Yes cats and kittens, the annual Small Press Expo is upon us once again. This year’s shindig promises one of the best in recent memory, with lots of stellar guests, fascinating panels and, of course, the comics.

I’ll be there Saturday, in one of my traditional black Capcom t-shirts. If you’re going, feel free to say hi and tell me how much you hate my posts. Until then, why not peruse this handy, helpful guide to what to see and buy: (more…)

• Ben Templesmith is working on a book about the Presidents of the United States … the actual presidents, not the 1990s novelty band of the same name. (My apologies to anyone who has “Lump” stuck in their head as a result of the previous sentence).

“A portrait each, plus some facts,” Templesmith says about the format of the book. “Especially about some of the lesser known ones. Damn some were sick/quirky/weird bastards.” Yep, those are our presidents, God bless’em.

• Tickets for the 2009 New York Comic Con are now available.

• Peter David has been banned from prisons. Which I guess sounds a lot better than it is.

• Dean Haspiel provided the cover art for novelist Tim Hall’s Full of It.

• You can read Paul Cornell’s entire short story “Catherine Drewe” here.

• Robert Kirkman vs. Brian Bendis, the video.

• And finally, Jeffrey Brown predicts the future.

Tucker Stone went to the Baltimore Comic Con and came back with the snark an unbiased perspective on the DC Nation panel:

Before they left the Final Crisis topic for Kryptonian waters, Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns was discussed, and although logic and sense long ago lost the battle with silly conceptual ideas as comic book storylines, it has still been hoped that the idea of a rainbow spectrum of Lantern corps is a joke. Not so! Because here come the Red Lanterns, and according to Johns, they are really hot to trot to ice Sinestro. (Red stands for rage!) There’s probably a reason why, maybe having to do with Sinestro laughing hysterically every time a new color of Lantern enters the room. “I’m a Blue Lantern. Stop laughing at me! I’m the embodiment of love. STOP LAUGHING.” When the subject of the Blue Lanterns came up again later, Johns mentioned that, while he and Peter Tomasi had discussed whether or not the concept of a love corps was “lame,” they had finally realized that “love can be scary as well.” Yes, it certainly can.

I’ve been told there’s more to come soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

Attending CAPE! last spring, I was fortunate to attend a panel of such luminary talents as Gail Simone and Mark Waid, among others. What was terrific about this panel in particular was that it was moderated. Once common at conventions, it seems to me that moderated panels are now a curiosity of a bygone age.

Perhaps I should define the term as I see it?

Moderated panel discussions are those in which talent from various publishers and titles are gathered together to speak on a particular subject. Sure, the Marvel guys sit down with the other Marvel guys for discussions, but what about a panel comprised of talent from all the publishers in attendance? For instance at CAPE!, the panel was on the topic of writing. Writers were on hand from DC, Marvel and BOOM!, all talking about the craft. That in itself was something.

The panel was moderated by author David Hopkins. Hopkins was the great thing about this panel, not because he revealed a great deal about his own experience. Rather, because as a writer, he was able to keep the discussion moving and refocus it when it stalled by calling on his own background. Hopkins ensured that every moment of that discussion was worthwhile.

From my perspective, panels are probably the cheapest things cons coordinate. Yet, they are becoming more and more scarce. Panels have largely devolved into press conferences. Sure, those are fun, but those are generally forums where you’re being spoken at. You’re receiving a presentation. A moderated panel is more of a discussion. Moderated panels build community by engaging the fans as something more than consumers.

Back in the day, you’d have a whole table full of comic writers chatting on such subjects as time travel in the medium, the future of comics and secret identities. One of my favorite moderators, Robert Aspirin, used to moderate some wild panels. Miss that guy.

And I miss moderated panels.

I mentioned last year how much I dig those Milestone comics from back in the ’90s. It was announced in San Diego this past summer that the Milestone characters would join the DC Universe. Great news.

At Baltimore Comic-Con this weekend, we learned that Static will soon make his first appearance in the DCU. His debut entry will be in Terror Titans #4. If I am reading the DC Comics site correctly, Static’s appearance in Terror Titans #4 should hit stands in January.

Making a wild guess based on the cover of the issue prior, it appears that Static may be facing off against Dreadbolt.

Before that happens, though, we get to see ICON and the Shadow Cabinet in the pages of Justice League of America #27, which lands in stores in November. Can. Not. Wait.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been excited about Justice League. With Milestone Media co-founder Dwayne McDuffie writing this one, I will be all over it. Added to the pull list.

Following up to yesterday’s article about Wizard World Texas, the Convention Report confirms the collaboration between WWTX and FearFest: “Two cons at the cost of one!”

While I’m sold on the idea, there’s a lot of concern that Wizard won’t be as aggressive in booking comic book talent for the show with FearFest rounding out the program. According to the Convention Blog, Wizard is “currently in talks with a bunch of great creators to get them to come out west.”

