Time on your hands this long weekend? How about making some 3D comics??
Matt Bogart has the lowdown on how to get bring your creation to a new dimension… and has a comic of his own to see how it works. Go on – give your pictures some depth!
Some people, eh? Not content with ruling the airwaves the very lucky duck Jonathan Ross has swung an interview with Jim Steranko (complete with some great pics to compliment the article)
I could never stop working. You know how a shark can never stop swimming? I have too many ideas. I can’t just sit on a beach and enjoy the surf and the sun; I’m always creating. I’m an idea factory.
And as if that wasn’t enough – Ross has been gallivanting through Comic-Con with a camera:
This is one not to be missed – The Summer Edition – Artists’ Book, Comic and Zine Fair – are taking over Filmbase (Temple Bar, Dublin) on Saturday 24 July (tomorrow) .
Covering all sorts (UK and Ireland) with artists, book folk, illustrators, comic artists and zine-makers showcasing and parading their wares.
The Wally Wood 22 Panels That Always Work has been bouncing around for a while – but I’ve never seen it in in live action before:
Fancy new obsession?
Have a read of I think you’re a sauceome – it will make you smile, think and enjoy lunch.
Bow to the might of Sarah Becan.
Yup. The comic book world has finally gone 3D.
In Adelaide a bookshop owner, dressed in a Spiderman costume for World Comic Book Day, stopped a customer trying to pilfer a an X-Men omnibus.
Full story is on the Guardian site.
Last weeks ALA Booklist Webinar went without a hitch – and made for some essential listening/viewing.
And here’s a second chance to catch the pearls of wisdom – librarian and comics expert Eva Volin, Booklist Books for Youth associate editor Ian Chipman, Françoise Mouly of TOON Books, Roger Rosen, David Saylor of Scholastic, and Mark Siegel of the brilliant First Second tell you everything you need to know about the latest comic/GN releases.
Booklist Webinar: Let’s Get Graphic: Kids’ Comics in Classrooms and Libraries from ALA Publishing on Vimeo.
Today has been declared Comic Book Day on the blog – to celebrate the arrival of last weeks comic shipments (delayed by flight bans, angry Fire Gods and an Icelandic volcano with unpronounceable name)
The missing comics will hit the shelves today – and don’t panic – this weeks comics are in as normal on Thursday.
Of course – there is an alternative reason for the comic blathering today – I’m off to see a particular movie that you might have heard of:
We’re fans of Patrick Lynch around these parts – his comic Last Bus – was great a few years ago. And now Paddy’s back with a new Last Bus installment.
Last Bus is being launched on Thursday night at 8 (just after the comics webinar) and just like last time I’m kicking myself that I can’t make it.
If you can make it GO! IF not, make sure to get your hands on a copy – in comic stores soon. Details of the launch are here.
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Graphic novels are still one of the rising stars for booksellers and publishers and folks are eagre to learn as much about what makes them tick as possible…
How about a free seminar with some folks in the know?
Librarian and comics expert Eva Volin, Booklist Books for Youth associate editor Ian Chipman, Françoise Mouly of TOON Books, Roger Rosen, David Saylor of Scholastic, and Mark Siegel of the brilliant First Second have been thrown onto a panel to talk about everything you need to know about the latest comic/GN releases.
Keep your calendar free this Thursday – 29 April – for new and veteran comic fans – this is one hour not to be missed.
Click for more details on registering for the *free* webinar.
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Todays Comic Book Day
celebrations wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Terry Pratchett (that or Dave McKean – Terry got in first)
The Bookseller broke the news yesterday that Sir Pratchett is to guest-edit the July issue of sci-fi and fantasy magazine SFX – to celebrate the start of a three-month “Summer of SF Reading”.
As part of the promotion SFX will increase its book coverage, Waterstone’s will signpost the recommended books in-store and there are some goodies in the magazine to look forward to.
More on The Bookseller.
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In contrast to the UK/Irish report of sales in Manga/Graphic Novels going up – the US is seeing the second of an annual drop in sales.
How about some number crunching:
The sales decline is seen as a long-tail effect of recession in conjunction with the closure of Barnes & Noble and Borders stores across the US.
Source: ICv2 publisher Milton Griepp’s white paper on the size of retail comics and graphic novel markets.
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Edgar Wright’s long-awaited Ant-Man adaptation might just have emerged from the er… ant hill.
