Author: JK Parkin

Olivia Stephens, ‘Ducks,’ ‘The God of Arepo’ and more win at the 2023 Ignatz Awards

The annual awards honoring excellence in independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics were presented last night at the Small Press Expo.

The annual Ignatz Awards, which are shaped like a brick, were handed out last night during a ceremony at the Small Press Expo.

The Ignatz Awards, which have been presented since 1997, celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics. They are named for the mouse that appears in the Krazy Kat comics by George Herriman.

Nominees were selected by a jury that included Ellen Lindner, Juniper Kim, L. Nichols, Ally Shwed, Jason Little and Kotaline Jones, with the winners being selected via an online ballot.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

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Kate Beaton, Ed Brubaker, Evan ‘Doc’ Shaner and more win at the 2023 Ringo Awards

The winners were announced during a ceremony held at the Baltimore Comic-Con this weekend.

The winners for the 2023 Ringo Awards were announced last night at the Baltimore Comic-Con. This marks the sixth year for the awards program named for artist Mike Wieringo, who passed away in 2007.

Nominees were selected earlier this year by an open nomination process and a jury that consisted of Diamond’s Troy-Jeffrey Allen, artist Richard Case, comics creator and instructor Amy Chu, writer Abby Denson and Valiant sales manager/former retailer John Petrie.

Besides the Ringo Awards themselves, a few other awards were given out during the ceremony, including two from the Hero Initiative. Chris Claremont received the Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award, while Al Milgrom received the Dick Giordano Humanitarian Award.

The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Spirit Award went to the comic World’s Finest by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, and published by DC. This award is selected every year by perennial jurors Todd Dezago, Craig Rousseau, Mark Waid and Matt Wieringo, Mike’s brother.

The Ringo’s fan award categories, which are selected by open voting, were also presented:

  • Fan Favorite Hero: Sam Young, Let’s Play
  • Fan Favorite Villain: Adam, The Guy Upstairs
  • Fan Favorite New Series: Nevermore
  • Fan Favorite New Talent: artist/colorist Ellie Wright
  • Fan Favorite Publisher: Dark Horse

You can see the rest of the winners below.

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‘Marvel’s Voices: Avengers’ anthology assembles in December

Robbie Thompson, Sid Kotian, Justina Ireland and more will tell stories featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Marvel’s next “Voices” anthology will spotlight members of the Avengers, bringing together a diverse group of talent to tell stories featuring Captain America, Photon, Robbie Reyes and more.

The anthology series, which originated from a podcast on Marvel.com with the same name, has been published since 2020. It spotlights “diverse storytellers and their journeys,” as well as characters from diverse backgrounds. This year Marvel began spotlighting specific character groups, like the Spider-Verse characters, the X-Men and the citizens of Wakanda, in stories by diverse creators.

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‘Zippy the Pinhead’ creator Bill Griffith wins the Reuben Award

The National Cartoonist Society recognized cartoonists and artists across several categories this week.

The National Cartoonists Society has awarded Zippy the Pinhead creator Bill Griffith with its prestigious Reuben Award. The award was presented last night at a ceremony and awards dinner in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Griffith was one of five cartoonists nominated for the award, chosen from a field that included Jeff Smith, Hilary B. Price, Will Henry and Mark Tatulli.

Griffith began his career in 1969, with his strips appearing in publications like East Village Other and Screw Magazine. He moved to San Francisco in the early 1970s to become part of the underground comix movement, which is where Zippy was born. The strip first appeared in Real Pulp #1, then became a weekly in 1976.

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‘Fire Power’ will conclude with issue #30

Robert Kirkman, Chris Samnee and company bring the story of Owen Johnson and his family to a close in December.

Fire Power, the Skybound title published by Image Comics and created by Robert Kirkman, Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson and Rus Wooton, will end with issue #30 this December.

The 56-page oversized issue will wrap up the story of Owen Johnson and his fireball-wielding family, which began back in 2020.

“It’s all been building to this. From the humble beginnings of Owen’s journey for the truth about his parents, to a world-spanning battle with a gargantuan ancient evil that threatens to destroy the world,” Kirkman said. “It’s been a real thrill to work with Chris for these last few years, building this world and working toward this dramatic conclusion. I can’t believe we’re finally here! I can’t wait for people to see it!” 

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Take a Ditko-esque trip into the ‘Topsy Turvey’ with Jake Chang and Archie [Preview]

Check out an exclusive preview of two new stories coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #133, which will feature two new stories in addition to a whole lot of classic material.

The first story features Archie falling into something called the “Topsy Turvey” — think The Upside-Down by way of Steve Ditko — and detective Jake Chang has to figure out how to get him out (with some help from Vegas, Archie’s dog). Tom DeFalco, Steven Butler and Jim Amash present this strange adventure.

Then, Dan Parent and Bob Smith bring together the Superteens and She-Fox to face the menace of Metra. This mullet-sporting villain can control time and space, but seems very hung up on the 1980s, much to our heroes’ dismay.

Colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli are on board for both stories, which arrive in next week’s digest. Check out the previews below, along with a complete classic Little Archie story featuring a new friend from outer space.

