For quite some time we’ve had an odd glitch with our graphic novel listings: fairly recent items would become unavailable, about a month after they were first listed on our site. This happened because we try to be very good about only listing items as available if we’re pretty confident about their actual availability, and we didn’t have a good information on that. Now… we do! You’ll find a bunch of fairly recent stuff available again, like
Monthly Archives: June 2008
At the risk of kicking up too much of a kerfuffle, I think Friend of HI and Hero By Night creator DJ Coffman could use some moral support right about now, if not a good lawyer to do some pro bono creator rights work on his behalf…
A long story short, I had emailed the folks at Platinum to inquire if there had been any movement about the rights issue so that I could possibly get moving and publishing at least the webcomic on my own before the audience that we built for 2 years completely dropped off. I pretty much got this form letter sounding reply that included this statement:
Please be advised that due to the controversy stirred up as a result of your recent blogging and interviews, all discussions between us regarding any potential licensing back to you of limited rights to Hero By Night are on hold. At this time, we cannot say when those discussions might be resurrected. – Brian Altounian
To summarize, “we were gonna, but you talked, and now we’ve changed our minds.” Fantastic!
Read more about it at DJ’s blog.
Here’s hoping Platinum comes to their senses and starts treating their talent with the decency they deserve—they have no reason I can see to withhold publishing rights from DJ, other than being bastards, especially since any work he does to continue to promote and produce the work will only help any efforts Platinum may undertake to sell the property in Hollywood.
We got our biggest delivery of comics ever – the pile of Diamond boxes was almost as tall as our shipping person!
The UPS guy demanded help, because the boxes of Atomic Robo graphic novels were tipping the scales at over 70 lbs each.
Anyway, there’s an all-hands project going on right now (well, maybe not all hands…I’m exercising my managerial perogative and sitting on my butt!), as folks unpack comics and then repack them again.
We’ll get a fair number of comics out today, but – as always – we don’t promise that everything ships out on Wednesday. Some items will be boxed up tomorrow, etc.
As our volume continues to grow (we’ve been increasing the number of comics shipped per month by 30% each month so far, but we’re expecting a slight slowdown to 20% / month starting in July), we’ll ramp up our shipping staff, of course.
We’re also negotiating with our landlord for an office suite about three times larger elsewhere on the floor. Keep your fingers crossed on that one, please.
And, have pity on our local USPS employees…I’m told that we are apparently the largest single chunk of mail volume in the entire town!
Writers Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman have previously written the original graphic novel Monster Attack Network for AiT/Planetlar and the five-issue Highwaymen miniseries for Wildstorm (more on that later). They’re also a senior editor for Entertainment Weekly and a producer on Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels, respectively.
Now they’re throwing their hats into the ring to take on Top Cow’s Pilot Season, in which several comics enter, one comic leaves. Not quite as catchy to chant as the bit from Thunderdome, but there it is.
Adam made some time in his schedule to tell us more about Genius and what happens when the world’s greatest military genius is born in South Central.
Let’s start with the genesis of the project. How did these two ideas—the world’s greatest military genius, and a war in one of LA’s worst neighborhoods, weave their way together?
It was really the combination of two separate ideas. One was a documentary about these extreme right wing militias in middle America preparing for what they feel is the inevitable race war. The second idea was a general fascination with savant-like prodigies and how they are born with a gift not necessarily of their choosing. We combined the two into this concept that every generation is given a great military mind – Hannibal, Napoleon, Washington, Patton, etc. Who says our generation’s greatest warrior has to go to West Point and be a trained killer in the traditional sense? What if someone surrounded by violence their whole life discovered they had this gift and chose to do something with it?
You seem to be trying to take a pretty realisitic view of life in an inner city. What kind of background do you have with that part of the world, and did you undertake any research to make your depiction more accurate?
Growing up on the tough streets of Long Island, Marc and I have exactly zero background growing up in that world but we did research into gang culture and military tactics and that’s what being a writer is. A lot of that research will, readers willing, show up in future books as the Battle of Los Angeles escalates into a full scale conflict. We have some really, really cool stuff planned that obviously wouldn’t fit all into one book.
Obviously, Destiny’s chief character trait in the first issue is her tactical brilliance. What else can you tell us about the character?
She is a person that has watched the game be played her whole life and has figured out a way to run it. She is a street hardened politician in a sense, in that she knows how to speak to all types of people, knows how to motivate them, and manipulate them. She is strong, incredibly bright and driven to make a difference. It is up to the reader to decide whether she is justified or misguided. She really is a very fascinating, complex character.
Take us through this story a bit as it might evolve over possible upcoming issues. What’s your long-term vision for the book?