Marvel President Kevin Feige confirmed that Wright was in LA last week and had agreed a calendar for production – towards the end of this year or early next year with a release date after Joss Whedon’s The Avengers.
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Smith Micro Software are hosting a free Manga Studio Webinar with Watchmen hero Dave Gibbons.
Gibbons will teach aspiring and professional artists how to create compelling comic illustrations from start to finish using Manga Studio (Smith Micro’s software).
The Webinar is limited to the first 500 people that register and is open to ANYONE! (From the first time wanna-be to the pros) The fun kicks off on Sunday 21 March – and you can register here.
Click fast!
BBC Oxford featured Kate Brown and the DFC’s The Spider Moon (the narrator calling it the ‘DCF’… bothered me far more than I expected)
And of course there is the increasing excitement around the impending launches for the rest of the DFC Library – Mezolith (April) and Good Dog, Bad Dog (March). Fun times!
I came across First Second Books over the weekend – reading Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim’s brilliant The Eternal Smile.
And Zahra’s Paradise is another great effort – a graphic novel about Iran – both political and social – being serialized as a web comic (in seven languages).
There are easy comparisons to Satraapi’s Persepolis too and it will be interesting to see how the story is affected as that likeness in style develops (or doesn’t).
The series is written by Amir and drawn by Khalil who have both been forced into hiding their names to protect anonymity. Updates are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – and First Second books will published next year.
Action Comics #1 (featuring the first appearance of Superman) sold for $1 million dollars yesterday.
The comic is one of only two of the same issue in near pristine condition (less than 100 copies are left – not all of them in great condition)
They said it couldn’t be done. They said that no comic book–no matter how rare–would ever sell for $1,000,000. This week, they were proven wrong. And in the midst of a recession, no less!
James Patterson is no stranger to the best-sellers list. He is a newbie when it comes to graphic novels – though not for long.
Patterson has agreed a deal to work on two series of comic books (both based on published books) as well as an original comic based on a story concept, Beer Belly and Fat Boy.
The first comic adaptation, Witch & Wizard – part of a five-volume series – will be on the shelves in May.
NYT for more – including quote from James Patterson Entertainment.
Worried about what Johnathan Ross will be up to once he finishes with the BBC? How about a comic book writer?
Ross has written a comic – published by Image – about gang wars in between booze-smuggling mobsters and vampires and the odd alien thrown in to cover all bases. Set in Prohibition-era New York – the artwork will be from Tommy Lee Edwards so there will be plenty of visual fun.
Have a read of the full story in the Guardian.
Like vampires in books? Like vampires in movies? How about vampires in pictures?
Yup – Edward, Jacob, Bella and the supporting cast of vampires, jealous friends and beyond have been adapted for a graphic novel – with Meyer consulting on the panels and extracts of the original Twilight text included. The novel is in black and white – with colour added in intermittently.
The first issue will hit the shelves in March. Click for more details.
The good news is that Northern Ireland’s 2D comics festival is coming back – from June 3 – 5. Tables for artists, publishers and authors are free – and admission… well that’s free too.
Get your name in now if you’re thinking about booking a space though – places will go fast!
The programme is being updated at the minute – and the website has some pic from last years festival.
(Thanks to FP Blog for this one)
The mandatory round-up from last week – and starting at home with some festive lists from some prestigious voices:
Robert Dunbar has his Christmas wishlist in the Irish Times. Celia Keenan has the YA market sewn up with a long list of great books while Sarah Webb hits the headlines elsewhere in the Irish Independent – with books kids will love this Christmas.
Nicholas Tucker in the Independent UK has his own list of Best Books this Christmas. Johnathon Hunt has his YA books of the year on NPR. And Julia Eccleshare has her own list of children’s and illustrated books in the guardian.
Kate Kellaway reviews some of the latest picture book releases – Daddy Lost His Head (Quentin Blake and André Bouchard), Who Wants to Be a Poodle? I Don’t (Lauren Child), Red Ted and the Lost Things (Michael Rosen and Joel Stewart), The Lion, the Unicorn and Me: the Donkey’s Christmas Story (Jeanette Winterson), Jack Frost (Kazuno Kohara) and Fairie-Ality Style: A Sourcebook of Inspirations from Nature (David Ellwand)
This year’s fiction for the 11-18 age group is striking for three things. The first is the degree to which modern stories and contemporary young adult concerns and anxieties are filtered through or reflected in older forms of story-telling such as folk and fairytales, sometimes to terrifying effect.
