A selection of some of the funniest, most interesting and strangest quotes from the past week:
“2 million in sales, and only breaking even… and that’s why the Japanese publishing system isn’t a short term answer for American comics.”
– Simon Jones of Icarus Publishing (NSFW), on news that the circulation of Weekly Shonen Magazine has dropped below 2 million
“Look at the women in British ensembles like Random Dance or the Henri Oguike Dance Company. Look at Sylvie Guillem with her ripped physique and steely limbs. They’re amazing. Like comic-book heroines, like Promethea or Lady Deathstrike. What dance has achieved, and fashion hasn’t, is a change in its core aesthetic. Strength is a democratic ideal, because anyone can be strong - anyone can be a super-version of themselves.”
– London Observer dance critic Luke Jennings, dropping one of the stranger comic-book references I’ve seen in a while
“It was like one of those dream phone calls where you think, ‘wouldn’t it be cool if you got a phone call like that?’ And then I did.”
– novelist Cecil Castellucci, on being asked to write a graphic novel for DC’s Minx line
“We borrow some of the visual motifs from manga, but I don’t consider it American-style manga and I certainly don’t think I’m an American writer of manga. My stories have more in common with Looney Tunes than Japanese comic books.”
– Mail Order Ninja writer Joshua Elder, avoiding the “manga” label for his Tokyopop title
“One friend of mine at work is always, like, ‘Yeah, Pfeifer’s got those Spider-Man checks coming in!’ I’ve never written Spider-Man but he always says that. ‘He’s got Spider-Man checks coming in! He can afford anything!’”
– writer Will Pfeifer, who keeps his newspaper job while juggling more and more comics work
April 20th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
That quote came out a little harsher than I had intended it to. I don’t necessarily MIND the label (I read a lot of manga and its clearly a big influence on my work and the art shows an obvious manga influence as well), I’m just leery of the whole “OEL manga” thing as it seems like an attempt to cash in on a fad. I certainly think that’s how most manga fans perceive it at any rate.
So call it manga, call it a graphic novel, call it comics — I’m just out write a good story.
April 21st, 2007 at 10:07 am
Josh, enjoy the coverage.
Don’t feel the need to defend your comment. Hell I’m more inclined to check it out for the Looney Tunes reference. I think all comics could benefit from more Chuck Jones influences.
And, Kevin, thank you for this feature–the Pfeifer quote made me chuckle.