An interesting twist in the Barnes & Noble/DC/Amazon kerfuffle: 2000AD/Rebellion has stepped in to fill Barnes & Noble’s empty shelves with a new deal that’ll see the line get what is probably its broadest US release to date:

A major part of the deal involves 2000 AD’s extensive library of Alan Moore-written comics. Having published some of Moore’s earliest material for decades, the British company has struggled to find a firm foothold in the giant US publishing business. DC’s loss is 2000 AD’s gain, however, as orders of titles like “The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks” and “Tharg’s Terror Tales” have been increased by B&N in significant quantities in an effort to fill the hole left in the chain’s stock by the DC Comics purge.

This is great news for 2000AD/Rebellion, although I wonder what will happen if/when the bookseller decides to add the DC titles back to its stores. But as someone who grew up reading 2000AD, and who’s been disappointed by the lack of penetration the title has made in the US to date, this seems like a great opportunity; now I hope there’s going to be enough promotion to ensure that potential readers know what these books actually are.

You’re familiar with J’onn J’onzz of Mars but do you know John Carter? The trailer from Disney’s epic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom series has made it’s way to the internet.

The film stars Taylor Kitsch, formerly of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, in the lead role as well as several other superhero film alums: Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin), Thomas Hayden Church (Sandman) and Mark Strong (Sinestro). Previously referred to as John Carter of Mars (the way the character is often referred to in the book), the film is based on the first book from the Barsoom series, A Princess of Mars, first printed in 1912. Carter is an American Civil War vet, who turns out to be more than that, transported to Barsoom (Mars) which he finds inhabited by large green aliens (not unlike our J’onn).

Studios have attempted to make a John Carter film since 1931 when Looney Tunes director Bob Clampett asked Burroughs to make it into an animated film. It never took off and neither did any other attempt until now. Directed by Pixar’s WALL-E director Andrew Stanton, John Carter hits theaters March 9, 2012.

Once a week I sift through the millions of Etsy listings to find the best in geek chic for Blog@ readers. Last week I gave you a Grab Bag assortment of geeky items from the crafting website but this week is something closer to my heart – Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling’s über-successful book series has already come to a close but this week sees the final installment of the film franchise. And boy am I bringing tissues with me to the theater. Even though the end will be sad, Harry Potter will remain awesome in my eyes forever. Here is a special extended edition of Etsy Made Me Do It. Accio crafts!

One of the biggest parts of going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry is getting sorted into one of the four Houses. User TheTrendySparrow lets you choose for yourself! (Something Harry was able to do) Here is a Slytherin Keepsake Trinket box measuring 6 1/4″ x 3″ x 3 1/2″ with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff also available for $17 each. A larger Gryffindor box is also for sale for $27 or a Golden Snitch box for $22.

The crazy words Rowling created for her magical spells have become imbedded in my brain. Why not wear them? These Harry Potter Custom Word or Charm Necklace Silver or Gold are certainly one way to do it! User chloe24k will send you one of your choice for $24.

Although each House has their own crest, Hogwarts itself has one that combines all four. You can show your school pride with this Harry Potter Antiqued Looking Crest Wall Art Print. User pixturethis created a collage of 8.5″ x 11″ prints, 9 of them making a minimum size of 25.5″ x 33″ wall hanging overall. The collection comes framed, $45.

The films have spawned countless amounts of fan art through the years but some of my favorites have been fan-made posters. These Vintage Harry Potter Movie Poster Collection are some of the best I’ve seen. But then again, I’m a sucker for the minimalist approach. The posters are 11×17 and user balancedpersonality has a set of 7 for $90. He also has them each sold separately in his shop for $15.  (more…)

Even though Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit has been filming for some time now, two new roles have just been cast.

Earlier today, Deadline reported Immortals star Luke Evans would take on the important role of Bard the Bowman in the two-part film. “It seemed evident that the Welsh actor was going to win one of these roles that involve a competition between multiple young thesps,” writes Deadline, “He was a finalist to play the lead in Tony Gilroy’s The Bourne Legacy that went to Jeremy Renner [Newsarama note: odd coincidence of bowman here], and was a finalist for the role of Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, which went to Joel Edgerton.” Are you happy he landed this role instead?

Evans’ character Bard has a, shall I say, rocky relationship with the next character cast?

And just minutes ago, Deadline broke another bit of Hobbit casting news. This time for one of the most iconic roles, that of the great dragon Smaug. Fans have been wondering for some time who would land the coveted role, voiced by Richard Boone in the 1977 Rankin/Bass animated film.

The voice-acting and motion-capture role for The Hobbit has gone to none other than Benedict Cumberbatch. The actor has recently shot into wider popularity thanks to the BBC hit Sherlock, by Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat. “[Cumberbatch] is already on the picture, providing the voice of the character Necromancer,” says Deadline.

Are you as excited by this casting news as I am? I have to say, I’m particularly fond of Cumberbatch. If you haven’t seen Sherlock yet, I highly recommend it.

It’s just been anounced that Orlando Bloom will join the cast of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, taking on the role he stepped into for the Lord of the Rings trilogy – Legolas. There’s just one problem with that. Legolas wasn’t in The Hobbit.

“Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I’m excited to announce today that we’ll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more,” wrote Jackson via Facebook. ”I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that’s why he makes such a wonderful elf.”

For fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, this may come as a bit of a shock. Legolas’ father Thranduil, the Elvenking, appears in The Hobbit but not Legolas himself. But Bloom isn’t the only actor whose character doesn’t appear in the books that’s making an appearance in the movie. Elijah Wood is also reprising his role as Frodo Baggins, although it’s his cousin Bilbo who is the protagonist of this tale.

And, Legolas isn’t the only elf sneaking in The Hobbit film either, Cate Blachett’s Galadriel will also appear. Even though Legolas doesn’t appear in the book, some expect he’ll make his appearance in the Battle of the Five Armies fighting alongside his father.

What are your thoughts Hobbit fans? Is this blasphemy or is it ok that Jackson is helping to bring  in a larger audience by recasting these actors?

