Linkfest: New projects and old comics

Graphic Novel Reporter, which has been in the works for a little while, launched today. With feature stories, lists of upcoming releases, and a bodacious review section (just bookmark the kids and teens areas now!), this site looks like it will be both an interesting read and a valuable resource. Full disclosure: I am a reviewer for GNR, as are fellow Good Comics for Kids bloggers Robin Brenner and Eva Volin. So you know it’s good!

There was exciting news on the manga front as well yesterday when Udon finally officially announced their Kids Manga line. The four launch titles are a mix of fantasy, sports, music, and very light sci-fi. There really aren’t a lot of titles for younger readers at the moment—mostly the kids are reading up, which isn’t necessarily a good thing—so this should be a good move. Anyway, they had me at "ninja baseball player."

Lianne Sentar does more than just review the fifth anniversary issue of Shonen Jump, she delves into the underlying psychological and marketing issues. Most of which seem to involve fries.

Free Comic Book Day is six months away, but that doesn’t stop J. Caleb Mozzocco from pre-judging the scheduled lineup. Here’s what I can’t figure out: Why don’t they call the Simpsons comic something like "The Simpsons"? I would think the brand name would be a selling point, whereas no one outside the comics world (and a lot of people inside it) knows what "Bongo" is.

Noah Berlatsky has some questions about the Justice League comic his son is reading. Back at NYCC last spring, DC’s Jann Jones remarked that a lot of the writers for their kids’ line would rather have been working on adult titles. That’s what comes through here, and Berlatsky’s takedown is pretty funny. Check the comments to Noah’s post for an interesting dissenting view, though.

Yamila Abraham, the publisher of Yaoi Press, does a year-in-review post that includes an interesting insight. YP publishes global yaoi, and the majority of their titles are rated 16+ and 18+.

There’s been steady growth in digital sales with our titles on Netcomics.com. This is the only area where we see our young adult titles continue to flourish. The audience for the site is much younger than the audience purchasing our hard-copy books.

Hmm, why do you think that is?

And now, for your holiday reading pleasure, here are some classic kids’ comics that thoughtful people have scanned in and posted on the internet, just for us: Hot Stuff, classic Big Boy comics, Zoomer: Time Out for Trouble, and a seasonal treat, Carl Barks’ Silent Night. (First link via The Comics Reporter, the others from Journalista.)

Reviews

Dave Ferraro on Courtney Crumrin and the Prince of Nowhere (Comics-and-More)
J. L. Bell on First in Space (Oz and Ends)
J. L. Bell on Fox Bunny Funny (Oz and Ends)
J. L. Bell on Good as Lily (Oz and Ends)
Tom Spurgeon on vol. 3 of The Lost Colony (The Comics Reporter)
Kevin Hodgson on The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam (The Graphic Classroom)
Billy Aguiar on Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (Prospero’s Manga)
David Welsh on Salt Water Taffy: A Climb up Mt. Barnabas (Precocious Curmudgeon)
Kris on vol. 1 of Sugar Princess: Skating to Win (Manic About Manga)
Chris Wilson on Super Friends (The Graphic Classroom)
Kris on vol. 1 of Time Stranger Kyoko (Manic About Manga)
Christopher Mautner on Tiny Tyrant (Panels and Pixels)
J. Caleb Mozzocco on The War at Ellsmere (Blog@Newsarama)

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