Nominees announced for the 2019 Doug Wright Awards

Michael DeForge, Hartley Lin, John Martz and Fiona Smyth nominated for best book in the annual Canadian-focused awards program.

Nominees for the 15th annual Doug Wright Awards, which honor “the best work and most promising talent in Canadian comics,” were announced this morning. The list includes four nominees published by Koyama Press and two from Peow Studio.

You can find the complete list of nominees below.

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Millar + Scalera buddy up for ‘Space Bandits’

New title announced by Netflix will feature limited edition ‘legends’ covers by ‘artists Miller was obsessed with in high school.’

Mark Millar and Matteo Scalera will team up on a team-up comic this July, as Millarworld owner Netflix announced Space Bandits, “a female Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid set in space.”

Each issue will feature different pricing based on who drew the cover. In addition to the regular $3.99 versions, a limited edition series of Space Bandits legends covers, “featuring Miller’s all-time favorite comic-book artists–artists Miller was obsessed with in high school, and whom he has wanted to work with for years” — will also be available for 75 cents each, or “the same price as a comic-book cost when Mark was in high school.” The first of five legends cover will be drawn by Howard Chaykin.

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Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen get solo titles in July

Greg Rucka and Mike Perkins tell a “hard boiled” Lois story, while Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber tackle Superman’s best pal.

DC Comics will publish two maxi-series this summer starring well-known Superman supporting characters — Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.

As confirmed by the LA Times and DC’s July solicitations, Greg Rucka and Mike Perkins are teaming up on a “hardboiled” Lois Lane. “Lois Lane is the best investigative reporter in the DC [Universe],” Rucka told the Times. “This is our truth, and this is what the book is about.”

Jimmy Olsen, meanwhile, gets a “more fun and light and optimistic” series from Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber.

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Smash Pages Q&A: Dean Haspiel on ‘Starcross’

The prolific creator discusses the next chapter in his New Brooklyn universe.

Dean Haspiel has always been a creator doing many things and making many kinds of projects. From drawing books at Vertigo including The Quitter and The Alcoholic, to helping to launch webcomics first at the collective act-i-vate to the series Street Code that he made at DC’s Zuda imprint. He received an Emmy Award for designing the titles to the HBO show Bored to Death, co-wrote and drew The Fox for Archie Comics, and drew the children’s book Mo and Jo, which was written by Jay Lynch. In recent years he’s written three plays which have been produced in New York City and just launched the podcast Scene by Scene with fellow artist Josh Neufeld.

In recent years he’s been making The Red Hook, a superhero saga that he’s been serializing on Line Webtoon in two volumes, the first of which has been published in a print edition by Image Comics. Over the course of two volumes, the focus has gone from the titular character to other characters, and that focus continues to expand in this third volume in interesting ways. The third Red Hook story, Starcross, is being serialized starting this week, and we sat down to talk about the book.

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Gerard Way’s Young Animal imprint returns in July

‘Collapser’ and ‘Far Sector’ join ‘Doom Patrol’ at the pop-up imprint.

Singer Gerard Way’s “pop up” imprint at DC Comics will roar to life once again in July, as the publisher has announced more Doom Patrol and two new titles under the Young Animal banner.

“We are thrilled to revitalize Doom Patrol, and to present both Collapser and Far Sector, two books that push the medium of comics and their respective genres through uncharted territory,” Way said in the press release. “Readers can expect everything from high doses of cosmic weirdness and positivity, to deep examinations of anxiety and emotions while wielding immense power, to sci-fi explorations of authority and control and what it means to be a guardian while a world hangs in delicate balance. More fantastic comics outside the norm, as only DC’s Young Animal can do.”

More details on the new titles can be found below.

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Smash Pages Q&A: J.P. Ahonen

The creator of ‘Sing No Evil’ discusses the first collection of his webcomic ‘Belzebubs.’

Belzebubs is a “trve kvlt mockumentary,” a family comedy, a heavy metal family tale that involves demons, Lovecraft, child-rearing, teenage love and the problems of keeping a band together. The parents are Sloth and Lucyfer, their kids are named Lilith and Leviathan – and Lilith’s best friend is Blasphe My (who in no way resembles the beloved Moomin character Little My). Even for those who are not heavy metal fans, the strip is simply funny, with beautifully rendered artwork. The strip has become an internet sensation, with print editions in multiple countries and in multiple languages. More than a comic, Belzebubs is now an actual band with an album, Pantheon of the Nightside Gods, coming out later this month.

