‘Afterlife with Archie’ hits the newsstand/supermarket market in October!

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Denise
Halloween ComicFest variant (ComicFest/Archie)

And let’s not forget the Halloween ComicFest variant of Issue #1….(ComicFest/Archie)

I’m a big fan of Afterlife with Archie.  It’s a great spin on an old, beloved franchise, the artwork is spooky and brilliant, not to mention that it all starts (by accident) thanks to one of my favorite characters; Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

So, I was psyched to hear that Afterlife with Archie will be hitting newsstands starting next month!  What’s the difference, you ask?  Well, for the most part comic books are relegated to comic book shops, bookshops and the online market.  A title that breaks through to a wider area — like the magazine rack of a newsstand or supermarket — is getting a bigger audience, and a spike in readership.  It also means that there could be special newsstand-specific variant covers to be had, and of course there’s the ability to pick up issues that you might have missed that are now sold out of their initial printing.

These newsstand editions will be a whopping 48 pages, which means more stuff for fans!  (That’ll also mean a bump-up in price, from $3.99 to $4.99.)  For fans of Francesco Francavilla’s award-winning work (insert shameless plug for the Ghastly Awards with Francavilla’s win here), it’s an opportunity to check out his art in a larger format.  Ooh, nice.

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(ComicsAlliance/ Archie)

With The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina also hitting stands this October (something that was briefly teased at last Saturday’s Archie panel at Baltimore Comic-Con), it’s shaping up to be a very happy Halloween indeed.  I’ll get more into Sabrina next month, but just wanted to share the gorgeous cover of issue #3, with the Creepshow homage from Robert Hack.  Not only is it groovy, but look at all the detail.  I could stare at that cover for hours.  Hours….

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: The Maze Runner

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Denise

the maze runner onesheet

Hey gang, let’s go to the movies! Today’s free Baltimore screening fest is for The Maze Runner, and according to a fellow critic who has read the book series this film is based on, it should be a cool ride.  Here’s the synopsis….

When Thomas wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D.  Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape.  Based upon the best-selling novel by James Dashner.

Shady overlord organizations!  Kids in peril!  Kids in peril that decide to fight the system!  Who doesn’t love that?

Here’s how to nab yourself a pair o’ passes:

What: ADMIT TWO passes for the Baltimore area screening of The Maze Runner

Where: Cinemark Egyptian

When: Tuesday, September 16th, 2014

Why: Because I smell another YA franchise y’all!

How: GOFOBO!  Clicky!  http://l.gofobo.us/xHzEjU7M

REMEMBER: seating for screenings are first-come, first served and are not guaranteed. So get there early to make sure you get a seat.

Good luck everyone!

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Baltimore Comic-Con: Sunday wrap-up!

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Denise

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodateWell, the ‘Con has left the building.  But yesterday was still a whole lot of fun, and had a surprisingly great slate of panels to choose from.  I say surprisingly because typically Sundays are “wind down” days, with a bunch of so-so panels that are really round-robins of folks chatting about whateverall (though sometimes that can be pretty awesome, it’s usually just for the niche fan).  I skipped the costume contest in order to hit a few of these panels, and protip?  If you’re sick to death of crowds, that’s the thing for you to do next year.  You’ll even have plenty of time to make your way to the costume contest finals, should you wish to freak out over the amazingness that can be found there.

The coolest part of hitting BCC this year?  Running into folks I know, folks whose work I’ve reviewed, and people who were in panels I enjoyed.  The Fifth Beatle’s Vivek Tiwary was especially gracious when I congratulated him on his Harvey wins and told him I enjoyed his panel.  His enthusiasm for the work he creates is definitely infectious, and I look forward to more of his stuff.  Ditto for The Horror Show’s James Maddox; I’ll be reviewing new stuff from both of these creators later this week….

Onward, to the panels!

Continue reading →

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Baltimore Comic-Con: Saturday wrap-up!

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Denise

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodatePhew — Saturday was the usual crazy-crowded, walk-stop-walk Con that I’d remembered!  Luckily, there were some awesome panels that took me away from the merch floor, and the hallways.  Purchases so far?

* My Little Pony TPB “Pony Tales, signed by Thom Zahler!  He told me he’d love to be invited to BronyCon, so maybe next year I can get him to sign something else….

