This is not comics, but it’s so close. Taschen Books, publisher of many fine art books–some comics related–and many art reference basics, is having a warehouse sale this weekend at all its stores worldwide. 1000 Pin-Up Girls, 1000 Chairs…the International Male retrospective…there is something for all our needs.

Beginning Friday, January 22nd through Sunday the 24th, thousands of slightly damaged and display books from Taschen publishing will be on sale for 50-75% off in our TASCHEN store in Soho. These will include new, rare, out-of-print, and collector’s edition titles crossing all genres— contemporary art, photography, design, comics ,architecture, pop culture, and erotica.

Details for TASCHEN Store New York Sale:
TASCHEN Store SoHo
107 Greene Street, NY 10012

Friday, January 22, 11am- 8pm
Saturday, January 23, 11am- 8pm
Sunday, January 24, 12pm- 7pm

Other TASCHEN stores worldwide:

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After a few false starts, Gareb Shamus/Wizard World’s slate of media conventions has announced an expansion to Atlanta, date and venue TBA. The new Atlanta Comic Con Wizard World Convention takes over the Atlanta Comics Convention, which is run by retailer Wes Tillander. The show will expand from its present one-day status to a full-blown three-day affair.

For those of you keeping score, the Wizard World lineup as it now stands:

Wizard World Comic Con Tour:
March 26-28, 2010,Toronto Comic Con, Direct Energy Centre
April 16-18, 2010, Anaheim Comic Con, Anaheim Convention Center
June 11-13, 2010, Philadelphia Comic Con, Philadelphia Convention Center
August 19-22, 2010, Chicago Comic Con, Donald E. Stephens (Rosemont) Convention Center
October 7-10, 2010, Big Apple Comic Con, Pier 94
November 12-14, 2010, Austin Comic Con, Austin Convention Center
Atlanta Comic Con, TBD
New England Comic Con, TBD

As you can see, the roster is getting busy, and more venues are under consideration.

Also, Dork Shelf has a podcast interview with Gareb Shamus on the Toronto con.

Gareb Shamus announced today that he acquired and will produce the Atlanta Comic Convention, now renamed Atlanta Comic Con Wizard World Convention.

“The spirit of the Atlanta convention was very much in line with our own shows. The fans in Georgia appreciate the festival feel of this show,” Shamus, CEO of New York-based Wizard Entertainment said. “The fans here are savvy, and they are ready for the evolution of their con.”

Founded in 1994 by 20-year comic veteran Wes Tillander, the Atlanta Comic Convention showcases comics, cards, prints, gaming artwork, videos, toys, manga, anime, statues, new artists, book signings and much more.

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When the above photo of singer Amanda Palmer, taken at a NYC breakfast spot, was posted on Neil Gaiman’s Twitter feed, it did not take hawklike perception to spot the sparkler on her finger, and it’s now public that the author and Palmer are engaged. Congratulations to the happy couple! A May 2011 wedding is planned and you know that is going to be some affair.

Since it’s Archie Comics day here at the Beat, here’s some later news and notes.

* The artist on the Elizabethan Archie painting is Terry Petersen.

* In looking for some Archie comics art to accompany my piece earlier today, I came across the amazing blog post by John K. John K. is to rugged individualism what dropping peyote in the desert is to going on vacation, so it’s always worth a look.

* Dan Nadel has posted a response to the MoCCA statement that sheds a bit more light on the situation.

* Finally in actual publishing news, Archie has announced an exclusive worldwide distribution deal with Random House. PR:
 

The agreement with Random House Publisher Services marks the first time that all Archie paperback titles will be available from one source for both domestic and international trade bookstore distribution. Distribution of the Archie paperback line through Random House will commence on September 1, 2010. The direct comic store distribution of the Archie comics, digests and graphic novels will continue through Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.
 
“As Archie expands our business globally, we are thrilled to partner with Random House Publisher Services to bring the Archie brand to the world,” said Jon Goldwater, co-CEO of Archie Comics. 
 
“We are delighted Archie Comics will be joining the RHPS client team this September,” said RHPS President Jeff Abraham. “We have developed a strong traction in the graphic-novel category with our bookseller customers, for whom this category is among their fastest-growing. We believe they quickly will find selling the beloved Archie characters and storylines profitable and fun.”

