Cast of GOTG send open letter for James Gunn.

Guardians of the Galaxy cast write open letter for Director James Gunn.

credit Marvel Studios

     Earlier this month Marvel Studios whos parent company is Disney, cut ties with Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 Director James Gunn. The firing came after the revelation of some ill themed jokes made by Gunn via Twitter from about a decade ago. Since his firing many in the industry have come to Gunn's defence and have called for his reinstatement as director of the hit Marvel franchise.

     Today the cast of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy have put out an open letter calling for his reinstatement as well. While they do not defend the jokes that were made they do defend the man who made those jokes and his character. Here is the full letter put out by the cast...

Open letter from the cast of Gardians of the Galaxy.

    Whether or not James Gunn will be reinstated remains to be seen, though there does seem to be support for this in the Industry. 

Alterna Comics is changing the game for indie creators.

Alterna Comics is changing the game for Indie Creators.

Printing Partnership Program announced at Alterna comics.

credit Alterna Comics. Alterna Comics Logo

Since 2006 New England based Comics publisher Alterna Comics has been at the forefront of Creator-Owned comics. Like Image comics before them, Alterna publishes creator owned content where the creators retain all the rights of their work while having the benefit of a publisher to carry the burden of printing and distribution.

Peter Simeti founder and publisher of Alterna Comics most recently shook up the comics world with his newsprint comics. Taking comics back to their pre-glossy days and saving consumers money in the process. Alterna's newsprint titles vary between $1.50 and $1.99. A stark contrast from the $3.99 to $4.99 for most comics titles. 

Now Simeti is putting a whole new twist in the game by offering Indie comics creators a chance to jump into the newsprint game along with his other Alterna titles. This is most definetly a game changer as the major set back for any title is the ability to publish and get into the hands of consumers. 

credit Peter Simeti Alterna comics

On twitter earlier today Simeti announced a Printing Partnership Program, an opportunity for Indie creators to partner with Alterna and get a print run with as little as 500 copies. Couple that low print run with a per issue cost of $0.50 and you have a game changer for Indie creators.

credit Alternacomics.com Printing Partnership Program

The printing program has not officially launched but Indie creators who want in on the program can go to Alternacomics.com and look up the program details. Meanwhile creator can sign up for email updates for the lauch. This has major potential for many Indie creators.

Graphic Novel Daybreak coming to Netflix.

Netflix announces Daybreak based on Graphic Novel by Brian Ralph.

Daybreak by Brian Ralph

 Based on the graphic novel by Brian Ralph, the subversive dark comedy Daybreak finds 17 year old high school outcast Josh searching for his missing girlfriend Sam in post-apocalyptic Glendale, California. Joined by a ragtag group of misfits including a pyromaniac 12 year old Angelica and Josh's former high school bully Wesley, now turned pacifist samurai, Josh tries to stay alive amongst the horde of Mad Max-style gangs (evil jocks, cheerleaders turned Amazon warriors), zombie-like creatures called Ghoulies, and everything else this brave new world throws at him.

Episodes: 10

Co-Creator / Showrunner / Executive Producer: Aron Eli Coleite (Locke & Key, Star Trek: Discovery, Heroes)

Co-Creator / Director / Executive Producer: Brad Peyton (Frontier, Rampage, producing through ASAP Entertainment)

Locke & Key coming to Netflix.

Locke & Key officially picked up by Netflix.

10 Episodes ordered for the hit Graphic Novel.

Locke & Key coming to Netflix.

After an 8-year long bid to bring Locke & Key into production, Netflix has ordered a 10 episode first season with each episode coming in at an hour long.

Locke & Key is the critically acclaimed and Eisner Award winning graphic novel from writer Joe Hill and Artist Gabriel Rodriguez with colors from Jay Fotos. The story centers around the Locke family who move back to their ancestral home in Massachucetts after the gruesome murer of the Locke family Patriarch. But the return to Keyhouse is not the escape that the family hoped for and with the discovery of a ghost key by the youngest of the Locke children an entire new wave of misfortune befalls the Locke family.

