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Something controlling and not of this world is making its way through the thriving artistic community of Greenwich Village circa 1957 in the new comic book series Howl. Written by Alisa Kwitney with artwork by Mauricet, the first issue of Howl hits shelves this Wednesday from Ahoy Comics, and Daily Dead caught up with Alisa in a new Q&a feature to discuss the new five-issue series, including the story's connection to her parents, the fascinating (and surprising) research she conducted to prepare for the story's ’50s setting, and reteaming with the talented artist Mauricet to bring out the story's distinct ’50s pulp sci-fi style.

You can read our full Q&a with Alisa below, and be sure to keep an eye on Ahoy Comics' website for more details on Howl and their other comic book series!

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Alisa, and congratulations on Howl,...

Wonder Woman is the most enduring female superhero ever created, and though that idea may seem old hat in a world with characters like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and all of her complicated legacy), Jessica Jones, and hundreds if not thousands more, remember that when Wonder Woman debuted in 1941's "All Star Comics" #8, American women had only secured the right to vote 20 years prior. Her character emerges from early 20th century feminist movements; her creator, William Moulton Marston, was part of those, and he wanted to inspire women to be their best selves and men to listen, if not submit, to them. What better way to deliver these lessons, Marston evidently realized, then by publishing them in children's comic books when readers are at formative ages?

So, in writing a truly wondrous woman, did Marston create the world's first flying woman? Can Diana of Themyscira soar like Superman does? It varies,...

Welcome to the latest instalment of a brand-new feature here on Nerdly, where one of our comic gurus, Ian Wells, delves into comics history and dissects Comics Interview, the long-running journal of interviews and criticism from David Anthony Kraft.

A Yak With Dak

David presents us with more of the same in his Upfront editorial. Every issue reads the same, a rundown of what is in store. All information we can get from the cover. From the information we get on the cover, you would be forgiven for thinking this interview isn’t going to offer much. The two biggest interviews revolve around Dak’s friends in the industry. But as you unpack the contents page there is actually a lot to sink your teeth into. I would prefer if Dak used this space to give more real inside information on the industry. With the many hats he has worn in the industry,...

I’m sure the creators will all insist that this is totally not a superhero book, that it’s much cooler and obscure and indy and retro and hand-crafted than that. But it’s a big DC Comics book with Superman in it, whose hero is a guy with a mysterious, technologically-advanced eyeball with unexpected and plot-convenient powers, who leads a team of people in jumpsuits and drives a weird vehicle with a silly name.

So, yeah, it’s absolutely a superhero book.

Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye was a twelve-issue series — I’m not sure, at this late date, if it was meant to be mini- or maxi- or ongoing, and frankly I don’t care — from 2016-2017, about the very minor DC character of the title, who had previously appeared in some forgettable ’60s stories and a few random crossovers. It was part of the “Young Animal” line,...

For several years now, Brittany Bristow has been building her resume with a slew of made-for-tv movies for Hallmark.

She's always been in a supporting role, adding story for the leads by way of a friend or sister but always as some sort of confidant helping the main characters to become better people.

Brittany's perseverance has paid off, as she's been chosen to lead Hallmark's Holiday Date, one of the network's first movies to feature Hannukah as a significant part of it's holiday offerings. So, yes, Hanukah is now a part of #CountdowntoChristmas.

Matt Cohen also stars as an aspiring actor named Joel who agrees to take Brittany's character of Brooke home for Christmas after she's gotten dumped by a man she has previously shared with her family to be a "Mr. Christmas" type and possibly "the one." 

It's only after arriving in her hometown and getting caught up in...

With the 50th annual Comic-Con taking place in San Diego this week, Dark Horse Comics is giving fans plenty of reasons to stop by their booth #2615 and their two signing stages, as they've announced a full lineup of autograph signings and must-see panels featuring some of the most exciting writers and artists working in comics today!

Read on for Dark Horse Comics' full list of autograph signings and panels at Sdcc, and visit our Comic-Con online hub to keep up to date on all of our coverage of the convention!

