Comic Book Journal

Being a Mike Mignola fan, I thought I’d pick up an issue of Abe Sapien. Again, Dark Horse, has made a wise decision keeping Mike, and of course, Hellboy, in their stable of growing horror comics. Dark Horse, as a publisher, is in my opinion, one of the most fan-oriented publishers in the marketplace. They have also launched campaign to capture the hearts of online readers with their Myspace Dark Horse Presents site. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, back to Abe. Did Abe Sapien impress me? As far as story goes, I’ve seen a little better from Mignola. Did Abe Sapien intrigue me? Yes, yes it did. Granted, I picked up this issue right near the end of the storyline, so I wasn’t as engrossed with the storyline as I would have been if I followed the story from the beginning, but this is the beauty of Mike Mignola’s plotting. Through this stand-alone issue the compelling plot and the fantastic artwork did make me want to find the first three issues, or perhaps get the graphic novel when published. If the arc is finished with the same quality and care as this particular issue, I anticipate those sales figures to be strong and steady for Dark Horse. Do not be mistaken, this title is not the typical Hellboy fare, that at times can be tongue in cheek. This is a serious horror comic and has almost a Lovecraftian feel to it. Also I can’t say enough about Jason Shawn Alexander’s artwork. His detail, pacing, and textures give the artwork the exact same tone the storyline has as well. Again, shades of H.P. Lovecraft. On a scale of one to ten, I’d have to give this book a solid eight to ten on the basis of originality alone. For more reasons why I like Mike Mignola, see my post at: http://www.comicbookjournal.net/why-i-like-mike-mignola/
Stay tuned…more reviews cometh!

I recently picked up an issue of BPRD and after a long absence from the world of Hellboy and the paranormal, I thought why not? I’ll give it a shot. I was extremely pleased. Even though the issue was not drawn by Mignola, Josh Dwyer’s style resembles him in this issue so much that I could barely tell the difference. But that said the art is absolutely fantastic. It is layered and detailed in the right areas, yet atmospheric and downright creepy. The art alone gets a ten.

A Mignola story is always fun to read. What could be creepier than two professors traipsing through an abandoned psychiatric asylum in Nazi Germany looking for evidence of the occult? That’s just great fun! So why do I like Mike Mignola? Stories like this. Also, he admits that sometimes he deliberates on his own art and storytelling too much, so he’s okay with other artists taking over his creations from time to time. He does this to ensure readers gets their fix. This shows he’s not egocentric at all. Also he has admitted in a recent interview that all he wants to do is make money drawing monsters. And he has. What started out a whim for Mignola has become an enterprise. Do you like Mike Mignola as much as I do? Feel free to let me know. Also be sure to check out Hellboy 2 when it comes out. It’s in production now.

I have taken this time over the holiday to read some new books and perhaps try a title or two I never would have before. With that said, I sampled an issue of Emily the Strange. This issue happened to be the special “death” issue and from what I gathered of the character, this little goth girl and her pet black cat, go through a variety of bizarre and at times comical ways to die. This book is definitely quirky and I can see why it was released in retail stores such as Hot Topic and was available online before being picked up by a more mainstream company. It’s strange and bizarre and quirky. My description of it would be let’s say Leave it to Chance meets Calvin and Hobbes in the house the Addams Family lives in. The art fits the oddness of the story however with the thick, bold line work and artist’s knack for nailing the sarcasm in Emily’s facial expressions along with her deadpan humor, the art makes the book. In the hands of a less experienced artist I’d give this title a shelf life of about five minutes before it would hit the dump. I’d give this title a five out of ten. The book aspires to a level of greatness this type of independent magazine will never achieve with poor production qualities and a less than meaty story, Emily will not survive on her bad attitude and one gag stories very long. For a book that exemplifies a great blend of odd and adventure see my review on the Umbrella Academy at http://www.comicbookjournal.net/step-into-the-umbrella-academy/

At the musician’s notebook you can find the top five rockers who are the best at songwriting. If you’re into that type of thing please visit http://www.musiciansnotebook.com/the-5-rockers-you-can-learn-songwriting-from/ you may be surprised at who's on the list. If you wanna see the best rocker I've seen so far that you can learn comic book writing from read Gerald Butler's Umbrella Academy. This series is probably one of the most original that I've seen in quite some time. The series in a nutshell (admittedly I'm not giving it its full justice here) is the story of seven super-powered children raised by a nutty genius. They succeed in saving the world multiple times through their youth, then part ways when reaching adulthood. One writes a successful tell-all book about the group and their upbringing, which I'm sure will cause conflict later. The best part about the book is what I'd call tone. It reminds me of a strange sort of blend between The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Clue, and Gen 13. Let's talk about the artwork. Gabriel Ba's artwork is at first difficult to get used to with thick bold lines, lots of contrasting proportions, and extreme expressions. As the story progresses, however, it seems to heighten the books quirkiness and enhance the storytelling. I'd have to say the right artist was definitely chosen for this project. On a scale of one to ten, I'd give the first issue a solid eight. Not for the groundbreaking storyline it brings to the medium, but mostly for the groundbreaking originality and freshness in a stagnant world of superheros.

