L'ASSOCIATION MAKES PLANS
The Comics Journal's "Eurocomics for Beginners" columnist Bart Beatty posted an English-language synopsis of L'Association's latest news release to the Journal's message board. According to Beatty, the last volume of Satrapi's "Persepolis" will be published in August with the last volume of David B.'s "L'Ascension du Haut-Mal" due in October. (Fantagraphics' Kim Thompson incidentally projects a summer 2004 release date for Epileptic vol. 2, completing the English-language translation of David B.'s cartoon memoir.) Beatty further reports: "Joann Sfar gives us Piano, probably about 400 pages, just so that he can publish more than 1000 pages of diary comics in 2003 (not a joke). Lewis Trondheim presents Bleu, 40 pages of experimental non-figurative comics... For 2004, some highlights will include... a 365 page diary comic from Julie Doucet. Plus L'Association goes to India, and a new collection (Archives) will dredge up the past of the six founding members... Plus new books from Woodring, Blanquet, Max Andersson, J-C Forest, Lewis Trondheim and on and on and on."
INFO: The Comics Journal
posted by Egon on Saturday, July 12, 2003

RETURN OF THE GAUL
The French Associated Press reports a new upcoming volume of previously uncollected Asterix stories by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. "Astérix et la rentrée gauloise" compiles fourteen stories, twelve of which had been published in various ephemeral publications and two of which are previously unseen. Of those two, one was created in 1986 for the Olympic Games and the other was drawn by Uderzo specifically for this volume. This is the first album of Asterix comics bearing the names of Goscinny and Uderzo since Goscinny's 1977 death and will include commentary from Uderzo offering historical context for each story. The book is due for August 29 release.
INFO: Yahoo! Actualités
posted by Egon on Saturday, July 12, 2003

TCJ: ELDER, GROTH SPEAK
The Comics Journal's website has been updated to preview the upcoming issue, number 254. The site includes extracts from Gary Groth's interview with Will Elder and from Groth's essay, "A Bill Of Goods: Or 'Why The Death Of Criticism Couldn't Have Come At A Worse Time.'"
INFO: The Comics Journal
posted by Egon on Saturday, July 12, 2003

ESCAPE TO REALITY
Newsarama carries a press release from Dark Horse announcing "Michael Chabon Presents... The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist," a quarterly series featuring characters from the author's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay." "The Dark Horse anthology will present tales of the Escapist and his cohorts set in the style of various comic book eras from the 40's through today. Chabon will guide the direction of the series as well as contribute to writing original stories. Other artists and writers will be announced in coming months."
INFO: Newsarama
posted by Egon on Saturday, July 12, 2003

OLIVEROS' BOOKSENSE
Booksense, a website for independent booksellers, runs an interview with Drawn and Quarterly publisher Chris Oliveros. Oliveros briefly outlines his company's origins and advocates sensitive, topical organization of graphic novels within bookstores.
INFO: Booksense
posted by Egon on Friday, July 11, 2003

EYE ON KRAMERS
Toronto's Eye Magazine talks to Sammy Harkham about Kramers Ergot #4. Harkham articulates some of the concerns that led him to organize the 328-page, full color anthology: "Everyone is trying to copy that 'graphic novel sequential art' thing, and it's getting people away from comic books... You don't have to talk about issues for it to be art. We'll show people it's art by doing work that's honest and pure and from the heart."
INFO: Eye
posted by Egon on Thursday, July 10, 2003

NINTH 9E ART
Thierry Groensteen's Editions de l'An 2 publishing house announces the October release of 9e Art magazine's ninth issue. The magazine will include features on Lorenzo Mattotti, Fabrice Neaud and Carl Barks and will cost 17.50 Euros. Mattoti's cover art can be previewed online.
INFO: Editions de l'An 2
posted by Egon on Thursday, July 10, 2003

FERRAILLE RETURNS: TO STAY?
Comics magazine Ferraille Illustré returns this summer with a third issue and a warning of dire consequences should the new edition fail to sell in sufficient numbers. The new issue boasts work by Christophe Blain, Blutch, Lewis Trondheim and many more. However, Albigensian editors "Les Requins Marteaux" warn that their endeavor is threatened by poor newsstand sales.
INFO: BDNews.net
posted by Egon on Thursday, July 10, 2003

SPECIAL BROKEN PENCIL
Beneath a cover illustration by profiled artist Dave Cooper lies the comics issue of Canada's Broken Pencil magazine, including pieces on "Phoebe Gloeckner..., dirty comics, Toronto Comics Arts Fest coverage... not to mention local faves m@b, Marc Ngui, and Marc Bell." Supplemental material on the magazine's website includes an "interview with Native comics artist Tania Willard."
INFO: Broken Pencil
posted by Egon on Monday, July 07, 2003

LOCUS' FOCUS
Charles Vess guests-edits the current issue of Locus Magazine, subtitled "Locus Looks at Graphic Novels." The issue includes essays by Neil Gaiman and Bryan Talbot, among others, and an interview with Alan Moore, excerpted online.
INFO: Locus Magazine
posted by Egon on Monday, July 07, 2003

DEITCH FAMILY RADIO
The July 6 episode of NPR's "All Things Considered" included an interview with father and son cartoonists Gene and Kim Deitch, Cartoon Research reports. "We recorded it, with Kim in a New York radio studio, and me here in a local radio station in Prague," Gene Deitch told Cartoon Research. "It was great fun. We were discussing each other's new books, and our various thoughts on our father and son creative cross-fertilization. It was a great high for me to participate in this transatlantic dialog." NPR radio broadcasts are available online as streaming audio files.
INFO: NPR: All Things Considered
INFO: Cartoon Research
posted by Egon on Monday, July 07, 2003

POSY ON POUNDS
Andy Roberts' online journal features an excerpt of his interview with Jonathan Cape Publishing Director Dan Franklin, focusing specifically on that company's graphic novel publishing, BugPowder reports. Franklin briefly describes Posy Simmonds' next graphic novel: "It's about obesity. It's fantastic. And it's about what it’s like being hugely fat. I don't know what the public are going to think of that. But the pictures are unbelievable."
INFO: Andy Roberts
posted by Egon on Monday, July 07, 2003

HOSLER GETS PRESS
An Associated Press article on Jay Hosler's "Sandwalk Adventures" examines the comic series' firm scientific basis and potential pedagogical use. The comics dialectically explain Darwin's theory of evolution and have recently been collected as a graphic novel.
INFO: Phillyburbs.com
posted by Egon on Monday, July 07, 2003

ARAGONES IN OXNARD
The Ventura County Star spotlights Sergio Aragones's recent workshop at Oxnard's Ventura County Maritime Museum. The prolific cartoonist comments on the timelesness of his pantomime gag cartoons: "Famine, stupidity ... there are still tyrants ... you see people who are poor...It hasn't changed."
INFO: Ventura County Star
posted by Egon on Monday, July 07, 2003