Joey Weiser is a cartoonist of many formats.

In comic shops he’s probably best known for his graphic novels, The Ride Home and Cavemen In Space (both from AdHouse), or maybe Tales of Unusual Circumstance, a self-published anthology of his shorter works (Or perhaps you’ve only seen his shorter works, which have appeared in popular anthologies like Flight and Put The Book Back on the Shelf, among many others?)

Weiser also draws a gag comic strip about kaiju monsters, Monster Isle, which appears in print and online.

His latest endeavor has been a series of self-published mini-comics, featuring a serialized story that seems like it will (or at least, should) inevitably end up being collected into a bound format at some point. It’s entitled Mermin, and Weiser recently published the fifth issue, and thus completed “Part 1” of the story, bringing closure to many of the plotlines (and providing a good place for a slim first volume to pick up and publish a chunk of it).

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Once again, Taco Bell is offering Marvel Comic books with their Kids Meals.

The fast food chain is giving out four new Marvel comic book stories for a limited time. Your kids (or, you know, you) can collect the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Avengers comics. Each issue also includes a one-page story by Gingerbread Girl artist Colleen Coover. Here is a panel of her X-Men story via DC Women Kicking Ass.

All four books were edited by Nate Cosby and the creative teams are as follows: Iron Man – Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener, Fantastic Four – Paul Tobin and Craig Rousseau, Avengers – Joe Caramanga and Derec Donovan, X-Men – Alex Zalben and Tom Grummett.

Apparently the X-Men story features the classic Xavier school and Nightcrawler! Also, although Jean Grey and Banshee are featured on the cover, they are not in the book itself. I have also been told that you may be able to purchase the comics at $1 a pop if you aren’t inclined to eat there.

Anyone think it’d be more appropriate for Subway or Blimpie to distribute stuff involving heroes?

It Came From the NYPL

The Man in the Ceiling
Written & Illustrated by Jules Feiffer
Published by HarperCollins

Having recently read Jules Feiffer’s strong memoir Backing into Forward, I felt compelled to sample some of Feiffer’s children’s book output. His glowing regard for the form makes it nearly impossible to ignore the them, particularly given my high regard for his cartooning. So I checked The Man in the Ceiling out of the library, and it’s well worth it. It’s enjoyable for adults, and if you have younger children, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Jimmy can’t throw or catch or hit a baseball; he’s basically a failure as boy. However, he’s a fantastic artist and dreams of becoming a famous cartoonist (the theme should be familiar if you’ve read Feiffer’s memoir). His uncle is a failure as a playwright, but finds success suddenly on his doorstep. And the only popular boy who notices Jimmy likes his drawings, but has “better” ideas about comic book stories. Mix an emotionally distant father learning to express himself, an artist mother who designs women’s fashions, a bossy older sister who encourages Jimmy’s artwork, and an adoring younger sister who pesters Jimmy to no end, and you have the framework of The Man in the Ceiling.

Feiffer’s engaging and fun prose possesses plenty of wordplay humor to keep adults reading to their children engaged, while the story itself explores the terrible heartache of creativity and failed creative ventures. Regular illustrations, both of the characters themselves and of Jimmy’s comic books, spice up the proceedings, adding humor and humanity. Through all the heartache of Jimmy and his uncle’s struggles, Feiffer uses dollops of humor to keep the book upbeat and pleasant. And while the subject of dreams lost and dreams compromised runs throughout, The Man in the Ceiling excels through Feiffer’s strong interpersonal dynamics, weaving a deeper understanding of all the book’s themes by exploring the complex connections between Jimmy and his family.

If I had young children, no doubt this book would be purchased and add to my library. For now, however, I’m glad I can explore the many creative avenues of talents like Jules Feiffer by finding excellent books like The Man in the Ceiling at my library. Hopefully you can find it at yours.

We all know superheroes lead very serious lives but they’re also just like everyone else. For the most part. And that means they have pets. Announced this past summer DC is teaming up with Capstone Publishers to release a new series of books called DC Super-Pets. And now, Capstone is sponsoring a writing contest for kids in conjunction with this months launch!

With art by Eisner Award-winning illustrator Art Baltazar, DC Super-Pets features heroes’ companions Krypto, Ace, Streaky, Beppo, Jumpa, Storm, B’dg, Comet and Hoppy fighting against the villains’ animals Rozz, Bad News Birds, Dex-Starr (YES!!), Chauncey, Misty, Sneazers and Gorilla Grodd. Although the book will surely appeal to kids of all ages, the “My Pet Is Super!” contest is for kids in grades 1-3. (more…)