soto, Lisa Rosalie Eisenberg & Julia Gfrörer and printed at Brown Printing. Forbidden Planet is proud to be one of only a handful of stores to be offering this comic, continuing our tradition as one of the most indy-friendly comic retailers in the world. If you’re not reading the works of the creators in Bird Hurdler you’re really missing out on some great stuff.

Marvel Heroclix War Machine Figure- When Iron Man needs backup, he calls upon War Machine! War Machine is slated to be a major part of the May 2010 Iron Man 2 movie, and to capitalize on this, WizKids will be modifying the popular War Machine sculpt from the Marvel HeroClix: Armor Wars series as 2010′s Free Comic Book Day figure. This exclusive figure comes with an all-new dial and character card. *Please note- This item will only be distributed upon request and while supplies last.*

Now for how May 1st will be going down at Forbidden Planet NYC.  We will be giving away bags containing every different FCBD offering we receive on a first come, first served basis.  All ages bags will also be provided as this is a family-friendly event and there’s little else we like more than comics in the hands of a new generation of readers.  Once we give out all complete bags we will then distribute any remaining FCBD comics at our discretion.  Once our supply runs out we will give out stacks of comics that we have picked from our inventory from the last few years.  As always, we may also have some unannounced stuffs to give away as well.

Also, if you didn’t read it above, Steve Mannion will be on hand signing copies of Asylum Press’ FCBD offering Fearless Dawn #1, selling artwork  and taking sketch commissions.

Oh!  We’re also running an all day SALE on graphic novels!!!  15% Off all graphic novels, all day!

The shop opens, and our Free Comic Book Day festivities begin at 10am and run until we close at 12midnight.  I encourage you to come by as early as possible if you’re looking to get the full breadth of FCBD 2010 books or if you’re looking for a specific book.  It’s a loooong day and the FP staff works very hard to make it special.  Come on by and enjoy yourselves!

Online customers- please keep an eye on your email and on the front page of our website.  While FCBD and our sale is only for our NYC store customers, we will be offering you something special for all orders placed this coming weekend.  Not receiving FP mail yet?  You can join at any time on any page of the site in the box on the right labelled “Join Our Mailing List.”   Don’t worry.  We’re cool and won’t bombard you.

For more information on the Awards and their history please visit Comic-Con’s Eisner Awards FAQs.

(Note: links to items available on Forbidden Planet NYC’s website are highlighted wherever applicable in the list below, so forgive all the color changes.  But feel free to pursue any works you’ve not yet read or sound interesting)

And the Nominees are…

Best Short Story

• “Because I Love You So Much,” by Nikoline Werdelin, in From Wonderland with Love: Danish Comics in the 3rd Millennium (Fantagraphics/Aben maler)
• “Gentleman John,” by Nathan Greno, in What Is Torch Tiger? (Torch Tiger)
• “How and Why to Bale Hay,” by Nick Bertozzi, in Syncopated (Villard)
• “Hurricane,” interpreted by Gradimir Smudja, in Bob Dylan Revisited (Norton)
• “Urgent Request,” by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim, in The Eternal Smile (First Second)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

• Brave & the Bold #28: “Blackhawk and the Flash: Firing Line,” by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz (DC)
• Captain America #601: “Red, White, and Blue-Blood,” by Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan (Marvel)
• Ganges #3, by Kevin Huizenga (Fantagraphics)
• The Unwritten #5: “How the Whale Became,” by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)
• Usagi Yojimbo #123: “The Death of Lord Hikiji” by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series

• Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy et al. (Vertigo/DC)
• Irredeemable, by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (BOOM!)
• Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
• The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)
• The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image)

Best Limited Series or Story Arc

• Blackest Night, by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Oclair Albert (DC)
• Incognito, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)
• Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki (VIZ Media)
• Wolverine #66-72 and Wolverine Giant-Size Special: “Old Man Logan,” by Mark Millar, Steve McNiven, and Dexter Vines (Marvel)
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best New Series

• Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick, art by Tony Parker (BOOM!)
• Ireedeemable, by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (BOOM!)
• Sweet Tooth, by Jeff Lemire (Vertigo/DC)
• The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids

• Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, by Jarrett J. Krosoczeka (Knopf)
• The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook, by Eleanor Davis (Bloomsbury)
• Tiny Tyrant vol. 1: The Ethelbertosaurus, by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme (First Second)
• The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (Abrams ComicArts/Toon)
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz hc, by L. Frank Baum, Eric Shanower, and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best Publication for Teens

• Angora Napkin, by Troy Little (IDW)
• Beasts of Burden, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)
• A Family Secret, by Eric Heuvel (Farrar Straus Giroux/Anne Frank House)
• Far Arden, by Kevin Cannon (Top Shelf)
• I Kill Giants tpb, by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura (Image)

Best Humor Publication

• Drinky Crow’s Maakies Treasury, by Tony Millionaire (Fantagraphics)
• Everybody Is Stupid Except for Me, And Other Astute Observations, by Peter Bagge (Fantagraphics)
• Little Lulu, vols. 19-21, by John Stanley and Irving Tripp (Dark Horse Books)
• The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets, by Roger Langridge (BOOM Kids!)
• Scott Pilgrim vol. 5: Scott Pilgrm vs. the Universe, by Brian Lee O’Malley (Oni)

Best Anthology

• Abstract Comics, edited by Andrei Molotiu (Fantagraphics)
• Bob Dylan Revisited, edited by Bob Weill (Norton)
• Flight 6, edited by Kazu Kibuishi (Villard)
• Popgun vol. 3, edited by Mark Andrew Smith, D. J. Kirkbride, and Joe Keatinge (Image)
• Syncopated: An Anthology of Nonfiction Picto-Essays, edited by Brendan Burford (Villard)
• What Is Torch Tiger? edited by Paul Briggs (Torch Tiger)

Best Digital Comic

• Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl,
  www.abominable.cc
• Bayou, by Jeremy Love,
  http://zudacomics.com/bayou
• The Guns of Shadow Valley, by David Wachter and James Andrew Clark,
  www.gunsofshadowvalley.com
• Power Out, by Nathan Schreiber,
  www.act-i-vate.com/67.comic
• Sin Titulo, by Cameron Stewart,
  www.sintitulocomic.com/

Best Reality-Based Work

• A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Footnotes in Gaza, by Joe Sacco (Metropolitan/Holt)
• The Impostor’s Daughter, by Laurie Sandell (Little, Brown)
• Monsters, by Ken Dahl (Secret Acres)
• The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)
• Stitches, by David Small (Norton)

Best Adaptation from Another Work

• The Book of Genesis Illustrated, by R. Crumb (Norton)
• Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation, adapted by Michael Keller and Nicolle Rager Fuller (Rodale)
• Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, adapted by Tim Hamilton (Hill & Wang)
• Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)
• West Coast Blues, by Jean-Patrick Manchette, adapted by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album-New

• Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzuccheilli (Pantheon)
• A Distant Neighborhood (2 vols.), by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
• The Book of Genesis Illustrated, by R. Crumb (Norton)
• My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill, by Jean Regnaud and émile Bravo (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
• The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)
• Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

Best Graphic Album-Reprint

• Absolute Justice, by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, and Doug Braithewaite (DC)
• A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge, by Josh Neufeld (Pantheon)
• Alec: The Years Have Pants, by Eddie Campbell (Top Shelf)
• Essex County Collected, by Jeff Lemire (Top Shelf)
• Map of My Heart: The Best of King-Cat Comics & Stories, 1996-2002, by John Porcellino (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Archival Collection/Project-Strips

