Hope Larson wants you to know how much work goes into making comics. Here’s a clue – You want to make sure that you know your Photoshop:

This part sucks. Zoom way in and use the Pen Tool to make a blue barrier so you can fill in the rest of the sky shape. Make sure you draw down the middle of the lines on the black area–you’ll have to trap them later.

UDON Entertainment has announced it’s partnering with Korean publisher Haksan to release a line of manhwa in North America called, appropriately enough, Korean Manhwa.

Haksan is the publisher of such titles as Moon Boy, Peppermint and The Queen’s Knight.

UDON’s Korean Manhwa line is set to launch in October with the romantic comedy Star Project Chiro, Vol. 1, followed in November by the fantasy adventure Dorothy of Oz, Vol. 1, and in December by another (I think) fantasy adventure, Magical JxR, Vol. 1.

The full press release and title descriptions can be found at the link.

In case you haven’t seen it, the official trailer for the CGI Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series was released over the holiday weekend.

I’m not all that surprised to learn about the U.S. Mint’s ruling late last week against 20th Century Fox and The Franklin Mint for issuing some 40,000 quarters promoting next month’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, with the Sentinel of the Spaceways featured rather than the head of America’s first president.

From personal experience, mentioning the U.S. Olympics team in some specific but just as benign ways — kinda like the Surfer quarter — elicits the same kind of response. Experiencing that Olympic problem some two decades ago, I was surprised nobody from the Franklin Mint or Marvel checked out the legality of it all, although the AP story prominently mentions the Surfer quarter, while commemorative, is being given away, not sold.

Perhaps, the next “commemorative” coins should feature profiles of Jack Kirby or Steve Ditko, two men who had more to do with Marvel’s present success, especially at the box office, arguably, than anybody else. Just a thought…

The other big news of the weekend was that Marjane Satrapi’s animated adaptation of her acclaimed graphic novel, Persepolis, shared the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The other winner was Silent Light by Carlos Reygadas.

Marjane Satrapi, once on stage, said: ‘I’ll speak for both directors. We want to express our thanks Gilles Jacob and Thierry Frémaux for having selected our film. We thank the Jury for having awarded the Prize to us. We thank the whole crew of ninety people who worked with us for two years. Personally, although this film is universal, I wish to dedicate the prize to all Iranians.’

The English-dubbed version of the movie (which features voice work by Gena Rowlands no less) is due to arrive in North America this fall.

One of the big pieces of news over the Memorial Day weekend was the announcement of the Reuben awards, given every year around this time by the National Cartoonists Society. The top winner was Bill Amend who won the Cartoonist of the Year title for his formerly weekly, now Sunday-only, comic strip Foxtrot. Other winners include editorial cartoonist Mike Ramirez and Pearls Before Swine creator Stephen Pastis and Gene Yang for American Born Chinese. Editor and Publisher has a run-down of the event and various winners here.

On his site Radiomaru.com, Bryan Lee O’Malley shares the cover to the upcoming fourth volume of the Scott Pilgrim saga, Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together. There’s also a desktop image to be downloaded.

With this Monday being Memorial Day, you won’t see much out of us until Tuesday. Both Graeme and Michael are taking the week off from their features, Can’t Wait for Wednesday will be delayed a day and Lisa’s feature, you may have noticed, didn’t appear on Friday … she’s at WisCon and will have reports from the show later in the week.

See you on Tuesday. Enjoy your weekend.

The New York Times looks at how the comics industry is embracing Hollywood concepts like “seasons,” show runners, and creative teams overseen by a head writer or executive producer.

The focus is on Paul Dini, head writer of DC’s Countdown, Joss Whedon, executive producer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seaons 8, and Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, who came up with the “comic runner” concept for Platinum Studios’ online titles.

“It’s a nonexistent title in comics, but it best fits what I’m doing,” Whedon says of his “executive producer” label. “Everyone goes through me. It doesn’t take as many people, but it sometimes comes as down to the wire to produce a comic as it does a TV show every week.”

Just thought that since next Friday will be my last Friday guest blogging here, I’d give you all a chance to ask me anything you want!

I’ll answer anything!

Well.

Within reason.

So, if anybody has any burning questions for me, Cecil Castellucci, or Jim Rugg – cause I bet I can get him to answer some, too – ask in the comments and I’ll post the responses next week!

Meanwhile, May the force be with you!

