Smash Pages Q&A: Ben Passmore on ‘Daygloayhole’ and more

The creator of ‘Your Black Friend’ discusses his work for Fantagraphics’ ‘Now’ anthology, The Nib, his influences and much more.

Ben Passmore’s short comic Your Black Friend was a sensation when it was published in 2016. It was nominated for an Eisner Award, won an Ignatz Award, was on NPR’s 2017 list of 100 Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels, and was turned into an animated short film. Passmore has become a regular contributor to The Nib and many other outlets, but for people who have been reading Passmore for years, this recent political work has been something of a departure for him. He first came to notice with Daygloayhole, which is a very different kind of comic, but shares a lot of the same sensibilities and ideas that motivate his political and essayistic comics.

This year saw the publication of Your Black Friend and Other Strangers, which collects a number of short comics by Passmore. Silver Sprocket is publishing a print version of Daygloayhole, the second issue of which is out this summer. Passmore has a comic in the current issue of the Fantagraphics anthology Now and has a comic in the June/July issue of The Believer.

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‘The Champions’ head for Weirdworld in issue #25

The team gets a D&D-esque makeover courtesy of Jim Zub, Sean Izaakse and Max Dunbar.

Remixing superheroes with different genres is a staple of the artform; who can forget Kurt Busiek and George Perez’s classic “Morgan Conquest,” which saw the Avengers recast as knights of the realm? It looks like the Champions will get their day in the sun as well, so I hope that armor breaths. Ms. Marvel and company will head to Weirdworld in issue #25 to save a couple of their teammates, courtesy of Jim Zub, Sean Izaakse and Max Dunbar.

“With two of their teammates having vanished into Weirdworld, the rest of the Champions have no choice but to follow them into that ever-changing landscape,” said SVP and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort in a press release. “However, the changes this will put them through are both profound and unexpected—and will lead to something new on the horizon.”

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Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Daughters of the Dragon get ‘Digital Originals’ series

Marvel’s Netflix stars get new digital titles aimed at TV binge-watchers.

Following the somewhat stealthy release of Jessica Jones last Wednesday as the first of a new Marvel Digital Originals line, over the weekend Marvel announced via IGN three new digital titles coming later this year.

Jessica Jones will be joined by new titles featuring Luke Cage, Iron Fist and the Daughters of the Dragon. In addition, the already-started Cloak and Dagger digital series by writer Dennis Hopeless and artist David Messina has joined the line-up as well. Given that these comics are aimed at people who discover the characters on television, the titles make sense. I’m guessing at some point we might see Daredevil, Punisher and Runaways join the line.

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Marvel reveals ‘X-Men Black’ details, teases ‘Uncanny X-Men’ return

Chris Claremont, Scott Bachalo, Seanan McGuire, Shawn Crystal and more tackle some of the X-Men’s greatest villains.

At Comic-Con International in San Diego today, Marvel revealed the details behind one teaser and delivered another at the same time.

X-Men Black, which seemed to be following in the footsteps of X-Men Blue, Gold, Red, etc., isn’t an ongoing series like the others. It’s a series of one-shots starring various X-Men villains that, most noticeably, will see legendary Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont return to the franchise to write Magneto, while Chris Bachalo returns for Emma Frost.

Here’s a rundown of the one-shots:

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Wolfman + Kowalski to adapt ‘Diablo’ for Titan Comics

Blizzard’s long-running video game franchise heads to comics.

New Teen Titans co-creator Marv Wolfman has written for both comics and video games during his 50-year career, so it’s no wonder Titan Comics has recruited him to write a comic adaptation of Blizzard’s video game franchise Diablo.

The news comes out of Comic-Con International in San Diego this weekend. Wolfman will be joined by Piotr Kowalski, who worked on Titan’s adaptation of Wolfenstein.

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Chelsea Cain to write new ‘Vision’ series for Marvel

The novelist teams up with her husband for a series about Vision and his family.

Chelsea Cain will team up with her husband and fellow writer Marc Mohan for a new series at Marvel starring the Vision and his family. Ultimates 2 artist Aud Koch joins the duo, while Marcos Martin (The Private Eye) will provide covers. And Jordie Bellaire, who colored the previous Vision series, is here for this one as well.

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Black Crown to publish the Laphams’ ‘Lodger’ this fall

The team behind ‘Stray Bullets’ moves into the Black Crown neighborhood in October.

