Back from San Diego Comi-Con 2013: A Glimpse at the Industry Side

While most newspapers and media have covered the fabulous fans and their costumes, the comic-con culture, upcoming games, media and comics, and movie/show anniversaries, there was another side of comic-con not covered. The comic-con I was a part of addressed:

• "Raising a Reader"  - how graphic novels can and should be used in the classrooms to help raise readers. This panel, sponsored by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund introduced their new publication "Raising Readers!" and a new monthly column "Using Graphic Novels. in Education" Here is a link for the free pdf version of "Raising Readers!"
• "Today's Kids' Heroes...and Why They Don't Wear Capes" - looking at the role of heroes and villains in today's literature and media culture and whether the role of heroes and villains are changing as a result of Zeitgeist. The panelists were all award-winning game/graphic novel/ television and movie creators and the gist of the discussion was that while the caped-crusaders are here to stay, today's heroes are more 'human-like' more multi-faceted and that the medium in which they are created ultimately effects their characters, challenges, and wardrobes.
• "How to Conquer the Earth One Image at a Time" - how graphic novel artists and creators use elements of visual literacy to create their messages with and without words . The all-star panel of graphic novel creators/artists and one young lady, Fiona, addressed my challenge to create a visual message that either helped aliens invade Earth, or helped rally humanity against the invasion.  NOTE: next week's post will have the challenge for all of you to participate in!

For those who want some of pop-culture media coverage of San Diego Comic-Con International 2013, here are some highlights:

• 10 Biggest Comic-Con Revelations - Rolling Stone
• http://www.superherohype.com/heroes/comic-con
• http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/c/comiccon/index.html
• Washington Post - 12 Quotes to Remember the 2013 Event

Here are the 2013 Eisner Award Winners: - these are the comics and graphic novels the industry has voted "Best of 2012"

Congratulations Jennifer and Matt Holm for Babymouse

• Best Short Story: “Moon 1969: The True Story of the 1969 Moon Launch,” by Michael Kupperman, in Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8 (Fantagraphics) 
• Best Single Issue (or One-Shot): The Mire, by Becky Cloonan (self-published) 
• Best Continuing Series: Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image) 
• Best New Series: Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image) 
• Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7): Babymouse for President, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House) 
• Best Publication for Kids (ages 8–12): Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!) 
• Best Publication for Teens (ages 13–17) : A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (FSG) 
• Best Humor Publication: Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle) 
• Best Digital Comic: Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain) 
• Best Anthology: Dark Horse Presents, edited by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse) 
• Best Reality-Based Work (tie): Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert (Center for Cartoon Studies/Disney Hyperion); The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song, by Frank M. Young and David Lasky (Abrams ComicArts) 
• Best New Graphic Album: Building Stories, by Chris Ware (Pantheon) 
• Best Adaptation From Another Medium: Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW) 
• Best Reprint Graphic Album: King City, by Brandon Graham (TokyoPop/Image) 
• Best Archival Collection/Project — Strips: Pogo, Vol. 2: Bona Fide Balderdash, by Walt Kelly, edited by Carolyn Kelly and Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics) 
• Best Archival Collection/Project — Comic Books: David Mazzucchelli’s Daredevil Born Again: Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW) 
• Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Blacksad: Silent Hell, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (Dark Horse) 
• Best U.S. Edition of International Material, Asia: Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media) 
• Best Writer: Brian K. Vaughan, Saga (Image) 
• Best Writer/Artist: Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon) 
• Best Penciler/Inker (tie): David Aja, Hawkeye (Marvel); Chris Samnee, Daredevil (Marvel); Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom (IDW) 
• Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art): Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse), Hawkeye 
• Best Cover Artist: David Aja (Marvel) 
• Best Coloring: Dave Stewart, Batwoman (DC); Fatale (Image); BPRD, Conan the Barbarian, Hellboy in Hell, Lobster Johnson, The Massive (Dark Horse) 
• Best Lettering: Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon) 
• Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: The Comics Reporter, edited by Tom Spurgeon, www.comicsreporter.com 
• Best Comics-Related Book: Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, by Sean Howe (HarperCollins) 
• Best Educational/Academic Work: Lynda Barry: Girlhood Through the Looking Glass, by Susan E. Kirtley (University Press of Mississippi) 
• Best Publication Design: Building Stories, designed by Chris Ware (Pantheon) 
• Hall of Fame: Lee Falk, Al Jaffee, Mort Meskin, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Joe Sinnott 
• Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: Russel Roehling 
• Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Chris Sparks and Team Cul de Sac 
• Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Book Writing Award: Steve Gerber and Don Rosa 
• Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award: Challengers Comics + Conversation, Chicago.

In closing, here are some photos (that taken by me and others) of the San Diego International Convention, 2013.  Note that people weren't the ones in costume!

 

3 days ago

1 day ago

 

1 day ago

As always, thank you for your visit.  

Please leave your own recollections or reactions in the comments below.