In early December of 2020, I first sat down to write this article. That first line was going to be my headline. The same day HBOMax/theater release strategy felt like the best possible decision considering the state of the world. Not every theater in the country was closed. Those that were open had become dependent mostly on limited run and re-release films. Warner Bros. was making the risky decision to keep their film slate moving while offering open cinemas a bone. A very tiny bone, but a bone nonetheless. That was my gut response, but, holy cow, it was not the popular response.
The Escapist Comic Book Store, 3090 Claremont Avenue, will host comic artist and writer Liam Sharp on Saturday, February 24. Sharp, who most recently came off a critically acclaimed run illustrating Wonder Woman with writer Greg Rucka (and alternating artistic duties with Nicola Scott) is embarking on a new journey with DC’s Amazonian. Sharp is both writing and illustrating a six-issue miniseries of The Brave and the Bold featuring Wonder Woman and Batman.
A new, six-issue miniseries written and illustrated by Liam Sharp (WONDER WOMAN)! When a Celtic god’s murder leads to a war between the fairy folk and a possible breach between worlds, Wonder Woman must find the murderer and keep the peace while Batman investigates strange occurrences in Gotham City. As Diana must turn to the World’s Greatest Detective for help, the two heroes quickly learn their cases may be connected.
Sharp will sign copies of issue one between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on February 24.
This is a round-up of Bay Area comic news from the last few weeks.
A number of comic books related events and signings are happening in October. Signings include Mike Mignola, Marjorie Liu, Hope Larson and more. See my round-up here.
Writing for The Bold Italic, Mel Burke (of Mel Reads Comics) showcases Four Bay Area Comic Shops You Gotta See. Mentions include Cape and Cowl Comics, Isotope: The Comic Book Lounge, Mission: Comics and Art, and Flying Colors.
Bay Area graphic novelist and cartoonist Gene Luen Yang is the recipient of MacArthur Foundation Genius grant. The grant gives each fellow $625,000 to spend how they see fit. Yang is the author of American Born Chinese, Boxers and Saints, and is the current writer on DC’s New Super-Man.
Berkeley’s Doe Library’s Bernice Layne Brown Gallery is featuring an exhibit, Beyond Tintin and Superman: The Diversity of Global Comics, which focuses on how the comic book medium is used around the world. The exhibit includes comics from “Mexico, Egypt, Argentina, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Colombia, Poland, Israel and other nations.” A video about the exhibit is below:
Steve Wozniak’s Silicon Valley Comic Con is preparing to return to San Jose in April of 2017. The tech and comics convention put general admission tickets on sale last month and has begun announcing guests. Recent announcements include Buzz Aldrin, cast members from multiple iterations of Star Trek, Art Adams, Adam Savage, and more.
Berkeley’s Fantastic Comics is getting name dropped in articles discussing Greg Rucka’s recent clarification that Wonder Woman, for all intents and purposes, “must be queer.” In an interview with Comicosity the author said:
By the same token, going back to the question of sexuality on Themyscira, we spent a long time thinking about what this means. I did a talk at Fantastic Comics in Berkeley, California, where I said that no Amazon is going to look at another Amazon and say they are Amazoning wrong. Because that wouldn’t be paradise. The society accepts everyone in it. The requirement is, you’re here and you’re female.
Now, that opens up a separate question. For the purposes of Themyscira, as the Amazons experience it, and as we represent that experience, nobody looks at Io and says, “You’re too butch.” Nobody looks at Kasia and says, “You’re too femme.” Nobody says a dress is inappropriate. Nobody says, “Why are you wearing pants?” Nobody says you’re too heavy. Nobody says you’re too skinny, or not strong enough.
It has to be an inclusive and accepting society, for a number of reasons — paradise being one of them. But also because, Nicola, Liam, and I believe very strongly that Diana is beautifully and very actively inclusive.
That’s not to say Batman or Superman are not, but for Diana, it’s a very active inclusivity. That’s just part of what she is. Her arms are always open wide. There’s room for everybody. That’s an active part of her. I mean, Batman doesn’t have an issue, but he doesn’t spend his days thinking about how best can he understand his fellow man.
Fantastic Comics, 2026 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, has lassoed the creative team behind DC’s rebirthed Wonder Woman series. The DC trinity of Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, and Liam Sharp will join forces for a wonderful signing event from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on August 14.