Earlier today, I caught a tweet from Richard at Zeus Comics stating that FearFest and Wizard World Texas would be hooking up in November.

Fascinated, intrigued even, I went on a hunt. Finding nothing on the Wizard site, I eventually turned up a forum post from Joe Yanarella, senior vice president of operations at Wizard Entertainment.

“Wizard World Texas is fortunate enough to host this year’s Texas FearFest, Texas’ premiere horror convention … It’ll essentially add an entire extra hall of themed pop culture activity to our current Texas convention at no extra cost for consumers. Think of it as two shows in one. And if fans respond positively, we may make this a staple of all our Wizard conventions …”

Initially, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. I like my WWTX pretty much the way it is. The only change I generally care for is usually stolen from me by my wife. But one thing I often complain about is that I want more at Wizard World. More guests, more stuff, more fun, more, more, MORE! So maybe this is good change?

Too much is always better than not enough, after all.

Okay, so I’ve decided this is a good thing.

Not everybody is sold on this idea, though. While some hailed this as a win-win, others on the forum responding to Joe’s announcement expressed concern about the appropriateness of the horror content for younger convention goers. WWTX is billed as a family-friendly event.

Wizard World Texas is Nov. 7-9 at the Arlington Convention Center.

The ninth annual Baltimore Comic-Con will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center.  The weekend will kick off Friday at Camden Yards as Jim Lee throws the first pitch before the Orioles-Blue Jays game, and then signs autographs.

Convention guests include Kyle Baker, Brian Michael Bendis, Dennis Calero, Howard Chaykin, Cliff Chiang, Frank Cho, Gene Colan, Amanda Conner, Darwyn Cooke, Guy Davis, Steve Dillon, Dean Haspiel, Adam Hughes, Geoff Johns, J.G. Jones, Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Jeff Lemire, David Petersen, Eric Powell, James Robinson, Tim Sale, Jim Shooter, Walter Simonson, Carla Speed McNeil and Mark Waid.

The Harvey Awards will be presented Saturday evening during a ceremony at the Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel.

The complete convention panel schedule, and another poster by Paul Conrad, can be found after the break.

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At the conclusion of Wizard World Texas last year, there was some discussion I overheard about whether or not WWTX would be returning to the Lone Star State. Talking to a vendor after the event, he informed me that they were already booked for 2008. 2009 was the big question.

The Texas event happens in November at the end of a looong con season. Really, much of the big news that gets announced happens around Comic-Con time. It’s hard to get guests there for that very reason. Neither Marvel nor Dark Horse came out in 2007, leaving DC and Top Cow to run away with it - and they did a marvelous job doing so.

Every vendor I spoke with had a huge weekend at WWTX in 2007.

Surfing around the Wizard World site today, I see that Texas is listed as “tentative” for 2009. One wonders if it’s the location that’s up in the air, or is it whether or not Texas will happen at all.

It would be a shame if Wizard World pulled out of Texas. It’s the biggest con we get in these parts.

Wizard World rolls into the Lone Star Star State November 7 and runs through November 9.

The nominees for this year’s Ignatz Awards, which will be handed out at the upcoming Small Press Expo, have been announced. It’s a very, very indie list, with a decided emphasis on the small press and mini-comic scene — “big” companies like Fantagraphics and Drawn and Quarterly are only marginally represented. That being said, there’s some really great books on this list.

Outstanding Artist
Warren Craghead, How to Be Everywhere (self-published)
Lat, Town Boy (First Second Books)
Laura Park, Do Not Disturb My Waking Dream (self-published)
Michel Rabagliati, Paul Goes Fishing (Drawn & Quarterly)
Jillian Tamaki, Skim (Groundwood Books)

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Retailer and commentator Chris Butcher returns from vacation, and revisits a pair of heavily discussed Comic-Con-related issues from earlier in the summer.

The first is John DiBello’s widely circulated call for Comic-Con organizers to create and enforce a policy addressing harassment — sexual and otherwise. It’s a reasonable and, apparently, necessary suggestion. Still, some argued that efforts to curtail verbal abuse would infringe on their First Amendment rights. (They wouldn’t.)

But Butcher, who attended the recent Penny Arcade Expo, comes back with the gaming convention’s seven simple rules, which are written with humor and, it seems, posted without protest. He notes that they appear at all of the entrances to the exhibit hall, and in the convention booklet.

“Why is this so hard for comics?” Butcher writes. “Why all the hand-wringing and endless debate about nothing?”

He also links to a San Diego Union-Tribune article about the other big Comic-Con issue. No, not the 900th incarnation of “Is SDCC Still About Comics?” I mean the pre-convention debate about whether to boycott the Manchester Grand Hyatt because hotelier Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to support an anti-gay marriage initiative.