Myth and folklore leave lasting impressions on any culture. Since it is now October, we’ll take the story of the Jack O’ Lantern for example. From folklore, it is rumored that a stingy man named Jack made a deal with the devil which took a wrong turn. Jack ended up tricking the devil, which saved his soul from Hell, yet, he was also barred from Heaven. Jack was doomed to wander the land forever, with nothing but a burning ember left to him by the devil to light his way. Jack, scared to lose his only light hollowed out a turnip and put the light inside of it. Thus, the legend of the Jack O’ Lantern was born. The myth later evolved to a pumpkin instead of turnip, and many Scottish and Irish families, used these “lanterns” to ward off evil spirits. We continue the tradition today. Comic books are one legacy we can leave behind. Sometimes the characters are borrowed from past myths and legends, others are completely original. Characters like Scooby Doo, Ghost Rider, Spawn, Evil Ernie, the Spectre, and Dr. Strange, all uniquely deal with the otherwordly, and are all perfect Halloween comic picks. Proving that horror comics have a future in the industry. Such titles as 30 Days of Night, Buffy, Angel, Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter, and Moon Knight are still going strong. New twists on old familiar characters will surely haunt your world this October like the new Marvel:Zombies, Resident Evil, and Silent Hill. When considering a list of favorites however, don’t forget to include the classics in the stories you will tell such as The Witching Hour, House of Mystery, and Tales of the Crypt. As comic book readers, and also storytellers we have the power to shape our own mythos for generations to come. I think Buddy Scalera in his 1999 article for Wizard had the right idea by passing out comic books instead of candy for trick or treaters, this will ensure the embers will never burn out in the niche the comic book genre in the annals of literature. So happy October loyal readers, if you’re unsure of costume ideas for your collective parties be sure to check out my blog about the Top Ten Sexiest Superhero Costumes. It can be found here:http://www.comicbookjournal.net/top-ten-sexiest-superhero-costumes/

If you haven’t already, it’s time to check out Dark Horse Comics Presents on Myspace.com. No subscription is required to Myspace in order to peruse the offerings. You don’t even have to get a subscription to the online comics. This is completely FREE. I applaud Dark Horse in ths bold move to get new readers. And these are great comics kids. I read all of the mini issues on the site, and was extremely impressed by Ron Marz’s story with Samurai:Heaven and Earth. The art was gorgeous also and the attention to detail (notice the reflection of the rider and horse in the eyeball) along with the coloring, set the mood for a great epic. I would follow this one in print as well. Do yourself a favor: check this stuff out!

Dark Horse Comics has announced a new series slated to launch November 2007 entitled “Scream.” The series looks to be a refreshing escape to a world where comics are fun again and the main character can be indentified with as an average Joe who finds himself with some unusual abilities. Where he goes, strange behaviors follow. It’s good to see a creator owned series take this approach again. This is what makes superhero comics fun, it’s also why the comics genre was so successful to begin with–just ask readers who had to opportunity to read Amazing Fantasy #15 when Spiderman was first launched. Also, it’s good to see Peter David at the helm of a comic again, one that will allow him to play in his own sandbox and create his own sandcastles. An invigorating approach to art looks to be promising with a glimpse of the cover (see photo). Bart Sears’s detail is lovingly rendered, it looks as if he’s back on top of his game. I’l keep you posted with the latest comics in your future as I’m sure ths fall will have lots of shake-ups in the industry.

The newest sales figures are in and it looks like Marvel has toppled DC in terms of units sold, however, the company was down in sales from the previous quarter. So what generated these sales? Marvel is still riding high from the success of their Civil War books and looking to a future for another ‘event’. DC is doing the same, their primary market success coming from the aftermath of both 52 and Infinite Crisis. In terms of raw data, though there was a surprise. Dark Horse remains just that, a dark horse, which in terms of market share gained on the big two. How did the smaller company compete with the heavy-hitters? Four words: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The newer issues, as well as past trade paperbacks are moving due to Joss Whedon, the original creator breathing new life into the comic book. With no major events, crossovers, or variants, how does the book draw a large market share? Good writing. What Whedon has managed to do with both the television series and the comics, is know his audience. He’s also not afraid to poke fun at himself in his books, or his creation. In short, he’s managed to make comics fun again. Even though there are enough apocalypses to fill an entire graphic novel alone, Whedon has managed to have his readers empathize enough with his characters, that we are left at the end of every one of his issues slightly refreshed, but always wanting more story. That is the magic of any medium, and should be the goal of every writer; keep them coming back for more. He has also mastered the art of marketing as the television show has tied into the book and vice versa. He has managed to create his niche in the industry, with his Buffy and Angel fans, not wanting to accept the end of the story where else will they turn, to Dark Horse for their fill of the sumptuous slayer and the rest of the Scooby gang.

Just what’s in your library?

For the past three to four years, my own library has developed an ever-expanded graphic novels section.

Over the next couple of days, I’m going to be studying just how the library setting has impacted the comic book industry.

Consider this first part just a survey - a brief outline of the state of graphic novels in my local library - as well as anyone who cares to answer.

But not all libraries are created equal, so understanding just what kind of library helps us visualize where the graphic novel section fits in here.

Here’s my round of questions:

1) Is there a specific place for graphic novels in the library?

Yes - it’s actually located in the section of the non-fiction half of the library, around all the various superhero encyclopedias and comic collector books. There’s a sign on this column that reads “graphic novels” and shows a manga girl reading a book.

2) Just what kind of library is it?

Its a small town local library. Its very nice for a small town library - two floors, not including a basement/meeting area, as well as internet access and inter-library loan connections to other regional collections.

3) How would you rate the library itself?

8 out of 10. It doesn’t have the biggest CD collection, but the staff is helpful and the library is generally well-kept.