 
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Publisher Russ Cochran is best known for putting out various EC and Disney archives projects long before it became fashionable and most recently was editor at Gemstone, Diamond’s publishing arm. In a recent newsletter, he describes a fire at his house…and updates some of his projects, including a hunt for a new publisher for his EC reprints.

I’m convinced that I was only a few minutes from death, when I woke up at around 1 AM and saw the flames shooting out of the ceiling on the opposite side of the room where I was sleeping. Coughing and gagging, I sprang out of bed and hurried to put on my pants, shoes, and shirt as the flames crackled overhead. I called 911 and grabbed my guitar and carried it out to my Suburban.

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If you’ve stuck with us this far, you’ve got to go all the way, as the last batch of comics writers, artists, editors, marketers and chroniclers weigh in. If there’s one takeaway from reading all these responses? WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! Seriously, there is no way I could have ever imagined in 1999 that in 10 years I would witness this level of confidence and strength from member of the comics industry. We’ve come a long, long way. Together.

Great thanks to all who time out from their holidays to participate and here’s to a fantastic year ahead–I have a feeling it might just be another big one.

Stuart Moore, writer

2010 projects: CLOAK & DAGGER, with Mark Brooks: one-shot from Marvel, March 2010 SHADRACH STONE, with Jon Proctor: original graphic novel from Penny-Farthing Press, Spring 2010 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #896, featuring U.S. Ace (formerly U.S. 1), with Shawn Crystal: Marvel, February 2010
X-MEN ORIGINS: CYCLOPS, with Jesse Delperdang: one-shot from Marvel, January 2010
THE 99, with John McCrea and others: monthly from Teshkeel
A pretty cool TRANSFORMERS story

And other Things as yet Unnameable

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? I think it was the remarkable resilience of comics in a down economy. Sales are solid and the range of formats continues to grow. There are a lot of challenges to face, but many industries are in much worse shape.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? I’ll say this is the year that actual digital purchasing of traditionally paper comics comes into its own. Of course, that depends on a lot of factors like the evolution of tablet computers and/or full-color dedicated readers; it might take another year. In which case, I’ll just be happy if a new issue of MAGIC WHISTLE comes out.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: For me personally, the 00s were an amazing, rocky, wonderful time. I started out having just left DC Comics, after nine years; had a whirlwind stint at Marvel Knights (thank you, Joe and Nanci, in case I haven’t said it enough); and wound up writing a wider variety of material than I could ever have dreamed. Cheers to everyone who keeps the sails on this crazy industry lashed against the currents; let’s keep doing it for another ten years. At least.
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It’s the biggest year-end survey ever! We’re going to keep going until it’s all done though. People from EVERY walk of the comics industry sounds off on what they hope for in the new year, and along the way there’s lots of news, and a few previews, too. Previous installments: one, two and three.

Kurt Busiek, writer

2010 projects: Astro City (Variant cover above), Marvels: Eye of the Camera

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Paul Levitz stepping down as DC’s President and Publisher.  The last guy in charge to have roots going back before the rise of the Direct Market.  Paul’s always been a careful, deliberate manager of DC’s fortunes, and whoever winds up at his desk, it’ll mean big changes, one way or the other, for DC and for the comics industry.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? Comics and the recession.  Do they continue to skate above it, or do they stumble?

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? Can’t wait for the THIRTEEN (GOING ON 18) collection from Drawn & Quarterly.  John Stanley teen goodness!  And Im’ hoping for another WALT & SKEEZIX volume.  But I don’t feel guilty about either one…

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: The rise of the ongoing company-wide storyline.  Not just a crossover, but a years-long narrative that surges through the major companies’ shared universe lines, exciting a lot of readers and chasing others away.  There’s a lot of talk of “event fatigue” these days, but it still seems to be working…for now.
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Wizard World has returned to Texas, but in indie-friendly Austin, as opposed to Arlington/Dallas the venue of the previous Wizard World Texas. according to a press release, Gareb Shamus is launching the Austin Comic-Con this November — the same time frame as the canceled Wizard World Texas.