"Visit Dark Horse Comics at San Diego Comic-Con to meet some of your favorite creators and get your hands on some free swag, such as comics, pins, posters, and more! Get colorin' on our communal coloring wall! The wall will feature pages from the #DHColors Coloring Book line! Canvases will vary throughout the show, featuring pages from The Witcher: Adult Coloring Book,...

James Hunt Jul 12, 2019

Ahead of the forthcoming Netflix adaptation, here's our guide to Neil Gaiman's classic comic series and what you can expect from the show...

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

A Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s breakout hit The Sandman is on the way to the delight of goths and geeks alike. But what is The Sandman, and why is this comic book series such a big deal? If you’re new to the DC Universe’s most miserable cosmic entity, we’ll try and get you up to speed below...

What is The Sandman?

We’ll start with the easy one. The Sandman was an ongoing comic series written by superstar author Neil Gaiman, when he was merely British comic book writer Neil Gaiman, and drawn by legendary artists such as Sam Keith, Kelley Jones, Dave McKean, Matt Wagner, Jill Thompson, Marc Hempel,...

John Saavedra Jun 21, 2019

Legendary adult-oriented DC imprint, Vertigo Comics, will close down by January 2020.

The iconic comics imprint that brought readers The Sandman, Preacher, Hellblazer, Fables, Y: The Last Man, and others will close its doors in 2020. According to THR, DC Comics plans to shutter Vertigo Comics, as well as young adult imprints DC Zoom and DC Ink, starting in January.

Replacing them will be three, age-specific imprints: DC Kids for ages 8-12, DC for 13 and up, and the adult-oriented DC Black Label for readers 17 and older. Series currently running under DC Zoom, Ink, and Vertigo will be integrated into these new imprints. This means that series like Sandman Universe, which expands the world of the Vertigo's most famous character, may live on under Black Label. Additionally, projects previously announced for Black Label before the restructure will still be published by the imprint.

THR reports that DC's pop-up labels,...

Written by Neil Gaiman, Simon Spurrier | Art by Bilquis Evely | Published by DC Vertigo | Format: Paperback, 200pp

Ah, Vertigo, the house that Neil built. Gaiman that is. Without Neil Gaiman there would probably be no Vertigo, or at least not the successful imprint it became. Being fair, it’s also right to say without Editor Karen Berger there would definitely be no Vertigo as not only did she recruit Neil Gaiman to work at DC, she also brought in Grant Morrison, Jamie Delano and Peter Milligan among others and brought a new sensibility to DC. If there’s one thing Americans like, its British cynicism. As a side note, Neil Gaiman wrote one of my favourite books ever, Death: The High Cost of Living, which as a dedicated superhero fan is saying something. Death, of course, was one of The Endless, and The Endless featured prominently in The Sandman and,...

Jim Dandy Dec 28, 2018

Invisible Kingdom, the new book from G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward, looks stunning.

Hey, remember that time we said that Christian Ward should be allowed to draw whatever Marvel space comics he wanted? Good news, everyone! Dark Horse was listening! Or more specifically, Karen Berger.

Berger, the legendary DC/Vertigo editor who threw open the doors to the 80s "British Invasion" that brought us Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, and others, is now curating her own line of comics at Dark Horse: Berger Books. In the next wave of Berger Books, we're getting Invisible Kingdom from Ward and G. Willow Wilson, the creator of Kamala Khan and the newest ongoing Wonder Woman scribe. And Den of Geek has your exclusive first look at pages!

When the book was announced in July ahead of San Diego Comic Con, Wilson said "Christian Ward's art...

Venom #1 (2018) has arrived and in it, the relationship between Venom and Eddie Brock is at risk when a new threat arrives. Also: Robocop: Citizens Arrest #2, Bprd: The Devil You Know #6, Pumpkinhead #3, Hungry Ghosts #4, Oblivion Song #3, Monstress #16, Ghost Money #10, and Rose #11.

Venom #1 (2018): "In the wake of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s collapse, an ancient and primordial evil has been awakened beneath the streets of New York, and with it, something equally evil has awakened in that most Wicked of Webslingers – Venom! Still a Lethal Protector of the innocents in New York, this never-before-seen threat could force Venom to relinquish everything it holds dear – including Eddie Brock! Join two of the hottest creators in comics today, Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, for a Venom adventure a thousand years in the making!

