Some random facts about writer Ed Brubaker:

1. The “Ed” stands for Educated.

2.  He has a tattoo of popular Marvel character Hawkeye on his chest, screaming “Not like this!”

3. He is taking the promotional campaign for his new creator-owned series “Criminal” to the fans:

It’s been a few weeks since the Criminal announcement went public, and a few days since the October solicit for issue 1 hit, and I’m still finding tons of people who haven’t seen the 5 page teaser Sean and I specially crafted to sell readers and retailers on this book, even though it was widely broadcast on newsarama and other places. So, I’m taking it to the people!

If you haven’t seen the teaser for Criminal, go download it at this link: http://www.edbrubaker.com/criminal/

And then, email it to everyone you know who likes good comics, and post the link on every message board you can find.

And, if you’re a true friend, print out a copy and bring it in to your local store to show your comics retailer, too. I’m going out big to retailers in the next few weeks, but having customers come in with the preview for them will make a HUGE difference. It’s a tough market right now for anything outside superheroes, and while I think we’ll do okay, better safe than sorry.

4. On popular internet pick-up site MySpace, he is the second most-often “Friended” person, behind that guy who was pretending to be Robert Crumb.

5. On weekends, he and Michael Lark fight crime in a talking car created by a mad scientist who grew up watching Knight Rider, under the names “Irn Bru and the Singin’ Lark”.

6. He may be about to write an email thanking me profusely for giving him the new nickname “Irn Bru,” even though that’s possibly a joke that only Scots will get.

(Note: Only one of these facts is true.)

Now that DC’s weekly test of endurance 52 is into its third month, retailer Ryan Higgins has decided that it’s time to talk sales, over at Your Mom’s Basement:

Issue #7, which hit shelves on June 21, revealed Booster Gold as a phony, and gave us the first appearance of the soon-to-be Batwoman—Kate Kane. Naturally, one would expect this issue to fly off the shelf.

Wrong!

Issue #7 only sold 69 copies [at my store] in its first week, easily the series’ weakest performance yet. Customers know what to expect with 52: A new issue, every single week, for 52 weeks. Of all the times to jump ship, why did readers pick this issue? For the answer, let’s take a quick look at what else came out this week.

The week of June 21 was a gigantic one for big releases, with All-Star Superman, Astonishing X-Men, Captain America, Eternals #1, Flash #1, Justice, New Avengers, Superman/Batman, and Uncanny X-Men. Is 52 a book people just throw on their stack if it’s a light week? The majority of the customers I’ve talked said they’re in for all 52 issues, for better or for worse. After last week’s amazing sales, a drop like this worries me. Maybe casual customers are giving up on 52 already…and maybe it’s good that we lowered our orders to 100 copies from here on out.

With Rich Johnston reporting that “52 has been such a big success that there’s talk at DC about it continuing it in some form or another, to keep the momentum, possibly as a bi-weekly,” perhaps DC might want to wait for a few more months of sales figures before making such a decision…

The Philadelphia Daily Inquirer gives the new Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters title a thumb’s up:

“Everybody wants to believe in America,” said Jimmy Palmiotti, who is co-writing the series with Justin Gray. “Uncle Sam is a classic, iconic character that embodies the spirit of America, and in our series… he gets all his powers from the people that believe in him and what he represents.”

In other words, the more people that Sam gets to believe in him and American ideals, the more formidable he will become.

It is one heck of an idea and it is executed beautifully. Gray and Palmiotti keep the book dark and twisted enough to prevent it from becoming syrupy.

I almost didn’t pick this book up; in fact, it wasn’t until my second trip to the comic shop over the weekend that I bought it. But I’m glad I did. The first big scene alone, where Dollman poses as an action figure, was worth the price of admission.

Speaking of 52, AfterEllen.com, a site that focuses on lesbians in entertainment, examines the first appearances of Kate Kane/Batwoman, and her relationship with Renee Montoya:

The reader is told that Renee doesn’t want Kate hurt, having already seen too many people she cares about die. Kate believes her former lover is merely being obstinate. After arguing, the scene ends with both women as angry as they were following their last meeting.

The sexual tension in this scene is clearly written. It’s implied that Kate is currently involved with a female doctor (seen sitting in Kate’s car) and Renee’s reference to the doctor is less then cordial. Even Charlie gets in on the fun, ribbing Renee about her feelings for the rich redhead.

Unlike some well-known fictional lesbian characters of the past, for example Xena and Gabrielle in Xena: Warrior Princess, this story isn’t being written as subtext. The emotions and feelings are on the page and readers aren’t forced to fill in the blanks.

The writer isn’t as positive about the change in art between Issues 7 and 11, noting that in their first appearance together, Montoya and Kane were drawn with “realistic measurements.” However, “their second encounter is drawn like they recently left the WWE.”

