Free Comic Book Day May 7
This Saturday, May 7, is Free Comic Book Day. To celebrate and share the joy of comics, Marvel, DC, Disney, Archie, Dark Horse, Image and a host of independent publishers are offering a special selection of comics available for free at comic stores across the globe for one day only. Many of these comics, such as Geronimo Stilton & Smurfs, Kung Fu Panda & Richie Rich, Pep Comics Betty & Veronica, and Avatar: The Last Airbender / Star Wars: Clone Wars are suitable for all ages, although there is also a healthy selection of more mature titles. To take part, simply go to your local participating comic shop - easily findable through this search engine - and request your free comic. Many comic book stores will be hosting events and comics signings to celebrate the day, and a listing of notable signings is available at the official site. No purchase is necessary. More information is available on the Free Comic Book Day site.
Duncan The Wonder Dog Wins LA Times Book Prize
Duncan The Wonder Dog, AdHouse Books' surprise critically acclaimed hit comic from Adam Hines, has won the 2010 LA Times Book Prize for Graphic Novels. This is only the second year that the prestigious award has had a graphic novel category. Asterios Polyp precedes it as last year's winner.
Bendis To Write Marvel MMO Plot
Last Thursday, Marvel Comics announced that they will be producing a Marvel Universe MMO (massively multiplayer online) game which would be free to play. Eisner-winning comics writer Brian Michael Bendis has been tapped to write the game's story. The game will be aimed at adults and teenagers, while younger gamers will be served by the already existing Marvel Super Hero Squad free MMO. More details are available here.
Titan Brings Out Comics App
British publisher Titan, home of Tank Girl, Lenore, the comics anthology CLiNT and Wallace and Gromit among others, has released their own free comics app through iTunes. Available for iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad, the app already is offeringLenore and Tank Girl comics for sale as well as free Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep content. More details are available here and here.
FDNY and Marvel's New Fire Safety Comic Free Online
The New York Fire Department and Marvel Comics have released a free comic starring Marvel superheroes and New York firefighters to help children learn fire safety skills. The comic, which is available to read online here, features school children fresh from a fire safety lecture who use the techniques they just learned to escape a dangerous supervillain fight with the help of The Avengers and the FDNY. More details are available here.
This Week @ Good Comics For Kids
This week School Library Journal’s blog Good Comics for Kids covered the Toronto Comics Arts Festival, what the GC4K writers were reading this week, the 4/27 listing of comics suitable for all ages, and reviewed Amnesia Labyrinth Vol. 1.
This Week @ The Beat
This week at PWCW editor Heidi MacDonald’s blog The Beat, she covered the Wizard World firing its accountant and soldiering on, an analysis of the new Dark Horse comics app, and who owns what after the fall of Tokyopop.