And thanks for all the kick-ass suggestions for reading material so far!

There is nothing like quite like it. The neighborhood bookstore. They are a dying breed, too. So I thought, since this past week I had book launches, for my novel Beige, and The Plain Janes, at both my fave neighborhood indie bookstore and comic book store, I would sing their praises.

First up, the fabulous Skylight Books in Los Feliz. They are a Booksense Independent Bookstore and I love them so much that sometimes I even help them out when they do outside events. We had cupcakes and champagne and I made people come up with punk names.

The greatest thing about them (and other indie bookstores) is that the booksellers in the store really know books. You can say, “I’m in the mood for this kind of story…” and chances are they’ll have just thing. Skylight also has a great graphic novel section (mostly indie, but some superhero) and has had signings with Joe Matt, Gabrielle Bell, Kevin Huizenga, amongst others.

The same fabulous and discriminating taste can be said for my local indie Comic Book store The Secret Headquarters.

Whatever you might be in the mood for, they’ve got it. From superhero stuff to obscure indie comics, they’ve read it, they’ve got it and they can let you know if you’ll like it.

I’ve been going there regularly and they’ve never steered me wrong. David and David have introduced me to Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim, Warren Ellis’ Next Wave, Grant Morrison’s All Star Superman, Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha, and R. Kikuo Johnson’s Night Fisher to name a few titles off the top of my head that they’ve recommended and that I’ve adored.

They also have art shows there. I even bought an original (tiny) Johnny Ryan that makes me laugh out loud every time I walk up and down my stairs.

It’s a lush, cozy, comfortable place and last night at my first official comic book store signing it was like a fabulous literary salon, where people came in and out and had a beer and sat with me and talked about how to get girls to read comic books, fave titles, and life, the universe and everything.

Both stores are simply wonderful and they make me love my neighborhood all the more. I bet you know what I’m talking about. I bet you have a local indie book store and comic book store that makes your heart sing, too.

I was a Batman Girl, growing up. But lately, Superman has my heart.

It probably began when I saw Superman Returns last summer. Some of my guy friends were all grumbly, but I was really excited about it being so Chick Flick-y with all the Lois Lane stuff.

A few months ago, as a special treat, I got myself the boxed set of the Superman movies, with Christopher Reeve.

Once again, I was fascinated, especially in Superman II, with the relationship between Superman/Clark Kent/Lois Lane. That moment when he gives up his powers to be with Lois and Lois overheard it and let him do it. It blew my mind. It was clear I needed to get reading to understand the heart and soul of what made this relationship between the Man of Steel and this sassy girl reporter tick!

I got a bunch of suggestions from friends and have been voraciously reading.

I’ve really enjoyed some recent issues of Kurt Busiek’s Action Comics – most specifically – Last Son

–Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen

–Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar

–Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid

–and Grant Morrison’s All Star Superman.

I even made my dad read it when he was here visiting last week for my book launches. And I’m wanting to read more! more! more!

So, please, enable my Superman crush! And bring on the Superman must reads to complete my education!

Over at Marvel.com, they’ve got videos up from Spider-Man Week in New York, including this one of Ralph Macchio at the New York Public Library:

You can see more videos here.

A selection of some of the funniest, most interesting and strangest quotes from the past week:

“I don’t know that I want it to be discussed, but I remember I read [Alan Moore's] Swamp Thing and I thought ‘I don’t know half of these words and what the hell is this about menstruation rituals?’ I felt like my brain was being pushed into uncomfortable places. I want that internal kind of sense.”

– writer Steven T. Seagle, on spurring a wider discussion of the issues in American Virgin

“Just dump the superhero comics already. While I understand that many female readers wish to continue reading superhero stories, only without the offensive depictions of women, perhaps it’s time to look at the overwhelming evidence on record and cut one’s losses. Why support publishers who seem to go out of their way to aggravate and alienate female readers? What incentive do those publishers have to change if you’re still buying their books? And you know, there are several manga series out there that could probably satisfy your jones for superpowered action once you left the Big Two behind. So why not just give up on superhero comics? (I did, and I’ve been much happier with comics as a result.) They’re not going to change, so why stay in an unhealthy relationship with the unfounded hopes that someday they’ll start treating you right?”

