Webcomicker Danielle Corsetto wrote to tell us that the above cartoon (all of it) will be featured briefly on CNN’s Situation Room tonight at around 6:57 pm EDT.

Update: We’ll have more commentary when off deadline but Kevin Melrose and Tom Spurgeon will do for now.

Via PR:

The 2009 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry’s most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented October 10, 2009 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators – those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Professionals who participate will be joining nearly 2,000 other comics professionals in honoring the outstanding comics achievements of 2008. Thank you to all that have already participated by submitting a nomination ballot.

Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Friday, August 28, 2009. Full details for submission of completed ballots can be found on the final ballot. Voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field. Final ballots are available for download at www.harveyawards.org. Those without Internet access may request that paper ballots be sent to them via mail or fax by calling the Baltimore Comic-Con (410-526-7410) or e-mailing baltimorecomicccon@yahoo.com.

This will be the fourth year for the Harvey Awards in Baltimore, MD. Our Master of Ceremonies this year will be Scott Kurtz (www.pvponline.com). Look for more details soon on how you can attend the Harvey Awards dinner.

This year’s Baltimore Comic-Con will be held October 10-11, 2009. The ceremony and banquet for the 2008 Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, October 10.

BEST WRITER

Kyle Baker, NAT TURNER, Abrams books
Ed Brubaker, CAPTAIN AMERICA, Marvel Comics
John Gallagher, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
Grant Morrison, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics

BEST ARTIST

Gabriel Ba, UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Dark Horse Comics
Kyle Baker, NAT TURNER, Abrams Books
Jimmy Gownley, AMELIA RULES, Renaissance Press
Jason Kruse, WORLD OF QUEST, Yen Press
Frank Quitely, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics

BEST CARTOONIST

Lar deSouza, LEAST I COULD DO, www.leasticoulddo.com
John Gallagher, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Al Jaffee, TALL TALES, Abrams Books
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
Thom Zahler, LOVE & CAPES, Maerkle Press

BEST LETTERER

Jimmy Gownley, AMELIA RULES, Renaissance Press
Rob Leigh, THE SPIRIT, DC Comics
Doug Sherwood, LOCAL, Oni Press
John Workman, MARVEL 1985, Marvel Comics
Thom Zahler, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics

BEST INKER

Rich Faber, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Jamie Grant, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
Mark Morales, THOR, Marvel Comics
Ryan Winn, THE DARKNESS, Image Comics

BEST COLORIST

Frank Cammuso, OTTO’S ORANGE DAY, Raw Junior, LLC
Jamie Grant, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics
Laura Martin, THOR, Marvel Comics
Wil Quintana, THE MICE TEMPLAR, Image Comics
Dave Stewart, UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Dark Horse Comics

BEST COVER ARTIST

Frank Cho, BUZZBOY: SIDEKICKS RULE!#3, Sky Dog Press
James Jean, FABLES, Vertigo Comics
Jay Lynch, MINDSHAFT #23, Mindshaft Publishing
Ken Rocafort, PILOT SEASON: CORE #1, Top Cow
Alex Ross, JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA, DC Comics

BEST NEW SERIES

THE DREAMER, IDW
ECHO, Abstract Studios
HIGH MOON, www.zudacomics.com
NIGHT OWLS, www.zudacomics.com
SUPERTRON, www.zudacomics.com

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics
CAPTAIN AMERICA, Marvel Comics
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
MICE TEMPLAR, Image Comics
UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Dark Horse Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION

DRAW!, edited by Mike Manley, Twomorrows Publishing
HOW TO MAKE WEBCOMICS, Brad Guigar, Dave Kellett,
Scott Kurtz, and Kris Straub, Image Comics
KIRBY: KING OF COMICS, Mark Evanier, Abrams Books
SCORCHY SMITH AND THE ART OF NOEL SICKLES,
edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW
WORDLESS BOOKS: THE ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVELS,
edited by David A. Berona, Abrams Books