Locke & Key  had originally been ordered as a pilot for Fox 8 years ago, but that project never came to fuition. The Rights to Locke & Key were then bought by Universal for a feature film adaptation that never came to be.

More recently Hulu was shopping the Locke & Key property with hopes of adding it to their streaming service, but that effort fell apart 2 months ago, where Netflix stepped in and got a hold of the property. Netflix is redeveloping the show with new scripts and a new cast.

Hill serves as writer and executive producer on the show, which was developed by Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, and Aron Eli Coleite with Averill and Coleite joining the series since it came to Netflix. Cuse and Averill will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. Cuse will executive produce via his Genre Arts banner. Hill and Coleite also wrote the first episode.

IDW’s David Ozer and Ted Adams will also executive produce along with Genre Arts’ Lindsey Springer, Coleite, Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and David Alpert and Rick Jacobs of Circle of Confusion. Andy Muschietti directed the original Hulu pilot but is unable to return to direct the Netflix series due to his commitment to “IT 2.”

Walter Simonson previews new Fantastic Four cover.

Fantastic Four cover by Walter Simonson

credit Marvel Entertainment

     In a tweet earlier this morning Artist and Writer Walter Simonson previewed the cover for the new Fantastic Four series by Dan Slott and Sara Pinchelli.

@WalterSimonson 7/18/18

     This cover will be a variant cover for the new Fantastic Four #1 hitting stands on August 8.

credit Walter Simonson. Fantastic Four #1 variant cover

Invisible Kingdom a creator-owned Sci-Fi epic from G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward.

G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward bring you creator-owned  Invisible Kingdom.

Dark Horse Comics

Press Release

Credit Dark Horse Comics. Invisible Kingdom by G.Willow Wilson and Christian Ward.

Ahead of San Diego Comic-Con, Dark Horse and Berger Books are excited to announce Invisible Kingdom, an epic multi-part sci-fi saga from Hugo Award-winning writer G. Willow Wilson (Wonder Woman, Ms. Marvel) and Hugo and Eisner Award-nominated artist Christian Ward (Black Bolt, ODY-C)

“It’s a delight to be working with my mentor Karen Berger once again, especially on such an exciting project,” said G. Willow Wilson about her inclusion in the Berger Books imprint. “Christian Ward’s art is truly visionary—this is one of the most dynamic collaborations I’ve ever been involved with. I can’t wait to show the world what we’ve cooked up.”

Set in a small solar system in a far-flung galaxy, Invisible Kingdom tells the tale of two women—one a young religious acolyte, and the other, a hard-bitten freighter pilot, who separately uncover an unholy conspiracy between the leader of the Renunciation, the system’s dominant religion, and Lux, the all-consuming mega-corporation that controls society. On the run from dangerous reprisals on both sides, this unlikely pair of rebels risks plunging the world into total anarchy if they reveal the truth. But when your beliefs betray you, what choice is left?

“I’m thrilled not only to be returning to a big creator-owned sci-fi world, but to be working with Karen Berger and G. Willow Wilson,” said Christian Ward. “Karen's amazing career has helped to shape me as a creator, and with Willow, I don't think there’s anyone today who writes with more warmth, humor, or humanity. Nobody writes better, more relatable characters than her! We’re already buzzing with excitement about all the weird and wonderful places that we’re taking this whole new assemble of instantly lovable characters. I hope you join us as we go somewhere amazing.”

“I’m so excited to be working with the incredible Willow Wilson again on her first creator-owned series since Air,” said editor Karen Berger. “Together with Christian Ward, one of the most imaginative and uniquely visual artists working today, they’ve crafted a fantastic new series.”

Invisible Kingdom #1 goes on sale March 20, 2019.

Bendis shows off upcoming Superman double page spread.

Superman double page spread by Ivan Reis

    July 17, 2018

     In a Twitter post earlier this afternoon super star comics writer Brian Michael Bendis, who is working on his first run with the flagship DC Comics  title Superman, commented on his luck. 

