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R.I.P. Wizard Magazine
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Image Comics, Wizard Entertainment
Okay, who had Comics Buyer’s Guide in the Last Comics News Magazine Standing pool?
CBG is now the longest-running continuously published comic book magazine and they’ve survived all comers. Overstreet’s Fan, Hero Illustrated, The Comic Reader, The Mirkwood Times, The Comics Journal, and now Wizard.
In case you haven’t heard the news, Wizard Magazine officially shut down last week, sending its staff packing.
Wizard was lucky - they caught the wave of the 1990s comic book bubble and the launch of Valiant and Image and then helped increase that bubble (Gareb was at the first official meeting of the Image Comics founders at Marc Silvestri’s Malibu beach house way back in the early 1990s).
Once the gravy train of million-selling comics derailed, and the internet took away the need for a news magazine, Wizard’s been struggling to remain a viable publication. Watching them flail around for the past decade has not been pretty. I knew a couple of good people who worked for the magazine in those early years and they've long since gone onto other things.
Click to continue reading R.I.P. Wizard Magazine
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DC Thomson the big deal publisher of classic British comics like The Beano and Commando is looking for help in their Dundee, Scotland office.
The search is on for a Circulation Executive to help manage “the circulation and distribution of our customers magazines and childrens’ comics.”
You’ll be “providing support to allow the day to day management of titles, implementing and development of business plans through the provision of accurate data and producing reports of activities, achievements and market intelligence to both internal and external contacts.”
Naturally, you’ll need some skills: excellent written and verbal communication skills, “the ability to carry out research with limited management involvement,” and budget/forecasting/retail planning.
Previous experience in a circulation role is “desirable but not essential,” but your speed is. The job listing is closing on Feb 2.
Good luck, job seekers!
[Artwork: Commando #4359, on sale now, © DC Thomson]
Graphic Novels Outsell Snooki
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Television, Dynamic Forces, Image Comics
It appears that nobody wants the read a book that Snooki claims to have written. The tanned and tiny "star" of MTV's Jersey Shore had her first novel, A Shore Thing published about a month ago. Since then, it's sold less than 9000 copies.
This despite a massive pr push that's seen the little orange pumpkin rolling from TV appearance to TV appearance.
9000 copies.
How does that compare to graphic novel sales? John Jackson Miller at The Comics Chronicles has the scoop.
In 2010, Image's Walking Dead Vol 1: Days Gone Bye sold 43,900 copies, DC's Blackest Night hardcover (19,200), Image's Chew Vol. 1 (13,600), and Dynamite's Boys Vol. 6 Self-Preservation Society (11,100). And that's just a sampling.
In all, some 38 graphic novels outsold Snooki's book and that's just using GN sales figures from the direct market.
Click to continue reading Graphic Novels Outsell Snooki
Weekend Reading: Dick Tracy, Grim Ghost, Wonder Woman & Bully
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Reviews, Television, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, Marvel Comics
Is there enough money to get Ricky Gervais to host the Eisner Awards this year? Please tell me there is. In the meantime, enjoy this link-based goodness:
Tracy: Here’s a nice profile of Mike Curtis and Joe Staton, the duo taking over the Dick Tracy strip on March 14. Bonus: the article features a 2-panel sequence from the Tracy strip by the new guys. I’m in! [Link: Daily Cartoonist]
Bonfire: Heidi at Comics Beat has the first part of a solid, smart interview with Ed Catto. You might know him as the Captain Action guy, but he’s also one of the guys behind the new comic-related advertising agency, Bonfire.
Tony: Mr. Tony Isabella has found a new comics writing home for himself over at the relaunched Atlas imprint. He’ll be co-writing the Grim Ghost, a series he worked on back during its original incarnation. Tony’s a good writer with an excellent sense of story & structure and he writes some snappy dialogue. I’m going to get this.
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Dick Tracy, Grim Ghost, Wonder Woman & Bully
If you're wondering where to invest your money now that Borders Books is in a state of freefall, you might hold off on putting some of your hard-earned money into the competition, Barnes & Noble.
“At the moment booksellers are something to avoid as an investment. Across the board, even for B&N, losses have exceeded expectations. Economics of digital business for B&N look worse than they should.”
-- Goldman Sachs analyst Matt Fassler speaking at Digital Book World.
[Artwork: Where Print Goes To Die]
(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)
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Cousin Corinne’s Reminder #2: Dean Haspiel & Tim Hamilton
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent
USA Today reports on a new literary magazine that's straight out of Brooklyn.
