Last Update: July 2, 2022
Massive jump in graphic novel sales – Publishers Weekly
The jump in graphic novel sales was accompanied by a boom in sales through bookstores. According to the report, sales in the book channel, which includes book fairs, jumped 81%, to $1.16 billion. Sales through comics stores rose 60% over 2021, to $705 million. Sales through comics stores had fallen in 2020 because of widespread store closures and distribution disruptions.
The new Penguin Reprint collections of Spider-Man, Captain America and Black Panther – AV Club
One of the nice features of the new books is that, production wise, they pay attention to simple things like not sinking pages into the gutter of the book binding. Penguin provides a fairly minimal margin space so that you don't have to nearly crack the spine to read any balloon dialogue disappearing into the book's spine. Simple production basics that DC and Marvel have not bothered to pay attention to in the past in many instances.
Prestigious reprints of comic books have been around for a long time, thanks to the surge of value for the first issue of Action Comics or whatever and the gradual evolution of culture as the kids who read comic books have become grown-ups who spend money on tickets to comic book movies and comic book video games and comic book toys. Those prestigious reprints are usually handled by the original publisher, though, making them tools for the companies to promote their characters or stories...
Penguin Classics’ new line of Marvel collections, at least in theory, are different. Rather than Marvel itself saying “these Spider-Man comics are important,” it’s Penguin Classics, which creates a fascinating new layer to what makes these new books “prestigious.” This is the company with the uniform cover designs and that make everything look nice on the shelf, the company that ostensibly has very high standards about what is worthy of being labeled a Penguin Classic. These books are a Big Deal and now Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Captain America are among them.
Amazon and Image Comics making a deal over Eight Billion Genies – Superherohype
Dr. Doom movie coming – Comicbookmovie
Lord Death Man from Batman Manga to DC Comics – MSN News
Adaptation of comic book 'Paper Girls' Sci-fi Series for Prime Video
Story at CNET
Christian Bale: If Nolan directs it, I'd do Batman again – Yahoo News
Comic books: Hobby or million-dollar business? – Fox46
July Movies coming out:
Superhero:
Thor Love and Thunder – July 8th, 2022
DC League of Super-Pets – July 29th, 2022
Animated:
Minions: The Rise of Gru – July 1st, 2022
The Sea Beast – July 8th, 2022
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hawk – July 16th, 2022
Elvis beats out Top Gun for number one weekend box office – comicbook
Warner, DC, Discovery inc list of programs for San Diego Comic-Con – Superherohype
DC Comics gets NO booth for San Diego Comic-Con – Hollywood Reporter
DC Comics modifying Black Adam as movie premiere approaches – polygon
Marvel announces plans for San Diego Comic-con this year – Vanity Fair
The rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is weaved into the fabric of the annual event, ever since the first Iron Man panel in 2007. The company has produced several exclusive sizzle reels just for the attendees, and there have been no shortage of stunts, like the first “Mercury 7”-esque reveal of the Avengers cast...
The Ezra Miller - Flash movie star scandals continue – Yahoo News
When the Hell's Angels made Marvel Comics change the name of one of their comic books – CBR-MSN News
The "Secret Crossover Between Batman and Daredevil" – MSN-CBR News
Chainsaw Man has got 13 million copies in sales and now an anime is coming – Comicbook
How the DC Comics' Earth Prime series impacts the TV shows – Games Radar
Natalie Portman profile and why she had to pick up the hammer - Variety
When Portman returns as Jane on July 8 in director Taika Waititi’s “Thor: Love and Thunder,” however, the 41-year-old will not only be playing a superhero in her own right — the Mighty Thor, Jane’s persona once she comes into possession of the mystical hammer Mjolnir — but one who can stand toe-to-toe, and nearly eye-to-eye, with Hemsworth’s Thor.
The Batman Unburied Spotify show gets another season – Variety
And Detective Comics gets a new logo – Comicbook
Conan's new home
UK based Titan Comics to now publish Conan the Barbarian after Marvel loses license – Hollywood Reporter
The publisher (web site here) is planning to not only put out Conan the Barbarian in 2023, but also Kull the Conqueror and Solomon Kane books.
.... The comics deal between the two companies comes after last year’s book deal regarding Conan for all new novels, short stories and illustrated art books. The first project from that pact is the novel Conan: Blood of the Serpent, due to hit bookstores Oct. 18, followed by Conan the Barbarian: The Official Story of the Film, a behind-the-scenes hardback retrospective book due out Nov. 2.
Wonder Woman debut in All Star Comics #8 fetches $1.62 million at auction
Story at Yahoo News
Page of the item at Heritage Auctions
Despite more than seven decades having gone by, a lucky collector still had a copy of the book that earned a 9.4 CGC Universal Grade rating, and Heritage Auctions has now sold it at a staggering $1.62 million USD.