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL

BREWSTER ROCKIT: SPACE GUY!, Tim Rickard, Tribune Media Services
GET FUZZY, Darby Conley, United Features Syndicate
MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
THE NORM, Michael Jantze, Uclick Gocomics
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, Stephan Pastis, United Features Syndicate

BEST ANTHOLOGY

COMIC BOOK TATTOO, edited by Rantz Hoseley, Image Comics
FLIGHT VOLUME 5, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, Villard
MOME VOLUME 10, edited by Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics Books
PIXU #1, edited by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Self-Published
POPGUN VOLUME 2, edited by Joe Keatinge and Mark Andrew Smith,
Image Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – ORIGINAL

BOTTOMLESS BELLY BUTTON, Fantagraphics Books
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, Amulet Books
ESSEX COUNTY: THE COUNTRY NURSE, Top Shelf
SKIM, Groundwood Books
TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN, Top Shelf
WORLD OF QUEST: VOL. 2, Yen Press

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

AMELIA RULES!: FUNNY STORIES, Renaissance Press
M, Abrams Books
NAT TURNER, Abrams Books
THE MICE TEMPLAR: VOL. 1, Image Comics
QUEEN AND COUNTRY: VOLUME 3, Oni Press
SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST (HARDCOVER), Adhouse Books

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY

ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY #19, Self-Published
FIRST BORN: AFTERMATH #1, Top Cow
LOVE AND ROCKETS, VOL. 3 #1, Fantagraphics Books
M, Abrams Books
NASCAR HEROES #5, NASCAR Comics
NAT TURNER, Abrams Books
THE AMAZING REMARKABLE MONSIEUR LEOTARD, First Second
Y: THE LAST MAN #60, Vertigo Comics

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT

ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS, IDW
COMPLETE PEANUTS, Fantagraphics Books
COMPLETE TERRY AND THE PIRATES, IDW
SCORCHY SMITH AND THE ART OF NOEL SICKLES, IDW
WACKY PACKAGES, Abrams Books

BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL

GUS AND HIS GANG, First Second
POCKET FULL OF RAIN, Fantagraphics Books
RED COLORED ELEGY, Drawn and Quarterly
SOLANIN, Viz
WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #’s 11 & 12, Top Cow

BEST ON-LINE COMICS WORK

BLACK CHERRY BOMBSHELLS, Tony Trovarello and
John Zito, www.zudacomics.com
HIGH MOON, Scott O. Brown, www.zudacomics.com
LEAST I COULD DO, Lar deSouza and Ryan Sohmer, www.leasticoulddo.com
NIGHT OWLS, Bobby & Peter Timony, www.zudacomics.com
PVP, Scott Kurtz, www.pvponline.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS

Lar deSouza, LEAST I COULD DO, www.leasticoulddo.com
John Gallagher, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Al Jaffee, TALL TALES, Abrams Books
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
David Malki, WONDERMARK, www.wondermark.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION

COMPLETE LOCAL: HARDCOVER EDITION, Ryan Kelly and
Brian Wood, Oni Press
KIRBY: KING OF COMICS, Mark Evanier, Abrams Books
QUEEN AND COUNTRY: VOLUME 3, Greg Rucka, Mike Norton,
Steve Rolston, and Chris Samnee, Oni Press
TALL TALES, Al Jaffee, Abrams Books
WONDERMARK, VOL. 1: BEARDS OF OUR FOREFATHERS,
David Malki, Dark Horse Comics

BEST NEW TALENT

Matt Cassan, NASCAR: HEROES, Nascar Comics
Bryan J.L. Glass, THE MICE TEMPLAR, Image Books
Laura Innes, THE DREAMER, IDW
Tim Sievert, THAT SALTY AIR, Top Shelf
Bobby Timony, NIGHT OWLS, www.zudacomics.com

