In Which We Gear Up for an Awesome Weekend

Tom McLean at Variety lets everyone know that Jason McNamara and Tony Talbert's Continuity makes the grade:

"Talbert's art, however, is polished and detailed in the tradition of the best mainstream comics of the 1980s. Like the writing, the art also gets a lot better as the book progresses, which makes this a book you may have to have some patience to get into with the knowledge that the outcome of the occasionally bumpy ride is a good one."

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Ken Barnes picked up Sky Ape: All the Heroes at APE this year, and puts you in the know:

"All you need to know about Sky Ape, is that the following quotes occur in it.
"Rise, Liberal Arts Robot! Rise!"
"Senorita tough Guy and Reginald's Bees vs. The Swimsuit Bastards and Dmitri, the Alcoholic Cosmonaut!"
"Shiiyyeat, Yorrick! Where be yo jibes now, muthafucka?"

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Man, it's such a beautiful day today in San Francisco! The sun is shining, a gentle breeze wafts through the air, the ladies are bringing out their spring wear, Debbie Harry is bumping on the stereo, and we're Making Comics Better like nobody's business. Definitely one of those days where you can just feel the joy in the air...

Oh, comics, you're so good to me.

-Josh

In Which We Offer Up Great Bits of Entertainment in Your Time of Need

Since today is generally a day of 'rest' for some of the kids out there, AiT would like to offer a public service and point you in the direction of many things that will provide countless experiences of joy. Check out the following while you partake, chill, and head for that Costco-size bag of Ritz Bits:



What I think is the funniest comic ever published, The Annotated Mantooth, will have you rolling on the floor with its clever dialogue, wicked dirty-jokes, and all sorts of simian hijinx. You owe it to yourself to watch a gorilla super-spy fight evil Chinese robots, zombified scholars, and a world-dominating lesbian talk show host.



The Scurvy Dogs collection should have you hootin' and hollerin' with its random-pirate humor. The Monty Python of pirate comics, the Scurv is sure to tickle your funniest of bones with Portuguese Lepers and Rod Stewart all over the place.



For those of you who like to 'get deep' while you're tripping the light fantastic, I highly recommend the Demo collection. Featuring twelve stand-alone stories of people coming to grips with their unique and special gifts, Demo is sure to strike an inspirational chord. Get some friends together and pass it around.



And lastly, for the cats who just love the hot girls and the big explosions (I'm looking at you, Chief), definitely snatch up a copy of Smoke and Guns. This high-action tale of warring gangs of cigarette girls is sure to please the most refined action-lover's palate.

Voila! Now you can comfortably load up with snacks, drinks, some MF Doom beats, and whatever else tickles your fancy as you enjoy some of the greatest funny books on the planet. Be safe, have fun, and remember:

The Dude abides.

--Josh

In Which We Are Spreading the Good Word

Hey! Sorry for the late update today, but Larry and I just got back from speaking at UC Berkeley. We were part of a presentation focusing on "careers in comics" as part of a series the university is hosting on different job fields. Wow, what a blast!

Along with Professor Chip Sullivan, and Keenspot's Darren Bleuel, we chatted it up with a great group of cats about various aspects of the industry. Chip started off the panel with an awesome presentation that covered a brief history of comics, his background, and a bit of what he loves about the medium; complete with old-school slides. Darren Bleuel went a little more high-tech, showing off his webcomic skills on another projection system. Then came Larry's turn, with me playing Rogue Two to his Rogue Leader, in which he gave background on the company and then laid the floor open for questions from the eager crowd.

The hour and a half we were there seemed to just fly by as the panel fielded questions. From how to break in as a writer, to how well the manga trade deals with American artists, the folks who attended the panel had a wide range of questions. I was stoked to field a few of the questions myself; being a newcomer to the pro comics field offered me a great opportunity to show the attendees what it's like to get your start. Big thanks to UC Berkeley for having us out, and thanks to Chip and Darren for some great conversation.

But alas, there's no rest for the wicked; now we're back in the office. We've talked the talk all day, now it's time to hunker down and walk the walk. MCB, baby, Making Comics Better, 24/7.

--Josh

In Which We Offer Up a Preview of Massive Excitement

Still slaving away at the 'ol coloring tasks, so I'm just popping in to show you cool cats a preview of a character from my book that I'm really stoked about getting out. Enjoy!



--Josh

In Which Laura Gjovaag Says Some Awfully Flattering Things, A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words, and Demo Continues To Be Marketed As The Champ It Is

Josh is working like a digital dog today, finishing up print-quality front-and-back color covers for our July book, so you guys get me today.

Laura Gjovaag, she of the best-named Internet commentary site Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog, simultaneously links to and agrees with Graeme on his "Who is the Next Stan Lee?" musings. Setting aside the thought that it sounds like we're all dead when this discussion plays out, I have to say I'm extremely flattered that you put us in such fine company as Stan Lee and Warren Ellis. Just as I always tell people when they try to compare what AiT does to Image: our publishing house started with just me and the missus and a nest egg and some good ideas, and we're getting compared to seven millionaires with Spider-Man and X-Men high profiles and a spot in the front of Previews? Thanks very much! :)

So even mentioning me and the eight books I've written and our little-company-that-could in the same breath with the guy who basically invented modern comic books and has remained a vital voice in it for fifty years, and the hardest-working, most kinetic writer working, himself with a fifteen-year body of work, well... that's all very flattering. I'm uncharacteristically at a loss for words here, so I'll just quote Laura: "One thing that Larry has been doing ever since he appeared on the scene has been making comics better. The books he's been putting out have pushed the boundaries and increased the profile of really worthwhile writers and artists. I can't help but be impressed with the way he's reached out to a new generation of fans using the internet, especially since I'm one of those fans he's reached out to. I'm a person who is watching the changes in the industry with fascination, even while being a vehement fan of the old school stories. I think Larry Young is blazing a trail and showing others how it's done. You want to see where comics are going, keep an eye on Larry."

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My pal Lefty Brown asks the musical question: "When does Larry Young's The Black Diamond come out? He teased me and got me hooked with last year's sampler, and now I need my fix quick!" Looks like it's gonna be starting this fall, Lefty! Jon Proctor's cooking away at it. Worth the wait, etc.

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Greg Smyth, writing for Plan B Magazine, does a quick profile of your friend and mine, Brian Wood. "Through a judicious combination of word of mouth and keeping the issues in print, Demo became a sleeper hit. Did Wood expect such a positive response to the book? 'I was surprised. At the time it was peaking, [Demo] was by and far the most successful of my indie books. I knew the readers would be able to connect with it, but I wasn't sure how much the retail community would support it. As it turns out, they embraced it right away.'" You know, it all sounds so easy when put like that. :)

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...and, as promised, Josh and me holding down the fort late on Sunday at APE, when we'd been able to clear a spot through for Sam Boswell to take our picture:


--Larry