No doubt all you loyal Blog@ readers have lately been saying to yourselves, where’s Mike been with his untimely, semi-coherent reviews? My apologies for the absence – somehow the three non-comics that I’d requested from the library, despite all having seemingly different wait times until I’d get my copy to read, all came in within five days of one another (and right on the back of a brief comics break I’d taken to read another prose novel). I know, what are the odds? Murphy’s Law says pretty damn high.

So if you’re curious, E.L. Doctorow’s The March is quite good. Not quite essential, but worth your time if you come across it. Waylon Jennings and Lenny Kaye’s Waylon and Keith Richard’s Life are both enjoyable, despite a few awkward digressions and some later chapter rambling. Michael Lewis’s Moneyball (yeah, I’m late to the party, so what?!) is simply superb, even if you’re not a baseball fan. Though its snotty afterword didn’t really help its case.

So, anyway, I’m back to comics. Let’s get to it:

Modern Masters v. 25: Jeff Smith
Edited by Eric Nolen-Weathington
Published by TwoMorrows

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Most kids would be apprehensive about moving to upstate New York, but Victoria Thompson is at home with the weird, the different — and isn’t even afraid to make friends with creatures of the night. What sets apart the heroine of Matthew Dow Smith’s (Doctor Who, Witchblade) new Kickstarter novel, NIGHT FOLK, is that she’s all about the spooky and unusual.

Which suits Smith’s work just fine. Known for his moody, almost geometric artwork, Smith is shifting gears with this dark fantasy prose project, adding a comic book flair to each chapter with striking illustrations. Who are the Night Folk, and how does the spooky-savvy Victoria deal with them? With just seven days to go on Smith’s Kickstarter project, we caught up with the writer to tell us more about his work.

Newsarama: Matt, just to start off with, can you tell us a little bit about the premise of NIGHT FOLK, as well as touching upon the tone of your novel a bit?

Matthew Dow Smith: NIGHT FOLK is the story of Victoria, a young girl who’s always felt like an outsider. She doesn’t have many friends her own age, but she’s more than happy to spend all her time in her room, reading or drawing monsters in her notebooks. She’s always been drawn to the dark and unusual – scary stories, old Horror movies, that sort of thing – and one night, while she’s drawing the spooky tree next door, she sees something in one of the branches. When she sneaks out to investigate, she finds herself drawn into the world of the Night Folk, a race of strange creatures who inspired all our myths of monsters and ghouls.

It’s a fantasy story with a magical kingdom, strange monsters, and a lost little girl, but it’s all filtered through my sensibilities, so there are lots of shadows, mysterious strangers, and random glowing stuff, all the things I love to write about and draw.

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It Came From the NYPL

King: King of Comics
Written by Mark Evanier
Published by Abrams

Jack Kirby is, of course, the most important and influential artist in comic book history. He, along with a few contemporaries, created the visual language of the comic book page; the sheer volume of his pages boggles any imagination; and he’s created, co-created, or radically reimagined about two-thirds of the commercially viable characters (even Superman’s carried the influence of those Jimmy Olsen stories for a long, long while) to appear in superhero comics over the past forty years.

So clearly, the world really needs a proper biography of the life of a man who did more for comic books than anybody else. Fortunately, Mark Evanier is available for the job. Kirby: King of Comics, which I recently borrowed from the New York Public Library, does a wonderful job introducing readers to Jack Kirby, the man. We’ve known his work, but most of us have never had the opportunity to meet the person.

Evanier’s biography is a loving effort, with the author’s affection for Jack apparent on every single page. Insight into Kirby’s work ethic, motivated by his need to provide for his family, comes through clearly, as does Kirby’s enthusiasm for telling stories and the comic book medium. When it comes to Kirby’s battles for recognition – monetary and public – Evanier takes the high road, avoiding most blame. Martin Goodman, Jack Schiff and the money people are the clear villains of Kirby’s life. Many of the industry-based anecdotes have been heard before, but the book is largely about Jack as a man, how he struggles on, always bringing home that paycheck for his family.

An oversized hardcover, King: King of Comics provides readers with hundreds of pages of artwork and illustrations. The book’s dimensions showcase the drawings beautifully, allowing the detail and power to really come across. It’s a very attractive book, complementing Evanier’s affectionate tribute.

Kirby: King of Comics isn’t quite essential – it’s too reverent, but it’s a loving tribute to the most important creator in comics history. Mark Evanier’s done a fine job illuminating the man behind the creations, providing readers with a book well worth owning, or at least worth a visit to your local library.

Roger Hargreaves’ beloved children’s book series Mr. Men is being adapted into an animated feature by Fox.

Almost every kid I knew had one of these (if not more) books lying around the house. You remember, Mr. Tickle, Mr. Nosey, Little Miss Sunshine, etc. Well according to the Hollywood Reporter, producer Shawn Levy is joining Twentieth Century Fox Animation to bring us an animated adaptation of the British author’s works.

Levy, who is best known for directing and producing Night at the Museum and its subsequent sequel, does not have a director or writer attached to the project as of yet.

This isn’t the first time the Mr. Men have been animated, this will actually be the fifth adaptation, although the previous efforts have been for television. The first was produced in 1975 by Flicks Films and broadcast by the BBC, the second, in 1983 and also by Flicks Films, featured the Little Miss characters. In 1995 came Mr. Men and Little Miss which was aired in the US as well as the US. And finally, the Cartoon Network got a hold of the franchise in 2006 and created The Mr. Men Show with Renegade Animation.

Hargreaves wrote 48 Mr. Men books and 42 Little Miss books until his son Adam Hargreaves took over after his death in 1988. Since their inception in 1971, they’ve become a pop-culture phenomena and a standard in children’s books. Throughout the years artists have created their own Mr. Men in an homage to the creator and series. Last year someone even did a huge series of superhero characters in the Mr. and Miss likeness.

It Came From the NYPL

The Extraordinary Works of Alan Moore
Interview conducted by George Khoury
Published by TwoMorrows

When this book came out, slightly over seven years ago now (how time flies, I thought it was maybe two years ago!), it intrigued me, but didn’t strike me as something I wanted to keep on my bookshelf for eternity. I finally got around to borrowing it from the library, and it’s a perfect library book. Enjoyable, but unnecessary.