The second and one to be warmly welcomed is the increasing availability of really good visual material in terms of graphic novels, illustrated books or even picturebooks for this broad age group.
The third, also to be welcomed, is the increasingly frank embodiment of political ideas and concerns in much of this work. It is important that young people be offered something more than the narcissistic concerns with appearance and surface that much of popular culture seems to assume they want. There’s a lot out there besides handsome vampires! – Celia Keenan, Irish Independent.
Geraldine Bedell looks at the latest books lost in the shadow of Meyer – Fallen (Lauren Kate), Hush, Hush (Becca Fitzpatrick), Shiver (Maggie Stiefvater), A Trick of the Dark (BR Collins) and The True Deceiver (Tove Jansson)
Vampires? Werewolves? Pffft! They’re all past it – and far too soppy. Imogen Russell Williams knows that Dragons are where the fun really is.
What was the best theatre of the decade? Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse according to the Times UK. Best films of 2009? Coraline steals the ‘best charmer of the year’.
This adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s children’s book was the theatrical event of the decade, starring a life-size puppet of a horse. The story was sublimely simple: a farm horse, Joey, is drafted to the western front, and Albert, the boy who loved him, goes off to France to rescue him. The effect was beautiful and devastating.
Philip Pullman is going the way of the Beedle Bard – creating a limited edition charity book.
And is Harry Potter competing with the Twilight shirtless bonanza? It seems so – Daniel Radcliffe is taking his shirt off. (/swoon)
Lyn Gardner gives Room on the Broom the thumbs up while Laura Barnett just can’t hate Gossip Girl.
According to Australia’s HeraldSun – and research from Canada - Thomas the Tank Engine is too conservative and under-representative of women.
Viv Groskop looks for the young readers guide to feminism – as we all know… Girls are boring.
Adidas are tipping their toe in the world of comics… | Popeye and EC Segar get a nod from Google | Pied Piper of Hamelin is getting the Hollywood treatment | A classic comic collection goes under the hammer – and could raise some eyebrows.
Trying out a new layout for the Monday paper roundups. Still picking up the best of children’s books news from the papers – with a few categories… this time it’s film (not quite my area – but some of it is exciting news! I’m looking at you Brannagh)
on screen:
The biggest film news is the BAFTA Children’s Awards last night – with Oliver Jeffers and Studio AKA picking up a gong for Best Animation with Lost and Found! Henry Selick’s Coraline, deservedly, nabbed the best Feature Film too.
Stephen King is talking about a sequel to… The Shining!
Dave Eggers and Spike Jonze come clean about their trip to meet Maurice Sendak about making Where the Wild Things Are. (Xan Brooks reviews Where the Wild Things Are – 3/5 stars)
Kenneth Brannagh inches closer to bringing Thor to life.
And Back to the Future is… back. Or at least it’s coming back next year.
Peter Jackon has let slip that Steven Spielberg’s Tintin’s 3D adventure will be taking over screens in 2011 – and that the Hobbit is being shot on 35mm.
Full credit to the film-makers for taking the road less travelled. Jonze shoots with an airy, hand-held camera, with the sun’s glare on the lens, while Eggers’s dialogue is attuned to the otherworldly logic of playground squabbles. They rustle up a melancholy rite of passage that’s not so much a children’s film as a movie that, deliberately, looks back at childhood from an adult perspective. This sense of distance is all very well, but it keeps us at arm’s length from the action, framing Max’s escapade in terms of a teasing, cerebral thesis. The beasts are still howling and the supper’s still hot. But where is the wildness? I waited in vain for the rumpus to start. – Xan Brooks
Trying out a new layout for the Monday paper roundups. Still picking up the best of children’s books news from the papers – with a few categories… Book reviews, news and anything else I can find is up first.
The week… in books:
Katherine Farmar, puritybrown, reviews Posy Simmonds and Paul Buhle’s latest graphic novels in the Irish Times.
In the Guardian, SF Said reviews John Harris Dunning’s graphic novel from Walker Books Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers (Said calls it Walker’s first – what about Skim?)
This energetic mix of contemporary fun with old-fashioned arcana is mirrored in Nikhil Singh’s artwork, which deploys a variety of styles. At times, it recalls Aubrey Beardsley or Arthur Rackham; at others, Robert Crumb. It sometimes feels uneven: while some pages have a clear, cool power, others seem a little cramped and over-worked. But there’s no denying that this is a beautifully produced book, and at its best – as in the lavish purple and black fabric cover – it’s a tactile as well as a visual joy; an artefact that makes you happy just to hold it in your hands.
