Links: Leapin’ lizards!

True or false: when Harold Gray originally pitched Little Orphan Annie, the lead character was, in fact, a boy named Otto. Brian Cronin has the answer in his latest Comic Book Legends Revealed column, in which he looks at this famous Depression-era strip.

It’s time for the annual Top Shelf sale, in which everything but the light fixtures is marked down 25-75%. Discounts extend to such popular kids’ titles as Dragon Puncher, Johnny Boo, Korgi, and Owly, as well as brand-new releases such as Okie Dokie Donuts. Don’t procrastinate, though: the sale only runs through September 23rd.

Though Blue Exorcist topped Nielsen BookScan’s adult graphic bestseller list for August 2011, ICv2 reports that overall manga sales are down from the same period in 2010.

NPR contributor Glen Weldon reviews the summer in superhero movies.

Did you know that About.com Guide Aaron Albert is a licensed elementary school teacher? To prove his credentials, he shares a lesson plan on note-taking, using The Amazing Spider-Man to teach fourth, fifth, and sixth graders how to organize information and develop an outline.

Dark Horse has rescued cult favorite FLCL from licensing limbo; look for a two-in-one omnibus edition in 2012. The series was originally published by Tokyopop, and has been out of print for years.

Avid podcaster Ed Sizemore assembles an all-star team to discuss the latest developments in digital manga distribution. As an added bonus, Ed has compiled a comprehensive set of links to digital manga sites, apps, and articles.

And speaking of digital comics, Kiel Phegley looks at Archie Comics’ efforts to expand its electronic offerings. Among the projects the Archie staff is most excited about is Jinx, a digital-only update on the Lil’ Jinx series. Over at The Beat, Heidi MacDonald adds her two cents on Archie’s digital initiatives.

Reviews: Rob McMonigal sings the praises of Joey Weiser’s self-published Monster Isle: Big Monster Stuff, a humorous series that answers the age-old question, “What do Japanese movie monsters do in their spare time?” Over at Robot 6, J. Caleb Mozzocco reviews an assortment of titles, including Nate Powell’s Any Empire and Chris Eliopoulos’ Okie Dokie Donuts: Open for Business.

Tanya on Americus (books4yourkids)
Danica Davidson on vol. 1 of Antique Bakery (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Brian Cronin on Archie Freshman Year: Book Two (Comics Should Be Good)
John Platt on Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Tanya on Bake Sale (books4yourkids)
Anna Neatrour on vols. 9-10 of Black Bird (Manga Report)
Anna Neatrour on vol. 2 of Cardcaptor Sakura (Manga Report)
Sarah Sammis on Cat the Cat, Who Is That? (Puss Reboots)
Brigid Alverson on Chimichanga (Robot 6)
Danica Davidson on vols. 1-2 of ChocoMimi (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Chris Wilson on Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Predators (The Graphic Classrom)
Suzette Chan on The Lives of Sacco and Vanzetti (Sequential Tart)
Johanna Draper Carlson on My Boyfriend Is a Monster: Made for Each Other (Comics Worth Reading)
Johanna Draper Carlson on My Boyfriend Is a Monster: Under His Spell (Comics Worth Reading)
Collin David on Secret Warriors, Vol. 4: Last Ride of the Howling Commandos (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Greg McElhatton on Static Shock, no. 1 (Read About Comics)
Chris Wilson on Teaching Graphic Novels: Practical Strategies for the Secondary ELA Classroom (The Graphic Classroom)
Greg McElhatton on Troop 142 (Read About Comics)
Xavier Xerxes on Zahra’s Paradise (ComixTalk)

Filed under: News