@BRIANMBENDIS 7/17/2018

     Bendis who is working with all star Artist Ivan Reis on  Superman included a sneek peek at an upcoming double page spread. From the page it seems this will be featured in issue number 3.

art by Ivan Reis for Superman #3 by Brian M. Bendis.

      In my opinion the art is spectacular and I for one am looking forward to seeing this in its full color glory.

Eisner Award winning writer Ian Boothby and Artist Gisele Lagace bring you Exorsisters from Image comics.

Eisner Award winning writer Ian Boothby and Artist Gisele Lagace bring you Exorsisters from Image Comics

credit Image Comics

PORTLAND, OR, 7/17/2018 — Eisner Award-winning writer Ian Boothby (The Simpsons, MAD Magazine) teams up with artist Gisele Lagace (Ménage à 3, Archie Meets Ramones, Jem & the Holograms, Betty Boop) for an all-new ongoing series—EXORSISTERS—launching from Image Comics this October.   “As a kid, I loved Scooby-Doo. That love for mysteries mixed with the supernatural then got me into shows like Buffy and Supernatural as an adult. If you liked those shows, you'll love ExorSisters,” said Lagace. “It's a universe full of fun and intriguing characters with many stories to tell.” 

credit Image Comics. Exorsisters #1cover A

  Did you sign a deal with the Devil? Has your fiancé been dragged to Hell? Then Kate and Cate Harrow should be the first ones you call for timely soul retrieval at a reasonable rate! But why are these identical twins so different? Is there a darker secret? Readers will find out when they pick up EXORSISTERS this fall.   

 Boothby added: “Gisele draws both the real and surreal so well I wanted to work with her on a story that mixed the two. Cate and Kate Harrow fight against outer and inner demons because when it comes to actual Hell on Earth that can often be family.” - See more at: https://imagecomics.com/content/view/eisner-award-winning-writer-ian-boothby-artist-gisele-lagace-summon-exorsis#sthash.SXbAd2ky.dpuf

credit Image Comics. Exorsisters #1 cover B

credit Image Comics, Exorsisters #1 cover C

credit Image Comics, Exorsisters #1 cover D

IDW and Marvel team up for middle-grade comics.

IDW and Marvel team up for new Spider-Man Project

IDW Publishing

Marvel Entertainment

Press Release-

SAN DIEGO, CA AND NEW YORK, NY (July 17, 2018) – Marvel Entertainment and IDW Publishing announced today that the two companies will develop middle-grade comic books designed for younger readers. Featuring some of Marvel’s most popular characters, the monthly issues and trade paperback collections, published by IDW, will be available for sale at local comic book shops and book retailers across the country, expanding opportunities for the next generation of Super Heroes to experience the Marvel Universe.

Credit IDW Publishing . Cover for new Spider-Man middle grade comic.

“From Iron Man to Captain Marvel, from the Hulk to Shuri — the Marvel pantheon has something for everyone,” says John Barber, editor-in-chief of IDW. “With this team-up, Marvel and IDW aim to bring exciting, all-new comics to a generation growing up in a Marvel world.”

Launching in November 2018, the Marvel and IDW collaboration will kick off with a Spider-Man series featuring both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, followed by an Avengers series beginning in December and a Black Panther series in January 2019. Each of these titles will serve as an easily-accessible jumping-on point for younger readers to follow the adventures of their favorite characters.

“Marvel is excited to work with IDW to share these brand-new stories with our younger fans,” said C.B. Cebulski, editor-in-chief of Marvel. “Characters like Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the Avengers inspire us through their strength and determination, but they resonate with readers because of the struggles they face and the challenges they overcome. We want to share their journeys with our younger fans first-hand.”

“Marvel is committed to delivering unique and accessible content for our younger audiences and fans,” said Sven Larsen, director, licensed publishing of Marvel. “As one of our most valued partners, IDW is the right fit to help us feature some of our most popular characters and publish stories created especially for the next generation of Super Heroes.”