– blogger John Jakala, on women and superhero comics

“Some women have even thrown in the towel, basically saying that superhero comics aren’t for women. We just shouldn’t bother because there are enough good non-superhero comics out there and the superhero comic book industry doesn’t care if we like what they make or not and frankly, doesn’t make it for women anyway. How sad is that? Give up on action? Give up on adventures? Give up on escaping to a world where people can fly and lift cars?”

– retailer and blogger Lisa Lopacinski, on women and superhero comics

“Recently, I entered a bookstore in the Tokyo area with a fellow Japanese student, an avid fan of seinen manga. Instead of making a beeline for her favorite series, she flipped disinterestedly through a few magazines and then promptly asked to leave. Upon my inquiry as to why she wouldn’t simply go over into the aisle she was interested in, she confessed that the aisle was exclusively seinen, meaning the only people to be found in it were twentysomething males, and that for her to stand alongside them reading would be ‘chotto hen’ — a little weird. Because there’s such an enormous mass of manga available, series are grouped into aisles based upon target demographic. Meaning, males would need to brave an aisle full of young girls to get their hands on a copy of, say, Ouran High School Host Club while girls face rows of businessmen and male college students to grab the next volume of xxxHolic. Coupled with the cultural desire not to draw attention to oneself or stand out too much, some fans can only stare wistfully down aisles or skirt closing times in hopes of an empty store. Next time you feel compelled to grumble about the lack of titles at your local B&N, remember that at least you get to skim your copy of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service without elbowing through crowds of questioning salarymen.”

– blogger Chloe of Shuchaku East, on the shelving of manga in Japan

Sometimes art is a little bit evil. It’s a little bit dark side. It’s a little bit Star Wars. And it’s a little bit awesome.

Behold! The Vader Project!

It’s the best thing I saw at the Star Wars Celebration. Oh, yes, didn’t you know? It’s the 30th anniversary of Star Wars today and L.A. is host to a weekend long celebration.

Presented by Master Replicas Inc. and curated by Dov Kelemer of DKE Toys, they gave artists Darth Vader helmets to use as a blank canvas and I think the results are beautiful.

I know what you are saying, “But, Cecil, the Plain Janes do public street art. This is in-a-gallery-type-setting art.”

Pshaw! I say! The Plain Janes love art. Period! I think they would be all over this Vader Project, wishing and dreaming that they had been amongst the artists chosen to do something wildly creative with a Darth Vader helmet.

Art projects like this are something that I adore. The idea that everyone, given the same parameter to work around, will come up with something totally different and totally fantastic.

All the Vader Helmets were simply exquisite.

And the artists involved are incredible. Shag, Paul Frank Sunich , Mr Cartoon, Frank Kozik, Marc Ecko, Amanda Visell, Tim Biskup, J. Otto Seibold, Gary Baseman, Joe Ledbetter, Jeff Soto and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There were 66 helmets on display!

This one is by Tim Biskup, who also designs my fave little characters in the Gama-Go line. I have the Gama-Go wallet, pajamas, slippers and a million T-shirts. I was even wearing my Pirate Ninja Kitty tee today.

Between the Mary Jane statuette and that Heroes for Hire cover, it seems like Gripe About Marvel Week. Well, I’m about to add to that, so brace yourselves: Kenny at the Forbidden Planet International blog spotlights the Marvel Milestones: X-Babies Unleashed statues, based on those adorable tots created by Chris Claremont and Art Adams.

The thing is, Adams’ X-Babies were cute as buttons. These limited-edition statues — due out in October — are terrifying. They look as if they’d eat babies. Don’t gaze into their demonic eyes. Don’t do it!

They’ll steal your soul.

How far will real people go to ensure a place in the comic book lexicon? It’s not enough for one fellow Austinite Alex Gray to be the best superhero he can be. No, no, he’d rather be living the life of a super-villain, and he’s currently shooting a documentary about his adventures over the next year in the pursuit of such nefarious plans. You can follow his progress at his Web site, aptly named Villain 101…

“The documentary will include interviews but will focus on exploring whether or not it is possible to live the villainous lifestyle in the real world. I will not be breaking any laws but I want to see what it is like to have a base, henchmen and a notorious persona.”

DON’T WE ALL?

Yep, it sounds a bit over the top — it is Austin after all — but the money, time and effort being exerted is all real, with focus groups and such. And, there’s that recruitment drive too (want to be a henchman, lieutenant, agent, soldier or just a minion?). My only contention: The name of our super-villain in the making is The Anachronist, not nearly as groovy or bone-shaking as Lord Vile, Baron Blight or my fav of the bunch, The Necromentor (sounds like an expensive medical device), but I guess it’ll work.

