Commentary on various aspects of publishing and marketing, primarily focused on books, magazines, and social media.

Say What?: 6/22/06

"...the exact same phrase 'That stuff from Japan...' was used two weeks earlier on my last trip through Customs and my manga examined for the same reason; because Japanese manga is 'really filthy stuff.' The reason I was so heavily raided this time, I found out afterward, was one of the manga titles had the word 'boy' in the title, which 'alerted' them to pedophile materials."--Elizabeth McClung, To Canadian Customs: X-men means X-rated (via Blog@Newsarama) "I'm happy that the market is able to handle this many copies of anything, and I know I may receive some grief for this, but…

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On the Shelves: 6/21/06

Support GOOD Comics! Try something new EVERY month. My weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 6/21/06. The full shipping is list available at ComicList. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com] PICK OF THE WEEK Fallen Angel #6APE ENTERTAINMENT Black Coat Call To Arms #3 (Of 4), $2.99 So much better than a black-and-white period piece with a throwback storytelling sensibility has any right to be, I can't…

Continue ReadingOn the Shelves: 6/21/06

MARKETING: Superman Joins MySpace

The Superman Returns marketing onslaught continues... Man Of Steel Seeks Friends AN AMERICAN CULTURAL ICON HAS landed in the leading American social networking site with the posting of a MySpace profile to promote the new "Superman Returns," premiering June 28. By Thursday evening, just five days after the site quietly went live, the profile had attracted 12,719 MySpace "friends," many responding to the site's slogan, "Show us your 'S'," with photos of themselves striking the iconic shirt-ripping pose to reveal the well-known symbol--including at least one fan who had the "S" tattooed directly on his chest. The Web site also…

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On The Shelves: 6/14/06

Support GOOD Comics! Try something new EVERY month. My weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 6/14/06. The full shipping is list available at ComicList. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com] PICK OF THE WEEK G.I. Joe: America's Elite #12AMERICAN MULE ENTERTAINMENT Public Enemy #0, $2.99 Call me cynical, but after the lameness of last year's Mr. T comic book -- mercifully aborted when AP Comics folded --…

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POLL: Niche Comics Sites?

Thinking "aloud" here...NEWSarama and CBR have gobbled up two of the better group blogs out there recently, while peripheral niche sites like the Ninth Art are shutting down. Meanwhile, the sleeping giant, Wizard, is finally doing something with their web site, already snagging exclusive columns from Bendis and Johns, and likely becoming the new home for most Marvel and DC exclusives. How long before they start to siphon off some of NEWSarama and CBR's audience and firmly position themselves as one of the top three comics sites? Six months, tops?When I think of the other comics sites, including The Pulse…

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On the Shelves: 6/7/06

Support GOOD Comics! Try something new EVERY month. My weekly look at select comic books being released Thursday, 6/8/06. The full shipping is list available at ComicList. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com] PICK OF THE WEEK Action Philosophers Vol 1: Giant-Size ThingBOOM! STUDIOS Tag #1 (Of 3), $3.99 Zombies...with a twist! Actually, this first issue sets up a fun premise, as the child's game of Tag is perverted into…

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HYPE: Elk’s Run Hits the Big Time

First the Harvey Awards, now this:Villard Acquires Rights to Elk's RunNew York, NY - June 5, 2006 - Villard, a division of the Random House Publishing Group, announced today that it will be publishing Elk's Run by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon. The graphic novel will collect the complete eight-issue comic book series, and will give readers their first opportunity to finally read the story all the way through to its explosive conclusion.I believe that's what you call a "Fuck, yeah!" moment, yes?Congrats to Joshua, Noel and the rest of the Elk's Run crew.

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