For the occasion of Alan Moore’s fiftieth birthday in 2003, Khoury conducted a book-length interview with the celebrated author, touching on nearly every aspect of his career. Rounding out the book are birthday tributes from Moore’s famed comic book collaborators, and introduction and an afterword written by his two daughters, a detailed bibliography of Alan’s published works.

The interview is engaging and insightful, with plenty of material that has been covered in other places, but many nuggets that I’d not encountered before. Remembrances of his childhood, family photos and other early-life details round out the picture of Alan as a person, and tie in, in surprising ways, to the themes and subjects his writing would explore over the rest of his life (to date). All his major comic book series are touched on, as are Alan’s conflicts with the mainstream comics industry. Through it all, Alan’s love of comics and storytelling shines through, as does his belief in the form’s continued artistic possibilities. In short, The Extraordinary Works of Alan Moore works as a fine tribute to one of – perhaps the – most influential comics creator, while granting fans an insightful peek behind the curtain of a creative and highly individualistic author.

Backing Into Forward
Written by Jules Feiffer
Published by Doubleday

Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer’s memoir is not a cartoon.  There’s not much else wrong with it, however.

Although the narrative focuses primarily on his professional life, Rhoda Feiffer, Jules’ mother, shaped much of his career and personal life – by virtue of her overbearing, uncompromising manner. Most of us have, directly or indirectly, a Rhoda Feiffer, and will relate to the comical pressures on young Jules. Feiffer shares many hilarious anecdotes of writing theatre, fighting for pay at the Village Voice, and learning to cartoon on Uncle Sam’s dime. Although he rambles on in a few places, most of the tales remain to-the-point, keeping the reader focused on the tale at hand.

Feiffer drops many  names, which is the province of a memoir if you have names to drop.  The book’s core centers on his career as a cartoonist and writer, but his creativity is constantly influenced by issues in his personal life, so Feiffer is compelled to share tidbits about his children (particularly when he gets into his work in children’s books – oh, the drama of one child having a book about her and not another!) and marriages from time to time.  All told, it’s an engagingly written, very humorous look at the life of one of our most important cartoonists, a man who seemed to find many opportunities accidentally, yet always possessed the wit and creativity to take advantage of those open doors.

Tis the season.

Over on Ron Marz’s blog, he mentions that he usually gives to Toys For Tots every year. This year, he’s doing something a bit different. He is selling copies of Top Cow’s latest hit, Artifacts #1, signing, and if you want personalized, and every cent will go to Toys For Tots. Each issue with be $13: $10 for the comic and $3 for shipping. If you want more copies, the price of the comic stays the same, but the shipping goes up $1, ie, 1 is $13, 2 is $24, 3 is $35 and so forth.

Marz gave a few words to Blog@ about his feelings towards charities such as these and why he’s doing something like this. “I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I do for a living. So this is a way I can take what I do and benefit others in some small way, thanks to the generosity of the fans. I think the vast majority of comics fans are a giving, loyal bunch. This is just more proof of that. The response has been great thus far, so I hope it keeps up and we can put toys in the hands of as many kids as possible.”

Marz also mentions that the easiest way to pay is through paypal, which can be paid at: kmarz@nycap.rr.com.

Publisher Quirk Books’ new DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book offers two different reading experiences, to potentially two different audiences.

Firstly and foremost, it’s exactly what its title indicates, a “poster book.” It’s 14 inches high, 11 wide and, as the cover says in font nearly as bit as the title, it “includes 100 ready-to-frame covers,” the edges perforated to easily tear the over-sized reproductions of the covers out to sticky-tape to your dorm room or frame and hang in your library (or the room you keep all your long boxes in; whatever).

As a comics critic and blogger as well as a comics reader, I suppose I’m a little bit more engaged with DC Comics covers than some potential consumers of this book, but even still, I was somewhat surprised by how many images from the book I was already quite familiar with, either from reading the books, reading about the books, or just seeing a blogger posting a funny image of a gorilla cover or Batman doing something goofy in order to make fun of it.

It does speak to the original power of many of the images included, and the pervasiveness of their influence—either because of the overall quality of the image itself, and/or to the association with the contents of the story lurking under it. Think Superman lifting a car over his head while that guy in the lower left-hand corner freaks out, or Batman flexing like a body builder while jumping in front of a lightning bolt, or The Joker with a camera, instructing the reader to “smile,” or Superman crying and cradling the body of Supergirl while the rest of the DC Universe assembles in the background like wallpaper.
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Who Will Comfort Toffle?
Written & Illustrated by Tove Jansson
English script by Sophie Hannah
Published by Drawn & Quarterly

Tove Jansson’s second Moomin picture book gets a new English translation courtesy of Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly and English scripter/poet/writer Sophie Hannah.  Like the Moomin comic strips and Jansson’s first children’s book, The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My, Who Will Comfort Toffle? brims with whimsy and wonder.

Lonely Toffle journeys through Moomin Valley, encountering the denizens of Jansson’s imaginative world.  Every person she encounters, in addition to partaking in imaginative flights of fancy, has someone to share the moment with, yet Toffle remains alone, in search of a companion.  It’s a direct and clear message for kids, that we all feel lonely and that we’re the only person without somebody, but of course, it all works out when you meet the right person.  And you may have to persevere to meet that person, but doing so is worth the effort.

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Fire and Water: Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariner and the Birth of Marvel Comics
Written by Blake Bell
Published by Fantagraphics

Blake Bell chronicles the life of cartoonist Bill Everett, most famous to most current comics readers as the creator of Marvel Comics’ Namor, the Sub-Mariner and Daredevil, the Man without Fear, in his latest book, Fire and Water: Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariner and the Birth of Marvel Comics.  An effective biography and a great showcase of classic comics artwork, Bell’s book provides an intriguing look into the life of a man who played an important role in the shaping of the creative side of the comics industry.