Okay, you Comic-Con Kremlinologists will like this. Don Bauder, a columnist for the San Diego Reader, looks at the proposed $700 mil+ SD con center expansion and cries shenanigans:

In other cities, convention centers are financed through taxes on restaurant meals, auto rentals, and airport departures; hotel and sales taxes; special tourist development district taxes, and the like. San Diego has an aversion to taxes. So San Diego may well try to build a taxpayer-financed hotel and claim that revenues from it will pay for the expansion, says Sanders. “They will find anything to make it work,” he scoffs. (Denver, Phoenix, Houston, and several other cities have built taxpayer-financed hotels to support sagging convention centers. The fact that downtown San Diego’s posh Hotel W is going into default may not even drown the ludicrous idea.)

The comment section provides a good glimpse of local politics re SDCC before spinning off into other topics like the Chargers and City of Industry, but there’s much to chew on about hotel occupancy and convention attendance nationwide and the like. BTW, that’s Bauder’s picture up above there, so if you want to file this under “Cotton Hill, Separated at Birth” you can.

Expect this topic to be much discussed in the watering holes of this year’s con.

§ Chris Butcher and his macro lens are having a great time in Japan!

§ Chris Mautner looks back at the majesty of David Mazzucchelli’s RUBBER BLANKET (above) and wonders why it hasn’t been collected. YEAH, David? WHY HASN’T IT?

§ Newbies ahoy: here’s A guide to comic books throughout the decades by Brendan Kachel, Wichita Comic Books Examiner, right from the Yellow Kid to The Dark Age.

§ Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are still planning a US version of OLDBOY. Crazy! But the Japanese publisher, Futabasha, is pulling out all the stops to prevent this. CRAZIER.

We had a conflicting deadline so no real posting until later…maybe…except to say that we’ve started drinking coconut water, the new fad drink, and wow, it REALLY WORKS. All that potassium and vitamin C gives us clarity and happy tummy all in one. Last night we muddled up some expensive cherries and threw ‘em in the glass for a super vitamin boost and that got us through the night.

That ends our NUTRITION MINUTE WITH THE BEAT.

It’s becoming increasingly obvious to us that continuing with our week-before-the-show round-up of San Diego news will not only a) kill us but b) be hopelessly out of date. In that spirit, we’ll be posting what will eventually end up being daily roundups of news and notes.

§ First, a reminder: the con is eBaying, (at the original price) a few memberships and passes that have been returned. They sell out almost instantly, so we advise checking the eBay page often.

§ Next, this blog is announcing updated programming as it’s released or leaked. This year, programming news is getting out earlier than ever, perhaps to avoid just the same logjam we’re worried about.

§ The LA Times is the first to report what has been long rumored; Hayao Miyazaki will be at the con to promote the US version of PONYO. The appearance is part of a program to improve Miyazaki’s US box office — while his films are revered and showered with awards, they’ve been box office underperformers:

Veteran producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy (“The Color Purple,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) are hoping to turn the trend around with Miyazaki’s latest creation, “Ponyo,” which opens in the U.S. on Aug. 14 but is closing the Los Angeles Film Festival with a special screening on Sunday night. The loose adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” — about an enchanting female goldfish who wants to become a human — has been receiving a lot of attention. For the first time in his career, Miyazaki will be appearing at Comic-Con in San Diego in July showing clips from “Ponyo,” which has made $182.1 million internationally. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will also be showing “Spirited Away” on July 17; Pixar’s John Lasseter, who has executive produced the American-language version of the last three Miyazaki films, will be interviewing the master animator at the academy on July 28 (the event has already sold out).

§ This piece from Variety spotlights Comic-Con’s increasing emphasis on TV:

�What�s happening at Comic-Con is the fan community gives you an immediate reaction to your project in a big way,� said Lisa Gregorian, exec VP of worldwide marketing for the Warner Bros. TV Group. �It�s live testing.�

This year�s event may play an even bigger role in spreading the word; for the first time, Comic-Con will take place a few days before the Television Critics Assn.�s summer press tour.