* S.H.I.E.L.D. “Staff” badge.  Because I’m not Coulson.  Hello, Halloween!  (Bonus points to the folks at that booth for printing Castiel’s FBI badge upside-down.  Because that’s exactly how Cas would roll.)

* 2014 BCC keychain, with Carnage logo on one side & BCC logo on the other.  Because I’m a sucker for dogtags.

* String Aquaman!  Someone had left a boatload of DC superhero string figurines at the “dump table” in front of the merch room.  Free!  Of course I snagged Aquaman.  Because he rocks.

Best of Cosplay for Saturday:  I did manage a few pics, but the real throwdown will be at today’s costume contest.

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And so onward, to the panels!

Continue reading →

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2014 Harvey Award winners announced

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Denise

This year’s Harvey Awards presentation was last night, and the big winners were led by Saga, with 3 wins. Sex Criminals, Adventure Time, The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, and Best Of Comix Book: When Marvel Comics Went Underground all double-fisted with two wins each.

Read on for the full list! Continue reading →

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Frank Cho’s “World of Payne” announced at Baltimore Comic-Con!

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Denise

Will post Saturday stuff later, but first? A press release of coolness. Cue announcement!

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Cho/Sniegoski Project Announced at Exclusively at Baltimore Comic-Con!
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – September 6, 2014 – Frank Cho and Thomas Sniegoski are happy to announce their next creator owned project, World of Payne, at the Baltimore Comic-Con.

World of Payne is an urban fantasy graphic novel hybrid told in a unique narrative prose and sequential art style; part novel and part comic book. It’s a story of psychic private investigator, Lockwood Payne, who is actually a modern day sorcerer from an ancient society of witches and wizards and his strange misadventures in the world of the occult and unrealities. Along the way, he’s helped by his ever-loyal and unflappable friend, Doctor Hurt, an urgent care doctor in the strip mall next door to Payne’s office, and the beautiful Michelle, a witch-in-training.

The introductory book, World of Payne: Book 0 – Ghost Dog, will be published by Flesk Publications in Spring 2015. It will introduce all the major characters of this world and set up the upcoming horror adventure book series.

The Baltimore Comic-Con is being held Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7, 2014, at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is located immediately across the street from the historic Camden Yards sports complex (which includes Oriole Park and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum). Tickets, a full guest roster, and additional information is available on theconvention’s website.

The latest developments regarding the show always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

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Baltimore Comic-Con: Friday wrap-up!

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Denise

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It was a long, lovely afternoon at the Baltimore Convention Center yesterday, when Baltimore Comic-Con opened it’s doors for their first Friday.  I did (almost) all the things, and didn’t buy anything from the merch room yet.  Success!  Yay?

Herewith, my streaming-thoughts of doom, destruction and stuff.  Today brings the Archie panel (hooray for Afterlife With Archie!), along with the DC, Marvel, Boom and Dynamite panels.  Which of course all seem to be at the same time, so I may skip the first two and go with the smaller panels.  Because fun.  Fun!  (And also seating.) Since I’m in dire need of a coffee, let’s get this Friday recap party started!

* Got in early — an hour to go before the Thrillbent panel. What to do? MERCH FLOOR!  So much to want.  So little time/cash/space in the pad.  But as this was the first Friday the ‘Con has ever had, things were easy.  And the place was pretty empty, compared to the usual glomping throngs.  Time to nerd out!

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Barry Kitson, Mark Waid, Christina Blanch, Ron Randall

Barry Kitson, Mark Waid, Christina Blanch, Ron Randall

* Thrillbent:  Hard to believe it’s been 3 years with this online comics site/phenom/thang.  I’m a huge fan of their The Eighth Seal, and after this panel there’s so much more I’d like to read.  Especially The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood by Christy Blanch, Insufferable: Home Field Advantage, City of the Dead, and newbie The House in the Wall.  Opening their site to an all-you-can-read subscription service for the cost of one comic for a month of access will make that easy.

No sound, no animation, just scroll and let the panels unfold.  I liked the roundtable that discussed this style as a more immersive experience, allowing you to become more invested as your own brainparts create sound/story flow right along with the artists.  Very cool.  And it was also very cool to see see Kitson and Randall get excited about this new medium; as someone with zero artistic talent, I was in awe of their willingness to dive into this form of storytelling, and how they took it to a new level.  Yeah, it’s easy to just make things jump out at you at the next swipe, but to create panoramic views, and stories that unfold at the speed of the reader?  Brilliant.

