Book Review Comic by Bechdel
Alison Bechdel, creator of the acclaimed graphic novel memoir Fun Home and the long-running series Dykes to Watch Out For, has created a review in the form of a comic for A Pocket History of Sex in the Twentieth Century: A Memoir by Jane Vandenburgh for the New York Times Book Review.
New Runaways Creators Revealed
This week’s installment of the comics review web video series KV, hosted by Blair Butler, reveals the new creative team on the Marvel comic Runaways as well as preview art and plot spoilers from the upcoming issues. Fresh Ink is a production of the television channel G4.
S. Clay Wilson Needs Help
A charitable trust has been established for pioneering underground comics creator S. Clay Wilson, to deal with his ongoing care and medical expenses. Wilson suffered traumatic brain injuries after a fall last November, and while he has recovered consciousness and has begun to draw again, he will need nursing care for the rest of his life and is in financial need. Interested parties can contribute at the official S. Clay Wilson Trust website. S. Clay Wilson was one of the founding artists of Zap Comix in the 1960’s along with Robert Crumb among others.
Hernandez and Sakai Signing
Jaime Hernandez of the ongoing alternative comics epic Love and Rockets and Stan Sakai of the classic rabbit samurai drama Usagi Yojimbo will be appearing together at the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery in Seattle on April 4. The official afterparty of Seattle’s Emerald City ComiCon, the event features a Love and Rockets and Usagi Yojimbo art exhibit, signings by Hernandez and Sakai, and special guest Paul Hornschemeier signing the new hardcover edition of his graphic novel Mother, Come Home. The event is open free of charge to the general public and will run from 6-9 p.m., April 4, at the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery located at 1201 South Vale Street, Seattle, Washington.
Bleach, Naruto Movies on iTunes
The animated feature films for the hit anime and manga series Bleach and Naruto, both distributed in the United States by Viz Media, will now be available on Itunes for rent and purchase. This is the first time that these titles — Bleach the Movie: Memories of a Nobody, Naruto: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, Naruto: Guardians of the Crescent Kingdom and Naruto: Legend of the Stone of Gelel — will be available for download in the United States. Itunes editions of these films are dubbed into English and may be played on Mac or PC computers, on televisions with the aid of Apple TV, or on the iPhone and iPods with video capability. They are available as month long digital rentals at $2.99 in standard definition and $3.99 in high definition, and can be purchased as a standard definition file for $9.99.
Secret Identity Launch Party
Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman Co-creator Joe Schuster by Craig Yoe will be hosting a BDSM themed book launch party at Arlo & Esme on April 5. Entertainment includes musical entertainment fromStareyes, Van Scott and Jubilee, a superhero costume contest with prizes, and live S&M performances based upon the book. Arlo & Esme, a two-level coffee shop and cocktail lounge that opened a year ago, is located at 42 East First Street near Second Avenue, New York, NY. The event runs from 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. and entry is free to all adults over 21.
War of Kings #1 Free Online
The first part of Marvel's new crossover space epic, War of Kings, about Black Bolt's attempt to grab the galactic dominance for the Inhumans in the wake of Secret Invasion, is now available for free online. Featuring the Inhumans, the Starjammers and the Guardians of the Galaxy among others, Marvel is running the first issue on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Written by the writing team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, the book is illustrated by Paul Pelletier.
Princess Diana in Female Force
Female Force, the ongoing biography comic from Bluewater Productions has announced it will have upcoming issues featuring former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and, more surprisingly, Princess Diana. Previously, Female Force had profiled women currently prominent in public political discussion. Secretary of State Clinton, Governor Palin, First Lady Michelle Obama and US Senate hopeful Caroline Kennedy were all previous subjects of the bi-monthly Female Force series.