Despite being an indie hotbed, and home to several video game and animation studios — Austin is HQ for Richard Linklatter and Robert Rodrigeuz, not to mention Harry Knowles – Austin has yet to become a national stop on the comics tour — perhaps because SXSW, the indie music festival, has such a huge presence. Existing comics events include the very well regarded indie show STAPLE! in March and Webcomics Rampage in December.
PR follows:

Gareb Shamus, CEO of New York based Wizard Entertainment, today announced the launch of Austin Comic Con 2010 Wizard World Convention, to be held at the Austin Convention Center from November 12-14, 2010.

Fans have been asking for this event for some time. In an e-mail to Shamus, Larry Nickels Jr. wrote, “There are many people that I know of personally who would love to attend the convention if it is returned to our great state.”

Another fan, Matthew Adamic put it more succinctly with, “Bring back Wizard World Texas.”

“The fans have spoken and they want us back in Texas. We previously had a great experience here and are thrilled to be back,” said Shamus. “It’s a great city with a top-notch convention center and we’re really looking forward to seeing our fans at the type of pop-culture festival only we can bring.”

Austin is now the seventh city in the Wizard World Comic Con tour. Attendees can anticipate the strong caliber lineup of stars and exhibitors that fans across the nation have come to expect.

Wow, we had SO many responses there WILL BE A PART FOUR. And maybe a part five. Although there’s a perhaps not-so-surpsiing consensus on the biggest stories of ‘09 and ‘10, keep checking for the exclusive art previews, news of new projects and, of course, charming headshots. Thanks to everyone who participated! Below the cut, everyone from Keith Giffen to Jillian Tamaki.

Jeffrey Brown, cartoonist

2010 projects: Illustrating the latest in the zombie book craze – “Paul Is Undead”, zombies meet the Beatles, and working on Incredible Change-Bots Two (above). I also just finished the second cat book, “Cats Are Weird”
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? I would say the changes at the big two comics publishers – DC with its corporate restructuring or whatever, and Marvel being acquired by Disney. A slight edge to the Marvel/Disney deal, since that seems to me the potentially more impacting event.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? The Independent Film Channel will acquire Top Shelf, and shortly thereafter announces film adaptations of Blankets and Lost Girls. Win-win for everyone involved.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? I probably won’t have time for any guilty pleasures next year. Only well reasoned, legitimate pleasure for me.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: The rise of literary/alternative comics, the rise of webcomics, the rise of comic art shows, and the rise of super company wide crossover events.
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Continuing our look forward with writers, artists, editors, publishers, retailers and other people who make the comics. Lots of news, art previews and insight in the jump.

Paul Gravett, author, publisher

2010 projects Curating exhibitions on the Moomins, Jack Kirby and Hypercomics. Preparing some major new books about comics. Planning the next evolution of the Comica Festival. And above all, relaunching Escape Books, the seminal publishing company I ran with Peter Stanbury between 1983 and 1989. It’s the perfect time to bring this back. We’ll be putting out graphic novels, new books of our own about comics, and reviving Escape as an anthology showcase for the internet age. Because we all need an Escape. www.escape-books.com

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? I guess either Disney buying Marvel or Crumb illustrating Genesis, but to me the biggest under-reported story was the banning by an Egyptian court of the country’s first adult graphic novel by Magdy El Shafee entitled Metro.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? The impact of the Apple e-reader 

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? Indulging my lifelong love of Jack Kirby and luxuriating in original art for this exhibition, co-curated with Dan “Picture Box” Nadel, for the Fumetto Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: The medium coming into its own more and more internationally, resulting in utterly unexpected, wonderful comics I’d never dreamt I’d see – I have to keep pinching myself. 

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Lady Gaga comics for Free Comic Book Day! So this is what it has come to? Bluewater is continuing its very successful line of biographical comics with one featuring futuristic siren Lady Gaga — it’s part of an expanded “Fame” line that “focuses on culturally relevant celebrities and other pop culture icons.” Coming soon: Robert Pattinson, 50 Cent, David Beckham, and Taylor Swift.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: Snooki has got to be next, right?

