Category Archives: Comics News

April 18, 2025 · 8:00 am

Superman Day! Big Events Kick off the Festivities.

Action Comics #1 Revisited!

Where would comics be without Superman? It is Supes who has led the way in more ways than you might imagine. It’s important to look back and honor where we’ve come from. So, with Superman Day offering us a chance to pay tribute to one of the greatest characters in comics, let me offer you one of my own Superman memories. I was a little kid back in the 1970s in a small Southern town. We moved around a bit, due to my dad’s work, but I believe we were living in Morgan City, Louisiana. I had just been chased by a dog and ended up crashing my bicycle into a neighbor’s truck. I recall this big guy staring at me and I was just about to lose it completely. I was around 10 years-old. This guy, big as a bear, looks down to see me on the ground. It was his German Shepherd, off his leash, who had chased me down. Apparently, no damage done to his truck to speak of. His wife came out and then his two kids, around my age. They all took me inside their home and I ended up reading comic books with his two kids. I recall this was a DC Comics home. It was mostly Superman and that’s what I focused on. That was my introduction to Superman!

We follow my recollections with a lineup to all the wonderful Superman events that DC Comics has scheduled for April 18, 2025, known world-wide as Superman Day, and beyond. As you scroll further down, you’ll see a great checklist of events for fans to follow throughout 2025. For instance, we do have a new Superman movie to look forward to now, don’t we?

I have included a gallery of some amazing Superman art, just in time for the movie!

Action Comics #1087’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Dan Jurgens, publishing on June 11

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Dan Mora, publishing on June 18

Justice League Unlimited #9’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Frank Quitely, publishing on July 23

Superman #27’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Jerry Ordway, publishing on June 25

Superman Unlimited #1’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Jim Lee, publishing on May 21

Batman #161’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Jorge Jiménez, publishing on June 25

Supergirl #1’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Nicola Scott & Annette Kwok, publishing on May 14

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Comics, Comics News

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

April 1, 2024 · 10:10 am

Urban Nerd Con in Atlanta, April 26-28, 2024

The Urban Nerd Con is something new and exciting for pop culture fans, with a focus on diversity. If you are in the Atlanta area later this month, check out this event: April 26-28 at the Courtland Grand Hotel, located at 165 Courtland St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. More details and press release follows:

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Comics, Comics News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

March 5, 2024 · 9:18 am

THE RED HOOK x DEAN HASPIEL Kickstarter

Dean Haspiel is one of the best cartoonists working today. Get his latest comic via the Kickstarter campaign going on now thru March 28th! This new comic has Dean deep within one of the most fascinating aspects of comics, the creator within his own work. This new project merges the two genres Dean Haspiel is best known for, superhero and memoir.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Comics, Comics News, Kickstarter

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

August 17, 2023 · 8:00 am

WE BELONG Now Crowdfunding on Zoop!

Cover by Jay Hero

In Comics Grinder news, there’s a lot of buzz and excitement over WE BELONG, a new comics anthology focusing on sci-fi and fantasy from a queer Black perspective. Press release follows:

Stacked Deck Press and Prism Comics are pleased to announce that the crowdfunding campaign for WE BELONG is now live on Zoop!

WE BELONG, is an all-Black, all-LGBTQ+ sci-fi and fantasy comics anthology featuring works from over 2 dozen black queer comics creators:

Aimee Campbell * Ajuan Mance * Asia Bey
C.A.P. Ward * E.B. Hutchins * Erika Hardison * Benny Hollman
Gaia WXYZ * Gerald Brandon Bell * Iggy “Eggs” Morris
Jay Hero * Jazmine Joyner and Sam Wade * Jezza Smiles
Joe Philips * Jordan Green * Mihael B. Peralta Myers
Nick Orr * Paul Kellam * Rupert Kinnard * Trevor Adams
Tulani Kiara * Valerie Complex * Victor Hodge
Viktor T. Kerney * William O. Tyler
Edited by Viktor T. Kerney and William O. Tyler

Sample from WE BELONG.

The lack of Black queer characters and stories inspired writer Viktor Kerney (StrangeLore, Prism Comics) to develop a collection of sci-fi and fantasy stories that center the queer Black perspective, all from queer Black creators. Co-editing this project with him is critic and comics creator William O. Tyler (Theater of Terror: Revenge of the Queers). Together they have assembled an array of incredible creators to share their stories, including Jay Hero, C.A.P. Ward, Ajuan Mance, Rupert Kinnard, and many more!

These stories showcase the fact that, despite what the landscape of popular fiction says, Black queer people have existed and do exist everywhere, in every time and space. Whether we’re fighting monsters or becoming superheroes, we belong. From intergalactic adventures to interdimensional exploration, we belong. As wizards, as mermaids, as witches, fully as ourselves, we belong.

