Links: Comic-Con Roundup and More

Another year’s Comic-Con International has come and gone, and it was a great year for children’s and YA comics. There was a ton of programming, including special programs for librarians at the San Diego Public Library, and a number of kids/YA creators won Eisner Awards in general categories. Here’s my roundup of all the news and announcements, and here are some more specific stories:

I covered Raina Telgemeier’s spotlight panel (she was interviewed by Babymouse creator Jennifer Holm) in which she revealed the title of her new book, Ghosts, and a little bit of what it was about.

The Lumberjanes panel included the announcement of a one-shot comic in the fall, written by Faith Erin Hicks (Friends With Boys, Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong) and illustrated by the amazing newcomer Rosemary Valero-O’Connell.

I was seriously bummed that I had to miss the “Girls Are All Right” panel, featuring Trina Robbins, Cece Bell, Cecil Castellucci, Jenni Holm, Raina Telgemeier, and Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, and moderated by our own Eva Volin; fortunately, my CBR colleague Casey Gilly was there and did an excellent writeup.

Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy talked to me about his company’s gradual comeback, which will focus on licensed properties (they hinted at the panel that they would be doing manga-style graphic novels based on Disney’s Frozen and Star Wars) and products based on their original English-language manga line, with the possibility of some manga from Japan but not the Fruits Basket sort of blockbusters they had before.

Scholastic announced a new graphic novel, Dream Jumpers, written by actor Greg Grunberg and illustrated by cartoonist Lucas Turnbloom.

Rep. John Lewis talked about his graphic memoir March, together with co-author Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell. Powell spoke of his young daughter’s reaction to seeing a montage of images from the book:

All of the sudden this air came over her, and with so much conviction, in a very raw way, she said, ‘The policemen are being mean to John Lewis and his friends for walking down the street!’ And she was really disturbed by this. It hit me hard: everything is so complicated, but to be able to cut through all of the residual layers and all of the complications, she was able to see straight to the heart of everything. Her sense of injustice was so crystal clear.

Marvel announced an all-ages Spider-Man comic, Spidey, which will take Peter Parker back to high school, and CBR talked to the creative team, Robbie Thompson and Nick Bradshaw.

Dark Horse announced a Legend of Korra comic.

CBR interviewed Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater on what’s going on in Riverdale these days.

Archie Comics announced the latest music crossover, and it’s an unlikely one: Archie Meets the Ramones.

In non-SDCC-news…

I rounded up 15 new teen-friendly manga series for SLJTeen.

Casey Gilly recommends some summer reading for kids, teens, and adults.

ICv2 lists the top ten kids/tween graphic novel franchises.

Abby the Librarian posts some information on running a comic book workshop.

Previews

ABC Disgusting (Comic Book Resources)
Archie #2 (Comic Book Resources)
Jem and the Holograms #5 (Comic Book Resources)

Reviews

Emma Weiler on vol. 2 of Alex + Ada (No Flying, No Tights)
Nick Smith on Apocalyptigirl: An Aria for the End Times (ICv2)
Jim Johnson on Archie vs. Sharknado #1 (Comic Book Resources)
Nick Smith on Little Nemo’s Big New Dreams (ICv2)
Greg McElhatton on Lumberjanes #16 (Comic Book Resources)
Thomas Maluck on vols. 1-3 of My Love Story!! (No Flying, No Tights)
Emma Weller on Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor (No Flying, No Tights)
Emma Weiler on Pippi Fixes Everything and Pippi Won’t Grow Up (No Flying, No Tights)
Sarah Hunter on The Princess and The Pony (Booklist)
Jamie on The Princess and The Pony (The Roarbots)
Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan on Sleepless Knight (Bookends)
L. Maxwell on This One Summer (Guys Lit Wire)

Filed under: All Ages