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Category Archives: Bay Area Comic News

Signing: Josh Hale Fialkov at Isotope – August 6

The Bunker Issue 4Josh Hale Fialkov’s The Bunker was one of those rare comics that was a hit before it even landed on the racks. The comic, which originally launched as a successful digital title, was picked up by Oni Press in 2013 with the first issue dropping in February of 2014. In November, it was announced that Lionsgate would be adapting the comic for television. Thanks to that announcement the first few issues of The Bunker sold out before many readers could get their paws on it. This month the first four issues will be collected in graphic novel format and Fialkov will be visiting Isotope: The Comic Book Lounge, 326 Fell Street in San Francisco, on August 6 to celebrate the release. You can find the creator at the shop signing copies between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. More on the event pasted from the Isotope website:

THE BUNKER is a psych horror science fiction tale like no other. “When a group of friends discover a military survival bunker what they find will change their lives forever” is about all that can be said about the actual plot without spoiling the many surprises within. It’s a great exploration of the juxtaposition between pre-determined fate and freedom of choice, hapless young people in way over their heads, and of course a voyeuristic peek into the end of the world itself. No surprise this book has been so popular among comic fans.

Fialkov’s resume of awesome comics runs deep. From his new creator owned hit THE LIFE AFTER to his breakouts ELK’S RUN and ECHOES, to his latest Marvel work on ULTIMATE FF, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and CATACALYSM (starring the grandest planet-eater of all Galactus) to his acclaimed DC work on ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN and the sleeper star of the New52 I. VAMPIRE, to the madcap cutup humor of PUNKS with Kody Chamberlain and one of our favorite crime noir graphic novels ever, TUMOR… the man just keeps putting out fantastic reads!

We here at the Isotope are absolutely thrilled to get to have him in. We’ve known Josh for a long time, back when that mighty resume was just a mad twinkle in his eye, either 2002 or 2003 when we were buying up armloads of his hilarious POORLY DRAWN ANIMALS mini-comics at the Alternative Press Expo. Watching his career explode since then has been nothing short of glorious.

What better creator to continue our Year of In-Store Amazement with?

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Mission: Today, we are all Batman

Today is Batman Day. This DC promotion encourages visitors to slip into their best Batman gear and go visit a participating local comic book shop. If you do you’ll be able to pick-up a copy of the new Detective Comics #27 which features Brad Meltzer’s re-imagining of the original Bob Kane and Bill Finger story. Flipping through the various facebook pages, twitter feeds, and websites of our Bay Area stores only turns up one, Mission: Comics and Art, actively promoting an event. From noon until 8 p.m. you can stop in at Mission dressed like Batman and take part in contests, have a chance to win various Bat-themed things, join a scavenger hunt, have your face painted (like Batman?), and more. Mission is located at 3520 20th Street in San Francisco.

It’s new comic day, so you’ll likely be going to your LCS anyway, but if you specifically want to know if your store is taking part in this 75th Anniversary event I’d suggest calling in advance. We have a handy list of phone numbers.

Singing: Steve Lafler at Mission today and Dr. Comics tomorrow

laflerSteve Lafler is kicking off the release of his new mini-series Death in Oaxaca at two Bay Area comic retailers this weekend. Today the cartoonist and illustrator will be at Mission: Comics and Art, 3520 20th Street in San Francisco, from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. and tomorrow at Dr. Comics and Mr Games, 4101 Piedmont Ave. in Oakland, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
About the title:

The mundane, the sublime and the bizarre show up in their best party attire in the new comic book series from the creator of Dog Boy and Bughouse.Two expats move to remote Oaxaca, the fabled highland city in southern Mexico. Rex, earnest yet duplicitous, flees from mid-life crisis and fear of death. Beautiful Gertie, cynical but honest, is just plain bored and craves adventure. They contend with Lucha Libre wrestlers and an ancient vampire who prefers chicken, and enjoy the best fresh corn tortillas on the planet.

The title is being published by Alternative Comics. The first issue cover layout is below.

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Signing: Bryan Lee O’Malley at Isoptope today!

It’s been a busy two months over here at The Shared Universe. I went and started a new job, which is never good for extracurricular vanity project productivity. As a result, a number of signings and comic-focused events have fallen secondsthrough the cracks. One such event that has nearly fallen through the crack, but I’m snatching up at the last moment is today’s signing at Isotope: The Comic Book Lounge featuring Bryan Lee O’Malley. O’Malley, of Scott Pilgrim fame, dropped a new title yesterday called Seconds and he’ll be putting his autograph on it between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. You might want to get in line now. I would, but see the second sentence.

I lament my lateness in bringing this news, because there will also be an Isotope hoedown with O’Malley tonight after the store closes, but that event is full. Woe to the cocktail drinking comic fan short on low ball glasses. the-bryan-lee-omalley-cocktail-glass-mini

Have a sexy comic time at Bookish Beasts on July 13

Many comics fans like to think of our preferred medium as an insurgent to popular media, but in truth it’s in many ways nothing more than a leg of the same chair. In both comics and media as a whole violence has increasingly become an accepted form of “artistic” expression while the topic of sexuality is still relegated to the backrooms. There have been the hints of a possible sea change coming as publishers like Image and Oni challenge the status quo by not shying away from sexually provocative content while at the same time becoming the new standard-bearers of what mainstream companies should be adding to their superhero formulas. Still, there’s a thick jungle and our machetes are dull, so some of the most progressive and interesting stories addressing sexuality and gender are found at zine conventions, online, or often relegated to a comic book store’s “local creator” pander pile (“Do we carry local creators? Of course, just go dig through that unorganized pile in the very back of the store! We love local creators! Can we recommend one? No, but, um, hey, have you read Saga?“).