BACK THIS AMAZING PROJECT HERE: https://zoop.gg/c/webelong

Sample from WE BELONG.

WE BELONG is a comics anthology composed of 100+ pages of sci-fi and fantasy stories that center the queer Black perspective, all from queer Black creatives. A campaign on Zoop is running through

The lack of Black queer characters and stories inspired writer Viktor Kerney (StrangeLore) to develop a collection of these phenomenal tales. Co-editing alongside critic and comics creator William O. Tyler (Theater of Terror: Revenge of the Queers), they have assembled an array of incredible creators to share their stories, including Jay Hero, C.A.P. Ward, Ajuan Mance and many more!

These stories showcase the fact that, despite what the landscape of popular fiction says, Black queer people have and do exist everywhere, in every time and space. Whether we’re fighting monsters or becoming superheroes, we belong. From intergalactic adventures to interdimensional exploration, we belong. As wizards, as mermaids, as witches, fully as ourselves, we belong.

This joint venture between award-winning comics publisher Stacked Deck Press and Prism Comics, a nonprofit promoting LGBTQIA+ comics, comics creators, and fandom, is a moment not to be missed.

Go to Zoop for more info and support the campaign!

1 Comment

Filed under Comics, Comics News, LGBTQ+

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

April 18, 2023 · 8:56 am

‘Derborence: When the Mountain Fell’ GN Release in US from Helvetiq

Helvetiq, a publishing house based in Switzerland, announces: Derborence: When the Mountain Fell, based on the classic by C. F. Ramuz of the same name, is being released today in the US and has already been released in Europe in French and German. This graphic novel adaptation highlights the mysteries hidden in the great mountains of Switzerland and is the first in a series of adaptations of C. F. Ramuz’s novels. Derborence is the story of a devastating alpine landslide, of the grief-stricken villagers who are haunted by what they believe is the ghost of a man who should not have survived, and of a woman who refuses to give up hope.
So, that’s the initial brief version of the press release. I love the look and feel of the PDF that I just received so I decided to just jump in and post this. Am I familiar with the work of Fabian Menor? Hmm, I appreciate the loose style.  For loyal readers of this site, you know that I’ll sometimes point you in the right direction with a quick note and circle back later with more. Keep this under consideration and, as I suggest, I will come back to it before you know it.

Leave a comment

Filed under Comics, Comics News

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

October 11, 2021 · 3:25 pm

Steve Lafler’s ‘1956: Movie Star’ on Kickstarter thru Oct 31st

Steve Lafler, one of our great indie cartoonists, has a new book out, 1956: Movie Star. This graphic novella launches a Kickstarter campaign running from today until Halloween. You can read my review of Steve’s previous book in the 1956 series here.
“Fifty-Second Street crackles with electricity as midnight beckons. Limos and cabs drop revelers at jazz hotspots like Birdland and Jimmy Ryan’s, decked to the nines.
Headliners from Sarah Vaughn to the Miles Davis Quintet rewrite the rules of cool nightly in clubs packed to the gills. Enter Ramona Lopez and Nikki Garcia, brimming with intent to quit the streets and embrace the cultural ambitions–but wait, here’s Jack Rolfe and Susie Ferrari in the house. Can these fashion industry avatars help Ramona & Nikki?”
A book trade edition will ship March 2022 via Diamond Comics and Ingram, among other distribution outlets.
1956 Movie Star ISBN 978-1-7341087-7-4 / Trade Paper 72 pages $12.99
Steve Lafler is always brewing something good. Keep up with him here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Comics, Comics News, Kickstarter

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

July 28, 2021 · 5:15 pm

2021 Eisner Awards: The Nominees and the Winners

SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN (DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults, paper, $16.99)

The big news for the 2021 Eisner Awards at Comic-Con in San Diego is that cartoonist Gene Luen Yang was the big winner of the evening, taking home three Eisner Awards, including two for Superman Smashes the Klan (Best Publication for Kids, and Best Adaptation from Another Medium) and one for Dragon Hoops (Best Publication for Teens). That’s the big takeaway and quite a worthy one at that. Also, just as important is the news of Junji Ito‘s Remina (translated by Jocelyne Allen) manga winning this year’s Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia award. Junji Ito also won the Best Writer/Artist award for his Remina and Venus In The Blind Spot manga.

Panel excerpt from DRAGON HOOPS

While we inevitably focus on the winners–let’s also pay attention to the nominees. And then there are all the others who did not make it that far. I’ll tell you right now that these award lists are not the final word, but a great guide nonetheless. In a perfect world, for instance, Welcome to the New World, a graphic novel by Jake Halpern and Michael Sloan, would have been nominated for the 2020 book published by Henry Holt. It was nominated for an Eisner as a webcomic in 2018, so that’s a good thing. Among this year’s winners, I do think the Eisners got it spot on for Best Reality-Based book going to Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio, by Derf Backderf. And it was great to give a shoutout to Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns & Moonage Daydreams byway of an award for Best Penciller/Inker to Michael Allred.

