APCOMICS TO PUBLISH GRAPHIC NOVEL BASED ON BESTSELLING CHILDREN’S FANTASY BOOK

29/9/04: UK-based APComics, publishers of titles such as Assassin School, The Chase and Monster Club, has obtained the rights to produce a graphic novel version of a best selling children’s book. Work will commence once a talented artist has been found to work on the project.

APComics say that, as yet, cannot disclose what the project is — and any artist that is hired will be working on this project in secrecy, until an official announcement is made from both publishers.

Artists (including colourists) interested in submitting their portfolios for consideration can contact APC’s founder and publisher, Richard Emms via the company’s web site (www.apcomics.com).

Artists providing portfolios via mail are asked not to send originals — but copies of their work — as APComics will not be able to return artwork.

The successful participant hired will be offered the further books in the series in a project that APComics believes could last several years. “How can a person put into words what this actually means for such a young company that has only been publishing for the past two years?” says Richard. “We are just blown away with the reaction to what was submitted to the publisher — although we thought, in the beginning, that we had a very small chance of actually working on such a great series of children’s fantasy novels.

“We’re looking for portfolios from artists — known and unknown — and there is a certain style we need for the book,” he adds. “We’re going to have a short list of five people with the successful artist being notified by mail with the contract within the next few months.

“Ultimately we’re looking at a summer 2005 release for the first 140-page graphic novel followed by the second volume around Christmas 2005.”

PAPER TIGER RELEASED!

23/9/04: Paper Tiger Issue One, a UK ‘zine featuring a variety of comic strips from 18 different creators, has just been released. The first issue includes a never-before-published Really Heavy Greatcoat by John Freeman and Nick Miller along with many other comics with bite, comics with claws, even comics that purr ocassionally!

Paper Tiger Comix (Wayback Link) publish comic anthologies created by an international band of artists, though they are mostly based in the UK (many from Brighton).

Paper Tiger’s plan is to showcase the work of the small press, underground comix, alternative strips, non-mainstream up and coming talent, and whatever other subcultural categories you can invent (with not a superhero in tights in sight).
Details of Paper Tiger’s aims and origins can be found at:
dirtysquatters.com/papertiger

IN MEMORIAM: EAGLE EDITOR DEREK LORD

23/9/04: John Ridgway called me today to say Derek Lord has passed away after an operation on a perforated bowel which his doctors warned him he might not pull through.

In addition to being a former editor of the Eagle, Derek was the “brains” behind Eureka a new comic he and many other British comic creators were trying to get off the ground as a twenty-first century version of Look and Learn and Eagle.
John Ridgway told me he has every intention of trying to get Eureka off the ground.

Derek was involved in the Eagle since its inception, joining the comic’s team in 1950 as a sub editor from the defunct title Leader (click here – Wayback Link – for more on the origins of Eagle).

MANGA MOVER

23/9/04: boychild productions has just launched Manga Mover, as a regular anthology comic book of stories by Japanese creators.

Manga Mover will showcase new manga ka to a western audience. This will be a distinctive effort in comparison to many manga translations as most of these creators will be new and upcoming manga ka, who are unknown in the west.

“The stories will be mature level, some with an intelligent mainstream flavour, others being more alternative in approach,” explains publisher Sean Michael Wilson. “The book is split into two sections, with two stories being read in western format from the front and two in Japanese format from the back — meeting in the middle. One of these Western format stories will normally be by non-Japanese creators in a broadly manga style or influence.

The first issue features Sakura Mizuki, of recent hot Manga The Spiral‚ in a new story not even seen in Japan yet. Other contribuotors include Misako Rocks, female creator Tomoko Amemiya, published in English for the first time. Sean Michael Wilson provides another story with art by Juan Chavarriga who has recently signed to do some books for Platinum Studios.

Issue one of Manga Mover is £4 UK, $5.99 in the USA, 68 pages, perfect bound. Available in shops via Diamond distributors November Previews Catalogue, or Redroute distribution in the UK or direct from boychild productions.

THE NORM ASKS FOR HELP

17/9/04: Cartoonist Michael Jantze is backing a scheme to completely transfer his strip, ‘The Norm‘ to the web, shortly after deciding to stop drawing the strip after eight years of battling the syndicate-newspaper corporations.

“Over the past few weeks I have read thousands of emails from fans expressing their sadness about the strip ending,” explains Michael’s partner Nicole, who is convinced that if enough people became members of TheNorm.com, “I think we can convince Michael to keep drawing the strip — new strips — beginning on 1 November. So, in the short-term, you would get to keep reading a comic strip you love and in the long-term, we just might change the world of comics. Susbscribing to the site will cost $25 (reundable if the project doesn’t get enough subscribers), offering full access to the new strips and past material. “Michael thinks I’m crazy,” says Nicole, “but I truly believe that together we can break the cycle of syndicates and newspaper editors determining what comic strips we read.

