JK Parkin

Zdarsky, Carroll and more take home 2019 Shuster Awards

Annual awards recognize outstanding achievement in the creation of comic books, graphic novels and webcomics by Canadians.

The winners of the 15th annual Joe Shuster Awards were announced this weekend, which included Chip Zdarsky, Emily Carroll, Karl Kerschl and more.

Established in 2004, The Joe Shuster Awards are Canada’s national award recognizing outstanding achievement in the creation of comic books, graphic novels and webcomics. Named in honor of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster, the awards recognize the best of the Canadian comics world; nominees must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Canada. The winners were chosen by a jury.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, whose names are in bold below::

Fund Me Monday: More ‘Disturbances,’ vampires and a Prince tribute

Check out new projects from Shortbox, Craig Hurd-McKenney, Jason McNamara and more.

As crowdfunding continues to be a viable method for creators to fund their creative endeavors and connect directly with fans, comic-related projects flourish on sites like Kickstarter, Patreon and IndieGoGo. This column offers a look at recent crowdfunding comics projects that might be of interest to fans.

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t start out this time by calling out a recent controversy surrounding Kickstarter, where the company has been accused of firing two employees who were part of efforts to start a union at the online crowdfunding company. I mention it in the interest of public knowledge rather than as any sort of indictment against anyone who use the forum to raise money (Particularly those I mention this week, most of whom started their projects before this even came to a head). Kickstarter is certainly not the only company to be called into question about their labor issues, and their response to the allegations of union busting can be read over at Gizmodo. There’s also a form being circulated on social media asking creators who have used Kickstarter to support the employees attempting to unionize.

Tamaki, Valero-O’Connell and more win 2019 Ignatz Awards

Annual awards presented at the Small Press Expo honor excellence in independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics.

The winners of the 2019 Ignatz Awards were announced this weekend at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland.

The big winners of the night were Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Rosemary Valero-O’Connell, who took home three awards between them, including “Outstanding Graphic Novel.” The political cartoon site The Nib also continued its recent winning streak, taking home the award for “Outstanding Series.”

The Ignatz, named after George Herriman’s brick-wielding mouse from the classic comic strip Krazy Kat, recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. The awards have been presented annually since 1997.

The awards presentations were hosted by cartoonist Keith Knight:

New ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ one-shot coming from Miller, Grampa, Bellaire

‘Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child’ shows ‘the next generation of heroes in action.’

DC Comics has announced a new one-shot set in Frank Miller‘s Dark Knight Returns universe, Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child. Miller will be joined by artists Rafael Grampá and Jordie Bellaire in the follow-up to 2015’s Dark Knight III: Master Race.

According to the press release, the story takes place three years after the events of Master Race, where Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Carrie Kelley and Lara Kent overcame the renegade priest Quar and his cult of Kandorian fanatics in their bid to convert humanity into worshipping them as gods. During this interim, Lara has spent time learning about what it means to be human, while Carrie has grown into her role as Gotham City’s new protector, Batwoman.

“The Dark Knight Returns story began with its heroes getting older,” said Miller. “Now we’re seeing the next generation of heroes in action, and Rafael was the obvious choice for me to usher in these heroes that are vigorous, untested and loaded with promise. I think that Jonathan Kent in particular will surprise everybody with his unforeseen abilities and impossible mind.”

‘Harrow County’ returns in new story set during World War II

Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook are joined by artist Naomi Franquiz as they journey back to Harrow County.

Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook‘s Harrow County series may have wrapped up in 2018, but that doesn’t mean they’re done with the world they created. Tales from Harrow County: Death’s Choir, a miniseries that follows the events of the series, will kick off in December.

Written by Bunn and Crook, the miniseries will be drawn by Naomi Franquiz, who also provides the cover for the first issue:

‘Breaklands’ debuts on comiXology this week

Justin Jordan, Tyasseta, Sarah Stern and Rachel Deering team on a post-apocalyptic miniseries.