• Bloom County: The Complete Library, vol. 1, by Berkeley Breathed, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
• Bringing Up Father, vol. 1: From Sea to Shining Sea, by George McManus and Zeke Zekley, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW)
• The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley’s Cartoons 1913-1940, edited by Trina Robbins (Fantagraphics)
• Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons, by Gahan Wilson, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
• Prince Valiant, vol. 1: 1937-1938, by Hal Foster, edited by Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)
• Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, Walt McDougall, and W. W. Denslow (Sunday Press)

Best Archival Collection/Project-Comic Books

• The Best of Simon & Kirby, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, edited by Steve Saffel (Titan Books)
• Blazing Combat, by Archie Goodwin et al., edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
• Humbug, by Harvey Kurtzman et al., edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
• The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures deluxe edition, by Dave Stevens, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
• The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (Abrams ComicArts/Toon)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

• My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill, by Jean Regnaud and Émile Bravo (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
• The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)
• Tiny Tyrant vol. 1: The Ethelbertosaurus, by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme (First Second)
• West Coast Blues, by Jean-Patrick Manchette, adapted by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)
• Years of the Elephant, by Willy Linthout (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Asia

• The Color Trilogy, by Kim Dong Haw (First Second)
• A Distant Neighborhood (2 vols.), by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
• A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Oishinbo a la Carte, written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki (VIZ Media)
• Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki (VIZ Media)
• Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

Best Writer

• Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil, Marvels Project (Marvel) Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon)
• Geoff Johns, Adventure Comics, Blackest Night, The Flash: Rebirth, Superman: Secret Origin (DC)
• James Robinson, Justice League: Cry for Justice (DC)
• Mark Waid, Irredeemable, The Incredibles (BOOM!)
• Bill Willingham, Fables (Vertigo/DC)

Best Writer/Artist

• Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter (IDW)
• R. Crumb, The Book of Genesis Illustrated (Norton)
• David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
• Terry Moore, Echo (Abstract Books)
• Naoki Urasawa, Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka (VIZ Media)

Best Writer/Artist-Nonfiction

• Reinhard Kleist, Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness (Abrams ComicArts)
• Willy Linthout, Years of the Elephant (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
• Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (Metropolitan/Holt)
• David Small, Stitches (Norton)
• Carol Tyler, You’ll Never Know: A Good and Decent Man (Fantagraphics)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

• Michael Kaluta, Madame Xanadu #11-15: “Exodus Noir” (Vertigo/DC)
• Steve McNiven/Dexter Vines, Wolverine: Old Man Logan (Marvel)
• Fiona Staples, North 40 (WildStorm)
• J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)
• Danijel Zezelj, Luna Park (Vertigo/DC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

• É Bravo, My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
• Mauro Cascioli, Justice League: Cry for Justice (DC)
• Nicolle Rager Fuller, Charles Darwin on the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation (Rodale Books)
• Jill Thompson, Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse); Magic Trixie and the Dragon (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
• Carol Tyler, You’ll Never Know: A Good and Decent Man (Fantagraphics)

Best Cover Artist

• John Cassaday, Irredeemable (BOOM!); Lone Ranger (Dynamite)
• Salvador Larocca, Invincible Iron Man (Marvel)
• Sean Phillips, Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon); 28 Days Later (BOOM!)
• Alex Ross, Astro City: The Dark Age (WildStorm/DC); Project Superpowers (Dynamite)
• J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)

Best Coloring

• Steve Hamaker, Bone: Crown of Thorns (Scholastic); Little Mouse Gets Ready (Toon)
• Laura Martin, The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures (IDW); Thor, The Stand: American Nightmares (Marvel)
• David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
• Alex Sinclair, Blackest Night, Batman and Robin (DC)
• Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, Umbrella Academy, Zero Killer (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Luna Park (Vertigo)

Best Lettering

• Brian Fies, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? (Abrams ComicArts)
• David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
• Tom Orzechowski, Savage Dragon (Image); X-Men Forever (Marvel)
• Richard Sala, Cat Burglar Black (First Second); Delphine (Fantagraphics)
• Adrian Tomine, A Drifting Life (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

• Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)
• ComicsAlliance, edited by Laura Hudson www.comicsalliance.com
• Comics Comics, edited by Timothy Hodler and Dan Nadel
  (www.comicscomicsmag.com) (PictureBox)
• The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)
• The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon
  (www.comicsreporter.com)

Best Comics-Related Book

• Alan Moore: Comics as Performance, Fiction as Scalpel, by Annalisa Di Liddo (University Press of Mississippi)
• The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics, by Denis Kitchen and Paul Buhle (Abrams ComicArts)
• The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga, by Helen McCarthy (Abrams ComicArts)
• Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater, by Eric P. Nash (Abrams ComicArts)
• Will Eisner and PS Magazine, by Paul E. Fitzgerald (Fitzworld.US)

Best Publication Design

• Absolute Justice, designed by Curtis King and Josh Beatman (DC)
• The Brinkley Girls, designed by Adam Grano (Fantagraphics)
• Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)
• Life and Times of Martha Washington, designed by David Nestelle (Dark Horse Books)
• Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz, designed by Philippe Ghielmetti (Sunday Press)
• Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? designed by Neil Egan and Brian Fies (Abrams ComicArts)

The Comics Journal’s Cup Runneth Over

OCTOBER 28, SEATTLE, WA — The Comics Journal is about to take two major steps forward in its evolution. 1) After 33 years and several incarnations, TCJ is answering everybody’s prayers and upping the Web content on TCJ.com. 2) The print publication will be consolidated around expanded semi-annual editions, each customized to fit its content.

The expanded, full-service TCJ.com will deliver everything readers love — in-depth interviews, smart columns, sharp criticism, real journalism — on a daily basis. And not only will readers get the traditional Comics Journal content faster, but they will also be able to access features beyond the reach of print magazines: videos, slide shows, audio files, original-art galleries and an army of both new and established Journal-caliber bloggers filtering the comics world through their unique perspectives. In short, it is the dawning of a Comics Journal that knows no bounds.

Focusing on what print does best, The Comics Journal magazine will be more beautiful than ever, an elegant combination of criticism, journalism and objet d’art. Uniquely sized and formatted, evocatively visual and tactile, each issue will be an event. Readers will get their first look at the direction The Comics Journal will be moving in with issue #300.

Coming in November 2009: issue #300 of The Comics Journal and a wondrous new website!

While I’m sure this is in response to the foundering market for physical magazines, even ones as pertinent, stalwart, and worthy of one’s attention as TCJ has been for three decades, I view this as a very good thing.  Why, you may ask?  Well, aside from turning to the semi-annual, objet d’art editions one will be able to purchase, there’s a fantastic caveat to the Journal going (for the most part) digital:

Everything will be free. We’ll maintain an archival copy of the current website for our online subscribers — more on that soon, I promise — but the new site will have no “subscriber area” or special features that need a password to access (with the obvious exception of the message board).

TCJ.com looks like it’s gonna be fab.  Too bad one of my favorite publications of all time is going to be printed less frequently (albeit with the promise of excellence), terrific news it’ll be available to the world, a wide audience, on the web.  Free.

AN ANACHRONISTIC PARABLE FOR THE CONVULSIVE ELITE

What is the squirrel machine? Is it a rodent ensnarement device? A mechanism for concealing one’s guarded harvest? An anachronistic fable? A meaningless diversion?

Set in a fictional 19th Century New England town, the narrative initially details the relationship and maturation of Edmund and William Torpor. But the two brothers quickly elicit the scorn and recrimination of an unamused public when they reveal their musical creations built from strange technologies and scavenged animal carcasses. Driven to seek a concealment for their aberrant activities, they make a startling discovery. Perhaps they will divine the mystery of the squirrel machine.