Man oh man. The battle will become larger than anyone thought possible. Detective Grey’s role will definitely grow as his “Suspect Zero” theory is proven legitimate. There will also be a lot of backstory as to how Destiny became the woman she is, how she has been planning this for quite some time and how she intentionally stayed off the grid and kept her existence and motives a secret until the time was right. There is also a shared experience Destiny and Det. Grey have that neither of them knows about. Marc and I have this story all structured out and a great arc planned and we really hope we get the chance to tell it. We had to really pick and chose what to put in the first issue to tell the story, establish characters and convince readers that this is a story that they will want to hear more of.
What do you need to make happen in order to see Genius take the Pilot Season crown? What’s the most important thing fans can do to help?
Come August the voting will open on Top Cow websites and a few other comic book sites, I believe. You can vote once per day for the entire month. Please, if Genius piques your interest and you want to see more, vote every day and encourage others to do the same. This is a chance for all the fans that crave something different out there to make it happen. All of us that can see the ever-widening scope of what comics can do – this is our chance to put something different out there and take steps towards redefining the medium. I am a huge fan of superheroes, but I want more options as well.
You wrote Genius with your collaborator on The Highwaymen, Marc Bernardin. How does the division of labor work between the two of you as writers?
It is totally 50/50. It’s actually very funny – Marc and have been friends since 5th grade; we grew up blocks from each other. We have been writing film and TV specs for years and then I got an offer to move to LA that I could not pass up. Since I have moved our productivity has increased ten fold. We are such good friends that our work sessions in the same room always turned into massive Halo sessions or watching movies for inspiration – basically anything else that would side track us. We got work done but not nearly in proportion to how much time we were putting in. Once I moved to LA we began to work over the phone, e-mail, IM, etc. and our output has skyrocketed. We are both so busy (he with EW, me running Gene Simmons Family Jewels) that we really hyper focus on the task at hand. A story usually starts with a one line idea from one of us, “What if…” Then we flesh it out together and do an outline and then we pass Final Draft documents back and forth. I write 5 pages, he tweaks, adds five more and sends it back, I tweak, etc. So in the end all aspects of the book – the idea down to the layout and the dialogue – are both of ours. It’s working so far.
I thought The Highwaymen was a fun miniseries that deserved a bigger audience, and yet it seemed to become some kind of case study for the ways in which smaller books get the short end of the stick in an event-driven marketplace. Why do you think that happened, and what did you learn from the experience?
It was a huge learning experience, both good and bad. First off, we are proud that we put out what we feel is a quality book. I don’t think it would have become the “case study” and internet water cooler talk it did if it was crap. I think. It was exactly what we set out to do and, as a bonus, was really well received by the critics and the 12 people that bought it. 13 if you count my mom.
I think it is important to point out that it was not cancelled. I say that not out of ego, but fairness to Jim Lee, Scott Peterson and all the folks at DC/WildStorm. We made a deal for 5 issues and we did 5 issues. Of course the hope was that sales would demand more and then we and WildStorm, collectively, would have discussed continuing the Highwaymen in some form. Unfortunately the sales didn’t warrant that conversation.
I think it is too easy to “Monday morning quarterback” and say what went wrong. We all knew from the beginning that we had an uphill battle in the marketplace: unknown characters, no costumes, no capes, two unknown writers and a mostly unknown (but awesome) artist. When you think about it, the stars really had to align for it to be a runaway hit. Am I disappointed? You bet your ass, but I understand. I don’t take it personally. Who knows, maybe if Marc and I are lucky enough to become the next Fraction, Bendis or Vaughn, the math will add up and it will become feasible for WildStorm to do another.
I will say this, if you like something – support it – because you are directly affecting how long it will be around. Don’t automatically think, “Looks great, but I’ll wait for the trade” because if everyone does the same there will be no trade. If you like something, grab it now and show your support.
What else do you and Marc have on your plate, in terms of upcoming projects?
A lot actually. A bunch of anthology work: A Grunt tpb from Arcana, Outlaw Nation from Image, Postcards II, resurrecting the Sphinx in a pulp collection coming out. We also have a bunch of bigger projects I can’t talk about right now but hope to soon.
One of my favorite comics, The Last Call (by the extremely talented Vasilis Lolos), is making the jump from page to screen:
Universal has bought the Oni Press graphic novel series “The Last Call” and set it up with Barry Josephson to produce through his eponymous banner.
“The Last Call,” written and illustrated by Vasilis Lolos, centers on two teens on a joyride who get hit by a train – an interdimensional soul carrier – and find themselves on a quest to solve a mystery that will allow them to return to their regular lives.