�It�s a total game-changer,� said Chris Alexander, 20th Century Fox TV�s senior VP of publicity. �Previously, Comic-Con would be the place where you would just interact. Now, it�s the place to break news.�

Nearly all of the studios and nets traveling south on the 5 Freeway plan to have their cast members and creatives present for panel discussions and will screen pilots at the Convention Center. They�ll build massive booths on the show floor where they�ll host autograph signings and offer giveaways.

§ Personal to Variety’s webmasters; You’ve been inserting those gremlins into your stories for a few years now; surely there is a fix?

Following last week’s ownership change of the Toronto Comicon, a lot of people were confused about what shows were what in Toronto. Although we’re not locals, as far as we can make out there are three major shows in Toronto:

TCAF: an indie centric, curated show which is generally considered one of the best comics event in North America. Usually held every two years, it’s making a return appearance in 2010, a year ahead of schedule following 2009’s boffo event. The show is run by Chris Butcher and Peter Birkemoe of The Beguiling.

Fan Expo Canada: Run by Hobby Star, this is a big mixed media type event with top comics and nerdlebrity stars. This year’s show will be held August 28-30. It draws upwards of 50,000 people, and is sometimes called the third biggest show in North America. Hobby Star holds several smaller expos throughout the year. Although we’re sure the ownership is more complicated, Aman Gupta is generally considered the show runner.

Toronto Comicon: Also known as the Paradise Toronto Comicon, this is the show acquired by Gareb Shamus. Formerly run by Paradise Comics’ Peter Dixon, it is more of a comics-centric show, spotlighting both the Toronto’s fertile local cartoonist scene and comics creators. Unfortunately the show has run into some cash flow problems and this year’s event was canceled.

While all of this sounds pretty simple, as this post on Jason Truong’s blog, with comments by Kevin Boyd, who formerly worked for Paradise Comicon and now works for Hobby Star, talks a little about Toronto’s history of “Con wars” between Paradise and Hobby Star. Everyone involved hopes the con wars won’t be revived.

One more thing before we go: TCAF has nothing to do with ANY con wars and it’s most likely the one foreign show we’ll be going to next year!

[Last link via Sequential.]

Well-reviewed, chart-topping, but irregularly shipping, the J. Michael Straczynski/Olivier Coipel run on THOR was one of the better selling recent character relaunches. However, it had been rumored widely that JMS was leaving the book, and an interview at CBR confirms. The reason given isn’t any big blow-out, but rather that JMS didn’t want to get involved in a big company-wide Thor event:

The one concern at the back of my head was that of being pulled into a Big Event that could affect the forward momentum of the book and alter its direction. I’ve said elsewhere that in many cases — and this isn’t just Marvel, the trend is pandemic — such an event can sometimes result in the individual books serving the event, rather than the other way around, and you have to spend months and issues afterward stitching everything back together. I’m the kind of writer who likes to write in a straight line and know for certain the terrain he’s standing upon. Some writers can handle all that and never break a sweat. For me, it’s just not something I can do competently. That’s a shortcoming on my part and I recognize it as such.

Prior to the reboot, when “Thor” was selling in the mid-50s, a Big Event wouldn’t have been much of a concern, but now it was selling in the top ten month after month, and that increased visibility meant it could precipitate an event. And, again without saying much because this has to come from Marvel, such an event appeared on the horizon.

This is worth noting as perhaps yet another nail in the coffin of the Pamphlet That Sells Well Just Because It’s Good Phenomena. That idea is gone with the wind. In fairness to Marvel, a big THOR movie is coming out next year, so they probably wanted to strike while while the Mjolnir was hot. OTOH, it’s been pretty much proven that movies don’t sell that many random similarly-titled comics, and getting potential new readers hooked with a giant, complicated event seems counter-intuitive. But…so it goes. In case you hadn’t figured it out yet, the future of the Big Two is events, events, events, and Odin help us if it ever stops working.