J.P. Ahonen made a splash when Sing No Evil was released in the United States in 2014 after being published in his native Finland, where he’s been making comics for many years. I’ve been a reader and fan of his for many years and we had a chance to speak recently in between his busy schedule to talk about Belzebubs, the collection of which is out now from Top Shelf.

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New Punisher, Loki titles to follow ‘War of the Realms’

Both titles kick off in July.

Marvel’s latest crossover event, the Thor-themed War of the Realms, just kicked off last week, but the publisher is already revealing its plans for what comes after the event ends.

Announced on the company’s website are two new titles spinning out of the War — a new Loki title by Daniel Kibblesmith and Oscar Bazaldua, and Punisher Kill Krew by Gerry Dugan and Juan Ferreyra.

Covers and descriptions (and spoilers for WotR) are below.

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Marvel reveals the covers for Hickman’s first X-books

New x-event series start in July.

At C2E2 a few weeks ago, Marvel announced that Jonathan Hickman is taking the X-Men on a new path this summer with the launch of two event series. Now the publisher has revealed the first covers for this two books, House of X and Powers of X.

Check them out below.

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‘Ragnarök’ returns in July

Walt Simonson presents a new six-issue storyline in his Norse mythology epic.

Walt Simonson’s Norse mythology epic Ragnarök will return in July for a six-issue storyline titled “The Breaking of Helheim.”

The story picks up after the end of the last series, as Thor hears a voice from the past.

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Comics Lowdown: ‘Astro Hustle’ canceled after sexual misconduct allegations against Jai Nitz

Plus: Mark Alessi passes away; DiNKy award nominees and more.

Dark Horse Comics has canceled the final two issues of Astro Hustle after writer Jai Nitz was accused of sexual misconduct.

The allegations were first published on the Her Campus website by Hannah Strader, a University of Kansas student who met Nitz when he was a guest lecturer in one of her classes. Nitz, whose recent work also includes a Suicide Squad story for DC Comics, briefly deleted his Twitter account (which is now set to private) and bailed on his appearance at 2019 Planet Comicon last weekend.

“Dark Horse takes all allegations seriously. We have cancelled future issues of Astro Hustle,” the publisher said in a statement to CBR.com. “While we were unable to prevent our distributor’s shipping of Astro Hustle #2, we are also suspending our professional ties with Jai Nitz.”

Astro Hustle artist Tom Reilly addressed the cancellation on Twitter, saying it was “for the best” and showing support for the victim. And Nitz released a statement to Bleeding Cool, saying “I am stepping away from comics and public life. I am seeking counseling and trying to live a better life for my loved ones.”

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Smash Pages Q&A: Joseph Galluccio

The senior art director for LEGO talks about his first comic, ‘Space is Cold: Escape Velocity.’

Joseph Galluccio is a newcomer to comics, but he’s far from an artistic novice. A senior art director at LEGO, and he’s had his paintings and other artwork shown in galleries in various states. His first comic, which is out now is Space is Cold: Escape Velocity. The story of Betty, her dog Donut and their kid-friendly adventures, which, as set up in the first issue, demonstrate that Galluccio has a lot more story planned.

Galluccio and I share a favorite coffee house, which is how we met, and we recently spoke about how making a comic required him to approach his work differently, his lifelong love of space and science fiction, and what he does at LEGO.

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‘Monstress,’ ‘Saga,’ ‘On a Sunbeam’ among the 2019 Hugo Awards finalists

‘Abbott,’ Paper Girls’ and ‘Black Panther: Long Live the King’ round out this year’s nominations in the the ‘Best Graphic Story’ category.

The nominees for the 2019 Hugo Awards have been announced, including the “Best Graphic Story” category. This year’s nominees include three comics from Image, one from Marvel, one from BOOM! Studios and a graphic novel from First Second.

Presented annually since 1955, The Hugo Awards recognize the best science fiction in books, comics, movies, TV and more. The Hugo Awards are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention every year. The Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story has been awarded since 2009, with previous winners including volumes of Saga, Ms. Marvel, Girl Genius and Sandman: Overture. Monstress won the award for the last two years and is up for the award again this year.

This year’s nominees are:

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