4) How would you rate the graphic novel section, if there is one?

Also 8 out of 10. It started out small, but its grown by at least several new titles per year. It can be pretty messy - don’t evn touch the Star Wars books, as kids have gone through them so much they verge on the brink of disintergration. But when you’ve worked children sections in a library like me, you learn to accept some rugrat messes here and there; on the plus side, some of the stacks are probably unreachable for kids at least until they hit middle-to-late middle school.

Well, those are my answers. What’s your take? Are graphic novels a rising force in the stacks or is mine just the exception to a very dull rule?

Star Wars comics have been in operation roughly as long as the movies, first published by Marvel Comics during the time of the original trilogy’s debut, and then offering refreshing glimpses into the expanded universe after Dark Horse Comics set up shop and took over the franchise.

However, the Expanded Universe doesn’t run on comics alone, and in addition to the often Lucas-saunctioned fan film creations, books both literary and comics stretch from 25,000 years before the original Star Wars trilogy all the way to 100 years after.

Unfortunately, the books and the comics don’t cross paths nearly enough in my opinion. The books move faster and faster, adding on years and years to our favorite characters, while the comics seem more apt at development within the comfortable monthly time frame.

Below is a list for the best ideas from the books which haven’t recieved any or nearly enough play in the comics.

10. Yuuzhan Vong - Okay, these guys already got a lot of play in the John Ostrander-written comic Star Wars: Legacy (not a History Channel documentary). But they really should have gotten more comic book play after the Chewbacca mini-series, a post-mortem look at our favorite Wookie, who ultimately sacrificed himself against the then-worlds-conquering Vong. The villainous Vong are religious extremist with a penchant for bio-terrorism. The problem is exploration of their culture is best explored visually. The books throw so much terminology with so little descriptions that sometimes its hard to remember exactly what these things look like. Also, only a few benign Vong show up over the course of The New Jedi Order - only to disappear into the background.

9. Lowbacca - Here’s a fresh caveat straight from comics: if you’re going to kill a well-known hero off, you better have someone to replace him or her, even if that someone is the Punisher. And you can bet your blaster that applies to Chewbacca. The loveable Wookie may have bit it during The New Jedi Order, but to date, neither Dark Horse nor Del Rey has done much as of late to develop Chewie’s nephew Lowbacca. C’mon guys, he’s a Jedi and a Wookie! That’s just all kinds of cool waiting to happen! Though the books did well to introduce and distinguish him within the Jedi Academy, he’s dropped off the radar as of late. Honestly, there’s really one last thing Lowie needs to do - take his uncle’s place in the Millennium Falcon. Han was understandably admant about allowing Lowbacca to do so, but if audiences were to latch onto him in the comics as they have done in the books, I think this is one place the passing of the torch would be appreciated.

8. HK-47 - This isn’t actually someone who apppeared in the books, but rather, someone who appeared in the video games and desperately requires a comic book appearance. Probably the best part of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, HK here is the Deadpool of droids, loyally requesting to exterminate “meat bags” on his Master’s behalf. One of most popular figures for gamers, HK-47 has an usually long lifespan for droid, stretching in some form or another from the Old Republic through the original trilogy. Its clear bits and pieces of his escapades will continue to be fleshed out in the video games, but let’s speed up the process a bit - given him a comic series or two. Team him up with IG-88 or Boba Fett and you’ve got a hit on your hands.

7. Ben Skywalker - Basically, its Lowbacca all over again. The Expanded Universe is moving so quickly that some characters seem to be getting the shaft, namely this little guy - the son of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade. He’s a major character in the mythology, but with Luke Skywalker moving closer and closer to over-the-hill, and Ostrander’s Star Wars: Legacy centering around another descendant named Cade Skywalker, this guy seems to be the missing link between the two. This isn’t to say Ben is blatantly ignored - he plays a large role in the ongoing Star Wars: Legacy of the Force novels. But seeing as how he kicked major Sith butt in the non-canonical Star Wars Tales, it seems a given he should keep on appearing in the comics. Of course, there is a minor possibility that Ben could be the engimatic Darth Krayt - the Sith plaguing Cade all along in Legacy is rumored to be someone we know - but come on, how lame will that sound? “Cade . . . Cade . . . I am your GREAT-GREAT-GRAND-father!”

6. Anakin Solo - If ever there was a character who desperately needed a comic book mini-series, it was definitely Anakin Solo. Not to be confused with his whiney prequel counterpart, Anakin Solo, youngest son of Leia and Han Solo, died basically because George Lucas feared two Anakins in completely different time periods would cause confusion. Anakin Solo was in many ways the perfect reinvention of his flawed grandfather, and in fact, whiney farmboy uncle. Smart, stubborn and self-sacraficing, Anakin Solo is one character who deserves a bigger mention, especially in comics. Considering Chewbacca died saving this kid, you would think more stories would be written about him. But far too often, Anakin is relegated to dreams, shadows and starship and AI names. He’s far too quickly becoming both the forgotten and fallen hero, and comics are certainly one way to change that.