Anyway, I think it helps to make you dig around a little to see who won…you’ll see what I mean….

Continue reading →

5 Comments

Filed under Comic-Con, Comics, Comics News, Eisner Awards

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

July 27, 2021 · 3:40 pm

French Graphic Novelist Ugo Makes Animation Debut, ARCO

Ugo’s ARCO

I love this still from the upcoming animated feature, Arco. I have to hand it to the French as this looks like something very weird and wonderful–and will live up to its promise. All the little details, so delicate and precise, speak to the dedication of a true graphic novelist, which Ugo surely is as he has a fine and consistent track record of actually creating numerous graphic novels. You really can’t call yourself a graphic novelist without actually being one! So, here is a bona fide bande dessinee artist!

Here is the news on Arco which appeared in Variety last month:

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under animation, Bande Dessinée, Comics News, French Comics

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September 15, 2020 · 1:30 pm

Helping Comics Shops During Covid-19: GIVE COMICS HOPE

GIVE COMICS HOPE

If comics collectors could consider looking over their collections and donating five items or more with a value of $100 to GIVE COMICS HOPE, the proceeds will be distributed to comic book shops around the world struggling during COVID-19. It’s as simple, and powerful, and idea as that. Of course, there are other ways to donate as well. Just visit the GIVE COMICS HOPE website right here. This is one of the best things we can be doing now regarding comics and all the hard-working comics retailers!

GIVE COMICS HOPE is a new charitable initiative founded by Bill Schanes, the teenage founder of Pacific Comics, the comic store that became a chain, a creator-owned publisher and a comic book distributor before it was bought up by Diamond Comic Distributors in the eighties. So, Bill Schanes knows the comics industry like the back of his hand–and he’s the perfect person to lead the way in supporting comic book shops. A press release follows:

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Comics, Comics News, COVID-19

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

July 12, 2020 · 2:15 pm

L.A. Zine Fest 2020: A Few Observations and Updates

 

L.A. Zine Fest took place this year as a virtual series of events in May, an exciting alternative to connect zinesters, attendees, and other people who usually go to the fest. Let this serve as a friendly and helpful model for similar events that might still be grappling with what to do in 2020 and beyond. COVID-19 isn’t going to just disappear but we can remain vigilant and creative. From the comfort of my home in Seattle, I got to check out L.A. Zine Fest and I have some items to share with you from my connecting remotely with LAZF.

CDMX by Chynna Monforte

Here is a zine by Chynna Monforte which shares with the reader a recent visit to Mexico City. Chynna put on an excellent workshop as part of the schedule of events during LAZF this year. During her workshop, Chynna shared her techniques for putting together a zine which included a look at her own vast collection as well as some tips on laying out your zine in inDesign. Be sure to visit Chynna for all your design needs, particularly with print and web design.

Pages from CDMX

The robust colors just blow my mind. With her zine, CDMX, Chynna Monoforte demonstrates that there are no limits to what you can do with a zine. You can really put together a zine that is just as vibrant and professional as anything you’d find in a mainstream magazine.

Zines by Stainperfect

And here is a zine from Haruka Tanabe, an artist that goes by the name, Stainperfect, based in Tokyo and Osaka. This is an amazing artist and I am curious to learn more. Her work is very much in the autobio tradition of indie comics and it appears that autobio work comes naturally to her. For a long time, she had misgivings about her art but she finally took the plunge after finally gaining just the right support from a friend. Her earliest effort was the little zine, It’s Okay, which is an affirmation she makes to herself and shares with the reader. This led to deeper exploration, as in Midnight Drumbeat, a poetic look at a trip to Mozambique where she was a volunteer. More recent work includes, Loving More Freely: Exploring Polyamory, which explores relationships within polyamory and provides essential insight.

Page from Loving More Freely: Exploring Polyamory

L.A. Zine Fest curated readings, workshops, and discussion panels via Zoom that connected zinesters, creators, comix artists, and illustrators with each other and the general public. Workshops and panels  included everything from how to draw people who are different than you are to an exercise in making comics and “stream-of-consciousness sketching” in quarantine times.

L.A. Zine Fest 2019

LAZF teamed up with some of its 2020 exhibitors to create a select number of digital events and fun stuff for 2020. I look forward to what LAZF does for 2021, whether in person or virtual. Let’s all keep doing great work supporting the arts through the pandemic. Keep in touch with LAZF!

Leave a comment

Filed under Comic Arts Festivals, Comics, Comics News, COVID-19

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,