I suppose this is what I get for not visiting DC’s 52 website with any regularity: I missed this funny article in the Daily Planet about the return of Comic-Con to Sub Diego, the name given to the parts of San Diego that sank into the ocean in Aquaman.

“Overcoming astonishing setbacks –- a global crisis, the destruction of most area convention facilities by OMACs, and, of course, the sinking of approximately half of San Diego under the Pacific Ocean –- Comic-Con, America’s largest comic-book, science-fiction, and movie convention, is as popular as ever,” columnist Noah Vance writes in the July 13 article. “This week, more than 10,000 eager fans donned submersible helmets to wait in line at Sub Diego’s newly refurbished Norris Convention Center.”

Oddly enough, submersible helmets probably wouldn’t have been the strangest sights at Comic-Con.

The article goes on to chronicle a retailer’s reliance on Mylar bags to keep his comics dry, and a fan who had to quickly learn how to swim in order to attend the convention.

“There are other conventions I could go to — drier ones, certainly — but no place else offers the combination of merchandise, celebrities, and amazing programming,” Scott Middaugh tells the Daily Planet. “I’d rather swim here than walk almost anyplace else.”

In honor of Thursday’s premiere of Who Wants to Be a Superhero?, Newsday looks at five TV shows whose heroes “scored less than super ratings.” Alas, there’s no mention of Misfits of Science, Generation X, or even Manimal, but there’s at least one series that’s near and dear to my heart:

The Man From Atlantis (NBC, 1977-78) – A pre-Dallas Patrick Duffy played this superhero, the last survivor of the doomed continent Atlantis. Any resemblance to Marvel Comics’ Sub-Mariner, was strictly coincidental, of course.

Newsday also lists 1990’s The Flash, written by current Flash comic-books scribes Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo, 2002’s Birds of Prey, and two 1960s shows I’ve never heard of: Captain Nice and Mr. Terrific (no relation to the Justice Society member, I’m sure).

Via Matt Maxwell, video from Comic-Con of the Grant Morrison-Deepak Chopra panel, “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Super-Heroes.”

Fans of Douglas Rushkoff’s Vertigo series Testament may want to check out Nerve.com, which has posted a fun science fiction short story by the author. The story is told entirely by browsing the main character’s email box:

Date: March 3, 2033
From: Thelma Hughes
To: Mark Johnson
Subject: Still vibrating

What a night! I suppose I should have listened to Melanie about dating younger men. You were a stallion!

So, tell me the truth, now: pills or nano? I promise not to tell the girls at the club.

-Thel

Scratch that — even if you’re not a fan of Testament, it’s worth a look.

Link via BoingBoing

From I Read Comics:

The Journal of the Lincoln Heights Literary Society (J LHLS) is pleased to offer three grants for one year of 100 MB of webstorage space each to three women comics podcasters. Grant recipients will also receive two hours of free consulting on podcasting techniques and specifications from Lene Taylor of the I Read Comics podcast.

This webstorage may only be used for mp3 and graphics files.

To apply, please produce a fifteen to twenty-five minute long podcast on comics in mp3 format and either email it to wcp@liheliso.com or mail it on a CD to

J LHLS
PO Box 31513
LA CA 90031-0513

on or before November 1, 2006.

On or before November 7, 2006 we will also need a link to the webpage that would be used for your podcasts should you receive one of our WCP grants. .

Full guidelines are at the WCP webpage, along with links to free resources for setting up a podcast.

Just when you thought all the hubbub about which way Superman swings was over, along comes Kevin Smith with a different perspective on Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns:

“You look at the X-Men movies and it’s an allegory for what it’s like to be gay, like, if you take the word ‘mutant’ out of that movie and stick ‘gay’ in, the movie still works.

“I was really looking forward to him doing the third one because it would be an out-and-out gay fantasia–I was hoping that the dude would go for a kind of ‘Brokeback Mutant’ kind of movie, but he opted to do Superman.

“I thought he’d make a really gay Superman but he didn’t; it was more Jesus’ Superman… a lot of Messianic poses and whatnot and I was hoping for a little more gay action.”

Related: Kevin Smith on his Superman script, via YouTube

The San Diego Comic-Con might be over, but no doubt all the attendees who didn’t have their laptops with them (and some who did) will continue to talk about the con for awhile … or at least until Wizard World Chicago, coming up in a couple of weeks. Until then, we shall blog on about Comic-Con …

The Washington Times/UPI report that 100,000 people attended this past weekend’s show, mentioning the standing room only crowds for several panels:

Comic-Con, the convention that began as a comic book bazaar in 1970, brought 100,000 fans to the San Diego Convention Center over four days.

The major movie studios dominated the 6,500-seat exhibition hall through Sunday, but TV series featured in smaller rooms left thousands of fans unable to view presentations on “Lost” and other popular shows, Daily Variety said.