- SF Said, Guardian.
Anna Perera, author of the brilliant Guantanamo Boy, has her week in the Times UK and Stephanie Meyer gets profiled. (Speaking of vampires – the Independent UK reviews the rise and rise of the undead)
Amanda Craig roundsup the Times Children’s Fiction Christmas list – including the excellent Dear Hound and Hunger Games and Harriet Alexander gives Twilight an A-Z.
Julia Donaldson talks to Nick Duerden about the Gruffalo:
The fame, if you want to call it that, is nice,” Donaldson admits, “but it has made me feel I need to be on my best behaviour at all times, just in case. It wouldn’t do to have a row in a supermarket, would it? People may recognise me.
Lisa Tuttle lists the top Sci-Fi and Fantasy for the year and I’ve mentioned Carl Brady’s Christmas list last week – but still… what a list!
Terry Pratchett’s Nation makes it to the stage – and Kate Bassett isn’t a fan: the anthropologically bogus society created on stage is sometimes cringe-making. The fusion of half-baked tribal dancing with sentimental European ditties, such as “Happy Birthday”, is especially cheesy.
And last – but certainly not least – Lucy Mangan delivers the final roundup for her, now infamous, Book Corner – including a complete list of the 50 choices.
It’s official folks – comics are good for you. So say the folks in the Telegraph, School Library Monthly and researching boffins from the University of Illinois anyway. Time for a thought out and well timed quote I think:
Consider how the pictures and words work together to tell a story, you can make the case that comics are just as complex as any other kind of literature.
And, as if you needed more proof that comics are indeed good for you, the Miami International Book Fair has increased its comics programming – including David Small, Laurie Sandell, Tim Hamilton, Brian Fies, Neil Kleid, Marisa Acocella Marchetto, James Sturm, Carol Tyler, Dan Goldman and Alex Simmons.
Now for something completely different…
Waterstones got a bit of a pounding last week by Stuart Jeffries. The piece pulled no punches – starting with its headline: How Waterstone’s killed publishing and went on in that vein for just about 6 pages…
So the argument goes: in going big, Waterstone’s lost its soul. – Stuart Jeffries.
The Bookseller drafted in Scott Pack (The Friday Project) to write a response – and the result is… close to brilliant. Pack has no qualm slapping some home truths to the ‘fusty old Edwardian bonnet’ that Jeffries wears.
And then it was Waterstone’s turn…
Our sponsorship of the children’s laureate has helped Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and Anthony Browne champion kids’ books to the nation, and our children’s book prize turns new writers into bestselling authors every year…
…our stores have sold over 400,000 different titles in the last year. Books were the reason the company started, and remain the core of our business…
…it is for booksellers, publishers, writers and readers to shape the industry.
A bit of a storm in a teacup really – but great to see some discussion on bookselling and industry standards – as Scott Pack put it:
It is all a question of balance and Waterstone’s tends to get that right. If they don’t then their customers will vote with their feet and their wallets, in which case Waterstone’s will respond accordingly.
As mentioned earlier – Marvel Comics are turning 70 this year and to mark the occasion the Times UK have a series of interviews and other what-nots. I missed this doozey with Stan Lee:
Martin [Goodman] hated the idea. When I told him I wanted to do a superhero who was not only a teenager but who had a lot of problems and was named Spider-man, he said, ‘You’re out of your mind. You can’t call a hero Spider-man. People hate spiders, nobody will buy the book. And you can’t make him a teenager, teenagers can only be sidekicks. And you can’t give him a lot of problems – he’s a superhero. Superheroes don’t have problems.’ He didn’t like anything about it but I managed to sneak the strip in anyway. The book sold very well, it proved to be very popular. So Martin came to see me after he got the sales figures and said, ‘Hey Stan, you know that character Spider-man, that idea of yours that we both like so much? Why don’t you do a series about him?’
And of course – any excuse to put the Marvel front man on the blog is awlays welcome… Check out some of the other features, such as ‘70 things you didn’t know about Marvel‘ (such as Michael Jackson once trying to buy the company) Owen Vaughan talking to X-Men writing legend Chris Claremont and Spider-Man artist John Romita Jr.