Speaking of something else, JMS (thank God his name has an acronym so we don’t have to type Straczynski with a mutilated thumb over and over and over) also teases his next DC project:

All four Red Circle scripts are in and drawn, and I’m working on a secret project for DC that I hope we can discuss at San Diego Comic-Con. Suffice to say: anyone who knows me knows that there’s something I’ve wanted to do for my entire creative life, something that I’d give my right arm to write…something I’ve been actively chasing for over ten years. There’s one character, one property, that if George Lucas said “Here’s a million dollars, go write whatever you want and I’ll shoot it, but you’ll have to drop that book,” I would say no and never, ever look back.

Can it be…Streaky!?!

Worth a moment.

Via PR:

Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC), October 2-4, 2009, at the Long Beach Convention Center in downtown Long Beach, California has confirmed an all-star slate of comic writers, creators and artists as well as a wide array of mass media celebrities to its growing list of previously announced exhibitors. Special guests include television and comic icon Jeph Loeb along with DC Comics legend Geoff Johns. LBCC invites fans to come out and get a chance to meet the industry’s best and brightest.

Celebrity figures scheduled to appear include Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) Martin Klebba (The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy); Rob Van Dam, (Former WWE / ECW Superstar); Christy Hemme (TNA Wrestling Diva); Darcy DeMoss (Friday the 13th VI & VII); Meredith Salenger (Race to Witch Mountain); Luciana Carro (Battlestar Galactica); Herb Jefferson Jr. (Battlestar Galactica); Brande Roderick (Celebrity Apprentice, 2001 Playmate of the Year); Sandra Taylor (Under Siege 2, Batman & Robin, Playboy Model); Ami Dolenz (Witchboard 2: The Devils Doorway, Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings); Mia St. John (Current WBC Int’l Boxing Champion); and from the “Who Wants To Be A Superhero?” TV Series, Feedback, Fat Momma, Ms. Limelight and Hygena.

“The talent line-up being put together for LBCC is coming together quite nicely. We are so appreciative of the support the industry is showing to our inaugural show,” said event planner Martha Donato, President of MAD Event Management. “We’ll be utilizing all of our talent as we finalize our programming schedule. There will definitely be something for everyone.”

Notable comic artists committed to appear thus far include Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex); Amanda Conner (Supergirl); Peter Tomasi (Green Lantern); Tim Bradstreet (Punisher, Blade); Dustin Nguyen (Detective Comics); Scott Lobdell (Uncanny X-Men); Peter Stiegerwald (Soulfire, Fathom: Kiani, Ultimate Wolverine); Alex Sinclair (All-Star Batman & Robin); Mike Choi (Witchblade); and Steve Niles (30 Days of Night).

Eddie Campbell previews The Years Have Pants, the upcoming omnibus of Alec, his early autobiographical strip, and shows off some of the 45 pages of new material, including the above strip.

For those who haven’t seen Alec, it’s autobiography that probably a lot of people who don’t like autobio comics will like, as, unlike many autobio comics, it’s dramatic, funny, extremely well-crafted, and insightful about many aspects of life. Definitely one of the highlights of the second part of the year.

At Comic Book Bin, Hervé St-Louis asks Is There a Steve Jobs in the Comic Book Industry?

In order for a similar persona to exist in the comic book industry, such a person would have to share Jobs’ equal business acumen, draw a legion of supporters and evangelists, be continually spearhead breakthroughs in the comic book industry, have a magnetic and inspiring personality, be a creative individual with the willingness to change and contest the rules. That person must be someone whose products are constantly copied by competitors. People must want to associate with the products from that individual in order to improve their own standing. That person must have a track sheet of successful endeavours and projects that establish its credibility. This author has looked at many individuals in the comic book industry and here is what I came up.

It’s a great question, although the list and analysis aren’t what WE’D write — and there is at least one person on the list that no one we’ve ever talked to has wanted to be like — but it’s a start. Who are the visionaries of the comics industry? Who are the FUTURE visionaries of the comics industry?

