Friday, 06/26/2009 - 11:09 am
by Stefan Halley
Friday, 06/26/2009 - 11:09 am
by Stefan Halley
Thursday, 04/30/2009 - 10:58 pm
by Ken Lowery
You can’t swing a bought-out journalist these days without hitting a screed of free-floating rage directed at Twitter. I suppose it’s understandable: the newspaper business these days makes real estate speculation look positively stable by comparison, and there are a lot of career writers looking down the barrel of a future in which very few people may get paid a livable wage to write. These folks need someone to blame, and their apprehension is understandable, if ultimately not supportable.
But it’s a little less understandable when those screeds come from other netizens. It’s easy enough to find blog and LiveJournal posts about the vanity of Twitter, but a damn sight harder to find a blogger or LJer who recognizes that people were saying the same damn thing about their venues not a few years ago. I suppose there’s no one so vicious as a dreg with some scrap of seniority.
Which brings me to Heidi MacDonald and the non-scandal surrounding a few Twitterers employed at Marvel Comics. (Or Marvel Entertainment or Marvel Respectable or Marvel We Are Big Boys or whatever they’re calling themselves now.) The boys at Marvel were acting a little unprofessional and some net etiquette was breached, but as even Heidi notes, this was a bit of a non-story. Nominal comics “professionals” acting like children is a dog-bites-man scenario if ever there was one.
Have no fear. Heidi uses this flimsy pretext to hobble together a series of thoughts and quotes to prove—I don’t know, that society is crumbling all around us because people use Twitter or something. Setting aside the black-hole-intensity irony of someone defending “old media” from the vapidity of that newfangled e-thing called Twitter on their blog for a moment, I’ll be responding to her post point by point. This may seem a disjointed way to respond, but then, the original post was rather disjointed itself.
Monday, 03/30/2009 - 8:25 pm
by PopSyn Admin
Digital comics threatening retail stores just like the internet versus dead tree newspapers is a false comparison. At least so far.
Friday, 02/06/2009 - 10:42 am
by PopSyn Admin
There’s absolutely nothing happening this weekend.
Well, there’s one thing happening. Some kind of gathering about things that use to be about comics, but now revolve around movie spoilers and tv show panels. What a con.
Robot 6 has it right though. All the blogs in the world won’t keep you as up to date about the NYCC events as a few twitter accounts to follow.
My favorite Twitter post so far? JoeQuesada Hey @JimMcCann where’s our booth this year?
In other news…
My gloom and doom over online sales tax is coming to fruition. First New York, now Florida. Oregon may be the only place left after too long.
Aron Head brings some common sense to a common sense starved blog post.
Obama likes Batman too. Expect a bunch of upcoming Batman varient-reprint-palooza as well.
Wizard World Chicago is now Wizard Chicago Comic-Con. Why they changed their name is up for speculation, but out right calling themselves Chicago Comic-Con is probably a matter of brand recognition.
It’s not the printers that are expensive, it’s the ink. Spranq has come up with a font that uses 20% less ink by putting a bunch of white dots in the letters, yet look practically impossible to tell at a normal text type size. Maybe this would be a good way to bring comic book prices down.
Here’s another way for the Big 2 to bring comic book prices down. MOVE!
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Thursday, 02/05/2009 - 8:43 am
by PopSyn Admin
Let’s spin the Blog-o-fortune wheel and see where it lands! (Bankrupt, Wah! Wah!)
In yesterday’s post about Newsarama’s need to edit its typos and homophobic posts, the few comments that got through (I tried a few times early on, but only got Word Press errors) were met with grace a dignity. And by grace and dignity, I mean dismissive and sardonic.
Sigh…
I’m even less interested in teaching people to read than I am in explaining jokes Richard. I didn’t mean “gay” as in “lame” I meant “gay” as in “gay,” as I wrote. Am I supposed to rewrite the same thing again because you made a comment? Will repetition somehow make it clear?
Does being compared to a superhero personally offend you? Because it used to be the other way around, where superhero fans found people calling their superheroes gay which offended them. Progress!
Anyway, be offended or don’t be offended, comment or don’t comment, read or don’t read—it’s a big Internet. I’m sure you’ll find something else to your tastes if we’re not.
And by “teaching people” what gay vs gay mean, he’s addressing a gay owner of an Eisner Award winning comic shop. But he’s right in that it’s a big internet. Readers (and writers) have moved on from Newsarama, even if it’s still a major news site with a large public profile with little concern for its readers.