Although it weighs in at over 200 pages, Fire and Water does not provide a detailed biography.  As the figures behind the comics were not recognized during much of Everett’s career, interviews with the cartoonist are not plentiful.  As such, Bell relies on accounts from Everett’s family and colleagues to fill in the blanks and trace the young man’s introduction to the comics business and evolution across forty-odd years as an illustrator.  Accounts of Everett’s non-comics jobs and alcoholism are plentiful, as are tributes to his talent and lamentations to his many wasted opportunities.

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Bob Fingerman is known for telling a good story and a solid sense of humor. He made his first big splash with his “Minimum Wage” comics, circa 1995. Since then, Fingerman has evolved into a mature creator of graphic and prose novels. “From The Ashes” is his current trade collection of his “speculative memoir” comic set in a post-apocalyptic New York City. Among other things, there’s a fair share of political humor to be found in this book. Let’s take a closer look and also see what Bob has to say about that fateful visit by Captain America to a certain tea party. In the bargain, we’ll also learn something about political humor as well.

Blog@Newsarama: There’s a lot going on in “From The Ashes,” including slice-of-life, horror, sci fi and political humor, and through it all there seems to be a message for tolerance. How would you speak to there being a message in your book?

Bob Fingerman: I’m never sure if it’s good to have a message or let people figure out what they want the message to be. It’s certainly more of a book about being an individual. If anything, the message is that belonging to a group mindset is never healthy or productive. It’s all about holding on to your individuality. The characters in the book that triumph in the end are the ones that stay true to themselves instead of bowing to a bigger mindset.

Blog@: Would you talk to us about your villain, Bill O’Reilly or, in the book, Rile O’Biley?

BF: If it was up to me, it would have just been Bill O’Reilly but the lawyers for my publisher, IDW, didn’t think so. As far as I’m concerned, it would have been protected since it’s satire and he’s a public figure. I don’t think there would have been any fear of any legal action on his part and, frankly, it there was, that would have been some free publicity.

He, to me, is an interesting figure. I find him loathsome but I also find him fascinating. It’s partly because he’s not a lunatic like Glenn Beck. I look at someone like Beck and I see him as an idiot who just appeals to the Tea Party people, those who don’t use their brains. But O’Reilly is not a stupid guy. I don’t agree with him but he’s that broken clock that’s right two times a day. On occasion, with a certain amount of nausea, I’ll agree with him. There’s this quality to Bill O’Reilly even though I think he’s a bully and a liar.

I needed somebody who could play a figurehead to a new movement. He had to be someone who I found aberrant but he’d also have to be seductive to more than the lunatic fringe. He’s offering people in this post-apocalypse wasteland, regular meals, a comfortable bed, and all it comes with is a price tag of kowtowing to a new breeding initiative. Again, there’s that sacrificing of one’s individuality to go along and, in this case, what he’s offering would be hard to pass up. I needed someone who was both a snake oil salesman and a trusted face.

Blog@: Yeah, I think Rile O’Biley will hold up. This character has a timeless quality.

BF: I hope so. Obviously, he’s a topical figure. Believe me, I did something I never thought I’d do and that was pray that Bill O’Reilly didn’t die. I didn’t want to be the guy that was satirizing a dead man. I was wishing him nothing but good health while I was working on this book and for the foreseeable future. I hope I made the character broad enough so that it won’t date on the shelf immediately. I mean, there will always be someone out there like him although I think he is kind of unique.

Blog@: Did you ever consider Rush Limbaugh?

BF: Well, I wanted someone in New York since the story is set in New York and Fox News is headquartered there. O’Reilly was always the one that I felt in my gut was the right choice. I did consider other Fox News people and nobody compared to him. Beck was still new when I was putting this togehter although I could see that he was going to be a star. But, like I say, he’s too much of lunatic fringe guy and doesn’t have any gravitas at all. But O’Reilly does.

Blog@: Sure, O’Reilly does have that show biz professionalism.

BF: Yeah, he knows how to keep it moving. Hannity is just a whiny little bitch, he’s unpleasant, no charisma. For better or worse, O’Reilly has charisma.

Blog@: In your end notes, you regret not having had a chance to include Glenn Beck.

BF: Yeah, that’s why I threw that drawing in. (laughs)

Blog@: I was reading in The New York Times a piece about the Tea Party people and it mentioned that Glenn Beck is something of a leader to them. He says what they want to hear so maybe he’s a little smarter than we may think. This whole revolution stuff he talks about, I thought that was all gobbledygook in the way that “Saturday Night Live” satirizes him but he’s really speaking directly to them.

BF: It’s not gobbledygook but it’s also terribly misinformed. Maybe it’s too hyperbolic to call him an idiot. I’ll walk back from that a bit but not too much. I don’t know if that’s apt for Beck since he’s too dangerous in a way to brush off with an epithet. He thinks about what he’s saying but when you break down his thoughts, it’s so much bullshit. And it’s so much wrong information and I don’t know how much of it is conscious on his part. He strikes me as someone who, for better or worse, is sincere. I don’t think he’s playing a part.

I’ve been following Beck for awhile now. I wrote several emails to CNN saying that, if they wanted to hold on to their legitimacy, they couldn’t have him doing newscasts. He’s a horrible guy. I think he’s a racist. Unfortunately, I think Glenn Beck is an important figure and will remain so.

I didn’t want this book to be overly topical and I wanted to be careful about including non-New Yorkers. For instance, when I include that God-Hates-Fags group, the Westboro Baptist Church, it works because they’ve made a pilgrimage. I could work them into the story in a way that was narratively cohesive. You know, the fact that they’d come up to New York and gloat over all the bodies of all the dead fags, all the people that they hate. But to include Sarah Palin makes it too topical and polemical. Ultimately, I wanted to have fun with some people that I find objectionable. I wanted to do something that was entertainment. Something that doesn’t feel like I have an axe to grind because that’s boring.

Blog@: That loses it’s steam really fast. It makes me think of that new book coming out, “Repuglicans.” That comes across as too obvious.

BF: I don’t know that I’d buy it but I’d certainly take a look at it. For me, anything that’s one note is boring. “From The Ashes” hopefully has elements of social commentary but I didn’t want it to be preachy. I did preachy once. It was called, “White Like She” and it’s the one book of mine that I really can’t stand. I got up on my soapbox several times through the mouths of my characters. And I just think now, Jesus, just get off it. I guess I was trying to make a statement but it ultimately did not serve the piece.