Stray Bullets creators David and Maria Lapham are joining IDW’s Black Crown label this fall with a new book called Lodger. The story revolves around a drifter/serial killer and a teenager whose mom was killed by the man.

“David and I rarely have time to work on stories that don’t fit into Stray Bullets continuity, but Shelly Bond and Ricky Toledo had other ideas. Lodger is a twisted love story – dark and grimy — like all the best crime noir. We can’t wait for readers to see it,” Maria said.

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Spidey villain gets his own title this fall in ‘Superior Octopus’

Christos Gage and Mike Hawthorne chronicle the adventures of Doctor Octopus and his new identity.

One of Spider-Man’s greatest foes — you know, the one who took over his body for a while? — is getting his own series. Superior Octopus by Christos Gage and Mike Hawthorne will launch this fall, spinning out of the Spider-Geddon event that will also bring us the new Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider title.

For those who aren’t up on their Spider-lore, Doctor Octopus traded bodies with Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man #698, setting the stage for Superior Spider-Man, where the villain took over Parker’s dual identities. Eventually Parker took control again, and the good doctor ended up in a new body during the “Clone Conspiracy” storyline. His Superior Octopus challenged Spider-Man during the whole Hydra Cap/Secret Empires story, and he showed up at the end of Dan Slott’s Amazing Spider-Man run to save Aunt May. Love never dies.

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Spider-Gwen gets a relaunch, new creative team — and a new name

Seanan McGuire, Rosi Kämpe and Bengal leap into action as the creative team on ‘Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider.’

Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez wrapped up their run on Spider-Gwen this week, finishing up their story of the alternate reality Gwen Stacy who gained the Spider- powers instead of Peter Parker. But that’s not the end for the character — Marvel announced in San Diego this week that the character will return in a new title with a new name — Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider

The new series will be written by Seanan McGuire, an award-winning novelist and filker. She expressed her excitement over her new writing gig on Twitter:

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Monstress and Monsters rule the 2018 Eisner Awards

Diversity wins as ‘Monstress’ sweeps with 5 awards with Liu is the first woman to win Best Writer, and ‘My Favourite Thing is Monsters’ gets 3.

Last night at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel during Comic-Con International, the 2018 Eisner Awards were presented in a passionate and empowering three-hour ceremony.

It was the night for monsters as Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda won five Eisner Awards including best continuing series, best painter/multimedia artist, best cover artist and best publication for teens. Liu made history by becoming the first woman to ever win the best writer award in the 30-years of the Eisners being handed out. Liu was in attendance to receive all of the awards for Monstress, but used FaceTime so Sana Takeda, in Japan, can “be on stage” with her to receive the best continuing series award.

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris won three including best graphic album, best coloring and best writer/artist. “You did it again. You made an old lady cry, ” declared Ferris as she accepted the best coloring award.

Mister Miracle by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill, and the Akira 35th Anniversary Edition each received two of the coveted awards.

The award winners were noticeably diverse as a large number of people of colour, women, and LGBTQ+ creators all received awards.

Surprise celebrity guests graced the stage Nichelle Nichols, Phil Lamar, Cas Anvar, Benedict Wong, and Felicia Day were on hand to present awards.

Check out the complete list of winners and some reactions below.

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Vertigo shares a bunch of art from their upcoming relaunch

Check out artwork from ‘Border Town,’ ‘Safe Sex,’ ‘Goddess’ and more.

Earlier this summer DC’s Vertigo imprint announced seven new titles as part of their 25th anniversary relaunch. At Comic-Con International in San Diego this week, they shared a whole bunch of art from several of those titles.

Let’s take a look:

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Donny Cates + friends bring back ‘Marvel Knights’ for its 20th anniversary

Daredevil, Black Panther, Punisher and more will be featured in ‘MK20’ #1 this fall.

It was 20 years ago that two creators at a small publishing house called Event Comics got the green light to take over several Marvel titles. Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti helped usher Marvel out of the dark ages of the 1990s and into the future, bringing in creators like Kevin Smith, Brian Michael Bendis, Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon, Christopher Priest and many others to tackle Daredevil, Black Panther, Punisher, Inhumans and several other Marvel characters.

Overall it is was very successful, especially from a storytelling perspective; Quesada eventually took over as Marvel editor-in-chief, and the tone of the stories set the course for much of Marvel’s success over the past two decades. The Marvel Knights imprint eventually evolved into something else, featuring high-profile miniseries, and went dormant about five years ago.

Until now.

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