Congrats, (UPDATE: Harvey Award Nominee) Vasilis!
For the interested, there’s a 38 page preview of TLC #1 here , and if it’s your cup of tea, it can be yours with a bit of clicking:
Issue 2 is due out August 30th:
If you’re looking for me before then, I’ll be where I’ve been since #1 came out – on the edge of my seat.
UPDATE: a software bug is breaking urls with “&” in them. Until we get it fixed, here’s the url for the preview: http://www.onipress.com/preview.php?bid=268&pid=141
A nice profile from New York magazine on Dash Shaw and his Bottomless Belly Button, already an early frontrunner for graphic novel of the year, if the buzz is any indication.
I love Frank Miller. Really, I do.
And I have faith in his ability to create a really kickass movie version of The Spirit that honors the original work and also reflects his personal artistic vision.
But still…
I think io9’s got it right—it looks VERY Sin City.
Am I right, or am I nuts?!
It’s Friday. Do you wanna work? Me neither.
Let’s read comics instead.
This week, why not spend a few hours visiting Image’s Online Comics page, featuring complete first issues of Fell, Casanova, Dynamo 5, Phonogram, and many, many more.
Then of course, click back here to HeavyInk to buy all the cool new stuff you’ve discovered! It’s always payday somewhere, right?
Okay, so I won’t post the video here since I don’t want to spoil it for anyone (and I guess if you don’t wanna be spoiled, stay away from the comments, cause I’m guessing us spoiler junkies will wanna yak about this), but there’s at least one very exciting special guest lined up for this weekend’s Incredible Hulk.
Way, way cool.
We should talk favorite Hulk stories, too. Here’s mine.
I heart Greg Pak.
As he did for 52, comics critic Douglas Wolk is offering his own annotations to Final Crisis. It’s a nice mix of incisive analysis and abject geekery.
Interesting conversation over at ICv2, the comics analysis/trend-tracking site.
First, Steve Bennett writes about underperforming titles from a retailer perspective, essentially suggesting that shop owners “just say no” to low-selling books:
And what we can do is stop ordering certain comics. I know we’ve been down this road before but if you haven’t already, take a look at the ICv2 Top 300 Actual Comics list for April, in particular the bottom. I knew comic books sales were down but, man, when a color superhero comic book from Marvel or DC sells 15,000 copies or under you really have to wonder what the breakeven point is for the publishers. I know this may sound crazy, but maybe if they published fewer comics the circulation of the comics they did publish would actually go up.
Then, graphic novel reviewer and library consultant Katharine Kan chimes in with her own perspective, which is, “Hey, waitaminit—low-selling titles are often GOOD!”
Those low-selling titles may be selling at lower numbers, but it doesn’t mean they’re not worthwhile. Retailers should instead encourage their customers to set up pull lists for those titles. I have never depended on a shop carrying what I want to buy for 12 years.
Obviously, many of you highly enlightened readers bypass the direct market and order your books from HeavyInk, but still:
What’s your take on this? Do low-selling books need to be crushed beneath the bootheel of the top sellers in order to strengthen the marketplace? Or are the low-selling titles often the under-the-radar classics that make comics collecting fun?
(And can you tell which side of the argument I’m on?)
Thanks to Dan for the heads-up on these articles!You asked, and he answered.
The (Nearly) Infamous Zango, star of Nearly Infamous Zango, has filed his responses to your advice column questions with Zango writer-artist Rob Osborne, and we present them to you here now.
We also have a winner in our Ask Zango contest: HI user Robert! We’ll be in touch shortly to coordinate delivery of your MEGAKEWL prize package.
All Hail Zango! And because he stars in a great comic, All Buy Zango!
Dear Mr. (Nearly) Infamous Zango,
How would you describe your working relationship with your handler Rob Osborne? Is he always making you do things you don’t want to do, like go to book signings or being a guest speaker at a villain convention, when you would rather just sit at home watching TV? Or is it the opposite, where he’s there to hold you back from all of your wild and crazy antics?
And are there any problems with having an attack-gorilla that you didn’t know about before you decided to have one? Bad odor? Expensive to feed?
Swearing my Undying Fealty,
Robert
Who do you think you’re talking to, Robert?! I am Lord Zango! No one handles Zango! Not even Zango!
Osborne is just a worthless wretch! He thinks that because he knows how to hold a pencil he is qualified to tell the stories of Zango! But it is I who allow this inept moron to tell my tales. It is I who command him to spread the word of my brilliance. And I demand that he makes me look good!
When you read The Nearly Infamous Zango, you should come away trembling with fear! You will know that my intellect has no equal! My power is expansive! My will is like steel!