BTW, sounds like they’ll be opening the floor to pitches at the end of the year; apparently they allowed fans to make 15 second pitches at SDCC, and the bulk of those pitches?  Were kinda amazing.  I’m anxious to see where that leads.

 

Gail Simone, Dave Gibbons, Marguerite Bennett, Paul Levitz, Adam Hughes, Christina Blanch, and Thom Zahler

Gail Simone, Dave Gibbons, Marguerite Bennett, Paul Levitz, Adam Hughes, Christina Blanch, and Thom Zahler

* “Sexy or Sexualized?”:  I was chomping at the bit for this panel, which took a look at the difference between being appealing and being flat-out inappropriate. (HINT: for folks saying that this is simply a “hyper-sexy ain’t anatomically correct” argument?  A character can be anatomically correct and sexist.  Thank you, panel.)

Paul Levitz and guests Marguerite Bennett (Batgirl), Christina Blanch (The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood), Dave Gibbons (The Secret Service), Adam Hughes (Fairest), Gail Simone (Red Sonja), and Thom Zahler (Love & Capes) all put in their two cents and more, and I’m loving Gail Simone more than ever right now.

It was especially interesting to hear Adam Hughes’ thoughts, as his work is absolutely gorgeous and downright sexy. He shared he goes on instinct with his art, and that after his work on Penthouse comics, “my barometer has been ba-roken.”  Best thought came from Dave Gibbons, who said that in the UK, boys comics have no girls in ’em, and girls comics don’t deal with boys, so he saw them simply as characters. So when Watchmen came around, he played with the ideas of sexuality because it was supposed to be a throwback to the Golden Age of comics.

Take away Personhood Is Power y’all. You can say that over-sexualized characters are “inviting the gaze”, “deflecting”, or whatever you like. But if 90% of female characters have that same exact description? Time to change up their motives/desires/thoughts and create beyond the cliche.

* SuperMOOC!: “Social Issues Through Comic Books SuperMOOC with Christina Blanch” only served to remind me that I really need to get my feelers out and learn about all the cool things comic book fandom has created.  Sounds like it was an amazing class, and Blanch has a way with teaming comic books up with social issues.  This past MOOC focused on Addiction, Environment, Social Inequality, Immigration, and Media/Government Intervention/Information.  And the class reading list was a cornucopia of the really good stuff: Lazarus, Buzzkill, Swamp Thing, Transmetropolitan, Superman Unchained…. Thank goodness all of her interviews for the class are still available on her YouTube channel.  All this, and it was free?  Please let her do another one.  Soon.

Wellp, time to head out for a new day.

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Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at Baltimore Comic-Con

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Denise

I love the work that CBLDF does to support free speech.  So as always I’m excited to see what they’ve got in store for this year’s Baltimore Comic-Con.  Check it out, and see you tomorrow at the ‘Con!

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Paul Pope and CBLDF – Teaming Up For Free Speech At Baltimore Comic-Con!
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – September 4, 2014 – This weekend, Paul Pope blasts into Baltimore Comic Con, where he’s teaming up with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund to fight for Free Speech! Pope will be appearing all weekend at Booth #2501, just beside CBLDF’s Booth #2401, where you can find a massive library of Paul Pope books that he’ll personalize for you! Paul Pope will be signing at Booth #2501 throughout the weekend, including:
Friday: 3:00-5:00
Saturday: 2:30-4:00
Sunday: 1:00-3:00
CBLDF will also offer an extensive selection of signed graphic novels from creators, including Alan Moore, Robert Kirkman, Frank Miller, Jill Thompson, Alex Ross, Warren Ellis, and many more!

In addition to signings, CBLDF will offer a three-day programming track that includes:

 