Blog@: You learn from your youthful excess.

BF: I don’t want to soften up either. As some artists get older, they soften up. I’d like to think I have some even more biting satire in me than I’m doing now. You figure out what works. It’s like a cigarette. It’s the delivery system for the nicotine. I gotta figure out how hopefully each of my books will be a delivery system to get out some kind of world view without it feeling like I’m cramming it down someone’s throat.

Blog@: This may seem late in coming to talk about, the whole Captain America/Tea Party thing, but it says a lot about what’s going on or at least seems to be going on right now. I would say, in a nutshell, the Tea Party is a fabrication. It’s made up of outraged people but then you look at what’s pushing it along and it’s lobbyists like Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks.

BF: It’s a very inorganic movement that being window dressed as being completely grass roots. So much of it is funded by, or the propaganda that fuels them comes from, special interests with deep pockets. And, not the least of which being Fox News. They’re not reporting the news. They’re creating the news. How often have we seen their so-called reporters drumming up the crowds. The anchors are creating the movement. It’s just propaganda.

It’s a very unthinking movement. It’s a herd mentality. It’s angry frustrated, by and large, disenfranchised feeling white people who can’t stand having a black man in the White House. You don’t see any substance to what they’re saying. They don’t even know what the original Boston Tea Party was in protest of. If you break it down to a taxation without representation thing, you need to say to these fuckers, you guys are paying your taxes but you have representation. You’re really misappropriating a moment in history because, I don’t know, you have a tricorner hat fetish.

Blog@: It all sounds totally bogus. I started to notice them when they started to protest healthcare legislation and that made sense that they were pawns to special interests that wanted to obstruct healthcare legislation.

BF: And they always bring up the Wall Street bail out. That’s a major component of what they say and, in all fairness, I don’t disagree that the bail out is deeply flawed, to put it kindly, but they don’t have much of a grasp on what’s going on. When they’re screaming, “I want my country back,” they never articulate what that means and I think that part of what that means is that they want a white man in the White House again, something that they understand.

Blog@: They can only handle, or want to handle, little bits of information.

BF: They’ve got a real goldfish mentality. Their memories are easily erased and rejiggered. At this point, they’re blaming everything on Obama. It’s like they’ve forgotten eight years of Bush policies that have put us in the position that we’re in, particularly economically. They always scream about their rights being taken away. What rights have been taken away from anyone? None. It’s all just stuff that they’re regurgitating.

At a certain point, though, it gets wearisome. Here is where I get weary of both sides, left and right. At least the left has the legitimacy of having some real central beliefs. And the right is just reactionary. I don’t want to hear anyone screaming and yelling anymore. But that’s me being selfish.

Blog@: I wanted to bring out that quote from Mark Waid. He said that he was humiliated and mortified to see Fox News able to bully Marvel into apologizing to lunatics.

BF: That’s from a Twitter, isn’t it?

Blog@: Yes, it is.

BF: I totally agree with that. Marvel is a complete pussy for doing that. I don’t know why they felt the need. They could have easily said that the story is not finished yet so why not wait until it’s done and this is America and we have freedom of speech.

Blog@: What is anyone afraid of? This Tea Party thing is a fringe element and does not speak for most Americans.

BF: I think that the teabag people are to America what Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are out in the world. They’re much smaller groups than the media would have you believe. Al-Qaeda, at any given time, is never more than a couple of hundred members but you’d think that they were in the millions and that’s not too diminish how dangerous they could be but, at the same time, the media exists to inflate things. For instance, for one of these teabag rallies, Fox portrayed it as if it were a million people. It turned out to be more like 10 or 20 thousand. That’s not insignificant but that’s not a million. But they shout loud and they can certainly fill a frame.

Blog@: One other thing connected to politics is from your publisher, IDW, and one of its current comic book titles, “Weekly World News.” IDW’s editor and publisher, Chris Ryall, is writing it and he really makes sure it’s sharp. All the characters come to life in the comic, particularly Bat Boy and Ed Anger.

BF: Yeah,  I used to subscribe to Weekly World News just because I enjoyed Ed Anger’s column.

Blog@: This comic is really funny, more than anything. It sets a good standard for that kind of humor where you don’t push too hard or, if you do push, it’s done with style.

BF: I’ll check it out.

Blog@: What general advice would you give up and coming cartoonists?

BF: Don’t do what I did! I managed to put stuff out but I haven’t reached the readership I’d like.

Blog@: What stands out for you in the early days?

BF: Misery. (laughs) Working for Cracked and porn magazines is a way to pay the bills but not a way to look at yourself in the mirror with any dignity.  Those were rough days. In my down time, I was doing really reprehensible underground comics stuff. When you’re working all day for Cracked magazine under restrictions of what you can do in a kid magazine, back in those days, when I was flying my own freak flag, I would turn to just drawing hideous stuff.

Blog@: Well, you built up your chops.

BF: That’s the thing. The only regret I have is not having used a pseudonym for the work I did for those men’s magazines. I had this very cocky attitude that I wasn’t ashamed of it. Whatever. It’s all a matter of building one’s chops, meeting deadlines. And for Cracked, it helped hone my caricature skills. It all had its place. I’m just glad it’s not still my place.

Blog@: I was looking at your blog and I saw some beautiful work up there under the title, “The Hell Of It.” Is that for an upcoming graphic novel?

BF: It’s a story set in hell and it could end up a graphic novel or a prose novel. My next book is a prose novel, “Pariah,” coming out by Tor, a major publisher, and I’m excited about that.  As for “The Hell Of It,” the story is malleable enough that, as a graphic novel, it would skew towards being more humorous and, as a prose novel, it would be more serious.

Blog@: You’re in an elite group of people that draw and write. What made you make the leap to focus on prose?