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If you live in the Bay Area finding comics about sexuality, gender, and erotica will be much easier on July 13. For the second year in a row San Francisco’s Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street, will be hosting Bookish Beasts which is an effort to “expand the audiences of local zine and comic artists who make sexy books.” Over the last month CSC has been highlighting some of the publishers and artists who will be in attendance on their blog (warning: NSFW). Based on what’s highlighted in the posts it’s sure to be a provocative and fun event. It may even be the right level of smutty. More details:

Where: The Center for Sex and Culture at 1349 Mission Street
Date: July 13
Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: Free!
Age: 18+

Read More »

Call to Action: San Jose’s Slave Labor Grahics needs support from the comic community

slggraphicSlave Labor Graphics is one of the longest running independent comic producers in the industry. Over the company’s nearly 30-year history the publisher has brought us uniquely quirky titles like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Milk & Cheese, Action Girl Comics, and many more. Now this classic company needs the help of what the crowdfunding-era has proven to be a very generous community. SLG Founder Dan Vado has published a plea on GoFundMe to help keep the company running. The company was foced to move locations recently and that has led to a financial downward spiral:

After running up our credit line during the move our bank decided to review our account and decided that the balance on the credit line was too high and, in their infinite wisdom, demanded immediate repayment in the form of a high-interest loan. This created a domino effect where, when reporting the change in my credit status to the various credit bureaus caused them all to cut my credit and in a couple of cases close my accounts.

Because of the nature of my businesses all of our debt was secured through personal guarantees and now I am in a spot where not only am I unable to get my business righted, but I have blown through all of my personal assets other than the home I live in to keep things going.

Even if you don’t have a single SLG title in your collection or on your bookshelf its worth supporting this effort. After you pledge consider swinging by your local comic book store and picking up something from the publisher.

Signing: Cruzader’s Omar Morales at Dr. Comics & Mr. Games on June 28

What’s better than a successful comic book Kickstarter campaign? A successful Kickstarter campaign that goes above and beyond the requested total.

cruzaderLast November, Omar Morales beat his goal to raise $10,000 so he could fulfill his dream of publishing his graphic novel CruZader: Agent of the Vatican. The local creator had already completed the 140-pages of story, but faced a funding challenge when it came time to publish and distribute his book. Kickstarter and nearly 100 backers helped him fulfill his dream and to celebrate he’ll be hosting a “Launch Signing” at Dr. Comics and Mr. Games, 4014 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland on June 28. At the signing you can pick up a copy of the hardcover edition of CruZader and have it signed by Morales.

What’s the book about? From the Kickstarter page:

A reluctant priest is re-trained as a holy warrior for the Pope; he must embrace his destiny in order to defend the Vatican from an invading army of radical terrorists … who are much more than what they appear.The story of CruZader is about one man’s journey to find a higher calling and a higher meaning in life. Our hero, Antonio De La Cruz, is a humble man with out any super powers. He wields ancient and supernatural relics in battle, and those artifacts give him the edge he needs to defeat his enemies. Some of his weapons and tools include: the legendary Spear of Christ, the Holy Grail, the Shroud of Turin, holy water, rosary beads, and a thorny cilice. Like most people, he has a hot and cold working relationship with his boss – none other than the Pope himself. De La Cruz tires of traveling the world hunting vampires, killing werewolves, and performing exorcisms. He seeks to retire from his duties as the Pope’s super soldier … until the day comes for him to fulfill his role in a mysterious prophecy.

You can see a video of Morales receiving his book here:

Listen to his interview with “I Sell Comics” below:

Tonight! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History Reception and Book Launch

tmnt11The Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission Street in San Francisco, will be celebrating 30 years of mutated turtles tonight with a reception for the venue’s current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles exhibition. This evening’s event will also act as a launch party for Cartoon Art Museum Curator Andrew Farago’s new book Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History. A long list of guests related to TMNT will be on hand this evening, including: “Turtles artists Mark Bode, Ken Mitchroney, longtime Mirage Studios staffer Molly Bode, IDW writer and editor Bobby Curnow, and Nickelodeon’s Ciro Nieli, Irineo Maramba, Felipe Smith, and Megan Casey.”

One of the highlights of this exhibition is the museum is showcasing all of the original art work from the very first TMNT issue by creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The exhibit also includes cells from the original TMNT television series and art from recently published series.

The exhibit runs until September 14. Tonight’s reception is from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

SF Weekly is nothing but funny pages

I haven’t picked up a copy yet, but SF Weekly’s issue this week is mostly entirely comics. The weekly will be hosting a launch party this evening at 111 Minna from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Admission is free, but $10 will get you three specialty cocktails and benefit our treasured Cartoon Art Museum.

If you want a taste of what to expect before you get ink on your fingers the paper has some of the cartoon articles (carticles?) on their website. For example: Sex Worker Super Powers.

SFWeeklyComics

Reminder: First Annual Queer Comics Expo on Sunday at Cartoon Art Museum

QCElogoweb2-300x286Friendly reminder that tomorrow is the first annual Queer Comics Expo. The event takes place between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and more information can be found at the Cartoon Art Museum’s website.