Security staff estimated that for every fan entering the 4,200-seat room for Sci Fi’s “Battlestar Galactica,” two were shut out, Daily Variety reported.

(more…)

Well, Diamond’s shipping lists are currently down, but the show must go on … so let’s take a look at what Midtown Comics has listed as coming out this week …

Last month saw quite possibly the coolest Daredevil issue in who-knows-how-many years, as a prison riot/hit attempt made strange bedfellows of Matt Murdock, the Kingpin, Bullseye and even the Punisher. This week brings us not only the fallout from the riot, but also the big reveal of who the fake Daredevil is.

And if that’s not enough to get you excited about masked orphaned vigilantes, Grant Morrison’s Batman run also starts this week. At Sunday’s “big three” panel in San Diego, Morrison said, “We all love Batman, but he got kind of uptight.” It should be fun to see Morrison’s kinder, gentler (and apparently black humored) version of Batman.

(more…)

Worthplaying.com has several new screenshots from the upcoming Marvel: Ultimate Alliance game. They feature scenes from Asgard with the Wrecking Crew and (if the filenames are any indication) scary clowns from Murderworld:

Gametrailers.com also has a new Nightcrawler trailer up, which joins several previously released trailers for the game featuring Iceman, the Human Torch and the Invisible Woman, among others.

Links via Joystiq.

Related: Newsarama’s Marvel:Ultimate Alliance panel coverage from SDCC 2006

Brian Michael Bendis does his best to try and increase interest in the recent San Diego convention:

“the san diego gossip is juicy! wonder what will trickle out to the public… some shit went down!”

The Bendis Boarders know how to react to such taunting:

“I can do it too: Lots of things are happening in the world. I wonder how many people know about them?”

“ooh, Me next; ‘Sooo much awesome stuff happened at a few bars in Boston tonight. It was crazy! Shame you aren’t in-the-know.’ This IS fun!”

“Now say you’re going to make an announcement later today, then never make it!”

The internet: Where cheap teasing doesn’t work very well unless you’re on MySpace.

One of the overlooked stories at Comic-Con was “Rachel Blake” crashing the Lost panel and confronting actors and producers about the fictional Hanso Foundation.

For those not immersed in the lore of the ABC television series, Rachel Blake (aka Persephone) is a character in the Lost Experience interactive online game who’s dedicated to exposing Hanso.

At Saturday’s panel, Blake stepped to the microphone and shouted, “Have you no shame? … Tell us what you know about the Hanso Foundation.” Her demand was met with laughter and applause from the audience. Blake continued her assault, pressing the panelists on the show’s connections to Hanso, until she was escorted away by security — but not before she yelled out the URL for Hanso Exposed.

You can watch shaky video of the exchange at YouTube.

The stunt was just the latest in a series of marketing gimmicks for Lost that have included fake TV commercials and websites, hidden messages, a metafictional book and more.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love The Venture Bros.? Well, I do. Now Adult Swim is providing downloadable wallpapers of Bill Sienkiewicz’s beautifully painted cover art for the Season One DVD. Even if you’re not in the market for new desktop wallpaper, you should go take in lovely, lovely Sienkiewicz art. I want it as a poster, but I suppose I’ll make do with just staring at the DVD jacket.

As the sun sets on another San Diego Comic-Con, and some of us try to get the whole thing straight in our heads, famous non-attendee Mark Millar offers perspective on the whole thing:

“We made Yahoo’s front page, SDCC covered… I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, but since nerd is the new cool I think I’ll laugh… [R]eally, who would you rather be– the guy/ girl looking forward to the next Astonishing X-Men, Lost and Spidey movie or the guy/ girl reading their John Grisham book on the train home? As a friend here on the boards once pointed out, the great thing about being a geek is that we always have fifteen things we’re looking forward to. And I love that.”

It’s not unusual for mainstream newspapers to get some of the facts wrong when they write about comics. “Anime” and “manga” are often used interchangeably, characters are credited to the wrong creator or publisher, and publication dates get messed up.

But London’s Evening Standard charts new territory today: It introduces an eight-year-old character as a brand-new concept. Apparently, the newspaper thinks the (re)launch of Amazing Spider-Girl #1 means the debut of a new character.

“Fans who pick up the next Spidey comic book will find the wall-crawling crimefighter has been given a helping hand in the form of Spider-Girl,” the newspaper writes. “May Parker, Spider-Girl’s alter ego, is actually the secret daughter of Peter Parker who became Spider-Man after he was bitten by a radioactive spider.”

“Secret daughter”? That sounds so seedy, like that “Sins Past” storyline.

But the Evening Standard thinks Marvel may be onto something with this whole “girl superhero” thing: “With Tomb Raider star Lara Croft currently leading the way in the female hero stakes, bosses at Marvel are predicting that Spider-Girl can be an equally big hit with Spidey readers.”