There was a sore head, some groggy phone calls and more than a few silents nods in the wake of the bank holiday. But it didn’t stop the final week of Bookfest. Asterix turning 50, Marvel Comics turning 70 or the loss of DEAF, the first casualty of looming budget cuts.
Deep breath folks – this a biggie:
To start out – John Connolly (fast becoming my hero /gush/) talks scary stories, Stephen King and terrifying the toddlers. Charlie Higson reads a menacing, zombie-filled, extract from The Enemy on the Guardian Book Podcast, Meg Rosoff reads from The Brides Farewell and Malorie Blackman has a short story in the Times UK.
Topping the ‘oddly unexplainable category’ – artist Nikhil Singh, illustrator of Walker Books’ Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers, has been stranded in South Africa for five months, unable to return to the UK (and missing launch of the book).
In the papers at home Terry Pratchett’s Unseen Academicals gets the once over – a new Discworld novel by Sir Terry, huzzah! (Sir Terry will be in Cavan next weekend for the first Pratchett Symposium – go see!)
Edgar Allen Poe and Lewis Carroll both get a revisit – all in the name of Hallowe’en – and the Irish Independent has a deserving pop at Mary O’Donnell and defends book clubs across the country.
Further afield – Asterix turned 50. And the ancient Gaul got everyone’s attention again. Enid Blyton’s granddaughter brings Noddy back to the shelves with an all-new story.
Marvel Comics turns 70 this year – now doesn’t that make ye feel old? The Times UK features ‘70 things you didn’t know about Marvel‘ (such as Martin Goodman tellin Stan Lee that Spider-man was a rotten idea for a superhero. Or Michael Jackson once trying to buy the company) Owen Vaughan talks to X-Men writing legend Chris Claremont and Spider-Man artist John Romita Jr.
Other reviews in the UK papers – Nicholas Tucker reads Unseen Academicals, Terry Pratchett’s new discworld novel. Patrick Ness reads Dave Eggers’ The Wild Things (an adult adaptation of Sendak’s book). (The Independent UK has some footage on the making of the movie to boot)
Nicolette Jones reads Jeanette Winterson’s The Battle of the Sun and and Amanda Craig has a look at Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather and Geraldine McCaughrean’s The Death-defying Pepper Roux
Alison Flood checks out Stephen King’s first forray into comic books and the Observer announces this years winner of the Observer/Cape Graphic Short Story competition. Michael Rosen reads New and Collected Poems for Children by Carol Ann Duffy.
Scholastic come under fire over censorship in Lauren Myracle’s new book Luv Ya Bunches – after they reportedly asked her to rewrite the book and remove ‘”offensive” language and a same-sex couple if she wanted it to be included in the company’s school book fairs.’
Amelia Hill celebrates the rise and rise of chick-lit in the US and Michael Morpurgo talks about his hero, Ted Hughes.
Publishers Weekly announces the top titles of 2009 (apologies to any books that have yet to be released!)
Andrew Pulver reviews The Butterfly Tattoo – adaptation of Philip Pullman’s Romeo and Juliet – and is unconvinced.
Caitlin Davies talks to Marc Ellis (of Disney Fame) about a career in animation.
The Twilight film sequel has started to generate some headlines – with Forks, Washington coming under the spotlight. CGI and the impending werewolves debut aren’t saved from going under the knife.
In other movie news – James Carmeron’s Avatar has a new trailer and Adam Sandler is going to play both Jack and Jill in the nursery rhyme adaptation. Diablo Cody (the lady behind Juno) is a busy, her new movie has failed to wow anyone but the building rumours of a Sweet Valley High movie is what has most us talking…
And finally – some more links, just because:
The New Yorker cover looks very goooood | Mark Lawson talks to Stephen King about everything | Eoin Colfer hits the headlines in the Salt Lake Tribune | Some Twitter-folk worth reading | 50 things on the web
A quick read through the weekends papers – with as much as I could find about children’s lit, writing and bits…
Starting at home – the Irish Times have an anonymous review (I can’t find a byline) of Blood Upon the Rose: Easter 1916, The Rebellion that Set Ireland Free (snappy title!). And with the launch earlier in the week of Campaign for the Arts, Gerry Godley gives us the Five ways culture can save us…
Even four or five years ago, we were lucky to have one shop that did graphic novels, whereas now, 20 of our largest stores have spinner stands, and O’Connell Street now has a shrine, a whole area dedicated to graphic novels, and it’s just growing and growing. It has become cool. If you were sitting on a bus reading Batman 10 years ago you’d have been sniggered at, whereas now if you’re reading it, it’s pretty cool . . . There’s no shame in it. Ten years ago you’d be called a saddo, but now you see men in business suits, everyone delving in. – David O’Callaghan, of Easons fame, in the Irish Times
In the Irish Independent – John Spain rests with the undead and has a chat to Dacre Stoker (Bram’s great gran-nephew) about Dracula: The Un-Dead. And if you were lucky enough to pick up a hardcopy of Saturday’s Independent you could be the owner of the first Disney Literature Classics – a series of 20 starting last week.
