HIDE IT FROM THE KIDS
Golden Age comics writer and early Batman collaborator Jerry Robinson will see his latest comics work collected as a graphic novel by Central Park Media in December. "Astra" originally appeared as a CPM Manga four-issue series in 2001, drawn by manga artist Shojin Tanaka. According to solicitation copy, "Astra is a beautiful, blonde interstellar princess who has never seen a man, since her Amazonian race has evolved to a point where they only bear females. Now their supply of "seed" is running out, and Astra must find a male savior before her sisters all die out! Can Astra find the right combination of brains and brawn to repopulate her world, or will she just have to settle, like every other woman?" The 208-page book retails for $15.95.
INFO: Central Park Media
posted by Egon on Wednesday, November 27, 2002

ACTION GIRL ACADEMIC ARCHIVE
The Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture at Duke University is archiving Sarah Dyer's massive collection of zines and mini-comics by girls and women, reports Dyer in her online journal. In 1992 Dyer began publishing the Action Girl Newsletter, described by Dyer as "a guide to projects produced by girls, grrrls and women," widely soliciting zines and other self-published projects for review. "The Sarah Dyer Zine Collection" will be the permanent home for the literally thousands of publications amassed by Dyer during the Newsletter's run. According to the Bingham Center's newsletter, the Center is "actively collecting women's and girl's zines and comics" and welcomes donations from any source.
INFO: Duke University
INFO: Sarah's Journal
posted by Egon on Tuesday, November 26, 2002

SHEPARD: SHOW AND SELL
London's Fine Arts Society is hosting an exhibition of illustrator E H Shepard's work, priced to sell, reports the Telegraph. The 250 pieces briefly sample a massive archive of work which Shepard's heirs have been "quietly disposing of," according to the piece. On display are illustrations from Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows," miscellaneous drawings, and art created for Punch Magazine. "It is often forgotten that Shepard worked for Punch for well over half a century, eventually becoming its senior political cartoonist," reports the Telegraph. The exhibition, which opens Saturday November 30, runs through December 21.
INFO: The Telegraph
posted by Egon on Tuesday, November 26, 2002

POCKETFUL OF TINTIN
Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier have authored "The Pocket Essentials Guide to Tintin." This is the second in the line of pop-reference books to deal with a specifically comics-related topic; the first was a guide to the work of Alan Moore. According to the publisher's website, the Tintin book offers "a comprehensive and critical overview of the Tintin series... Each book is analyzed in detail, both in the context of the series, and in its larger framework: that of the comics medium and of society in general." The website lists the book with a November 2002 publication date.
INFO: Pocket Essentials
posted by Egon on Sunday, November 24, 2002

DAN CLOWES' DEATH RAY
A slightly dated but nevertheless interesting piece on Dan Clowes from the Sunday Herald, written in anticipation of "David Boring's" November 7 UK release, offers tantalizing information about Clowes' most recent work: "Clowes is still hard at work on a new graphic novel, 'The Death Ray,' about a high school kid with special powers, and is waiting to hear whether Terry Zwigoff, director of 'Ghost World' will take on the new film 'Art School Confidential.'" Eightball #23 is due in Spring, 2003.
INFO: Sunday Herald
posted by Egon on Sunday, November 24, 2002

ARMAGEDDON IT
A Seattle Times piece on the "Hysterical, Girl Comics" exhibit at the Davidson Galleries generally acknowledges the rise of the graphic novel and particularly spotlights the work of cartoonist Jessica Abel. Of the artists mentioned in the article, only Abel is a cartoonist working in the comics form; the rest are visual artists drawing upon a perceived comics idiom. The piece compares Abel's full-color "Artbabe" covers unfavorably to the original paintings: "When reproduced, the paintings flatten into cartoons. On the gallery walls, the paintings leap forward. The colors are more vibrant and the marks are more intimate in this form." However, Times writer Frances McCue does conclude that, of the artists on display, "Abel may be the most interesting because she is pushing the comic into new terrain." "Hysterical, Girl Comics" shows through November 30.
INFO: The Seattle Times
posted by Egon on Sunday, November 24, 2002

GRIST & ELLIOTT: VALUE ADDED
Newsarama runs a largely promotional piece on Paul Grist's "Jack Staff," his smart and witty homage to superhero comics filtered through the format of British comics weeklies. The piece spotlights the series' reincarnation in full color under the auspices of Image Comics and offers a first look at pages colored by cartoonist Phil Elliott.
INFO: Newsarama
posted by Egon on Sunday, November 24, 2002

COMICS JOURNAL MAKES MARKS
Comics Journal editor Milo George has posted preliminary soliciation copy for the magazine's landmark 250th issue to the Journal's message board. Available in February, 2003, the 256-page tome, priced at $12.95, boasts a lengthy interview with cartoonist/folk hero Gary Panter, who provides a gorgeously drawn, delicately tinted cover for the issue. The issue also features "a translated excerpt from Numa Sadoul’s legendary book-length interview with the great Hergé, a transcript of the historic 1976 convention panel that marked Carl Barks and John Stanley’s first public appearances as creators of some of the greatest comics of all time, [and] an all-new 'Back to the Drawing Board' interview with Dan Clowes about how he constructs his brilliant work," writes George. The Journal will also premier the first English language translation of "Neji-shiki" by Yoshiharu Tsuge. "Tsuge is a giant of Japanese comics, and this hugely influential, deeply moving and formally daring story should stand with comics like Maus as a true masterpiece." The issue will also offer the Journal's annual "Year in Review" feature.
INFO: The Comics Journal
posted by Egon on Sunday, November 24, 2002