“Over the past year we saw an opportunity to broaden the scope of who reads comics,” said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis, “There were many who had never picked up a graphic novel or comic book buy our biography titles like Female Force and Political Power. Fame is the natural extension of that trend.”

Davis, who was once a marketing executive at E! Entertainment Television and Lionsgate, noted that the multiple printings of the tribute book, Michael Jackson: King of Pop, convinced him that the current crop of biography titles were too limiting.

“Fame gives us the ability to tell more interesting stories about a wider variety of notable personalities. Conversely, it allows us to focus the scope of our other biography titles to more socially and political important figures.” Davis added.

Additionally, Bluewater announced its biography title release schedule for the first half of 2010.

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Yet again we poll folks from EVERY region of the comics industry to see what’s on their minds for the past year and what they have in the works for 2010. We’ve been doing this for a few years and never has there been such consensus on the top stories of both the past and future years. As you read on you’ll see what we mean, but you’ll also find exclusive art previews, publishing news, and some pretty sharp opinions.

David Lloyd, cartoonist

2010 projects: Cartoon Classroom .  Not a job of work but an act of charity I’m happy to perform – helping out a website designed specifically for folks in the UK and Ireland, where access to useful information on the study of cartooning and sequential art is not as readily available as in the US.  CC aims to centralise it all, so that anyone looking for info on classes, tutors to teach classes, books to study, museums to go to, has one source containing all, or pointing to all, rather than a disparate bunch to go to.  Our biggest problem – communicating it’s existence to everyone who should know about it.  But we’re getting there.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Just don’t know.  After The Deluge should have been, I’m inclined to think.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010?
 
Doing another of my own graphic novels.  Hopefully one that people will get to know about in contrast to my last one… No – cancel that ‘ hopefully ‘.  I’ll make absolutely sure that people know about it or die trying.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of:

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Should you ever actually need to mail something in 2010 — as unlikely as it seems — the US Post Office has got you covered with some comics-themed stamps.

Famed war cartoonist Bill Mauldin – subject of a magnificent retrospective by Fantagraphics last year — will be honored in March.

In July — surely timed to tie-in with the San Diego Comic-Con — there will be a salute to the Sunday Funnies featuring Beetle Bailey, Calvin and Hobbes, Dennis the Menace, Garfield, and Archie. (Click for larger image.) Yes, Archie is not a did not originate as a comic strip, but it often seems to get tied in with comic strips by those who still think comics are about “headlights” and “injury to the eye” — presumably because its timeless, family-friendly content is more in line with comic strips than books.

UPDATE: I am reminded by many in the comments and by a strongly worded email from Archie’s PR dept. that Archie is indeed a comic strip:

Also, we would like to bring attention to the fact that many of the newspaper strips are at the current “Art of Archie” exhibit at MoCCA and are in the permanent collection at the Geppi Museum.

Currently the strip, written by Craig Boldman and drawn by Fernando Ruiz, is syndicated internationally and is available on several sites including Creators Syndicate

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While we’re gearing up for a few end of year posts here, pointers to news items that are making a few ripples in the quietest week of the year. Of course as soon as we say that, Universal will buy Dark Horse.

§ Pioneering webcomics portal Keenspot is radically changing its business model; Gary Tyrrell has details, interviews, long comment thread, the works.

§ This is a skip week for Diamond. To fill the void, a few things are happening. Indy Comic Week is an attempt to spotlight non-Big Two offerings to the Wednesday Crowd, which we wholeheartedly support.

§ Also, DC took the first, halting steps towards street dates by shipping BLACKEST NIGHT #6 last week under dire threat that any store selling it early would be barred for life from human congress, or something like it. Rich Johnston has been all over this story, and although we don’t have any early sale info yet, it did get scanned and posted with a speediness that might rival the Flash. The clock is ticking! Can the retail community sit on their hands for just…a…few…hours…more.

§ Finally Haven Distribution sent out a press release yesterday touting their own efforts to provide some new product for those with gift money to spend. The complete PR is in the jump, and it’s a bit feisty:

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Nestled in this account of author Neil Gaiman’s entry into the world of reading glasses is the news that he’s guest editing next year’s BEST AMERICAN COMICS, the Houghton Mifflin anthology.