In other news
Let’s send some local love to the D-Hop. David Hopkins is excited about How To Lose Big with artist Paul Milligan. Sounds like it’s coming along nicely. Can’t wait to read it. Also, they write a mean comics strip on D Magazine.
Not related to comics, but if you were ever relieved Twilight finally left the theaters, you’re not alone.
Alan Gardner found an article about comics transitioning to the internet. That’s not too groundbreaking (seems every other day that Marvel Comics takes one step closer to publishing their comics online as they hit the shelves), but the article brings up an interesting point when it comes to webcomic artists crossing over into print; using the web to decide what’s worth the ink. (link)
Um, there are real superheroes? (World Superhero Registry)
Isaac Magaña takes another stab at reading Watchmen.
And lastly, as we near the non-stop coverage of NYCC, Kevin Laurie explains a bit about this crazy thing called ‘con’ so we can all be better geeks.
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Wednesday, 02/04/2009 - 9:32 am
by PopSyn Admin
Because Newsarama asked for it.. literally, and because they couldn’t bother to think through why their post might come off slightly homophobic.
Make your own superheroes are gay joke: “Calling all superheroes and fairies”
Ya, it’s about a kids event. Something that sounds like a lot of fun for kids in fact. How about these ones?
It’s not your daddy’s faerie gathering.
And the best Pink Lantern costume goes to…
Pixie dust is the new kryptonite.
X-men’s Pixie caught in the middle.
Kid’s costume event puts Wonder Woman in a tutu.
However, no amount of clapping would bring Superboy back.
Also known as Brian Andersen’s homecoming (Sorry, Brian, you’re super to me).
See what you can do with context? Better luck next time.
Post your caption.
Wednesday, 02/04/2009 - 3:48 am
by PopSyn Admin
Each week, Barry raises from his slumber of gin and cigarettes, dusts himself off, sees his shadow—six more weeks of winter!
Zeus Comics manager gives us his picks for this “I can’t believe it’s not Final Crisis” new comics Wednesday. Check out Zeus Comics for more comic goodness.
SECRET WARRIORS #1
He’s back! After a long hiatus and subsequent return in Secret Invasion, Nick Fury is back to lead the next generation of heroes in a saga set to unlock the deepest secrets of the Marvel Universe. Written by Jonathan Hickman (creator of Nightly News) and Brian Michael Bendis (pick a Marvel title, he’s probably written it), with art by Stefano Caselli.
CABLE #11
Cable’s still in the future with the so-called “mutant messiah”, Bishop’s still crazy, so no news there. However, Phonogram fans take note! Jamie McKelvie kicks off his two-issue arc along with regular writer Duane Swierczynski, as Cable and his young charge take another blind step into the far-flung future, facing danger around every turn.
SECRET SIX #6
Last month’s jaw-dropping shocker of an ending left us almost speechless, so we expect writer Gail Simone to leave us in total sweaty-palmed terror by the end of this one! The Secret Six—-or what’s left of them—-are determined to complete their mission to Gotham City, but what they don’t realize is just how dangerous the city has become since a certain Dark Knight’s “departure”. All that, plus more fantastic art form Nicola Scott and an “Origins & Omens” back-up!
FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #3
Grant Morrison’s chaotically epic Crisis may be done, but for the heroes of the 31st century, the madness has just begun. As the Legionnaires attempt to recruit the last of the Green Lantern Corps, Earth falls under attack from Superboy Prime and his Legion of Super-Villains. Three Brainies are better than one, and if they can stop snapping at each other for half a panel, they may find a way to pull together their three Legions and score a victory. Written by Geoff Johns, art by George Perez and Scott Koblish.
Thursday, 01/29/2009 - 12:05 pm
by PopSyn Admin
Online retailers double take at NY sales tax law. Why does a new law that should be good news for Amazon.com competitors have them worrying (see flood gates)?
Not all comic book shops have an online store, or even an ebay store. Dealing with local sales tax is enough of a headache without trying to figure out tax rates for every state. Luckily, the Supreme Court said not to worry about out of state customers for sales tax purposes (Quill Corp. v. North Dakota). The precedent being that retailers not based in a state should have to collect sales tax in that state. But New York’s latest tax law goes after companies like (or specifically) Amazon and Overstock who have affiliates in the state by equating them as an extension of the business itself. Amazons reaction was to challenge it, Overstocks was to drop their affiliates.