5. Dash Rendar - Okay, first off, who’s going to say “No” to a guy named Dash Rendar? That’s probably the hands-down coolest moniker since Han Solo. Dash Rendar is the main focus of Shadows of the Empire - probably the best Star Wars development of the 90’s (which certainly wasn’t Greedo shooting first) - a fresh perspective to the time between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The character already appeared in comic form in the comic tie-in of the same name, but it is probably best remembered, like HK-47, for his video game appearance in the Nintendo 64 game. Surviving supposed death in the ending of Shadows, Rendar has appeared sporadically since then, with a sparse mention in New Jedi Order being his most recent impact. But with a fresh perspective needed on the Star Wars saga, Rendar is certainly the go-to-guy in this field. Much like Ghost Rider demonstrated at the box office, 90’s characters can have quite a pull with audiences, and Rendar is one to consider in revitalizing the franchise both before and after the original trilogy.

4.Young Jedi Knights - With Lowbacca, Ben Skywalker and Anakin Solo already ranking in the Top 10, this was a given. The Jedi Academy is given most detail in the Young Jedi Knights series by Kevin J. Anderson. The books focused on the Jedi education of Jacen and Jania Solo, twin children of Han and Leia, as well as their frequent interaction with a variety of famous Star Wars figures, ranging from the remnants of the Empire to bounty hunters. Though Young Jedi Knights was a stellar series, the remainder of the Solo children’s youth and subsequent adulthood should have been covered in the comics, as the The New Jedi Order and Star Wars: Legacy of the Force showed the twins getting progressively older and older in between books. If the current trend continues, they’ll be middle aged by the time the series ends (assuming they’re still alive. Things are particularly bleak for one Solo child). Though all three aformentioned series do an admirable job depicting and developing Jacen and Jania, the twin’s contrasting duality as well as their wide variety of classmates requires a visual depiction here. Plus, the slower timeframe allowed by comics lets readers actually enjoy watching the characters grow up over the course of years - instead of aging them drastically over in a span of months!

3. Star Wars Infinities - As was the case for Ultimates to Marvel, Star Wars Infinities is a comic book solution for a galaxy growing steadily too cold and distant. The original comic book series centered around alternate realities within the original trilogy - what if Luke hadn’t destroyed the Death Star, what if Luke died on Hoth or what if the plan to rescue Han Solo fell apart? I think Infinites will probably be re-organized to deal with What If’s surronding the prequels, but I think there are plenty of other uses for Infinities as well. The most interesting, I think, is a revamp of Expanded Universe, using similar characters in alternate format ala Ultimates. Of course this is all just idle speculation on my part, but one of the things I liked so much about the Ultimate line was it gave readers an alternative when things went poorly in regular continunity. Given how dark things are getting in both Legacies and Legacy of the Force, I think this is a viable option.

2. The Fett Clan - Boba Fett is like the Wolverine of Star Wars: deadly, mysterious and insanely popular. But Boba Fett’s own family tree is just as ripe for comic book adaptaion. Boba Fett’s daughter, Ailyn Vel, was born in the space between Episode III and IV. Ailyn spent her life tracking her father, and even wore Fett’s armor for a time. Sadly, by the time Fett started looking for her in the current Legacy of the Force books, it was too late, and she was killed during an interogation by Jacen Solo (see what I mean by bleak?) However, Bloodlines ends with Boba Fett reunited with Ailyn Vel’s conspirator - her own daughter Mirta Gev, making her Fett’s grand-daughter. Since Boba Fett is last seen settling down, it seems unlikely that the pair will resurface, at least in Legacies of the Force. Doesn’t this prevent the perfect lead-in for a comic book series? Boba Fett, already probably the most popular Star Wars figure in comicdom, trains and passes the torch to his scrappy granddaughter, leading to the birth of a completely new bounty hunter? Given all the strife and terror going on in the galaxy right now, there’s plenty of story to cover, and possibly a mention of the Fett Clan’s ultimate fate in Ostrander’s Legacies would seal the deal. In other terms, think of it like Million Dollar Baby meets Stephanie Plum - a touching yet hilarious account of a bad-ass bounty hunter’s own legacy.

1. 501st Legion - This Legion of infamous Stormtroopers has been around since the beginning, but the group first caught my attention in Timothy Zahn’s Survivor’s Quest, when a fire team of the Empire’s best were dispatch to back up Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade in a mission to a space station. This is the great thing about the 501st and about the Stormtroopers in general - they appear as both allies and adversaries. The 501st - dubbed Vader’s Fist - have appeared throughout the movies, comics and books, but these guys (in the end, girls) need a series of their own, one that walks from one end of the Star Wars mythos (The Clone Wars) to the other (the current Legacies). Think of it as an in-cannon Star Wars Tales with a rotating cast of comic’s Who’s Who penning the monthly adventures of the 501st in a different era each time. One story arc could find them alongside Obi Wan Kenobi in the Clone Wars, another by Thrawn and yet another by Emperor Fel. There’s plenty of fresh territory to include, such as the interaction between clones and human Stormtroopers, the inclusion of females and aliens to the ranks, and the eventual team-up between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant in face of common enemies. George Lucas really surprised me in “Attack of the Clones” - by making the clones themselves, well, really cool. Now its time to take it to the next level - and give the Stormies their due.

I, or rather, my schedule, still isn’t up to 100 percent, so I had something a little different in mind for these week’s list - mixing some much needed research with the feature today.

Maybe you are a writer. Maybe you are an artist. Maybe you are both - in which case I’m very jealous. Here’s the hypothetical - you have a finished project, and you want to get it out to a major comic book publishers. Unfortunately, never mind the many, many, many hardships it took to get that project on paper - the journey to publication hasn’t even begun yet. Don’t get me wrong - submitting can be a both uplifting and humiliating process - but if you’re a first-timmer, please leave all your well-founded dreams of doing Daredevil or Detective Comics on the first try behind - comic book submissions aren’t quite that easy, as seen below.