Also realised very late last night that the problems I’ve had reading comics for the next Year’s Best American Comics that I’m guest editing has nothing to do with losing my love for comics and everything to do with the fact that somewhere in the last year I must have started needing reading glasses for small print and had not realised this. I found a pair of reading glasses and the world became one with good, easy-to-read comics in it once again… I suppose more things like this will happen as I age. How odd.

Previous editors include Anne Elizabeth Moore and Harvey Pekar, followed by Matt Madden and Jessica Abel with guest editors Chris Ware, Lynda Barry and Charles Burns. Gaiman certainly brings a different sensibility to the project, so let the hot stove league chatter begin now.

Wow, if you wanted to come up with a formula for getting traffic, that would do it, right?

Yesterday, CBR previewed issue #40 of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, with the reveal of the big villain who’s been plaguing them for a while, one (you’re not going to believe this) Twilight. They even teased a blurred out version of the deliberately hackneyed Georges Jeanty cover.

Today, a new version has been released showing that…OHMIGOD GLENN BECK WAS RIGHT! IT’S OBAMA!

CBR is already assuring us it’s a joke, but a way to get some attention.

UPDATE: It was all a joke. GLENN BECK WAS WRONG!

A tradition long lacking from the comics shelves — wrestling comics! — is being remedied by Titan publishing. The increasingly comics active UK-based publisher launches WWE Heroes in March, with scripting by Keith Champagne and art by Andy Smith. At least 20 issues are planned, featuring Triple H®, Undertaker®, Randy Orton®, Batista®, Shawn Michaels®, Big Show®, John Cena®, CM Punk®, Kane®, Edge®, Chris Jericho®, Matt Hardy®, Rowdy Roddy Piper™, Carlito™, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler® and Kelly Kelly®. Only one diva? Well, like Garth Ennis puts it, there must always be “The Female®”.

The first storyline involves these WWE Superstars going up against an ancient evil and demon spawn and blah blah and as you can see from the cover there is an old fashioned baseball bat beatdown involved. Frankly, we’d rather read a book in which The Hardy Brothers and Hurricane Helms go on an all-night quest to find a Cracker Barrel®.

Chris Sims has more analysis in a post entitled Titan’s WWE Comics Will Most Likely Be Terrible.

• It looks like another real life superhero, Lady Gaga also has her own comic, drawn by Brian Einersen and sold exclusively at Marc by Marc Jacobs stores. It’s an ongoing “Lady Saga”…saga. While a WWE Superstars® Lady Gaga® team up comic would be really great, it seems this comics is drawn in a slightly different style than the grappling pamphlets so we may need to regroup on this one.

The 12th month is upon us, and all our usual end-of-year tasks are coming due — the Beat’s annual year-end survey. the PWCW’s critics poll, our own “Best of” lists, other people’s requests for “Best of” lists, the gift guide someone suggested we do a month ago, and, oh yes SHOPPING. Plus…HOLIDAY PARTIES. Beware the eggnog! Somewhere out there is a fruitcake with our name on it, and we’re got to stay alert.

Also, we’ll be doing a Christmas art countdown as we did for Halloween, so get us your links and piccies. We’ll be firing that up in a week or so.

(pretend for the time being there are shirtless pictures of Gerard Butler and Clive [used to be cool before finding out he was a Liverpool fan] Owen here)

We’re sure that FMB will give the Beat a wonderful birthday, let’s hope that AMC also delivers a present of a good adaptation of The Prisoner tonight.

The Hero Initiative wants your Ed Hannigan art! Hannigan is a prolific artist from the late ’70s on, with work on such titles as THE DEFENDERS, GREEN ARROW, and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN. He’s just returned to comics with some covers for CAPTAIN ACTION.

The Hero Initiative is putting together an Ed Hannigan art exhibit to be shown at a museum in early 2010! As Ed has kept only a few of his own originals…we need your help!

If you have any Ed Hannigan art you can loan us for the exhibit, please contact Jim McLauchlin at: jmclauch@aol.com . We’d need to get the art in-hand by December 15, and can return it to you by April 30.