PW Comics World: More To Come

In a follow up to MTC's discussion on the future of DC Comics, San Francisco comics retailer and ‘Beat’ columnist Brian Hibbs responds to questions about his grim outlook on DC after new layoffs, its frayed commitment to periodical comics and comics shops, the growth of graphic novels and the book trade, and offers concern over the viability of the direct market itself.

The disturbing news of more layoffs at DC Comics, and a grim outlook on DC’s future in the direct market; plus the release of ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ on HBO Max in December, and the launch of Webtoon Studios.

This week on Stargazing, PW graphic novel reviews editor Meg Lemke discusses three books with starred reviews: Allie Brosh’s ‘Solutions and Other Problems’, Ryan North and Albert Monteys’s adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Slaughterhouse-Five', and Tomi Ungerer’s ‘The Party’.

ICv2's Insider Talks conference on Comics in the Covid Era; and discusses Sony's interest in buying Crunchyroll; allegations of past racism at DC Comics; PW's Best Graphic Novels 2020; and two in-person comics conventions.

A look at DC’s upcoming 'Future State' event and DC’s exit from UCS distribution; a recap of interviews with IDW executives Nachie Marsham and Blake Kobashigawa; new developments in digital comics and manga; and a 42% spike in graphic novel sales.

An interview with Tea Fougner, Editorial Director of Comics at King Features about her career, syndicated digital comics, the evolution of webcomics, finding new voices and this week's controversial revival of the venerable Mark Trail comics strip.

NYCC Metaverse opens amidst the continued evolution of online conventions; the cohosts recap the 2020 Harvey Awards; graphic novel programming at the Virtual Brooklyn Book Festival; and ‘Vulture’s’ 100 Sequences That Shaped Animation.

Calvin Reid talks with PW graphic novel reviews editor Meg Lemke about three books with starred reviews: David Chisholm’s graphic biography 'Chasin’ The Bird: Charlie Parker in Cailfornia'; Katy Skelly’s graphic novel 'Maids', and Sophie Yanow's 'The Contradictions,' quirky autobiographical account of a college year spent abroad.

DC Universe streaming service becomes the digital comics subscription service DC Universe Infinite; what the comics industry looked like in 1994 vs now; Watchmen's whopping 11 Emmys; IDW builds a kids and young adults content division and much much more.

Calvin interviews Jeff Trexler, the new interim executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, about the present and future of the CBLDF. Trexler discusses the need to institute anti-harrassment policies, update the CBLDF’s mission, expand services, and prepare the CBLDF to begin a formal search for permanent executive director.

Central Park birder and comics veteran Christian Cooper’s new digital comic for DC, Superstars flocking to Kickstarter, Allegiance Comics at Walmart, an 'Adventure Zone' payment dustup, a 'Shonen Jump' sexual violence petition, and congratulate cartoonist Keith Knight on the airing of his new TV comedy ‘Woke’ on Hulu.

a special episode of our Stargazing feature Calvin Reid and PW reviews editor Meg Lemke talk about three graphic books with starred reviews: Rumi Hara’s ‘Nori,’ Jim Terry’s ‘Come Home Indio’, and Joe Sacco’s ‘Paying the Land.’

DC FanDome (especially the Milestone relaunch), DC’s massive 24-hour fan festival; Jim Lee and DC after the layoffs; Scott Snyder’s big bucks crowdfunder; Asia’s animation streaming wars; and the question of whether Asterix is racist.

Heidi talks with attorney/author Gamal Hennessy of Creative Contract Consulting about his upcoming book 'The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing'; his career at Central Park Media and Marvel and as a consultant to indie comics publishers; and the current state of the industry.

A third of DC’s editorial staff has been laid off; report on Jud Myers's firing at IDW; defend Bianca Xunise, and discuss new e-Cons like ReedPOP’s Digital New York Comic Con 2020; CBLDF’s new interim executive director Jeff Trexler; and look at new sell-through data from comics shops.

Calvin Reid talks with Mike Curato about his debut young adult graphic novel 'Flamer', the story of a week at Boy Scout Camp with Aiden Navarro, a 14 year-old Catholic kid: He's queer, excited to enter high school, but worried about facing a new cast of gay-bashing bullies, navigating old and new friendships, and way more serious stuff.

A tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis; Ben Passmore’s big book deal with Pantheon; the 2020 Eisner Awards; Comic-Con@Home; Dynamite’s ComicsGate debacle; and an abrupt change of publisher at IDW.

Two interviews between host Calvin Reid and Andrew Aydin, co-author of Rep. John Lewis's acclaimed graphic memoir, 'March'. In our first interview, recorded back in 2013, about 'March' and the historical impact of the 1957 comic Martin Luther King Jr. and the Montgomery Story, nonviolent disobedience; and a second, recorded in 2016 at Awesome Con, about finishing the third and final volume of the series.

Record $1.21 billion in 2019 comics/graphic novel sales; comics publishers and retailers that snagged PPP loans; offer a preview of Comic-con @ Home; review 'Old Guard', and hype Adrian Tomine and Fall graphic novels.

Calvin Reid talks with Joe Sacco about this new book, ‘Paying the Land,’ on the history of Indigenous People in Canada’s Northwest Territories, the predatory treaties and Canada’s notorious residential schools, and profiling a new generation of First Nation leaders as they face off against oil, fracking, and mining interests over Indigenous control of vast wilderness tracts filled with valuable resources