Via PR, the start of what you know is going to be a new comics cottage industry.

To millions he was the King of Pop; one of the world’s most cherished entertainers and a celebrated international icon. With his untimely passing, Michael Jackson left an extraordinary and tragic legacy. Bluewater Productions is paying tribute in October to his memory and legacy with a special collectors edition biography comic.

The newest addition to the publisher’s critically acclaimed biography library will trace Jackson’s rise as a musical prodigy with the “Jackson 5” through last Thursdays sad end. The book will feature highlights from his storied career and cover his enigmatic private life.

“Michael Jackson’s music served as the soundtrack to countless lives…including mine,” said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis, “His influence on our culture has been profound.”

“TRIBUTE: Michael Jackson, King of Pop,” features a wraparound cover and foreword by “The Official Michael Jackson Fan Club’s” Giuseppe Mazzola. Mazzola was also Jackson’s personal friend. The issue is being written by Wey-Yuih Loh, (Political Power: Colin Powell” and “Political Power: Joe Biden) and illustrated by Giovanni Timpano (Vincent Price Presents). Noted cover artist Vinnie Tartamella will also provide an alternate wraparound cover.

“This is a celebration of his life and what he meant to a legion of fans,” Davis said. “Although the book won’t shy away from some of his personal troubles, we try to tell a balanced story that shows Jackson as a musical genius, an unparalleled superstar and as a complex person.”

Davis noted that he initially waffled at producing a tribute comic, but after receiving dozens of emails and phone calls he knew it was the proper way to show respect and give fans a lasting remembrance.

A lot of illustrators remember the King of Pop at Drawger, and you can look through his April estate auctions here. The 242 pages of arcade games, Disneyana and other pop culturey stuff might be the most interesting, but Jackson’s addiction to frou frou Victoriana antiques and furnishings is fairly astonishing as well.

BTW, apparently Jackson’s rehearsal the night before his death was recorded and taped in high def video. So there should be at least one more moneymaker in the troubled pop star’s oeuvre.

And now, to remember the most important thing, here’s Amanda Palmer singing “Billie Jean” at the Troubadour the day MJ died.

§ Frank Santoro digs deeper into the history of comics coloring with an investigation of Pacific Comics and the grayline coloring system. BTW, if you’ve read comics prior to the advent of cheap scanners, they have some pretty strange and sometimes amazing coloring. This piece will give you some idea of the tortuous and inaccurate processes that were used, and it’s pretty wild.

§ Robot 6 suggests Six comic book action figures that need to be made right now, and we can’t disagree with any of the choices, even if finding space for them would be a pain.

§ We may have to buy this.

§ Did you know that the well-respected DC/Vertigo editor Joan Hilty is also a syndicated cartoonist?

You lived in San Francisco in the ‘90s and became involved with a lot of publications including “Gay Comix” and “Wimmin’s Comix.” Who were the people who played a major role in your life, both in terms of growing as an artist and working as an editor, but also in more practical terms of living as a cartoonist?

Well, I definitely wasn’t making a living off it. Right after graduation I shopped “Jitterbug Waltz,” a campus paper strip I’d been doing, around to syndicates, and I got some very kind, individualized attention from editors and cartoonists — Jay Kennedy, Lee Salem, Kathryn LeMieux, Cathy Guisewite — but there was no question I wasn’t ready yet. And I started drifting sideways into indie comics, because I was drawn to telling longer stories, and I’d gotten involved with various political and social groups.

§ Craig Fischer looks at the legendary Ditko Hands!

Still want to buy a ticket to the Big Show? Comic_Con, the official Twitter of Comic-Con, is offering one day and four day passes on Ebay at regular prices. Follow and hurry! They are selling quickly.