Artist Ron Cobb has died - well known for production work on films like Alien, Conan the Barbarian, etc – Hollywood Reporter
Chip Kidd's travelling Batman exhibit – Shreveport Times - Yahoo
Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns #1 cover auctions at $2.4 million
See the image and info at Heritage Auctions
The cover art was a collaboration between Miller and his then-wife Lynn Varley, featuring Batman silhouetted against a sky split open by a lightning bolt. "It is easily one of the most famous comic-book covers from any era, and it defined the superhero genre from the 1980s to this very moment," says Todd Hignite, vice president at Heritage, which is based in Texas. The consignor acquired the original art directly from Varley “at some point,” Hignite says. Appearing at auction for the first time at Heritage’s four-day sale of comics and comic art from Thursday through Sunday, it attracted 90 bidders, on site or over the phone.
Numerous items sold for better-than-expected prices on the first day of the sale..."
News article about the auction online at Barrons Magazine
If you want to buy a copy of the first run of Dark Knight Returns, they're going to auction a 9.2 CGC copy here
Ezra Miller is Flash no longer? – Forbes
But regardless with what happens next both with Miller’s legal problems and The Flash movie itself, one thing seems pretty clear, that Miller will not be returning to the role past what he’s already filmed as Barry Allen
...
Why don't video game TV Show makers care about video game gamers? Question addressed at Flickering Myth
The hope that burns still: Henry Cavill as Superman and Zack Snyder directing – UK Express
Comic Book's "Million Dollar Club" - works by Frazetta, Wirightson, and Mike Zeck, among others
Story at NY Times
Tim Sale has died
Obits:
Tim Sale Dies: Legendary Batman Comic Book Artist Was 66 – Deadline Hollywood
Much of Sale’s work was in partnership with writer Jeph Loeb, who was also a producer-writer on Smallville, Lost, Commando and Teen Wolf, a writer and co-executive producer on Heroes and later EVP of Marvel Television. The duo created Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Specials, Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Dark Victory which documented Batman’s early years, as well as Superman for All Seasons and Catwoman: When in Rome. The Long Halloween has been mentioned as an influence on Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, and certainly seems to be part of the DNA of Matt Reeves’ more recent The Batman. At Marvel, Sale and Loeb produced the so-called “Color” comic books which included Daredevil: Yellow, Spider-Man: Blue, Hulk: Gray and Captain America: White.
Tributes flood social media following the death of comic book artist Tim Sale – Euroweekly News
Tim Sale, Beloved Batman Artist, Mourned by Comics World – MSN News
Tim Sale, artist of Batman: The Long Halloween and other iconic comics, dies at 66 – Yahoo News
Tim Sale dead at 66: Legendary comic book artist who worked on Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman passes away – UK Sun
TV Show Hulk Ferrigno says modern Marvel stuff lacks something – Washington Times
Former “Incredible Hulk” actor Lou Ferrigno says he’s ready to smash “all the CGI” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero movies. The retired professional bodybuilder, who starred in CBS’ “The Incredible Hulk” and several made-for-television movies in the 1970s and 1980s, says the more recent “Avengers” and Hulk films are missing some of the human qualities essential to bringing the green-skinned, comic-book character to life.
A Pokemon Pikachu Card sold for $840,000 at auction – Yahoo
Things that happen in the Gwendolyn-verse: Green Goblin is Hulk now, and you knew they were both green, right – MSN News
"Batman Azteca" animated movie coming from HBO Max Latin America
Story at MSN News
Tim Sale is in the hospital – MSN News
...iconic comic book artist probably best known for his Batman comic books with longtime collaborator, Jeph Loeb (particularly the maxiseries, Batman: The Long Halloween), is currently in the hospital dealing with apparently a severe health issue.
The Original MCU Avengers are nearly all gone – MSN News
Superman coming back to Action Comics – Games Radar
Garth Ennis launching new work at Enniskillen Comic Fest – Belfast Telegraph
Garth Ennis’ comics Preacher and The Boys were turned into TV shows and he has also worked for both Marvel and DC. He will attend the event to launch his new hardcover anthology, Battle-Action, along with artists who worked on it.
Warner/DC's metastasizing Ezra Miller Flash movie problem – NY Post
Cash cow will return for further milking
Sony to put Spider-Man No Way Home back into theaters with newly added in footage
Story at Hollywood Reporter
To be called More Fun Stuff Version to come out later in Summer.
Worldwide earnings on Spider-Man No Way Home stand at $1,901,210,881.
DC releasing tie-in to Dwayne Johnson Black Adam film – Hollywood Reporter
Disney adding Ms Marvel to theme parks – The Street
Why the bat-nipples appeared in the Joel Shumacher films; costume designer inspired by ancient Roman armor – Hollywood Reporter
Jose Fernandez ..."It wasn’t fetish to me, it was more informed by Roman armor — like Centurions," he said. "And, in the comic books, the characters always looked like they were naked with spray paint on them — it was all about anatomy, and I like to push anatomy."
Marvel's exclusive book market distributor in 2023 is Penguin Random House – MSN News