On one hand this is good news for small shops who sell online. For comic shops who would go broke offering the price break found on most Amazon graphic novels listings, they now have a clear advantage over Amazon by offering their goods tax free. In fact, some groups like American Bookseller Association were please with the law singling out their toughest competitor, claiming that for too long, e-retailers skirt the law.
The bad news? NY Courts have already dismissed Amazon’s lawsuit against the state even though they don’t have a physical presence in the state. And while Amazon is sure to carry this all the way to the Supreme Court, this tax law could become granularized down to the county level. And why not? Our economy is the worst it has been in our lifetime. Cities, counties, and states have to figure out new ways of getting tax revenue and passing laws on the last bastion of unregulated commerce is too tempting to pass up. New York is also considering collecting taxes on digital downloads which are currently tax-exempt. Georgia, in the midst of major budget shortfalls, is already throwing around the idea of taxing online sales. North Carolina just proposed a law to expand their sales tax code to included digital purchases as well. And the other 7,500+ tax collecting entities will want their piece of the pie as well.
Online stores which collect under 10k from NY Residents annually are except from this law. However, the precedent this sets is worrisome to shops who already have enough burdening tax laws to contend with. In Texas, for example, retail stores pay a property tax on any inventory that hasn’t sold. All those back issues that comic enthusiasts love when they walk into their favorite store actually cost the store money.
Amazon is fighting this and the 43 other states who collect sales tax are watching in earnest. So is your local comic shop.
*notice the Stranger with Candy reference.
Wednesday, 01/28/2009 - 4:40 am
by PopSyn Admin
In Dallas, the roads are frozen over. But because of one shop owner’s (who shall remain nameless) constant twitching over his commute to the dock workers, we all got our comics yesterday.
Here are Barry’s picks for today. You know they’re god ones because even after he was able to read these comic yesterday evening, he did not change his mind.
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #50
Well, here we go again. Another final issue, another wave goodbye at another iteration of one of DC’s most beloved but puzzlingly lowest selling group titles. This one surely had its ups and downs, and not even the scripting skills of Jim Shooter and some truly fantastic art from Francis Manapul and John Livesay could save this baby. And while we still have several issues of Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds to look forward to, who knows what the future will bring for the heroes of the 31st century? For now, just sit back and enjoy the finale, as a Legionnaire returns, another one bites the dust, and the Legion find themselves in all-out war to save the universe!
CAPTAIN AMERICA #46
James “Bucky” Barnes is the new Captain America. Deal with it, alright? Steve Rogers is dead, and he’s never coming back! Well, not until Ed Brubaker or the next writer says so, anyway. Where were we? Yeah, so Bucky is the new Cap, and with the world in turmoil after the events of Secret Invasion, he’s really got his work cut out for him. His latest adventure sees him either fighting or teaming up with Prince Namor. Our bet’s on “both”.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #130
Okay, let’s face it—-Ultimatum is a big fat mess. Just because you could conceivably kill everyone in the Ultimate Marvel Universe and it not affect much else doesn’t mean you should. But if there’s one good thing that could come out of this nightmare of bad writing and ill-conceived death and destruction, it’s that writer Brian Michael Bendis gets to put his favorite little wallcrawler through his paces, pitting him against a threat that he can scarcely conceive let alone fight. And of course, it wouldn’t be an issue of Ultimate Spider-Man without the fantastic drawing skills of Stuart Immonen.
FINAL CRISIS #7
That last issue was quite a firecracker, so one’s mind can only brim with wonder at the sheer madness this last chapter in Grant Morrison’s epic tale of New Gods and multiversal disaster will bring. Superman has returned from his own wild adventure in the pages of Final Crisis: Superman Beyond, only to find the earth in ruins and little hope left in the fight against the Evil Gods. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Morrison always makes good use of the brilliance of Batman to pull out a crazy scheme and save the day. So no worries, the earth will be saved! Oh, perhaps we spoke too soon. Anyway, expect surprises, shocks, and thrills as Superman and the heroes from across the multiverse unite to defeat the lingering threat of cosmic collapse!
Monday, 01/26/2009 - 10:42 am
by PopSyn Admin
Ringtone posts are interspersed through out the years of posts on Mike Wieringo’s website. See here. Something tells me Mike—rest his soul—didn’t put them there.
You know, there’s a special place in hell for people to hack sites of deceased.
