Comics Briefly

-- Publishers Weekly, 8/21/2007 1:42:00 PM

Dabel Brothers announce Koontz license
Following last weeks surprising announcement of the end of their publishing agreement with Marvel, Dabel Brothers Productions bounced back quickly announcing plans to publish their future books themselves, starting with an adaptation of Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Book One Prodigal Son, the first in a proposed trilogy of novels set in modern day New Orleans. The first issue of the comic book is set to arrive on shelves in February, 2008. The series will be monthly and will eventually adapt both novels in the series published to date, beginning with Frankenstein: Prodigal Son.

2007 Doug Wright Award winners announced
The 2007 Doug Wright Awards, honoring the best in Canadian cartooning, were handed out in a ceremony to kick off the 2007 Toronto Comic Arts Festival on August 17. The winners are

• Best Book: Joe Ollman, This Will All End in Tears (Insominiac Press)
• Best Emerging Talent: Rebecca Kraatz, House of Sugar (Tulip Tree Press)
• Rand Holmes was inducted into the Giants of the North Hall of Fame. 

Thor leads July sales
Thor #1 was the #1 comic ordered by North American comics shops, according to Diamond's July figures. Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America – Iron Man #5, World War Hulk #2, Wolverine #55 and Dark Tower Gunslinger Born #6 rounded out the top five, all published by Marvel. DC's top title was Marvel topped publishers, leading DC in dollar share 42.46% to 30.43% and in unit share 47.69% to 32.32%, Full charts can be read at the Diamond website. DC's top book was Justice League of America #11 at #7; the top non-Marvel or DC book was Buffy The Vampire Slayer #5 at #21 from Dark Horse.