10) DC Comics: The comic book juggernaut provides a Talent Search for sharp-eyed artists. If you are not of the artistic inclination, however, you’ll find absolutely nothing here for the writers. The website bluntly states the process is only able to review artists, not writers. Keep in mind these policies are in place for their acquisitions, including DC’s Vertigo and Wildstorm.

BOTTOM LINE: “At this time, DC Comics does not accept unsolicited artwork or writing submissions.” The unsolicited part does bring up the option of perhaps finding an agent to represent you, but please be wary. The comic book industry is plagued with scams and fradulent agents. Always ask agents of previous works. The best way to find agents is to read the acknowledgements section of the books you read, be it fantasy, graphic novels or just plain fiction. Though this process does add a whole new layer to the submission process, you might find a bold ally in getting published with the big boys.

9) Aspen MLT: Michael Turner’s company has seriously the best looking comics out there. Not only does he have a talent for drawing beautiful women - a linchpin in the comic biz - but he also draws everything else beautiful in my opinion. To slip into Aspen would be a comic book geek’s dream, as well as a huge asset on a professional resume - even if the invitation is only open to artist
.

BOTTOM LINE: While we writers have to sulk about in the corner once again, it’s a huge opportunities for artists regardless. The submissions page - at the bottom of company info - breaks guidelines down for pencillers, inkers and colorists. The instructions tell you exactly what they are looking. If you are artistically-inclined, this is a breakthrough position.

Marvel: The company does offer avenues for both writers and artists. It requires no more than 5 pages of sample artwork or an inquiry letters from writers. Keep in mind, however, you probably won’t get that winning pitch published here - at least not at first. If you do land a job here, as writer or artist, it will be on one of their pre-existing titles, which, let’s be honest, is a helluva breakthrough. But since the company doesn’t read unsoliticed writing materals, you might consider taking that dream project you’ve been penning for years somewhere else.

BOTTOM LINE: If you do send them either artwork and inquiry, read the directions. The instructions call for a self-addressed stamped envelope as well as a completed Marvel Idea Submission Form. This is standard procedure - so get used to it - to stop lawsuits from people who “claimed” to have written some idea they submitted to Marvel. I error on the side of Matt Albie from Studio 60 - if they would have written it, they would have written it. But if you don’t trust the people you’re sending it to - don’t send it to them, simple as that.

7)Dynamite Entertainment: I picked up their Battlestar Galactica/Lone Ranger flip book on Free Comic Book Day and I was deeply impressed. Plus, they also write “Army of Darkness” and “Red Sonja” - two of the hottest titles in the biz right now. For their part, they request an inquiry letter from writers (as well as samples from colorists, pencillers and painters), which is pretty much the same as Marvel’s submission process above, with one added bonus - they may request proposals after hiring. This is a major bonus over Marvel - you can not only get your foot in the door, but you can also get your dream project possibly published as well.

BOTTOM LINE: Given the number of steller licenses this company owns, it will need to prove its caliber in originals sooner or later. This creates a demand, and its a demand YOU, the creator, should certainly take advantage of.

6) Dimestore Productions - This company might not have much in the way of razzle and dazzle as the other companies listed above, but Dimestore offers creators a yearly contest known as Small Press Idol. The contest has competitors vying for a chance to publish a mini-series with the imprint after several rounds on public voting. Not only isn’t is it downright fun to see what other creative teams are doing, but it also offers a much-needed forum for feedback to creators. The judges all provide great critque of each Round - be it premise and cover art, character designs, sequentials or the ultimate Issue #0 sell-off. I don’t care what anyone says; that Simon Cowell has nothing on Roger Foucault!

BOTTOM LINE: There’s only so much your family and friends can tell you about your work. While Dimestore might not have the vast resources of other publisher, it does offer a way to refine your work over and over again, even if you don’t win the big prize. In addition, the company offers many other publishing opportunities year-long!

5) Image - The company revolutionized the comic book industry - showing a little guy (albiet comprised of the best of the best) could withstand direct competition with the big two. But that was the 90’s, and Image has fallen into uncertain times. Though core titles like Savage Dragon and Spawn still run strong, much of their original universe has been fractured, and the company is certainly looking for new creators to pick up the pace. BUT make sure you read the fine print before you submit. There’s a reason the submission guidelines read “WE DON’T PAY PAGE RATES.” This means they are not the ones paying you - like an agent, they take a flat fee from the sales, but unlike an agent, it is possible for the creators to endure losses just as well as profits.

BOTTOM LINE: Don’t let this deter you from submitting to Image - it’s a huge opportunity. But conceptualize a marketing plan before you submit. Don’t just assume “It’s their job to sell this” - because its also your job if you want to make any money - especially with some responsibility for losses. Another comic company I explored - Too Hip Gotta Go Comics - runs by a similar system and explains it better than I ever could. Consider them in the same vein as Image - there are advantages and disadvantages to each company. Give both a good thought if you chose this route.

4) Antarctic Press - This company’s Free Comic Book Offering was called Pirates vs. Ninjas. Did you hear me? Pirates and Ninjas! Brilliant! That’s not all that’s brillant about this company. Though best known for more manga/anime style ventures such as “Gold Digger” and “Ninja High School”, the submissions page of this comic publisher contains a State of the Industry address at the bottom which YOU MUST READ if you want to work in comics.