It's Cousin Corinne's Reminder. Now why should you care?
Because it's got a full color comics section packed with contributions from Tim Hamilton, Joan Reilly, Michele Fiffe, Dean Haspiel and Jen Ferguson. My pal Tim calls Cousin Corinne's Reminder a "cool new lit mag," and who am I to argue as the second issue hits the stands.
According to the editors, "Cousin Corinne's Reminder is bi-annual journal published by BookCourt, which features writing, comix, photography, and art."
If you're in the Brooklyn area on Wednesday, January 26 from 7-10pm, drop in at Bookcourt (163 Court St.) for the official launch party for the second issue.
There will be an opening performance by George Emilio Sanchez. Readings by Priscilla Becker, Todd Colby, Stanley Crouch, Catherine Lacey, and Adam Wilson.
Click to continue reading Cousin Corinne’s Reminder #2: Dean Haspiel & Tim Hamilton
Workbridge, a job recruiting organization, has the details for a job on Los Angeles' west side: an unnamed arts/entertainment/media company is looking for Front End Developer.
If you're familiar with West L.A. you might think that phrase has something to do with plastic surgery. Well, it doesn't.
This unnamed company specializes in online comics and ebooks.
The annual salary range is $25,000-$50,000, and I assume that's based on your experience, especially with AJAX, Javascript and Flash.
And if you have design experience that's a plus. So is experience with Python or other Back End technologies, and that's not a plastic surgeon's phrase either.
Good luck, job seekers!
[Artwork: Mr. iPad]
Russ Cochran’s Inventory Clearance Sale!
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Independent
2011 is still going to be a rough year for publishers, and longtime beloved publisher Russ Cochran is one of those having a troubled time.
I first learned about Russ's problems at Comics Beat. Now Alan David Doane at Trouble With Comics is reporting that Russ is holding a benefit sale to benefit himself… and he could use it.
To keep his books from falling into the wrong hands ("I would rather sell them to you, my faithful customers, at a lower price than to wholesale them to dealers and booksellers"), Russ is cutting deals by slashing prices to move out his inventory.
Some of the price cuts are outrageous. There's a list and a link at the Trouble With Comics post.
Russ has done some brilliant work over the years, creating beautiful hardcover volumes that preserve the work of classic EC Comics and MAD Magazine. I have a complete set of the MAD reprints in a nice slipcase and they are sweet, and yes, I take them out and read them pretty much every year.
If you've ever wanted to pick up some of these books, but have put it off for whatever reason, now's the time.
[Artwork: Tales From The Crypt, snagged from The Daily Crosshatch which also has a nice review of the book]
Comic Book Jobs: DC Comics Burbank & NYC
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics
The Warner Bros. website has loaded itself up with comic book jobs at DC Comics again, both in Burbank and New York. Let’s take a look!
First up, the Burbank offices is looking for an Executive Director Business Development for the DCE Sales, Marketing & Business Development department.
You’ll be working with the SVP Digital “to lead new business planning, including Digital, Custom & DC Direct, plus other projects as assigned or generated.”
Also in Burbank, they’re looking for a Director, Franchise Management for the DCE Sales, Marketing & Business Development department.
You’ll be “collaborating with WB/TW divisions to create franchise plans based on DC’s rich library of stories and characters: Develop brand overviews, content calendars, research recaps, competitive recaps, etc.”
Over in the New York office, DC needs help too: an Executive Assistant for DC’s Design Department.
Click to continue reading Comic Book Jobs: DC Comics Burbank & NYC
Weekend Reading: The Cape, The Simpsons & Machine Of Death
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Interviews, Television
I'm sure that we're all happy that the new Spider-Man musical finally has an ending, so with that in mind, let's see what else we can celebrate:
Cape: Are you watching The Cape along with me? If so, you might enjoy Jonah Weiland’s interview with series creator Tom Wheeler as much as I did.
Vaughn: My pal J.C. Vaughn (who co-writes Mighty Samson with Jim Shooter, as well as wrote & created Vampire, PA that was published by Moonstone and is also Executive Editor & Associate Publisher of Gemstone Publishing) got himself interviewed over at Comic Book Interview.
Sit: Can you imagine what would happen if someone at DC or Marvel kept insisting that putting a chair on the cover would grab someone’s attention at the LCS? Some people in book publishing must really love chairs.
Lomax: A nice interview with creator Don Lomax of Vietnam Journal.
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: The Cape, The Simpsons & Machine Of Death
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