Women may return to Fantastic Comics at 8 p.m. for an exclusive Q&A with Rucka and Scott. The discussion will focus on the duo’s Image title Black Magick. It’s a follow-up to the Fantastic Ladies Comics Club discussion of the trade paperback which will take place one week prior.
DC fans are chomping at the bit to see how the company’s characters will fare following “rebirth.” However, perhaps none more so than Wonder Woman who saw significant changes made to her origin story during the New 52 initiative. Anticipation was high but after the title dropped this past Wednesday it appears writer Greg Rucka landed the invisible jet to the satisfaction of the critical flight tower. Helping Rucka to lasso the character in this first issue were artists Matthew Clark and Liam Sharp. Sharp will continue, along with Nicola Scott, as a regular artist on the title. If I understand the alternating issue system the even issues will feature Scott as the artist helping Rucka tell a “year one” story. The odd numbered issues feature the pencils of Sharp telling a modern Wonder Woman tale. Right? I know someone will correct me if I’m wrong. Comics are confusing.
Sharp will be at The Escapist Comics, 3090 Claremont Street in Berkeley, on July 2 starting at 3 p.m.
The artist has a long history in the comics industry having worked on iconic characters such as Judge Dredd, The X-Men, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and others. In recent years, his become an industry innovator as one of the founders of Berkeley-based Madefire. The company has a unique publishing model. It takes advantage of opportunities created by handheld devices to turn creator-owned and licensed publications into motion comics. Madefire has produced motion comics for a number of publications including DC, Dark Horse, and IDW.
Who sucked all of the color out of the DC Universe? Everything is so drab. I’m really hoping the Justice League film will be Justice League vs. Instagram Color Filter Man.
In this context Wonder Woman looks more bad ass than Bats and Supes. Batman looks like a stuffed sausage who fights crime by bear hugging evildoers into compliance. I’d be okay with skipping the Justice League film and going straight to a Wonder Woman origin film (if it isn’t completely sepia tone).
And whats with all of the glowing eyes? Was Batman all like “Oh, you have glowing eyes? Well check this out!” *pushes button on utility belt* “BATGLOW!” *stare* What color do you think Wonder Woman’s eyes will glow?
Wonder Woman is going to be performing at Yoshi’s in San Francisco! Well, sort of. Lynda Carter, who popularized Wonder Woman in the live action television series, will be performing at Yoshi’s on April 9 and 10 with her All-Star Band. Music was one of Carter’s first passions before being crowned Miss World USA and eventually taking the Wonder Woman role in the 70s. Carter released an album in 1978 and it would be 30 years before she dropped a second. That second album, At Last, reached number 10 on Billboard’s Jazz charts. Carter is currently touring in support of her fourth album which will be released this April. The Bay Area Reporter recently interviewed Carter and discussed her relationship with San Francisco and music.
Regrettably, I only found out about Marin Theatre Company running a production of Carson Kreitzer’s “Lasso of Truth” on Friday. The show, which tells the story of Wonder Woman’s creator William Moulton Marston, debuted on February 20 and runs until March 16. The story follows a woman who grew up with Wonder Woman untangling how all of the elements of Marston’s rather fascinating personal life and how those elements came into the creation of the world’s most popular female superhero. Marston invented the polygraph, was in a polyamorous relationship with his wife and a student, and had an interest in bondage. The show runs nightly until the 16th with bonus matinee shows at 2 p.m. on March 9, 15, and 16. The San Francisco Chronicle has a short interview with playwright Carson Keitzer. Below is a preview trailer for the play.
Marin Theatre Company
397 Miller Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
DC fans are chomping at the bit to see how the company’s characters will fare following “rebirth.” However, perhaps none more so than Wonder Woman who saw significant changes made to her origin story during the New 52 initiative. Anticipation was high but after the title dropped this past Wednesday it appears writer Greg Rucka landed the invisible jet to the satisfaction of the critical flight tower. Helping Rucka to lasso the character in this first issue were artists Matthew Clark and Liam Sharp. Sharp will continue, along with Nicola Scott, as a regular artist on the title. If I understand the alternating issue system the even issues will feature Scott as the artist helping Rucka tell a “year one” story. The odd numbered issues feature the pencils of Sharp telling a modern Wonder Woman tale. Right? I know someone will correct me if I’m wrong. Comics are confusing.
