Abrams to Publish Mouly, Spiegelman Title
Abrams Comics Arts executive editor Charles Kochman has acquired the Toon Treasury of Funny Books for Kids, a reference work compiled by the acclaimed comics couple of Françoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman, that will collect classic kids comics from the 1940s to the 1960s. Mouly is the art director of the New Yorker, publisher of Toon Books, a new line of book format comics aimed at beginning readers, and a PW 2008 Notable Person. Spiegelman is the Pulitzer prize-winning author of Maus and many other acclaimed comics works. Mouly and Spiegelman will compile the work with input from an advisory board that includes cartoonists Jeff Smith, Frank Young and Seth; along with publishing executives such as DC’s Paul Levitz and Diamond’s Steve Geppi, among a larger group of artists, historians and editors working in the field.

Kochman says the book will focus on comic books, not strips and will include the work of Disney great Carl Banks, Little Lulu creator John Stanley, Pogo’s Walt Kelly and many others. The book will also contain biographical and historical essays. The book is scheduled to be released in Fall 2009. “Who better than Françoise and Art to sort through the material from our glorious past and present it to a new generation,” Kochman said.

NYCC Screens Wonder Wonder Animated Film
Wonder Woman, the fourth in a series of DC Comics original feature length animated films, will get an advance screening on February 6, 2009 at the IGN theater at the Javits Center In New York City during New York Comic-con. The 8:30 p.m. screening will be followed by a panel discussion that will include the voice cast and the crew of the film. The film will be released to general audiences on DVD on March 3. 2009 and will also be available on cable on-demand and for download. Produced by cartoonist/animator Bruce Timm, the film’s cast includes Keri Russell (Waitress, Felicity), Nathan Fillion (Desperate Housewives), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2), Virginia Madsen (Sideways), Rosario Dawson (Sin City), Oliver Platt (The West Wing) and David McCallum (NCIS).

TwoMorrows Cancels Write Now!
TwoMorrows Publishing announced the cancellation of their magazine Write Now!. Write Now!, edited by Danny Fingeroth, focused on writing for comics, animation and sci-fi, and after a six-year run the 20th and last issue will be released in late February. The 20th issue includes a feature on the adaptation of Will Eisner’s The Spirit to film, an interview with Colleen Doran, and a discussion of how to get a pitch accepted by writer Alex Grecian. TwoMorrows' publisher John Morrow explained, “the magazine has reached a point where the economy is taking a toll of its circulation.” Subscribers who have paid past issue 20 will receive information soon, and will have the option of either a refund or credit towards another TwoMorrows' book or magazine.

NPR’s Best GNs of 2008
Laurel Maury, NPR’s regular graphic novel reviewer and a PWCW contributor, compiled a list of the best graphic Novels of 2008 for National Public Radio. The list includes Skyscrapers of the Midwest by Joshua W. Cotter, Local by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly, Good-Bye by Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Alan’s War by Emmanuel Guibert, and Heavy Liquid by Paul Pope. On the NPR website a short review and excerpt of the books are available.

New NBM Blog
NBM Publishing is starting a blog featuring many of their cartoonists. The contributing bloggers will be Rick Geary, Ted Rall, Neil Kleid, Dirk Schwieger, Naomi Nowak, Jesse Lonergan, and David Axe. The new blog will present comics and commentary from these creators, as well announcements about NBM publications, author events, and other news; this blog will replace the current NBM news page. The blog will also preview upcoming works form the contributors, such as To the Heights of the Golden Age by Jesse Lonergan, Naomi Nowak’s Graylight,and The Big Kahn by Neil Kleid and Nicolas Cinquegrani.

Asylum Distribution Deal
Asylum Press has signed a distribution deal with Partners Publishers Group. Partners Publisher’s Group will distribute Asylum’s books to the booktrade. The Asylum titles which will be available to bookstores include Robert S. Rhine’s Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell, Deadly are the Naked,Chestaclese Sketchbook, and The Bomb by Steve Mannion. In 2009, Asylum plans to release Warlash: Dark Noir, Farmhouse by Elizabeth J. Musgrave and Szymon Kudranski, and a hardcover collected edition of The Asylum of Horrors.

Bluewater’s 10th Muse Returns
Bluewater Productions is bringing back the 10th Muse title as part of the Ray Harryhausen Presents line. The new series, 10th Muse: 800, is scheduled to be released in February of 2009. Adam David Gragg will write the series, with art by Roman Morales III, inks by Greg Harms, and colors by Martina. Also, Castlebright Films, who has a deal with Universal Studios, has the film rights for the 10th Muse.

Star Trek Comics on iPhone
IDW Publishing is making some of their Star Trek titles available on the iPhone and iPod touch. The titles are being made available through iVerse Media, and are available on iTunes in the App Store for 99 cents. IDW released as the first installment, Star Trek Archives: The Best of Peter David #1, which includes “The Return of the Worthy: Part One” by Bill Mumy, Peter David, Gorden Pucell.

Rob Liefeld at Midtown Comics
Rob Liefield, co-founder of Image comics and veteran cartoonist, will appear at Midtown Comics in New York City on Thursday December 11th. He will be signing his new work, Armageddon Now: World War III along with his collaborator Phil Hotsenpiller from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Midtown Comics is located at 200 West 40th Street and the corner of 7th Avenue.

Fanfare Distribution; Disappearance Diary Hailed
Books published by Fanfare Ponent Mon, the U.K. and Spanish Nouvelle manga publisher, will be distributed to the trade by Midpoint Trade Books, based in New York City. Fanfare Ponent Mon is known for publishing Nouvelle Manga, a category that combines French Euro-comics sensibility with a more thoughtful Japanese manga style. Fanfare Ponent Mon has also announced that Hideo Azuma’s Disappearance Diary, the story of how he chose to be homeless, has been named by Dan Kois of New York magazine as his best comic of 2008.