Not all is rosy in the comic world – the New York Times (and others) report that Disney are already having rights issues with Marvel characters. Dick Cook is no longer chairman of Walt Disney Studios and the company are looking at buying Vimanika Comics, an Indian based company publishing in English and Hindi. And if that wasn’t enough Marvel fan-boyism… the Independent UK and Guardian both review Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 to boot. (See! Dave O’Callaghan wasn’t lying – even the Independent is reviewing comics/games these days…)
Amanda Craig in the Times UK has a read of Hilary McKay’s Wishing for Tomorrow and Bryan Appleyard has a look at Ian Rankin’s first graphic offering Dark Entries (featuring John Constantine). Lucy Mangan in the Guardian remembers Ladybird Books, Publishers Weekly has a massive review round-up and the Guardian Film Blog review Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
Geraldine McCaughrean made a brave but doomed stab at a sequel to Peter Pan; this is another questionable enterprise. It’s clever, sweet, lively and well-written — but not, like its original, sublime. – Amanda Craig on Hilary McKay’s Wishing for Tomorrow.
The New York Times has a great story on South African kids protesting for libraries (and librarians!) – Banned Book Week gets a manifesto – The Author Vetting row in the UK is, hopefully, coming to an end – the Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist is out – and Booktrust had another prize ceremony this week too.
Barbie is finally going to get her own mainstream feature film – Adam Roberts ponders why there has never been a sci-fi Booker Prize winner – Sexism in fantasy anthologies? No, not us… – Rich Pelley talks with The Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy – and the Independent UK are offering one lucky divil the chance to be at the launch of And Another Thing!!
Another Friday, another weekend spent in front of the fire and flicking through pages. This week’s choices are John Connolly’s The Gates, Scott McCloud’s Making Comics and David Almond’s Heaven Eyes.
Update:
It was a mixed bunch last weekend and about as varied as I could manage…
First out of the mailbag was John Connolly’s gripping fantasy/horror/thriller The Gates. John has been frighteningly prolific and, even more frightening, is how well he can write for younger readers. The Gates hits on a pitch perfect funny bone that slips in the odd scientific truth to make us all feel a little smarter. If you were to read one book before Christmas, this would be a contender.
Scott McCloud’s Making Comics was a recommendation from a few illustrators; they called it their gospel, I’d call it an entire way of life. The book does exactly what it says on the tin – it makes comics – and takes you along for the ride. No stone is unturned and no page is left without at least a dozen nuggets of wisdom. Making Comics is worth more than just one weekends reading and I think I’ll be referencing it for the rest of my days…
And finally.
Heaven Eyes has been taunting me from the shelf for more than 6 months. The book is filled with the haunting and simple tones of every David Almond story I’ve come across; this time with a character resemblance predating Finn in What I Was and a teeny hint of Francie from The Butcher Boy. Heaven Eyes had me asking as many questions as finding answers – and with such original character voices you’d be hard pressed not to be thinking about them for a while. Definitely one book that deserves another look!
It’s been mentioned in every news outlet on the globe, but in case you haven’t heard, Disney have moved to buy Marvel Entertainment (makers of fine comics and other such entertainment) for a whopping $4 billion.
Disney have said that pre-existing agreements will not be affected… so that means…
Disney can’t touch films on Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Avengers (Paramount), X-Men (20th Century Fox) and Spiderman (Sony).
Disney can’t produce computer games – Activsiosn, THQ and Sega all have deals on Spider Man, X-Men, Captain America, Hulk, Thor and Iron Man (until 2017 in some cases)
Disney can’t build character based rides in theme parks inside the US – Universal Studios have those rights.
And toys – Marvel have an agreement with Hasbro to produce all character toys until 2017.
They do get control over publishing – but things don’t look likely to change anytime soon. At least not until the deal goes through – and that could take a while. More over at Marvel.com and i09.
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