If Osborne does his job properly, then soon all the world will shiver at the mention of my name. Then, all will submit to me. And if not, Osborne and the rest of you doddering dolts will be crushed beneath my bunny slippers!
In regards to your inquiry about the attack-gorilla, it is abundantly clear that Deacon Dread is losing his edge. Perhaps he has dementia. Because that overgrown monkey was as useless as a pogo stick. I don’t want cutesie toys. I want results!
Dear Mr. (Nearly) Infamous Zango,
Every night some hooligans in my neighborhood throw rocks at cars. I’ve had two windows broken already! If it weren’t for the fact that I drive an ‘82 Rabbit, I fear my car would be ransacked as well. What would you do to stop this rash of absurdity?
Also, they ring my door bell at 2am. Make it stop!
Sincerely,
Borderline Psychotic in Boston
A 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit? This is what you drive?! It’s no wonder you’re on the receiving end of abuse. You’re a loathsome fool without a proper understanding of how the world works! You drive a car that no self-respecting 16-year-old girl would accept as a birthday gift!
We live in a world governed by force! The aggressor enjoys the spoils. Consider the wild, where the tiger pounces on a zebra. The tiger gets dinner, and the zebra complains about—What? Doorbells and rocks?! How unfair life is?
No! The zebra is dead meat!
Stop being a wuss, Boston boy! Release this psychotic behavior you so-nearly indulge in, and take your anger out on the hooligans that torment you and your neighbors!
No one is coming to your rescue. It’s time you took things into your own hands. Inflict some pain! And make sure everyone in your neighborhood knows it was you who caused those troublemakers to suffer. That’s how you get respect!
Dear Mr. (Nearly) Infamous Zango,
My husband and I have been married for 15 years, but lately it seems like we hardly even know each other anymore. He’s been spending a lot more time than usual in his secret laboratory, and recently he genetically engineered a new assistant, a super-intelligent chimpanzee who he calls JoJo. He says she’s just his helper, but he keeps coming home later and later, and yesterday I could smell her perfume on him, and his hair was messier than usual (almost as if someone had been “grooming” him). Am I crazy for thinking there’s something going on here? How can I confront him about this without driving him away further?
—Feeling Jealous in Metrotown
Sounds like your husband may be into some monkey business. Which disgusts me to no end.
If you fear conflict, then you’re too soft and weak to get what you want. Always initiate conflict! Always demand what you want! Always give outrageous ultimatums!
If this doesn’t yield the results you desire, then be prepared to make your husband miserable. Hopefully, your spine proves sturdy enough to stand up for yourself, oh Jealous One.
Zango rocks.
He reminds me of “The Monarch” from The Venture Brothers.
Did you crib from TVB? Did they crib from you?
...or was this a case of totally awesome parallel inspiration?
- TJIC
Zango does rock! I am the Great Lord of Metrotown! I am to be loved and loathed! I am to be revered and despised! But you’re a fool, TJIC! Second-rate wannabe super-hacks like the Venture Brothers are constantly imitating Zango!
Besides, isn’t that a cartoon? Lord Zango is real. I inflict real agony.
There is only one Lord Alfred Zango, Jr! Your lives are meaningless without me! All the imposters will kneel before my greatness!
Dear Mr. Nilifamus Zango,
Van Freako found big rabbit for nice playing. Rabbit not soft and cuddly. Rabbit made of metal and glass. Rabbit fun! Van Freako play rock game with rabbit! Me not want to hurt rabbit, but Van Freako break glass. Van Freako afraid to tell Dread. What should Van Freako do?
-Van Freako
ps Van Freako like Zango bunny slippers. Me can play with Zango bunny slippers?
Van Freako, you half-witted troglodyte! Keep pestering me with your incessant whining and I’ll have Deacon Dread put you to sleep! And I’m not talking about a nap! I mean the long, rotting kind.
And stay away from my slippers, Van Freaks-a-lot, or I’ll give you a zap.
Dear Mr. (Nearly) Infamous Zango,
What T.V. show satiates a mind such as yours? Are there any that could even hope to hold your attention?
- Chris
Chris, is your life so barren of meaning that you wish to know the viewing habits of Lord Zango?
Maybe I enjoyed the recent episode of Oprah, where she shared her “favorite things” with the audience. Perhaps I relish the political blood-letting that is on the cable news networks every night. Surely you’ll find it fascinating that I watched the finale of American Idol. And yes, I’m glad that Archuleta was sent home crying to his mother!
But there’s nothing on television that sates me. My grey matter requires greater stimulation than Hell’s Kitchen and The Office can provide. The NBA playoffs are more sleep-inducing than Ambien.