Written by

Donny Cates

Art by

Ryan Stegman

Cover by

Ryan Stegman

About Book

Page Count

32 Pages

Print...

Look, I don’t think I can describe it better than I did a couple of weeks ago when this book entered my house, so let me quote myself:

Twenty years or so ago, everything in corporate comics had to be an event. The Vertigo “line” at DC was actually a bunch of entirely separate comics with a rough shared audience and stance, but they had to have a big Event in their annuals (which they also had to have) in 1993. It was called The Children’s Crusade, and there were bookend standalone comics that the various individual comics’ annuals slotted in between, more or less. It was not the most successful experiment. After a couple of decades, though, someone at DC realized they had a couple of issues written or co-written by [Neil] Gaiman that were sitting uncollected and not making them any money. So they commissioned a new team...

Incognegro returns this month, this time at Dark Horse Comics’ Berger Books imprint, headed up by vastly influential former Vertigo editor Karen Berger. To commemorate both the new edition of the 2008 original and the new prequel miniseries Incognegro: Renaissance, Dark Horse has produced a trailer for both comics by writer Mat Johnson and artist Warren Pleece, and Cbr has the first look.

Mata Hari is a fascinating character: an exotic, enigmatic woman who used her fabled powers of seduction to extract secrets from the enemy. Or did she? Peel away the veils of history, and her story looks very different; modern scholars see her not as an unscrupulous spy but as a victim of politics and the sexual mores of the time.

Related: Karen Berger Aims for ’Something Different’ with Berger Books Lineup...

Zane Pinchback is a light-skinned Black man who changes his identity when he travels to the Jim Crow south, posing as a white man to investigate lynchings and the Klan in the 1930s. He’s the hero of the graphic novel Incognegro, by Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece, which was first published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint in 2008.

Now Incognegro is back as one of the initial offerings from Berger Books, former Vertigo executive editor Karen Berger’s new imprint at Dark Horse Comics. The original graphic novel has a new cover and the art — formerly stark black and white — is now toned, but the story is the same: A sophisticated murder mystery about people who take on new identities for purposes of their own. The book will be out in February.

Hungry Ghosts debuts later this month, the inaugural series from Dark Horse Comics’ Berger Books imprint. Not only does this mark the full-time comics industry return of legendary former Vertigo editor Karen Berger, it’s also the first comic book work by noted chef and author Anthony Bourdain since the two Get Jiro! graphic novels.

Related: Joel Rose & Anthony Bourdain Tell Weird Scary Stories in Hungry Ghosts...

So exhausted last night. And aggravated. Got stuck in a major traffic jam on the New Jersey Turnpike that was so bad I finally said fuck this, made an illegal u-turn, backtracked and got off the turnpike, and drove through side streets in Newark and Jersey City until I finally got home 3½ hours after I had left my starting point. By that time I had to pee so badly I was actually in pain, and I was cursing as I parked the car because I knew that at any minute I was going to wet my pants, and then of course, the straps on one of my bags broke and the contents went spilling all over the street, so by the time I actually got into my apartment building’s elevator I knew it was a lost cause, despite the Kegel’s, and yes, ladies and gentlemen, I wet my pants.

DC in the 80s is a Webzine for the DC Comics Fans with an affinity for 80s comics. It’s fun, upbeat and engaging. Justin Francoeur and Mark Belkin keep the fan fires burning with wit and a great degree of nostalgic professionalism. I’m fascinated by the their endeavor, so I reached out to discuss it with them.

Ed Catto: Can you tell me a little bit about the site and how it came about?

Justin Francoeur: My formative years of comic book reading were during the early 80s to the early-to-mid 90s. Roughly six years ago, there wasn’t much on the Internet about DC Comics from the 80s (or it was scattered all over the place and not easy to find) so I decided to make a tumblr blog specifically spotlighting the house ads of that era. There were a lot of ‘buried gems’ in that time...