“This partnership reflects the true spirit of collaboration at work,” said Greg Goldstein, president and publisher of IDW. “As comic book publishers, IDW and Marvel are able to produce high-quality visual storytelling experiences for fans both young and old. By combining our efforts, along with Marvel’s ever-increasing presence in popular culture, the results will be spectacular.”

Story details and creative teams for the new line of middle-grade comic books will be announced at a later date.

Comics Legend Steve Ditko passes away at age of 90

Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko dies at 90.

Self portrait by Steve Ditko

     The comic book world is stunned at the news of the passing of one of the greats. Comic book Legend Steve Ditko passed last week. According to the Hollywood Reporter, New York City Police were conducting a wellness check on Ditko on June 29, 2018 when his body was discovered. It  appears as though he may have been dead as many as two days prior. 

SDCC on the passing of Steve Ditko

     Ditko is most widely known as the co-creator of Spider-Man along with Stan Lee in 1961 while working at Marvel Comics. He later helped create Dr. Strange in 1963 as well as various of the Spider-Man villians. His time at Marvel was seminal in the early days and helped propel that company and inspire many future comic book artist and writers to come.

     In later years Ditko also worked for DC Comics and a few smaller presses as well. He eventually made his way back to Marvel and one of his last creations was Squirrel Girl. He retired from comics in the '90s after four decades in the comics industry. He was inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994.

the Amazing Spider-Man #33 by Steve Ditko

     As word of his passing goes out, he his remembered by many in the industry. Many of his fellow comic book creators have shared stories and their sadness at his loss.

      Many creators have felt the passing of one of the true Legends of the Comic Book Industry. Though his work and his Influence will long stay with us.

Diamond Announces Top Products for June 2018

Diamond Announces Top Products for June 2018

Credit Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.

Press Release  

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (July 6, 2018) — A new era for the Justice League dawns as the Legion of Doom reforms in Scott Snyder and Jim Cheung's Justice League #1 from DC Entertainment, the best-selling comic book of June 2018 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.

Marvel Comics was June's top publisher with a 38.42% dollar share and a 40.98% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 30.54% dollar share and a 33.73% unit share. Image Comics was third with a 10.46% dollar share and an 11.48% unit share. In fourth was Dark Horse Comics with a 3.23% dollar share and a 2.30% unit share, followed by IDW Publishing with a 2.46% dollar share and a 1.66% unit share, Dynamite Entertainment with a 2.10% dollar share and a 1.51% unit share, and BOOM! Studios with a 1.62% dollar share and a 1.76% unit share.

Marvel Comics had five titles in the top ten, led by Dan Slott and Valerio Schiti's Tony Stark: Iron Man #1 at #3; followed by Slott's final issue of his Spider-Man run, Amazing Spider-Man #801 at #4; Skottie Young and Nic Klein's Deadpool #1 at #7, Jason Aaron and Michael del Mundo's Thor #1 at #8, and Marc Guggenheim and David Marquez's X-Men Gold #30, featuring the wedding of Rogue and Gambit, at #9. In addition to Justice League #1, DC Entertainment had four titles in the top ten including Tom King and Mikel Janin's Batman #49 at #5, King and Janin's Batman #48 at #6, and Snyder and Cheung's Justice League #2 at #10. Rounding out the top ten, Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel's The Magic Order #1 from Image Comics ranked #2. Also from the premier publishers, their top books for the June are BOOM! Studios' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Anniversary Special #1 at #116, Dark Horse Comics' Neil Gaiman's America Gods: My Ainsel #4 ranked #148, IDW Publishing's Sonic the Hedgehog #6 at #156, and Dynamite Entertainment's Charlie's Angels #1 at #183.