Soon, your high-def television will be dominated by my handsome and dangerous face. Then you’ll experience the rich, terrifying potential of television.
I, LT COLONEL JUSTICE, have a question for you!
Your evil must end! The reign of terror you have brought to this fair city is intolerable, and you must be stopped! With the aid of my trusty teenaged sidekick, PERCY, I will defeat your android army! My question to you, Iron Ox, is…
Iron Ox?! I’m not the Iron Ox! I am ZANGO!
What do you mean this isn’t Iron Ox? Zango? (Nearly) Infamous Zango…
Zango…I KNOW I’ve heard that name from somewhere…Zango…AHA!
You’re the one with the lisp, aren’t you?
Justice, you inept mongrel! With a single Zango Zap, I’ll turn you to a heap of smoking ashes! Never mention that pontificating puke’s name again! I hate the Iron Ox! And I shall ram those robots of his into a dark and uncomfortable place!
Dear (Nearly) Infamous Zango:
Your daughter is HOT! Is she single?
- Sidekick Percy
Percy! Don’t you dare speak of my daughter! She’s off limits! You’ll rue the day that I cross paths with you and your doofus mentor!
Dear Mr. (Nearly) Infamous Zango,
What are your fondest memories from the height of your villany? Was there a certain do-gooder that got under your skin? What was your favorite way to get them to wish they had never been born?
- Robert
The height of my villainy? Robert, your head is full of Play-Doh if you think that I’ve fallen from my Machiavellian pinnacle!
I am still the greatest, most formidable supervillain alive. None shall surpass me. Especially that self-absorbed loudmouth Iron Ox.
Do I have fond memories of terrorizing Metrotown? Yes. Do I long to bring the entire population to its knees once again? Of course. Will that happen again soon? Most definitely. Provided that Dread doesn’t disappoint me again. As soon as my army of killer fruit is ready, I shall break this city.
That’s right. Killer fruit. Run for your lives.
Dear Mr. (Nearly) Infamous Zango,
Do you feel that, as a villain, you get more chicks than the goodie-two-shoes of the world? Cause I’d kill to get some action.
Signed,
Desperate in Atlanta
Desperate, are you hoping to get some hot Zango action? Well get in line, sweetheart! I’ve got a bevy of fawning fans clamoring to spend time with me.
But you’ll be waiting forever, because your desperation reeks of, well, desperation! You must change your ways! Don’t grovel. Don’t sulk. Don’t place stuffed animals on the dashboard of your car. Don’t get lots of cats and become the “Cat Lady.”
You said, “I’d kill to get some action.” That’s hot. Demand action! Just not from me.
(Nearly) Infamous Zango, I beseech thee!
How can you tell if a one-eyed man is winking or blinking?
Yours in eternal serf-itude,
- Matt C.
Such nonsensical quandaries are beneath me! My cerebral powers aren’t to be trifled with, Matt C.
Coincidentally, Deacon Dread has only one eye now. I can promise you, he won’t be winking at me. He’s never been a winker. And he knows that coyness is intolerable!
Now, all of you, heed my words! Make yourselves useful! I am Lord Zango, and all shall submit to me or suffer my wrath! Spread the word to your so-called friends and colleagues…
I am Lord Zango! Love me! Loathe me! Serve me!
For more information about The Nearly Infamous Zango, please visit AbsoluteTyrant.com. And to learn more about writer-artist Rob Osborne, visit RobOsborne.net.
Newsarama musta caught wind of our boffo blog launch, cause sure enough, they’ve launched their own major redesign.
...I’m excited!
I’ve been ready to crank up a blog at HeavyInk ever since Jebediah Q. Corcoran, great-grandfather of current HI president Travis Corocoran, first opened “The Heavy Inkke Pictogrammatical Emporium” in a tiny horse stall in 1842.
Now it’s here!
I’ll be trying to pump this here machine full of links, commentary, interviews (Oh! the interviews!) and whatever else I can dig up on the interwebs.
AND as Pete mentioned, this will be the place to go for updates from Travis, Pete, Tyler, and the whole HI gang on the latest and greatest features and products that HeavyInk has to offer.
For now, make sure you subscribe to our HIBlog RSS feed, so you never miss a SINGLE WORD OF GENIUS THAT POURS FROM OUR MOUTHS.
Or the poop jokes. Those will be DELIGHTFUL.
We decided we needed an obvious place to make announcements and otherwise shout at the world. ‘til now, we’ve been using the forums and our individual blogs, but sometimes things just get lost in the noise. So, welcome to a new one-stop shop for HeavyInk news.