A day @ Kid’s Comic Con

Yesterday I spent the day at the Kid’s Comic Con in the Bronx. It was a wonderful day spent among friends, colleges, and where I met some new wonderful colleges and friends. I want to thank both Ray Felix & Alex Simmons for the invitation. It really was one of my favorite cons thus far this year.

While there, I managed to acquire some wicked-cool swag, including the following:

Cool stuff, eh? I'll be posting reviews of all these comics over the coming days, so keep watch.

Archie celebrates Earth Day

Hey, here is a cool item we came across recently. You all know how much we love specialty-themed comic books, well Archie Comics is doing a special Earth Day comic, which we think is a very cool idea.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #4
“Adventures in the Wonder Realm” Part 4. “Bottle Battle!”
“Adventures in the Wonder Realm” continue as Archie, Jughead and Betty fight for their lives against angry food and rock creatures standing between them and freedom! Will Veronica and their new friend Cheroby help the team in completing all the different levels? Or will they be lost in the Wonder Realm forever?
In “Bottle Battle!” the kids discover what happens to your bottle of water after you drink the water. It a special story honoring Earth Day!
SCRIPT: Stephen Oswald and Angelo DeCesare
ARTIST: Joe Staton and Bob Smith
COVER: Joe Staton, Bob Smith and Tito Pena
Shipping Date: 3/23/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 3/30/2011
Newsstands: 4/12/11
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

It's dead, Jim.

In 1954, (due in part to Fredric Wertham's book, Seduction of the Innocent, and partially due to the Senate subcommittee hearings on the matter of violence in comics) the comicbook publishers of the US formed the Comics Code Authority. Over the years it was the CCA’s responsibility to “keep comicbooks safe for kids” as it were, well back in May, June and July of 1971 Stan Lee wrote three issues of Amazing Spider-Man (#s 96–98) that had a subplot dealing with drugs  that was rejected by the CCA, Well, Stan felt that the storyline was important enough to include so, in defiance of the Authority, he published the comics anyway. A few short months later, DC published Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85 (Sept. 1971) that also had a drug reference, but this comic was approved by the code (as it had been altered to allow the depiction of drugs addiction in a negative light).

In 2001 Marvel finally broke with the code, adopting an internal rating system to identify the content of their books, well this January, DC followed Marvel’s lead and abandonded the CCA.

As of January 2011, DC Comics titles will no longer carry the Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval. In 2011, DC Comics will employ a rating system consistent with that of the rest of the industry, as well as with our digital releases, which already utilize a rating system. As for our Vertigo comic books, they will not utilize the rating system, because they will continue to be labeled as “For Mature Readers”.

This leaves only Archie Comics that submits their books to the Authority for approval.

************ADDENDUM**********

Shortly after this story was filed, Archie Comics announced that they too will  be dropping the Code effectively ending the Code’s influence on American comics forever.

It's starting to look a little bit like Free Comic Book Day!

The other day, my daughter asked me if Christmas was my favorite holiday, and I had to stop and really think about it. Needless to say, I didn’t actually have to think that hard, and I told her, truthfully, “No, actually, Free Comic Book Day is.” I mention this because, over the weekend, it was announced what the 10 Gold Sponsors for next year’s 10^th event would be.

As could be expected, I was thrilled to learn who was going to be involved in next year’s event.

Kung Fu Panda, Richie Rich (Kid Zoic/Ape Entertainment), The Dark Crystal (Archaia Entertainment), Betty & Veronica (Archie Comics), Darkwing Duck/Rescue Rangers Flip Book (BOOM! Studios/Disney), Avatar: Last Airbender/Star Wars: Clone Wars Flip Book (Dark Horse Comics), Locke & Key (IDW Publishing), Spider-Man (Marvel Comics), Geronimo Stilton & The Smurfs Flip Book (Papercutz), plus a special top secret project from DC Comics, and  a Kid-Friendly Title from Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), from Image Comics

Yeah, you got that right, I LOVE Free Comic Book Day. it is a day where I get to acquire some 30 FREE comics (did I mention that I don’t have to pay for them either?). Yeah, I totally love this stuff. as I get to see many comics that I wouldn’t normally get to read, plus acquire some free comics that are available nowhere else, except on Free Comic Book Day.

While this isn’t recognized as a national holiday as of yet, I’m certainly hoping that it will be one day. Anyways, here are some images of the covers from the books that have been already been announced.

Ain’t it cool?

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday May 7^th, 2011