Gaiman Pens 'Doctor Who' Episode
Famed comics creator and bestselling fantasy author Neil Gaiman has announced at last weekend’s SFX awards that he has written an episode of the long-running British science fiction show Doctor Who. The episode, originally titled “The House of Nothing” is set to come out in the show’s next season, 14 months from now. More details are available at The Guardian’s site and on the Bleeding Cool comics blog.

Olivia Munn Comics Parody Case
Lawyers for Olivia Munn, host of the geek culture show Attack of the Show on cable network G4, are trying to stop the distribution of an unauthorized comic parodying Munn. They sent a cease and desist letter to online comics retailer Heavy Ink, which carries the comic Celebrity Showdown: Olivia Munn. The letter demanded that Heavy Ink cease all sale and promotion of the comic and destroy all copies in their possession. Heavy Ink has thus far refused, referring lawyers to the book’s actual publisher—Antarctic Press—and sent a copy of the letter to popular news site Boingboing. The relevant legal argument is that the book violates her right of publicity, a person’s right to control how his or her image is used in merchandising and advertising. According to intellectual property lawyer and blogger Geoff Gerber, right of publicity might not apply if the book can be legally classified as a parody, but it is not clear that the comic legally qualifies. Celebrity Showdown: Olivia Munn, portrays Munn being overwhelmed by fans at San Diego Comic-Con and spontaneously mutating into a 50-foot tall woman.

Wizard Launches Cleveland Comic Con
As part of the ongoing program of expansion that led to
Wizard Comic Cons adding Wizard World Cincinnati Comic Con to its tour of shows, Wizard has announced its acquisition of the Cleveland-based North Coast Comic Con. Now renamed the Wizard World Cleveland Comic Con, the show, which last ran in 2008, brings the number of shows on the Wizard Comic Con Tour up to eleven. No word is available yet on when they plan to schedule Wizard World Cleveland.

Ed Hannigan Exhibit at Cartoon Art Museum
In coordination with The Hero Initiative, San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum will present an exhibition of comics artist Ed Hannigan's work beginning February 13. Hannigan was a Marvel and DC artist and cover designer of note in the 1970's and 80's, but has fallen prey to multiple sclerosis. The Hero Initiative, a non-profit organized to support veteran comics creators in their time of need, has organized the exhibit “Ed Hannigan: Covered” in conjunction with a reception and charity auction at the museum on April 2, and an anthology of the same name already on sale in comics stores everywhere. The Cartoon Art Museum is located at 655 Mission St. San Francisco, CA. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students and seniors and $2 for children ages 6-12.

SLG Workshop for Comics Creators
Comics publisher Slave Labor Graphics is organizing a workshop for aspiring comics creators this March 6. Events include a talk entitled Comics Econ 101 featuring Eisner-winning comics creator Ethan Nicolle as well as a workshop from SLG founder Dan Vado on how to create a comics pitch. Slave Labor Graphics is located at577 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA, and the workshop runs from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is $19.95 and advance registration is advised. More details are available on the SLG website.

Nick Gurewitch, Chris Onstad Live on Stage
Eisner-winning webcomics creators Chris Onstad of Achewood and Nick Gurewitch of Perry Bible Fellowship will be appearing together on stage at the Rochester Institute of Technology. “Internet Famous: Comics Time with Nick and Chris” — part lecture, part public discussion — will cover their adventures in comics and why they think their comics were so successful. The event takes place on February 10 beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the Webb Auditorium of the James Booth Memorial Building at the RIT campus located at 1 Lomb Memorial Dr, Rochester, NY and is open free to the public.

This Week @ Good Comics For Kids
This week School Library Journal’s blog Good Comics for Kids had a review of Natsume’s Book of Friends, a Great Graphic Novels for Teens roundtable discussion, the 2/3 listing of comics suitable for all ages a review of Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox No. 1: The Meeting, a links roundup of previews and a friends and monsters-themed links roundup from Brigid Alverson.

This Week @ The Beat
This week at PWCW editor Heidi MacDonald’s blog The Beat, Heidi introduced The Beat’snew home, thanked those responsible for helping her set it up, announced that Wizard World has acquired a Cleveland convention, the Marvel, DC and Indie Comics month to month sales figures for December, revealed that Watchmen is slated to get a controversial sequel — but not on the silver screen, Jennifer Contino left Comicon’s site The Pulse due to financial problems says owner Rick Veitch, non-profit Japanese pop culture magazine / store Giant Robot faces financial difficulties as well and looks for donations, TheNew Yorker’s anniversary issue covers showcase a cartooning jam session between Chris Ware, Adrian Tomine, Dan Clowes, and Ivan Brunetti, and Beat contributor Michel Fiffe posts his two part interview with experimental mainstream comics creator Mark Badger.