BF: I always wanted to do it and then I saw a friend get published and that made me think I could do it. Also, some of it came from a dissatisfaction with working in comics. I’ve always liked playing with words and language. There is only so much you can do in comics. I’ve always had fun writing the dialogue. But writing prose is such a different experience. It’s something I just enjoy doing. Hopefully, I can reach a larger audience with prose. I just haven’t reached that big an audience with my comics. Some of that has to do with the infrastructure of how comics are distributed. A lot of it comes from a lack of support in terms of marketing. And there’s the fact that I do stuff that is a little nichey. So, there’s a way to reach a whole new audience through prose that I’m not reaching through comics.

Blog@: What can you tell us about your upcoming prose novel, “Pariah”? Is there anything we should anticipate about it?

BF: It’s a bit more serious than other stuff I’ve done. But it’s interesting that in the Tor catalog, they call it “darkly comedic.” I mentioned this to my editor and he said that it might be more serious than anything I’ve ever done but it’s still funnier than most horror novels would be. My characters and dialogue are more snappier. I think what I do will always have some kind of humor.

The one thing I can tell you that’s comics related is that it’s sort of, unofficially, a sequel to a zombie comic that I wrote a number of years ago that Tommy Lee Edwards did the art for. It was for Dark Horse’s “Zombie World.” I did an arc for them called, “Winter’s Dregs” which was collected into a trade paperback a few years ago.  “Pariah” was going to be a graphic novel but the “Zombie World” series got cancelled. In a way, that was for the best since I got to write something that was more adult instead of something more PG-13. I got to go more in depth writing it as a novel than I would have been able to in a 96 page arc. And it does have one carry-over character from the Dark Horse run. I don’t know if there’s ever been something that started as a comic and then continued in a novel. So, for any fans of “Winter’s Dregs,” they should enjoy “Pariah” as a more mature follow-up on what I was laying down in that.

Blog@: It sounds good. I look forward to it. Well, we’ll end it there. Thanks so much.

BF: It was a pleasure talking with you.

“From The Ashes” is published by IDW Publishing, is a trade paperback of 175 pages and sells for $19.99. Keep up with Bob at his blog, Bob Fingerman’s Art Blog Thinger.

Since 1997, Lark Pien has built up a reputation within the small press comics community and has now made the jump to her first children’s book based on her most popular character, Long Tail Kitty. Having studied architecture and pursued work in the architectural industry, Pien gradually made the transition over to comics and becoming a full-time artist. With a number of projects in the works, this is a good time to check in on her.

Blog@Newsarama: Tell us about Long Tail Kitty, the character. How far back does it go and is it a guiding force in your comics?

Lark Pien: Long Tail Kitty – Heaven was a story for my rabbit who died while i was traveling abroad in 1999-2000. LTK was almost a side character but he was well-received, and I met many people in comics after this story.

I don’t think Long Tail Kitty is a guiding force, but he’s been fun to draw, and his easy way helps me not to be so serious all the time.

Blog@: You loved comics as a kid, you became an architectural designer and then you returned to comics. What was it like starting out in comics?

LP: It was very humble and private, but I met many cartoonists early on. They were supportive and gave advice freely. Sometimes I would get a postcard in the mail from a cartoonist. My little world became a little bit bigger that way.

There weren’t many girl cartoonists. I remember meeting Andrice Arp at an Alternative Press Expo. I bought her comic and she gave me a sticker of a giant angry duck and I got it in my head that I wanted us to be friends. This wasn’t grade school but it might as well have been! Somehow it happened, we became good friends.

Blog@: Please describe for us your working methods. How do you develop your work?

LP: I write and draw in my sketchbook. I’ll draw even when I don’t have ideas. Most times I know the beginning and the end of a story, but not the middle.

I have to really work to make the beginning and the ending meet. It’s good if i can build a structure to support my story, then let it take the shape that it wants to be.

A lot of people ask about creating characters, how I come up with them. Usually I’m thinking about what the character is doing or where it is in the world, and the story comes from that. The personality and how the character looks develops along the way, and usually reveals itself later on in the process for me.

Blog@: Can you share with us how you’ve managed to turn your comics and art into a career?

LP: This is a very hard question! I’m not sure i can answer it correctly. Do we talk about money? My view on money is general rather than specific. I tend to overlook trend type offers due to a muted interest in the short term.  I group projects by seasons (commissions for example, are winter/spring; conventions are summer/fall). I like to think ahead, but not plan a whole lot.

I think about political/cultural landscapes changing – and what will i be like when i’m seventy, ninety? Also there are all sorts of inventions I hope to see before I die. This is unprofessional to say, but I think my career is a semblance of self-certitude and the possibilities in the world surrounding.

Blog@: What would you like to tell us about your new children’s book, Long Tail Kitty?

LP: My publisher, Blue Apple Books, has been very generous! BAB has given me a lot of freedom in writing the stories I wanted to tell and drawing the art the way I wanted to do it. They made the book design very special (embossed die-cut cover, cloth binding, an activities foldout page, and a draw LTK bonus section!), and to see the artwork in full-color is a treat (my minis are usually in b/w). though catagorized for younger audiences the new stories in this book retain the qualities that are in my mini comics, so i hope older readers give it a chance too!

Blog@: Can you tell us something about your role as a colorist for Gene Yang’s American Born Chinese?

LP: Chinkee was a challenge to color – he was in a different style (more cartoony) than the rest of the characters, but still placed in a real setting. How yellow is too yellow? He’s supposed to be too yellow. It was hard to make those kinds of decisions. Sometimes I wanted Gene to say “Whoa! Change that color!” but he was very easy-going.

Blog@: Are there any comics that you follow? Or can you tell us about some of your favorite comics?

LP: I like Hicksville (Dylan Horrocks), Black and White (Matsumoto Taiyo) and Notes For A War Story (Gipi). They are my favorites.

Black and White I first read in the 90′s, when VIZ was in SoMA. I was given an oversized  two-volume set – which I foolishly lent out and never got back (see these glittering tears? Falling like rain.) It’s out of print now, that edition, but I’ve another reading set which I don’t mind lending out still.

I just read a ton of Vagabond (Takehiko Inoue) and cartoonists who I’ve recently stalked online are Lille Carré, Eleanor Davis, Laura Park and Anke Feuchtenberger. Girls win this round!