BOTTOM LINE: Never submit to a comic publisher unless you know the general look of their line. Antarctic Press has a very colorful adventure feel to it, but the honesty of the submission guide combined with the loose and fun feel of their publishing line creates a very inviting atmosphere. They accept both inquiries for writers and artists.

3) Arcana Studios: Some publishers have submissions down to an art form, or at least, an on-site Internet form. Expediancy is something one must consider in comic book submission. After all, why send a comic submission out for three days through the mail, plus postage, when you can send it for free through the wonders of the Internet. Arcana, the publishers of “100 Girls”, “Starkweather” and “Dragon’s Lair”, makes it pretty easy to send your work - provided its completed with at least 5 pages of art.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely one to consider. They have a strong line, and their titles span a wide range of weird and wild, and they’ve risen to top ranks of new comic book publishers because of this. There are a couple of things, however. First off, there are some holes in their website - including dead links and spelling/grammar errors - which are worrisome to the eye. Secondly, the submissions guideline seems more promise than pitch. It doesn’t read with the honesty of Too Hip Gotta Go or Antarctic - and while I’m sure they intend to deliver on their word - its just a bit odd when the publisher is selling to the creator and not the other way around.

2) Ape Entertainment: We’re down to the last two, and both publishers have one thing in common: versatility. Ape Entertainment offers quite a lot outside of the gorilla marketing (yes, that’s a pun, not a mispelling) assoicated with Silver Age Comics. Their titles span from classic pulp (Black Coat) to modern day everymen (Bizarre New World) and an indie terror (Horrorwind). The publisher wants both artists and writers, but is only accepted completed creative teams for the latter. Still, the sheer variety of their submission guide is a comic book creator’s dream.

BOTTOM LINE: They’re pretty much looking for something of everything. Unlike most companies, they accept all genres and all age-groups. In fact, not only do they consider comic book publications, but also role playing games. And they can be reached by web-link (preferred), e-mail and snail mail. Their submission guidelines are very thorough and very clear - they even explain what artistic position fill easier than others. Ape Entertainment also alternates between the role of publisher and packager. They are more on the market for one-shots and mini-series, so this might not be the place for that magnum opus ongoing you’ve been penning for so long. Still, it should rank high on any submission list regardless.

1) Dark Horse Comics: Dark Horse is proving to be a giant in the industry, and stable one that. Those are two qualities usually mutually exclusive with here-today, gone-tomorrow status of comic book companies - one company I reviewed on Free Comic Book Day just wanted to last six months in the industry! Dark Horse got its start the same way Dynamite - by picking up licenses such as Star Wars, Aliens/Predator and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But Dark Horse Comics would proved its own versatility in later years with in-house hits like “Hellboy”, “Sin City” and most recently “City of Others”. What amazes me is, for as long as I’ve been a comic book fan, Dark Horse Comics has always been open to submissions. The merit of a company company is often judged in how it treats its submissions, and Dark Horse certainly stands above them all.

BOTTOM LINE: There of good to go around. Dark Horse is among the only companies I’ve encountered which still ask for a full script - giving writers a change to strut their stuff with some page length. The company looks for sequential quality over pin-up power for artists, though it accepts submissions of both. And all submissions must include - you guessed it - a Submissions agreement. Did I mention they have page rates - although unknown at this time - a huge bonus over Image!

HOWEVER, just because Dark Horse is the No. 1 Best Bet for Comic Creators, there are some disadvantages to these publishers just like all the rest of the list. The biggest disadvantage for Dark Horse is time. First off, they only accept snail mail. Secondly, due to the huge volumes of submissions they receive (don’t blame them, comes with the territory), they only send responses to people they wish to hire. But just look at their New Recruits Program - they’ve just narrowed down their 2005 list to 20 (admittedly the list was in thousands) and their 2004 New Recruit winner is just now going to the printer.

BOTTOM BOTTOM LINE: Patience is a virture, and Dark Horse is worth the wait, but if your project could be in limbo for a very very very long time!

In case you forgot - which I did until someone mentioned it yesterday - Saturday is Free Comic Book Day.

No, I’m not kidding. This isn’t some piece of comic book fanspeak or obscure lexicon. Free Comic Book Day is what it says it is - walk into a comic store and get free comics!

What comics you get depends a variety of factors, including the size and resouces of your local store, and whether they receive Gold or Silver sponsor comics.

Gold sponsors include a bevy of mainstream picks. I mean, can you get more mainstream than Archie, Spider-Man and Mickey Mouse? There might also include a Transformers movie prequel, Dynamite’s Lone Ranger and Battlestar Galactica, as well as Robert Kirkman’s plain cool Image title Astounding Wolfman.

Silver sponsors seem to represent a larger mixture of industry leaders as well as rising forces in the indie world. In addition to selections from Marvel, DC and Wizard Entertainment, there will also be comic represented by Virgin, Digital Webbing, Comic Genesis, Ape Entertainment, Devil’s Due, Fantagraphics, Boom! Studios and Antarctic Press. The latter’s entry is called “Pirates vs. Ninjas” . . . how much more awesome can you get!

The comic industry implosion in the early 90’s - the end result of No. 6 in “Top 10 Accidental Comic Book Discoveries” - left comic book retailers struggling to find a way to reach the public. Free Comic Book Day was one such attempt, and it has, on the whole, been successful, especially in garnering mainstream media attention as well as large crowds to the comic book shop!

Check it out this Saturday, May 5th.