“If one syndicated cartoonist can break away successfully, then future creators might have a better chance of getting the respect they deserve from syndicates and newspapers. With the decline of newspaper readership, it is time to ask yourself, where will you find your favourite comics? If you really enjoy this comic, what is it worth to you? The price of a book? The price of three Starbuck mocha, choca, frosty, yummy coffees? The price of a pizza? The price of two movie tickets?”
Michael has given Nicole six weeks to generate enough subscribers to make the site work: the deadline is 31 October 2004.

“Join today and don’t forget to tell all your friends (and family too),” urges Nicole, “because together we can start a revolution.”


IN MEMORIAM: ACTION COMIC ARTIST LEANDRO SESREGO

6/9/04, info from Steve Holland: Leandro Sesarego, recognised as one of the great exponents of the Argentinian comic strip and a dean amongst artists, passed away on 2nd August 2004. Although he seems not to have drawn a great deal for the UK, his work appeared alongside a number of Argentinian artists in the pages of the British comic Action, where he drew episodes of “Dredger” in 1976.

Trained at the Escuela de Dibujantes de Juan Oliva, his career began in 1944 and his early strips included “Dick Malvan” (1946) and “La hija de los faraones” (“The Daughter of the Pharaohs”) (1947), published in the magazine Aventuras. In the 1950s his comic strips, illustrations and covers appeared in magazines like Ping-Pong, Pasiones Blancas, Poncho Negro, Intervalo and various magazines for Editorial Codex, including Pimpinela, Odi selandia and El Libro de la Guerra. For Hora Cero Extra, Sesarego drew two episodes of the famous “Ernie Pike” in 1959.

Sesarego’s work also appeared in the Italian version of Skorpio with “Il grande labirinto” (1980). When Walter Ciocca retired from drawing, Sesarego took over the artistic chores on “Ezequiel Barrales, criollo de ley” which Ciocca continued to write. In 1983 he wrote and drew “El Gato Moro’ for the newspaper La Razón.

In the 1990s he drew “Ahorcado” (“The Hanged Man”), scripted by Robin Wood, for Editorial Columba. Sesarego explored his enthusiasm for the history of comics and their creators in the comic fanzine, Crash!, launched in 1979.

FUTURE LAUNCHES JETIX

2/09/04: Future Publishing has created a new team to produce magazines specifically for children. Jetix Magazine, an official title based around the Jetix brand, formerly Fox Kids TV, and Official Duel Masters magazine are its first titles (Toontastic will launch a Duel Masters comic next year).

The formation of a dedicated editorial team for kids magazines marks Future’s intent on entering into this growing sector. The children’s magazine sector saw impressive increases in retail sales value and copy sales last year respectively while recent independent research indicates that 93% of children read magazines. With its first partner already in place, the publisher is set to announce further officially branded titles over the coming weeks.

In charge of the new studio are ‘big kids’ and Future veterans Cavan Scott (Editor), Karl Jaques (Art Editor) and Richard Owen (Deputy Editor) – who will be responsible for the launch of Jetix Magazine, as well as any forthcoming launches in the sector. Working with Mike Goldsmith (Senior Editor), the team has a rolling brief to identify new trends, seek out new licences and publishing opportunities and work on establishing the publisher’s own children’s magazine brands.

The Jetix Magazine will be the first kids title from Future and launches on 9th September 2024 priced at £2.99.

Jetix is the new name for the Fox Kids TV channel and the magazine will feature posters, puzzles, competitions, comic strips and fun features based on hit Jetix TV shows, including Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sonic X and Spider-Man, and Jetix exclusive, Martin Mystery.

The Jetix Magazine will also feature a monthly covermounted DVD. Taking the covermounted disc concept pioneered by Future one stage further, the exclusive DVD will feature two new episodes of Jetix shows, plus the latest movie and videogames trailers. The DVD (for use on DVD players and game consoles) will also feature an interactive Jetix quiz that rewards users with bonus footage if all questions are answered correctly.

The disc can additionally be used in a PC and features loads of playable kids game demos and cool content for young PC users.

“By creating our own dedicated team Future is taking its entry into the kids sector very seriously,” said Mike Goldsmith, the Senior Editor, responsible for the kids studio. “We see it as an extremely exciting and appealing sector to enter, not least as we have considerable experience creating youth magazines through our videogames portfolio plus a strong heritage of creating high-value covermounts – crucial in this market.

“We believe the best way to establish ourselves in the children’s sector was to work with leading companies. We are very happy and proud to be working with Jetix, a name sure to soon be on the lips of kids. The Jetix Magazine enables us to talk about the key brands that matter to today’s kids and marks a solid start in the sector, with further announcements to come.”