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Slugfest | ‘Antarctica’ will continue as an ongoing

Plus: a new ‘Alien’ series, Marv Wolfman returns to ‘Tomb of Dracula,’ ‘The Walking Dead’ tribute covers and more.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. Hit the links for more information.

Antarctica by Simon Birks and Willi Roberts, the Top Cow miniseries that debuted in July, will continue as an ongoing series after issue #5.

“If readers already love the first two issues of volume one, they’re going to love this new arc as we get the chance to delve deep into the previous events surrounding the Fracture and explore the Hannahs’ stories,” Birks said. “We’re thrilled to once again be working with the team at Top Cow. Not only have they been professional, but they’ve really taken the time to get to know us, and I’m delighted they love the book as much as we do. Antarctica takes no prisoners, and I’m excited to share our adventure with the readers. Willi and I have created something exceptional; an incredible experience full of unique twists and turns to keep everyone guessing right up until the end. As if one married The Fugitive with The Cabin in the Woods.”

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Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Birds of Prey’ soar once more

Check out new comics and graphic novels by Brenna Thummler, Kelly Thompson, Leonardo Romero, Van Jensen, Jay Baruschel, Alessandro Micelli, Matt Emmons, Scott Hoffman, Juan Bobillo and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital. This week brings several new titles from DC, including Blue Beetle and Birds of Prey, along with the high-concept love story Tear Us Apart and the third volume of Brenna Thummler’s Sheets series, titled Lights.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

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Smash Pages Q&A | Mat Groom returns to discuss the second ‘Inferno Girl Red’

The writer returns to the Massive-Verse for the second volume of the graphic novel series, which is currently up on Kickstarter.

Following a very successful campaign on Kickstarter for the first book back in 2021, Mat Groom, Erica D’Urso and the rest of the team have returned to crowdfund Inferno Girl Red Book Two. The new campaign is currently live.

If you aren’t familiar with Inferno Girl Red, it’s one of the many titles that make up the Massive-Verse, the collection of titles overseen by Kyle Higgins that include Radiant Black, The Dead Lucky and Rogue Sun, among others. It combines Groom’s love of tokusatsu superheroes and boarding school dramas, and it looks great thanks to D’Urso, colorist Igor Monti, letterer Becca Carey and design group For The People.

At press time, the campaign has brought in just over $45,000, which is more than halfway to its $85,000 goal. I spoke with groom about the new campaign, what he learned from the first one, how Inferno Girl Red fits into the Massive-Verse and more. He also shares a few details on his involvement with the upcoming Bad Blood playing cards/murder mystery game.

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Rev it up to save the world in ‘Petrol Head’ this fall

Rob Williams and Pye Parr hit the road on a new series at Image Comics.

Rob Williams and Pye Parr of 2000AD fame will bring a new post-apocalyptic series to Image this fall, as they prepare to start their engines on the car-themed Petrol Head this November.

The series will feature a hot-rod racing robot and 12-year-old girl who may be the only chance to save humanity.

“Petrol Head is that rare thing in comics—art that feels like it’s actually moving on the page,” said Williams. “Pye’s racing sequences have this kinetic, Akira-like energy and he draws the best robots, and cars, and robots driving cars. We both come from a 2000AD background and we wanted to bring that same punky, funny edge to what is basically a heartfelt story about one smart little girl who may just be able to save the whole human race from a climate emergency, but she has to team up with a grumpy, obsolete hotrod-racing robot to do it.”

Here’s a look at the trailer:

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Szymon Kudrański sinks his teeth into ‘Blood Commandment’

The four-issue miniseries kicks off in November.

Something Epic creator Szymon Kudrański will take a brief break from the series for a few months as he focuses his efforts on a miniseries about survival and vampires.

Like he’s done with Something Epic, Kudrański will write and draw Blood Commandment, the story of a father and son living in isolation in a shadowed valley surrounded by mountains and a thick forest, who are terrorized by a “dangerous supernatural presence.”

“It’s a story about the relationship between a father and his growing up son, facing a danger that threatens their lives,” said Kudrański. “Living far away from civilization in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by thick forests and mountains, they’re trying to survive the attack of a vampire. In such an isolated place, you can’t count on help from outside, it’s either fight or… run.”

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Nevada Jones rides to the rescue in this preview of ‘Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #317

Check out an exclusive preview of two new stories coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present a preview of two new stories from Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #317, which comes out Sept. 6.

In the first story, Hiram Lodge invites Nevada Jones to check out his new Western-themed attraction — which happens to be populated with out-of-this-Westworld robot versions of the cowboy. Ian Flynn, Pat Kennedy, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli bring this one to life.

Then in the second story, Jack Chang is back to help Betty and Veronica solve the mystery of a vanishing case of money at Riverdale’s annual charity cricket match. Tom DeFalco, Steven Butler, Lily Butler, Whitmore and Morelli are the creative team for this “Whodunit?”

Check out both previews below, along with a complete Josie and the Pussycats story by Frank Doyle and Dan DeCarlo.

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