Time for the Oscars of comics, better known as the Eisners, which makes more sense to me. I mean, I know who Will Eisner is, but I’m still not sure who the hell this Oscar guy is.

The nominees for the 2007 Eisner Awards have been announced. This is actually something I kind of participated, blissfully hoping for a nod myself, from my webcomic “Hector!” and its first year of operation.

It was a long shot . . . a HUGE long shot . . . but I actually did send something out, so it was kind of cool regardless of the lackluster results. But more on that later.

There’s quite a few things of interest in each category, but here are just a few of the highlights:

Stan Lee is up for an Eisner in “Best Short Story” for an entry entitled “Spider-Man Meets Stan Lee”. If I was in Spider-Man’s position, I’d punch Stan Lee in the mouth. Hard.

Will Eisner’s own creation “The Spirit” is back in the Eisners now for “Best Single Issue or One-Shot”. The nomination goes to issue #1 of Darwyn Cooke and Jeph Leob’s “Batman/The Spirit #1″. Though it was among one of the first Spirit comics not written by Will Eisner, the cover was downright hilarious and well-worth the price of admission!

Two of my favorite titles are up for Eisners in the “Best Continuing Series” category - Grant Morrison’s “All-Star Superman” and Allan Heinberg’s “Young Avengers”. If you’re a comic book fan, you owe it to yourself to pick at least one issue of these books up - I think “All-Star Superman” is already out on hardcover as well.

The “Limited Series” category seems a tight race between Paul Pope’s “Batman: Year 100″ and “Through the Looking Glass: Hatter M” by Frank Beddor, Liz Cavalier and Ben Templesmith - both extremely popular series which have sold out almost instantly every time they touched a store front.

“The Long Ranger” is actually up for an Eisner in “Best New Series” - I had heard about this book, but I didn’t know it was actually out. The Long Ranger will need all his six-shooters to make it past the considerable competition though - among them Ed Brubaker’s much-talked-about series “Criminal”.

I got beat by the best in the Digital Comics category. I was so worried I’d be out-done by a bevy of video game comics yet again. “Girl Genius” is great, and one I should probably start including on the Wrap-Up.

The Best Writer competion looks to be mostly a competition between Brubaker and Morrison - those two have contributed so much to the comic book industry lately, its hard to see one of them not going home with something. Besides, Bill Willingham hasn’t stepped out from under the shadow of Fables nearly enough, even with Shadowpact.

I’d really like to see Ben Templesmith (”Fell”, “Hatter M”) win Best Painter, but he’s in for one helluva a fight - Jill Thomspon of “Scary Godmother” fame is among the competition.

John Cassaday of “Astonishing X-Men” seems a shoe-in for Best Cover Artist, but I don’t know, I’ve seen amazing things from Conan’s Tony Harris.

You can see all the rest of the entries here. I’ve done my part

Comic books are, like any entertainment industry, one built around hype. We may not always admit it, but comic book companies are all about promoting the next Watchmen, the next Sandman, just as much as Hollywood is searching for that next Godfather, that next Star Wars.

Funny thing about success is that sometimes it happens to people who weren’t looking for it, or at least not in the way they thought. Like penicillin for pages and panels, here are the Top 10 Accidental Comic Book Discoveries:

Hellblazer: Alan Moore claims to have discovered the character he first breathed to life in the pages of Swamp Thing through a real life meeting. The face-to-face was supposedly in Westiminister, London, as the reclusive writer described to Wizard Magazine an encounter with John Constantine at a sandwhich bar. I guess “Life Imitates Art” isn’t a one-way street after all!

9. Harvey Pekar: Not all success stories center around those seeking fame and fortune. A collegue of Robert Crumb and a pioneer in autobiographical comic books, Pekar’s small-press fame lead to eight appearances on David Letterman (though he was subsequently banned for criticising General Electric) as well as ultimately a feature film adaptation starring Paul Giamatti.

As Scott McCloud writes, “For years, Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor had been a lonely standard bearer for comics autobiography, but suddenly the ‘Alternative’ shelves were swarming with the things — almost enough to constitute a full-fledged genre of their own.” Pekar’s discovery by a largely mainstream culture is a success story in and of itself, documenting how Pekar met succcess on his own terms, not someone else’s.

8. Heavy Metal: Least we forget, not all comic book success stories are American. Its easy to point to Japanese manga, which have now densely populated a shelf of their own in Barnes and Noble. But while interest in manga and anime has slowly but steadily grown for decades, it was a French magazine of all things which virtually exploded on export.

Originally entitled “Metal Hurlant” (Screaming Metal) in France, this illustrated adult fantasy magazine nearly trippled in sales upon its re-naming as “Heavy Metal” by the editors of National Lampoon magazine. In addition to its overseas appeal, “Heavy Metal” would herald the apperances of the likes of Trina Robbins, Howard Chaykin, Walt Simonson and Michael Moorcock among many others. The magazine would also spawn two animated films as well as a video game, feeding a generation of science fiction and fantasy fans who had grown tired of mainstream superheroes.

7. Hellboy: If you’re a comic book fan, it stands to reason you should probably attend comic book conventions. There, you can buy (or at least drool over) rare comic book memobilla, meet and greet your favorite writers, maybe, just maybe, launch a demonic superstar from the pit of the convention hall.

Mike Mignola coined Hellboy while drawing a simple comic con cover - one that would slowly metamorphosize into the wise-cracking-demon-hunting-demon for Dark Horse Comics. Now, with a golden comic book empire as well as one feature film, two (going on three) animated DVDs and talk of a second film, Mike Mignola has effectively proved that comic conventions are moved than sweaty fans and overpriced hot dogs.