Blog@:  Any upcoming projects that you’d like to tell us about or any thoughts on what lies ahead for you?

LP: I just finished the artwork for Mr. Elephanter – a children’s book with Candlewick Press, based on my mini-comic, Brave Mr. Elephanter (2007). The graphic novel project, Stories from the Ward, is with First Second, but completion won’t be for a little while yet. FS has been very patient and supportive. There are two other comic projects with publishers, but we haven’t set a release date yet. Artwise, I’ve been developing a new series of abstracts. I’d like to squeeze in a collaborative project and/or installation project sometime this year. That’d be fun.

Keep up with Lark Pien at her blog and check out more of her work here. Long Tail Kitty is published by Blue Apple Books.

In America, now suffering for its excess with the Great Recession, you never know who might look down upon you if you don’t own a house, or a car, or the latest gadget. Western society tends to have a problem with identity and status and capitalism and commercialism are always there to provide a quick fix. Maybe these times are converting more people to cherish a more simple life and appreciate what they already have. That back-to-basics lifestyle is what is at the core of what is one of the most significant do-it-yourself enterprises out there, a self-published zine called, “King-Cat Comics & Stories” by John Porcellino who has grown into a significant artist in his own right.

The current issue of “King-Cat Comics & Stories” marks the 20th anniversary of the little zine that has influenced a generation in comics and much more. John Porcellino’s last visit with Newsarama was a few months ago. With the current leg of his book tour completed, here’s a chance to catch up a bit more with the man called the heart and soul of the small press. Here is further insight into his latest collected work, “Map of My Heart” and “Thoreau at Walden.”

Blog@Newsarama: “Map of My Heart” covers six years, 1996 thru 2002, in your life and “King-Cat.” At the start of this period, you were just beginning to study Zen Buddhism. How would you describe that journey and how it has influenced your comics?

John Porcellino: I always say that when I first discovered Zen, it was like finding an old pair of shoes in your closet, that you’d forgotten you had.  You put them on and they’re worn-in and comfortable.

Zen practice is the practice of everyday life, so eventually it connects to all aspects of your life.  In that way, for me, it connected to comics.  Comics became part of my practice.

In a way, meditation probably helped me to slow down a bit and have the patience to really look into small moments, which was something I was always interested in doing with my comics.

Blog@: You make such wonderful observations about nature. And, often, it’s about little creatures that must coexist with us humans and our suburban sprawl. You find the poetry in that. Tell us more about this.

JP: In one of his writings, Thoreau talked about appreciating more the natural environment in which humans have made an impact.  I feel the same way.  Pure wilderness is amazing, but I was always more attracted to the pastoral, where the fingerprint of human activity is on the land, but it’s not obtrusive, it’s a part of the environment.  So I’ve been interested in the way Nature adapts to humans and vice versa.

I think it’s beautiful, and inspiring, that humans are so self-centered, stomping around blindly on the planet, yet Nature rolls on all around us.

Blog@: I love all your top forty lists. Among movies, I see that the Marx Brothers are all-time favorites. Those guys loved to perform and loved people. What do you think of Charlie Chaplin? I think he shares a quality you have of wanting to give back.

JP: I’ve only seen two Chaplin films, “The Gold Rush”– while in high school, and “Modern Times,” last week…  so I don’t feel knowledgable enough to comment on Chaplin.  As far as giving back, yes, I feel like part of a community, and that we’re all here for each other.

Blog@: What can you tell us about your influences in your work? I’m guessing that James Thurber is one of them.

JP: I’ve read Thurber for years, and I definitely love his work, but I wouldn’t call him an influence.  If he was it was very subconscious.  My main influences I would say were Matt Groening, Lynda Barry, the Chicago Imagists, Kerouac, Thoreau, John Rooney (college painting teacher), Warhol, punk rock, Jenny Zervakis, Jeff Zenick, and various Buddhist poets and writers.

Blog@: “King-Cat” began in 1989 and is unique in having developed this world-wide grass roots following. Can you speak to that?

JP: I don’t know what to say about that.  I appreciate it…  it’s humbling, and motivating.

Blog@: Please tell us about a project I am sure is dear to you, “Thoreau at Walden.” I see that you visited Walden. That cabin is pretty small!

JP: One day Jame Sturm emailed me and asked if I would be interested in doing a book on Thoreau…  as soon as he mentioned it, I thought “Wow–  what a perfect idea!”  Thoreau has been a huge influence on me, perhaps the biggest influence on me as an artist, and it was a real honor to work with his writings in that way.

While on tour I finally got to go to Walden Pond.  It was a clear, cold morning at the beginning of October, so there were very few people around.  It was a joy to walk on those paths.  It felt like American holy ground.

Blog@: What would you like to tell us about your book tour? You’ve completed the East Coast leg and there’s still more to come, right? Any stories come to mind?

JP: I toured the Northeast and Midwest in September/October, and hope to make it out to the Southeast and West Coast next spring/summer.  The tour was great, but exhausting!  I got to see so many new places, and meet so many people, old friends and new.  It was inspiring.  My life isn’t very dramatic, so I don’t know how many interesting stories I have to tell.  It was fun learning how to sleep sitting up in a freezing cold car.

Blog@: Share with us a bit about your own reading of comics. What comics are you currently into? Any thoughts on DC, Marvel, whatever comes to mind.

JP: I’ve been reading mostly some of the great reprints that are coming out nowadays, Little Orphan Annie, Peanuts, Popeye, Walt and Skeezix.  I picked up about two boxes full of books and zines while on tour, so I’m set for a long time as far as reading goes.  Been learning a bit about the alternative Manga artists, and that’s pretty exciting, it’s a whole new world to explore.

Of contemporary cartoonists, I really love Kelly Froh and Max Clotfelter, Jason Martin, Gabrielle Bell, and all the other usual suspects.

As for DC and Marvel, this year I started reading a bunch of the Jack Kirby reprint series, and it’s no exagerration to say that they’ve totally changed my thinking about comics.  They kind of re-inspired me after a long period of self-doubt.  But I’m otherwise unfamiliar with anything those companies have put out since the mid-80′s.