Friday
5:00-6:00 – CBLDF: History of the Comics Code
60 years ago, comics were put on trial in a nationally televised Senate subcommittee hearing that had shattering repercussions for this great American art form. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund presents the shocking history of moral panic that led to this historic hearing and the birth of the Comics Code Authority, which regulated the medium’s content for more than 50 years. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein tells the tale at this CBLDF presentation.
Saturday
11:00-12:00 – CBLDF: Tales from The Code — True Stories of Censorship
For more than 50 years, American comic books were subject to the censorship of the Comics Code, a system born from a time when comics were burned in the streets and blamed for all of society’s ills. Though the Code is gone, its influence remains. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund gathers Denny O’Neil, Jim Starlin, and other top storytellers who worked under the Code’s strictures to tell the tales of how its censorship touched their creative visions.
2:00-3:00 – Paul Pope Spotlight
Paul Pope’s comics are unique. You’ve never seen anything quite like Battling Boy, 100%, THB, Batman: Year 100, or any of his other many works, but once you try one, you’ll want more. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about Pope and the fantastic comics he creates. Moderated by CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein, whose writing about Pope has appeared in The One Trick Rip Off + Deep Cuts and Monsters & Titans: Battling Boy Art on Tour.
Sunday
12:00-1:00 – CBLDF: Protecting the Kids’ Right to Read
Kids have rights too! As more outstanding comics for younger readers are published each year, the number of readers flocking to them is growing. But so are the challenges, evidenced by Bone and Captain Underpants showing up on the Top 10 Most Banned & Challenged Books list of 2013. So, what do creators and educators do to balance respecting the intelligence of young readers and the concerns of parents and community members? How do we protect kids and their rights at the same time? Jimmy Gownley and Meryl Jaffe, author of CBLDF’s Raising A Reader: How Comics & Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Love to Read discuss in this panel moderated by CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein.
Celebrate Free Speech and meet Paul Pope at Baltimore Comic-Con!
The Baltimore Comic-Con will be held Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7, 2014, at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is located immediately across the street from the historic Camden Yards sports complex (which includes Oriole Park and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum). Tickets, a full guest roster, and additional information is available on the convention’s website.
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The Indie Lounge at Sundance celebrates 5 years

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Denise
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Image: PRNewsFoto/The Independent Filmmakers Loung

Hitting Sundance is a bucket list thing for me. This year though? I’m drooling. It’s not pretty. But read on, and see what I mean. You might need a tissue.

Continue reading →

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MST3K’s Joel Hodgson to Host Baltimore Comic-Con/StylinOnline.com Costume Contest!

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Denise

Remember MST3K?  Wait, you’re over 30, right?  Or at least you’re cool enough to hit up their Netflix stash?  Well okay.  Then check it out: JOEL is coming to Baltimore Comic-Con!

I’ma let the press release take it from here, because I’m kinda psyched and a bit verklempt.

BTW: BCC has posted the Friday, Saturday and Sunday programming.  Something for everyone!  Plus, dates for the 2015 ‘Con have already been booked, and it’s later in September that go’round.  Which just makes things better for folks who live here and usually travel out Labor Day weekend.  Woot?  Woot.  Woot!

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MST3K’s Joel Hodgson to Host Baltimore Comic-Con/StylinOnline.com Costume Contest!
Spotlight Panel Saturday Morning
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – August 29, 2014 – The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to welcome Joel Hodgson, creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000, as the host of the Baltimore Comic-Con/StylinOnline.com Costume Contest! Hodgson will also be joined onstage by comedian Matt McGinnis.

Joel Hodgson is best known for creating the Peabody Award-winning movie-riffing sci-fi series Mystery Science Theater 3000. He was also the host of the series for the first 100 episodes. Joel started out in show business as a stand-up comedian and appeared on HBO’s Young Comedians Special as well as the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS and NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Joel currently does the voice of “Mayor Dewey” on Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe. Joel recently completed six years of touring with the original cast of MST3K in Cinematic Titanic.

In addition to the hosting the costume contest, Hodgson will also have a Spotlight Panel Saturday from 11:00-12:00 in the Ballroom. He will be at the Baltimore Comic-Con all three days, signing autographs and taking photos with fans.
“We are very happy to have Joel Hodgson join us in Baltimore,” said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. “Mystery Science Theater 3000 has entertained thousands of viewers and has become a huge part of popular culture. MST3K fans are sure to be excited by this news.”

The Baltimore Comic-Con/StylinOnline.com Costume Contest is on Sunday, September 7th, beginning at 1:00pm.

The Baltimore Comic-Con will be held Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7, 2014, at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is located immediately across the street from the historic Camden Yards sports complex (which includes Oriole Park and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum). Tickets, a full guest roster, and additional information is available on the convention’s website.
Tickets

General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now!

Mark Your Calendars!

The Baltimore Comic-Con returns to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in 2015 for another three-day spectacular! Block off Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, 2015 on your calendars now!

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