Not surprisingly, Dog Man has once again claimed the top spot on best-seller charts for USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Indie Bound, Toronto Star, and The Globe and Mail, among others. It’s the ninth book in Dav Pilkey’s popular kids graphic novel series to land at No. 1 on the best-seller chart.
“Since we announced the publication date for Dog Man: Grime & Punishment, we have been hearing from enthusiastic kids, parents, educators and retailers who have been eagerly waiting for its release.,” said Ellie Berger, President of Scholastic’s Trade Division. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to see kids and families around the world so excited, laughing and reading together. We look forward to publishing more Dav Pilkey books in the future.”
Speaking of which, the press release also mentions Cat Kid Comic Club, a Dog Man spinoff, that will debut on Dec. 1.
Publishing: IDW’s management changes continue, as the publisher announced that Blake Kobashigawa has been named VP of sales, Joseph Hughes has been named director of creative affairs and Marisa Stotter has been promoted to manager of creative affairs .
“Blake and Joe, both of whom enjoyed tremendous success at one of the comic industry’s most storied operations, DC Comics, are the perfect choices to fill their respective crucial roles at IDW,” said Nachie Marsham, IDW’s recently appointed publisher. “Blake is an innovative team-builder with a history of seeking out new business and strengthening existing relationships. Joe has impeccable taste, strong industry relationships, and a passion for both creators and the creative. We’re privileged to have them on board.”
Publishing: Vault Comics’ planned young reader imprint, which was originally called Myriad and was announced back in 2018, will now be called Wonderbound and will launch in 2021. In a statement to CBR.com, Vault Comics President and Publisher Damian Wassel said, “Wonderbound has been in the works from the very first day we put together our vision for Vault. We have always wanted to create a space for amazing genre books for young readers. … I couldn’t be more excited to continue sharing Wonderbound with the world.”
Back in 2018, Vault announced three comics for the line: Wrassle Castle by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover, Bonding by Matthew Erman and Emily Pearson, and Unfinished Corner by Dani Colman.
Publishing: DC’s new SVP and general manager, Daniel Cherry III, shared his thoughts on his new position and the responsibilities it entails in a post on LinkedIn. Cherry started in his new position earlier this week.
“While always respecting the past, I also think it’s our responsibility to leverage the cultural power of DC Comics and our characters to entertain and inspire an increasingly diverse global fan base,” Cherry said. “Comics have the unique power to create resonant imagery and narratives that can move the world toward a better, more inclusive version of itself. It’s my sincere hope that I am able to contribute and help evolve the brand and increase its relevance and impact for generations to come.”
Censorship: Fun Home, the award-winning graphic novel by Alison Bechdel, found itself the target of censorship once again this past week. The Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada removed it from high school reading lists after an advocacy group called Power2Parent complained that it “shows a number of obscenities including depictions of sexual acts and drug use, along with offensive anti-religious sentiments that are not appropriate for minors.”
Chris Davin, the president of Equality Nevada, is quoted in the article as disagreeing with the school district’s decision. “The book is about inclusion. Libraries need to be more inclusive to include content that includes homosexuality, both gay and lesbian,” he said.
Political cartoonists: The Washington Post has a lengthy and fascinating profile of political cartoonist Philip Guston, whose career included drawing cartoons about Richard Nixon and Watergate.
Interviews: John Ridley talks to Polygon about his upcoming DC title, The Other History of the DC Universe.
Interviews: Matt O’Keefe talks to Jesse Lonergan about his excellent comic, Hedra and the upcoming Planet Paradise.
Awards: Seth’s graphic novel Clyde Fans has been named to the long list for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Best of … lists: NPR has posted their list of “100 Favorite Books For Young Readers,” based on a poll conducted this summer. It includes several graphic novels, including Jerry Craft’s New Kid, Jen Wang’s Stargazing and, of course, the Dog Man graphic novels.
Reviews: Writing for blogcritics, Jeff Provine reviews the collected edition of the webcomic The Contradictions by Sophie Yanow.
Reviews: Scott Cederlund at Panel Patter looks at Jim Rugg’s latest project, the blacklight comic Octobriana 1976.