The comiXology Originals line will expand in September with four new titles, starting first with Breaklands by Justin Jordan, Tyasseta, Sarah Stern and Rachel Deering.

The five-issue series is set 150 years in the future in a world where everyone has powers except Kasa Fain, who is desperate to find her recently kidnapped brother.

“We wanted to do a book about what would happen if a lot of people suddenly got a lot of power,” Jordan said. “It was important that the world didn’t look like what readers have seen in traditional post apocalypse stories which, generally, ends up deserts and barren landscapes. Instead,the environment has had a chance to bounce back. And there’s plenty of high action, colorful new cultures and weird creatures.”

Prepare for ‘A Radical Shift in Gravity’ this fall

Watch the world float away in Kate Glasheen and Nick Tapalansky’s upcoming graphic novel from Top Shelf.

What happens when gravity starts to disappear? Find out this fall, as Top Shelf Comix will release A Radical Shift in Gravity by Kate Glasheen and Nick Tapalansky this November.

“Against the wondrous backdrop of massive planetary transformation, this stunning watercolor graphic novel explores one family’s struggle to stay grounded,” Top Shelf says about the new project. Tapalansky is the writer of Awakening from BOOM! Studios and Cast No Shadow from First Second. Glasheen’s credits include Hybrid Bastards! from Archaia and her crowdfunded, self-published graphic novel Bandage: A Diary of Sorts.

DC reveals more Jim Lee art from ‘Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium’

DC’s publisher teams up with longtime collaborators Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair on new pages for the project.

With the first issue of Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium arriving this Wednesday, DC Comics has released some additional preview pages by the art team of Jim Lee, Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair.

The trio of artists have worked together many times in the past, going back to the pre-DC Wildstorm days, and on titles like All-Star Batman and Robin, Batman: Hush and Superman. This time around, they’re working with writer Brian Michael Bendis as one of several art teams contributing to the two-issue miniseries.

It’s a collaboration that’s been in the works even before Bendis made the jump to DC from Marvel, as the writer told Entertainment Weekly that several years ago, he received a note from Lee asking if he’d like to work on Legion with him.

Support The Nib in their summer fundraiser

After losing funding, political cartoon site The Nib is back — but needs your help.

After losing funding support from First Look Media, The Nib has returned as “an independent comics publication” that relies on reader support. That’s where you can help.

The popular editorial/long-form nonfiction comics site is running a fundraiser to “re-establish our regular lineup at The Nib and pay for web design costs of a new site while going independent.” They’re hoping to raise $15,000 before the end of August.

Exclusive Preview: Archie’s ‘Katy Keene’ collection arrives next week

Read Katy Keene stories from the past few decades before her new show debuts next year on The CW.

If you aren’t familiar with the glamorous Katy Keene, you soon will be — she’ll be joining the boys and girls from Riverdale on The CW next year in her own show. Set five years after the events of Riverdale, the series will also feature Josie, played by Ashleigh Murray, who makes the move from Riverdale to New York City to pursue her dreams.

But that’s next year — before the new show debuts (likely causing more headaches for Archie Comics’ social media person), take a look at this preview for next week’s Katy Keene collection. It features stories, art and paper dolls from throughout the character’s history by the likes of Bill Woggon, Andrew Pepoy, Dan Parent, Chic Stone and many more.

Check out the exclusive preview below, courtesy of Archie Comics, and look for the collection in comic shops next week.

2019 Ignatz Award nominees announced

The Ignatz Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in independent comics and cartooning.

The Small Press Expo has announced the 2019 Ignatz Award nominees.

The Ignatz Awards have been handed out since 1997 and celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons.

The winners will be announced during SPX, which runs Sept. 14-15 at the Marriott North Bethesda Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Congrats to all the nominees:

Quoted: Kieron Gillen on finishing ‘The Wicked + The Divine’

‘It’s complicated, but good complicated.’

The final issue of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine arrives Sept. 4. Gillen discussed how he feels about reaching the end of the series in his email newsletter this week:

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

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