And, in the “no bad deed goes unpunished category,” even villainous neophytes in the making like The Anachronist, still face their just desserts at the end of the day: Mr. Gray couldn’t get out of jury duty.

This sounds like fun! I’ll be keeping you posted on this one…

Heidi reported yesterday that Iris Print, apparently not having paid attention to the whole Coimc Foundry thing, is launching a magazine devoted to the boys love/yaoi genre. The title is BL Twist, it will debut in January of next year and will focus solely on OEL creations:

The bimonthly print magazine will feature articles, reviews, and news related to the boys’ love genre (stories of male/male romance, also known as yaoi or slash), but the magazine’s main feature is 100+ pages of serialized comics (manga) and fiction in each issue, with each comic appearing in the form of a 20-25 page “episode” per issue. All stories will contain a strong element of male/male romance in every episode, but the magazine’s content will remain appropriate for a 16 and up readership.

The magazine is the first of its kind, not only for its subject matter, but also for its focus on Original English-Language (OEL) manga. “This is an exciting time for boys’ love,” said Kellie Lynch, publisher of BL Twist. “Yaoi manga’s explosive popularity in the U.S. has given rise to a wide range of talented Western creators. We’re pleased to be able to showcase some of that talent.”

Miriam Boon, meanwhile, wonders if gay men are being shut out of all the boy-on-boy fun in a preview article about Anime North in Toronto:

But Kat Williams, a Toronto-based anime artist and author who organized queer panels at the convention for several years beginning in 2000, says she’s dismayed by the lack of queer content created specifically for queers at recent Anime North gatherings.

“[Last year's Yaoi North] was pretty much straight girls squealing about their favourite [gay anime] couples,” says Williams.

Entertainment Weekly catches up with Frank Miller at Cannes, where he talks briefly about the Sin City sequel, the success of 300, and tackling The Spirit.

“The next thing I do is draw, so I’ll be in New York drawing a movie for a while,” he says. “This is kind of like drawing a comic book only you’ve got 100 more panels each. And then we’re going to get down to the casting and all the wonders of preproduction. We’re talking about shooting possibly in November. I’m eager to get back to work. As much as I love doing my comics — that really satisfies the solitary part of my job — having another world that’s populated by people that I can yell at is wonderful. I can’t wait to be working with actors again. It’s my favorite part of the job.”

Okay, so this is odd. If you’ve picked up Countdown #49, then you’ll notice Keith Giffen’s name missing from the credits. If you read Dan Didio’s interview at the mothership a week ago, then you’ll have noticed him saying the following:

Keith’s not involved it the first few issues, because there was a period of overlap between the final issues of 52 and the beginning of Countdown. Unfortunately, because 52 was running so close to the wire on the final issues, it required all of Keith’s energies to make sure that book got turned around and met its deadlines. That was the priority to us at the time. So, you’ll start to see Keith’s name start to appear as we go on. I think he joins us with the fourth or sixth issue – it’s that whole counting backwards thing…I’m not sure.

Giffen says the same himself over at Wizard this week:

Actually, there’s a very good reason I’m not aboard for the Countdown launch except as an obnoxious background presence…okay, 52 good reasons, but they can all be condensed down to one word.

Priorities.

52 bled over into Countdown’s start time and even though I dropped a project or two to compensate for the workload, it just wasn’t enough. I’m tempted to say “my bad” here but I can’t squeeze it out past the ego swell, so…tough.

I’d gone on the record promising that I’d do everything in my power, short of hauling the battered beast across the finish line single-handed, to keep 52 on schedule. In hindsight, not the wisest move. Don’t get me wrong: Everyone—well, almost everyone—shared that same determination. It’s just…none of them were stupid enough to mouth off about it in public.

Which brings us back to priorities. 52 trumped Countdown. There. I said it. And, for the record, I’m not promising anything beyond doing my best when it comes to Countdown. Life, friends and neighbors, is too short… So… I’ll be hands-on catching up to the Countdown Express somewhere around issue 43, 42. See you there?

So, everyone’s agreed: Giffen will miss the first few issues of Countdown, and will join somewhere around the fifth or sixth issue, or eighth or ninth. Fine, right?

So how does IGN’s new column Countdown Nation have Giffen layouts from the third issue, issue #49?