Collecting DC Entertainment's best-selling event, the Dark Nights: Metal Deluxe Edition hardcover was June's best-selling graphic novel. Also from DC Entertainment among the top ten, Dark Nights Metal: Dark Nights Rising, a collection of the tie-in one-shots, ranked #2; Dark Nights Metal: The Resistance, ranked #3; The FlashVolume 6: A Cold Day in Hell ranked #8; Batman: Detective Comics Volume 6: Fall of the Batmen ranked #9; and Super Sons of Tomorrow ranked #10. Marvel Comics had two titles in the top ten: Thanos Wins ranked #4, and Jim Starlin, George Perez, and Ron Lim's The Infinity Gauntlet ranked #5. Jason Aaron and Jason Latour'sSouthern Bastards Volume 4: Gut Check from Image Comics ranked #6. Dark Horse Comics' Neil Gaiman's A Study in Emerald, with art by Rafael Albuquerque, ranked #7.

Documenting the world of Hyrule, Dark Horse Comics' Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia was June's best-selling book, and the deluxe edition of the book ranked #2. Marvel Press had three titles in the top ten, led by Marvel Super-Hero Adventures: Buggin' Out at #3. BOOM! Studios' Planet of the Apes Adult Coloring Book ranked #9.

The Mezco Toys' One:12 Collective: Marvel Comics: Spider-Man "Black Costume" Action Figure, a PREVIEWSExclusive, was June's best-selling toy. Diamond Select Toys had five products in the top ten: the Marvel Select: Black Panther Movie Action Figure at #2, the Marvel Gallery: Black Panther Movie PVC Figure at #3, the Marvel Select: Deadpool Action Figure at #5, the Marvel Gallery: Black Panther Movie: Killmonger PVC Figure at #9, and the Marvel Select: Thor Ragnarok: Gladiator Hulk Action Figure at #10. DC Collectibles charted one product, the Harley Quinn: Red White & Black Statue by Jae Lee at #8.

Dynamite Entertainment's Reanimator: The Board Game was June's best-selling game. Also in the top ten, BOOM! Studios' Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game Boxed Set (2nd Edition) ranked #9.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER	DOLLAR SHARE	UNIT SHARE
MARVEL COMICS	38.42%	40.98%
DC ENTERTAINMENT	30.54%	33.73%
IMAGE COMICS	10.46%	11.48%
DARK HORSE COMICS	3.23%	2.10%
IDW PUBLISHING	2.46%	1.66%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	2.10%	1.51%
BOOM! STUDIOS	1.62%	1.76%
VIZ MEDIA	1.18%	0.43%
ONI PRESS INC.	1.09%	0.83%
TITAN COMICS	0.87%	0.68%
OTHER NON-TOP 10	8.03%	4.84%

 COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

	DOLLARS	UNITS
JUNE 2018 VS. MAY 2018
COMICS	-16.71%	-6.22%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	-7.44%	-8.41%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-14.13%	-6.39%
TOYS	1.03%	4.22%
JUNE 2018 VS. JUNE 2017
COMICS	-11.14%	-8.93%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	-2.15%	-14.24%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-8.62%	-9.35%
TOYS	-11.53%	17.66%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017
COMICS	-1.84%	-9.65%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	-8.12%	-11.22%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-3.72%	-9.77%
TOYS	-11.98%	-12.70%
SECOND QUARTER 2018 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2018
COMICS	19.97%	12.84%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	19.01%	19.68%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	19.70%	13.34%
TOYS	-16.97%	-7.55%
SECOND QUARTER 2018 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2017
COMICS	3.01%	-4.85%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	-3.41%	-10.32%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	1.10%	-5.28%
TOYS	-14.46%	-13.05%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER	COMICS SHIPPED	GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED	MAGAZINES SHIPPED	TOTAL SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS	87	33	0	120
DC ENTERTAINMENT	73	31	1	105
IMAGE COMICS	60	15	0	75
IDW PUBLISHING	19	18	0	37
DARK HORSE COMICS	20	15	0	35
BOOM! STUDIOS	23	10	0	33
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	18	7	0	25
TITAN COMICS	17	5	1	23
VIZ MEDIA	0	20	0	20
ONI PRESS	7	10