Blog@: You’ve written about how suburban life can be comforting. Do you think that’s sort of a human’s natural habitat?

JP: No, I think suburban life is unnatural.  It’s comfortable in some ways, if you have a car, and don’t expect to have a community experience.  I spent my adolescence in the suburbs, so I have an affinity to them, and a nostalgic kind of longing for them, but in general I think they’re unhealthy and unsustainable.  I appreciate more cities and towns.  I suppose the most natural environment for humans would be a town large enough to have a cultural scene, but small enough to feel human scaled.  By that I would include city neighborhoods.  But there should be access to Nature.  I don’t know!

Blog@: I love the notes you include in the back of “Map of My Heart.” You provide the initial thoughts that led to some of your comics. In “Psalm,” I thought you stayed out of the house to let your cat, Maisie Kukoc, sleep but you say it was the stars that kept you outside, which makes perfect sense. Could you really hear the living ground?

JP: Yes.

Blog@: You’ve had your share of illness and, in the end, you say it has strengthened you. You speak about not fearing death but, at the same time, loving being alive. Would you say that is the theme to “King-Cat”?

JP: Yeah, in a way it is.  Maybe the theme to “King-Cat” is “This is your life, and it’s your job to live it.  No one else can do it for you.”  Find the sanctity in that.

Blog@: You started “King-Cat” as a youth full of dreams and you’ve kept on with it and seen it mature and prosper. Would you say that “King-Cat” is fullfilling your dreams?

JP: I wouldn’t really think of them as “dreams.”  I had something I wanted to pursue, and a way I wanted to pursue it.  To have been able to do that to the extent I have has been gratifying.

I always wanted to be an artist, I wanted to be able to communicate to people through my art.  At some point that became a reality, to one degree or another.  In that way it’s been successful.  It feels good to go on.

“Map of My Heart” is 360 pages and priced at $24.95

Vist the publisher of “Map of My Heart”, Drawn & Quarterly.

Keep up with John Porcellino at the King-Cat Web site.

Map of My Heart

By John Porcellino

Published by Drawn & Quarterly

It is the simple pleasures of life that John Porcellino celebrates in his beloved and influential zine, “King-Cat Comics & Stories.” Porcellino shares with us the most simple and basic pleasures which ultimately leads to sharing the joy of being alive. There is a life struggle too, and Porcellino shares his with you, his heart being broken, his illnesses, but he keeps coming back to the joie de vivre.

“Map of My Heart” is the latest collection of “King-Cat” and covers 1996 through 2002. These are the years that Generation X comes of age. And while a case can be made that John Porcellino is a voice for his generation, he is actually much more than that. He is himself. He’s what all of us from Generation X were suppose to be: authentic. It helps if you believe in something. John Porcellino finds inspiration in Zen Buddhism and it looks like it helps to inform and guide his comics. He often will draw something from his studies like his references to the Zen-Monk poet, Ryokan. He’ll also find inspiration from the Marx Brothers and the Beach Boys. Whatever it might be, he seems to know how to tap into the good stuff.

For example, “Psalm,” is a magical meditation on being in the moment. Porcellino goes out for a walk at night. He lets his cat, Maisie Kukoc, know he’s leaving. He wanders through the neighborhood. When he returns, he sees Kukoc through the window and she might be asleep. The stars inspire Porcellino to stay outside. On the porch, he can hear the living ground beneath his feet. He tunes in to the sounds of worms, “click, click, click.” And the sounds of bugs, “zha, zha, zha.” All is well and good.

Porcellino has a simple and direct drawing style that fits in so well with his clear-eyed vision. It is just one of those things, along with the letters from readers, his extended written narratives, the top forty lists, the research on bugs and animals, all of this you can’t fake. So, brother and sister, enjoy. You too will be moved by something in this book whether it is a discussion on football plays, pill bugs, root hogs or Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” suddenly tuned in on the car radio.

Something will get to you. Maybe it will be the comics essay, “Forgiveness,” which is about Porcellino as a boy from Chicago visiting his aunt down in Prairie City. He’s out of his element but is anchored by the family dog, Duchie, and a new gift, a slingshot. He promises he won’t get into trouble with the slingshot but how can he predict what may happen? Another intriguing comic is “Suburban Dreams,” which finds a man kneeling in front of a television. On the screen is the image of a beautiful woman who stares back at him and sort of sighs. He dreams. She dreams. They may find themselves together at least in a dream.

Among Porcellino’s many celebrations  of life is quite a list of movies, books, music and special moments. You’ll find Annie Dillard’s “The Writing Life,” Frank Sinatra’s “Ring a Ding Ding” and “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” Here’s one talking about my generation, #9 from Top Forty, Summer 2001:

“Our Band Could Be Your Life” by Michael Azerrad (Little Brown) Yes, it’s a book about Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, Replacements, etc. etc. In other words: my formative years! Worth it for the Minutemen chapter alone. Also: Butthole Surfers, Minor Threat, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, lots more. America’s last great blast of post/pre-corporate rock.

Those top forty lists are about the fun stuff, with a big nod to humanity and authenticity. It is stuff that inspires you to want to share with someone else for whatever reason is peculiar to your own private world view.

So, on one level, John Porcellino is saying he’s just another human being doing his best to live his life. He has his own life struggle, like we all do, and he has his assorted interests and passions, like we all do. He also happens to be someone who does something very special and makes it all look easy. However, much care has gone into it and is not easily emulated.  ”Map of My Heart,” the latest collection of “King-Cat,” from one of the nicest guys you’ll ever know.

Visit Drawn & Quarterly, the awesome publisher of “Map of My Heart,” and buy yourself a copy today.

They come from the shadows, striking silently…leaving behind only b-movies, Halloween costumes and tongue-in-cheek internet memes in their wake. They are the Ninja and as Ninja Assassin lurks in the mutiplex shadows, you might say the ninja is back…but some of us know they were always there. You just didn’t see them….y’know because they’re ninjas. Here’s a list of a few a noteworthy ninjas that might have stalked under your pop-culture radar. (more…)