Via actor Ted Raimi’s Twitter feed, another Green Pants moment:

@ Wizard Word convention in Philly. Thousands of fans here.12:01 PM Jun 19th from Tweetie

Completely lost at con. Cannot find the green room. I’m screwed.12:03

Waiting to be met by con employee. Hiding behind pillar. One fan asked if I was hiding from him. Said I didn’t know him.12:10

Convention is fantastic. One trillion comic books here. http://bit.ly/PlJJg http://yfrog.com/0v12nlj 12:28 PM

At Hand Drawn Noodle House. What is a “shaved noodle”? http://yfrog.com/10v9xkj 7:21 PM

Didn’t eat here http://yfrog.com/5hr9thj 8:07 PM

Took tons of questions with my friend Michael Papajohn from fans at con. He’s hysterical. http://yfrog.com/5fs5bej 7:21 PM

All day posed for fans. Made fans pose for me! Ha! Taste O’ the ole’ medicine. http://yfrog.com/3oz6hj 7:23 PM

Exhausted. Hiding in hotel room from fans. Secretly? Saw an enormous room full of D&D players today.Looked really cool. Want to play now. 7:31 PM

Had a drink with Wizardcon extrordiaire Spat. Did a gag photo with him for Wizard mag. How can you not like a guy like that? 8:41 PM

Home to LA. Philly industy looks like interplanetary colonization units. http://bit.ly/ifdZH http://yfrog.com/07g19vj 6:07 AM

As several folks have pointed out, MJ was a real comics fan. During the height of his fame in the ’80s and ’90s he would occasionally shop at his favorite comics shop — it would have to be shut down so he could shop in peace. A more recent trip with his children resulted in tabloid images, like much of his later years. He was certainly no stranger to the comics section.

Laura Hudson and Tom Spurgeon have more round-ups of Jacko and the Comics inks. John Jackson Miller looks at the comics connections of MJ, Farrah and Ed McMahon. And here’s a tribute by James Kochalka.

Rick Marshall remembers Jackson’s attempt to buy Marvel Comics, one of those weird moment of ’90s Marvel history that Jim Salicrup should write a book about some day.

The above issue of Disney Adventures was, at the time, only the second magazine cover that Jackson had done a shoot for since he become the King of Pop. (The other was Vanity Fair.) It was his idea to pose with Pinocchio, an idea that’s pretty creepy in retrospect. But let’s try to look on the best side. In the end, the man lived a sad, sick life, but it’s the music that will live on forever and ever. Cliched but so true.

With J.H. Williams’s amazing work on this week’s DETECTIVE the buzz book of the week, it’s worth pointing out that  Todd Klein’s latest print is a collaboration with Williams. You can buy the print at the above link and see the rest of his neat stuff for sale here.

Just a few while we get our wits together.

§ Frank Santoro continues his explorations into little known eddies of comics history with an interview with comics color pioneer Steve Oliff.

§ Matt Madden took his students to MoCCA for a guided tour of the David Mazzucchelli exhibit with the man himself.

§ Kristy Valenti explains why San Diego is like high school:

What table you sit at actually matters.

Professionally, obviously, it marks you — your clique, your place in the food chain, etc. If someone knows nothing about you, they will judge you by where you sit in the Exhibit Hall before they judge your work. What table you sit at matters socially, too. Not only can it help or hinder how enjoyable whatever you’re doing is, it can honestly affect your career, whether you’re pestering a group of professionals who are just trying to eat dinner or make a little extra room for someone who later on offers you a business opportunity.

§ Speaking of Comixology, Tucker Stone has another video review up and…let’s just say he’s at it again.

§ Are cons really a hotbed (hee hee) of hookups? David Pepose replies to the Penthouse article, and Laura Hudson does a fact-check: Comic-Con Hookups: True or False?

§ Johanna’s crew discusses Should Press Get in Free to Conventions? after Otakon asks some press to pay for badges. Frankly, we can totally see why cons would want to limit the number of free badges given to fledgling bloggers.

§ Meanwhile, Neil Gaiman faces danger from a bear in the woods.