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The Boys Blow Up at Dynamite

Nick Barrucci really, really wants to sell you some comics, which is probably why his company Dynamite gets to sell Garth Ennis's comics almost exclusively. "It's a good deal with good money and total creative freedom, but how it works day to day is with everyone simply doing their job to the best of their abilities," says Ennis, whose ongoing series The Boys consistently sells among Dynamite's top three books and remains one of the best selling monthly superhero books not published by the Big Two. "Knowing that the publisher will support the books 100% and that the editorial team are dedicated to keeping them snafu-free, that removes a lot of worry from the equation."

If that sounds like a "well, duh" observation from the usually incisive writer, perhaps a little background is in order: Dynamite didn't always publish its superhero-hating flagship title. Instead, DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint had the title for six issues before word came down from on high that the ongoing was now a six issue miniseries, and hadn't it been fun?

To be fair, the book was probably not the best fit for DC. "I've always been able to get a lot of material out of my dislike or disdain for various subjects," says Ennis. "With Preacher, it was religion, organized or otherwise. With The Boys it's superheroes."

Stan Mack Revisits the American Revolution

Pioneering graphic novel creator Stan Mack has teamed up with writer/editor Susan Champlin to create fictional graphic novels for teen readers set during important American historical periods.

10 Years and Counting At AiT/Planet Lar

AiT/Planet Lar, the San Francisco indie comics publisher founded by Larry Young and his wife Mimi, celebrated its 10th anniversary in March.


more on comics
A robot boy named Max Guy battles bookstore shoppers in this exclusive 6-page preview of Remake, a collection of comics by Lamar Abrams that mixes manga-style action with pure absurdity. Remake will be released by Adhouse Books in May.
Click above for the full preview.
See all Panel Mania


Carol Tyler Recalls "A Good and Decent Man"

Cartoonist Carol Tyler's father, Chuck, is a regular guy. He's gruff and he's loyal and he builds things. In her new graphic novel, You'll Never Know: A Good and Decent Man, Tyler begins to tell Chuck's story, which is also, of course, her story. The book recounts her father's experiences in World War II and the life he made for himself and his family after returning from the war. You'll Never Know quickly proves less straightforward—and more interesting—than a simple biography, though.

Wolverine: Prodigal Son
ANTONY JOHNSTON AND WILSON TORTOSA. Del Rey, $12.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-345-50516-3

In this alternate, mangafied vision of Wolverine's past, we find a teenage Logan living at the Quiet Earth School in Canada and studying martial arts. Bored, restless and channeling James Dean, the young rebel worries about his upcoming graduation as well as his missing past. A trip to New York complicates things by introducing Logan's first rival, a former student named Morgan. Johnston's characters are overdramatized and flamboyant; Logan is more like an angst-ridden teen than a future X-Man. Master Mr. Elliot and daughter Tamara are caring and yet one-sided. Hopefully, subsequent volumes will provide more character development and flesh out the personalities of the cast. Tortosa's art is an interesting blend of obvious manga influence with a fluidity of movement that makes the art easy to follow. The fight scenes look natural and are not overly posed or stylized. This will hold the most amount of appeal for fans who are more into manga than comics and are not familiar with the existing nuances of Wolverine's story. (Apr.)

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"I said I was working on 'a full-color quarterly series called Forlorn Funnies. He agreed to publish it. The only problem was, I had completely made it up on the spot and then had to figure out what this was going to be. I'm still figuring that out."

—Comics artist Paul Hornschemeier's nervy response to a long-ago query from Absense of Ink editor Ed Irvin. From an OregonLive.com story on an exhibition of Hornschemeier's original art at the Charles Hartman Gallery in Portland.

April 1, 2009
  • Batman: The Heart of Hush (DC)
  • Cecil and Jordan in New York (D&Q)
  • Dreamwar (DC)
  • Jonah Hex: Bullets Don't Lie (DC)
  • Negima Neo Vol. 1
  • Oshinbo Ala Carte Vol. 2 (Viz)
  • Overman (Image)
  • Skate Farm Vol. 2 (IDW)
  • Tezuka's Black Jack Vol. 4 (Vertical)
  • Witching Hour (DC)

  • Book Review Comic by Bechdel
  • New Runaways Creators Revealed
  • S. Clay Wilson Needs Help
  • Hernandez and Sakai Signing
  • Bleach, Naruto Movies on iTunes
  • Secret Identity Launch Party
  • War of Kings #1 Free Online
  • Princess Diana in Female Force

PW Comics Week
Editors: Calvin Reid and Heidi MacDonald
Contributing Editors: Douglas Wolk and Laura Hudson
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