6. Golden Age Comic Boom: Not all accidental discoveries are good ones. You might be wondering, how can comics worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions be a bad thing? This is actually two accidents in one - the first the unforseen effect of a sixty-odd year history, and the second an accident waiting to happen in the comic book industry.

It was in the 1990’s that news stories were first a flutter with tales of kids finding big bucks in their grandma’s basement. Old comics from the 1940’s were all the rage, and suddenly the possibility of raising your kid’s tuition in these dimestore rags was a real possibility. But this mainstream interest backfired in the comic book shops, as the resulting “collector bubble” burst, with the industry leaders like Marvel and DC offering variant issues of big events like “The Death of Superman” to entice the non-comic crowd. Soon the truth came out: Golden Age comic prices were only hiked up by the shredding and recycling of World War II rationing efforts, with the regular laws of “supply and demand” applying to everything.

And that, my friends, is why your gold-etched copy of “The Death of Superman” is still worth only five bucks.

5. Maus: Unlike Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, both of which had the backing of a major comic publisher, Art Spiegelman’s Maus was for the most an underground experience, published for 3 pages in Apex Novelties in 1972, and then in serial form starting 1977 in RAW Magazine. Once collected, however, the graphic novel had a profound effect on the medium, even winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1992.

I suspect the core honesty of the book aided its impact. Art’s father, although a Holocaust survivor, exhibits racism, and one point even Art himself confesses fears his father has become the stereotypical stingy Jew. Though it may be a bit of a stretch to call this comic’s mainstream inception accidental - as the underlying metaphor of the Holocaust Jews being depicted as mice to the cats of the Nazi party was visually profound - it is amazing that such an underground graphic novel rose so quickly to the ranks of the literary elite in a time when comics were still fighting public perception as “funny-books”.

4. Star Wars: Okay, okay, I know most of this is a movie truimph, not a comic triumph, but some credit has to be given to George Lucas for holding on to the merchandising right for Star Wars, an overshot and overbudgeted film so sure to be a box office bomb, so no one really gave a Wookie in 1977. The instant success of the movie made merchandising possible, and much of that merchandise exists to this day in the form of comic books.

Though Star Wars slipped in and out of comic book form afterwards, it was truthfully Mike Richardson’s Dark Horse Comics, which expanded the view of the Star Wars Universe beyond the canon of the films, giving fans a view of characters ranging from Kevin Rubio’s bumbling Tag and Bink to Timothy Zahn’s fan-favorite figure Mara Jade.

But none of this would have happened if a maverick director all but relegated to failure for a cheeseball sci-fi flick hadn’t kept his merchandising rights.

3. Superman: We’re already in the Top 3, and you might be thinking, if this is the beginning of the Top 3, why is Superman on the bottom already?

Well, because Superman was a mediated discovery - creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had high hopes for the last son of Krypton - but no one else did.

In fact, DC editor Vin Sullivan accidentally discovered what would would become the publisher’s most recognizable hero in the slush pile.

Supes joins the ranks of Stephen King and Nicolas Sparks as book-selling personalities gracing the interiors of waste baskets and slush piles alike, with Sullivan chosing the Siegel and Shuster creator simply because it looked different than all the rest.

Who knew waste disposal systems were such fountains of creativity?

2. Spider-Man: Once again, like Siegel and Shuster, writer Stan Lee had high hopes for his bold new superhero Spider-Man - but his boss Martin Goodman didn’t. The idea of a teenager being the hero instead of the guy in short-shorts running beside the hero was a laughable one back before the dawn of the Marvel-lead Silver Age.

So Lee put Spidey on the cover of the last issue of a failed series Amazing Adult Fantasy - figuring his boss wouldn’t care about Spider-Man taking up the front page of a cancelled series. But Amazing Fantasy #15 struck a cord not just in sales, but in a fan mail explosion, one which ultimately garnered Spidey his own comic, Amazing Spider-Man.

In retrospect, Spider-Man’s success paved the way for a large number of similarly angst-ridden teen heroes, including the X-Men, Teen Titans and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But none of this wouldn’t have happened if Martin Goodman, who favored square-jawed Golden Agers like Captain America and Ka-Zar, had his way.

I mean, can you imagine a Silver Age sans the wry and skiny Spidey, replaced by the bare-chested Tarzan clone Ka-Zar?

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Unlike Stan Lee or Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird didn’t have high hopes in the least when they penciled on masks and ancient ninja gear onto four overgrown turtles - they were just brainstorming.

But still, Laird and Eastman knew something was up as a result of their accidental discovery, so they gathered funds from tax refunds and family loans to publish one single issue - parodying current comic hits like Daredevil (”The Foot Clan” to “The Hand”), New Mutants, Cerebrus and Ronin.

The resulting pop culture tidal wave was probably more than any Laird or Eastman could have prepared for. The subsequent Saturday morning cartoon, airing several years after the start of the creator’s Mirage series, included a far more humorous and self-conscious tone in contrast to the Laird and Eastman comicseries, which parodied the darker tones of Frank Miller and Dave Sim.

With the release of the latest TMNT at the box office, there’s no doubt from the box office numbers that TMNT still holds a popular grasp on pop culture.

Not surprisingly, Peter Laird was attached as executive producer of the CGI film, which beat down the competition for a No. 1 spot when it was released.