Every few years I write a real world advice article for young creators. My Bad Boy Studio mentor program has produced some exceptional graduates working in comics, television, illustration and related media.

I’ve also taught and/or lectured at The Joe Kubert School, Pratt Institute, The School Of Visual Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, the High School Of Art & Design and yadda, yadda, whatever.

Quick note; Yogi Berra said it best: “It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”

So save your “Davis is bragging bullshit” comments for someone who hasn’t done what I’ve done.

You do that, and I’ll spare you how I wrote the curriculum for the Art School of the Museum of Modern Art and how my name is on a arts magnet school in East Orange New Jersey and, no, I didn’t write MOTU187 in spray-paint on the building.

Sequart Organization is proud to announce the publication of The British Invasion: Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, and the Invention of the Modern Comic Book Writer, by Greg Carpenter.

Moore. Gaiman. Morrison.

They came from Northampton, West Sussex, and Glasgow, and even though they spoke with different dialects, they gave American comics a new voice – one loud and clear enough to speak to the Postmodern world. Like a triple-helix strand of some advanced form of DNA, their careers have remained irrevocably intertwined. They go together, like Diz, Bird, and Monk… or like Kerouac, Burroughs, and Ginsberg… or like the Beatles, the Stones, and the Who.

Taken individually, their professional histories provide an incomplete picture of comics’ British Invasion, but together they redefined the concept of what it means to be a comic book writer. Collectively, their story is arguably the most important one of the modern comics era.

The British Invasion: Alan Moore,...

In the early 1970s, when I was in college, I went to hear Gloria Steinem speak. The modern version of the feminism movement was still in its early stages. My memory of the talk is fuzzy, but I remember her recounting the reaction of men on the left to women’s issues:

“She walks! She talks! She gets down on there belly and slithers like a snake! It’s – a woman who thinks!”

That quote kept coming to my mind while watching She Makes Comics, a terrific new documentary directed by Marisa Stotter. I say “terrific” because it is a thorough overview of women who have worked in the comics industry, from newspaper strips to cosplay costumers. To quote from the promotional material: “Featuring dozens of interviews with such vital figures as Ramona Fradon, Trina Robbins, Joyce Farmer, Karen Berger, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and Becky Cloonan, She Makes Comics is...

Director: Marisa Stotter; Featuring: Karen Berger, Gail Simone, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Jenette Kahn, Becky Cloonan, Colleen Doran, Wendi Pini, Kate Leth, Raina Telgemeier, Marjorie Liu, Louise Simonson, Heidi MacDonald; Running time: 110 mins

The issues faced by women in comics are perennial but have been particularly visible in recent years - whether it is in terms of people speaking out about poor treatment, creators and fans saying appalling things or, on better days, representation and inclusion actually improving in the industry.

There's a whole lot to say on the matter, and today (December 9) director Marisa Stotter's documentary She Makes Comics has arrived to have its say.

The film has done a fantastic job of representing the new and old guard of comics, with interviewees including Jenette Kahn, Louise Simonson, Colleen Doran, Wendi Pini, Kate Leth, Becky Cloonan, Raina Telgemeier, Marjorie Liu, journalist Heidi MacDonald and many more.

Particularly spotlighted are...

2000 Ad has become a British institution since its launch in 1977, bringing characters to the world including Nemesis the Warlock, Rogue Trooper, Nikolai Dante and, of course, the one-and-only Judge Dredd.

Future Shock! The Story of 2000 Ad is a documentary that takes in the highs (and lows) of the comic's history, with interviews with Pat Mills, Kevin O'Neill, Andy Diggle, Karen Berger, Dave Gibbons, Lauren Beukes, Leah Moore and many more.

Ahead of the film's premiere as part of BFI's Sci-Fi: Days of Fear and Wonder season, we spoke to director Paul Goodwin, producer Sean Hogan and executive producer Nick Harwood about the past and future of 2000 Ad, Alan Moore and taking dinner with Pat Mills:

What made you decide to tell the story of 2000 Ad?

Sean: "We were at college together. After that, we went our separate ways. We'd always spoken about doing something one day. And we were...