The newspaper reports that, despite assurances by the hotel that boycotts by various groups haven’t affected business, the company’s chief financial officer warned Manchester in July that he could lose millions of dollars and alienate the gay community. Manchester asserts that the hotel has actually picked up business since the boycott began.

– Sean Galloway shares character designs for the upcoming SLG series Progeny, one of two projects Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman is doing for the publisher.

– Same Hat is having a Tokyo Zombie giveaway contest.

– And Big Shiny Robot is giving away the Alan Moore DVD.

– More reasons to go to SPX.

– Ben Schwartz on Little Orphan Annie.

– Boo hoo, it’s hard to find comics for kids, waa waa. Someone hand this guy a Little Lulu volume.

– The Simpsons opening, done with Legos.

Compiled by JK and Chris.

Retailer and comics creator Kirsten Baldock dropped us a note to let us know that Isotope Comics is accepting submissions for the 2008 Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics. This is the sixth year they’ve given out the award; previous award winners include Rob Osborne, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey and Josh Cotter, among others. You can find complete details on how to submit your mini-comic for consideration after the jump.

The awards will be given out in conjunction with the Alternative Press Expo, a really great event held in San Francisco the first weekend in November. This year’s guest list includes Jessica Abel, Paige Braddock, Megan Kelso, Matt Madden, Ethan Nicolle and Chris Ware. If you’re in the Bay Area that weekend, definitely check it out.

The art up top, by the way, is from Max Riffner’s Quick Step, which won the award last year.

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How many of you went to the comics shop at lunchtime only to realize — too late! — that the new books don’t hit the shelves until Thursday?

Pesky Labor Day.

But when you return tomorrow you should find another issue of Buffy Season 8 — complete with centaur-Dawn! — a new Love & Rockets series, the first volume of Takehiko Inoue’s popular Slam Dunk, and a things-will-never-be-the-same 75th issue of Fables.

Oh, and strangely enough, a pair of miniseries about missing or sunken submarines — one each from Marvel and BOOM!

To see what other titles Chris Mautner and I think are worth mentioning, just keep reading. As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

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– Darth Vader vs. the Fantastic Four.

– All-Star Superman in 11 panels.

– Shaenon Garrity writes about pioneer Anne Cleveland.

– Du9 interviews Chester Brown, who really doesn’t get interviewed enough.

– Kim Thompson and Eddie Campbell on just how many good graphic novels there are out there anyway.

– Alaska now has a cartoonist laureate.

– Paste shares 20 things they learned at Dragon*Con.

Compiled by JK and Chris. But mostly Chris.

The Orlando MegaCon has announced their guest list for their big event, coming up next Feb. 27-March 1. You can check out the complete press release after the jump.

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– Big Shiny Robot has a preview up of SLG’s Pirate Club.

– C.B. Cebulski and the Immonens shares pictures from this past weekend’s Fan Expo Toronto.

– G. Willow Wilson begins her own guerrilla marketing campaign for the recently released Air.

– Congrats to our friend Rick Marshall, who is the new co-editor of MTV’s Splash Page blog.

– A Distant Soil creator Colleen Doran shares a tale about how not to make friends in the comics industry … it ranges from annoying to creepy. And apparently one of the folks involved really doesn’t have a clue.

–BusinessWeek takes a look at Marvel and DC’s recent online comics ventures, and in the process asks retailer James Sime what he thinks. I’m going to guess that this isn’t the answer they were expecting:

But James Sime, owner of the Isotope comic book store in San Francisco, isn’t too worried about the impact of digital comics on his business. He says he believes there’s a great opportunity for comics retailers and publishers to learn from the mistakes of the ailing music industry.

According to ICV2, a trade publisher that monitors the business of comics and pop culture, trade paperbacks (collections of single issues in one book) generated $375 million in 2007 and single issues did $330 million that same year. Although Sime doesn’t think single-issue sales will go away, he envisions a scenario in which they are moved from print to online as promotion for the trade paperback. “I’m all about it,” said Sime. “People are excited about comics. The more people get them into their hands, the more they read them—the Internet is a great facilitator for that.”

– Marvel.com has a Q&A up with Zak Krefting of Shaba Games, the outfit working on their upcoming Spider-Man: Web of Shadows video game.

– The Daily Cross Hatch interviews Swallow Me Whole author Nick Powell.

– The Walrus chats up Seth.

– Dick Locher will soon draw his 10,000th cartoon.

– Here’s a video of Chip Kidd talking about his upcoming Bat-Manga book.

– Speaking of videos, here’s Cold Heat Video Special #1, courtesy of Frank Santoro.

– Oh, and then there’s this.

– Electric Politics talks to Robert Crumb.

– The L.A. Times spoke with Act-i-vate creators Joe Infurnari and Molly Crabapple at Comic-Con.

– How to make a stained-glass Spidey.

– Apparently women in England want to be like Willow.

– Henry Jenkins talks to two Comic-Con “newbies” who attended for the first time this year.

Compiled by JK and Chris.