What is The Squirrel Machine?
• An immutably strange and haunting narrative that transcends known logics and presumptive dream-barriers;
• A distillation of subconscious beauty and inspired madness;
• A dangerous object for the incautious;
• A revelation for the undernourished crypto-seeker;
• The virgin caress of unconsummated apocalypse;
• The unspeakable thing that you always knew.

It’s also the legendary obscurantist cartoonist Hans Rickheit’s most ambitious graphic novel to date. Exquisitely rendered, strange, and hauntingly beautiful, this evocative and enigmatic book will ensure the inquisitive reader a spleenful of cerebral serenity that will require vast quantities of mediocrity to banish from memory.

You can also check out this vid, a (sorta) behind the scenes preview of the book, and featuring an interview with the man himself:

Click here to view the embedded video.

So remember: FP. Thursday. October 1st. 6pm. Squirrel Machine. Be there.

Umbrella Academy vol 02: Dallas TP

Prison Pit- Yaaaaaaaaaay!  New Johnny Ryan comics!  This time we’re served an original graphic novel from the Angry Youth Comix maestro, a hyper violent and darkly comical tale of intergalactic bloodbath as protagonist CF is thrust into the Prison Pit.  Powered by Johnny’s brilliant sense of humor (more heaping handfuls of gross blech than you can imagine, more offensive imagery than socially acceptable), this book is billed as a mishmash of influences- WWE, video games, Gary Panter’s Jimbo, and the Berserk manga.  I like to think of it as R. Crumb draws Tim Vigil’s Faust, minus the draftsmanship.  Recommended.

Buffy Season 8 Volume 5-  So I guess I’ll be seeing legions upon legions of Buffy fans this week in Forbidden Planet.  Okay then.  See ya then.

25,000 Years of Erotic Freedom- Alan Moore, he of  Lost Girls fame, contributes to this book examining centuries of smut, pornography, and filth.  Terrific.  While definitely not for all tastes, nor ages for that matter, the book posits that “the success and vibrancy of a society relates to its permissiveness in sexual matters,”and examines human history in that context.  Says Moore, “Sexually progressive cultures gave us literature, philosophy, civilization and the rest, while sexually restrictive cultures gave us the Dark Ages and the Holocaust.” It’s a pretty interesting tome, Especially if you like da nasty.

John McClane sketch from artist Stephen Thompson’s blog.

Die Hard #1- What? Come on, okay?  Die Hard’s my favorite Christmas movie and even I, on occasion, should be allowed to let go of snobbery and pretension long enough to enjoy big dumb fun.  Which brings us to this here comic book, chronicling  John McClane’s rookie tour with the NYPD in 1976.  Written by Howard Chaykin, a veteran of tough, grizzled action/crime stories, with art by Stephen Thopmson (Moonstone’s Buckaroo Banzai, Presidential Material: John McCain).

Sleeper Season Two TP-  Stop reading if you’ve heard my spiel about Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ masterpiece.  Okay, now that they’re gone, you simply MUST read Sleeper.  It contains zero moral value, and that’s fantastic. Secret agent Holden Carver is under deep, deep cover in THE underground criminal organization what’s got their hands in everything with seemingly no way out.  Why would he want to get out anyway, when evil’s so damn sexy?  It’s an amazingly well-executed story and if you have enjoyed these creators’ other series Criminal and Incognito you’ll more than dig this.

Absolute Promethea Vol. 01- One of our favorite Alan Moore books gets the gussied-up Absolute treatment from DC/Wildstorm.  There are precious few other things you can drop a hundred bucks on.  Anyone got a hundred bucks I can borrow?

Bad Dog #3- You may want to wait for the trade on this title due to its erratic schedule, but if you’re stalwart enough to jump on board or you’ve been following it all along you’ll know that Joe Kelly’s romp is one irreverent delight after another.  Best comic featuring a Werewolf bounty hunter ever.

And that’s just the tip of the bookshelf.  Have a good Wednesday, folks.