Sequart has launched a Kickstarter for its latest project She Makes Comics.

Directed by Marisa Stotter, the film will celebrate female comic creators and fans.

The film is currently under production, and will feature appearances by Karen Berger, Shelly Bond, Joyce Farmer, Jackie Estrada, Chris Claremont, Lauren Bregman and many more.

"Our project intends to emphasise the valuable contributions women have made since the Golden Age of comics," reads the Kickstarter campaign.

"They may not be as recognisable as Will Eisner or Stan Lee, but we hope to make some of comics' most prolific women into household names by showcasing their talents and contributions."

Sequart's previous films include Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts.

The campaign has currently been pledged $6,655 (£4,083) of its $41,500 (£25,500) goal.

The She Makes Comics Kickstarter will close on March 7.

World-renowned comic book artist Joe Kubert has passed away in hospital at the age of 85. News of the creator's death broke over Twitter when Watchmen illustrator Dave Gibbons offered confirmation from hospital sources. "Reliable source confirms that Joe Kubert had been in hospital and has passed away. So sorry to hear this. A great artist and a great man," Gibbons wrote. This was followed by a tweet from Richard Bruning, husband of Vertigo executive editor Karen Berger: "Joe Kubert one of the finest men I've (more)...

DC Comics had grand plans for its 75th anniversary but most of them were shelved when the company evolved into DC Entertainment and the mandate was to look ahead, not back. Still, there’s the mammoth book coming from Taschen and this month we’re being treated to the documentary Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics. Narrated by next summer’s Green Lantern, Ryan Reynolds, the 90 minute feature explores the company from beginning through today but given the wealth of subject matter, at best, this is a surface study.

The documentary makes good use of archival footage from creators no longer with us and mixes them in with fresh interviews so we hear from executives, writers, artists, and many of those who built the company. Among those you will see on screen include Neal Adams, Irwin Hasen, Marv Wolfman, Mark Waid, Dan Didio, Jim Lee, Paul Levitz, Walter and Louise Simonson,...

Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, an impressive documentary is coming your way November 9th.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents an enthralling examination of the creative forces behind the World’s Greatest Super Heroes in Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics, an all-new documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes of the iconic company with unprecedented access to the Warner Bros. and DC Comics archives. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics will be distributed by Warner Home Video on November 9, 2010 on DVD – also available On Demand and for Download.

Behind the amazing tales of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and a host of other well-known characters is the equally impressive story of the challenges, creativity and triumphs of the company that brought those characters to life. Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics is both a celebration of the best writers and artists in comics and a thoughtful...

Yesterday we got a look at the San Diego Comic-Con 2010 schedule for Wednesday and Thursday of the show, and today the Friday schedule has landed online.

You can read the whole Friday lineup at the Comic-Con website, but heed this warning: It's intimidating, to say the least.

I've sifted through it to find some of the events you might be particularly interested from the worlds of comics, movies, television, games, and anything else that seemed appropriately awesome. Feel free to chime in via the comment section with the panels, events, and other fun stuff you want to check out Friday.

We're big fans of "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" animated series here at Splash Page HQ, and the added bonus of a "Young Justice" premiere has this one underlined on our Comic-Con schedule:

10:30-11:30 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Screening and Q&A— The Caped Crusader...

The Vertigo Encyclopedia

By Alex Irvine

Dk Publishing, September 2008, $29.99

There are few ways to produce a traditional encyclopedia, usually beginning with an alphabetical listing. Most come with illustrations and are written in an academic style with little in the way of adjectives let alone opinions. Graphic presentation may be the key difference between one publisher and another. The role of illustrations grew in importance largely when Microsoft introduced Encarta.

Leave it to Vertigo to show how things can be done in another way entirely. The DC Comics imprint was a natural evolution from a line of titles, largely edited by Karen Berger, in the late 1980s as writers such as Alan Moore, Jamie Delano and Grant Morrison began taking fresh looks at the occult and many of DC’s more offbeat creations.

Once the line was on its own, it quickly found its voice and thanks to DC’s design department,...